I suppose rejection letters should bother me more. Maybe I'm just too busy to think about it. (Maybe I don't WANT to think about it!) Or maybe it's because people in my life - people I am close to - are going through really crappy stuff, and this is such small potatoes compared to that.
Maybe I'm arrogant ... or just a control freak ... but why wait around for other people to "approve of" my writing? Especially when things have changed so much in the book publishing and selling world. Time is slipping through my fingers so fast it makes me light-headed. And True Surrender is a GREAT story. What should I do?
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Damn Synopsis ... Again
When I 'extended' the True Surrender story in late January, it meant that I now had to re-write (or, more precisely, 'update') the synopsis.
Which is definitely NOT my favorite type of writing!
So I might have put it off just a little.
But now the synopsis has been 'done' (again) and I'm reading it out loud to myself (sometimes that helps, sometimes it doesn't), and I think ... "what a great story this is!"
It's very nice to read something after you've let it sit awhile, and realize that, by God, it's quite good. It gives me warm fuzzies.
So why isn't it in the hands of agents yet? The answer: it's the damn synopsis. It's so crucial and I'm so perfectionistic, and I think I'm just going to have to let it go. They'll either like it or they won't ... right?
Which is definitely NOT my favorite type of writing!
So I might have put it off just a little.
But now the synopsis has been 'done' (again) and I'm reading it out loud to myself (sometimes that helps, sometimes it doesn't), and I think ... "what a great story this is!"
It's very nice to read something after you've let it sit awhile, and realize that, by God, it's quite good. It gives me warm fuzzies.
So why isn't it in the hands of agents yet? The answer: it's the damn synopsis. It's so crucial and I'm so perfectionistic, and I think I'm just going to have to let it go. They'll either like it or they won't ... right?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A True Surrender Exerpt
Below are just a few of the 6000+ words I wrote during my writing 'marathon' on late January. I thought you might like a little teaser...And if you're not already on my email list, please join!
Aaron wasn't sure what good his presence was. He sat in Cheryl's home, in her living room, and listened as the police officers recounted the details of her suicide.
She had overdosed on pills and pot.
The irony was not lost on him, and he felt physically ill.
There was apparently a note, but he wasn’t privy to the contents.
Cheryl's mom, June, sat in a chair in the corner and cried intermittently. Cheryl's younger brother (only 17 years old, he learned) sat in stony silence, as if he were numb. Which he probably was.
Only part of him registered the scene, as if from a distance. Robert took charge, of course, extracting each person's experience of the night before and that morning. Aaron recognized that he was trying to tie them together, to get a complete picture of what had gone so wrong.
Why a young woman was dead.
Robert turned to June last. "Mrs. Young," he said. "Did anything out of the ordinary happen yesterday or even the day before?"
Mrs. Young shook her head. "She went to work, she walked the dog, she watched TV..."
"Any change in her routine?" Robert said. "Any upsets with her friends?"
"Friends?" June's brow furrowed in concentration. "There was one thing. Unusual, I guess you'd say...an Army friend came to visit with her."
Aaron felt Scott stiffen beside him.
"I thought it was odd it wasn't one of you,” June continued. "But she still has friends in the Army and it's her business who she associates with..."
"June." It was unlike Scott to interrupt, and it set Aaron's nerves on edge. "Do you remember the soldier's name?"
She shook her head. "I'm not good with names," she said, "and you all look alike to me, especially with those camouflage things you wear."
Robert pulled a file folder from his briefcase and extracted a photo. "Mrs. Young, is this the man who was here?"
She took the picture with shaky hands, and dabbed her eyes with a tissue for the hundredth time. "The clothes are different," she said, "but this certainly looks like him."
Aaron saw Robert take the photo from her as if in slow motion. Somehow, he knew. He knew before Robert tilted the photo unobtrusively toward them.
Jared's head shot.
Aaron wasn't sure what good his presence was. He sat in Cheryl's home, in her living room, and listened as the police officers recounted the details of her suicide.
She had overdosed on pills and pot.
The irony was not lost on him, and he felt physically ill.
There was apparently a note, but he wasn’t privy to the contents.
Cheryl's mom, June, sat in a chair in the corner and cried intermittently. Cheryl's younger brother (only 17 years old, he learned) sat in stony silence, as if he were numb. Which he probably was.
Only part of him registered the scene, as if from a distance. Robert took charge, of course, extracting each person's experience of the night before and that morning. Aaron recognized that he was trying to tie them together, to get a complete picture of what had gone so wrong.
Why a young woman was dead.
Robert turned to June last. "Mrs. Young," he said. "Did anything out of the ordinary happen yesterday or even the day before?"
Mrs. Young shook her head. "She went to work, she walked the dog, she watched TV..."
"Any change in her routine?" Robert said. "Any upsets with her friends?"
"Friends?" June's brow furrowed in concentration. "There was one thing. Unusual, I guess you'd say...an Army friend came to visit with her."
Aaron felt Scott stiffen beside him.
"I thought it was odd it wasn't one of you,” June continued. "But she still has friends in the Army and it's her business who she associates with..."
"June." It was unlike Scott to interrupt, and it set Aaron's nerves on edge. "Do you remember the soldier's name?"
She shook her head. "I'm not good with names," she said, "and you all look alike to me, especially with those camouflage things you wear."
Robert pulled a file folder from his briefcase and extracted a photo. "Mrs. Young, is this the man who was here?"
She took the picture with shaky hands, and dabbed her eyes with a tissue for the hundredth time. "The clothes are different," she said, "but this certainly looks like him."
Aaron saw Robert take the photo from her as if in slow motion. Somehow, he knew. He knew before Robert tilted the photo unobtrusively toward them.
Jared's head shot.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
One Helluva January
Winter in Minnesota is supposed to be slow. Quiet.
Bor-ing.
But in the past month, I spent a miserable week trying to fight off a virus only to finally succumb and spend two days in bed. My kids got sick and being the mom, that meant I had some nights with very little sleep.
I ordered a keyboard (the musical kind!) and went into the music studio to record backup vocals for the Mark Cameron band.
I took extra taiko drumming classes because I thought I'd have the time.
I joined the Romance Writers Association and attended my first local meeting, where I was invited to join a critique group - something I have wanted and needed for a while.
The final 10 days in January found me writing intensely and purposefully every free minute I had. I worked on a new section of True Surrender - a section I added after getting feedback from several of my readers. The real fire under me was (big surprise) a deadline: the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award opened for submissions on January 24 and would accept "only" 5000 entries before it closed. I wanted True Surrender to be one of those entries! On February 1, I met that goal.
I didn't have time to celebrate, because I had a new product launch event for work on February 4 - and timing was so tight, I was picking up the final parts that morning.
And now a new adventure: the first live band gig I've done in EIGHTEEN YEARS. Yep, I'm singing with the band on February 19 (Rafters Bar in Stillwater). My kids are starting to sing along since I've been "studying" whilst driving them to/from school etc. Next week we'll rehearse and try to wrap up the recording work.
And then ... I think I'll need a 3-day nap!
Bor-ing.
But in the past month, I spent a miserable week trying to fight off a virus only to finally succumb and spend two days in bed. My kids got sick and being the mom, that meant I had some nights with very little sleep.
I ordered a keyboard (the musical kind!) and went into the music studio to record backup vocals for the Mark Cameron band.
I took extra taiko drumming classes because I thought I'd have the time.
I joined the Romance Writers Association and attended my first local meeting, where I was invited to join a critique group - something I have wanted and needed for a while.
The final 10 days in January found me writing intensely and purposefully every free minute I had. I worked on a new section of True Surrender - a section I added after getting feedback from several of my readers. The real fire under me was (big surprise) a deadline: the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award opened for submissions on January 24 and would accept "only" 5000 entries before it closed. I wanted True Surrender to be one of those entries! On February 1, I met that goal.
I didn't have time to celebrate, because I had a new product launch event for work on February 4 - and timing was so tight, I was picking up the final parts that morning.
And now a new adventure: the first live band gig I've done in EIGHTEEN YEARS. Yep, I'm singing with the band on February 19 (Rafters Bar in Stillwater). My kids are starting to sing along since I've been "studying" whilst driving them to/from school etc. Next week we'll rehearse and try to wrap up the recording work.
And then ... I think I'll need a 3-day nap!
Monday, January 10, 2011
A Little Writing, a Little Music...
Eighteen months ago I was asked to lay some backup vocal tracks with some musicians I sang with way back. I hadn't expected to do more than that, even though that band is now actively gigging around town - and one of the songs I sang on was getting radio play in France.
But something was re-awakened, and I found myself drawn back to music in a way I hadn't expected. Because of my busy schedule, being a permanent band member and gigging regularly isn't an option right now ... but I became open to doing 'projects.'
This past week I've been listening (and re-listening) to my friend's new tracks in preparation of recording vocals next week. And I'm starting to think about building a singing 'portfolio' for the day when I DO want to re-join a band.
When I gave my web site a face lift, I added two MP3 files on the MUSIC page (you can listen now).
There's also a link to a video of one of our taiko drumming pieces. It's not professional by any means (and it's of rehearsal, not performance), but it's fun - I'm playing the big "odaiko" drum on back right.
Speaking of odaiko, I just started an 'intensive' class on how to play that particular instrument more effectively. My son and I are also taking a 4-week taiko class together (along with my regular practice).
You might ask when I have time to write around all this. And that would be a fair question. But remarkably, the novel is progressing and I'm waking with new ideas more often than usual. I suspect creativity is like any other exercise: the more you do it, the more it comes to you!
But something was re-awakened, and I found myself drawn back to music in a way I hadn't expected. Because of my busy schedule, being a permanent band member and gigging regularly isn't an option right now ... but I became open to doing 'projects.'
This past week I've been listening (and re-listening) to my friend's new tracks in preparation of recording vocals next week. And I'm starting to think about building a singing 'portfolio' for the day when I DO want to re-join a band.
When I gave my web site a face lift, I added two MP3 files on the MUSIC page (you can listen now).
There's also a link to a video of one of our taiko drumming pieces. It's not professional by any means (and it's of rehearsal, not performance), but it's fun - I'm playing the big "odaiko" drum on back right.
Speaking of odaiko, I just started an 'intensive' class on how to play that particular instrument more effectively. My son and I are also taking a 4-week taiko class together (along with my regular practice).
You might ask when I have time to write around all this. And that would be a fair question. But remarkably, the novel is progressing and I'm waking with new ideas more often than usual. I suspect creativity is like any other exercise: the more you do it, the more it comes to you!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
New Year, New Look for Author Web Site
It took me nearly three hours, but www.TraceyCramerKelly.com is finally reorganized and ALMOST up-to-date (I still need to write a good teaser for True Surrender). Not "done" of course - a web site is never "done"!
But I AM ahead of schedule (for once) - I had targeted January 1 as the 'launch' date for the new site.
Whilst working on this, I came across a treasure trove of short essays and commentaries I wrote as part of the virtual blog tour last year. It made me realize just how far I've come (sometimes I lose sight of that).
One of the main questions during the tour was how long I've been writing. I wrote during high school but never with any intention of publishing. In college, my creative outlet was music. Later I got into the beaded jewelry craze, but that phased out after my son was born (beads and toddlers don't mix well). In the meantime, I would write when the muse struck, and eventually I had a half-dozen novels (or, more specifically, parts and pieces of). What you see on the site now are those seeds finally growing into something!
But I AM ahead of schedule (for once) - I had targeted January 1 as the 'launch' date for the new site.
Whilst working on this, I came across a treasure trove of short essays and commentaries I wrote as part of the virtual blog tour last year. It made me realize just how far I've come (sometimes I lose sight of that).
One of the main questions during the tour was how long I've been writing. I wrote during high school but never with any intention of publishing. In college, my creative outlet was music. Later I got into the beaded jewelry craze, but that phased out after my son was born (beads and toddlers don't mix well). In the meantime, I would write when the muse struck, and eventually I had a half-dozen novels (or, more specifically, parts and pieces of). What you see on the site now are those seeds finally growing into something!
Friday, December 10, 2010
They're About to Kiss, but Then...
You know that scene where the main characters are JUST ABOUT to kiss...but then they don't? That's the one I've been working on. I've been trying to get the sexual tension just right. It's hard!
In fact, I'm starting to think that the parts I've yet to finish are ALL going to be difficult. I suppose that's why they're the last ones to be written!
In fact, I'm starting to think that the parts I've yet to finish are ALL going to be difficult. I suppose that's why they're the last ones to be written!
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