Moving On....

I did it.

I sent my last submission of Dark Water last night. I've entered the manuscript in contests, exchanged with critique partners, revised, revised, revised, and queried agents and editors. I've gotten great feedback, but where it counts, I've been told that it's just not quite right for the market. From this point on, it's all about new stuff.

Writing is kind of like being on one of those climbing walls. Sometimes it's tough to find the right hand-hold. Sometimes you have to sweat and struggle to just not fall off, even though every part of you is shaking with effort. But you always have to LET GO and reach for the next thing or you'll never get to the top.

I bought myself a new white board yesterday and wrote my goals so I could see it and ask myself, "What have you done TODAY to meet these goals?" 

Keep your eyes on the prize!

Happy writing,

Ava

Props to the Honey Badger

A few things about my friend Madeline Martin (author of fabulous Scottish Highlander romances):

• She's absolutely beautiful and stylish, but it's nicely balanced by her clumsiness and self-deprecating humor;
• She's quick to offer a smile and encouragement, even when she's probably thinking, "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard."
• She balances her virtual Red Pen critiques with :-) and LoLs, so I feel like my manuscript is happy to be bleeding to death;
• She points out major details missed in a scene... because I've gotten distracted by the hot hero;
• All those wildly inappropriate thoughts that jump into my head? I can say them to Madeline, because she's thinking them, too;
• She gives "creative" driving directions after an evening of celebration (still better than Siri, in my opinion);
• She's up for almost any adventure;
• She writes a fabulous blog : www.madelinemartin.com.  Not every day you find a site that discusses the historical significance of penis enlargement AND beheading, right?
• And finally - She's my Mud Run Buddy - Team Dirty Writers AKA Team Honey Badger and Combat Barbie AKA Team Spider Monkey and Baby Bear.

OK - that last one was a sneaky segue. 2012 MS Society Muck Ruckus is coming soon - check back for photos!

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:-)

Ava