- I found out I won the contest! I am the winner of the 2011 Virginia Romance Writers Fool for Love Writing Contest in the Short Contemporary Category for my book, “The Billionaire’s Socialite Bride.” I got the call in the middle of my son’s birthday party, so I couldn’t digest it properly at that time. But later, when my house was quiet, I lost my mind!! I couldn’t believe I’d actually won. But, as happy as I was, as I still am, I’m also a little disappointed. The winners in the other categories had their manuscript requested. I received helpful comments, but no request. I’m going to review my manuscript, incorporate the comments and re-submit, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a little bummed at not getting a request outright. Still, I won!!!!
- Romance Writer’s of America had their annual conference in New York City. From all accounts, it’s an exhausting, informative, exciting time. There are workshops on improving your craft, improving your career and life as a writer; parties thrown by print and electronic publishers; and meetings and appointments with editors and agents. As writers, we spend a lot of solitary time in the unflattering glare of our laptops. The conference gives us the opportunity to meet BkLvr93 or RmceMe and all the other writers we talk to online. Next year is in California. I already have it on my calendar.
- I wrote a synopsis. A synopsis is a summary of your story, with all major plot points; character goals, motivations, conflicts; and the story resolution. You won’t find many who like to write them, but we all must do it: it’s how books are sold. I’ve been afraid of them for awhile, and avoided any contest where a synopsis was required. But I received good first round feedback on my story from the FFL contest and I wanted more fresh eyes on it, to see if there was a common thread of likes and dislikes. Another prestigious contest was coming up and I wanted to enter it. But, it required a synopsis! I could have walked away, but I would have to do one eventually. So I bit the bullet, gathered all the information I could find on them and spent two days writing and revising one. And you know what? They still suck.
