Reading, Writing, Revisions, Rejections and Bad Reviews

So we all get them. The dreaded R's (and a W). Ok, so some aren't so dreaded. But I happened by Wendi's blog and she got me thinking about a few things.

I haven't had a rejection in a while, not to say one isn't coming. I never count ye olde chickens.

So let's say you have this wonderful story. You've written on it for a long time and made it past step A. Step B--you send to the crit partner. You never know when that wonderful isn't exactly polished enough. That can be a super pain. But, I'd rather have Kealie tell me the story isn't ready rather than step C.

What's step C? The submission process. That's where I am at now. I've got to out in submission land. I'm hoping they aren't lost or worst...in the slush pile to be rejected. But that brings me to the next point.

For every submission, a little rain must fall. Rejection will happen. The dreaded step D. I know, here I am sounding so confident. I'm not. I'm skeered to death that even though I have a book under contract, that I have worked my tail off on the book, that it still won't be up to par. What do I do with rejection? Honestly, after a chunk of Godiva chocolate (milk chocolate, thank you very much), and a little teary action, I give myself a month and revise. If it's a thank you very much, but no thank you, well, I still revise but I look at secondary publishers.

So now I'm at step E. The revision. Not everyone will love what you wrote. Some editors will look at it and say, there's too much work to be done and I don't want to do that. Others might say, this story has no promise. Then there will be some who say, yanno, this is something I totally want to work with. We all want those editors. So I set myself a month. If the editor likes what he/she sees, but it's not quite there and the offer to revise is offered, then I give myself that month to get it revised per editor's instructions. Is it painful? Sometimes. Is it hard? Can be. But if you don't at least try, then you'll never know.

So it's been revised and resubbed. Once again to step D. The waiting and the hoping.

But let's skip ahead. Say the book has been accepted, edited and released. Now we're at the review stage. My take? Reviews are opinions. What that reader thought of your work on that given day. The reader could be having a crummy day. Could be stressed. Could be just not really interested in reading. Could be that your work is just what he/she is looking for. As much as I find it hard to adhere to this sometimes...you gotta swallow ye olde pride and just smile. Was it Monty Python that said, "Always look on the bright side of life"?



It's true. You might not like what they have to say, but really, it's an opinion. You'll never make everyone happy. Think about it this way. Taylor Swift. It seems like this girl can't put a foot wrong. Then look at the reviews on Amazon for her latest CD. Yeah, she's got some serious haters. Some are really more reviewing her as a person (which is a whole 'nother ball of wax), but as much as it's loved, the CD is not loved. Or take the Stephanie Meyer series. Twilight isn't a favorite of mine. Not a book I could get into. Check out the reviews. Either it's loved or hated. Do you think she or Taylor actually sit up at night worrying about reviews? Probably not. Why? They have boat loads of cash to count. I'm sure they don't want to be hated. No one does. But reviews, like opinions and individuality are parts of life.

So, follow old Monty Python. Always look on the light side of life. :::Whistling::::

WhIPS

Had a few things on my mind. Won't get into all of them here. Not enough time and I'd hate to bore you with the wanderings in the old attic.

I'll talk about the WIP instead.

The WIP is still with the CP--which that's actually a good thing, since I heard from her and she thinks it's right on track (finally). I love my man stories and was ready to work on another. Now the above picture got my brain going. There's a scene in Permanent where River and Tory watch a BDSM scene. I thought, yanno, the guys involved could have their own story. Wouldn't that be fun? Yup, you guessed it. Brain switched into overdrive. Now there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything down.

What do you do when the brain goes at warp speed, but the rest of you is going normal pace?

Tell me so I can get a better handle on the muses. Boy, those men love to play.

Back to the WhIPs...I mean, WhIPS....Freudian slip...WIPS. There.

WIP and Stuff

I can't really build on what Mysti said yesterday because, well, she's right. Although I totally scored with the Han Solo line.

I posted this on my personal blog yesterday, but I thought it bore repeating.

Permanent went to anther CP. I dunno if I talked about the first one. This is in no means meant to be bashing. Please don't take it that way, but she really ribboned the story. "You're a nice person. I'm not. You're nice to your characters. I'm not."

Geesh.

But yanno, she's right. I am way too nice to my characters. Why? I guess because I don't want them really hurting or to come off as jerks. Guess Mom really made sure I remembered the 'do unto others as you'd have done to you' line.
"This is fine for gay fiction, but not romance with a R."

Ouch, but again, she's right. Tory was wayyyyyyyy tooooo nice and really wasn't reacting like a man would. Boy, do I feel dumb. I mean, I thought I was totally in these guys' heads. I guess I was, but not nearly deep enough.

We'll see what the second CP says, but now I'm wondering if the ending wasn't too easy. Ugh. I hate the uncertainty. And it only gets worse. If second CP thinks it's ready to send, then it gets a final polish...and then eeekkk.... the submissions process.

I need something stiff.

Boys?

I Was Thinking...Halloween

Costumes...since Halloween is coming up, I thought I'd fins a few costumes for the girls here at the Menagerie. It wasn't too hard. Plus it was fun to look at all the pretty shoes...yes, I'm a shoe whore ('specially boots). Here's what I came up with.

For Kealie? She can so work the Avatar look. Plus, why do you really need a reason for a body suit?

(courtesy Purecostumes.com)

For Mysti? She was a bit harder. Why? Well, it had to be just right. Red Riding Hood works perfect. She can wield and axe and kick your butt, while smiling.


(courtesy Purecostumes.com)

Jenny Kat? Ah, she's the sweet innocent one of us. Really. I know, I'm not innocent. Haven't been for years. So for Miss Jenny Kat...Dorothy...spunky, but sweet.

(courtesy Purecostumes.com)

And me? The Boys suggested a vampiress...and then they saw this one. I'm sold. What do you think? Would I make a good goth fairy?

(courtesy of sexycostumes.com)

What do you think? Changes? Complaints? Girls? Are you listening?

Take It Off!!!!

You saw that right. Take it off!

What? You might be asking yourself as you read this post, what does she want me to take off?

It's up to you. Reading email or blog posts in the buff is kinda fun. For all you know, I could be sitting here in my fluffiest, dowdiest jammies, or I could be stark nekkid. I'll let you use your imagination.

My point?

They're all in the other room, dead to the world.

Oh, wait! You mean my blog post point. Yeah, that...

You see, I happened to be watching LOGO with my pal Bret...it was one of those summer movie fests. Anyway, the hotties in the movies were wearing very little (we found out later that if you get the movie on one of those dvd services, you see a whole lot more. Kinda funny to see me and Bret drooling over pecs and asses and other bits...)

But in between the movies were music videos. Kinda reminded me of when MTV just played music... Anyway, they played "Take It Off" by Ke$ha. I was perplexed and a tad inspired. Bret, well, he just got up and yanked me to my feet to dance. Before we knew it, it was dark out and the boys were around to play. You don't need me to tell you we had a great time.

So the next time I see the video or think of glitter, I'll think of that night. **Sighs** I think I need to call Bret and have movie night again.

Halfway There

So today I decided to yak about my vampire story. And no, it's not called halfway there. It's halfway done.

I have this nasty tendency to start a story and then get right to the good part and walk away from it. Sucks. Cause I think, this will be a great story---when I finish it. So yes, the hard part is completing the action.

I've also got this compulsion. (Get your mind out of the gutter a moment, not THAT kind of compulsion.) I love my stories as much as my cabana boys. So when I do finish a story, it's like ripping out my heart to have it turned down or asked to be rewritten because it doesn't "fit our vision".

Do you all ever have that issue?

Oh and as good ole Tom Petty says, the waiting is the hardest part. Sometimes you have to wait for the story to marinate enough to finish it, or you have to wait for the response on a story. I have to mention that while I'm waiting, I'm a nervous wreck.

But that's enough of my moaning. Sheesh. I'll get the story done and the compulsions under control.

Back to my boys.