March 2014 – Heather Cashman

The Home Stretch & #WriteMotivation

Posted by heathercashman in #WriteMotivation

Every ball these days is a curve ball. You’d think I would learn to prepare for it, but somehow, it always takes me by surprise.

Because of a wonderful offer by an amazing agent intern, my goals almost struck out. But I will report what I have done and then you can all judge me accordingly.

MARCH GOALS:

1) Write 20,000 words on RFA

Wrote 5000+

2) Blog 4 times

This will be my third post, so not all-together bad.

3) Read 4 books, one on the writing craft

Still slogging through Book 1 of A Game of Thrones, by George R. R. Martin and On Writing, by Stephen King.

4) Do not think negatively about the queries I sent in February

I haven’t had time to think about them at all.

5) Participate in Pitch Madness: Clue Edition (I’m scared to do this, but the agents are amazing!)

Yes. Rejected.

I also revised the first third of my TPR MS to improve my submission chances based on the amazing critique by Agent Intern Anon. of my first 5 chapters. I am working as hard and fast as I can to get it even more perfect.

Thanks so much for all of your #WriteMotivation support! Maybe someday we can have a conference and cater a bakery to make us cookies that look like books and words. And I want the waiters to dress up like dinosaurs.

10 Mar

Endurance & #WriteMotivation

Posted by heathercashman in #WriteMotivation

This has to be quick because I am so swamped getting things done!

MARCH GOALS:

1) Write 20,000 words on RFA

At 2,000 when an amazing thing happened with an agent intern. I am now doing a quick polish revision on TPR and all else is on hold.

2) Blog 4 times

This is #2

3) Read 4 books, one on the writing craft

Still reading The Game of Thrones and On Writing (details later)

4) Do not think negatively about the queries I sent in February

So far, so good.

5) Participate in Pitch Madness: Clue Edition (I’m scared to do this, but the agents are amazing!)

I submitted today! So excited to see what happens.

04 Mar

Taking the Time to Do It Write; March Goals

Posted by heathercashman in Miscellaneous

Success takes time. I see so many of these viral videos or songs that are a One-Hit-Wonder. I don’t want to be a One-Hit-Wonder.

I don’t even want two hits. I want to be a writer forever!

Tom Hanks was in a movie about One-Hit-Wonders. A great flick if anyone wants to see it. In the end, their lives went back to normal.

I don’t want to go back! I want normal to be writing–all the time. I want to get published. I want to keep getting published. And I will work as hard as I have to.

And the one thing I’ve learned is that doing something right means taking the time to perfect your skills. I don’t know how close I am to my goal. But I will keep going until I’m close enough that some agent can’t bear the thought of rejecting me. Editors will wonder where I’ve been all my life. And I will tell them: I’ve been learning, working, honing the words.

And that day, it will all be worth it.

Until then–here are the ways I am getting there, one month at a time.

MARCH GOALS:

1) Write 20,000 words on RFA

2) Blog 4 times

3) Read 4 books, one on the writing craft

4) Do not think negatively about the queries I sent in February

5) Participate in Pitch Madness: Clue Edition (I’m scared to do this, but the agents are amazing!)

Good Luck #WriteMotivation buddies and anyone else out there who wants to be writer.

01 Mar

#WriteMotivation February Tally

Posted by heathercashman in Miscellaneous

Monday blogging was too much to ask, so I am wrapping up the month today instead. Overall, making goals and adding things to my calendar in small pieces is working well. Breaking up the overwhelming things makes them appear less intimidating. So here it is.

1) Read one book every week, one of which is about how to improve my writing.

Read Writing Irresistable Kidlit, by Mary Kole and blogged about it.

Read The Christmas Sweater, by Glenn Beck and blogged about it.

Still half-way through The Alchemyst, by Michael Scott.

About 3/4 through Game of Thrones, Book 1, by George R. R. Martin. (This counts as at least one.)

2) Post on every member’s blog once per week.

Week 1: DONE

Week 2: DONE

I haven’t done this again. I get discouraged by people on #WriteMotivation who don’t reciprocate, and that got me a bit down. Sorry to those of you who actually have supported me. Your comments help more than you realize.

3) Send out 15 agent queries.

DONE!

4) Do not get depressed when I am rejected.

Got two rejections within about 15 minutes of querying. Not sure how to take that. But not depressed.

5) Finish final edit of TPR.

Week 1: Chapter 18 of 32. I feel good about this.

Week 2: Chapter 26 of 32. Woot!

DONE!

6) Outline all of TGM. Decide on POV and tense for TGM.

Week 1: Have to finish 5 first.

Week 2: No change.

NOPE!

But, hey, I did a lot this month. So I made myself molasses cookies. (My favorite.) Wish you were here to share them with me.