You Ain’t The Boss of Me
I will be showing this manuscript who’s the boss around here.
Just you watch.
Best,
Kwana
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Before You Hit Send…
You’d better edit and edit again. I’ve just finished taking Carina Press executive editor, Angela James’ Before You Hit Send online editing class.
And let me tell you all, dang, the amount I thought I knew that I didn’t know could fill an entire class. I’m moaning, groaning, hanging my head in shame over here, but now picking it up and moving on, an old dog with brand new tricks.
This course was just the gentle kick in the pants this been writing in my own rut for years writer needed to jumpstart this next phase her career.
Angela presented the material in a clear concise way and then opened the forum up for questions that she came back to answer so you were not just left dangling in the wind. The course covered the basics of editing from your first changes to your final save.
All that was asked at the end was to fill out a survey and if we liked it to please recommend it to others. So here I am freely recommending! The next course will be offered in September. You can check out the details here and if you sign up please tell Angela hi from me!
Now excuse me while I get back to the grid.
Best,
Kwana
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Feeling the Heat
It’s getting on mid-Summer and I’m feeling the heat both literally and figuratively with the temperature constantly on the rise. I’m chest deep in editing and the college deadline is fast coming up for the dear twins. But I’m still trying to stay cool by taking things one step at a time, keeping the AC on and the iced coffee flowing.
How are keeping cool this summer?
Best,
Kwana
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Editing in the Harsh Light Of Day
So right now I’m heavy into editing mode on a couple of projects and if you know anything about me you know that patience is so not my thing. I like to finish a project and be finished with it. Done. Bye. See Ya! I cannot stand editing, but if I’m honest with myself editing is half (or maybe even more than half) of writing a novel. So you see my problem, yes?
To that end I’m currently taking Angela James’ Before You Hit Send online self editing course. In my usual way, I made the decision by the seat of my pants. I read the description (it nudged at me, see I knew I needed it) so I asked for a trusted opinion and quick, before I changed my mind, I signed up.
So far, just a few days in and though painful in the light of day, I’ve already learned so much and seen some of the errors of my ways (don’t let the poor punctuation of this post fool you).
This tweet that I sent out yesterday describes my feelings perfectly:
“Taking the B4 You Hit Send Class. It’s like trying on bathing suits under florescent lights. “Is my butt THAT big?” Yes it is.”
Best,
Kwana
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Ok So Enough Of That…
This weekend I did nothing but lounge about and read with increments of eating bbq thrown in just to keep my lounge strength up (a girl had to stay strong mind you). But today marks the start of a new week and it seems after Nationals a new outlook on work.
RWA Nationals is always renewing to a writer like that and for me this year it particularly is with the twins leaving for college. Time to get that old grind on with a renewed spirit. But before I get started here are a few more pics from Nationals. Hope you have a wonderful week.
Here I am at Juniors enjoying a Cheesecake meet and greet with team Heroes and Heartbreakers meeting some of the other team bloggers for the first time.
Me and my friend author Jax Cassidy. Jax had me all over Times Square taking new author photos of me. Yeah, Uh, ANTM I am not.
Enjoying an Italian tourist meal with Maureen McGowan and Stephanie Doyle. We were starving and had energy to only step outside the Marriott for the meal. It was good though. Check them out on their great blog Drunk Writer Talk.
Harlan Coben and Lisa Jackson talk. So much fun and inspirational.
Finally mypushed to the limit H & H bag and my handbag wiped out in the Atrium lounge.
Best,
Kwana
And the Fun Begins…
Thanks once again for all of your well wishes for the Dear Twins and their graduation. It was such a great time and one of the happiest, proudest and most emotional moments of my life.
I wish I had a little more time to decompress but week the of RWA National excitement begins today and it’s in my town of New York! So I’ll be out and about at writing workshops, and book signing and hopefully meeting lots of friends I have not gotten to see since the last conference and yeah, making some new ones. It all starts tonight down in Soho at Lady Jane’s Salon. Better get my skates on!
Happy Monday!
Best,
Kwana
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It’s Monday
Charged
Hi folks. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and all the moms out there got to celebrate either as big or as small as you wanted. I had a lovely low-key day with the DH, The Dear Twins and Jack that started with breakfast in bed and ended with a late night snack in bed. Yeah I’m sure I’ll be paying for all the indulgences later.
On Saturday I went downtown to a very nice restaurant on 57th street for our NYC annual May Brunch. This year is our 25thChapter Anniversary and we were greeted at our place settings by these pretty little maids.
As an added bonus we had the best guest speaker, New York Times best selling Paranormal and Romantic Suspense author, Caridad Pineiro. Caridad was kind enough to share with us her advice for making it as a writer in this business. She was so uplifting and inspirational. It was a terrific afternoon. You can checkout Caridad at her site here.
Now I’m charged and ready to tackle the week. I hope you’re ready too.
Best,
Kwana
Wandering Mind
What’s Jack up to? What hasn’t he been up to is the question? He’s been having quite the mind of his own lately. Doing what he wants when he wants. Just look at this face… Think there’s any reasoning with him?
In the meantime I’ve been quite the pushover and letting him run all over me. You see I’m still in college H -E double L with the acceptances (thank God) and the rejections and even dreaded waitlists (UGH!) for the dear twins. And now we are waiting to hear about finances for these here schools so life is just nuts.
I’m also in wait mode to hear back about my edits from my agent so on the professional front I’m on pins and needles right now too and for a woman with no patience it’s pretty hard to take. Talk about no sleep and muscle spasms? Let’s not go there.
But I’m trying to write through it when I can get a free moment in my wondering mind which is rare. But I must since I feel I’m writing for my life right now.
That said I think I will be sporadic on ye old blog because I’m feeling a need to give myself a break in at least one area. But you know me, I’m sure I can’t stay away. I will be popping in over at your places when I can and you can always find me on twitter @kwanawrites and over at The Loft talking books!
See you soon. Hopefully with some closure and a high word count. Funny what writers dream of.
Best,
Kwana
Breaking Through
Trying to break through that writing wall today to get to the good stuff on the other side. Any walls you’re trying to knock down?
Good luck!
Best,
Kwana
