LIFE ON THE THREES

I like to write in threes. I find it kind of a spiritual number.

So, I have had three rejections this month. The first was not placing in the Children's Writer contest with my story entitled The Haunted Desk. The second was not winning the agent contest with Open Doors. And, the third came yesterday -- my picture book manuscript entitled Rainbow Dreams was rejected.

I never worry about rejection. It's just that much closer to acceptance.

I found a new publisher for Rainbow Dreams, but am rewriting it a bit. My critique group liked the original. I want to change the ending. I'm not sure how. I will keep writing until it works -- for me.

I looking forward to attending the Storywriter's conference in a couple of weeks. It is Christian based and that is a good market for me. I'm hoping for some kind of direction.

IN THE ZONE

Huff, huff, huff.

Puff, puff, puff.

That's the sound of my breathing as I run back and forth to the post office.

Four times.

Yes, four times.

I submitted four manuscripts this week. Three to magazines and one (dreaded) picture book.

I'm in the zone. How cool is that!!!

FYI: Check out the website: www.create210.com. There is going to be a Christian based "creative arts" conference in my area. I'm considering attending. It just may be what I've been looking for at this time in my writing career.

Well, well, well...I wrote a story that my critique group didn't trash this week. They actually loved it!! How cool is that. I just need to make a couple of changes and find the right company for it. Oh, yeah.

AWAKE AND WRITING

My muse woke up!!! How cool is that. I just finished a picture book story about a grandmother and her granddaughter called, The Day the Cookies Burned. I hope my critique group likes it. They've pretty much trashed my latest stuff. Hopefully this is more on track.

I am, however, struggling with my story, The Day the Birds Stopped Singing. It's a science fiction piece. I think I told you that my mind doesn't work that way, it's a challenge to stretch my writing. I'm doing all sorts of "exercises" to get into that type of thinking. So far, no go. I need a bad guy...and don't want to copy the latest books...I will keep trying...but so far all I have come up with is a "shadow" that blankets the earth. How lame is that!

I'm in the middle of re-sending some manuscripts. I don't know if I will get anywhere with them. I just feel that if they sit on my computer they are already rejected -- by me.

The website Knowonder! must be making great strides. I notice that they are now putting out a magazine -- I hope one of my e-published stories makes it. I received a note from them that they are getting so many submissions that they have closed taking more until after the first of the year.

Football season is back in gear. To my wonderful, departed husband: Go, Pack, Go!!