Happy Friday - Spilling the beans!

I have just realised that it is exactly twelve months ago - 14th September - that I pressed 'send' on my New Voices entry - and what a year it has been! I've found out just how naive I was about the publishing industry and writing in general, and, as I've said before, I have learned so much from all the wonderful generous people I have met online.

So I'm really pleased that I can announce my latest bit of news properly today. I've not been picked up by Mills and Boon, but I have had a contemporary romance accepted for publication.

As some of you will know, I've had erotic romances published this year under my pen name Zara Stoneley, but I still love writing contemporary romance and so this means a lot to me (a huge amount!).

I had several offers for 'Text me, Tweet me, Need me' (my working title - but I must admit I like it!) and I am so grateful to the publishers that were prepared to invest in me. I spent some time deliberating and am delighted to say that I have now signed a contract with Lyrical Press, who have impressed me with their professional attitude. They have some great covers and I felt that it was the right home for 'Text me' - and hopefully many more stories that I write.

The other massive bonus for me is that my editor is someone I already know, and have huge respect for, Ann-Marie Smith (aka and writing as Annie Seaton) will be knocking me and my ms into shape! I love Annie's books, she's had huge success this year (long may it continue) but she's also an awesome editor. I know that I have a distinctive 'voice', which also includes breaking some grammar rules, and having an editor that appreciates this is a huge bonus for me. I'm more than happy to make any changes I'm asked to - but it is so nice to go in confident that the real me will still be there at the end.

I've completed all the paperwork now so I'm champing at the bit (no, I'm not a patient person, I want to do it!) waiting for the first round of edits. And hoping I will get a lovely new cover soon!!

So, it's a celebration weekend again here in Cheshire. Does using two names mean I'm a debut author twice?!

Good luck to everyone out there who is entering SYTYCW, and any other competitions. I got my first novel published as the result of entering a competition I didn't win - and I wouldn't be working with Lyrical now if I hadn't hit 'send' exactly twelve months ago on that NV entry.


p.s. I'm also totally gobsmacked (sorry, can I use that word?!) that 'Freefalling' is #25 in the erotica/adult fiction category on amazon uk at the moment!

Productivity...

I've been spending quite a bit of time this week reading about using your time productively as a writer (hmm.. too much reading = not productive).  One of the problems is, that as a writer we need constant input from the world around us, whether it's for inspiration or advice.  Knowing when to stop is the problem.

When I worked in an office, it wasn't non-stop hammering away (sorry, does that sound a bit...!) at the desk.  I had coffee breaks, people wandering in for chats (some work related, some not).  Then there were meetings, progress updates, reviews of work to go through.....  And yet, sometimes now when I work at home I suddenly realise that I have sat for 4 hours typing away with not even a trip to the loo!

Apart from it not being good for my posture or eyesight, is it really the most productive way to work?  Would my work be fresher, better, if I took a regular break away from it?

I think for me there are times when I need to just sit and churn out the ideas, even if half of them turn out to be rubbish.  It's my answer to writers block, once I get started and just type anything then eventually some quality will emerge.  Then there are other times when I just need to edit, to deliberate over every word.  To go through the pain of thinking it's all total garbage... then the joy of uncovering a couple of sentences I can fall in love with.

I need deadlines too - whether self imposed by joining in on twitter with #1k1hr, or entering a competition, or knowing that there are only a couple of hours left before the school day finishes and chaos reigns.

Right now I'm polishing my first chapter for Mills & Boon New Voices 2011.  I got the first draft out relatively quickly and then left it for a week when other work intervened.  I've gone back to it with a fresh eye and revisions have been mightily slow.  But now I've found out a mass of work is heading my way on Monday, and tomorrow I have other obligations.... so today is the day I have to finish.  And you know what?  It's worked.  With a firm deadline my umming and ahhing has turned into something more positive.  Nearly done now... 'though I'm sure massive doubts will set in before I finally press that button to submit it next week!