I write a novel and then edit, and edit, and edit some more.

I wrote entire trilogy for The Priestess Prophecy in a year (that's like 400,000 words). I spent the next year editing only the first book.

I wrote The Last Witch in one month--I've been editing it for about a year.

I am getting faster. My first draft is tighter and better written, so it's not as much work to polish it. I believe I'll get faster with each novel (so far that's been true), but writing is the fun part. Editing is the work.

At the moment, I'm halfway through Last Witch. I'm hoping my first readers will have time to go through it before I send it to my agent.

Deadline is in about four or five weeks.

How about you? What's your ratio like between editing and writing?

I'm excited about writing again.

I've had some ongoing health problems in the past 6 months, and honestly, I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever have the same passion for writing that I once had. I sat at my computer and wanted nothing more than to go to sleep. Editing was the worst. But since receiving some hope from my agent and getting healthy, I'm writing hard again. I want to have 200 pages totally edited in less than 2 months. I'm averaging around 10-12 pages a day, depending on how much work needs done.

At that rate, I should meet my deadline.

Right now, I'm wondering if I want to rework the two chapters that switch to the hero's POV. What do you guys think about an occasional switch (for a chapter) to another character? Does it bug you to read it, or does it add insight into another character's thoughts?

It was one of those things that just doesn't happen.

I called my agent, Al Longden, yesterday and left a message on his voicemail for him to call me.

So I looked at the clock today. 4:30. That makes it 6:30 in NY, right? Great, I think. I won't hear anything until after the weekend. I glare at the phone, silently trying to use the force to make it ring.

It does.

Weird. But no way it's my agent.

The caller ID flashes: Longden, A T.

My eyes widen. Huh? Stuff like that only happens in books . . . or lame movies.

I pick up the phone and hear a masculine voice.

Sure enough, it's my agent. We spoke for about 15 minutes.

Conversation rundown:
He ran spellcheck and did some minor grammar edits.
He used some of my query, but tweaked a few things.
He sent my MS out in Oct.
He's going into the city in two weeks and plans on dropping by the editors.
None of the ten editors have rejected my MS yet (he says that's a good sign, because sometimes they'll reject it after only the first 3 chapters).
He believes I have a 50/50 chance that one or more of these publishers will say yes.
If they all say no *cringe* then he plans on sending it out to another ten or so.
But we want one of these 10, because they're bigger/give out bigger advances, etc. (and Amber needs a van)!

I'm trying really hard not to get excited until after I hear the magic word: YES!

I don't do New Years Resolutions.

Why is it that every year people ask me what my New Years Resolutions are? I've never been able to understand the concept. Seems more like a procrastinators way of trying to get something done.

I'm kinda the opposite of a procrastinator. I'm a git 'er done type a girl. Why?

Because then I don't have to worry about it anymore. I'm free.

I set goals all the time, and I work at them daily. So just to silence all the queries, here's my current list:

1. Finish editing Witch Song and submit it to my agent before my baby is born.
2. Finish all my "nesting" cleaning (in case you're wondering--that means completing the 50 bullets list of things like: wash down all the walls in my house, clean out the garage, vacuum all the corners, wash the floorboars/windows/cupboards . . . you get the idea).
3. Apologize to husband and other children for ignoring/abandoning during said cleaning and try to make it up to them.

And last, but not least:

4. Find more joy in my life (I WILL FIND IT! Even if I have to kill someone to get it!)

Uglies by Scott Westerfield

This is one of the best books I've ever read. It was very well balanced between pace, plot, character, style, etc.

I picked it up and didn't stop until I'd finished at 1 am. Then I lay in bed the whole night thinking about the book's themes.

One of those themes: If someone handed you the rock star life ($, clothes, beauty, popularity, everything--kinda like Extreme Makeover), but you had to give up the "deeper stuff"--including the struggles--would you?

It seems like such an rhetorical question. But think about it. People make that choice every day (plastic surgery because large breast are currently "popular" (they weren't always. Manly women were supposed to birthe sons)). Especially teenagers. Do you want to be popular, or do you want to stand up for who you are--even if it makes your life harder.

Each has a consequence.

But boil it down even further--do you take the easy road, or the hard road?

Do you shovel your traveling neighbor's driveway, even if he's never done it for you?

Do you help a fledgling writer with the ropes, even though you don't have much time?

Do you take care of yourself and your body?

Do you send nasty emails to agents that have rejected you?

As you can see, the book really got me thinking.

Go out and read it, then let me know what you think.

;)