Hi folks…I’m off to a great start…this is my favorite part of writing–getting it down. I dread the other part–revising, elaborating, cutting–the part that actually makes something good. But without the first part I never get to the third part–book for sale! So for now, I’m totally loving just writing my story, without a care about the teeny details…Anyway…anyone up for this? You can do it, too!
Author: Kathleen Shoop
NATIONAL WRITE A NOVEL MONTH
Well, I’m doing it. I’m setting aside the second draft of the sequel to my novel which is being shopped around to dive into a totally different book. I need new characters and new places to take them…so I’m excited to spend this month spilling out fifty thousand words.
I used this model to write my second book last January and got about 30,000 words done. I figure with the support of half a mill (I think) other writers, I can pull off a full 50,000.
This novel has been brewing for ten years so it’s about time for it to see the light of day…anyone want to join me? Anyone? Anyone?
MY AGENT IS READY TO SELL!!!
I got an email this morning that said my agent is ready to sell the book. She thought the changes were great and she just needs my bio and eight copies of the manuscript! I can’t believe it…must have been that flying dream…Yea!!! Thanks for all the support from so many of you–those I know and even those I’ve never met!
Pop Culture Friday
I’m drowning in a sea of crap and unimportant facts that mean nothing to my life.
I thought you’d want to share in it. Not right to hog all the crap for myself…
While immersed in an article about Nicole Richie and her amazing themed birthday party that was hosted by and written up in OK! magazine I was stunned to read this: “The next project that’s coming out is your novel. Tell us a bit about that.”
Huh? Novel? Nicole Richie? Okay, maybe she’s been secretly aspiring to write her entire life but was sidetracked by shiny bling and famous cohorts…OK! I can buy that…Then I read the following: “Well, I was first approached to do a ‘Big Sisters Guide,” kind of an inspirational book.”
Huh?
“I didn’t feel at liberty to tell other people what to do with their lives, since I was learning so much myself and still am.”
Smart girl. I’m sure the part about her dreaming to be a writer is coming…
“When I declined, HarperCollins asked me if I would like to try writing a novel. At first I wasn’t sure what to write about, but they just said, ‘Write what you know.'”
Cringe. Cringe. Cringe.
“Do you think you’ll write more in the future?” OK! asks. “It will be perfect for me when I’m ready to slow my life down and stay at home with the kids (laughs).” Nicole responds.
Shoulders reaching my ears, face screwed up as though I’ve ingested twelve lemons…Arrrgh!
Why does this bother me? I’m not quite sure. When my book is published and OK! is interviewing me…Scratch that…just another bizzare dream. Along the lines of flying…
Seriously the idea that so many writers who’ve sweat and bled over manuscripts (a little dramatic liscence, please), their souls knowing every word of the story before their heads sort it out and put fingers to the keyboard… have trouble finding agents, I can’t help but get pruny and old-ladyish.
And book deals, etc., waiting for a publisher to offer one sign of interest, let alone to be begged to put fingers to keyboard…makes me pause. Okay, I blacked out for a few moments and the kids lit the house on fire.
Really, I can’t help being a little disgusted. I’m not even opposed to nepotism. And I get the whole business/marketing stuff involved. Of course publishers want a slam dunk.
But I’d like to believe when you do someone a favor it’s because they have shown they can do a certain job or are good at something or have killed themselves working toward a particular goal or SOMETHING other than having been born into a particular family, partied like it’s 1999 wearing almost nothing, having your dramatic weight loss chronicled as though you’re curing cancer…
I’m not bitter. Though I sound it, I know. I don’t begrudge Nic and her ilk their lifestyle… I read about it because something about it fascinates me…and it does seem fun, but at least have the where-with-all to realize that a publisher practically, physically putting your fingers to keyboard for you is too much…at least pretend you have something to say.
Britney Spears…
Yes old Brit is another one with an exciting life where every fart is outlined for its duration, possible food origin and volume…And now she’s a mom…I read in Us magazine, I think it was Us, that she had lost her baby weight in five weeks or something and the mag. presented this as though it was the most shocking news ever to come out…I can do this article in three simple points:
1. first baby
2. she’s in her barely twenties
3. first baby
No puzzle to solve here, folks.
I’m not really bitter. I swear.
Dream Analysis–Flying
Anyone know the meaning of “flying” in dreams? I had such a vivid dream that I was flying, struggling to do so, but succeeding nonetheless that I swear I know what it would feel like if I could take to the air right now…Anyone?
Victoria’s Secret…Again
Okay, well during my cleaning of the closets, I went through a bunch of purses I haven’t used in years and came across a receipt from Victoria’s Secret and one from Ann Taylor. Both were dated 8/16/03. I’m pretty sure this was the last time I set foot in either store but it surprised me because I thought it had been much longer than that. I realized that date was a mere month before I went from feeling like a 34 year old to a 90 year old (this took just two weeks). It all made sense. I tossed out the purses and the receipts and felt good knowing I’m finally feeling good again!
Someday I’ll venture back…This post sucks. No wit at all. I’m beat. Bill’s been out of town all week and the kids were both up at 5:30…oh well, life goes on…Thank goodness for that.
Last visit with the Developmental Specialist
Okay folks…today was the last time Beth will be visited by our trusty child development specialist, Kelly. And it made me sad.
Because Jake (Jake was moved out of the program last year) and Beth were premature, we had access to this county service that’s intended to catch any developmental problems and solve them before they’re exasperated by time.
But at age three (Beth will be turning three Christmas Eve) if there are no problems, they are dropped from the program. Beth has officially been dropped. Great news!
Let me brag for a moment…The language benchmark for a three year old is that they use three or four word sentences…Beth uses and used several 10 word sentences right in front of Kelly!!!! Of course I was beaming. How could I not? I’ve been talking my ass off to them since they popped out, building their vocabularies and yeah, someone noticed!!!!
Anyway. Kelly has seen so much of our lives through the development of Jake and Beth and suddenly, the relationship will be no more….that makes me sad.
Kelly was always encouraging and offered such great advice when being a new mother seemed even more daunting with early babies. Her objective and wide ranging perspective was just what I needed.
I hate saying goodbye to people. I’m not good at it at all.
Anyway, beyond all the facts this mom can brag about, the kids are happy and healthy in all the ways that can’t be measured. Knowing that right now, everything is good for them, brings me instant peace and joy. Thank you God and thank you Kelly!
Writing/Agent news
I’ve got the classic, good news bad news thing going on.
Like fate can’t let me have too much of a good thing at one time because it sees the potential for a huge ego or that’s just life…
Good news: My agent is working her way through my revisions and thinks they look good…hopefully the second half looked as good to her as the first…stay tuned…I’ll let you know as soon as I know…
Bad news: My essay that was to be published has met an untimely death at the hands of the editor who has taken over the paper it was to appear in…it seems like a combination of a mix up and different taste, perhaps…Who knows…I’ll find another home for it I suppose. Really, in light of the novel/agent news the essay stuff is miniscule, but who likes rejection? Uh, yeah, no one.
REally, I’m ecstatic about my agent and novel–happy things are going my way in that arena…the book has to be published, it just has to…there’s that positive thinking for you…It has to happen, it has to, it has to, it has to…It will, it will, it will. Thanks for listening folks.
Hair Again…
I couldn’t leave the depressing Chronic Illness post at the top or I’d lose my happy go lucky readership…so I thought I’d post on some random things like, my hair.
Yes, that fantastic hairdo I got in Arizona and have done a good job of “stylin'” every damn day, is going awry.
I knew it would.
It actually hung in there longer than I thought was possible.
But now, just three weeks later, the layers are losing their edge and I’m screwing up the mouse usage.
One day, I don’t use enough and the semi-bangs are flopping in my eyes. The next day I use too much and I look like I’m tyring out for the Pittsburgh Steelers with my very own antique football helmet.
Over all things are going well…the compliments are rolling in, but I’m in need of a hairdresser in Oakmont…even going into the city will hinder my hairdo upkeep…and I can see time is running out fast. I have a mere week to find a hairdresser before I’m just eleven inches from where I was three weeks ago. Who could imagine that hair upkeep could be such a hassle…
Other random stuff…I have so many ideas over the course of the day…I’ve got to write them down…
Chronic Illness
Chronic Illness blows.
For me, that means Multiple Sclerosis.
But recently things have been getting better.
By recent I mean in the last six months.
I’m surprised everyday that I’m feeling better.
I’m more suprised when feeling better lets me realize just how bad I felt.
There are people in my life who have no idea how bad it sucks to feel like crap on a daily basis.
They don’t care to understand and they don’t quite believe that just because someone doesn’t look like they have one foot on a banana peel and the other in the grave, they might still feel like crap. For real.
But today, when my mom asked if I needed her to come tomorrow, I could say “No thanks,” without worrying if declining the help would mean the three days after would be kicking my ass.
I can’t tell you how great that feels.
To be able to handle my own life.
I can’t tell you how great it feels to be there for real, not because I’m forcing myself to be positive when my body hates me.
Not because I’m saying no to help because I’m crushed by what others are thinking about me and my unseen ailment.
Today felt great and I can only hope this is a trend…Sorry for the depressing post…my realization was actually quite happy…