Heather Foeh

I think the fact that “storm” is part of the word “brainstorming” is quite fitting. I’ve got two new characters milling around in my brain creating quite a storm at the moment. They’re rather un-formed yet — especially the hero — but they’re starting to get voices of their own and I’m having a blast.

I read The Complete Writer’s Guide to Heroes and Heroines this past week and it helped me start to get a handle on the two people I want to pair up. I think she’s going to be a “boss” archetype and he’s going to be a “chief”, although I haven’t fully settled on that yet. Next weekend our Austin RWA chapter is having a two-day writing retreat and I plan on doing some hardcore plotting and brainstorming work on this new project and getting it off the ground. My ARWA buddy Lexi Connor is starting a new manuscript too so we’re going to “storm” together. Stay tuned for the results…

Okay, not really. (Well, yes twice really - but that was thankfully a long time ago and I’d rather not do it again at my age.) But I have given birth to my manuscript. I finished all of the revisions on Thursday night and I’m so glad that I took the time to work hard on them before sending it off to Michelle Grajkowski. I think the story has a better flow now, the point of view issues have been taken care of, the “mystery” is a bit more sneaky, and Alex speaks more like a man. I owe tremendous thanks to Michelle McGinnis and Kate Williams for being such wonderful critiquers.

I finished at 9:30 on Thursday night and I wanted to cry - both with relief and with a little bit of sadness. Yesterday (Friday) morning I printed out all 257 pages (60,389 words), wrote my cover letter, bound it all up in a non-rip envelope then took it to the post office. It’s now winging its way to Wisconsin — let the waiting begin!

Finally I can let the new manuscript rattle around in my brain freely. I’ve been tamping it down until this other one was outta here. Hooray! It’s time to be pregnant again.

Alrighty - my nine days of unfettered writing were wonderful and highly productive. I found some issues in my manuscript and worked heavily on them. If only I could have had ONE MORE DAY. Alas, the new job started and life got busy again. I’ve written in the evenings and last weekend, but I’m still not quite finished with my revisions - though I’m very close. I just want to be DONE! If only it weren’t for this little thing called “daily life” combined with my new day job….oh well. I can’t really complain because life is good. I like my new job - although it’s hard to start all over somewhere new and learn the lingo and methods - and I love my life with my little family. So I’m not going to stress out about what I don’t have and instead I’m going to focus on what I do have.

Friday was my last day at my previous job and Monday the 13th will be my first day at my new job. So in the middle, I have 9 whole days to be a writer! And I must say, that so far it’s been heavenly. I’m sequestered in my office with hot tea, peanut M&Ms, classical music, and a beautiful view of the sunshine outside.

My goal is to revise and polish my manuscript so that I can send it to Michelle Grajkowski (the agent who requested it) before I start my new job. Then I’ll be free to start on the next one, which is rolling around in my head, begging to get out.

I don’t expect to hear anything from Michelle for at least 3 months, possibly 6 — hopefully before Christmas. By that time, I should have the first draft of my next manuscript finished so if she asks to see that, I’ll be prepared.  Of course, I’m shooting for an even earlier date just in case she zooms through the first one that I send her.

For this one week, I get to taste what it would be like to be a full-time writer. For this one week, if anyone asks, “What do you do for a living?” I can say, “I’m a writer.” Forget marketing and high tech and the internet. For nine whole days, I’m nothing but a writer.

Whew! After three days of workshops, my brain is overloaded and I’m worn out. Two days ago I definitely was feeling like I could take on the publishing world with one hand tied behind my back. Today…not so much. But I think I’m just exhausted physically and mentally. When I get back home to my cozy little office and start writing again, all will be well.

I’ve learned so many great things here and I look forward to putting them into practice. Michael Hauge’s workshop about uniting plot and character arc was amazing. I’m definitely looking forward to PLANNING my next book before I start writing it…gee, there’s a thought!

Today Lisa Jackson was our speaker at lunch and she did a great job. She was entertaining and accessible - a nice combo. Tonight is the Rita/Golden Heart awards ceremony. We’ll be rooting for Julie Kenner from our Austin chapter! Then tomorrow morning we’re making the trek home with our brains filled to the brim.

I’m having a blast at the RWA National Convention in Dallas this week. It’s my first time attending “Nationals” (as everyone calls it) and I’m hooked. Last night there was a huge book signing and all the money raised goes for literacy and will be donated to the Dallas area. I got to meet Julia Quinn, Rachel Gibson, Carly Phillips, Emma Holly and many, many more authors - it was fabulous. Today during a break I sat about 15 feet away from Nora Roberts, which was quite a thrill. But the best news is that I met “my” agent this morning.

If you read my earlier post you know that my full manuscript was requested by Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency. Well, the first session that I attended today was being given by Michelle and I had the pleasure of seeing her in action and I really liked her personality and work philosophy. After the session I went up and introduced myself to her and told her that she had requested my full manuscript as a result of the Four Seasons contest. She told me that she was looking forward to reading the whole story because “those pages were great” [the 25 pages I'd submitted for the contest]. Hooray! That set the tone for a wonderful day at the conference.

To add to the happiness of the convention, my best friend Michelle found out last night that she received first place in the Ignite the Flame contest and her pages are going to Chris Keeslar at Dorchester. She will find out on August 15th whether or not he is going to request the full manuscript (and I have complete faith that he will, of course). So, all in all, a great week for me and Michelle here in the Big D.

OH MY Very happy news this week!! I found out that I placed second in the Short/Long Contemporary category of the Four Seasons Contest [see my previous post]. But the extra exciting part is that one of the judges asked for my full manuscript! THIS IS BIG NEWS! This is the whole reason most people enter writing contests — because it can be a foot in the door with an editor or agent. I’m absolutely thrilled!

I haven’t received my return packet yet, so I do not know which judge made the request. It was either Margo Lipschultz, editor at HQN, or Michelle Grajkowski, agent at 3 Seas Literary Agency.

[UPDATE: I found out that it was Michelle Grajkowski who requested and I hope to get to meet her this week at the RWA National Conference in Dallas!]

My local Austin RWA chapter has been so wonderful and supportive and full of good advice. I’m so happy to be a part of that great group.

Stay tuned for an update when I hear more details…

Thirteen days ago I was notified that I was a finalist in a writing contest - it was a thrilling phone call and I floated on Cloud Nine (maybe even Ten) for several days. And frankly, I have no idea why I didn’t blog about this then! But, I suppose it’s better late than never. So, here’s the scoop…

Back in February, I entered the first twenty-five pages of my romance manuscript in the Four Seasons Contest sponsored by the Windy City chapter of the Romance Writers of America. At that time I also entered two other contests and didn’t final in either of those, so I had almost forgotten about this contest. But on Tuesday, May 8 I received a phone call on my cell phone while I was at work. Since I didn’t recognize the phone number, I almost didn’t answer…boy am I glad that I did! I was shocked and thrilled to hear that I was a finalist in the Short and Long Contemporary Category. There are four finalists in this category out of I don’t know how many entrants. But here’s the great thing… my twenty-five pages are now being read by an editor from Harlequin (who I am targeting for publication) and a literary agent! This is a heady feeling!!

But alas, I’m also having a bit of a Freak Out because since I submitted these twenty-five pages, I have been extensively reworking and rewriting this manuscript, especially the opening scenes. Eeek! What if all of the planets align and the temperature drops in Hades and the editor or agent request a partial or full manuscript from me? They are going to see something significantly different from what they read before. Do they care? Hopefully not!

I have had the pleasure of having an email conversation with Harlequin Blaze author Sarah Mayberry on and off during the last year and I mentioned my worries to her. She gave a lovely response which I quote here: “I bet they’re just looking for coherent story telling, emotion, romance and a grasp of the language in those submissions - as long as your story still has an arc and all the important bits, I’m sure it won’t be a problem.” Okay, so…deep breath…back to the keyboard to FINISH THE DANG MANUSCRIPT just in case, in case, in case it gets requested in late June. And also because I want to be done with it and move on to the next one!

PS - I’d also like to mention that another member of my Austin RWA chapter also finaled in this contest: Deb Yates’ manuscript, Heaven Sent, finaled in the Historical category which is being judged by an Avon editor and an agent from Graybill & English.