Okay so I updated my business plan, wrote all of my web content and even finished half of my Christmas shopping.
How is your Christmas shopping shaping up so far? This year, I am determined to do most of my Christmas shopping online using websites like eBay and Amazon. Honestly, I absolutely love shopping on Amazon. They have such a brilliant range of products and I always manage to find the things that I need at a fantastic price.
Plus, at this time of year, if you are lucky you can even find an amazon coupon to secure yourself some big discounts. With all of this in mind, if you want to save some money on your Christmas shopping this year, I would strongly recommend trying to see if you can find any promo codes or coupons that can be used on the Amazon website.
Anyway, for the last week, I’ve been on full-time, Little Dude duty so my husband can make his deadline. And still no word on the proposal sitting on my editor’s desk, or the proposal with my agent. What is a girl to do when the Little Dude is at toddler class with daddy and she already mopped the kitchen floor?
But then I remembered a Japanese proverb. “Where there is no wind, row.”
I have this new idea that has been filling up the pages of my notebook. I think the idea is sound enough to take it on a maiden voyage. So this morning I fired up my trusty character bio document, ready to work and then, nothing. The characters chickened out on me. But I’m persistent. Just ask the Little Dude when he’s 18.
I then grab The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever and Sue Viders. As I’m reading, it’s like my characters poke their heads in the door to see what I’m up to; why I’m not shouting at them to get their asses in here.
They’re coy, but I’m patient.
Slowly, sometimes shyly they open up. When we reach an understanding, it’s time to write an outline and then the first 100 pages that will become the proposal that goes off to my agent. A rewrite here and there and then if I did my job well (and I’m lucky), I get the greenlight to write the entire book. Characters always save the juicy stuff till I’m well into the story, but that’s okay. We have to build trust and surprise is that unexpected but delicious flavor in a well-seasoned dish. Will, from Hot Tamara, taught me that.
Now in case you think I’m a freakin’ nut case, I’m not. Well, maybe a little. You kinda have to be with a job like this.
Cheers,
Mary