The first three chapters of the mommy-lit book have been revised. I'm sending them to my agent, along with my super-sized, extra-special, plot-a-licious synopsis this week. If she likes it and thinks it's good to go, she'll send it along to my editor. Wish me luck.

Meanwhile, I am going to try to write at least 1500 words a day, hoping to finish the mommy-lit in another four months. It's an ambitious goal, but it keeps me from realizing I have to write another 80,000 words or so. Gah. Until I just wrote that.

Thanks for visiting,

Megan

Although I haven't written much new on the mommy-lit itself for the past week, I've been working on the plot a lot. I've sent the synopsis to a friend who can spot an inconsistency at 100 paces, and also sent the revised chapters to some friends for their feedback. They've all said they'd want to read the rest, although, of course, they're all my friends. Tonight will be the first night back at real writing since Easter weekend. (And if you spend it at your in-laws' house, is it really good Friday?)
Thanks for reading--

Megan

Plodding:

I have a plot...I think. Thanks to Seth Bullock from Deadwood (le pant, le heave), my agent and my realization that I am going to write a bildungsroman* (not in that order), I figured out how to make both my hero and heroine really suffer. I am jotting notes down about scenes, trying to figure out how to get my hero in a certain situation (not that kind, you salacious person!) and making my secondary characters three-dimensional. And they said I wasn't a math person. Take that, SAT score!
Anyway. Tonight is the first test of my plot, and we'll see how it goes. I've always rolled my eyes at people who've said they have to get their characters' stories down, but I understand now. I am jumping out of my skin to write this. Let's hope I can.

Thanks for reading,

Megan
*a novel of education or development focused on one character's growth, his or her path from error, confusion and uncertainty to truth, clarity and certainty.

The copy edits are done and delivered. Now I am in all-out panic mode about the second book. I've switched genres (Regency to mommy-lit), and am feeling my way through that process. I spoke to my best friend last night on the phone, who reminded me that this panic was exactly like the panic I had when I wrote the first book. I reminded her I wrote the first book over the course of three years, and I wanted to be done with this one in nine months. She, as every best friend should, told me to calm down and shut up. Not in so many words.

So I'm working on an outline and a detailed synopsis, neither of which I've had much success with before. I'll update as I continue. Perhaps spilling my pain in a blog will embarrass me so much I'll be forced to produce something.

Thanks for stopping by,

Megan

I wouldn't go so far as to say I've conquered my demons, but I am almost done with the copy edits. I am bringing them to Signet tomorrow. Re-reading my book is so odd. It doesn't feel as if I wrote it at all. I still like it, though, which is good, although I think it definitely reads like a first book.
It's sorta like seeing baby pictures of my five year-old; I know he was small, he could fit in one arm, but I just can't even imagine that reality now. I do remember wondering if I would ever be able to put him down, since he cried every time I tried it. For the first four months of his life (and you wonder why I have a caffeine problem).
In terms of other writing, I'm still kinda stuck, although I have a 'moving forward' scene in my head for the historical. I'm waiting to hear some more feedback about the mommy-lit before I get submerged in that world again.

Megan

Hello! Thanks to everyone (mostly family and friends) for visiting.

You might have noticed there's not a lot of content here yet, and while my web designer is off working on his own site (http://www.jeffkleinmusic.com/), I have time to drink a few cocktails, watch an infinite amount of Pokemon shows and bat around a few ideas as to what I could add. If you'd like to offer your ideas and feedback, please click that little 'comment' button.

Okay. I've written a traditional Regency, which usually requires a long, involved, and often boring explanation. I figure I'll take a stab at defining it. That's one new entry.

Then I can point you towards my favorite authors, romance and otherwise. Two.

How about other sites I visit nearly everyday? (not including kids' sites. Don't get me started on how hypnotic the "Stanley" theme song is.) Three.

Information about my various writing chapters (the Beau Monde, of which I am President until June 30, not that I'm counting the days or anything, and the ChickLit chapter, the NYC chapter and the national Romance Writers of America chapter). Four.

Five could be a forum to answer readers' questions. About anything.

In other news, I am still avoiding the copy edits. Honestly, I don't know what my problem is. Well, I mean, I do, as does a nice lady I see every couple of weeks, but in this case, I'm not sure what the hold-up is. I have to do them, and soon.

Thanks for reading, please leave comments and suggestions, and check back soon.

Megan

the copy edits are here! the copy edits are here!

Yes, the copy edits of A Singular Lady have arrived . . . and are sitting neglected on my living room floor. I opened them and promptly got intimidated, so beyond noticing they were due back at Signet March 18, I've done nothing with them.

They are on the 'to do' list, however, although so are things like 'alphabetize the spices,' 'paint toenails' (on the list since last fall -- do not, I beg you, look at my bare feet) and 'finish reading Ulysses.' But since there is an actual deadline attached to the darn thing, and I am a fool for a deadline, I will make it happen.

I bet I'll be on my deathbed clutching Ulysses in my wizened, liver-spotted hand. That or a bottle of Revlon Fire-Engine Red and some cumin.

Megan

first entry

Funny, I was expecting something more grand, less . . . fuzzy.

Anyway. This is my website, which debuted today, and is still in the process of being tweaked. In upcoming months, I'll be figuring out a contest, working on a newsletter and posting some excerpts, as well as writing about writing here.

Thanks for visiting. My email address will be up soon if you want to send me some feedback.