Happy new year everyone! I’m trying to enjoy myself the best way I know how. My new project is going very well. I wouldn’t be surprised if I ended up starting the second chapter very soon. I’m still working on Bandit but I’m starting to have second thoughts about turning it into a YA novel. I might turn it into a paranormal romance and sent it off that way since I’m falling in love with my story. For the longest time, I’ve always loved romance. Even when I was doing my YA novel ‘Bandit’, A little voice inside my head told me to change it into a paranormal romance but I ignored it until now. Who knows? Maybe romance is the path I was destined to choose in these tough economic times. I’ve been reading romance novels ever since I was a little kid and always dreamed of writing one but thought I could never do it.
Well, this time is going to be different.
Maybe it’s time that I stop fighting this voice in my head and being so afraid to take a risk. The book that I’m working on is actually a rewrite of a manuscript I sent out back in September 2007 to Silhouette Desire called ‘An Unlikely Reunion’ When I first sent it out, they gave me a form letter stating something like this.
Dear Author,
Thank you for the opportunity to review your current project. Unfortunately, your story does not suit our current needs.
We apologize for using a form letter, but we handle a heavy volume of submissions and, due to time constraints, are not able to respond to each one personally. Please rest assured that everything that crosses our desks gets full consideration .
I wish you the very best luck placing your book elsewhere. And should you feel you have a manuscript suitable for Silhouette Books in the future, I strongly hope you’ll feel free to query me again.
Thank you for thinking of Silhouette
Sincerely,
Diana Ventimilgia
Diana Ventimilgia
Assistant Editor P.S. That really wasn’t her signature, I just used it to explain what the letter looked like.
To this day, I still kept this letter because of how inspirational it was to me. Sure, it was just a form letter but at that time, I had also got another rejection letter from a teacher in that same year that kind of dampened my spirits. Years later, I entered into a contest for the Harlequin Medical line and kept the rejection letter from them as well. It was called ’A nurse’s Plea’ and I sent it in back in August of 2010.
Here is another form letter they sent.
Dear Ms. Gibson,
Thank you for submitting A Nurse’s Plea for our consideration
While we appreciate the care and attention that has gone into the preparation of your submission, regrettably we feel that your story and characters are not sufficiently developed for publication in any of our publishing programmes.
Here are our top tips to bear in mind for your next submission:
1. Ensure that your story and conflict are Character-Driven.
2. Focus on the internal emotional conflict of your characters
3. Use secondary characters to add richness and depth to your central romance but don’t let them take over!
4. Target your work to a particular series - this means you need to read current books in the series you are aiming for and understand what that series delivers to the reader.
We are pleased to have had the opportunity to see your work, and thank you for thinking of Harlequin Mills & Boon.
Yours Sincerely,
Editorial Department
I’ve kept them both because these letters gave me inspiration to keep writing in whatever genre I was writing in. Now that I’m rewriting this book, I think that after years of writing some books that really didn’t satisfy me that way that I wanted them to, I think I’ve finally found what I want to do when it comes to my writing career: I want to write romance novels. So for my new year resolution, I’m going to stop being afraid of what I want and go for it.
Dominique
P.S. The next journal entry will probably be on why I think they rejected me. Stay tuned.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Finishing Bandit, Working on new project
Today, I decided that since I’m off for a whole month from my schoolwork, I’ve decided to work on a new project …in a different genre. I know, I know, I have been saying I’ve wanted to write a YA novel for the longest time but I’m still working on the final chapter of Bandit but it’s time that I took a break from that book for awhile (After I finish the final chapter of course) and try to focus on something else for awhile in a different genre. I know exactly what that genre is going to be (Romance) and I’m going to start a romance novel over the holidays. Knowing that it’s going to take me longer than a month to write the book, I’m going to have to go by a strict schedule to get all of it done.
If I want to become a full time writer, I have to set deadlines for myself so that when the time comes for publishers to ask for my work, it’ll already be in on their desk or in their mailboxes ahead of time. I need to get on the ball with everything and stop being so lazy about doing what I have to do in order to succeed in the publishing world. I know that I want to be an author but I don’t want to be one of those people who’s all talk and no action. I want to be different.
I am going to be different.
Maybe that’s what should be my new year’s resolution: To stop being so lazy in getting things done and DO THE WORK.
Dominique
If I want to become a full time writer, I have to set deadlines for myself so that when the time comes for publishers to ask for my work, it’ll already be in on their desk or in their mailboxes ahead of time. I need to get on the ball with everything and stop being so lazy about doing what I have to do in order to succeed in the publishing world. I know that I want to be an author but I don’t want to be one of those people who’s all talk and no action. I want to be different.
I am going to be different.
Maybe that’s what should be my new year’s resolution: To stop being so lazy in getting things done and DO THE WORK.
Dominique
Sunday, November 27, 2011
self-publishing, traditionial publishing, Bandit, blog about publishing
Hi, I know it’s been awhile since I wrote, I’ve been too busy trying to catch up on everything but I recently went to Alan Rinzler’s blog and found a lot of interesting articles about writing and publishing. One of the articles that peeked my interest was the article on writing short stories exclusively for Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble NOOK. I have been thinking about writing a short story exclusively for Amazon Kindle and other devices so that I could market it on facebook, twitter, you tube and finally my blog. I’ve been thinking about doing a short Christmas story with the same characters in from the first book in my book series ‘Bandit’ so that people could read it and if they enjoy the short story, maybe they will be able to tell the literary agent or publisher to read more of my work. Who knows? It’s something to consider right?
Another thing I’m thinking about considering but will probably not jump into it right away is self-publishing. Of course, my biggest dream in the whole wide world would be if I could get a literary agent, rewrite my manuscript to it’s fullest potential, get a publisher, do more rewrites, sign a contract, get my first advance, more rewrites, get the second and third cut of my advance, use that advance to promote my work, pay off some of my loans, write the second and third book of my series (rewrites included) and then get another contract for three more books with the secondary characters I’ve introduced in the first book of my novel.
Not so much in that order of course.
But since I have a backup plan in the works in case my dreams of being a published author with a traditional publisher doesn’t come out the way I planned, I’ve decided that if I don’t go anywhere with traditional publishing realm that I could save up some money from my second job as a special education teacher to self-publish my book and promote my novel myself so that whatever amount of books I sell, I’ll be able to keep the money myself instead of sharing it with other parties. I think that would be pretty cool right?
Either way it goes, I’m not giving up on my writing dream… not now, not ever.
Well, I don’t know about you guys but I had a wonderful thanksgiving. I caught up on some things, relaxed a little bit, Thought of some new ways to promote my work…but I have to admit that I’m enjoying sitting at home and writing all the time instead of going to school, coming home, and having to write homework…
Bummer.
The good news is that the fall semester is almost over and I’ll be able to enjoy Christmas by catching up on some things like finishing up the second outline of my next manuscript for the Truson S.E.T. series, practicing my math skills to pass an exam I have to take in order to get into graduate school, and just working on my writing altogether.
But first, I have to get through these last two weeks of the semester than I’m home free…
Dominique
Another thing I’m thinking about considering but will probably not jump into it right away is self-publishing. Of course, my biggest dream in the whole wide world would be if I could get a literary agent, rewrite my manuscript to it’s fullest potential, get a publisher, do more rewrites, sign a contract, get my first advance, more rewrites, get the second and third cut of my advance, use that advance to promote my work, pay off some of my loans, write the second and third book of my series (rewrites included) and then get another contract for three more books with the secondary characters I’ve introduced in the first book of my novel.
Not so much in that order of course.
But since I have a backup plan in the works in case my dreams of being a published author with a traditional publisher doesn’t come out the way I planned, I’ve decided that if I don’t go anywhere with traditional publishing realm that I could save up some money from my second job as a special education teacher to self-publish my book and promote my novel myself so that whatever amount of books I sell, I’ll be able to keep the money myself instead of sharing it with other parties. I think that would be pretty cool right?
Either way it goes, I’m not giving up on my writing dream… not now, not ever.
Well, I don’t know about you guys but I had a wonderful thanksgiving. I caught up on some things, relaxed a little bit, Thought of some new ways to promote my work…but I have to admit that I’m enjoying sitting at home and writing all the time instead of going to school, coming home, and having to write homework…
Bummer.
The good news is that the fall semester is almost over and I’ll be able to enjoy Christmas by catching up on some things like finishing up the second outline of my next manuscript for the Truson S.E.T. series, practicing my math skills to pass an exam I have to take in order to get into graduate school, and just working on my writing altogether.
But first, I have to get through these last two weeks of the semester than I’m home free…
Dominique
Monday, October 31, 2011
happy halloween
I can't really post anything today because I don't feel well but I wish everyone a
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Sincerely,
Dominique
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
Sincerely,
Dominique
Monday, September 19, 2011
A world based on technology? I hate it, almost finished with Bandit
I know it’s been awhile since I posted my last entry. I’ve been so busy with school, catching up on assignments, and trying to finish the final two chapters of Bandit. It’s already been nine months since I wrote and rewrote this book which have been the longest time I’ve ever stayed on one project. I haven’t caught up on my reading (Shame on me) and have been depressed about Borders closing down for good.
I don’t know about everyone else but I’m personally pissed off about this. I like the feel of a book in my hands as I turning the pages to see what the next adventure is going to be. I remember those commercials where someone would be reading a good book by the fireplace before they even spoke a word. I miss those days. As time goes on, I know that we are going to depend on technology for our everyday lives and I hate it.
Did you catch the last part of my sentence: I HATE IT.
Pretty soon, traditional classroom will be converted to online classrooms from home. Bookstores that are still around now will be gone within the next five years, replaced by the Ipads and androids of the future. People will start to rely on machines to do everything that they are supposed to be doing themselves (Gardening, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, cleaning the toilet etc.).
I fear the worst for America.
If we become too dependent on technology, I fear that we will end up becoming the fattest and dumbest people in America, hands down. I mean, look at where society is now. Who needs Standard English when we got twitter consuming us to say what you want in fifty words or less? Who needs to go out and meet people when you can talk to them on face book? This is why obesity is so huge. People are not going out to exercise because they feel like they don’t have to. As long as they got the TV and the internet, why bother?
Anyways, that’s my journal entry on that. As for my story, there’s really nothing to report. Like I said, I only have two more chapters to go before I’m finished. Can’t wait until I get there. I might have to read the latest draft one more time so I’ll be able to keep my story straight. I still don’t know what I want to do with my life just yet. A lot of drama is going on in my life right now that I refuse to talk about here. I’ll try to see if I can do another journal entry before the month is out. If not, I’ll catch you next month.
I don’t know about everyone else but I’m personally pissed off about this. I like the feel of a book in my hands as I turning the pages to see what the next adventure is going to be. I remember those commercials where someone would be reading a good book by the fireplace before they even spoke a word. I miss those days. As time goes on, I know that we are going to depend on technology for our everyday lives and I hate it.
Did you catch the last part of my sentence: I HATE IT.
Pretty soon, traditional classroom will be converted to online classrooms from home. Bookstores that are still around now will be gone within the next five years, replaced by the Ipads and androids of the future. People will start to rely on machines to do everything that they are supposed to be doing themselves (Gardening, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, cleaning the toilet etc.).
I fear the worst for America.
If we become too dependent on technology, I fear that we will end up becoming the fattest and dumbest people in America, hands down. I mean, look at where society is now. Who needs Standard English when we got twitter consuming us to say what you want in fifty words or less? Who needs to go out and meet people when you can talk to them on face book? This is why obesity is so huge. People are not going out to exercise because they feel like they don’t have to. As long as they got the TV and the internet, why bother?
Anyways, that’s my journal entry on that. As for my story, there’s really nothing to report. Like I said, I only have two more chapters to go before I’m finished. Can’t wait until I get there. I might have to read the latest draft one more time so I’ll be able to keep my story straight. I still don’t know what I want to do with my life just yet. A lot of drama is going on in my life right now that I refuse to talk about here. I’ll try to see if I can do another journal entry before the month is out. If not, I’ll catch you next month.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Three more chapters to go before the completion of Bandit, confusion on what I want
I was supposed to do this entry sooner but I’ve been too busy writing and reading books that provided me with great ideas on how to improve the novel I’m working on. I just recently read a very old book called The vampire Memoirs by Mara Mccuniff (who just so happens to be the main character of the book) and Traci Briery (the author herself). The book is about Mara’s incredible journey from the time she was born back in the 4th century (in case you’re wondering, she was born and raised in Britain and had a father that wasn’t very kind to her half of the time) to how she landed in Los Angeles. It tells the story of how Mara became the human daughter, wife, and mother that the readers adored to the smart and slightly nieve vampire the readers basically feels sorry for.
In the book, Mara turns into a vampire unwillingly by a slime ball of a master who been roaming around the earth, killing innocent women and turning them into slaves for years. After the master (I think his name was Arygar) kills Mara’s husband during a special dinner event (I can’t think of what it was exactly but it had something to do with politics), Arygar takes it upon himself to bite Mara and turn her into his vampire bride forever…without her consent. Despite his attempts to swoon Mara into making love to him, All Mara wants to do is escape and that’s exactly what she does.
I’m going to stop there because I don’t want to give too much away even though the book is out of print. There might still be a way to read it at your local library if it’s possible. Besides, there are other things on my mind right now besides talking about the vampire memoirs. I’ve always dealt with this problem every time I’m getting closer to finishing a manuscript. I always write in one particular genre the whole way through whenever I’m writing. For awhile, focusing on one manuscript at a time worked for me but now I want to tackle another idea…in a different genre. I always hate it when this happens because I feel like if I tackle a new genre and start working on another project that I’ll be abandoning the previous project I’m working on.
Don’t get me wrong, I know form the bottom of my soul that I’m going to finish my first book for the Truson Super Elite Team series (three more chapters left to go? C’mon!) and I’m even working on the outline for the second book of the series but I can’t help but wonder what could happen if I spread my wings and tried to do something in a different genre. Who knows? If my YA novel doesn’t work out, I may have a future in another genre (By the way, I’ve decided NOT to disclose this information on which genre I want to attack for fear I might not go through with it if I do).
Overall, I’m going to stick with my original plan of writing YA but if that doesn’t work out, wouldn’t it be best to try something else just in case things don’t go as planned?
Sigh. Shrug.
Dominique
In the book, Mara turns into a vampire unwillingly by a slime ball of a master who been roaming around the earth, killing innocent women and turning them into slaves for years. After the master (I think his name was Arygar) kills Mara’s husband during a special dinner event (I can’t think of what it was exactly but it had something to do with politics), Arygar takes it upon himself to bite Mara and turn her into his vampire bride forever…without her consent. Despite his attempts to swoon Mara into making love to him, All Mara wants to do is escape and that’s exactly what she does.
I’m going to stop there because I don’t want to give too much away even though the book is out of print. There might still be a way to read it at your local library if it’s possible. Besides, there are other things on my mind right now besides talking about the vampire memoirs. I’ve always dealt with this problem every time I’m getting closer to finishing a manuscript. I always write in one particular genre the whole way through whenever I’m writing. For awhile, focusing on one manuscript at a time worked for me but now I want to tackle another idea…in a different genre. I always hate it when this happens because I feel like if I tackle a new genre and start working on another project that I’ll be abandoning the previous project I’m working on.
Don’t get me wrong, I know form the bottom of my soul that I’m going to finish my first book for the Truson Super Elite Team series (three more chapters left to go? C’mon!) and I’m even working on the outline for the second book of the series but I can’t help but wonder what could happen if I spread my wings and tried to do something in a different genre. Who knows? If my YA novel doesn’t work out, I may have a future in another genre (By the way, I’ve decided NOT to disclose this information on which genre I want to attack for fear I might not go through with it if I do).
Overall, I’m going to stick with my original plan of writing YA but if that doesn’t work out, wouldn’t it be best to try something else just in case things don’t go as planned?
Sigh. Shrug.
Dominique
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Words from twilight, five more chapters to go
Title: Words from Twilight
31. Gruffer - Having a rough or brusque manner, voice, or countenance; harsh; surly.
32. Obstinately -Persistently and unreasonably resolved in a purpose or opinion; stubborn. Hard to control or cure.
33. Vehemently - Arising from or marked by impetiously of feeling or passion; ardent. Acting with great force or energy; energetic; violent; furious.
34. Ogle- to look at with admiring or impertinent glances. To stare at; to look at. To look or stare in an admiring or impertinent manner. An amorous or coquettish look.
35. Defiantly - Showing or characterized by defiance. The act of defying; a challenge. Bold opposition; disposition to oppose or resist; contemptuous disregard of authority or opposition.
36. Derision - The act of deriding; ridicule; mockery; scornful laughter. An object of ridicule or scorn.
37. Sullenly - Obstinately and gloomily ill-humored; morose; glum. Depressing; somber; slow; sluggish; melancholy Ill-omened; threatening.
38. Converge - to cause to tend toward one point. To move toward one point; come together in gradual approach. To tend toward the same conclusion or result.
39. Gratuitous - Given freely without claim or consideration; voluntary. Without cause, provocation or warrant; uncalled for; unnecessary.
40. Warily - marked by keen caution, cunning, and watchfulness especially in detecting and escaping danger.
FIVE MORE CHAPTERS TO GO BEFORE THE REWRITE OF BANDIT IS FINISHED. YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dominique
31. Gruffer - Having a rough or brusque manner, voice, or countenance; harsh; surly.
32. Obstinately -Persistently and unreasonably resolved in a purpose or opinion; stubborn. Hard to control or cure.
33. Vehemently - Arising from or marked by impetiously of feeling or passion; ardent. Acting with great force or energy; energetic; violent; furious.
34. Ogle- to look at with admiring or impertinent glances. To stare at; to look at. To look or stare in an admiring or impertinent manner. An amorous or coquettish look.
35. Defiantly - Showing or characterized by defiance. The act of defying; a challenge. Bold opposition; disposition to oppose or resist; contemptuous disregard of authority or opposition.
36. Derision - The act of deriding; ridicule; mockery; scornful laughter. An object of ridicule or scorn.
37. Sullenly - Obstinately and gloomily ill-humored; morose; glum. Depressing; somber; slow; sluggish; melancholy Ill-omened; threatening.
38. Converge - to cause to tend toward one point. To move toward one point; come together in gradual approach. To tend toward the same conclusion or result.
39. Gratuitous - Given freely without claim or consideration; voluntary. Without cause, provocation or warrant; uncalled for; unnecessary.
40. Warily - marked by keen caution, cunning, and watchfulness especially in detecting and escaping danger.
FIVE MORE CHAPTERS TO GO BEFORE THE REWRITE OF BANDIT IS FINISHED. YAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dominique
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Chapter Nine of Bandit, the next ten words from Twilight, Bet Me
Entry: I’m not going to take up too much time today because I need to focus on my writing. I wish I could say that there’s something exciting going on in my life right now but I can’t. Well, maybe that I’m on chapter nine of my new rewritten novel Bandit.
Oh and that I’m reading again. I just read an old book I bought from a book giveaway at Columbia College Chicago. It’s called Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise. I won’t go too much into detail about it right now because of how late it is but it’s basically a single-title romance and a women’s fiction book all rolled into one. The romance starts when one of the main characters (Calvin Morrisey) goes out on a date with a woman in a checked suit (Minerva Dobbs) on a bet for ten thousand dollars. After they go through with the date, Calvin and Minerva vow to stay away from each other until unusual circumstances forces them back into each other’s company. In the end, they realize that no matter how hard they try, they just can’t stay away from each other.
The reason why I say it’s a women’s fiction book is because the story doesn’t just center on Calvin and Minerva, it centers around their friends as well. Minerva’s friends ends up hooking up with Calvin’s friends which gives the book a very entertaining and enthusiastic read for people who want more out of the romance than just the hero and heroine. I love this book so much that I’m thinking about doing a couple of journal entries on what I observed throughout the book in terms of romance, dialogue, the sexual tension between the hero and heroine, the whole nine yards. But first, Twilight.
Which reminds me: Here are the next ten words from Twilight. Enjoy:
21. Disheveled - Disarrange; to disorder
22. Grimaced - A distortion of the features, either habitual or occasioned by annoyance, disgust, contempt, etc.
23. Cursorily - Rapid and superficial; hasty.
24. Inexplicable - Not explicable: impossible to explain; inexplainable
25. Surmised - To infer on slight evidence; guess. To make a conjecture. A conjecture made on slight evidence; supposition.
26. Appraising - to make an official valuation of; set a price or value on, especially by authority of law or agreement of interested parties. To estimate the amount, quality, or worth of; Judge.
27. Chivalrously - Having the qualities of the ideal knight; gallant, courteous, generous, brave etc. pertaining to the feudal system of chivalry.
28. Peripheral - of or pertaining to a periphery. Distant from the center; hence, distal; external.
29. Gratingly - (1) A grate. An optical device for the dispersion of light waves and the production of spectra, visually consisting of a series of very fine parallel grooves cut in the surface of polished metal or glass, sometimes of a suitably mounted crystal. (2) Harsh in sound; rasping; irritating - the act of rasping.
30. Providentially - Exercising foresight; economical; anticipating and making ready for future wants or emergencies.
I’ll probably do another journal entry before the end of the month. Until then, Buenos Noches.
Dominique
Oh and that I’m reading again. I just read an old book I bought from a book giveaway at Columbia College Chicago. It’s called Bet Me by Jennifer Cruise. I won’t go too much into detail about it right now because of how late it is but it’s basically a single-title romance and a women’s fiction book all rolled into one. The romance starts when one of the main characters (Calvin Morrisey) goes out on a date with a woman in a checked suit (Minerva Dobbs) on a bet for ten thousand dollars. After they go through with the date, Calvin and Minerva vow to stay away from each other until unusual circumstances forces them back into each other’s company. In the end, they realize that no matter how hard they try, they just can’t stay away from each other.
The reason why I say it’s a women’s fiction book is because the story doesn’t just center on Calvin and Minerva, it centers around their friends as well. Minerva’s friends ends up hooking up with Calvin’s friends which gives the book a very entertaining and enthusiastic read for people who want more out of the romance than just the hero and heroine. I love this book so much that I’m thinking about doing a couple of journal entries on what I observed throughout the book in terms of romance, dialogue, the sexual tension between the hero and heroine, the whole nine yards. But first, Twilight.
Which reminds me: Here are the next ten words from Twilight. Enjoy:
21. Disheveled - Disarrange; to disorder
22. Grimaced - A distortion of the features, either habitual or occasioned by annoyance, disgust, contempt, etc.
23. Cursorily - Rapid and superficial; hasty.
24. Inexplicable - Not explicable: impossible to explain; inexplainable
25. Surmised - To infer on slight evidence; guess. To make a conjecture. A conjecture made on slight evidence; supposition.
26. Appraising - to make an official valuation of; set a price or value on, especially by authority of law or agreement of interested parties. To estimate the amount, quality, or worth of; Judge.
27. Chivalrously - Having the qualities of the ideal knight; gallant, courteous, generous, brave etc. pertaining to the feudal system of chivalry.
28. Peripheral - of or pertaining to a periphery. Distant from the center; hence, distal; external.
29. Gratingly - (1) A grate. An optical device for the dispersion of light waves and the production of spectra, visually consisting of a series of very fine parallel grooves cut in the surface of polished metal or glass, sometimes of a suitably mounted crystal. (2) Harsh in sound; rasping; irritating - the act of rasping.
30. Providentially - Exercising foresight; economical; anticipating and making ready for future wants or emergencies.
I’ll probably do another journal entry before the end of the month. Until then, Buenos Noches.
Dominique
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Articles on rewrites, self-publishing and Bandit
Hello,
I've decided not to talk about my personal life since they have deemed it 'unprofessional' to talk about your whole entire life on a blog. I'll try my best to listen to the rules they state about being a professional on the blog but I have to admit that it won't be easy.
Onto the writing news.
I just recently browsed these two great blogs today and found a lot of fascinating stuff that makes my head spin. The first one I discovered was an entry about self-publishing. Authors are taking over the self-publishing world by taking control of their own destiny and getting paid huge amounts of dollars for it. They're being noticed by major publishers and literary agents based on thier marketing abilites.
Bummer.
I remember the days when self-publishing wasn't in the traditional book publishers category. There were exceptions true enough (Eragon, Virgina woolf, Rudyard Kilping) but overall, literary agents and publishers forwned whenver you mentioned the word 'self-publishing' in your query letter (I think they still do) but now it seems like an everyday norm. Makes me want to think twice about going the traditional route of how to publish my book. I mean, if I have to promote my book myself, I might as well pay hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars to get it published right?
Who knows? If I try to self-publish it for hundreds of dollars and promote it (Provided that I get a book doctor to look at my inconsisent mistakes I keep making in my novel) I may make more money on the other side of the equation.
If you want more information on this article, you can find it here. Speaking of articles, I found another website that focuses on the one subject I'm currently doing right now with 'Bandit': Rewrites. You can find the article here
Make sure you check out the websites. I think it could be good for your writing career.
Dominique
I've decided not to talk about my personal life since they have deemed it 'unprofessional' to talk about your whole entire life on a blog. I'll try my best to listen to the rules they state about being a professional on the blog but I have to admit that it won't be easy.
Onto the writing news.
I just recently browsed these two great blogs today and found a lot of fascinating stuff that makes my head spin. The first one I discovered was an entry about self-publishing. Authors are taking over the self-publishing world by taking control of their own destiny and getting paid huge amounts of dollars for it. They're being noticed by major publishers and literary agents based on thier marketing abilites.
Bummer.
I remember the days when self-publishing wasn't in the traditional book publishers category. There were exceptions true enough (Eragon, Virgina woolf, Rudyard Kilping) but overall, literary agents and publishers forwned whenver you mentioned the word 'self-publishing' in your query letter (I think they still do) but now it seems like an everyday norm. Makes me want to think twice about going the traditional route of how to publish my book. I mean, if I have to promote my book myself, I might as well pay hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars to get it published right?
Who knows? If I try to self-publish it for hundreds of dollars and promote it (Provided that I get a book doctor to look at my inconsisent mistakes I keep making in my novel) I may make more money on the other side of the equation.
If you want more information on this article, you can find it here. Speaking of articles, I found another website that focuses on the one subject I'm currently doing right now with 'Bandit': Rewrites. You can find the article here
Make sure you check out the websites. I think it could be good for your writing career.
Dominique
Friday, May 27, 2011
One chapter down, nine more chapters to go, Master degree in elementary education
HELLO,
After everything I tried to do over the last couple of weeks, I managed not to do much work this week and I still can't understand why. I wrote and re-wrote chapter six of my novel and now here I am, reading it over again knowing that it won't be perfect from my point-of-view. It's crazy. But I'm going to keep plowing through the first five chapters by re-reading over again so I'll know my story will stay consisent with what I'm working on so far. I'll just have to remember to slow the scenes down for the rest of my book.
I thought I could write my whole entry today but I'm getting so sleepy it's ridiculous. I can't function like this. My eyes are drooping and my body feels like it's gong to collapse so I'm going to end this really short and say good-night to this entry and continue it some other time.
Dominique
After everything I tried to do over the last couple of weeks, I managed not to do much work this week and I still can't understand why. I wrote and re-wrote chapter six of my novel and now here I am, reading it over again knowing that it won't be perfect from my point-of-view. It's crazy. But I'm going to keep plowing through the first five chapters by re-reading over again so I'll know my story will stay consisent with what I'm working on so far. I'll just have to remember to slow the scenes down for the rest of my book.
I thought I could write my whole entry today but I'm getting so sleepy it's ridiculous. I can't function like this. My eyes are drooping and my body feels like it's gong to collapse so I'm going to end this really short and say good-night to this entry and continue it some other time.
Dominique
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
It's over, Bandit, and writing in multiple genres
Hello, everyone:
I know, I suck at this whole blog thing but I've been really busy with finals and getting my grades together for the spring semester. This is actually the first week of me being at home all day since I don't know how long and I'm starting to get really lazy and bored. Can you believe that??? I can. Anyways, I'm still working on Bandit. I'm even thinking about rewriting my second book 'Addicted' so that it could at least be halfway done when I go back to school. I don't know what the future holds for me but one thing's for sure: I'm not going to give up writing my novels. As a matter of fact, I'm even thinking about writing in multiple genres this summer in case I don't make it as a YA author (Right now, my goal is to be a YA/middle grade author and from the way my books are going, it looks like I'm going to try my very best to achieve that goal for awhile before I switch to another genre).
There are so many things I have to do that it's driving me crazy. I have to continue finishing up Twilight and type up all of my journal entries to my blog to let the rest of the world know how my creative process works whenver I read and reread a book to improve my writing. I know, I know, I've been behind on a lot of things but going to the same class twice a week can do that to you! Anyways, I also planned on posting some short stories on my blog so that people can view it and post thier comments on my page. Better yet, I can post my short stories for literary agents to see as well. Like I said, so many ideas, so little time.
On top of everything else, I've come to a decision about my other future after I graduate for my community college in chicago. I've decided to go forward with my plans on becoming a special needs teacher. Two years from now, I will offically graduate with an A.A. in Early Childhood Education and go for my master's in special education so I'll be able to inspire kids with special needs that their disability shouldn't stop them from what they want to do in life.
Well, I have to get going. I'm already too far behind as it is. See ya.
Dominique
I know, I suck at this whole blog thing but I've been really busy with finals and getting my grades together for the spring semester. This is actually the first week of me being at home all day since I don't know how long and I'm starting to get really lazy and bored. Can you believe that??? I can. Anyways, I'm still working on Bandit. I'm even thinking about rewriting my second book 'Addicted' so that it could at least be halfway done when I go back to school. I don't know what the future holds for me but one thing's for sure: I'm not going to give up writing my novels. As a matter of fact, I'm even thinking about writing in multiple genres this summer in case I don't make it as a YA author (Right now, my goal is to be a YA/middle grade author and from the way my books are going, it looks like I'm going to try my very best to achieve that goal for awhile before I switch to another genre).
There are so many things I have to do that it's driving me crazy. I have to continue finishing up Twilight and type up all of my journal entries to my blog to let the rest of the world know how my creative process works whenver I read and reread a book to improve my writing. I know, I know, I've been behind on a lot of things but going to the same class twice a week can do that to you! Anyways, I also planned on posting some short stories on my blog so that people can view it and post thier comments on my page. Better yet, I can post my short stories for literary agents to see as well. Like I said, so many ideas, so little time.
On top of everything else, I've come to a decision about my other future after I graduate for my community college in chicago. I've decided to go forward with my plans on becoming a special needs teacher. Two years from now, I will offically graduate with an A.A. in Early Childhood Education and go for my master's in special education so I'll be able to inspire kids with special needs that their disability shouldn't stop them from what they want to do in life.
Well, I have to get going. I'm already too far behind as it is. See ya.
Dominique
Friday, April 1, 2011
Bandit, a second job and being a full-time student
Hello everyone. I know it's been awahile since I've wrote but a lot of things have been on my mind. I'm still working in Bandit. I'm in the process of rewriting it as we speak. Despite my efforts, I've only managed to write six chapters out of the whole book and there's still nine more chapters to go before I could declare it a finished novel (For a total of fifteen chapters). But I don't even know if writing this book is a possiblity now because of my current schedule.
At first, I was just writing my book and going to school. I was starting to like that idea because I felt as if I was able to have some free time to write my book and do my homework while the financial aid I applied for would help pay the bills. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case. Since my financial situation hasn't changed since 2009, I have no other choice but to get me a part-time job while I'm in school. I don't know how this is supposed to work considering the classes are twice a week. And I have no other choice but to go full-time because I'm going to need financial aid to pay for my expenses (tution, books, fees, etc).
I just don't know if it's worth it anymore.
I simply went back to school so I could get my A.A. in early childhodd education and then find a job. Now, I can't even do that anymore. I feel like nothing I have done within the last few years of my life were useless. I tried to get a substitute teaching certificate so I could be a substitute teacher in chicago. That didn't work. I tried applying for jobs on careerbuilder, that didn't work. Itried to publish my book to multiple literary agents, that didn't work. I tried to focus on going back to school full-time so I wouldn't have to get a job while I was in school, that didn't work.
The only thing that seems to work right now is to quit school and focus on getting a job...for the second time!
I just can't deal with the pressure she's putting on me. It's too much for me. All I want to do is write, send my manuscript, find a literary agent to fall in love with my work, rewrite it again to it's full potential, find a publisher that loves my work, rewrite it again and let it get published two years from now.
And maybe work on trying to get a master's degree in my field: Creative writing. That way, I could teach at Columbia college and not have to worry about searching for another job ever again in life. I think I would have been better off if I would have applied at Columbia for the fall then what I'm going through now. I am miserable and there's nothing I can do about it at this point. All I can do is do my homework and write as much as possible before my huge transition from writer/schoolgirl to schoolgirl/working girl with the writing as a backburner.
Dominique
At first, I was just writing my book and going to school. I was starting to like that idea because I felt as if I was able to have some free time to write my book and do my homework while the financial aid I applied for would help pay the bills. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case. Since my financial situation hasn't changed since 2009, I have no other choice but to get me a part-time job while I'm in school. I don't know how this is supposed to work considering the classes are twice a week. And I have no other choice but to go full-time because I'm going to need financial aid to pay for my expenses (tution, books, fees, etc).
I just don't know if it's worth it anymore.
I simply went back to school so I could get my A.A. in early childhodd education and then find a job. Now, I can't even do that anymore. I feel like nothing I have done within the last few years of my life were useless. I tried to get a substitute teaching certificate so I could be a substitute teacher in chicago. That didn't work. I tried applying for jobs on careerbuilder, that didn't work. Itried to publish my book to multiple literary agents, that didn't work. I tried to focus on going back to school full-time so I wouldn't have to get a job while I was in school, that didn't work.
The only thing that seems to work right now is to quit school and focus on getting a job...for the second time!
I just can't deal with the pressure she's putting on me. It's too much for me. All I want to do is write, send my manuscript, find a literary agent to fall in love with my work, rewrite it again to it's full potential, find a publisher that loves my work, rewrite it again and let it get published two years from now.
And maybe work on trying to get a master's degree in my field: Creative writing. That way, I could teach at Columbia college and not have to worry about searching for another job ever again in life. I think I would have been better off if I would have applied at Columbia for the fall then what I'm going through now. I am miserable and there's nothing I can do about it at this point. All I can do is do my homework and write as much as possible before my huge transition from writer/schoolgirl to schoolgirl/working girl with the writing as a backburner.
Dominique
Monday, February 14, 2011
Valentine's Day, still writing Bandit, tests in classes
Hi, I'm back again. I know that at this point, I should be posting journal entries about what I noticed in twilight from the first ten chapters but It's been really, really, hard to do that considering all the exams and tests that I'm either studying for or making a study guide to study from. Right now, I'm supposed to be studying for a test I have on Tuesday in one of my classes but I've been studying for it for three weeks now and I'm ready to take it and move on.
If we don't take this test on tuesday about prenatal development and the feamle gential tract, I'm thinking about taking it on Wednesday after one of my classes is over with so I'll be able to study for the mid-term in my other classes (Which is the week of March 16th). I'll also be able to go back to my YA paranormal novel without feeling guility about studying for a test. I managed to write a little bit over the weekend but I feel like that's not enough for me since I'm almost finished with the third rewrite of chapter four and still can't write anything because of the test.
Sigh. I miss Columbia College Chicago. When I was majoring in Fiction writing, I did a lot of writing and recalling without having to worry about mid-terms or finals. I could write journal entries and stories that was pertaining to the passion I had ever since I was a little girl: Writing books. And if I just so happened to write something that was outside the normal range (Provided that I did all of my homework) then that was fine too. Now I can't even do that anymore. I miss the once a week classes too. The college I'm going to has classes twice a week and it's not even in my major. Oh well, hopefully I'll be able to pass this semester woth flying colors.
Dominique
P.S. Happy Valentine's day
If we don't take this test on tuesday about prenatal development and the feamle gential tract, I'm thinking about taking it on Wednesday after one of my classes is over with so I'll be able to study for the mid-term in my other classes (Which is the week of March 16th). I'll also be able to go back to my YA paranormal novel without feeling guility about studying for a test. I managed to write a little bit over the weekend but I feel like that's not enough for me since I'm almost finished with the third rewrite of chapter four and still can't write anything because of the test.
Sigh. I miss Columbia College Chicago. When I was majoring in Fiction writing, I did a lot of writing and recalling without having to worry about mid-terms or finals. I could write journal entries and stories that was pertaining to the passion I had ever since I was a little girl: Writing books. And if I just so happened to write something that was outside the normal range (Provided that I did all of my homework) then that was fine too. Now I can't even do that anymore. I miss the once a week classes too. The college I'm going to has classes twice a week and it's not even in my major. Oh well, hopefully I'll be able to pass this semester woth flying colors.
Dominique
P.S. Happy Valentine's day
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Biggest Snowstorm of the Century, still working on Bandit, tests
Hi everyone, I haven't been blogging because of my busy life of classes, quizzes, homework, and tests at my community college in Chicago. Luckily, I was able to take two days off of my classes because of the blizzard of 2011. Although I don't have to think about studying until later on today (or tommorrow depending on my mood), the bad news out of all this was I had to shovel the 20.2-20.9 inches of snow that buried me inside my house which I'm not too happy about at all.
Yes, you heard right. 20.2 inches. I'm sore all over and never want to go through this horrible experience again.
While I was shoveling my front porch and sidewalk, I couldn't help but come up with some ideas for my next novel of the Truson S.E.T. series. I'm not going to go into too much detail about it because I don't want to give too much away but I know it will have something to do with two of my main characters becoming trapped in a huge snowstorm that can barely get out of.
That's it, that's all I'm saying.
I would love to stay and chit-chat about twilight and other stuff but that's going to have to wait until I get these quizzes out of the way. See ya.
Dominique
Yes, you heard right. 20.2 inches. I'm sore all over and never want to go through this horrible experience again.
While I was shoveling my front porch and sidewalk, I couldn't help but come up with some ideas for my next novel of the Truson S.E.T. series. I'm not going to go into too much detail about it because I don't want to give too much away but I know it will have something to do with two of my main characters becoming trapped in a huge snowstorm that can barely get out of.
That's it, that's all I'm saying.
I would love to stay and chit-chat about twilight and other stuff but that's going to have to wait until I get these quizzes out of the way. See ya.
Dominique
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Sleepy and tired from school, still doing Bandit
Hi, everyone. I'm sorry but I'm afraid my entry will be short. Extremely Short. I started my first week of classes for Early Childhood Education at my local community college and I'm alreay swamped with schoolwork. I thought I could complete it all by Sunday but from the way things are looking, I'll be luckily to give half of it done by tomorrow. I thought I could get it all done so I can focus on my writing but even that's an uphill battle right now.
I don't know how I'm going to pursue my dreams, do homework, and do work-study all at the same time. I'm thinking about working part-time since I need the money to pay bills. The stress of it all makes me want to cry. I can't handle this pressure. I need a job NOW so I'll be able to be on my own. Maybe I need to talk to somsone about what I'm going through. I don't know. All I know is that I feel overwhelmed.
And this is just the first week of class...
Dominique
P.S. I'll probably post some more wrods from twilight whenever I'm free to do so.
I don't know how I'm going to pursue my dreams, do homework, and do work-study all at the same time. I'm thinking about working part-time since I need the money to pay bills. The stress of it all makes me want to cry. I can't handle this pressure. I need a job NOW so I'll be able to be on my own. Maybe I need to talk to somsone about what I'm going through. I don't know. All I know is that I feel overwhelmed.
And this is just the first week of class...
Dominique
P.S. I'll probably post some more wrods from twilight whenever I'm free to do so.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Working on Bandit, Twilight words, being a teacher's aide for special needs kids
Happy new year to all! I’m sorry I haven’t been in contact with this blog for the last couple of weeks but I’ve been busy. Not only am I still working on my YA paranormal romance ‘Bandit’, I’ve been trying for the last couple of weeks to enroll in classes full-time at my local community college for Early Childhood Education. Since I haven’t been able to find a job within the last two years of my life, I’ve decided to go back to school to be a paraprofessional (Teacher’s aide) for special needs kids. I’ve always wanted to work with children ever since I taught creative writing at a catholic school back in the summer of 2008. Since I’m going back to school two weeks from now, it’s going to be a lot harder for me to finish my novel.
But by all means, I don’t care what I have to do, it will get done.
Another thing I have been scaling back on is the research on Twilight. To tell you the truth, I’m sick of hearing the word twilight. Everywhere I turn, it seems like vampires have now taken hold on the whole YA genre altogether and I for once had about enough of it. It’s a brand new year which means it’s time to talk about brand new subjects within the YA and romance community. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed the whole twilight saga thing as well but I think it’s time to move on, which is why I’m trying my very best to write down as much journal entries I can so I can post them here and get it over with. I’m at least halfway done with the first book and I can guarantee you that it will be a LOOOONG time before I post some more journal entries on new moon, eclipse, and breaking dawn. The next book I’m thinking about reviewing is Tangerine by Edward Bloor. I heard that a lot of agents want more YA novels from a boy’s POV (Or maybe that’s middle-grade, I’m not sure) and I think that Tangerine is a perfect example on how a boy character should be written.
Besides, I’ve always wanted to experiment with my writing when it comes to the opposite sex. The only problem is every time I try to write from a male’s POV, I always end up sounding too feminine! Then I wind up hating myself for trying it in the first place…
You get the picture.
Anyways, there’s nothing left for me to say except give you the next ten words I got from Twilight that I’m thinking about using (or have already used) in my manuscript. Enjoy!
Dominique
P.S. UPDATE: The same process I have been doing with chapter one of Bandit has worked for chapter two. I’m now working on the third and fourth rewrite of chapter three which equals twelve more chapters to go! WOOHOO!
Statuesque - resembling a statue, as in grace, pose, or dignity.
Surreptitiously - accomplished by a secret or improper names: Clandestine. Acting secretly or by stealth.
Meekly - of gentle and long-suffering disposition. Submissive; compliant; lacking spirit or backbone. Humble; lowly. Gentle; indulgent; kind; compassionate.
Opaque - Impervious to light; not translucent. Loosely, imperfectly transparent. Impervious to reason; unintelligent. Imperious to radiant heat, electric radiation etc. having no luster; dull. Unintelligible; obscure; dark; lying in shadow.
Warily - marked by keen caution, cunning, and watchfulness, especially in detecting and escaping danger.
Lapsed - to pass slowly or by degrees; slip; sink; to lapse into a coma. To deviate from virtue or truth; fall in duty or accuracy. To pass or elapse, as time. To become void, usually by disuse or neglect.
Suppress - To put an end or stop to; quell, crush as a rebellion. To stop or prohibit the activities of, as a rival political group; abolish. To withhold from knowledge or publication as a book, news, etc. To repress as a groan or sigh. To stop (a hemorrhage etc.)
Incredulously - Refusing belief; skeptical. Characterized by, caused by, or manifesting doubt. Incredible.
Saturated - Completely satisfied; replete; incapable of holding more of a substance or material; a saturated vapor.
Contemplating - To look at attentively; gaze at. To consider thoughtfully; ponder. To intend or plan. To treat of as contingent or possible. To meditate; muse.
But by all means, I don’t care what I have to do, it will get done.
Another thing I have been scaling back on is the research on Twilight. To tell you the truth, I’m sick of hearing the word twilight. Everywhere I turn, it seems like vampires have now taken hold on the whole YA genre altogether and I for once had about enough of it. It’s a brand new year which means it’s time to talk about brand new subjects within the YA and romance community. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed the whole twilight saga thing as well but I think it’s time to move on, which is why I’m trying my very best to write down as much journal entries I can so I can post them here and get it over with. I’m at least halfway done with the first book and I can guarantee you that it will be a LOOOONG time before I post some more journal entries on new moon, eclipse, and breaking dawn. The next book I’m thinking about reviewing is Tangerine by Edward Bloor. I heard that a lot of agents want more YA novels from a boy’s POV (Or maybe that’s middle-grade, I’m not sure) and I think that Tangerine is a perfect example on how a boy character should be written.
Besides, I’ve always wanted to experiment with my writing when it comes to the opposite sex. The only problem is every time I try to write from a male’s POV, I always end up sounding too feminine! Then I wind up hating myself for trying it in the first place…
You get the picture.
Anyways, there’s nothing left for me to say except give you the next ten words I got from Twilight that I’m thinking about using (or have already used) in my manuscript. Enjoy!
Dominique
P.S. UPDATE: The same process I have been doing with chapter one of Bandit has worked for chapter two. I’m now working on the third and fourth rewrite of chapter three which equals twelve more chapters to go! WOOHOO!
Statuesque - resembling a statue, as in grace, pose, or dignity.
Surreptitiously - accomplished by a secret or improper names: Clandestine. Acting secretly or by stealth.
Meekly - of gentle and long-suffering disposition. Submissive; compliant; lacking spirit or backbone. Humble; lowly. Gentle; indulgent; kind; compassionate.
Opaque - Impervious to light; not translucent. Loosely, imperfectly transparent. Impervious to reason; unintelligent. Imperious to radiant heat, electric radiation etc. having no luster; dull. Unintelligible; obscure; dark; lying in shadow.
Warily - marked by keen caution, cunning, and watchfulness, especially in detecting and escaping danger.
Lapsed - to pass slowly or by degrees; slip; sink; to lapse into a coma. To deviate from virtue or truth; fall in duty or accuracy. To pass or elapse, as time. To become void, usually by disuse or neglect.
Suppress - To put an end or stop to; quell, crush as a rebellion. To stop or prohibit the activities of, as a rival political group; abolish. To withhold from knowledge or publication as a book, news, etc. To repress as a groan or sigh. To stop (a hemorrhage etc.)
Incredulously - Refusing belief; skeptical. Characterized by, caused by, or manifesting doubt. Incredible.
Saturated - Completely satisfied; replete; incapable of holding more of a substance or material; a saturated vapor.
Contemplating - To look at attentively; gaze at. To consider thoughtfully; ponder. To intend or plan. To treat of as contingent or possible. To meditate; muse.
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