Learning From the Mistakes of Others

If you haven't seen this meltdown by an indie author, I highly encourage you to check it out. (http://booksandpals.blogspot.com/2011/03/greek-seaman-jacqueline-howett.html)

Perfect example of why people don't always take writers seriously. Truly shocking behavior, I think we can all learn a valuable lesson from this. One, always make sure you are sending out the best possible product. Can you imagine sending a query to an agent and then quickly backpedaling with "Oh no, that was the wrong copy, please read this instead?" I'd imagine that's instant form rejection territory. And two, no matter how precious your work is to you, you can't protect it forever.

Not everyone will like your writing. Or my writing. But on the bright side, we're in good company. There is not a single author in the world that isn't disliked by somebody.

So keep doing your thing, working hard, being professional, and writing for yourself, not everyone else.

Into the ether...

I am in a rage! Well, I'm not a very angry person, so I suppose it's more like my feathers are ruffled. Either way, not happy! I actually felt like writing today, but I thought working on one of my short stories rather than my current WIP would help get the juices flowing. I went to go find it...and it's not saved in my Writing folder.

Then I have the horrible, sinking realization that I wrote the first half on my computer at work. Where I left two weeks ago. So that work is pfffft! Just gone!

It wasn't a lot. Maybe a page and a half of writing. But the idea of going back and re-doing it is more than I can handle! I do have a very, very slim hope that it is on an old USB, but since I don't really know where that USB is (in the middle of moving...), that isn't going to do me much good.

I guess it's back to the drawing board! Grumble...

February 2011 Wrap-Up

I know, I know, I'm way overdue! In my defense, I started deployment a week before the end of February, and although I'm back now (yay for PCS orders), it threw a major wrench in my schedule. Also I went through a huge debacle in my marriage--which, thankfully, seems to be back on track. So maybe now I can get back to writing! Because these totals for February--well, they're shocking.

Words written: 1,486.

Yikes. I know! And so far for March I'm doing even worse. But like I said--life has been throwing me a few curves! I am ready to knuckle down and get some work done. Especially as I have oodles of free time until May.

And on the bright side, I did get a re-read of draft 2 of Novel 1 done, made some notes, and am ready to attack draft 3!