I would like to take this moment to give a big round of applause to our Great God, who has finally answered my prayers! If you've been reading my blog posts, you know how much I want to be a published author. If you haven't... I really want to be a published author. Well, three days ago, two of my writer friends recommended me to Trestle Press, and that evening when I checked my e-mail, the man who works for both of them had sent me an e-mail inquiring about me and my writing and asked for my story via Word document. I was so thrilled I almost screamed! (Probably would have if it hadn't been for my brother trying to catch some Zs.) So I wrote him back, telling him a bit about my stories as well as attaching my first completed one to the e-mail. I'm guessing he read it because the next morning -quite early, I might add- he wrote me again, and from there we just exchanged e-mails throughout the day. Giovanni (of Trestle) was extremely helpful and very patient with me. He answered all my questions and was upfront with me about what their company requires of their writers. Basically I have to maintain and grow various social media accounts, like Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads.... The contract (yeah, that's right, I said contract!) was thorough and fair, and personally, I think Giovanni definitely knows what he's talking about. Thank God! No, seriously. Give God thanks. He works wonders and I know He'll give me the strength and wisdom -and sanity- to be a writer. For He never gives us things we can't handle.
Look for more posts from me. It is required, after all. :-)
-Grace
PS: Follow me on Twitter @graceyee_123 and comment or... I don't know, whatever it is you do on Twitter.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Network Legwork
Just got myself a freaking Twitter account. And Goodreads... and Amazon Central. Sheesh! I knew there was a lot of social networking involved with being an author, I just didn't fathom the energy it took. Hats off to all my fellow writers who go that extra mile, tweet that extra tweet, and devoutly update their Facebook page every other day.
It's truly a wonder how the book business has changed, even in the past twenty-some years. I'll bet Michael Crichton never had to worry about social networking when Jurassic Park hit the bookshelves. And do you think Shakespeare was keeping the Master of Revels up to date with all his plays? Actually that's a bad example. (See: Shakespeare in Love, 1998, starring Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow.) Hahaha! But it kind of makes you wonder about all the work that goes on behind the behind the scenes. Maybe you would think, "Eh, they wrote the book, surely someone handles all that social media stuff. Right?" Nah. The authors have a share in the legwork. It kind of gives me a sense of pride, though, knowing that I'm working the whole time, not just slaving over a keyboard and then handing the finished product off to someone I've never met face-to-face. Perhaps it sounds crazy, and Heaven forbid, old-fashioned, but I don't think I mind the extra work involved there. That sense of accomplishment, surfing the web and visiting different networks like they're coffee shops, it lets me know I'm doing something. And once I hit "Enter", the proof is out there for the world to see. Writers don't just write their stories; even when the product is for sale, the job ain't near done.
Bring. It. On.
-Grace
PS: Follow me on Twitter @graceyee_123
It's truly a wonder how the book business has changed, even in the past twenty-some years. I'll bet Michael Crichton never had to worry about social networking when Jurassic Park hit the bookshelves. And do you think Shakespeare was keeping the Master of Revels up to date with all his plays? Actually that's a bad example. (See: Shakespeare in Love, 1998, starring Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow.) Hahaha! But it kind of makes you wonder about all the work that goes on behind the behind the scenes. Maybe you would think, "Eh, they wrote the book, surely someone handles all that social media stuff. Right?" Nah. The authors have a share in the legwork. It kind of gives me a sense of pride, though, knowing that I'm working the whole time, not just slaving over a keyboard and then handing the finished product off to someone I've never met face-to-face. Perhaps it sounds crazy, and Heaven forbid, old-fashioned, but I don't think I mind the extra work involved there. That sense of accomplishment, surfing the web and visiting different networks like they're coffee shops, it lets me know I'm doing something. And once I hit "Enter", the proof is out there for the world to see. Writers don't just write their stories; even when the product is for sale, the job ain't near done.
Bring. It. On.
-Grace
PS: Follow me on Twitter @graceyee_123
Saturday, September 22, 2012
"The Drowsy Chaperone"
A huge shout-out to my teacher Mary Ann, who performed beautifully in the hilarious comedy-musical, The Drowsy Chaperone! Mary Ann has been teaching me since I was five years old, and she is truly one of the most gifted performers I have ever known. Her specialties range from dancing a chorus to portraying Velma Kelly in "I Can't Do It Alone"; from being the witty neighbor whose only known name is "Witty Neighbor" to the underdog who steals the show with her voice, her humor, and her passion. I can't convey how much this amazing woman has influenced my life, but I am forever grateful that we have singers, dancers, and actors like these who sing, dance, and act because it is there love, their duty to do so.
Great job, Mary Ann!
-Grace
Great job, Mary Ann!
-Grace
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Homeschooling Debunked
I LOVE this video! It is completely true and so funny!
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See your ad here »
Messy Mondays: Seven Lies about Homeschoolers
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Saturday, September 8, 2012
The Scent of Bliss
It feels so strange not to write, like I can't focus, or catch my breath. And every time I try, it gets harder and harder to readjust to the mindset of being somewhere else, with events spawned purely by imagination.
Yes, not being able to write is hard, but I feel like it was all worth it, all for a single moment of bliss.
I spent the day cleaning my room after having a heart-stopping encounter with a larger brown spider last night around 12:30 or so. While searching for an available notebook for my log-endeavor (see my last posting) something large skittered across the top of my notebooks under my desk. Now normally I can handle spiders. I'm actually fascinated by them, to a degree. But if their bodies are collectively large than my thumb, then it starts to wig me out. So I'm carefully clearing notebooks out from under my desk, a small one handy to deliver the final blow, and a few sheets of toilet paper to dispose of him with. Well, Arachno-Bob beat me to the punch, no pun intended. He scurried out, paused (during which time I nearly jumped out of my skin) and then, wham! Down came my book-axe upon the fearsome foe. Creepy? I didn't even drift off to sleep until, like, 1a.m. It kind of motivated me to clean my room, as I didn't want any more eight-legged (more or less) visitors. I finished a couple hours ago, after which time I tuned in with my family to watch a couple episodes of Kings. But as I got up to leave, I entered our kitchen, and I swear... I smelled Fall!
That thrill of sheer joy was enough to bring me out of my funk, and more importantly, inspired me to write, and even to blog! I love the smell of Fall, and winter is my favorite season. But there's just something so intriguing about autumn. It has a bitter chill complemented by warm-colored leaves, but there's still a nip of warm, enough to bring heat to your cheeks. I don't know why, but the only thing I can think of is apple cider.
-Grace
Yes, not being able to write is hard, but I feel like it was all worth it, all for a single moment of bliss.
I spent the day cleaning my room after having a heart-stopping encounter with a larger brown spider last night around 12:30 or so. While searching for an available notebook for my log-endeavor (see my last posting) something large skittered across the top of my notebooks under my desk. Now normally I can handle spiders. I'm actually fascinated by them, to a degree. But if their bodies are collectively large than my thumb, then it starts to wig me out. So I'm carefully clearing notebooks out from under my desk, a small one handy to deliver the final blow, and a few sheets of toilet paper to dispose of him with. Well, Arachno-Bob beat me to the punch, no pun intended. He scurried out, paused (during which time I nearly jumped out of my skin) and then, wham! Down came my book-axe upon the fearsome foe. Creepy? I didn't even drift off to sleep until, like, 1a.m. It kind of motivated me to clean my room, as I didn't want any more eight-legged (more or less) visitors. I finished a couple hours ago, after which time I tuned in with my family to watch a couple episodes of Kings. But as I got up to leave, I entered our kitchen, and I swear... I smelled Fall!
That thrill of sheer joy was enough to bring me out of my funk, and more importantly, inspired me to write, and even to blog! I love the smell of Fall, and winter is my favorite season. But there's just something so intriguing about autumn. It has a bitter chill complemented by warm-colored leaves, but there's still a nip of warm, enough to bring heat to your cheeks. I don't know why, but the only thing I can think of is apple cider.
-Grace
Monday, September 3, 2012
My (Actually Significant) To-Do List
All right, all right, I know I keep talking about how I'm gonna focus all my energy on writing and blah, blah, blah. You know, it kind of sucks not being able to live up to your own expectations. But I think I might have an answer.
A log.
No, not a log as in something you would sit on while taking a walk through the forest, covered in moss. A log as in a notebook where you number so many days and the jot down things you know you have to get done on that day, like a to-do list, but more significant. It's something my siblings and I did for school, since we were homeschooled. We needed some kind of written proof to show how many days we worked, what we did, etc. It also helped motivate us to get all our work done, and I thought I might try it again. You never know.
In the meantime, I'm reading an amazing book, The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore. It's AMAZING!!! Maybe I'll write a review about it. Later. Now where can I dig up a partially-used composition notebook? Oh, yeah. Under my desk!
Later.
-Grace
A log.
No, not a log as in something you would sit on while taking a walk through the forest, covered in moss. A log as in a notebook where you number so many days and the jot down things you know you have to get done on that day, like a to-do list, but more significant. It's something my siblings and I did for school, since we were homeschooled. We needed some kind of written proof to show how many days we worked, what we did, etc. It also helped motivate us to get all our work done, and I thought I might try it again. You never know.
In the meantime, I'm reading an amazing book, The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore. It's AMAZING!!! Maybe I'll write a review about it. Later. Now where can I dig up a partially-used composition notebook? Oh, yeah. Under my desk!
Later.
-Grace
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