—”In summary: sales of your previous books, sales of “comp” titles, your platform as an author (as described on the fact sheets), the book’s cover, the current economic climate, events in the news, &c all contribute to how many copies of your book a given account [bookstore] will buy.”

so there you have it. i haven’t been babbling away about nothing, as i thought i might be…
the article was informative, if a bit disheartening. but hey, that’s how it is. and the more we know, the further ahead we can get!!!

now, i just need to figure out how to become wonderful friends with an agent, a publisher, and a buyer. i’ll let you know how that’s going

I have a new post up this morning at giveagirlapen.com.

Check it out and learn something about this crazy business we’re attempting to enter.

=)

anyway, here are the prompts.
there are three and all had to be incorporated in the story.
rather than just write the obvious (about fraggle rock and a deformed animal), I came up with something different.

I didn’t edit it, but that’s how these things work. so I’ll leave it unedited for this post, as well =)

* * * * * * *

* * *

Little Maggie ambled along as quickly as her awkwardly shaped legs would allow. Her mother held her right hand, trying to keep Maggie close, while Clara, the mangled, orange, pig-tailed doll that had been around Maggie’s entire life, dangled from her left side. Clara was Maggie’s favorite thing in the world, but the little girl’s arm was just too tired at the moment even to hold such a light object, so Clara’s limbs dragged the ground.

As the family—Maggie, her mother, and her father, who walked on the opposite side of her mother—walked down the dirty streets of Mexico, Maggie wished she was at home curled up in her cozy, pink bed with Clara. Sweet Clara, who calmed her and kept her safe during the hard times. The times when the pain was almost unbearable. But, alas, the doctor believed a trip would be good for Maggie’s illness, so here they were, on their way to see Chichén Itzá. Her father’s pick for their first stop. Next, they would visit Costa Rica, a place her mother had always dreamed of going. Maggie wondered why no one asked her where she wanted to go. This trip was, after all, for her, right?

JUNE 26, 2009 3:56 PM (Eden Tyler)

mind you, i’m not here for tons of comments or feedback—i started this to keep track of everything i’m doing while i write my book. it just sounded like a good idea to start this the week i started my book.
it took me a while to realize i should actually post or else the blog is pointless, so i began posting at least once a day about 2 1/2 wks ago.
in that short amount of time, i’ve received over 600 views, and, unlike blogspot, wordpress doesn’t count your own page views. so i know others are looking at my page.
but really, i wonder what they think….
on saturday alone, i had over 70 page views, yet only two people commented (one person left four comments, as she’s a doll) and the other person (i think) was just trying to get traffic over to his own blog…
so, out of, say 60 views (if i assume the ppl who commented looked a few times each), no one had anything to say…

now, i’m curious as to whether anyone will comment on this post and give me an answer—or at least their take—as to what’s going on…
1) do you, as blog readers, usually just peruse and not comment,
2) do you, as blog owners, care if ppl leave a note to say they stopped by and to tell you what they think of what you’re offering, &
3) again, as blog readers, do you find that you are attracted to sites that don’t live up to what you think they might be?
—i’m just trying to understand.

i know that i don’t always leave comments. i haven’t the time. but the blogs i truly love, i spend too much time leaving comments…

i suppose it’s good that b/w my 3 blogs i average at least one hundred views per day—heck, what unpublished writer would complain about that? i’m not even complaining at all… i love that anything i write is being read. i’m just wondering….

feel free to comment…lmk your thoughts *non subtle hint*

k, i’m off to write. well, nap first so i have some energy, but then write.
ttyl
xx

it will help every single one of us, so have a read!!
i look forward to printing it out and using it when i revise

The Top 10 Mistakes Writers Make

xx

i wrote 1k today and am rather happy about it.
talk to ya’ll later!!
nite
xx -e*

Instead, I’ll leave you with a super short excerpt from a day in the life of Alexis Hodge =)

*************

Alexis slammed the back door of her ‘parents’’ house, and made a beeline for her car. At least Roxie would make her feel somewhat normal. Her 1967 VW Beetle was in pristine condition, and Alexis could not imagine any other car suiting her so well.

She grabbed the door handle, and quickly drew her hand back.

“Damn it!” That frackin’ hurt! What the hell?

Once again, she attempted to open the car door. Her hand was met with the same response—searing pain.

Can something please be normal in my life for one freaking second today? Just one thing?!

Dropping down to her knees, holding her useless right hand at her waist, Alexis shuffled around in her purse for her phone. Her left hand was fairly incapable of doing anything helpful, but she was able to scroll to Hollie’s number and hit send.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Hols. Can you come help me?” Alexis started to sniffle, and tears once again welled up. She let them fall. And fall.

“What’s going on, sweets? Why are you crying? Where are you?” Hollie sounded frantic.

“I don’t know. I don’t know. I just need to leave and I can’t. My parents aren’t my parents and my car just burned me….” She was sobbing so hard at this point that her words were all jumbled together and made no sense.

“Alexis—calm down. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll get over to you. You at home?”

“Yeah,” Alexis managed to blubber out.

Hollie reassured Alexis she’d be right there, and Alexis just let the phone drop back into her purse. She curled up into a ball, her forehead on her knees, tears spilling freely.

When it seemed she no longer had anything left to cry, Alexis felt a reassuring hand on her back. She slowly sat up, wiped her nose with her palm like a little kid, and looked to see who was there.

*************

Most likely, I’ll take a look at this tonight or tomorrow morning and revise a bit. Then I’ll post a revision.
If anyone feels like critiquing, go for it!!
=)

I think I might do a serial novel…possibly.
We’ll see what happens.
I keep giving myself so much to do….
—thankfully, pressure and time restrictions are great motivators for me!
If you do head over there, please answer my poll on the left.
Thanks, ya’ll!!

xx

I look forward to seeing what everyone has written. I love critiques—so much fun =)
I’ll be posting my first five sentences, as well, and hope that ya’ll will help me out, along with Liz! I welcome all advice—it’s always nice to see all views and take what makes sense to me and use the info for necessary changes…

Have a great Sunday, and Happy Father’s Day to those celebrating today.
Remember, if you give a girl… isn’t just for girls. We’re looking for any and all writers. So send your stuff in!!
I’ll talk to you all tomorrow!!

*p.s. — is it just me, or is this really weird that the one post that i was sooo ridiculously insecure about is the one that’s garnered the most attention, turning into not one, but four posts!?!?!! Craziness!!!
just goes to show that we all need to have confidence in ourselves!!!

i’m still in my pajamas and the only reason i’m about to get ready is because my kid and i are going to my mom’s to visit.
yeah, i’ve taken care of my child and the dogs and did a blog for tomorrow and researched some stuff i needed to, but i’ve only left the house for a minute. my dog ran over to the neighbors, so i had to go get her and chat.
i’ve watched some tv, did the dishes and made the bed.
what the frack happened to writing?!?!???

tricia wrote about this problem a few days ago, and today, more than ever, i realize i need to focus and make a schedule for myself.
her post is fabulous and mirrors my days perfectly!!
so please read it. i’ll be your best friend if you do

http://dfmil09.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/focus/

have a great day and get some work done!!
xx  -e*