Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Whip-It UP Wednesdays!

Ok, it's been a while since I've given ya'll the 411 on what's happening with my MS.

So, here's the skinny on a fat situation. lol I need to get MOVING! Yes, this lolly-gagging has cost me. In order to enter the Golden Heart this year I need to write about 1000 words a day. The end result will be writing THE END with plenty of time to edit, polish, and mail by the December deadline.

I don't think I'm the only person to fall victim to such trappings as laundry, shuttling kids, meal planning, bills, Sookie Stackhouse books and TrueBlood! Real life happens and sometimes it knocks us with an ole one-two to the kisser. Hey, that's life and it ain't ever going to get easier. So, if life is the variable in the equation, that means I get to determine the constant. In this case, my constant is determination.

Behind every successful person is a moment where the rubber met the road, so to speak, and they got gazelle intense about achieving their dreams. Mine came last week. I received an email from an author friend of mine stating that her editor was not only critiquing pitches, but taking them! All I had to do was click over to the blog and pitch my opus in the comments sections. Holy $#@*, right?! A dream come true!

Yeah, here is where my "DOH! DOH! Moment!" came to pass. I didn't have a pitch ready, because I had nothing to pitch! A half-written book is just that-- a half-written book! So, I lost an opportunity because I hadn't stepped up to the plate and put the time in swinging away. Awful baseball analogy, but you get the gist. :)

So, what's a gal to do after she's drowned her self-pity in Diet Coke and left over birthday cake from her 3 yr old's party? I got frickin' gazelle intense, that's what!

No more putting my writing time on the back burner because something else comes up. I will make writing a priority. Life will always be there to throw lemons at you. It's up to you to dodge the little buggers. I vote for making lemon custard filled pastries and pressing onward! *wink wink*

So, I've ramped up my battery and dived back into the program. No more Scarlet O'Hara or Snow White syndrome! Tomorrow ain't always a given and waiting for Prince Charming to come to you isn't nearly as fun as chasing his a**.

It's not always easy admitting when you've taken detours, well, actually if you let me drive inevitably you'll be taking detours because I have NO sense of direction or ability to parallel park, so I guess the moral of this story is STAY THE COURSE AND FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS and not me on a road trip! ;) But on the flipside, make sure you're not so rigid you can't roll with the punches. Don't worry, we'll get there together! Here's my theme song of late, hope it sets your gears to motion, too! Darryl Worley's
Sounds Like Life To Me!

C'mon, fess up! I know I ain't the only one! What goals are you chasing and how do you stay the course?

5 comments:

Cari Quinn said...

You can do this, Sarah! Entering the Golden Heart can be nervewracking but is so rewarding too. Nothing like finishing a book. :) I'm looking forward to your "woohoo, it's done!" party!

I'm trying to finish a couple novellas I've been dragging my feet on too long. Time to get moving!

Kaye Manro said...

Way to go, Sarah! Back on track now-- I know the Golden Hearts is a great place to aim. My buddy, Sharon Fisher finaled this year (don't know if she'll win until RWA in July) But she is thrilled. And because of this exposure, she has many agents wanting her book. (she just signed with the one she wanted most!)

So you go do that, girl! And good luck!!

Kaily Hart said...

Hi Sarah, 'gazelle intense' and chasing Prince Charming's **s? I love it! And I love your style. Glad you had your moment and your priorities became clear. The bottom line is writing IS the priority, or it should be. Of course, there's all these others things we can/should do but you have to write a book, and the next one and the next one. That's what authors do. That's what publishers and agents expect. That's what READERS expect. I've been facing this too. With my book coming out at the end of THIS MONTH, I have been looking into promotion. It's time consuming and you never know what will be effective. Perhaps I'm just wasting my time with these activities. Anyway, regardless I realized I still have to write and set some deadlines with my editor for the next 2 stories. That should keep me on track because if I don't deliver she'll come after me with a big stick. Not really, but the incentive is there! Best of luck finishing an entry for the Golden Heart. I know you can do it!

Sarah Simas said...

Thanks, Cari!

I'm hoping to have a big bash when that day comes, too! It will be a celebration a long time coming, that's for sure. :)

Heya Kaye! That is wonderful news about your friend! How exciting! I wish her all the best! I can't imagine what finaling feels like! With any luck I'll get to know first hand!*wink wink*

Kaily, did you get my email? I'm so happy for your release date! I think it's awesome that you went from novice writer to debut author in a blink of the eye! It's definitely inspiring, that's for sure! :)

Nicole Zoltack said...

Just take it one day at a time. That's how I manage to get any writing done between my little guy and this pregnancy. Keep the faith, you'll get there! I have faith in you!

Btw, there's an award for you on my blog. :)