Era- Victorian

So last night I came up with an awesome idea. But before I explain that I'll explain why the idea is so awesome. My newest project is to rewrite my second novel, Insomnium. I already changed it from third to first person and the main character from male to female. But something was still missing. When I wrote it still felt like empty.

So last night I suddenly thought of an idea.

What if I changed the era to Victorian?

Not only would it make more sense, but it would give me a chance to express my deep love for the era. Plus doing research is always fun as hell. I'm going write a blog for each topic I research. I'm planning on making this a very gritty, dark story. So most of the things I research may be a bit...odd. But that's what makes it fun! It's different.

Pre-contest talk 2

So I did some editing and feel fairly good about my novel. As I kept editing I began to notice I was being way too picky about my work. So I stopped and am leaving the MS alone. It's hard knowing what's on the line with this contest. Even winning second or first prize would knock down so many doors. Of course like everyone else I do want the grand prize but I'm not going to say I'm going to win it.

I can only do my best right now. The contest will either close on the 5th of February or when they reach 10,000 novel entries. I'm glad that it is now 10k instead of 20k like last year. I also noticed that the contest now ends in June not July. I'm so happy they changed things this year. Things that badly needed to be fixed and changed.

My feelings are all over the place. It's nerve racking. I'm excited but worried and on edge. I still haven't gotten a reply back from two of the four agents I sent queries to. So I'm guessing those are nos. I'll be sending out more later this week.

Looking back at the first finished copy of Promise Me, I can see just far I've come. At times I feel like I'm not good enough and I should give up and cook burgers for a living. Then I remember all those people who have told or made me feel useless. The people who have given up on me and erased me from their life, replacing me. Friends. Now enemies.

I have to prove myself. Not only to them but to me. That I'm not all those horrible things they had said about me. That I'm worth something that they aren't. That I have a reason. A meaning. A skill that is so special it inspires others. That's what I want most. I want to inspire.

Amazon contest

I entered my novel, Promise Me into the Amazon breakthrough novel contest the first day it opened. I'm very pleased with my work and feel it's ready to be published. The next few months are all about my journey during the contest. Since it's the main thing I'm focusing on right now.


Until February 5th when the doors close and no more novels can be entered I'm going to be going through and nit picking at certain things that I feel need to be edited.

Here are the key dates.

January 23, 2012- Contest is open!!

February 5, 2012-Submission closed.

February 23, 2012- 2,000 entries moving to Second Round

March 20, 2012 (Day BEFORE my 20th b-day)- Top 500 (Quarterfinalists) announced, Publishers Weekly reviews each Quarter-Finalists' full manuscript. Amazon customers can download, rate, and review Excerpts on Amazon.com, providing feedback to Penguin Editors about submissions.

April 24, 2012- Top 100 (Semifinalists) announced.

Penguin Editors reading Semi-Finalists' manuscripts to pick the 6 Finalists. Amazon customers continue to download, rate, and review Excerpts, and read Publishers Weekly reviews of Semi-Finalists' full Manuscripts

May 22, 2012- 6 Finalists announced. Amazon customers vote to pick the Winners

June 16, 2012- Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Winners announced

While placing these on here I noticed they had changed them from last year! They must have gotten a ton of complaints, some from me. About the fact they had random people choosing our fate during round three. These people are untrained and not needed. This time it seems the editors will be taking their place. This gives me hope I might make it past round three!!!

Promise Me Song list

Promise Me songs


Chapter One- Mell :
Chapter Two- Madness
Chapter Three- Escape
Chapter Four- Questions
Chapter Five- Senses
Chapter Six- Change
Chapter Seven- Monstrous
Chapter Eight- Frustration
Chapter Nine- Withering Heights
Chapter Ten- Forgotten
Chapter Eleven- Rival
Chapter Twelve- Truth
Chapter Thirteen- Together
Chapter Fourteen- Contract
Chapter Fifteen- Past
Chapter Sixteen- Promises: This Momentary-Delphic

Break and update

I'm getting ready (polishing up my novel) for the Amazon contest. I'm pretty happy with my novel but a few scenes bug me, so I'm spending the next few weeks rewriting the scenes so my novel is my best work yet. The contest I believe starts the 23rd so I have a while to get everything as I originally pictured it. I'm also reading up on how to write a synopsis (which I will blog about later) in order to query my favorite agent (whom I hope will represent me)

So lots of work. I'll be taking a break from my special posts (Teaser Tuesday, Short story Sunday...ect.) Until I'm done with the last minute fine tuning.

New year

I hadn't posted a new entry and since it's a new year its time for a new post! You'll notice in these next few weeks that I will posting much more about how I'm trying to get published. Two rejections are nothing. Its hard to keep positive but it's becoming easier. I have to remember to have faith in my novel, my writing. It won't be easy.

My goal is to get published this year.

It's going to be hard
Challenging
And maybe mind numbing

But as long as I don't give up and keep trying, I might just reach my goal by the end of the year. Of course I have other things I want to do before the year ends. I need to lose weight, I need some type of income (Job, or published) and I need to set a wedding date/plan the wedding. Blah. So very much to do.

I was very happy to get a Kindle Fire for x-mas. And with that two gift cards. With that money I bought two books that will help me with my goal of getting published. For now I can only dream. It's so close, almost within my reach yet still so far. The only thing I can do is keep writing, keep smiling, and of course, keep trying.

As Beverly Sills said "You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are
doomed if you don't try."