Don't miss Laurie's past journal entries. Here are the archives:
2010 Journal
I'll keep you posted here on all my
writing adventures...
June 3, 2010: My intentional sabbatical from writing
continues. Meanwhile, the first three agents I queried on my Agent
Search came back with rejections. And, I received a critique on
the opening chapters of my latest manuscript, Hidden Agenda which
made it clear to me that I have some rework to do to allow it to grab
the attention of an agent or an editor. So I won't be choosing new
agents to query till I get done with that task.
I'm judging entries of the Magic Moment contest, sponsored by my RWA chapter, Heart and Scroll. I really enjoy reading the entries and providing comments that will hopefully help their authors to become better writers.
Hey, stay tuned. I'm getting a contest together for the summer that will involve reading and writing! If that appeals to you, stop back here in a week or less.
April 22, 2010: My son's baseball season is in full swing, and as has become my habit over the last few years, I'm taking an intentional sabbatical from writing until his season wraps up. Meanwhile, I'm planning a half day seminar for my RWA chapter in June. And I'm shifting lots of ideas around my brain for my next writing project. And I'm pursuing my Agent Search. So I'm keeping the wheels on, even though I'm not actively writing. Nothing else new to report!
March 17, 2010: Fun and excitement continues following my win at the EPIC award contest! My thanks to everyone for their excitement and support. A special thank you to my church choir for helping me celebrate with a couple dozen cupcakes that all said, "Laurie, Laurie, Laurie!" Take a look:
I've also had a couple blogs published about my win -- one I wrote myself for the Climbing Rose blog, and one written about me by a cool blog I just became aware of called A Follow Spot. Check them out.
Happy St. Patrick's Day for all Irish and Irish wannabes out there, and happy 15th birthday to my youngest son!!
March 7, 2010: I won! I won! I won the EPIC Award for the best Metaphysical/spiritual Romance e-book of 2010! I'm so excited. I've written a complete trip report of my weekend in New Orleans -- click here for all the gory details -- but I'm going to extract just the moment of my name being called for you here ...
We all got dolled up -- me in the navy sparkly knee-length dress I borrowed from my niece Brianna (thanks Bri!) and proceeded to the banquet. We chose our seats at the banquet and enjoyed a filet mignon dinner (more delicious food -- we definitely didn't go hungry at this conference!), and then it was time for the awards ceremony. EPIC had put together a beautiful program with all the categories and finalists -- I was on page 17. When it was time for my category the presenter read our names and then said, "And the winner is ..." I had told myself all day that I might win, but I might not win, and it didn't really matter -- it was a fun weekend regardless and it was an honor to be a finalist, and if I don't win, since there were two finalists, that means I came in second ... "Laurie Larsen!" A cheer arose and I just looked around and soaked in the moment, a huge grin on my face. You've got to be kidding ... I won!
I made my way up to the stage amidst happy applause and I gave an acceptance speech that I'd been contemplating for several weeks. Fortunately, I'd thought it over enough times that I didn't need to write it down and read it. For posterity, here's the acceptance speech.
It was magical! The love and support in the room were palpable. My mother had been telling me, "Soak in every moment of this. This is your dream." She was so right. It was one of those magical nights that I'll always remember for the rest of my life.
We went to the bar and I sucked down an authentic New Orleans Hurricane in celebration. I called several of my friends and family members who'd requested a phone call THAT NIGHT -- as soon as I knew! It was a wonderful end to a memorable weekend! Thanks EPIC!
March 2, 2010: Oh my gosh, I'm off to a terrible start with my 2010 journal! I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write a second entry. BUT I do have big news today ... and that is, my trip to New Orleans is right around the corner! I leave in two days to attend the EPIC Conference and at the very end of that, Saturday night, is the big banquet and awards ceremony. Preacher Man is a finalist in the EPPIE contest and I can't wait to get there and start mingling with other authors and ultimately, to find out if I won my category!
Honestly, I'd love to win, but it's been so much fun being a finalist the last few months and I'm really looking forward to escaping the cold winter weather and experiencing New Orleans during Mardi Gras! It'll be my first visit and I'm excited about visiting some of the city's "can't miss" spots. I will post the results on Saturday night, whether I win or lose. But remember: it's an honor just to be nominated! : )
In other news, I have begun the Great Literary Agent Search. Years ago, I was represented by an agent through my second, third and fourth books. He never made any sales for me. It was a combination of his lack of contacts in the women's fiction/romance market, and my manuscripts not being ready for prime time. But now, years have passed and I've built my skills and written many more manuscripts and I think my writing career could really benefit from the guidance of an agency professional. The time is right. I've begun pretty selectively and queried three agents, and sent the requested material. I will keep you posted of my progress.
Have a wonderful week. I certainly intend to!
January 17, 2010: Wow. New journal page. New year. New decade! Is it possible that I started this website a decade ago? Is it possible that writing and publishing have been a constant part of my life for over ten years now? Actually, 12 years. It was a fateful business trip to Atlanta, Georgia that found me with a free weekend in August, 1998 and I visited the Margaret Mitchell House for the first time. I got so inspired by the writer of Gone With the Wind, and how she fit her writing hobby into an otherwise busy life, that I immediately, that day, went back to my hotel room and started writing. That preliminary, uneducated effort eventually became my first published novel, Whispers of the Heart. And I haven't stopped since.
If you want to review my journey, page down just a little and look at the links to my journal archives. Maybe you're a writer who's just trying to get started. Maybe you're a more experienced writer who has hit a rough spot in your career and wonder if you'll ever get out. Or maybe you're an avid reader and want a behind-the-scenes look at what authors go through to get those beloved books in your hands. Hopefully reading through my journal entries will enlighten you.
But anyway ... it's a new year, and like I do every year, I will document my writing goals and try to hold myself to them as the months fly by. So here we go:
1. Finish final revisions on Hidden Agenda and Keeper By Surprise by March 1, 2010.
2. Conduct agent search to try to contract with a literary agent to represent me.
3. Win the EPIC contest in March!
4. Write at least half of a new manuscript this year.
My writing hiatus that I took over the holidays hasn't quite ended yet. I have been doing some revisions, and I'm also judging seven entries in the Golden Heart contest. But I need to get going on my goal #1 so I can get to #2 and eventually, #4. A recent conversation with one of my best friends prompted an idea for a new manuscript so I'm glad to have that in my back pocket.
Happy winter, everyone, and stay warm!
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