WRITING CONVENTIONS

Well, I've gotten June 4th, 5th and 6th approved off at my day job. That means I'm planning on attending my 2nd writing convention. The last convention I attended was Raven Con in Richmond Virginia. This year I'm planning on going to ConCarolinas in Charlotte NC. I'm super excited about going. I learned a lot at my last convention.

One of the things that I am most excited about with attending this writing convention is, I'm a published author this time around. I feel like, not only do I belong but, I'm making progress toward my goals. Not that I expect anyone there to know but, I will.

 What's really cool is, one of the panelist Terry W. Ervin III is featured in Abaculus III. My short story, "Raven's Transformation" is in Abaculus III. So, I'll definitely try to attend his panel, as well as my friend Marcia's panels.

I've already talked my BFF into riding shotgun with me. I'm thrilled that she's coming but, nervous too. You see, my BFF is a Minister. I've tried to prepare her in for what she might see at the convention. Hopefully, she won't embarrass me too much.

I know what you're thinking, my best friend is a minister and I write Urban Fantasy; how in the world does that work? I don't know. But, we've been friends forever. About a year ago I talked her into reading one paragraph from a short story I was working on. She ended up reading the entire story. She said, " I don't read Urban Fantasy but, your story just drew me in."  She's been reading my stories every since.  Though she has mentioned that I should try my hand at Christain fiction.

I'm looking forward to seeing my friend Marcia Colette again. Met her in person for the first time at Raven Con. I hope she brings baby girl.

Well, after attending my first conference, I had a short story published. Here's hoping this one brings good news too!

FAVORITE QUOTE FOR TODAY:

"It's none of their business that you had to learn how to write. Let them think you were born that way."

Ernest Hemingway

REWRITES

The rewrites have begun!!! I'm working on my 2nd Draft of my novel length MS. I read a quote from Ernest Hemingway that said the first draft of anything is crap. It cracked me up but, yet  how true.

The first draft is just the bare bones of the story put to paper. The 2nd helps to really form the story on the paper and in your own mind and the 3rd, 4th or 5th hopefully fully brings your baby to life. I think Rachel Vincent said she rewrote her book like, six times before she thought it was ready. Yeah, I'm not planning on turning my story over until I've rewritten ,edited  and polished it to within  an inch of it's life. I'm trying to get published...again. We wouldn't want to turn in anything but our best as my former teacher Terry Spear would say.

I am planning on starting the actual putting down the bare bones of "Raven's" story when I finish the 2nd rewriting of this one. I've already started with the basics of what I want to happen. Who is Raven? (Which I already have an idea because of my short story.) And I already know how the story is going to start. But, I'm not saying.

Surprisingly, "Tara" the main character of the story I'm working on now, is becoming more clear to me on this 2nd go round. I thought I knew her inside out but, she is surprising me with some of her feelings about another character.

I rewrote my  practice query letter today. (With a few suggestions:) I'm kicking myself for leaving out some important stuff in the first one. Stuff that makes my story a bit unique. I think it's pretty good now but, I'm not above rewrites.

Later,
Melissa