Write!

A year ago, around September 2010 I decided enough is enough. I always said... One day I was going to write a book. Ya, know that elusive One Day before I die but I want to do... list? The one I never do and will end up alone outliving my hubs, kids, and cows surrounded by nothing but cats going: Why? Where did my life go? Yeah that vision scared the bejesus out of me too.

So, I did somthing. I wrote a book. A crappy, full of technical diffuculties book that still needs work, but it was a book. I had the most wonderful friends that encouraged me to try. And then kicked my butt on the days I wanted to give up. (that would be you, Bobbie)  I LOVED it. I LOVED writing! So much I entered it into contests. And they LOVED it.

Well, until they had to "grade me" on technical writing, then not so much feeling the love. POV's, headbopping, dangling prostitutes, er prepostitions. Writing query letters and synopsis...Wait I hate outlines and I now have to come up with plots and themes and protagonist and antagonist? I had to go look those up. Seriously. Dictionary.com is our friend, just saying.

So... after completely freaking out about how low I scored. That I obviously I didn't know how to write and wasn't going to be the next break out star, whom they'd count themselves lucky to have found... I started looking for online help. How do I get better? How do I learn about the business side of writing and getting published? And most importantly as a stay at home mom with 2 kids, and only one income how do I do it affordably?

One of the best thing I did was find Candance Haven's free yahoo group. Thank you  Margie (http://margueritelafayette.blogspot.com/?zx=98dabcc0114a2a1e) After lurking there for months, I just attended her paid workshop and it has helped me tremendously!

http://www.candacehavens.com/

Bestselling author Candace Havens has written six novels for Berkley including, Charmed & Dangerous, Charmed & Ready, Charmed & Deadly, Like A Charm, The Demon King and I and Dragons Prefer Blondes. Her new venture is writing for the Blaze line of Harlequin. Those books include Take Me If You Dare, She Who Dares, Wins, Truth and Dare, and The Model Marine. She is also in the anthology Spirited, and the proceeds go to help literacy. Her books have received nominations for the RITA's, Holt Medallion and Write Touch Reader Awards. She is the author of the biography Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy and a contributor to several anthologies. She is also one of the nation's leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities including Tom Hanks, Nicolas Cage, Tom Cruise, George Clooney and many more. Her entertainment columns can be read in more than 600 newspapers across the country. Candace also runs a free online writing workshop for more than 1800 writers, and teaches comprehensive writing class. She does film reviews with the Dorsey Gang on New Country 96.3, and is the President of the Television Critics Association.