How do you know?

I figured it's been FAR TOO LONG between posts.

I'd like to say I've been working hard and getting contracts, but I've only been working marginally hard and I haven't heard from the Ed yet - still it's only been 3 and a half weeks, so I really need to learn a touch of patience.

Anyway in good NTAI tradition I started a new MH idea - OROD is its acronym and therefore it shall be referred to as OROD on the blog :)

I have written a partial synopsis, character conflicts and then first chap of OROD (sounds like sci-fi doesn't it?) I really love this first chap and thanks to my lovely CPs I'm hoping it now really, really sparkles. Problem is... usually when I write I have a clear idea of what the BM will be that tears these perfect lovers apart. And right now... I have zilch of an idea.

In essense... the heroine's conflict involves her being divorced and always feeling second best to her actress sister. Her sister is now dead and this leads the heroine to travel to LA for a a week. Here she meets drop-dead-gorgeous hero who just happened to be a VERY good friend of her sister's. His conflict is mainly related to the fact he was brought up in a home frought with arguments and hate and although he's escaped and made a good life for himself, he still feels essentially not good enough. She's only planning on staying in LA a week and ends up staying with him.

I'm hoping to write gorgeous sexual tension between them, which they don't consummate until her last night in LA... they both know the other is going back but I'm not sure what happens next!?

Anyway I'm really just rambling here and making sure you know I'm still alive and trying to work out wip issues. Hopefully I'll get my head around them soon and be able to continue with these characters and story I adore.

But just wondering... how many of you know how the BM and ending will pan out before you put pen to paper or finger to keyboard?

The Cure...

They say the cure for NTAI (that's not thinking about my full submission which is currently languishing on a 'metaphorical' desk at M&B) is getting stuck into a new project.

So I thought I'd tell you what I've been doing to try and keep my mind off the book that is now out of my hands:

1) Using Snapfish to begin to get up to date with the kid's photos. I try and do a photobook for each child for each year of their life. It's an aim... I'm WAY behind!

2) Tackling the never-ending pile of washing that constantly threatens to bury my entire household. As its winter down under and most clothes don't seem to be able to survive the dryer anynore, this task is even more daunting than it usually is.

3) Critting work from my lovely and talented CPs.

4) Planning and writing up a proposal/synopsis for my next Modern Heat idea... so that whatever the verdict on my subbed full, I'll have something else to hit them with. I'm finding this planning stage immensely enjoyable. LOVE my two new characters - Poppy and Nate - and think I've actually got their conflicts pretty solid and sorted but just have to work out what happens in the latter part of the book so I can finish the synopsis.

5) And today, I just dove right in and started writing an idea that's been mulling around in my head for quite some time. It's part chick-lit part rural romance I suppose. I'm trying for Single Title with this baby but am also trying to keep the pressure off. I'm writing this one for fun, not with publication in sight!

So... what is your favourite and best thing to do while you're waiting to hear back on a submission?

What I've been up to... or not!

Would like to say my posts have been few and far between because my fingers have been busy at the keyboard. Truth is I spent the last week away with my man and three boys and didn't get one word written!! Thought lots about writing though and am hanging out to get back into it.

I've almost written the partial of one of the proposals I subbed to M&B. Don't know if I should have done this or not, but I got some advice from a published friend who said it was better to write something than sit around waiting... so I did. I rewrote the second chap today on the advice of a couple of wise writer friends, so hopefully this week, I'll be able to get back to the actual writing. My goal is to have the partial polished and emailed by mid May!! 

Then I'll be NTAI (the new buzz acronym created by Jackie Ashenden) - Not Thinking About It! She's gone out and bought herself a NTAI brand-spanking-new pair of black F-Me boots!! I'd like to splurge on a new pair of shoes but have already spent WAY too much this week... perhaps if I actually get The Call, I'll buy a nice pair of pink stillettos 

- my fantasy shoe - but where would I wear them???

So got me thinking... what do YOU plan on doing to celebrate when YOU get The Call or if you're already published, what did YOU DO???

While you ponder, I'll leave you with a photo from my wedding!! Since we're talking shoes... it's the boots, I want you to look at!!