No Way to Go but Up!

I'm currently up to chapter 12 in my editing journey. "Wallflower" is coming along nicely. I'm looking so forward to sending off the finished, polished product to agents everywhere. 
On top of my editing duties, I just found out that I need to revamp my second novel "Hibiscus, Believe" as well. 
I entered "Hibiscus" in the Page to Fame contest on Webook.com nearly a year ago. Slowly but steadily, my little fairy story climbed the ranks from level one to level three. Each time I was promoted to the next level, I lost more and more interest in the progress of this novel. I knew that the writing was sub-par. I've learned so much since I submitted that book to the contest. In reading it, I could see the glaring oversights that I couldn't see before, but I was powerless to change it...until now!
Since my little story has made it to round three, I will no longer be graded by webook readers. In round three, I will be rated by Webook reading pros as well as professional literary agents...Did you hear me??? I said AGENTS!! 
Webook informed me that I can now edit my book if I choose and take up to three months to resubmit my book for round three. 
SO...in addition to polishing "Wallflower", I must now go back and edit "Hibiscus, Believe". I don't mind the extra work. Anything to improve my writing is worth the time. :)

One Hippopotamus, Two Hippopotamus...

Things are much better today, but it seems I'm hippopotamus counting. Small goals, baby steps. I quit smoking on the ninth. Today is day three. My husband and I managed to keep from killing each other yesterday. (He's quitting too.) I think we're over the worst of it. 
Out of all the positive aspects of quitting, do you know what my main motivation is? I'll be able to sit longer at book signings and speaking engagements if I don't have to race out for a smoke. Jeez, I don't even have an agent yet. Hey, if you're gonna dream, why not dream big, huh? :) Wish me luck.

Swimming with the Fishes

Well, it's official. I have been thrust back into the pool of oblivion with the other fishes. In other words, I'm swimming with the fishes.
Remember a few entries back when I told you about the published author that agreed to read my work and give me a letter of recommendation? 
She has withdrawn her offer of assistance, claiming a tight schedule. I know she's a busy lady, but I don't think she has any idea how much I was depending on her. A recommendation from a respected author gives any struggling writer a leg up on the competition. Now, I'm no different from the rest. 
And to make matters worse, I was waiting for her impending letter before I sent off any queries to the agents I met at the conference. I've wasted valuable time waiting for her. 
Damn it. It's been two months. I hope they remember me.

Feeling Better

 As the title says, I'm feeling better. Not only has my health improved after being sick for a week, but my writing has become something I can be proud of. As any writer can relate, I've been battling procrastination and that little devil on my shoulder that whispers, "Your writing sucks!"
As I've mentioned in past posts, I purchased a book called "Word Painting" to help me with my descriptive prose. As much as I can absorb the information, it seems to be working, but at the very least, reading the book inspires me. 
Below is the beginning of my book "Wallflower". I'll give you a before and after example of how "Word Painting" has improved my descriptive ability:

Before:

“Where am I? Oh, God! Where am I?” A young lady, waifish in stature, calls out in terror. Distraught she spins in circles, trying desperately to take in her blurry surroundings. Where is this place? How did I get here?

“Please, someone help me.” She whimpers. There are people, lots of them, and books, rows and rows of books. It’s a library, but how?

After:

“Where am I? Oh, God! Where am I?” A young lady calls out in terror. Distraught, she spins in circles, trying desperately to take in her blurry surroundings. Where is this place? How did I get here?

“Please, someone help me.” She whimpers. The sound of her own voice is a strangled echo in her head. Between a blinking strobe of darkness and reality, she sees people, lots of them, and books, rows and rows of books. She knows it’s a library, but how? How did she get here?

See the difference? Sure, it adds to the word count, but I now feel secure that the reader will be able to place themselves into the action rather than being an outside observer.

That's all I had to report for today. What's in store for me tomorrow? More writing, and I'm looking so forward to it. :) 

TTYS 

Any Suggestions??

Hello World!!

I'm on a mission today. I've been sick for a week and I haven't typed a word. I plan on doing my part to catch up on the writing I've missed. 
However, I could use your help on another issue. In speaking with a local writer friend of mine, the subject was brought up that most first-time novelists choose to write in 1st person POV since it seems to be the easiest route for beginners. My novel, "Wallflower" is in 3rd person. Aside from a novella I wrote once, I haven't tried the 1st person angle. 
The dilemma that my writer friend and I came across is how does the writer of a 1st person work switch points of view when it is NOT the main protagonist in a scene? You can't stay on one single character throughout the book. So how do you switch?
I'm asking my readers to provide me with the title of a good book written in 1st person. I'd like to see how the pros do it. Any suggestions?

Contradictions

Greetings all!

My nose has been reapplied to that ever-abrasive grindstone. I spent the better part of today polishing chapters 4-6 of "Wallflower". I found the work both pleasant and frustrating. Since I know exactly where my weakness lies as a writer, I've gone to great lengths to educate myself and improve my shortcomings. I've attended a writer's conference, consulted with the masses on several writing community websites and bought an extremely insightful book on the subject - the subject being my descriptive prose. Each of my efforts have been mildly helpful, but I still find myself butting my head against the same brick wall.

I've heard from several different and unrelated sources that my writing is too general. "Immerse me in the situation." One writer told me. "I feel removed from the scene." Another said. The truth is that I knew I had a problem before I even met these people. 

Here's my quandary:10% of the population says "I need more description." 90% continue to tell me, "Write for yourself. Don't write for anyone else. Be true to YOU!"
Okay folks, I need your input on this one. Which is it? Immerse myself in description or march to my own drummer?

I'd love to raise my nose in the air and proclaim, "I am an individual! No one has a writing voice like mine. I shall not be squelched." But my logical mind says, "Hey lady, if you ever want to get a book deal, you need to conform to the demands of the suits."

Ah yes, the suits, the big wigs, the people who sign the checks. They want the next Edgar Allen Poe; the next Hemingway. They want a strong voice; profound prose that earns high praise in the NY Times, the sort of masterpiece that finds its way to Oprah's nightstand. 

This is not me. This is not my work. I do not claim to be profound, nor do I desire to become profound. I want to entertain the masses and tell delightful, intriguing stories. That is what I do. I am a commercial novelist.

That is also what JK Rowling is. Like it or not, I don't believe you're going to find anything remotely profound or life-altering in the pages of any Harry Potter novel, but if you listen closely, you'll hear the sound of Ms. Rowling laughing all the way to the bank.

The truth is folks, I write ordinary stories about ordinary people, FOR ordinary people. I can always "improve" my descriptive prose, but do I need to be downright poetic? So what's it going to be? Should I exhaust myself to learn an angle that could be valuable or should I write what I enjoy and possibly never get published? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Killing Two Birds with One Essay

           What am I putting off right now? Excellent question! I’m putting off revising my novel. Perhaps it’s a bit of good old-fashioned procrastination, but mostly it’s a lack of “zing” on my part.

            Life has gotten to me lately and even though revising my book is a vital first priority, it is also the pink elephant in the room that I’d rather not acknowledge. My book is worthy of my time, don’t get me wrong, but I see it as my own Mount Everest; daunting and seemingly insurmountable. (Notice how the word insurmountable has the word “mount” in it, as in mountain? That can’t be a coincidence.)

            I digress. I started this little blurb as a writing exercise that I found on creativity-portal.com in an attempt to bring back my motivation and my imagination. As I looked at what I was typing, I realized that it would be a perfect entry for my currently neglected blog. Perhaps I could kill two birds with one essay and alleviate the guilt I carry for two separate offenses.

            Ahhhh, better already.

            I’m in chapter 4 of the revision stage of “Wallflower”. I must complete the necessary revisions before my book is fit for agent consumption. No pressure there, right?

            One scene at a time Jennifer. One scene at a time and pay no mind to the blinking cursor that’s mocking you.