Praying to the Gastro God

WHO THE HELL GETS UP THIS EARLY

What the fuck is wrong with me? The birds aren’t even singing and the sun hasn’t peek over the horizon. But I’m up on this dark, early, chilly morning pulling off my night clothes and stepping in the shower. I washed from head to toe and lotion from toe to head. I put on make-up!! Yes make-up, I sure hope I don’t rub my eyes and end up looking like a raccoon.

MY NEW SUIT

I love new clothes. Well not as much as I did when I was a hundred pound lighter. I don’t shop in stores, only on-line at fat lady apparel shops. No time to order, try on and send back, so I ordered everything the same size. Extra, Extra, Extra big! The shirt to wore under the jacket was a little too big. The pants were snug around the hips but too long. Now that I lost two inches off my height pants never fit right. I’ll tried and get away with it. It was suppose to rain, I’m so glad it didn’t and the bottom of my pants weren’t destroyed. I will get them hemmed for the next affair. I should have worn my spandex. The blouse I had on was long enough to cover my unsightly ass and the twenty month pregnant belly.

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GOT TO EAT SOMETHING

I’m going to be out all day. I need something to eat. What can I eat that won’t mess up my stomach. I ate two pieces of Hawaiian Bread with butter. I popped it in the microwave for a few seconds. I washed my pills down with water. I took 4 mg of medrol (prednisone) I started on 8 mg the night before.

I said a prayer to the gastro God. Please don’t give me uncontrollable diarrhea. I never know what will bring on that debilitating stomach monster.

I started taking the Metamucil regularly for the past five nights in hopes of keeping the digestive system behaving on the day of the conference.

THE BUS IS ON TIME

At 6 am my Access-A-Ride arrives on time. There’s a customer inside that’s dropped off first. The driver has another pick up. That pick up is canceled. I’m going to be early. There’s a Starbucks right next to the building the conference is in. My stomach is bubbling so I use the bathroom. I drink a small cup of decaf and eat a quarter of a bagel. For some reason I look at my watch and I see 9 am. I throw away what’s left of the coffee, put the rest of the bagel in my pocketbook, and go into the building.

Security gives me a pass and upstairs I go. It was 8 O’clock. I’m not calling myself stupid but what else could I call myself. I had to go back downstairs when the event planner arrived and register and get my gift bag.

When I get back upstairs I offer to help with the book store set up but they refuse my help.

One lady asks, “did you bring your manuscript?”

I said, “yes and I hope I get to leave it. Its heavy and I don’t want to carry it back home.”

“I’m sure they’ll love it.” the lady says.

I smile and to take a seat, second row, right in the middle in front of the screen.

EVERYONE IS HERE AND THE CONFERENCE BEGINS

The host was a charming guy. He made everyone feel comfortable. The guest speaker was a Penguin Book (TarcherPerigee) Author Tama Kieves. Great speaker, inspiring and she shared her success in become a published author. I purchased an autograph copy of her Inspired Unstoppable – Wildly Succeeding in Your Life’s Work.

After Tamma a publishing panel shares the process of selecting authors. The process of reading a query, synopsis, and manuscript, what things excite them and what turns them off. They are very demanding but they remind us they are there to help us. They were informative and helpful.

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My stomach was bubbling and I had to keep from farting. I was afraid that the fart would be loud or worst be more than a fart. Eventually I went to the rest room I took care of business. I took an Imodium D. When I got back to my seat my stomach was still doing flips. It must have been my nerves.

We went to lunch. I didn’t have anyone to go to lunch with but I’m a big girls and I went and had some steroid comforting food, an almond croissant and fruit. I wanted a salad but my stomach felt that fiber might be risky. After I ate I used the bathroom again and tried to rid myself of the debilitating stomach monster. I couldn’t shake that urge to fart.

There was another author Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D I couldn’t get two books so I’ll get his another day. He was also an inspiring speaker who shared his success of becoming a publishing author.

The next panel was about publishing, formatting, and marketing. They shared with us how to pitch our manuscript. We were asked to break up in groups and pitch to each other. I learned that I wasn’t the only one who wanted to tell my whole story. We helped each other and everyone got a chance to pitch in our group.

The host who is the vice president of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. wanted us to come back to order and no one was adhering to his yells. I asked him if he wanted me to whistle. He shrugged his shoulder. I whistle loud and clear and the room quiet down. He was impressed.
The VP had different people get up and say their pitch in 30 seconds. I didn’t try. We were then kicked out the room so they could set it up for the pitch meetings.

 

PITCHING MY BOOK

Did you skip everything to read down here? When we all arrived we were given a time and the name of the person we were going to pitch to. My time slot was six o’clock. I went to the bathroom yet again. I am so happy I didn’t have an accident. I just have an hour to hold on.

They had a cocktail hour with wine, cheese, fruit, nuts, and chocolate. A very nice set up. I mingled with my friend from the Meet-up Writing Club I go to. I’m not good on party politeness with strangers. I held my end of the conversations. I heard some interesting story pitches. My friend did his pitch. They weren’t interested and he was down. I tried to encourage him to keep working at it and it will one day work out. I invited him to join word press. I know you wonderful people will read his fun and interesting writing.

The VP came over to me and told me my whistle was terrific. So I will be known as the lady who whistled to bring order to the conference.

MY TURN

Six O’clock and I meet the woman who holds the fate of my baby, Hidden Temptation in her hand. Forget that synopsis that I tinkered with for weeks. I started telling her about Hidden Temptation like I tell all my friends. When I tell family and friends I see their eyes light up and I see them smile and I hear, that sounds good. I want to read it.
Could I expect the same from a professional? Someone who reads manuscripts for a living?

Was she smiling politely, this cute, red hair, light blue eyes, or were they green, my nerves. Those eyes were twinkling whatever color they were. The smile was real. She asked if there was sex in my manuscript. Yes graphic, I told her I was reluctant but then Shades of Grey came out and I added the graphic sex. She said they are still looking for books like Shades of Grey. I didn’t tell her I thought the writing in Shades of Grey sucks and mine is better. She asked if there was a lot of violence. I explained that the abuse the father did to the mother is back story. I forgot about the sisters beating Odette’s first boyfriend. I told her the only violent part was the part is . . . oh I don’t want to spoil it. She asked if there was going to be another book. Yes!!!

Moving on she asked if I had my manuscript with me!!!!! YES, YES, YES, YES!!!

I pulled Hidden Temptation out of my bag and presented to Penguin Group (Tracher) Romance Editor! I wish I could do back flips and somersaults!!!! I am floating.

 

WORTH THE PAIN

Access-A-Ride didn’t show up until 7:30, 30 minutes late to take my exhausted ass home. I was in pain. I could hardly walk. My legs were like balloons, my back was screaming. My hands were swollen. Only thing in my favor, my stomach wasn’t twisting and turning any more. So it must have been nerves.

 

When I got in I took two oxycodones and a Larazapam and couldn’t sleep. I don’t know if it was the pain or excitement. After dreaming of being a part of a publishing house for many years and feeling it might finally come true is worth lupus punishing me for over doing it yesterday.
Now I just wait.

Hidden Temptation Final Synopsis

I’m tired.  I have stayed focus on this conference with Penguin Books.  I’ve been tweaking, deleting, rewriting, and reading these words over and over.  I’m sharing them this last time with you. The conference is in 4 days and I can’t see anymore typos or areas that need improvement. Will you show some love and let me know if something is not right or could be improved.

 

After ODETTE HAWKINS, the third girl born to LYDIA and THOMAS HAWKINS there are complications that causes Lydia to have a complete hysterectomy. This ends any chance of Thomas having a legitimate son. Lydia sits in the bed nursing Odette Thomas ignores the baby and squeezes Lydia’s cheeks together and bangs her head into the headboard. This is the start of years of abuse.

 

Lydia is from a time when women quietly endured the black eyes, sprain wrist, broken arms, ribs, and nose. Odette’s sisters, JEANETTE HAWKINS-ROBINSON and LYNETTE HAWKINS try over and over to convince Lydia to leave Thomas to no avail. While the sisters still live at home they try to protect rescue their mother. Odette always hides when these violent tantrums and outbursts erupts.

 

Odette’s first and last boyfriend THURMAN is possessive, one day he chokes Odette in the school gym. Her sisters go to the high school, against her wishes. The sisters attack Thurman in front of his basketball teammates while Odette hides. This is when Odette decides to never have a serious relationship and creates her dating rule that will shield her from being mentally and physically abused by men. She has no interest in having a meaningful relationship outside of sex. Married men are already in committed relationship.

 

 

Odette is in her early thirties. She’s a beautiful woman with a Carmel completion, high cheekbones, a slender nose and thin lips. Her shoulder length hair is dark brown with blond streaks. She has champagne size breast, a small waist and wide hips. Despite being an introvert Odette will speak her mind when necessary.

 

 

Odette is not very sociable she only has one friend outside her family. Odette’s mother is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s and lives in a nursing home. Odette visits her faithfully and encourages her sisters, who are nine and twelve years older than her, to do the same.

 

 

Her sisters don’t approve of Odette’s life style and believe they know what’s best for her. Odette doesn’t care what her sisters think. She’s a receptionist for a lucrative advertising agency. Her income pays her rent and keeps her in designer clothing, shoes, and pocketbooks. She has excellent health coverage and a life insurance policy through her company that also matches her 401 contribution. She gets two weeks of sick time and four weeks of vacation a year. What else does she need?

 

 

At the beginning of this unseasonable warm spring, Odette meets WILHELM POLK, who is the new UPS delivery man where Odette works in. Wilhelm’s father, EDWARD POLK, is a Vietnam veteran who becomes addicted to heroin to treat his PTSD after the veteran doctors declares him well. Edward steals from his family and lies to them. Wilhelm recently divorces his wife for cheating. Wilhelm doesn’t trust anyone but his mother, ARABELL POLK a retired school teacher who has a stroke. She is a resident of the same nursing home Odette’s mother is in.

 

 

Wilhelm is on a mission to sleep with as many women as humanly possible. He’s attracted to Odette and she’s attracted to him, but he’s not married. He doesn’t care about Odette’s rule. He just wants to spend time exploring her sexually. After meeting they discover their corner of the world is small and it’s impossible to avoid each other in their daily lives. They bump into each other at work, in their neighborhood even at the diner where they have breakfast.

 

 

OSCAR PEOPLE, the current married man Odette is sleeping with invites her to a five-star hotel after work. Odette is furious; she thought they were going to spend the night together. After a quickie Oscar leaves and makes Odette feel like a prostitute. As pay back she invites her friend, HYMIE JONES to join her for the night. Together they take advantage of several hotel amenities such as ordering expensive room service, cleaning out the mini bar and helping themselves to the complimentary bathrobes when they check out. They leave an excessive bill.

 

 

Oscar’s wife, MARSHA receives a call about the outrages charges on their credit card. Oscar is enraged, this is the beginning of a dangerous game of back and forth revenge against him and Odette.

 

 

Odette is also having ongoing conflicts with the office manager at her job, TOM SNIDE. Tom is jealous of Odette’s relationship with the owners of the advertising agency. After Toms’ termination, he blames Odette and vows revenge.

 

 

KIA JEAN-LOUIS, one of the women Wilhelm is seeing, after having several nights of hot, slippery, and climatic sex game Wilhelm starts ignoring Kia’s calls and texts. She decides to follow Wilhelm. She discovers he’s spending time with another woman, her jealousy thoughts take over. Kia is looking for a husband to secure a United States resident card. Kia believes Wilhelm will be perfect and is not willing to give up.

 

 

The hostilities developing between Oscar, Tom, and Kia may prove fatal for Odette or Wilhelm or maybe both.

 

What makes Hidden Temptation Unique?

 

HIDDEN TEMPTATION is a story that involves the challenges most families face. Odette is emotionally scarred after witnessing several years of her mother’s black eyes and broken bones from her father who ignores her because she was born a girl. This makes Odette an introvert and cautious when developing friendships outside her family. She believes her rule dating only married men is a safe venue to protect her emotional well-being.

 

 

Despite Odette’s dysfunctional upbringing she has a strong bond with her mother and sisters. They don’t like her dangerous life style and wants her to find a good man, fall in love, and marry, Odette is not interest in.

 

If it doesn’t work out with Penguin Books here’s the blurb for when I self publish.

 

Blurb

 

Odette’s life becomes a nightmare before she even learns how to dream. Ignored by her abusive father and physically hurt by her first boyfriend Odette continually adds mortar to the wall she’s building to protect herself from pain and heart ache.

 

Wilhelm a recent divorcee wants a taste of Odette’s tempting body. But she has a strict unmoral rule that she refuses to break. That doesn’t stop Wilhelm from pursuing her.

 

Odette has several conflicts with her office manager Tom. Wilhelm’s booty call becomes jealous of Odette. While Odette’s lover Oscar is plotting revenge for causing friction between him and his wife.

 

Will the hostilities developing prove fatal for Odette or Wilhelm or maybe both? Will Wilhelm be able to entice Odette? Purchase HIDDEN TEMPTATION and find out today.

Your Voice Helps

Synopsis for Hidden Temptation

After ODETTE HAWKINS is born her mother, LYDIA HAWKINS is forced to have a hysterectomy. This disappoints her father, THOMAS HAWKINS who desperately wants a legitimate son to carry on his name.

 

Thomas ignores Odette and viciously abuses Lydia. Her sisters, JEANETTE HAWKINS-ROBISON and LYNETTE HAWKINS try to protect and help Lydia while Odette hides from Thomas violent tantrums and outbursts.

 

Odette first and last boyfriend, THURMAN is possessive and chokes her. Her sisters go to the high school against Odette’s wishes. They attack Thurman in front of his basketball teammates while Odette hides. Odette decides never have a serious relationship and creates rules to shield her from being mentally and physically abused by men. She has no interest in having a meaningful relationship outside of sex.

 

Odette is in her early thirties. She’s a beautiful woman who speaks her mind. She has one friend outside her family. Odette’s mother is suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s and lives in a nursing home. Odette visits her faithfully and encourages her sisters who are nine and twelve years older than her visit their mother also. Her sisters don’t approve of Odette’s life style and believe they know what’s best for her.

 

Odette doesn’t care what her sisters think. She’s a receptionist for a lucrative advertising agency. Her income pays her rent and keeps her in designer clothes, shoes, and pocketbooks. She has an excellent health and life insurance policies, and the company matches her 401 contribution. She gets two weeks of sick time and four weeks of vacation time a year.

 

During the beginning of this unseasonable warm spring, Odette meets WILHELM POLK. His father, EDWARD POLK, is a Vietnam veteran whose becomes a heroin addict to treat his PTS. Edward steals from his family and lies about it. Wilhelm recently divorces his wife for cheating. Because of his past relationships with his father and ex-wife Wilhelm doesn’t trust anyone except his mother, ARABELL POLK.

 

Wilhelm is the new UPS man delivering to Odette’s office. Wilhelm’s on a mission to sleep with as many women as humanly possible. He’s attracted to Odette and she’s attracted to him, but he lacks the one thing that will convince her to date him. He doesn’t care he just wants to spend some time screwing her. After they meet they discover their corner of the world is small and it’s impossible to avoid each other in their daily lives.

 

OSCAR PEOPLE, the man Odette is sleeping with invites her to a five-star hotel after work. Thinking they were going to spend the night together Odette becomes furious after they have a quickie and he leaves. He makes Odette feel like a prostitute. As pay back she invites her friend, HYMIE JONES to join her for the night. Together they take advantage of all the hotel amenities and accrue an expensive bill.

 

Oscar’s wife, MARSHA receives a call about the excessive charges to their credit card. Oscar is enraged that his wife learns about the hotel charges. Odette and Oscar engage in a dangerous game of revenge against each other.

 

Odette is also having ongoing conflicts with the office manager at her job, TOM SNIDE and KIA JEAN-LOUIS, one of the women Wilhelm is seeing. Both are jealous of Odette. These hostilities may prove fatal.

 

What makes Hidden Temptation Unique?

 

Hidden Temptation is a story that involves the challenges most family face. Odette is emotionally scarred from witnessing her mother’s vicious abuse and being ignored by her father. This makes her an introvert and cautious about developing friendships outside her family. She believes her dating rule is a safe venue to protect her emotional well-being.
Despite Odette’s dysfunctional upbringing she has a strong bond with her mother and sisters. They don’t like her dangerous life style and wants her to find a good man, fall in love, and marry a concept Odette has no interest in.

 

Blurb

 

Odette’s life becomes a nightmare before she learns how to dream. Ignored by her abusive father and physically hurt by her first boyfriend Odette continually adds mortar to the wall she starts building to protect herself from pain and heart ache.
Wilhelm a recent divorcee wants a taste of Odette’s tempting body. But she has a strict unmoral rule she refuses to break.
Will Wilhelm be able to entice Odette? Purchase Hidden Temptation and find out today.

 

 

Be honest do you see any typos? Are you curious? Do you want to read Hidden Temptation based on what I described here? Please help I have until Friday June 3rd to come up with the words to impress US editors at Penguin Books a subsidiary of Random House.

Pitching to Random House

Random House, which was founded by Bennett Cerf and Donald Klophfer in either 1925 or 1927 it is one if the largest general interest trade book publishing houses, not only in New York but around the world. They have offices in Spain, The United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa, and China. Random House has international companies with many partners that are just as well know. Penguin House, Ballatine Books , Crown Publishing , I even notice Double Day Books  which is under the banner of Penguin House. Please go to the links and peak at the writers and books they represent to see how huge they are.

 

 

No Random House hasn’t signed me to publish Hidden Temptation, yet. Are you curious to know why I’m sharing this trivia with your?  The NY Writing Group host says he is speaking with Random house to invite one of their editor to attend our group. Yea, how cool is that? I feel the butterflies somersaulting in my stomach just thinking about it.  Or is that gas?

 

 

Also Random House will be hosting an open house with their editors and publishers. The cost is  $99 a reasonable cost for someone still working.  For a person on Social Security it’s a matter of giving up some medication for a month.
Our host, the voice of reason suggests that we’re confident our work is completely ready. You guys know I’ve edited Hidden Temptation for over a year. I keep finding something wrong. Many of you tell me there has to come a time to just say it’s ready and release.

 

 

But this is Random House! It is a big deal to meet editors, publishers, and possible agents. I would have the opportunity to pitch Hidden Temptation. I will be so close to my dream I’ll be able to smell the ink from the printing press.

 

 

The $99 is just one hurdle the other is pitching Hidden Temptation. When I tell people what Hidden Temptation is about they get excited and say it sounds good. Will good be enough for Random House? Will I even be able to pitch Hidden Temptation without stuttering and mumbling my words? This isn’t any ordinary stranger, this is someone who has the ability to make my dreams come true, The NY Writing Club won’t be meeting for a month and when we do resume meeting, it’s possible a Random editor will be there and we’ll have an opportunity to pitch our work. Again I ask my sometime(y) self-confidence can you do it Silent Kim? Can you make yourself heard for real?

 

 

I run my mouth a lot. Can I run my mouth when it’s important, at an opportunity to woo an editor to find interest in Hidden Temptation? Hell yea! To not try is already a fail. At my age, with my health, this is a one in a lifetime opportunity for me. What the hell do I have to lose? I put so much of myself into Hidden Temptation. I am proud that it’s compete. It’s a story with many twist and turns. The genres over lap and I believe it’s full of emotions. But will an editor at Ransom House think so?

 

 

If I pitch and the editor isn’t interest it will be the closest I’ll ever get to mainstream publishing. That in itself, will give me bragging rights.

 

Somewhere in the future.

I’ll sit with my grandchild that has the writing bug in the near future and say to them. “You know some years back I pitched for Random House. They weren’t interested but I’m proud that a publishing House of that magnitude listened to me.”

 

Or the story could go this way.

“I remember when I pitched my first novel Hidden Temptation to a Random editor. Boy was I nervous.” I smile and shake my head. “I was ecstatic when they said I might have something there and offered to work with me. See my dream came true. So could yours.”

 

If it doesn’t work out for me at Random House I have Create Space and Amazon to publish Hidden Temptation.

 

No More Editing.

 

 

I went to the A writing Club Meeting that I found on Meet Up. I wasn’t sure what to expect, except that there would be writers.  I took the synopsis for Hidden Temptation and the blurbs I’ve been playing with. I had the most recent poem I wrote and my tablet in case I wanted something from my blog.

 

 

When I introduced myself I mentioned that I wanted feedback on my blurb. The group suggested that I ask my beta readers to tell me what my book was about.  I thought that was a good idea. I decided to share my poem Moments Tick Away and wait until I received feedback from those who read Hidden Temptation.

 

 

I read my poem. It has been a while since I read in front of a live audience. I think I did okay considering I didn’t practice. The poem was well received and stimulated little criticism. Maybe I should have read the blurb.

 

 

To get more information about the meeting go to Silently Heard Once.

 

 

Update on Hidden Temptation I saw a typo on the first page and I considered editing once again. Just the thought of that gave me a headache.

 

 

I still haven’t written my dedication page or my acknowledgements. I still didn’t write the poem to replace the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. Dwight, my artist, was recently hospitalized. So I’m still waiting on my cover. Not to mention I need a new photo to highlight my new sassy haircut.

 

 

April 15^th is just five days away.  I don’t think I’ll be ready.  It looks like I’m going to have to push my release date again. I guess that’s okay it gives me more time to stimulate more of a buzz about Hidden Temptation.

 

 

If I was working with a publisher they would probably drop me for not meeting my deadline not once but twice.  Look at it this way I’m not rushing, or am I?

 

Now that I’m feeling better I hope to get back to blogging more consistently.

 

 

Thanks for reading. Comments are welcome.

 

 

Disclaimer:  I completed Hidden Temptation, my first completed novel, and this blog is a humble attempt to create interest in its debut. I am not a professional and this is no way an educational guide.  I am merely sharing my writing experience, what I pick up reading other novels, and what I learn in the process of completing Hidden Temptation.

Almost Ready

Update on Hidden Temptation – I completed my current editing!!!  I have two friends reading and hopefully it will be error free.  Ha Ha!!!  Well if not completely error free at the least minimum errors.

 

I still have to write my dedication page, my acknowledgments, and work on the blurb for the back of the book. I wrote another one. If you don’t mind will you compare the previous one with this one and tell me which you think will pique interest. Or do you think I should keep trying?

 

Here’s a link to the original it was posted under What’s it All About?

 

Here’s the new one.

Odette mother and sisters would like her to stop dating married men and settle down. She believes married men are a safe venue until Oscar treats her like a whore and she takes advantage of his generosity.

Wilhelm is recently divorced and plans to use a lot of condoms. He’s using enough with Kia who is a nymphomaniac trying to seduce Wilhelm into marriage.

Odette and Wilhelm are attracted to each other but neither wants a committed relationship. Odette is indifferent towards him and he wants to add her to his list of sexescapades.

 

Disclaimer:  I completed Hidden Temptation, my first completed novel, and this blog is a humble attempt to create interest in its debut. I am not a professional and this is no way an educational guide.  I am merely sharing my writing experience, what I pick up reading other novels, and what I learn in the process of completing Hidden Temptation.

Set Back, Push Back, I’m Back

Greetings friends,

 

I apologize for not checking in before now.  On my main blog Silently Heard Once  I shared that I was in the hospital for a few days.  I posted A Whatever   it explains it all.  I don’t want to go into it on this blog because this blog is for Hidden Temptation not my personal struggle but my struggles with writing.

 

I’ve been in a bit of a funk since my hospitalization.    I sent a query and five pages of Hidden Temptation to an agent I decided to read what I sent.  I should have read it before I sent it because in those five pages I screwed up the tenses, bad.  So I’m editing again.  I have less than 100 pages to go.  But this has caused me to push back my release date.  I’m targeting April 30th.  That really a go day. Sad for me because in 1993 on that date my mother left this earth and my life changed.  Maybe releasing it on that day will be another life changing experience.

 

Dwight my artist who promised me the cover hasn’t started.  I don’t know if he will have something ready by then but it will work out.

 

I started writing a short story I posted on Silently Heard Once.  Please feel free to read and I hope you enjoy.  The Curse.

 

One more thing.  I found this group called meetup it’s finding events in your community that feeds your interest.  I’ve found writers in my area and can’t wait to start meeting and networking.

 

I Pressed Send Too Soon

In an earlier post, I suggested not to underestimate your readers by being redundant. When it comes to vocabulary I think we should try to avoid talking down to readers by overusing words you need a dictionary to help the reader through a paragraph. For me, that takes away from the story. The writer will lose me and I don’t think that’s a good thing. I have an extensive vocabulary and still there are thousands of words I’m not familiar with. I don’t mind being introduced to new words I just don’t want to be bombarded with them.

 

It’s one thing to sprinkle a word not often used here and there. If the sentence is constructed correctly most people will figure out what the word means. A sentence with several ten-gallon words isn’t going to make your story any more impressive. Yes, it’s about the writing and correct grammar but more so it’s the story. When I read I like to be transported into the world the writer creates. If I have to stop and look up words every few minutes I will be frustrated.

 

As writers, we have to keep in mind that most readers only read at a six-grade level. That’s the level of most newspapers are written in. There are words that are pretty and you just have to use them and that’s okay. I just suggest you spread them around a bit.

 

Do you use words that aren’t used in everyday language in your writing?

Do you think it makes your work more impressive?

 

Last week I shared with you guys that I sent an agent five pages of Hidden Temptation. No, I haven’t heard from them and I know I won’t. I decided to read those five pages and found I still have my tenses screwed up. I know I should have read it before I pressed send. However if she gets to the end of page five she’ll want to know what happens next. That’s a good thing I think.

 

Anyway, I’m editing Hidden Temptation again. I asked my friend, the writer to wait until I finish this edit. I decided to change it back to the present tense and keep their thoughts and memories in past tense.

What do you think?

Do you think that will work?

 

Disclaimer:  I completed Hidden Temptation, my first completed novel and this blog is a humble attempt to create interest in its debut. I am not a professional and this is no way an educational guide.  I am merely sharing my writing experience, what I picked up reading other novels, and what I learned in the process of completing Hidden Temptation.

I hope my experience helps fellow writers create a higher quality of art. I do not presume that Hidden Temptation is perfect or of professional quality but I do believe it is close. Your opinions, thoughts, and feedback are most welcome. Please feel free to create an open thread and share thoughts, and opinions so that we can help each other grow as a community of writers.

Decisions! Decisions!

I am excited, a writer friend who read my writings when I started posting my poem online at Writers Cafe. She gave me honest critiques.

 

She’s going to read Hidden Temptation.  She promises, to be honest with my manuscript.

 

I read this blog post a few days ago  by  Darla G. Denton and she shared a list of publishers who are accepting unsolicited romance novels. Should I or shouldn’t I? Hum!

 

I sent another query  out this past Monday. The agent is new in the field. She requires writers to submit a query letter and the first five pages of their manuscript. Of course, I send it by email so I will only hear from her if she has an interest. It’s a waiting game. There’s plenty of time to hear back before my March 30th target date to self-publish.

 

Decisions! Decisions!

 

As I said previous I am impatient and if I do go with a publishing company it’s going to take time. From what I understand, I will still have to do my own marketing. Does anyone know different? The one thing with a publisher or agent my work will be well polished.  What do you think, would you self-publish or try the traditional way?

 

I’ll keep you posted.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I completed Hidden Temptation, my first completed novel and this blog is a humble attempt to create interest in its debut. I am not a professional and this is no way an educational guide. I am merely sharing my writing experience, what I picked up reading other novels, and what I learned in the process of completing Hidden Temptation.

I hope my experience helps fellow writers create a higher quality of art. I do not presume that Hidden Temptation is perfect or of professional quality but I do believe it is close. Your opinions, thoughts, and feedback are most welcome. Please feel free to create an open thread and share thoughts, and opinions so that we can help each other grow as a community of writers.