Online Contests & Shopping Is Good

I haven't been doing much writing lately. I did a couple of critiques and a very rough first edit on 'Baby Can I Hold You' but that is it.

I've entered two online contests the first was 'Karin Tabke's First Line' contest, that was a crazy few minutes. I'd been out shopping again (well it is almost Christmas), anyway I'd been out shopping and raced home ready to add my line the minute 'Game On' appeared on the screen. I hit refresh so many times waiting and waiting and then it happened those words popped up on the screen 'Game On', and there were already 48 entries. What? That can't be right. So I added my line and came in at #58, what the hell was going on here? Within 9 minutes the 100 places were filled. Karin said that was a record. Now I have to wait until Monday (well Tuesday because of the time difference) to see if I've made it into the next round.

The next contest i entered is 'Nathan Bransford's First Paragraph' contest, okay this one wasn't quite as crazy in pace but the number of entries are huge. So are over 1,000 so far, mine is in the 401 to 600 group. At least I only have a few days to see if I make the next cut with Nathan's contest.

Yesterday I took my Mum out for a few hours and went shopping. No Christmas shopping this time, no went into Borders. Love that shop. LOL. Anyway I picked up Evan Marshall's 'The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing' and James Scott Bell's 'Revision & Self-Editing'. My plan is to sit down over the weekend and read both books ready to get back into my writing next week.

So that is what I've been doing the past couple of weeks. Oh yeah, I have another blog (hopeless I am) anyway this one is called 'A Writer's Life' and I blog about tips I find in books and magazines drop by and have a look if you get time.

Happy writing.

Sandie

Yes I'm Still Kicking

Quick post just to let you all know I'm still a live and well. I've been writing up a storm. I decided to take the leap and send in a query for 'We Were In Love'. Guess what? Got a request for the first three chapters. I almost collapsed. You know I though it would take at least a week or two before I heard anything, but no within two days I had my request. YAYAYYAYA. First query letter and synopsis and I got a request. I was very pleased with myself.

A week later I thought I got mt first reject. But no as Natalie pointed out it was a request for a re-write. So now you know where I have been, madly doing re-writes. Adding description, removing characters (I had too many in the first few pages). Adding here, removing there. I finally have it finished I think. One of my new CPs has it at the moment and is going over it. That is scary, letting someone read my stuff and asking them to pull it to pieces. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I sent off an entry for the Modern Heat contest, that gets announced at the end of the month. Not holding my breath on that one. I have also sent an entry in for the High Five Contest with RWAustralia. Plus I'm still tossing up whether to send in one of my erotic ones for the STALI. I'm a little concerned that it may be a bit over the top.

Talking about my erotic writing, I've decided to do away with one of my pseudonyms, so Sandra Carrington will no longer exist and I'll write my erotic and paranormal under Cassandra Cornell. I've come up with an idea for a series of short stories as well as the other WIPs I have on the go for Cassandra.

So that's me for the moment. I promise not to leave it so long in between post in future. Honest Suz. LOL. Oh and I have some news to share with you on the talented Suzanne Brandyn. She has her release dates for her first novel 'Passion In Paradise' e format is the 7th/8th January 2009 (just in time for my birthday hehehe) and print format is 20th/21st February 2009. If you get a chance drop over and congratulate Suz, I know she'd appreciate it. Here's her link:

http://writerofromance.blogspot.com/

Okay that's my news for now. Catch ya soon.

Hugs

Sandie