What’s on my Romance Novel-Shaped Plate

Finish The Daggum Book
Deadline: Friday, July 7 (Yeah when I said yesterday that I’d be done Friday, I meant NEXT Friday, not today.)
My current Work In Progress will be done by Friday (next) at midnight. Done, I tell you!
Help: I need suggestions for a title. It’s about a psychic chick who has to save the world. That’s really all you need to know. Heehee.

Write the Blurb
Deadline: Friday, July 14
The great and powerful blurb is the basis for query letters and pitches (yikes!) and therefore needs to be done in enough time to commit it to memory for conference. I realize it’s only 100 words, but I am the girl who took a lower grade in an English lit class in college because she couldn’t recite 50 lines of “The Lady of Shalott” from memory. Dear god, I even chose that poem because the lines are freakin’ SHORT.
Help: I may post the blurb and ask for edits. Because I love and trust each one of you so much.

Update my Website
Deadline: Friday, July 21
Eek! This scares me. Perhaps I’ll just update the text and save a massive overhaul for later. Yes, yes that is what I shall do.
Help: I’ll direct you over there when it’s finished to look for typos and other weirdness.

Print up Business Cards
Deadline: Friday, July 21
Yep, I am going to hand out ALL my business cards at conference this year. (What I’m not telling you is that I’m only printing up, like, 20. Baha.)
Help: I will also be showing you the non-stalkerish portions of said card. Remember all that branding stuff? I’ll need to implement it on the business cards.

Iron Conference Clothes
Deadline: Monday, July 24
Do you see how excited I am about National Conference? I iron for no one. But for this, I’ll iron. For real iron, with creases and everything, not just spray it with wrinkle releaser and hope for the best. And I’ll hang ironed things neatly in a garment bag. I am that committed, people.

Conference!
July 26-29
Weee! I’m pitching my book! Twice! In individual meetings! Get me a barf bucket!

Edit Manuscript
Deadline: Friday, August 4
Why am I not editing my manuscript before conference? Because I’m hoping I’ll learn some editing hints and skills while at conference. And then I will implement them. Also because I’m not going to be able to look at said manuscript objectively until a few weeks after I’ve finished it. In this case, it will be a month after I’ve finished it.
Help: If anyone wants to do a proofread for me, the more eyes the better. Just don’t be too mean or I’ll cry.

Write Query Letter
Deadline: Friday, August 4
Shouldn’t be too hard, since I will have already done my wonderful happy blurb.
Help: Proofreaders are again welcome.

Send Out Fulls, Partials, Queries
Deadline: Friday, August 11
Two weeks after conference, I’m planning to have all requested materials in the appropriate hot little hands, plus a bunch of queries out. I will not sit on this book!

Write a Short Story (While Waiting for an Editor to Call and Tell Me She Wants to Give Me a Three Book Deal PRONTO, Of Course)
Deadline: Monday, August 21
Hm. I’m giving myself 10 days to write a 5,000 word short story. Think I can do it? It’s for a contest at the Wild Rose Press.
Help: Where are you, oh wondrous proofreaders?

Dig Out Old Manuscript and Edit (While Waiting for an Editor to Call and Tell Me She Wants to Give Me a Three Book Deal PRONTO, Of Course)
Deadline: October 1
That first novel was aimed at Harlequin American Romance, who is now having a contest. I will win. After massive edits, of course.

Whew, I’m tired already.

Best sentence from yesterday:

Less talk, more psychic crap.

In non-writing news, I’ve lost a few pounds this week, due to eating, like, nothing but salad. Robbie says I’m “not as lumpy.” Ain’t he sweet?

Also, I stood on my head yesterday in yoga. Joanna has dubbed me the Aunt Who Stands On Her Head. Awesome.

Technorati tags: Wordcount, Publishing

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