Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Blog Hills, 90210

It's Wednesday again! Time for my update:

Writing News:
I'm still knee deep in revisions for Killing Kessler. This seems like a never-ending process. How can something that seemed so perfect two months ago now seem to need so much more revising? Will it ever be ready? I truly don't know.

Contest News:
Carolina Valdez Miller at Carol's Prints and Sara McClung at Babbling Flow are both giving away ARCs!

Ann at Inkpots n' Quills is giving away signed copies of The Lacuna and The Poisonwood Bible!

Since I just found out about these today, and this post is already a day old, I'll be sure to mention these contests again next week.

Blogfest News:
DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude hosts the High Drama Blogfest/Giveaway on Saturday, August 7.

Lilah Pierce at Thoughts by Lilah Pierce hosts The Funniest Blogfest Ever on Wednesday, September 1.




And an Award:
Today I'll be bestowing the Blogger BFF Award which was given to me by Lynn at Place to Create and Jen at unedited. Thanks, Lynn and Jen! I'd like to pass this award to Old Kitty at Ten Lives and Second Chances and Anne at Piedmont Writer.

I love Old Kitty's take on the world, and her wonderful Charlie pictures! Her comments always make me smile, they're like getting a great big hug!

Anne is a talented writer who shares her work generously on her blog. I always look forward to Anne's Something-Something posts for my chance to catch up with Genna and Tony.

That's it for me. Happy Wednesday, All!

34 comments:

Anne Gallagher said...

Thank you darling, and congratulations to you.

Revisions always take longer because you're looking for something rather than just writing something. It gets better don't worry.

Creepy Query Girl said...

Thanks for the heads up about the blogfests! Congrats on your award and to the winners!

Joanne said...

Congrats for the Award, to you and your nominees! And best wishes on the revisions ... I always like that stage, really finetuning the story. Happy writing to you.

Jemi Fraser said...

Congrats on the awards :)

Revising and editing take me a long time too. But it's worth it!

Shelley Sly said...

Congrats on your award, well-deserved!

Revisions can be a tricky stage. For me, revising can either 1) bring me back into the story, reminding me how much I loved writing it, or 2) make me wonder, "what was I thinking?" -- sometimes both in the same revising period. You'll get through it just fine! :)

Old Kitty said...

Congratulations with this fab award! It's so sweet and well deserved!!!! Awwww thank you so much for my nomination - me and Charlie are blushing!!!!! :-) And congratulations to the other nominees too - they look like fab blogs to visit!!

Good luck with your Killing Kessler revisions!! Of course it'll be ready - you'll know in your heart when it's all sparkly and shiny and ready to rock n roll!!

Oooh what yummy fun blogfests you've got there for us! Thank you!!!
Have a productive and fab Wednesday!!!

Take care
x

Crystal Cook said...

Congrats on the awards, those are always so fun to get! And good luck with your revisions, I know EXACTLY how you feel. You'll get there though, I'm SURE of it!

Susan Fields said...

Anne - I figured I wouldn't have to comment and let you know and Old Kitty know about your awards, since you're both so good about coming over and commenting - thank you! And I hope you're right about revisions, it's hard to believe I'll ever be satisfied with it.

Creepy Query Girl - I doubt I'll do either of the blogfests since I don't have anything appropriate or time to write anything new, but I have really enjoyed the blogfests I've participated in in the past.

Joanne - I actually enjoy revising, too - it just really discouraged me this time to think I was done, and then come back and find so much that still needed work. But at least it's something I enjoy, otherwise I probably couldn't spend this much time on it.

Jemi - You're right, revising is totally worth it. I'm definitely not one of those write-it-flawlessly-the-first-time type of writers (though I have heard of them - they do exist!)

Susan Fields said...

Shelley - That's so true! At least I'm enjoying the story, even if the writing's not as perfect as I want it.

Old Kitty - Like I told Anne, I figured I wouldn't have to let you guys know about your awards because you're both so awesome about stopping by and commenting regularly - thank you! And I'd love to see Charlie blush! :)

Crystal - Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm just so eager to get out there and start submitting this, it's hard to wait...and wait...and wait...

Kelly Polark said...

I love the title, Killing Kessler!
Congrats on your award, and have a great Wednesday!

Bossy Betty said...

Congrats to your winners! Revision is tough, but oddly satisfying too....

Talli Roland said...

Thanks for the blogfest links and congrats on the awards!

Oh revisions... I SO hear you. I feel like I'm stuck in a never-ending forest...

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Congratulations on the award! I've been critiquing other people's work for a couple days...I need to get refocused and write!!! Have a good one, Susan!

Jennifer Shirk said...

I can honestly say revisions never end but there comes a point when you'll just be sick of it you'll have to stop. LOL!

Unknown said...

Congratulations to you and the winners! There are some awesome bloggers out there!!!

Aubrie said...

At least you're taking the time necessary to revise before you submit it! Good for you! It will shine when you are ready to send it in!

Anonymous said...

Good luck with the revisions. I am in that state of play right now and patience is the key.

Patti Lacy said...

Wow. Just hopping onto Jennifer's Wednesday brought me cool new bloggites!

Sigh. The revisions are done when the editors say turn in the finals.
Yep. The more we write, the more we hone the craft...and thus need rewrites.

We rats must jump off the wheels!!!
Great blog, Susan!
Hope you leave visit me at www.pattilacy.com/blog.

Theresa Milstein said...

Thanks for the updates. Congratulations to the award winners!

Lenny Lee said...

cool award! never ending is a looooong time so i hope you get all that writing finished real soon.
...smiles from lenny

Anonymous said...

I have just updated my blog entry A Tad More Information on Tonia Schmidt.

Vicki Rocho said...

Good luck with the revisions...may you get them completed without pulling too much of your hair out! ;)

Susan Fields said...

Kelly - Thank you! I hope you had a great Wednesday, too. :)

Betty - I actually do like revision, just not when it goes on and on and on and...

Talli - I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one who feels this way!

Sharon - I know, sometimes it seems like everything else can get in the way of the writing - good luck getting refocused!

Susan Fields said...

Jennifer - I'm already at that point, but there's still more to be done. Help! Just kidding - I think I've got a little bit more left in me. :)

Jen - There certainly are! I feel so blessed to be part of this community

Aubrie - I so hope you're right!

Donna - It's nice to know I'm not alone. I just want to get it out there into the world already! But no use sending it out before it's ready.

Susan Fields said...

Patti - I really enjoyed your interview at Jennifer's blog today. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Theresa - You're welcome! Sounds like there's some good blogfests coming up.

Lenny - It is a long time, isn't it? I suppose if just feels like never. :)

Susan Fields said...

Dean - I went over and looked, but I couldn't find the new entry. I did see the essay that she wrote for the yearbook that was partially cut off though (which is odd in itself). Very interesting!

Vicki - I hope at least I pull the gray ones! :)

Anonymous said...

Sometimes I think a novel is perfect and ready, and then I find out it's not. Revising and editing seem never-ending.

Congrats on the award.

Ann said...

Thanks for mentioning my contest Susan! Congrats on the award and I have to say I am in total agreement with you about Old Kitty's blog. A ray of sunshine. An award well deserved!!!

Good luck with the revisions!

Unknown said...

Thanks for all the awesome updates! I'm trying to get back into the blog loop after being away on vacation -- this post will help!

Congrats on the award, and best of luck with revisions!!

Susan Fields said...

Medeia - That's exactly how I feel. It bothers me that I thought it was ready. That makes me wonder how many more times I'll have to go through this process.

Ann - You're so welcome for the mention! And thanks for holding such a generous contest, I'm sure it will be tough to give those books away!

Nicole - Thanks, and welcome home from your vacation! Have fun catching up. :)

Hema Penmetsa said...

Congratulations on the award, Susan. Incidentally, you have another one waiting for you in my post titled "The Writing Bug" :).

And I exactly know what you mean by revisions, which seem never-ending, to a manuscript that you thought was query-ready just a few months ago!

Clara said...

Congrats to the winners and to you! I get you, my WIP changes constantly, when I let it sit and go back to it, I just think: "What a load of crap!" lol
Guess its normal

Myrna Foster said...

I know what you mean about revisions. I've been flirting with something new and working on a fourth draft.

Congrats on the award!

DL Hammons said...

Congrats on your awards and thanks for my blogfest shoutout. I'm gaining participants slowly but surely. :)