Merry Christmas!

I hope all my readers (of which, I believe there is one--my loyal son) have the merriest of Christmas and a jolly beginning to the new year!

Ten Trashy Truths - Just Published

My article, The History of Garbage, Ten Trashy Truths (great title, don't you think?) was accepted for publication in Boys' Life, the Boy Scouts magazine. I don't know what month yet, but I can't wait. I'll have to buy up all the copies of Boys' Life, but I don't think they are sold at magazine stands.

The article will also be available online in the Boy Scouts database. Imagine, a boy could be writing a paper and use my article for information. I feel like a real author!

Joining a Critique Group

I just joined a critiquing group! Finally! It is so helpful to have someone look at your work before you get too far into it that you can't work yourself out of it. That's what happened with my novel. There are so many words and so many scenes that I find it difficult to edit it.

Be sure that you join a critiquing group.

First Nonfiction Article Sold

Only months after I had my first nonfiction article rejection, I now have my first sale. It is the same article on Junior Jazzercise. I sold it to an online magazine called KidzWonder. It will be published in December.

I have a nonfiction article and fiction piece out for publication. Will this ever be easy? Not sure.

August Under the Stars

Turner Classic Movies Summer Under the Stars starts today with Michael Caine. Some highlights include:

- Doris Day on August 10

- Katherine Hepburn on August 30

- Spencer Tracey on August 31

The only good part of summer coming to an end is TCM's Summer Under the Stars!

Enjoy!

Main characters feeling sorry for themselves

I heard a line in the movie, The Bad and the Beautiful, with Kirk Douglas, that said something to the effect:

"Never let your character feel sorry for themselves for too long."

I was also read the blog, Greetings from Nowhere, and the blogger, Barbara O'Conner, asked the question:

Does she (your main character) MAKE the story happen?

OR........

Is the story simply happening to her or around her?

Eureka! That's it! My main character is feeling sorry for herself AND not doing anything about it.

Time to give my character a pep pill.

First nonfiction article rejection

Yesterday, I received my first rejection for a nonfiction article. However, (yes, you have to have a however), it was handwritten! That means they took the time to tell me what was wrong with it and the only thing wrong was that it didn't fit their themes.

If only they'd publish their themes!?

Anyway, here's a toast to my first rejection and to many more attempts at publication.