The Start of Something Big

Writing fiction has developed in me an abiding respect for the unknown in a human lifetime and a sense of where to look for the threads, how to follow, how to connect, find in the thick of the tangle what clear line persists.
-- Eudora Welty (1909-2001) American author

No guest bloggers or interviews today. My interview with Brett Battles will be forthcoming soon, date to be announced in the next few days. Just stay tuned, 'cause it's gonna be great.

Today I take Ms. Welty's words to heart and figure out what in the world I'm doing with this WIP. It's time to decide what it is and where I'm going with it, time to find what clear line persists in the thick of the tangle, to paraphrase. Sometimes I get into a funk and worry that I've made a huge mistake, thinking I can be a writer. Other times I get cranking on a manuscript and think, man, this is kinda good.

So, this week I've made myself an agenda:
1. Finish first draft of WIP.
2. Write (and send, send being the key word) more query letters in continuing search for agent.
3. Finish reading ARCs and get reviews written.
4. Quit whining and GIT 'ER DONE!!

I read two excellent blog posts this morning from two of my favorite writers - Donna Andrews on Femmes Fatales and Pari Noskin Taichert on Murderati. I think Pari might be a little put out with me for blog-tagging her blogmate J.T. Ellison before she got the chance to (sorry, Pari), but she has five other folks to tag and did, quite effectively. Pari is a card, and I'm excited to say that she's coming to Nashville to be our guest at Sisters in Crime - Middle Tennessee in November. Can't wait to see her again and for the rest of our group to meet her.

Seems I've gotten off on a tangent again - I agree with a lot of bloggers that doing this is FUN, but sometimes I get carried away with my musings and ramblings and forget that I'm really supposed to be doing something else. Like working on my To-Do List (see above).

Music of the Moment: Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 "Haffner" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (from The #1 Mozart Album)

Blood-pumping stuff. Thus inspired, off I go!

Read a book. It's good for you.

=) JB