2011 – A Year of Beginnings
January: With feedback that made sense from Sourcebooks - I settled into rewriting Lily’s Story. About half-way through the month, I met with my writer friend, Sarah Raplee and during the course of conversation over tea at the Beaverton Borders we came up with the idea of starting a group blog. Brainstorming with Sarah is a real treat! Before we left we had a solid idea in place, a list of people to invite and a vision of creating a group blog different from anything out there.
Mini-writing retreat with my writer friend, Helen Little. We had great time immersed in our passion.
February through May: I did continue to write on Lily’s Story but soon the momentum of Romancing The Genres swallowed up all my writing time. Well, that isn’t entirely true. I did submit workshop proposals for the Emerald City Writers Conference and my home chapter, Rose City Romance Writers. I ’ll be presenting at ECWC the last weekend in October and at RCRW January 14, 2012. At the time of this writing I’ve not yet heard back from Desert Dreams as to whether I’ll be presenting at that conference in April 2012.
I took an on-line class from Catherine Chant through Low-Country Romance Writers on “How to Create an On-Line Workshop”. Great class. For other great classes go to www.LowCountryRWA.com and to Catherine’s website.
But the biggest and greatest event was the Launch on May 1st of Romancing The Genres. We are nearing 3000 visits at the end of May.
June: It’s back to writing. Lily is stuck in a bedroom at the hero’s house recovering from injuries sustained in a nasty motor vehicle accident. She’s been there since sometime in early April and she’s frustrated with me for having abandoned her in her hour of need.
Summer 2011 Goals: Finish Lily’s Story. Review Elizabeth and Diana’s Stories. Rough draft of Ashley’s Story. Re-energize the Intentions and Synchronicities blog with friends Michele Lauren, Gimi and Connie ~ www.JudithAshley.blogspot.com. Celebrate love, life and friendships!
November 2011 – Update: Aren’t goals wonderful? I did finish The Dragon and The Great Horned Owl (Lily’s Story) not just once but twice. Connie Cole was a Beta Reader for me and her suggestions made sense which is why there was another go round of editing. Romancing The Genres group blog is flying along. I have been posting at www.JudithAshley.blogspot.com again although my friends have yet to join me.
As of today (11/13/2011) Romancing The Genres has over 10,600 page views! My goal is to reach 12K by 01/01/2012. It’s looking like we may make that by 12/01/2011! Sarah and I put together a workshop proposal for Romance Writers of America’s National Conference in Anaheim July 2012 and we are submitting this workshop for Rose City Romance Writers’ Spring Intensive and Emerald City’s 2012 Conference.
I’ve still not started writing Ashley’s Story although she is strong in my thoughts. And this year I’m not doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNo) as I’m yet again going through my finished manuscripts for a final polish.
Up first is The Lady and The Sacred Grove (Elizabeth’s Story). My goal is to be done by the end of 2011. January and most likely into February I’ll focus on The Queen of Swords and The Knight of Pentacles (Diana’s Story). By that time Ashley’s Dragonflies and Dreams should fly through the keyboard onto the page!
What I am doing in November is submitting to both Samhain Publishing and Melissa Jeglinski of The Knight Agency who requested material at Emerald City; entering RWA’s Golden Heart Contest and since I’m already registered for Desert Dreams 2012, I’m entering that contest for attendees. My plate is full!
My Emerald City Workshop “5 Simple Ways to Identify and Increase Character Conflict” was well received. Check out ‘Workshop’ to read about the workshop content and review the handout. Contact me if you have questions or want me to present at your chapter or conference. Have Handouts Can Travel!
2010 a year of new experiences!
January: Joined two chapters as a long-distance member. Greater Seattle RWA and Desert Rose #60 (Phoenix).
Two day workshop with Margie Lawson; lots of good information and strategies to boost the quality of my writing. Check it out at www.margielawson.com.
Began editing Diana’s Story Show Me The Way using what I’d learned at workshop.
February: Attended Rose City Romance Writer’s Winter Intensive.
Friday evening: First Turning Point’s Ann Charles and Jacqui Rogers on pre-publication promotion.
Saturday: Michael Hague on structure and plot with lots of other tips thrown in.
Sunday: Bob Mayer on Who Dares Wins – how to use strategies to kick our writing to the next level.
Basically blew my writing resource budget on books, CD’s, and DVD’s by Michael and Bob.
March: Armed with new ideas and strategies to strengthen my writing, I completed the editing of Show Me The Way.
Created a 2.5 minute pitch for my series based on Michael Hague’s Selling Your Book In 60 Seconds.
Read Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel. www.writersdigest.com and www.maassagency.com.
Registered for Nationals in Nashville, made my travel and room reservations, and volunteered to Moderate Workshops and help with Registration.
April: Attended the Desert Dreams Writers Conference and pitched my series to Deb Werksman, Senior Editor at Sourcebooks.
She requested my three completed manuscripts, a synopsis of all seven novels, and my overall series concept. Needless to say I am thrilled and working on making this submission the best I can do.
I met with Brad Schreiber for a critique of my query letter and appreciate his feedback on how to make it better.
I moderated workshops for:
Erin Quinn (www.erinquinninfo.com): “Practice What You Pitch”;
Laura Schnebly Campbell: “The Alpha Male, From Abe to Zeus”;
Toni McGee Causey: “Sex and the Single Title” and
Samhain’s Laura Rausch’s “Focus on Samhain”. I always get more from Conferences when I volunteer so you can see this was a good one!
Emerald City Writers Conference accepted my workshop proposal “Supporting Your Writing Life: How to Balance your ‘real’ and ‘writing’ lives”. This conference is great and I hope to see you there (and at my workshop). www.gsrwa.com for details
May: Road trip to Write on the River Conference in Wenatchee, Washington. I had a great time traveling with my best friend, staying with Helen and Greg (Helen is my writing friend), and meeting new people. I’d never been to Leavenworth or Wenatchee before so was able to see another piece of our great Pacific Northwest.
Despite my technical challenges I completed Platform Building 101 Class taught by 1st Turning Point’s, Ann Charles and Jacquie Rogers.
Paired up with Tamera Lynn through the class. Check out her blog www.TameraLynn.blogspot.com.
Started a blog: www.JudithAshley.blogspot.com on Intentions and Synchronicities. Let me know if you have a story to share.
Signed up for Facebook.
June: What’s new in June? I’m keeping my tush in the chair, my fingers on the keyboard, and the pages flying. I have four synopses to write on books I’ve yet to create and three manuscripts to polish.
July: While attending International Conference for The William Glasser Institute in Nashville and visiting a friend in Cincinnati, OH I finished reviewing and tweaking To Have It All book two in The Women’s Circle series and got final feedback from my readers on The Series Concept and all seven synopses!
My other big news is that I visited Whatever Works Wellness Center and Bookstore and met the owner, Connie Lasorso. If you are in the Cincinnati area, do stop by. The store has an amazing vibration. And, she will be stocking my books once they are published. I’m looking forward to visiting again for a book signing.
August: Started incorporating the suggestions from my two main readers into Book One. Am always amazed at what new eyes pick up. My friend, Lois who edits my work, came to visit for a week. She is a graphic designer and decided to create a wonderful card for me to use to write thank you notes, etc. I can hardly wait!
Stopped in Depoe Bay at Things Rich and Strange where I found a few treasures including a new Tarot Deck “The Sacred Circle”. The owner, Michael Babinski, gifted me with a beautiful crystal. You’ll see it if you come to Emerald City and attend my workshop. And, Michael is also interested in stocking my books!
The Crystal Wizard at Gleneden Beach was another place to browse and more. Chris, the proprietress, is also interested in stocking my books. I think I’ve found my niche!
Started working on judging my entries in the Golden Rose Contest. It is a great learning experience. Consider judging contests if you haven’t already.
September: Friday, September 3 rd we drove up onto property on the flanks of Mt. Hood for The Women of the 14 th Moon gathering. What a wonderful way to start a month! What a wonderful way to confirm the sacred. When you read my books, you’ll see how special this time is.
Prepared for Emerald City Writers Conference. My workshop presentation is good to go, handouts prepared, and blurb for program done. What’s left? Having a picture to submit. I’m fortunate my granddaughter is a budding photographer and she has promised to take a picture of me this weekend.
October: Attended and presented at ECWC. Workshop Title: Supporting Your Writing Life: How to Balance Your ‘Real’ Life With Your ‘Writing’ Life. I had a great time, as I always do. The workshop went well, I honed my pitching skills at Editor and Agent appointments, and volunteered to moderate workshops and assist with Editor/Agent appointments. Volunteering is a great way to experience a Conference.
November: Yes, it’s NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month. I missed this years NaNo because I focused on finishing a final polish of the first three books for my submission to Sourcebooks. I did collect several dragonflies and found the word Dream creeping into my work space. This year’s NaNo project was Ashley’s story and the dragon and damselflies are her personal totem.
December: Submitted to Sourcebooks. What a great publishing company! Even though they decided my stories were not a good fit for them, I received invaluable feedback from them and in a timely manner. I’d heard stories that if you submit after mid-November, you won’t hear back until late January or maybe even February or March. Imagine my surprise when not only did I hear back, but I had an email conversation about my stories…all before New Year’s Eve.
