Holy guacamole! I had ANOTHER crazy day at work. Computers decide to get viruses, printers don't work, programs don't work, and kids have no respect. What a day. It was just one thing after another after another. I have no idea how I am going to survive the last 11 days. I'm already running on fumes and reserves. Somehow, I always manage to get it done. I wasn't able to run any updates today. I might have to put them off until the half days. We will see. There are still SO MANY to do! On the bright side, tomorrow is the last day of school this week. Yes, we have school Friday, but it's a field day where zero work will be done! I hopefully won't have any computer issues to deal with.
After craziness, I was able to get ice cream with a friend I hadn't seen since Christmas! That was awesome to catch up and of course... eat ice cream! After that, I watched the New Jersey Devils. They were down 3-0 in the finals series. it was 0-0 in the game after 2 periods. Devils finally scored, then quickly let up a goal. Then they scored with 4:29 left and added an empty netter. They are now down 3 games to 1. Game 5 is Saturday after the last horse race of the triple crown! There is still hope! GO DEVILS!!!
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Thinking makes my head hurt
Although there is not much in my mind, I still think too much. Today was yet another busy day with technology deciding not to work. Since I don't do enough extracurricular activities after work with working out, reading, promoting my book, writing my other books, writing this blog, and trying to have a social life, I decided to add one more thing to my over flowing plate. Normally, I LOVE an overflowing plate (only if its filled with food, though). Anyways... I'm in the process of filling out an extremely lengthy online application for teaching jobs. It's a website that I can send this long application to any job that is open in any state that I am interested in. The reason I am doing this is because I feel like I am spending way too much time trying to get my book published and not enough time trying to look for my career job. I know that eventually I WILL get a teaching job. However, the chances of me getting a book published are sooooooo much worse than getting a teaching job. This will NOT stop me from writing. I love writing and am so excited to work on my books this summer! Once I start sending applications out for elementary teaching jobs in other states, then I can go to bed at night feeling like I have done everything I could possibly do to get a teaching job.
Monday, June 4, 2012
busy/not a good day...
I did have yet another productive day. I got to work and was able to update computers in 2 rooms right away. I was just about to do a third when a teacher asked me to sub for another teacher who had gotten sick. Naturally, I said yes and of course the kids were crazy. Luckily, I had to bring the kids to my lab so they could work on their projects. It made me feel more at home haha. Somehow, I was able to do updates on 4 rooms total today. After that, I went to the gym where I cancelled my membership for a much less expensive gym. However, that gym does not have a pool. Oh well, it was a HUGE money difference, so I couldn't pass it up. Ironically, after getting out of the pool today, a woman comes up to me and tells me I make swimming look effortless. I almost laughed, because it definitely requires A LOT of effort. To top off my busy, not so good day, the Devils just lost 4-0 and are down 3-0 in the best 4 of 7 series. They need a MIRACLE...
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Productive Day!
I have so much to write (type) today! I hope not to bore you during this lengthy post. First of all, work at the grocery store wasn't too bad for once! The five hour shift actually went by rather quickly! However, many months ago, I made a list of about 40 different things that customers should not do at a grocery store with hopes to get the list to 101. That did not happen. Instead of getting to 101, I came up with the idea today to write a compilation of stories from the grocery store that incorporate the 40 something rules I came up with. I already typed out the beginning ideas of this book in my iPhone notes. I look forward to writing this book as well as the sequel to The Teacher That Didn't Teach this summer.
Anyways, lately, I have done a lot of reading (skimming) about publishing books and making my fictional writing better. Some authors said that writers should not tell people what they are working on because it will not be as authentic. By telling you what I wrote above, I haven't given too many details about what exactly is going to be in my next three (planned) books. Everybody has different ideas. Another thing I read today was that I should write out the first draft of a book really fast and then go back and edit it. Since my mom writes reviews on technology toys that she gets, I asked for her opinion about that. She said everyone is different. Since she writes short pieces, she edits at the end. I told her that I like to write a chapter, then edit the chapter. I think it would be too daunting of a task to write the entire book and then edit the whole thing. However, once the entire manuscript is done, I read the finished book and make any more edits that I need to.
One other thing I read over the last few weeks was that writers should utilize every moment they have to write. Take notes here and there. I have started to do that. On the other hand, I cannot write a page to my book for a few minutes and then walk away. I want to find a time that I can sit down and write the entire chapter. When I wrote my first book, I stupidly would write a paragraph or two, have good ideas to finish the chapter, but would walk away and then come back another time. Stupid, stupid, stupid! If I walk away in the middle of the chapter, it ruins the flow! Therefore, I don't want to write any part of my book if I only have 5 minutes here and there. I am pretty upset that I started working on my second book during April break. I wrote three chapters and edited them during that time. I haven't even opened the document since then! That's a major problem! Now that I have skimmed through all of the books about publishing, editing, and writing that I wanted to read, I HOPE to start working on my summer projects shortly.
I went to a pitchapalooza in April where I was able to "pitch" my book to the judges. I had to buy the judges book to pitch. Since I bought their book, they are giving me a FREE 20 minute phone consultation where they will help me with anything I ask! They normally charge $90 for that! $90 to talk for 20 minutes! Insane. Anyways, I set that up for Tuesday. I wrote down several topics I want to discuss with them. I am sure it will be a productive 20 minutes and not a moment longer. I mean, I only had one minute to pitch my book and they had the timer going for every author that pitched!
LAST thing I will elaborate on tonight... (maybe) As you have (hopefully) read in my post a few days ago, I submitted query letters to 6 agents. In the book I just finished, they mentioned a website that I can narrow my search down to find MORE agents that fit my specific needs. I did a search and found only 190 agents that meet my search! It looks like I have more letters to send out!
OH YEAH! I forgot to mention (see I'm a writer, so I don't know how to shut up even though I said my last topic would be the last I would write about for tonight...WRONG!) My local newspaper, the Times Union, had a section today with books written by local authors. They mentioned my book and a brief description about it! Very cool! Ok, I PROMISE I'm done. I have a busy week ahead of me at work ending with a field day where students will have the opportunity to dunk me in a tank full of water! Can't wait! good night!
Anyways, lately, I have done a lot of reading (skimming) about publishing books and making my fictional writing better. Some authors said that writers should not tell people what they are working on because it will not be as authentic. By telling you what I wrote above, I haven't given too many details about what exactly is going to be in my next three (planned) books. Everybody has different ideas. Another thing I read today was that I should write out the first draft of a book really fast and then go back and edit it. Since my mom writes reviews on technology toys that she gets, I asked for her opinion about that. She said everyone is different. Since she writes short pieces, she edits at the end. I told her that I like to write a chapter, then edit the chapter. I think it would be too daunting of a task to write the entire book and then edit the whole thing. However, once the entire manuscript is done, I read the finished book and make any more edits that I need to.
One other thing I read over the last few weeks was that writers should utilize every moment they have to write. Take notes here and there. I have started to do that. On the other hand, I cannot write a page to my book for a few minutes and then walk away. I want to find a time that I can sit down and write the entire chapter. When I wrote my first book, I stupidly would write a paragraph or two, have good ideas to finish the chapter, but would walk away and then come back another time. Stupid, stupid, stupid! If I walk away in the middle of the chapter, it ruins the flow! Therefore, I don't want to write any part of my book if I only have 5 minutes here and there. I am pretty upset that I started working on my second book during April break. I wrote three chapters and edited them during that time. I haven't even opened the document since then! That's a major problem! Now that I have skimmed through all of the books about publishing, editing, and writing that I wanted to read, I HOPE to start working on my summer projects shortly.
I went to a pitchapalooza in April where I was able to "pitch" my book to the judges. I had to buy the judges book to pitch. Since I bought their book, they are giving me a FREE 20 minute phone consultation where they will help me with anything I ask! They normally charge $90 for that! $90 to talk for 20 minutes! Insane. Anyways, I set that up for Tuesday. I wrote down several topics I want to discuss with them. I am sure it will be a productive 20 minutes and not a moment longer. I mean, I only had one minute to pitch my book and they had the timer going for every author that pitched!
LAST thing I will elaborate on tonight... (maybe) As you have (hopefully) read in my post a few days ago, I submitted query letters to 6 agents. In the book I just finished, they mentioned a website that I can narrow my search down to find MORE agents that fit my specific needs. I did a search and found only 190 agents that meet my search! It looks like I have more letters to send out!
OH YEAH! I forgot to mention (see I'm a writer, so I don't know how to shut up even though I said my last topic would be the last I would write about for tonight...WRONG!) My local newspaper, the Times Union, had a section today with books written by local authors. They mentioned my book and a brief description about it! Very cool! Ok, I PROMISE I'm done. I have a busy week ahead of me at work ending with a field day where students will have the opportunity to dunk me in a tank full of water! Can't wait! good night!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
On time post tonight...
However, not a happy post. The Devils just lost AGAIN 2-1 in overtime. They are now down 2-0 in the best 4 out of 7 series. It isn't looking good! I had a pretty good day up until this point. I went to the mall and then a restaurant with my friend. After that, I pretty much did nothing until I watched the Devils game just now. Time to get a little bit of sleep before I suffer for 5 hours of work at the grocery store 7-12 tomorrow. Check out the Times Union Unwind section tomorrow! They are supposed to mention me and my book in that section!
Oops I did it again!
For the second straight night, I forgot to post... My bad. Alright, so last night, I submitted query letters and some information about my book to 6 agents that looked like they might want me. It was the exact same process as submitting to publishers. Now all I can do is wait again. It would be awesome if an agent wanted to take on my book. That means he or she thinks it is good enough to sell to the public. They make a certain percentage off of all sales of my book. They will help edit my book and polish my query letter. They will send my manuscript out to potential publishers. No one can say I am not trying! Now, I play the waiting game. Speaking of game... Devils play in game 2 of the finals tonight! This is pretty much a must win for them. LETS GO DEVILS!!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Fail!!!
I came upstairs to my room last night to write here. However, as you can see by the date... that didn't happen. Oh well. I love watching the Scripts National Spelling Bee. The words they ask are NEVER used in normal conversations. Yet the kids can spell them! I cannot spell ANY of the words asked last night. I was close on a few, though. My dad and I just watch it so we can laugh at how the words are pronounced and then see that they are spelled completely different. I wish I had a national champion speller in my class. Then, if I am confused about how to spell a word, I would just ask him/her how to spell it! Happy Friday!
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