Genre Indecision

Posted on April 7, 2014 by nicolleat

So it is time to begin again. Time to get back on the horse and write, write, write…

So which genre should I try this time?

I had a lot of fun writing about a nine year old boy being flushed down a toilet into another world, but I want to try something new.

I could write a Mystery full of twists and turns and drag some poor unfortunate down a path of horrid events only to have him “save the day” at the last minute.

OR, write about an awkward teen distraught by love and social angst. Ooh…not sure I want to re-live my youth.

OR, write about a torrid love affair between two people, but they are torn apart due to dysfunction and stupidity. But love will conquer all and they will live happily ever after… Hahahaha, maybe I should write the story about what happens after the “happily ever after part”; kids, dogs, house, mortgage, chaos, etc.

OR, maybe a drama? Take an unsuspecting character and drag her through a bunch of horrible events until she has a mental breakdown and takes her revenge, but then emerges from the ashes a stronger better person despite being wanted by the FBI.

Decisions, decisions, decision…

Professional Procrastinator

Posted on March 24, 2014 by nicolleat

It’s time to start a new writing project or maybe go back to an old one… either way it’s time to start writing again.
Ok, get ready… get set.. wait I really should clean the refrigerator out, something smells really bad in there.
Ok, let’s try again…get ready… get set…wait wait…I need to do my tax return.
Hmm… ready… set… oh yeah gotta clip the dogs toe nails.
Oh and I really should clean out my garage… you know spring is coming and I need to find that badminton set.
Ok, now I’m really ready… wait there is something else I was supposed to do…
what was that…

New Love

Posted on March 9, 2014 by nicolleat

Sending out Query letters is a lot like the excitement of a new love.

You send out query letters with a mixture of hope, giddiness and doubt. You spend time trying to make it as perfect as possible, then you get to a point and quickly hit the send button before you change your mind.
Then you refuse to admit to anyone but you obsessively check your email. Is there a response yet? How about now? How about now? Hope fills your heart, “this could be the one!”

Then it appears! The response to your query. You pause before you open it, hopeful and excited but prepared for the worse.
Then the standard letter begins and you feel your heart sink. You tell yourself, “it’s not me, it’s them.” But you’re not really convinced. You stare at the email another moment and then file it away. With a big sigh you pick your ego off the floor and start researching who will be the next.

For every rejection letter received, send out another query. For every hope dashed a new hope is created.

Internal Critique vs. The Failing Novelist (Round 1)

Posted on February 17, 2014 by nicolleat

Failing Novelist:I keep working at my writing and it’s getting better

Internal Critique: Uh…if you say so

Failing Novelist:One day I will get published, I just need to keep hacking away at it

Internal Critique:Don’t give up your day job

Failing Novelist:Hey, that chapter turned out pretty good

Internal Critique:It sucks, you sucks, just give up

Failing Novelist: Keep it down I’m trying to write.

Burps, Boogers and Farts

Posted on February 14, 2014 by nicolleat

Things I’m learning while writing a boy chapter book:

It is not as easy as it looks
According to my 11 year old son, “Mom” life lessons cannot be included
Locate sense of humor (it’s around here somewhere)
Make a list of kid sayings, helps if one lives with you. Take good notes
1. “booger leakage” – when you have a runny nose that doesn’t stop even when you try to suck it back up
Practice burping and farting and think about how it can be applied to the story
If you are not having fun writing it… odds are the reader won’t have fun reading it
Write things that make you laugh like a kid
Practice burping and farting again… just for fun

Definition of a “Query Letter”

Posted on January 21, 2014 by nicolleat

A few short paragraphs to explain in perfect detail, the novel that you have put your heart and soul into for months, years and maybe even decades.

A one page letter in which all your hopes and dreams are crammed into just a few short paragraphs.

A one page letter that you will spend countless hours creating and torturing yourself over every single word, in hopes of getting it absolutely perfect.

A letter that, odds are, you will receive a standard rejection letter for.

A rejection letter that was probably written in under five minutes.

The Huldufólk Are Coming…

Posted on January 6, 2014 by nicolleat

My husband is half Icelandic and there is a folktale about the Huldufólk. There are many versions of this folktale but his family’s version goes something like this…

At the start of a new year, you must clear the clutter from your home.
If you don’t… then the Huldufólk will come for you.
They will tie you to the bed and steal your stuff.

Sounds like a good reason to me to get de-cluttered and organized, starting with my very un-organized writing files.
Was this the last version of that short story or is this one?
Where did that article go on the 12 points of a hero’s journey?
Why am I still holding on to this ten year old first draft of the worst novel ever written?

But I expect the first victim will be my son. He may have his XBOX stolen from Icelandic Elves soon if he doesn’t pick up his room.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulduf%C3%B3lk

New Year’s Resolution

Posted on December 30, 2013 by nicolleat

It’s that time of year again.
A time of new beginnings, new hopes, new dreams and new goals.

What will be my goals for the year…
Exercise more?
Eat healthier?
Do better at keeping the house clean and tidy?

As much as I enjoy getting up at 5:15am every morning to start my day with torturous exercise and a unsatisfying piece of fruit, it will be the writing goals that will extract me from my warm bed each morning.

I am still working on the writing goals I am willing to admit to and commit to paper, but I do know one thing for sure… This is going to be a great year!

Psst…wanna hear a secret?

Posted on December 16, 2013 by nicolleat

Do you wanna know my biggest fear? My biggest scariest fear?

It’s to find out that I’m not meant to be a writer., but instead, meant to do my “day job”.

I’m meant to be…(gasp) an accountant. NNNNOOOOOO!!!!!!

Dear John Letter

Posted on November 25, 2013 by nicolleat

Dear Nanowrimo (http://nanowrimo.org),

You came into my life and put a smile on my face at a time in my life when all I could see was blank pages.

You have given me a confidence I never thought I would have.

For the reasons above, I find it very difficult to do this. I think we need to spend some time apart.

This does not mean that I do not care about you. We have had a good run of it you and I.

The past eight years have not gone to waste.

It’s not you, it’s me.

I just don’t need you this year.

Love always,

The Failing Novelist

PS. Maybe next year we can get together, if the timing is right.

	nicolleat on Happily Ever After
	crumby99 on Genre Indecision
	crumby99 on Internal Critique vs. The Fail…
	Estavares on Moving at the Speed of Sn…
	robinamadatzucker on Happily Ever After