Disappointment

Disappointment barely touches my feelings today finding out that I am not one of the 10 semi-finalists in the Operation First Novel contest.  I tried to prepare for it, but it still stings.  I must admit a few tears slipped out and I spent the afternoon recovering at Golden Spoon and Payless Shoesource with my homeschooled daughter. 

I promised to take you on this ride with me, good or bad, so I had to come here and show my sleeves- emotions and all.  It's not that I had any delusions of grandeur, but I have to confess that I harbored dreams of adding "OFN semi-finalist" to my one-sheet, even dreams of winning.  Those dreams have kept me company for so many months now that their disappearance feels awkward and unfamiliar and I grieve the loss of them.  But disappointment is part of the journey.  I know this.  I also know that tomorrow or the next day I'll get to that place where I bolster my resolve and start gearing up to wow everybody at the conference.  I'll pull out my manuscript and comb over it again.  I'll tweak my synopsis till my brain hurts.  I'll memorize my elevator-pitch. I'll tell myself that for all I know, I was number 11. I'll smack myself around a bit and then press forward.  I always knew this wasn't my one and only shot. 

But still...

Wow!

Well, I couldn't have asked for things to go better my first day as hostess for COTT.  We had over 70 votes come in!  I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

We are getting very close to knowing whether or not I am still in the running in the Operation First Novel contest.  I'm keeping busy and trying not to think too much about it but I really hope I get that call! (or email or whatever they use!)  I think I'm going to have hubby book my flight for me this week- now that's REAL committment.  I need to take this step to ensure I get myself to the conference regardless of the contest results.  If the contest doesn't work out, I have to just keep going. (Thanks, JoAnn, for the timely encouragement!) The search for an agent will resume, this time in person at the Writing For The Soul conference. 

It's still three months away, but I need to start working on my one-sheet and whatever I'm supposed to have with me.  I'd like to have my next manuscript at least started, and I want to revisit my query.  I don't know how all these other authors with young children do it, but my toddler keeps me from doing anything creative!  Naps, you say?  Well- that's when I fit several hours of homeschool, budgeting, cleaning and meal planning into about 90 minutes... IF I'M LUCKY! Early morning, you say?  My son wakes up if I try and sneak out of bed early- he's always in there with me by then!  So this season of my life is definitely revolving around my little man.  God knows that- but will agents and publishers? I hope the slower productivity this upcoming year isn't a deterrant for BEAUTY FOR ASHES. But even that is in the Lord's hands.

I do sense the Lord's hand on me with Clash of the Titles.  I feel strongly that it was He who brought me into the circle of women starting up this new web venture and enabled me to meet other authors, even other homeschooling ones! He's doing something with it, that's for sure. I may be exhausted much of the time but I'm still excited to see what He's doing!

P.S. Something neat and a bit odd: A week or so ago my step-brother met Kirk Cameron at the airport and had a nice talk with him; then yesterday my next-door neighbor just met Kirk too. Isn't that weird? When's my turn? Kind of random, I know.  But I just had to share it with you.

Did you vote today?  Tell me about it!

Operation First Novel

IT'S IN THE MAIL!  Yep, that's right.  Yesterday I mailed off my manuscript to the CWG for the OFN contest.  The nerves have not set in yet but I expect to start feeling anxious as soon as I imagine it has arrived and is in the hands of a judge- meep!  For now though, I am content to be d-o-n-e scrambling on edits.  Hopefully I did catch all my typos.  Everything did not go off without a hitch though.  While paying for my postage I suddenly realized... duh duh duh DUUUUM... I forgot to include the self-addressed stamped postcard for confirmation of delivery!  Oh no!!  It's not a requirement but it is the only confirmation offered by the Guild.  I had planned on sending one, really wanting the comfort of receiving that back in my mailbox, and I FORGOT IT!  So I sent it certified mail.  At least the post office will confirm delivery and that will have to do.

And because I am a bit of a dork, I took pictures of me with my "brown paper package" before it went off on its journey to Colorado.  See?  That's me and my manuscript! :)

Now I am able to take some time off from my book and focus on homeschooling, my family, and Clash of the Titles (yay)!  Please bookmark our website, follow us on twitter and like us on facebook.  Authors, send in your entries for our first Clash!

Several of the Clash staff just got back from the ACFW conference and are reporting a lot of enthusiasm surrounding COTT after talking to several agents and authors.  Things are really starting to get going now and I am humbled to be a part of it.  I am the "Public Relations" person so make me look good by clicking all those "follow/like/bookmark" buttons. =)    Seriously though, this is going to be bigger than I ever imagined it would be and you will want to be a part of it too- writers AND readers!

As chatter begins to grow in the blogosphere, I will try to always link to articles or blog entries mentioning COTT so that you are up to date.  For now, you can expect fewer posts regarding my publishing journey and more about COTT and other "industry" news.  Because, as I've mentioned, a lot of the journey is waiting.  So I am actively waiting on God and on the contest judges.  If I don't move on to the next round in OFN, I'll start working on my pitch for the agents at the conference, my one-sheet, and my query (again).  Well I'll do all those things even if I AM a finalist, but... you know what I mean, right?

So make it a great week and don't forget to say "hi" every once in a while here in the comments. =)