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Since my make up class for my night class that’s been cancelled by snow was, in fact, cancelled by snow, I spent the night getting around this week’s queries:

Robin Rue of Writer’s House
Jennifer Lyons of Jennifer Lyons
Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown
Jennifer Jackson of Donald Maass

Two more weeks of snail mail AAR queries, and then we’re back to emailing.

We return to revising Abby and Vince this week, a little early than we thought we’d get to it in the plan.

Catherine

Last night Julie Rose and Catrina Horsfield and I gathered cozily on line and talked about our Wiscon plans.

We’ve got the swag and posterage worked out. Now, if I could figure out what to wear.

So, dear readership, what says “hip YA faerie tale writer” to you? Because right now, I have nothing to wear. Point me in the right direction.

(and for those of you who know me, no, really, NOT a costume)

Cath

from Jennifer Jackson this morning. I think it’s the perfect statement. It separates the desire and the misconceptions from the work of it. Because so many of us love the image, but we love neither the work nor the rejections.

“The real secret is to do it because you love writing rather than because you love the idea of being a Writer.” – Iain Banks (Guardian Unlimited, Feb 7th, 2008)

Catherine

The snow day was good in many ways. I have worked out seriously, scooping snow for 2 and a half hours. (urgh? urgh!)

I have finished proofreading the revision of Substance and resubmitted it to Agent A.

It’s out with friends. I don’t pretend that this is the end of the line. I’m pretty sure that I’ve caught most of the dumb goofs, but I want that vital plot feedback.

Next week, it starts making the query rounds to the next 5 agents on the list.

Tomorrow, we begin revising Abby and Vince.

My brains feel a bit like mashed potatoes. You know, finishing a book loses its charm when it’s, what, like the 5th time…

But nevertheless…yay.

Catherine

I find it very likely that I will be marooned once again in the middle of snow covered corn stubble deep in the heart of eastern Iowa, as once again, we are being blessed with about six inches or so of white powder. On a Tuesday.

Have I mentioned that I’m supposed to have a night class on Tuesday? I have met these students exactly once, although they have had another class with a sub.

Next week all of my writing time will be eaten alive as I host two make-up classes, the regular Tuesday class (God truly willing) and a board meeting on line Wednesday. I’m not bitter. I’ve had 3 Tuesdays off, after all.

Still, on my end, besides digging out tomorrow, I think if I’m home, I’d better be proofreading like there’s no tomorrow. Because, kind of, there won’t be for a while.

You don’t miss your day jobs. I know you don’t. Oh well, at least I’ve checked the grammar test, set up the lit class discussion group, and emailed the students. That is something.

Happy writing. Stay home, and may you have just enough, but not too much RAIN!

Catherine

And, for four hours, she read her own book.

🙂

Catherine

ETA: Mistraldol (Part 1) is as good as I can make it.

The Agent A revision of Substance of Shadows is finished. It is now about 70.5K, as opposed to its old 85K length. I think it is more suitable for the YA crowd.

Now, I have to read it through for stupid proofreading mistakes. I hope to have it off to the agent who requested the revision before next weekend, and then we begin going back to the 5 agent a week approach.

If you’re still able to take a look at this for me, let me know. I have a couple of folks to send it to, but the more eyes, the wiser.

Next project will be a tightening/revision of the Abby and Vince story for Apex and Abyss.

Catherine

Only eleven more pages of Substance to revise, and it’s done. I’ll be looking for some more readers, and I’ll be reading through it as while. My hope is to send it off as soon I’ve doublechecked it, and I think that will likely be by next week before I head for Minneapolis (February 7). If you can contribute anything before then, please feel free! As always, I am grateful.

If you’d like to see it and contribute, but can’t make that deadline, I’m also grateful. Just contact me, and I’ll be talking to you.

***

Started my Endowed Chair application to get time to write Hulk Hercules. Gotta have that done and in by Monday, February 4th.

***

Wiscon reading group is talking swag. Jenn has come up with some great ideas!

Don’t forget, guys, sign up for readings is tomorrow. We all need to sign up. Mention that you’re part of Catherine’s Schaff-Stump’s group for reading.

We so need a cool name.

Back to watching Gordon Ramsay cajole kitchens into submission with much censored profanity.

Catherine

With that little multi-layered task done, I have one more chapter to go.

I’ve decided to keep the poison plot from the old book for this one, but reject the break up plot, as that seems to happen a bit too soon and would seem manufactured in this version.

So, the new version of Substanceshould be done fairly soon, and come in at around 70K words.

Closer than I thought I’d get tonight. Pleased. 🙂

Catherine

The faculty development director at my college, upon hearing that I’d signed my second publishing contract in two weeks, suggested that I apply for an Endowed Faculty Chair next semester, to get some time off to write.

I’ve decided to do it. While I have yet to discuss the idea at length with Cats Curious, in part the gift of time will be to write Hulk Hercules. Because the grant is educational, in part I have to do something, you know, educational, so my plan is to write instructional materials to go with the book.

If the book becomes a series, while I won’t be able to get an Endowed Faculty Chair each time, I certainly could produce a series of materials to go with each book, say one to introduce kids to Greek Gods, to Roman Gods, to Egyptian Gods, that sort of thing.

But just Hercules and Greeks for now. IF the college likes the idea even.

Still, one less class to teach and more time to write are worth applying for.

Catherine