To me it seems eons since the first of June, and yet it has only been one month. That Einstein chap was on to something with his idea that things, including space and time, are relative.
Things have been happening at the desk of Beth, and since it is the end of the month, no matter whose relative you ask, it’s time for me to tell you about them.
I have done more on my novel-for-adults as I work at revising the first full draft. (The first half of that initial draft has been through many permutations and revisions already; the second half was written hastily to be ready for the class on plot and structure that I took some time ago.)
The middle grade novel that has been mentioned in these accountability posts on a number of occasions is now complete. I am excited about the potential of this project, and will have my fingers crossed as I begin to send it out. It may not surprise you to learn that this morning, after making one more small tweak to that manuscript, I started pondering another story about the same characters. I sense I will be spending a great deal of time with these kids and their mentors!
I’m continuing to learn from the Video Idiot’s Boot Camp course I’ve been taking from author, illustrator, video genius, and all-round cool person, Katie Davis. Note: The early-bird price for the class ends June 30, after that the price goes up $50 to $296 for the 8 jam-packed lessons. If you want more information about the course, check out this video on Katie’s YouTube channel, in which she explains what the course includes.
I’ve also been doing a bit more on my new site. The reason I am launching a new blog/site while keeping this one, is because I am planning to use a pen-name in my kids’ writing. The new site will allow me to have an online presence using that pen-name. The site will focus on theatre, music, and other forms of creativity, to provide a platform for my kids’ books (well, manuscripts at this stage — some day they’ll be full-fledged books) which are, for the most part, theatre and music based. I’m looking forward to this new site, and I hope you’ll like it, too. It’s intended for kids and grown-ups, so after it’s up I hope you’ll spread the word!
So that I can concentrate on the new site and get it going smoothly in the next several weeks, I will be taking a hiatus from this blog for July and August, except for occasional posts. One of those posts will be on Monday, July 1, when I’ll be posting a short story as an entry in Susanna Leonard Hill’s Fourth of July writing contest. There’s still time for you to come up with an entry if you want to join the fun — and I can tell you from experience, Susanna’s contests are ALWAYS fun. Here’s the link for more information.) The other planned post will alert you to the presence of the new blog/site. Other posts might happen if I just can’t help myself.
I hope you have a wonderful summer (or winter if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere) and I hope to see you at the new site when it launches, and back here at the beginning of September.
What have you been up to? What are your plans for the summer?
What IS your new blog? Good job in June! It sounds like you got a lot done!
I promise I’ll let you know what my new blog is, as soon as it’s ready to be unveiled!!! Sorry to keep you in suspense! 🙂
Thanks — it feels like I got a fair bit done, too!
Oh, my, you have been soo busy during this month. I am particularly excited that your middle grade novel is read to wing its way into the scary world of agents! I am sure it will find the right nest!
Good call on the sites and two names.
have a great summer.
Thanks so much, Joanna! I’m excited, hopeful, and yes, nervous, as my middle grade novel teeters on the edge of the home nest, testing its wings, about to head off!
And thanks for the thumbs up on the two names thing!
Hope your summer is all you could hope for.
Wow! You are one busy lady! That’s exciting about your book ready to become a BOOK! And the new blog sounds like it will be a lot of fun! Can’t wait to hear about it all! Have a good summer! Stay cool! (You’re already cool!)
Thanks, Rhythm! Well, my book is ready to take the next step and try to find an agent so that it can someday become a book! You’re cool, too!
Hi, Beth. Congrats on getting all that writing done. Good luck on the submission process and on getting your new site up and running!
Thanks, Kerry!
How exciting that you have your middle grade ready! WOW!
As always, I am impressed at all you get done in a month.
I’m looking forward to your new site launch!
Happy Summer!
Excellent idea to take a little break and focus on your writing. I need to get a few blog posts up and get busy on my playwriting!