Writing Spot on Lockdown

My weekend writing spot (a members-only organization in Manhattan) has a lot of rules:

No talking in the room.
No slamming doors.
No hogging bathroom keys.
No swiping magazines.
No leaving desk unattended for more than an hour.
No leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
No leaving the coffeepot empty.
No leaving food in fridge for more than a week.
No bringing in guests, [...]

One Week Later

It’s been a week since I learned I’m actually going to publish a novel. (The delirium can be re-experienced here.) Yes, it’s now a week later, and though my editor asked for my information including social security number and the name I want the copyright to be under for the contract I am still floating [...]

5 Unusual Things

Annika tagged me to reveal 5 unusual things about myself and I am having a hard time thinking of any! I must be more normal than I realized. I may have revealed some possibly unusual secrets here, but I’ll try to think of some new ones.
1. I hate donuts. Now, I’m sure there are lots [...]

Writers Helping Writers, Assumed Rejections, and Cake!

Good things first: e got me a “Happy Book Deal” cake this weekend and even as I type this I want another slice. (No, really, where is it? I want another slice.) I asked him if I would get a cake for every book deal and he said yes. Isn’t he wonderful? I hope this [...]

Saying Yes to a Yes

I am so flattered and surprised by the outpouring of support from my announcement about my tween novel. How can I say thank you enough? Thank you!
I formally accepted my formal offer from S&S* on Friday, so this whole publishing-a-book fantasy is real. (I think. I’m still in shock about the whole thing.) I never [...]

What HAS Happened: I’m Publishing a Book!

Below I expunged all the things that haven’t come my way lately, and do you know why? Because things were brewing for reals and I am—no joke—about to tell you some good news that I was hinting at before:
I just got a formal offer on my first original tween novel from Simon & Schuster!
It’s not [...]

Things That Have Not Happened

I did not get a residency to the writers colony in the old haunted mansion where I would have most likely been unable to sleep for fear of seeing/hearing/feeling the fingers on my face of ghosts, and, besides, I don’t have the vacation time at work to do something like that, and, not to mention, [...]

The Absolute Best Thing That Could Happen When You Are Racing Toward a Deadline:

You get the flu!
No, really!
I’ve been sick since Wednesday night—basically immobile since Thursday night—and have so much work to do! There were times during the high points of my fever when I couldn’t even stress over the upcoming deadline, I just thought of it all in lazy colored shapes, easily confused, forgotten. I am more [...]

For Yojo*

Today is Yojo’s birthday. She hasn’t been feeling well, so I hope this finds her feeling better. I hope her voice returned. I hope she enjoys her day.
I think I first met Yojo my second year at college. I don’t remember exactly if it was that year or the one before, but I do remember [...]

Breathless

Oh so I’m living in a land without answers. I used to have a tent here, and visit every once in a while, but over the years things have gotten much more permanent. I’m digging in, pouring concrete. You try and you try and you try and you try and you try and you try [...]

This Week’s Annoyances

Know-it-alls. People who argue just for the sake of arguing. Big braggers. Having any discussion whatsoever about American Idol. Sugar-free mocha syrup when you didn’t ask for sugar-free. The 100 pages that still need to be written in less than three weeks. Submissions with no answers. Waiting for answers. Trying to wait patiently but being [...]

Warning: Ugly Ahead

If you know me in real life, please be warned: March will be ugly. It is very likely that I will be a monster for the rest of the month, possibly into early April. I can feel myself going rotten already, and I’m not yet clear on how bad it will get.
So you’re aware, I [...]

Stabs at a Writing Life

I’m not thinking about much else but writing these days. Only, I’ve been exhausted—and here I type this with a headache—probably because I’m trying to push myself so hard.
I am under deadline with a freelance writing project—and I am behind, very behind—and the day job is cutting into my time. I try to write every [...]

8 Things About Me (That Have Nothing Whatsoever to Do with Writing)

Jade Park tagged me to reveal 8 things about me, so here goes:

I am afraid of the number 8, which might be why this meme took so long to tackle. This also makes me a bit wary of this year—2008—but I’m trying to see past it (mainly because 2 + 0 + 0 + 8 [...]