Writer’s meeting today. Unusual that it is on a Thursday. I think it was because I didn’t get home until yesterday. Good meeting where we helped Gretchen with a middle grade that needs direction. We hashed through some of her issues. We all have issues that someone else can see in our work but we can’t see. These are directives that our writer’s group can help work out. We saw the willy-nilly plotting that needed to be reinforced. Most of our fixes can easily be executed with little effort. Most of our fixes are easy fixes that will make the MG better and stronger.
Lily’s Lagniappe: My sister and I picked our Dad up at the Charlotte airport yesterday. He was good and dry. He’s here for doctor appointments and he needs help with arthritis. I hope they can find something that will help him. He’s 85 and had a relatively pain free life, would like that to continue.
Left Baton Rouge and traveled to Wetumpka, AL. A casino north of Montgomery. This was our first time at this casino. Very nice and great buffet. As I go from game to game I watch people and see some unusual characters. How can I use these caricatures in my books? They’re folks needing extra money, needing rent money, making their paycheck stretch, or others just needing a diversion. We are the diversion seekers. Yes we want to win but if we don’t, we had fun. Usually after a long day of traveling. This day was raining all day. Definitely needed some decompression.
Lily’s Lagniappe: Left Baton Rouge today and hoping to pick up Dad at airport tomorrow. The weather looks angry for the next couple of days. Heading home to catch up with Lyrical Language class.
Registered for PiBoIdMo today and will start immediately with pre-PiBoIdMo blogs. I am also still in Baton Rouge visiting family and last night the LSU Tigers beat Western Kentucky in a rainy night in Tiger Stadium. The class of Punching up your Prose with Poetry begins tomorrow. I am hoping to be able to keep up even though I’m not at home. The freelance editor sent me an email and told me she was running a little behind. Life just gets in the way at times. Still working on revision for middle grade GAMERS OF THE ROUND TABLE. Really want to get into the manuscript and get it to agent.
Lily’s Lagniappe: Tiger Stadium was a rainy, nasty mess. But I enjoyed the game immensely! I will not go to the stadium for any other game, but I will watch on the television to see my TIGERS!!!
The Language Lyrical Lab: Punching up Prose with Poetry class begins Monday, October 26th. I’ve joined the Facebook group and downloaded documents she asked us too. I haven’t heard from the freelance editor yet but I know I will soon. Working on several picture books in my head and also thinking about a new YA and MG. Both of these are in my organizing book. I am collecting info as I continue to think about the plots.
Lily’s Lagniappe: Well, there is a hurricane hitting Mexico and it is effecting weather in Baton Rouge. Hope the Tigers win big this weekend.
Well, my YA novel is at the freelance editor’s desk. I hope she can find some worth in my manuscript. I look forward to her words for revision. Also starting a class on Monday the 26th with Renee LaTulippe. Poet extraordinaire! I’m looking forward learning more about poetry and the devises used by poets to make their poems so successful.
Lily’s Lagniappe: Started our journey to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to see the Tigers play Western Kentucky. made it to Biloxi the Island View Hotel and Casino. Came out even. Good night!
On the 18th I sent my manuscript to freelance editor for a critique. I look forward to learning so much about editing and my manuscript. I am still revising my middle grade and I also have two ideas for picture books. I’m reading the Magic Treehouse series and trying to understand exactly what the right amount of exposition in a middle grade novel. I thought dialogue made it easier for kids but apparently editors want more exposition. So exposition it will be!!
Lily’s Lagniappe: LSU plays Western Kentucky this Saturday night in TIger Stadium. My sister and I are headed down to the game.
This is a great day for SOUP! Sandra is having another book launch in Marion. She has had two other very successful launches in Michigan and Virginia. This time the launch is at the arts center. I am going because Sandra’s husband is going to a funeral in Ohio and one of our SOUP members is receiving an award today. So I decided it would be nice and the right thing to do is be there for Sandra. Hoping she sells lots of books!
Starting to revise GAMERS OF THE ROUND TABLE. Looking for a hook like the Magic Treehouse series. Merlin’s cloud could take Austin to different times affecting Camelot. Keeping magic in check. Needs to be activities that could be done by normal human beings. Like in the video game no magic by Austin but the creatures he faces are mythological creatures. That’s something to think about. Look at the other members of the Round Table.
Lily’s Lagniappe: Today LSU takes on Florida in Death Valley. I hope my Tigers show up on both sides of the ball. I hope we win the match up with the undefeated Florida. GEAUX TIGERS!!!
The freelance editor indicated yesterday that she received my first deposit. So now the real critique for FREAK’S RAPE will take place starting on October 18th. I will send it to her by email. I know I will have a lot of work to do once she has my book. I really hope she can find some things to help me make my novel stronger. I am also revising GAMERS OF THE ROUND TABLE. Using more narrative instead of dialogue as a beginning to the middle grade fantasy adventure. I hope she likes the revision well enough to represent me. That would be a plus for me.
Lily’s Lagniappe: The total for the Red Cross at Tiger Stadium was $40,000 at the gates. The total amount the university sent to South Carolina for flood victims hasn’t been released yet. I hope it will help. Tigers take on the University of Florida in Tiger Stadium this weekend. GEAUX TIGERS!!!
Going to library today and pick up more of the Merlin series of the Magic Treehouse books. Hoping I can revise GAMERS OF THE ROUND TABLE to meet Miriam Altshuler’s advice. Need to incorporate more exposition and less dialogue at the beginning, Austin can do the talking when he is with Sir Lancelot.
Also would like to find a home for FLIES IN THE OUTFIELD. Need to keep looking for a publishing company that likes sports and humor. I just might send it to Bonnie Bader and she if she can use it at Grosset and Dunlap. I also may wait until she comes later in 2016.
On the 18th I am sending THE FREAK’S RAPE to a freelance editor for help in making the novel better and more polished.
Lily’s Lagniappe: Returned home after the SC game at Tiger Stadium because SC was flooded. The game was great and even if I do say so myself LSU made SC very welcome and raised a great deal of money for the flood victims. I pray the South Carolinans recover quickly but as most Louisianans know recovery never happens overnight. Hopefully they can get back to a new normal soon.
Left Baton Rouge headed toward home, drove for about 8 hours today then stopped for the night in Fairburn, GA. Heading to Hickory tomorrow in just enough time to wash clothes and head out again. Check on Condo in Gatlinburg, work on GAMERS OF THE ROUND TABLE. Hoping to get representation by Miriam Altshuler. She lives in upstate New York. Maybe she would like FREAK’S RAPE after I revise per Deborah Halverson’s editorial critique. Two real revisions must take place within a short period of time. I can do this because they are good stories to start with.
Lily’s Lagniappe: Heading home in the morning. Columbus day. Hope light traffic in Atlanta. No matter will get home tomorrow. LSU beat South Carolina and this weekend play Florida in Baton Rouge. GEAUX TIGERS!!!