Brenda Birch

2006 In Reflection Part II

I found my notebook. One of my beloved family members put in safely in nightstand drawer and didn’t tell me. I don’t know if I’ll get anything on paper this week, but I have been churning the YA Fantasy plot in my head. I need to go back and make a few changes to the story that I’ve written so far, but it is minor and the plot will flow much smoother.

Looking back over the past year, another thing I’ve developed is TENACITY. This is not to be confused with COURAGE mind you, as courage is usually positive. It’s more along the thought of, “What do you mean I can’t to this? Well, I’ll show you dammit!” or STUBBORNESS.

There have been a few situations where this has come back to bite me. Like, the time I should have called a plumber but didn’t because . . . well . . . I could fix it myself! Or, yes I can cut the entire lawn in thirty minutes!

My tenacity surfaced many times while I was querying my YA Historical and my Adult Literary piece. The following is meant with humor and if any bitterness seeps forth, well sorry about that.

With the YA, I had over twenty requests from agents who all said they liked the book but just didn’t fall in love with it, or historicals are aren’t selling, or it’s a beautiful story and the historical authenticity is inspiring, but alas (I hate ‘alas’ and if you’re not Headmaster Dumbledore, do not use it!) is isn’t something we’re adding to our list right now, or blah, blah, blah.

With the Adult piece, my dialogue was forced (was NOT!), it’s been done before (I don’t believe the agent even read it) or it seems more situated to a local market (well, sorry if Charlotte North Carolina is too backwoods for you. I’ll be sure to tell Patricia Cornwell the next time I see her!).

I suppose I need to channel this lovely trait into something I can use for 2007!

2006 in Reflection Part I

I’ve lost my notebook! It is around the house somewhere. I thought I might have left it at work, but it isn’t there. Most of the handwritten pages had already been typed, but it did have some much needed notes, an outline and a handwritten draft of a query letter. Ugghhh! It had better show up and soon!

Day work has been pretty quiet, so I thought it an opportune time to research some more agents. I zeroed in on ten and found that seven of them accepted equeries! So, I emailed them. Yes, I realize that most agents are away for the holidays, but I did it anyway. What, will they write me back, tell me that my timing stinks and reject me based on that alone? I don’t think so. Yeah, I probably need to get a life but so what.

Looking back over the past year, I can see many things I’ve done right and many more things I could have done better. Yet the year has not passed me by without branding me with a few life lessons.

One character trait I have cultivated this year is PATIENCE. I never had much patience and still my threshold is much lower than it should be. Up until now, I’ve pretty much been a student of instant gratification. I’ve never been one to save for something or wait in general for anything. If I wanted something, I purchased it (within reason of course) or if I had to wait in line, say in a restaurant, bank or check out line, I’d go elsewhere. If I had to wait, then 20 minutes is my limit. Then I start to huff and puff and basically cause a scene if I wait much beyond that. It is a shame really and not very mature on my part.

As I entered the business end of writing, I was forced to practice patience. I was patient with beta-reader feedback, patient in my agent research, patient in crafting my submission materials and patient with the feedback. As 2006 comes to a close, I’m no closer to my dream than I was at the end of 2005. I’m just more patient about it.

Hopefully 2007 will bring my one step closer!

Happy Christmas!

Where to begin? For starters, I changed my blogger template on December 21st for a fresh start, but never got around to posting. Bad, bad blogger!

I perused back to my last post on December 5th, and immediately wondered what happened to December. It flew by! B2 did get her braces and boy did she whine. B1 never complained once, although one time I could see he was in pain, so I took it upon myself to stop by the orthodontist office to pick up some more wax. B2 has made up for the both of them. Geesh, what a big baby!

I started Christmas shopping on December 22nd, and in one day, hubby and I completely finished it. Christmas was lovely as was Christmas Eve Mass. There is usually standing-room-only on Christmas Eve, but this year there were plenty of seats.

Something happened at our church and even though our primary priest left under mysterious circumstances, many of the members left also. I don’t know what happened and I don’t want to know really, but I’ve heard rumors of alcoholism and skimming money from the offering plate. I’d hate to be the one spreading the rumors and I wonder how much penance one would have to pay for spreading lies and/or half truths about a priest?

Anyhow, the new priest is conducting a “town meeting” at the church this week. He seems like a very nice fellow but I’m not going. I don’t want to know what was said or what really happened. It isn’t necessary information for me nor will the truth (or the lies for that matter) affect how I live.

Christmas morning started later than I had anticipated. I told the kids not to wake me up before 7 am and by gosh, they listened. I could hear them running around downstairs but they never once opened my bedroom door until 7 am.

B1 won for the biggest box – the Dell Computer. The printer I got him has to have a USB cable that is sold separately. Dang it! He also got a few video games, a Michael Jordan jersey, some UNC Chapel Hill stuff and the usual socks, underwear and t-shirts.

B2 didn’t get the computer she wanted, but she did get an awesome Pentax digital camera, a new stereo, earrings, a CD and DVD, and a butt-load of new and very expensive clothes.

B3 got a PSP and a few games, a massaging pillow (that mom will be borrowing), earrings, a DVD, and a few new and very expensive clothes.

B4 got a PSP and a few games, a PS2 game, heelys, an electronic drum set, and the usual socks, underwear and t-shirts.

My bonehead move was to purchase Womens Small Rainbow Flip-Flops for the girls. They’re 9 and 11, but they have huge feet. It will be back to the stinkin’ mall on Wednesday to exchange them. Ughhh!

All in all, it was a very fun and relaxing day.

Taking time off from writing, writers forums and anything related to the business of writing was a welcome break. I purchased a 2007 planner and I’ve written some goals in it already.

Most of all I’ve been re-reading some of my old books and came up with a simple mantra to begin each today. I took it from one of my Reiki reference books I own.

Today I will be kind . . .
Today I will be true . . .
Today I will respect all life . . .
Today will be better than yesterday . . .

Some dedicated writers are developing their 2007 GDRs which I applaud them. Unfortunately, I’m just not that diciplined. I certainly wish I was!

I’m currently re-reading the FOUR COMPLETE BOOKS OF EDGAR CAYCE, MODERN PROPHET. Good stuff.

Well, I s’ppose I’d better get. I have to work tomorrow. Happy Christmas!

Chuggin’ Along

No writing progess, just some reading and formatting for the next issue of The Scruffy Dog Review. We have two great short stories and some wonderful poetry so far. We still need four more short stories but I’m behind in reading so if you’ve submitted something, please bear with me.

B1 and B2 had school basketball games tonight. The opposing teams were a bit rough. B2 pretty much got the crap knocked out of her (she’s about 5′ even and weighs 80 lbs) because she’s playing girls have have at least three inches and 20 lbs on her. B1 is about 5’9″ and weighs 160 lbs – he held his own!

Like a dumbass, I didn’t get the lunch order in for school, so now I’m stuck packing four lunches every day until January. I certainly won’t make that mistake again. B2 usually helps me, but after her game tonight, she got a migraine and ended up throwing up in the bathroom while I watched B1′s game. So tonight I packed solo. She felt good enough later to eat some chicken soup and a few Jolly Ranchers.

Tomorrow, there’s piano lessons and both B2 and B3 have basketball practice. There will certainly be minutes to steal!

Take care everyone!

Friday!

Well, today I managed another 475 words and printed pages 50 through 61 for edits. Hopefully I’ll get to work on them tonight. But if I don’t then I don’t. I’ve reserved Sunday for working on the Scruffy Dog Review.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous this week with the temperatures in the mid-seventies. It is raining today and it feels balmy and tropical. Too bad the whole winter can’t be like this. It is supposed to get cold again next week though.

B1’s team won their basketball game as did B2’s. B1 is starting, but the scores have gotten so out of balance that the 2nd and 3rd string gets to play a bunch. Last night’s score was at last 40 to 6. B2 got to play almost two quarters of the game. That’s pretty good for a 6th grader. B1 and B4’s rec basketball starts this weekend. At least the gym is climate controlled for the most part. The softball field certainly isn’t.

I haven’t done a lick of Christmas shopping. I hope to at least get the tree this weekend.

B2 gets her braces next week. With braces for each kid running about $5,300, I’ll be out of $21,200 after it is all said and done. OUCH! B1 should have his braces off by the time B3 gets hers on and B2 should have hers off by the time B4 gets his on. It’s a vicious cycle I tell ya! Oh, and both B2 and B4 will need implants at $2,000 per tooth.

Have a great weekend all!