June 9-2002
Last night I was on a roll. My clocks aren't set right because there was a power failure while I was in Vegas, so I plowed through my editing until I thought it was time to go to bed. When I turned the light out, I heard birds chirping and saw that the sun was coming up! It was 5:00 a.m. Oy. I think I'm basically done with the rewriting. Now I have to go through and clean up the mess I made. Wording, typos, etc. have to be fixed. I'm finding I'm glossing over it as I read it for the umpteenth time, so I might have to call on Heather again for editing help. Are you reading this, Heather?
I bought a digital camera today. I was so bummed that I didn't have one at Paul & Melissa's wedding that I decided I could not let another event go by without e-pictures. Hooray for tax returns. As soon as I figure out what I'm doing, you'll probably see about a thousand pictures of my cats posted. They're getting sick of modeling for me while I practice, the prima donnas.
I had dinner with a friend from high school last night. Lisa is the coolest. She has a way of cheering me on but keeping me real - not that I don't love a few suck-ups, but I like her balance. When I'm a writer/slash/celebrity-writer, she'll know who I really am. Everyone else can start sucking up anytime, though. I won't mind a bit.
June 10, 2002
Could it be that I have my first three chapters done?!?! Well, I'm damn close. I sat on the patio of a pizza shop while I did most of my work today. I've read the same 50 pages so many times I had to get a new perspective. It must have worked. I need someone to proofread the revised version, then unless I find out it totally sucks, I'm going to draft the most ass-kicking query letter ever written and send it to agents.
I'm loving this absolutist stuff. First, I went on the most fun vacation of my whole life, and unless someone proves otherwise, I went to the best wedding that ever was. Did you look at it on the web yet? You really must. It's archived under PT Shaw.
The day job starts again tomorrow. Maybe it will be the best work day that ever was.
June 11, 2002
Today was another record-breaking day for the website. I've now had 199 hits, even though the first 40 or so were mostly me checking out my handy work. When I get to 2000 maybe I'll give away a most awesome prize.
I got up this morning at 6:30 because I felt a need to search the internet for KISS tribute bands that might play in the area soon. Wouldn't you know there's one coming to Hellam, PA this Saturday? (Hellam - like Jackson Hellam in my novel - get it?) I think I've convinced a couple friends to go. What a perfect way to break in my digital camera!
Tomorrow, I'm going to share my first 30 pages with someone who agreed to proofread. I'm incredibly nervous. It's the first time anyone other than my sister will lay eyes upon the book. As I did a couple last run-throughs tonight, I alternately hated it and loved it. Right now, I love it.
Hey, have you noticed the GeneSimmons.com banners on some of my pages? Feedback?
June 12, 2002
Tonight the first 32 pages of my manuscript are in the hands of someone other than my sister or me. I am so scared! Oh god, I hope they are half-way decent. I dread the query letter process (raw fear of rejection), but I'm tired of revisions. At a certain point, my book can't get any better without professional help (an editor is what I mean, but a psychiatrist could be in the picture if I get too carried away).
I'll have big news from the day job soon. Keep reading!
June 13, 2002
I took my first crack at a query letter tonight. It's probably not horrible, but I'll need 4-5 rewrite sessions before I'm confident. I'm dying to get notes back from my reader. She emailed today to say she wants to read through a couple more times. I'm so nervous. She said, "I am enjoying the ride." I hope she's referring to the reading process and not the red pen process.
Sign my guestbook on the About the Author page! I am getting seriously geeky here.
2 days to go until the KISS tribute band. I can't wait!
June 14, 2002
It's all good. I met with my reader this afternoon. She totally understood what I needed. Her notes kick ass (she caught all those darn prepositional problems that I could never quite nail) and she really gets my characters. At a couple points, we were talking about the characters as if we both knew them. It's like finding out your co-worker went to high school with your college roommate - or something like that. I've already replaced one neurosis with another - since she liked the first 3 chapters I'm scared the next 3 will be a letdown. BUT I have equal confidence that it's strong.
I found the secret webpage where I can approve my guestbook submissions. Yep, I'm one of those people who will filter out the negativos. Gene Simmons does it on his site, so there. Thanks to the first 2 people who signed. I loved Matthews's honesty and humor.
Faux KISS is less than 24 hrs away! I emailed the band to find out what time their set starts, and the reply basically said, "Beats me... Let's rock!!!" It's perfect in its simplicity. (Continue)
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