Brenda Birch

Where to begin?

It’s been a tough week. Lots of thinking, planning, plotting and world building and the kids are on Spring Break. We weren’t able to travel but we did take in a movie yesterday and tomorrow we are to spend the day at Carowinds. The familiar whines of boredom are in full force but I refuse to listen.

I hate those “back in my day” stories, but lets be honest. I didn’t have a Playstation II (we own three of them) in my own bedroom with countless games, I didn’t have a television in my own bedroom (hell, I didn’t even have cable growing up), I didn’t my choice of four computers to play on – all with high-speed internet access, I didn’t have a garage full of bikes and motorcycles, I didn’t have a trampoline and I certainly didn’t have a neighborhood full of friends to play with. So give me a freakin’ break!

I’ve had little time to write and only have about 1000 words written this week.

One thing I’ve decided is to decrease my time messing around online. Writers Forums are a great resource but they can also be a time waster.

Angela Miller and I traveled to the Virginia Festival of the Book over the weekend. I was really alot of fun and she and I chatted like we were old friends instead of two writers who met in a Writers Forum.

I met Melanie Lynn Hauser, author of Confessions of Supermom and Sharon Baldacci, author of A Sundog Moment. They are such great ladies! Actually Melanie and I met on a Writers Forum years ago.

We met many great authors, purchased a few books and went to a few great panels. I’ll certainly try to attend next year.

What I took away from the festival is that there are many writers out there, all with the same dream that I have. I realize the odds are against me and so my “product” must be better than the competition and networking is crucial.

Although I have to admit, I really didn’t get much new information out of the Agents Panel. I felt more informed than the average attendee about the whole process, although it is still a bit overwhelming.

If I take anything away from the experience, it is that the odds are extremely stacked against me. So what’s new? The odds have always been against me but I’ve always prevailed. It is no different with my writing.

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Me? Indecisive?

I can’t make up my mind. I have two novel ideas but one keeps pushing ahead. The other one is more subtle. It sits back, waiting for me to clear the slate and start to work. What a pity for it really, as the YA Fantasy has consumed much of my attention over the past two days. Is it FATE? Could this be the one? Who the f*ck knows. I certainly don’t.

Nonethess, I’ve updated my calendar once again to reflect the latest deadlines for the piece that has taken the forefront. With the addition in word count (up to 6k per week), I anticipate this piece will be finished by the end of May. It’s not so far off really. The real stinker is that this will be Book 1 of at least a 2 book story so I’ll probably have to finish the entire tale before I can even think about my next idea.

The good news is I’m focused. I’ve already completed 3,741 words this week and I haven’t counted the next four pages handwritten in my notebook. And the best part of it all is that it is really good stuff.

Today will probably be the last writing day I have. I have to clean this filthy house before I leave on Friday to the Festival. I might also have to drive some 7th graders on a field trip. Gaw I hope not!

B.K.
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Novel Competition

What was I thinking? I have weekly goals of 3k on the YA Fantasy and 3k on the Adult Historical. Well, wouldn’t you know it, the YA Fantasy has taken over. I went to the library today and before my 2.5 hours were up, I had written 2500 words. They just flowed from my pencil as if someone else were writing them. It was so easy. I’m concerned that the Adult Historical will suffer because of my enthusiam for the Fantasy.

So, I’ve devised a plan. I’ll spend one day per week at the library working on the Historical. I normally spend 2.5 to 3 hours each day there so 3k shouldn’t become a problem. I already have about 1k handwritten in a notebook.

Why is it that I can do laundry, cook a full meal and clean the house simultaneously, but I cannot work on two novels at once?

It is a surprise that I have the house to myself. The school has a fundraiser that the local skating rink every month since both B1′s and B3′s ball games got rained out, Hubby volunteered to drive them and two friends to “Skate Night”.

I think I’ll cut this post short and do a bit more writing.

BK.

www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Rainy Monday and a Short Post

Why do I eat Chinese Food? And a better question – why to I let hubby talk me into the Chinese Buffet for lunch? I’m stuffed and dying of thirst. Ick!

Today I spent the moring revamping my website and soooo, I had to change my blog template too. What a chore but I really do like the look.

No writing, but loads of research! I’ve handwrtten about two pages of the YA Fantasy, but I have about five pages of plot ideas. I’ll draft out Mattie’s Song this evening while the girls are at Ballet.

B2′s Softball Team won the 10U March Madness Tournament. I’m so glad she’s on a decent team this year.

Bye for now.

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

I’m so psyched!

Yesterday afternoon the most tremendous idea hit me for a YA Fantasy novel. Me – the stuck in a rut historial gal got an idea for a Fantasy. It hit me all at once, so before I went to B1′s baseball game last night, I swung by the library and checked out a plethora of research books.

The main prophecy (don’t all Fantasies have a prophecy?) has been established, the main characters for now have been named and in fact, they’ve already started talking. Luckily it doesn’t involve a key, an amulet, a ring or whatnot so there’s no chance of a tired plot. It will have a bit of magic and will involve a quest. I have the land mass defined and the journey almost mapped. I have the regions defined as well as the characteristics of the people who live in each area.

I re-did my calendar ( you can view it by clicking on the calendar icon on the right of this blog) to plan for 3000 words per week on Mattie’s Song (hey, I cannot go cold turkey on historical fiction, okay?) and 3000 words per week on Quest for Bashkim. I can probably get a bit more, when hubby goes back to work.

I have to say, I don’t get to read Pamela K. Taylor’s Warped Galaxies Blog as much as I like, but Wednesday’s post saddened me. You can read it here. I hope it gets resolved soon.

Have a great weekend everyone!

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

. . . And Like a Dumbass . . .

Before I forget, here is the Press Release for the March 2006 Issue of The Scruffy Dog Review. It’s short and sweet, but it’s out there!

I’ve decided to write Mattie’s Song. As if I haven’t had enough frustration and disappointment with this business. Nosiree, bring it on! I toyed with quitting – really – but then what would I do? I couldn’t imagine not carrying the ten pound backpack full of notebooks and other requirements of writing on the go. I couldn’t image dealing with the character chatter in my head or not taking notice when a perfect action scene plays itself out in my head. If I quit, then I’d have no excuse when people ask why I talk to myself. And then there’s this:

“But I’ve known love, and I’ve known fear. I’ve known struggle and triumph. I’ve known loneliness and the feeling of being found. The best books take us places we’ve never been, but show us deeper truths we’ve always known. The best writers expose our universal secret thoughts. Writers write what they know, and readers respond when it hits home. Even when we’ve never…” Agent 007 March 12, 2006

Beautiful, isn’t it?

I have another (I’ve lost count) read-through of Strange Fruit and I have to get some feedback from three lovely folks who volunteered to read it. I have the query letter written and I have to admit, I’ve e-queried a couple of agents. One wrote back and said that she wasn’t taking on new clients but I haven’t heard anything from the rest of them. No news is good news, I suppose.

I’d love to write more, but Blogger is really slow today. Ta Ta!

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

Selfish Rant

Read at your own risk . . .

Today I’m having one of those “I hate the world days.” One of the agents who requested a partial on the YA trilogy sent me a rejection today so now I only have one agent still outstanding. I have about fifteen queries outstanding, but the last one I sent was back on 2/22/06 so I feel that the project is dead. Fifteen agents read my work – speaks volumes for my query letter huh?

Not gritty enough . . . charming story but it won’t sell . . . love the writing, but historical fiction isn’t selling . . . blah, blah and more blah. Perhaps if I put fangs on Jordan, have him fall through a porthole into another epoch were evil threatens the very existence of mankind and only he can save it by traveling over icy peaks, through scorching deserts and over miles of oceans to retrieve Mudusa’s head to fulfill a prophecy set forth by the mysterious messiah ages ago, maybe then the fucking thing would sell. No offense to authors who write such books – in fact BRAVO, because that seems to be all that agents want these days.

This business sucks!

BK

Writing the novel is the EASY part . . .

I finished the . . . well . . . upteenth draft of my novel, Strange Fruit. It weighs in at 79,122 words and is due one more complete edit. I have a few friends reading it ,so as soon as I read it once more, get their input and make the changes, it will be done.

Even with this accomplishment I really dread what is ahead. The agent list, the query letter, the synopsis, ugh! It’s enough to suck the life “write” out of me. I hate this business. I’ve tried to learn it, play it, embrace it, live for it, but in fact I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. Have I mentioned that I hate this business? I’m getting nauseated just thinking about the road that lies ahead.

On a good note, my short story, Caught In The Middle, has been shortlisted by Solander Magazine. It is the short story which gave birth to the Civil War Trilogy. It is a proud moment even though I’m not quite published there yet. Solander is the Holy Grail of historical fiction – at least in my book.

I feel like such a whiner lately – here at home, on my writer’s forum and just in general. I really need to get my shit together. Sorry everybody.

Well, I suppose I must edit.

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com

I Can’t Seem To Say Goodbye

This novel has been a part of my life for four years. Either it’s been consuming my every thought or stewing on the back burner while other projects required my attention. I’ve less than 7500 words to go (round or about) and I can’t seem to get them on paper.

Oh, I’m not blocked – I know how it will end. I’ve known it for years. Granted this week The Scruffy Dog Review did suck up a bit of my time, but I still have no excuse for writing only 469 words for the entire week! I’m almost too embarrassed to type it, but at least I wrote something.

I can’t believe next week I’ll complete the book. It’s not a final draft but it is by no means a first draft either. It is both a happy and sad time for me.

BK
www.bkbirch.com
www.thescruffydogreview.com