Time for our Sunday check-in for ROW80 – the place to share one’s progress, challenges and receive support.
The past few days have been a roller coaster.I received an offer of a contract on Wednesday with AnaiahPress for a novella I submitted during the #JustPitchit twitter party (for faith-based novels). But then when seeking advice, was told I should have an agent and was offered help, but still waiting for advice. I am not sure what to do, having never been in this situation. I will need extensive revision as they want a full novel (30,00 words). Has anyone dealt with Anaiah Press; had a contract offered on their own?
I have made some progress the past few days, but not as much as I would have liked. I don’t know if I mentioned the fall I had Wednesday morning, but there are still lasting effects – a bit of a headache, muscle aches and stiffness. I literally had no chance to break the fall and fell flat on my back, hitting my head. I did end up complaining to the town about the ice build-up on the sidewalk but I still see it there. I feel like an old person – not wanting to go out in case I fall!
Here are my goals and what I accomplished/or not this week, in bold.
- Write daily – at least 500-1000 words a day **** YES – but just a bit each day
- Take courses. Haven’t started a review of previous courses yet.
- Read at least 3 books on the craft of writing; articles online. Read articles
- Finish the first draft of “Catching Love” –finished part of another
- Finish the first draft of my MG novel No – but had Skype critique of first 5 pages – excellent advice from Kami Kinard, whose MG course I took – has got me enthused to continue working on it again
- Write at least one picture book a month Worked on revisions on mystery pb
- Enter competitions and twitter pitch parties –Submitted romance novel to Operation Awesome’s Mystery agent contest and chosen for first round
- Take part in Write1Sub1 and 12 X 12 worked on pb revisions
- Fulfill duties of mentor at ROW80, visiting my team 2x a week –YES
- Write at least 2 blog posts a week (other than ROW80) –No
Here’s a little inspiration from Jane Yolen:
Beverley A Baird 
Congrats on the offer. I have no advice or experience with them. But, I hope you can figure out what to do.
Sorry about the fall. Hope you feel better.
Good work on your goals.
Thanks Fallon – sure was an up and down week. Hope it all gets resolved soon. All the best to you as well.
Congrats on the offer! I’m not published, so I can’t offer you any advice on how to proceed. I think there are probably some books out there on the subject, so maybe those can be of use to you.
Sorry about your fall. Yikes. I slipped on a patch of ice a few years ago and hurt my back–not really badly, but enough that it was pretty sore for a week or two. After that I’ve been paranoid about it happening again. I was lucky I didn’t hit my head against the sidewalk. Hope you’re okay!
Have a wonderful week, Bev!
Update: Just remembered I had this book on my Amazon wishlist: “Deal Breakers 2013: Contract Terms Writers Should Avoid” (WMG Writer’s Guide Book 4) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. It might be of some use to you, though I haven’t read it yet so I can’t say for sure.
Thanks Denise – for the lovely words and the book title. Will check it out. It’s awful when you fall because first, I felt stupid and then I have been afraid to go out incase the sidewalks are slippery. But I made myself go out and just took care. Glad you weren’t hurt too badly.
Congrat on the publishing offer–how exciting for you! That book Denise recommended sounds like a good idea. KKR is very big on protecting writers from predatory contracts (not that I’m suggesting this one is!) and will probably have good advice for you.
Thanks Marina. I’m definitely going to check it out.
My advice is – whatever you decide to do, relish the fact that you had an offer, and hold to it when things seem less rosy.
I hope you are all healed up soon – falls can be both painful and scary!
Very good advice Shan – thanks so much. I hate that the fall made me afraid – aftraid to walk on snow. Makes me feel old! ugh.