Friday, June 29, 2007

3 Chapters

Well, I sent my three chapters & synopsis to Julie Kenner yesterday for critique on my story Voodoo Style. Hopefully she gives me some good pointers/advice or maybe she'll just say it's "Great" haha.. that would be nice too..



I also sent a partial out yesterday to a editor in NY. Yep, I know this NY editor is swamped & it'll be awhile before I hear anything back. The partial was GENUS. I sent it next day. Does anyone do that? I know it cost a few more bucks, but I just like knowing it got there instead of lost in the mail. Now the waiting game begins. I'm excited. I'm looking for some feedback.



If it's rejected, so be it, I'll try again. And I know editors don't have time to give everyone a letter explaining why. Too busy, I know...but I can dream can't I??? --- Anyone who sent out submissions lately, Good Luck to all of you....



Yikes, I'm getting more excited about the RWA Nationals, can't wait to meet some great ladies who like the same things I do. Reading and Writing!!!! Can't wait to meet my roomies too....



Dawn

~Nothing happens unless first a dream~

Monday, June 25, 2007

Finished Synopsis


I finished my synopsis this weekend for Voodoo Style.
I'm working on polishing my first 3 chapters to send to Julie Kenner for her critique, wish me luck.
Anyhow, I hope to be done in a few days. I've got work to do during the day and at night I need to start shopping for a dress for the RWA Nationals. I have no clue what to wear. I hate dresses. No really I do. Put me in my jeans and a t-shirt, that's me....

Still working on the revisions for GENUS too, trying to divide my time in half on these two books. GENUS is done, but I gotta fix the errors...yep, plenty of them too...

I'm sitting at work listening to the thunder rumble and the rain hit the roof. I should have left earlier, but now I'm caught here....so I'm blogging...

Have a great day,
Dawn Chartier
http://www.dawnchartier.com
Fantasy on the Rocks!! (Tonight it will be Baileys on the rocks--the slush!)




Friday, June 22, 2007

What am I working on?

Well today (or was that yesterday) I can't keep up. I sent 3 chapters and a overview of my story Genus to Lori Handeland to critique for me. (yeah I cannot believe it either) I bid on her expertise from Brenda Novak's auction and I won. I know she is a wonderful author, I just hope she's not over there laughing her head off at my attempt to write. Yes, I'm still new at this gig, and have doubts as all new writers do. No biggie!

I honestly feel GENUS is a terrific story, and a very unique story with plenty of action and twists. What I worry about is they way I venture off on a tangent without filling the reader in on what my mind is thinking.. Ever do that?? I write from the hip, and it is my biggest down fall when plotting. I hope she can give me a few tips on the first three chapters so I can hook me a editor or agent. I know I have great stories in my head, I just need to polish up my techniques on a few things that I know can be learned. It will be learned.

I also bid on a critique from Julie Kenner and won. I haven't read her stories yet, but I plan to. She is going to receive 3 chapters/synopsis on Voodoo Style, my haunted house/voodoo story. I just have to hurry up and tidy up my synopsis to send to her and that is what I'm working on right now.

I'm enjoying this writing process. Okay, I know it gets really really really hard when you receive rejection after rejection, and I'll probably ball my eyes out. Yes, I won't lie I know it is going to hurt. But, not now. At this time, I think if I get a rejection I'll try and look on the bright side of things, and say well now I can apply for PRO. Woo-Hoo, I finished an entire book.... That has to count... At least it does to me...(then I'll cry a little) I only hope that the agent/editor can say why they didn't think it fit with them. That would help...

I so can't wait for Nationals, this will be my very first. I hear you learn so much and meet so many fellow writers/publishers/agents and just everyone who loves the same things I do. Reading and writing of course!

Well, I better go back to work on that synopsis. Wish me luck.
I feel great today.

Dawn Chartier
http://www.dawnchartier.com (still loving my site, thanks Chuck!)
Fantasy on the rocks!

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Spooky Website Completed

Well I must say how happy I am with my new website. I totally love it.
The web designer did a wonderful job (am I allowed to brag??) I can't help it, I'm just so darn pleased....

So things I've been up to lately? I've been revising GENUS and stressing over what to wear at Nationals...all right gotta get back to work.

Bye for now,
Dawn

Monday, June 11, 2007

New Website almost done - Genus Revision #1million (hehe)

Hi Everyone ~
My new website is almost ready.
You get a little tease of it above in my title. Its spooky if I might say so myself. I love it.
I'm really tired right now so I'm going to pass on a true blog tonight.
p.s. I'm revising/polishing GENUS again (yes again). I received a professional editor crit and she gave me lots to think about. I'll keep you posted once I fix it up and send it back out.

Night,
Dawn
www.dawnchartier.com
www.myspace.dawntheauthor.com

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

The Dream-Hunter -- My review

I just finished reading the Dream-Hunter novel by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I have to say I'm going to have to re-read it because I was half way reading her novel and half way trying to write mine.

I will say this, you have to change your Dark-Hunter mode and realize Dream-Hunters are a totally different breed. Being use to her Dark-Hunters I sort of thought they would be like them, but they are not. Was this a bad thing? No, of course not. I truly enjoyed the book and got hooked into another world of Kenyon's imagination. Geary and Arik are both very likeable characters, and the secondary characters you just know need to have their stories told as well. At least I know Kat's story will. Just remember turn off your Dark-Hunter mode and think less "Hunter" in my opinion, more of a nice guy (at least Arik was), which is not a bad thing.

Looking forward to reading her next one, in any of her series.

Dawn

Friday, June 1, 2007

Todays the day - Hurricane Season Starts and Fast Draft

Shhh. I'm really not supposed to be on the blog. I need to be doing my fast draft pages today. (back to that later)

(Shivers) Today is the first day of hurricane season, and yes their is a tropical depression already out there. Scary thought. Am I prepared?? Well no, not exactly. I do have a plan though. Load up my travel trailer and high tail it out of here. Okay, so I need to equip the trailer with items such as food, (important stuff) etc... but the main thing is I have a bed to sleep in this go round that is not in a dumpy cheesy dangerous motel. Now, I'm not being picky at all. I mean sleevyville motel that you see on t.v. shows where you are scared to death to sleep because gangs are right out side your door kind of dump. (thats where I was last Katrina go round). My family wasn't happy either but we have a family pet and it was the only place that took him in, and I could see why...

My plan is to get a list from our local news station and get all the necessary items as they suggest and then I'll be ready freddy. No need for a evacuation order from our mayor/parish president. I'll be long gone.

Okay back to the fast draft thing. This was started by Candace Havens, and it's called Fast Draft, you actually write a book (280 pages) in 14 days....or longer if needed, but thats the goal. 20 pages a day. I did it once (in 15 days) and it was the best feeling in the world. (thanks Candy, now fellow readers go buy her awesome books) I allowed myself to write utter crap, my internal editor was turned off and I just rode the wave that it took me on. That's how GENUS: SPECIES was created. In two weeks. Well, it took my about 6 months to revise it, but that wasn't all straight time, I took alot of time off in between that. (just so you know )....Candy also has a revision class, which I didn't take, but needed to...Next time!!

Alright, I gotta get back to my fast draft pages. Wish me luck!!

Dawn Chartier
Fantasy on the Rocks!