May 13, 2002
Synopsis done! The first draft, anyway. I'm sure it could use a whole lotta work, but not tonight. It's the kind of thing that needs to be printed, but I ran out of ink when I printed up the manuscript draft that Heather edited. Oh well, now I can get back to the literary agent book. Yippee.
I thought things would slow down at my day job since graduation was yesterday. That is most certainly not the case. I dare one more person to ask if I have to work in the summertime. Don't they know overtime minutes are supposed to be KISSfiction minutes?
I think I'm trying to emotionally disengage from the College. I'm letting the normal idiosynchracies seem like major problems. If it weren't for the darn people that I love so much I could just about ditch my whole career - the same career I had such passion for. That is probably a healthy part of letting go, but it would seem a bit premature to let go without a publisher and a six figure advance, n'est ce pas?
People are looking at my website. It's kind of weird since I'm writing a diary, even as impersonal as I'm trying to keep it. I've had to begin a separate, secret diary because I want to purge everything in my brain now. I've started to look at the world as a writer lately. Everything is a possible scene and everyone is a potential character. I'm learning a lot about myself in the meantime. All of my struggles and insecurities are marvelous character development material. All the stuff they tried to teach in college acting classes is finally sinking in. Being healthy is terrible for my craft.
May 14, 2002
I have about a gajillion pages of interview transcripts to read for my day job tomorrow, so I'll have to rely on the honor system tonight. I promise to read a chapter about good book synopses before I go to bed so I can start to edit mine tomorrow. My first draft turned out to be about 10 pages, which is okay for some agents, but some proposals require a 1-pager. Yikes. But if that's what they want, that is what they shall have.
May 15, 2002
Today is the birthday of the first boy I ever French kissed. Do you think he reminisces about me each March? If he thought the experience was as gross as I did at the time, probably not.
I refined some of my synopsis last night and highlighted names of potential agents tonight. I need more time to get book stuff done! I'm getting anxious. I want this summer to be a KISSfiction bonanza, but it won't happen if my day job doesn't slow down.
Stuff at the College is going a little too well. Students I love are showing appreciation and I'm getting recognition for my work. Darn it. I need a little more bitterness to fuel my journey to the world of writer/slash/writer-celebrity. This is where I'll have to prove myself - when I'm happy.
Aunt Paula & I finalized writers conference plans last night. It's really happening. I must get ready to create some believers in the lit world.
May 16, 2002
Ya gotta be kiddin' me! Last night a fan website had a brief posting that said that KISS left their record label and no one knows who owns the rights to the KISS songs. Another small hurdle for KISSfiction. I suspect that by the time I'm ready to mail out my copyright permission forms, the songs I need will have a home.
I had dinner tonight with a kindred spirit. He is a film maker, but many of our experiences in making and sharing our work are similar. It was nice to hear someone else give words to the feelings I've had throughout the creative process.
Tomorrow, the writers conference begins. I spent tonight finishing up highlighting the names of literary agents who accept new authors in fiction. Next week, I will prepare to mail out my first set of queries. I am most interested in what sorts of reactions I will receive from what I predict will be mostly mainstream writers tomorrow. Can they stand a conference sullied by a freak?
May 17, 2002
Day one of the writers conference. Synopsis of my feelings throughout the day:
I'm a genius.
I'm a loser.
I'm a genius.
I'm a loser.
I'm learning a lot. Aunt Paula was brave enough to submit material for a public read & critique session. Some of the feedback was great, and it forced me to rethink piece of my own book. Some of the criticism was ill-informed because the authors only submitted a tiny slice of material.
I am confident in my ability to promote my book. If I can get a publisher, I will sell a freakin' truckload of KISSfiction. Mark my words. I am not as hyped about the quality of my work. I need to work on 2 things: the motivation of my villain (which I already know how I'll accomplish); and driving the action more at the beginning. I begin the book with an image that plays a pivotal role at the end, but since the reader doesn't know the ending, it is BORING. Must find a way to add spice and suspense. (Continue)
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