Rewrites and Gypsy Psychic Waterskiers

Whew. I've just spent an intense couple of weeks rewriting and it's been an experience. Actually a very good experience, but draining. Very draining.

It's thanks to some spectacular critique partners (CPs) that I still have a brain that functions. Yes, really. Without their eyes and insights, the process would've been horrendous. See, the thing is that once you start ripping apart and putting the writing back together again, you aren't quite sure what you've got.

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RWA Conference in Reno

Wow, am I behind.

I've been to the RWA Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada and am now at my California house for the month of August.

I have to tell you that going to conference as a Golden Heart Finalist is one of the highlights of my writing experience. Okay, I know you want the funny moments, so I'll dish.

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Wondering about Chick Lit

If you've taken a look at my July book reviews, over in Recommended Reads, you probably noticed that both of them are Chick Lit. One verges on being women's fiction and the other is a romantic suspense which I later learned is now referred to as Chick Thrill. Who knew?

Anyway, I'm in this whole inquiry about what really defines Chick Lit?

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Pitches. "What's your story about?"

Today's dilemma for me is pitches. Those pithy statements you're supposed to have to summarize what your 100,000 word manuscript is about. Yeah, okay. I canexplain this book in 25 words. Right.

These suckers are hard. Really hard. It's probably easier for someone else to write a pitch for your work than for you to do it. See, I know every little detail. Oh, and did I mention that no detail is little?

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Critiques

Sometimes I think writing is the hardest thing in the whole world.

I draft a scene. I create these brilliant word images, these amazing plot twists and this bit of totally awesome and compelling conflict.I step away from the keyboardhappy as a clam.

I send it off to one ofmy critique groups.

Then, the critiques start coming back.

Smooth writing, says one.

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