See... that's sort of just how I roll. I am too stubborn to QUIT, but unable to resist some NEW thing...
I could go back further. In high school I was on a varsity sports team for 4 years (gymnastics), part of student council, I got good grades (a 3.7 in the end)... but I never missed a party... All the stuff I WAS supposed to do... and all the stuff I WASN'T.
I heard a radio interview on Diane Rehm many years ago (before I was writing) and the woman interviewed (I wish I could remember who) defined the term... she had it herself... FOMS: Fear of Missing Something. And you know... I never missed school... never missed a dance... never missed a sporting event... that is TOTALLY me—if something happened and I wasn't THERE, I would have MISSED it!
So What Does this Mean for Writing?
Uber-participation of course... Blog event, Writing event... promoting event... Just to give you an idea of the things I seem to always do:
National Blog Writing Month: This was my first group blog event (in 2009)... in October, the month BEFORE NaNoWriMo, there is an event to blog EVERY day for a month... Yeah... did it once... which means I will do it ever after... that's how I roll...
National Novel Writing Month: This happens every November. 2009 was my first year for THIS, too. And I will do it forever... And I have won, every time I've done it... I am not just a signer-upper... I'm a doer...
The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest: This occurs at the end of January. Amazon accepts 10,000 novels, which a monthly elimination. In 2010, I got cut at the pitch stage (with Confluence, which admittedly needs a rewrite and is very hard to pitch). This year, I am in the semi-finals with Kahlotus Disposal Site because... here's the thing... if you do the same event a second time, there is a chance to LEARN from the first time.
I TOTALLY endorse the Amazon process. Not only have I met fabulous writers who rock, I've learned some tricks to the pitch, the importance of the first few chapters, and the HUGE value to having a unique CONCEPT. This is great prep for the actual process of trying to get an agent and publishing.
This is an April event where we blog every day but Sunday and make our way through the alphabet. I currently blog all weekdays, so it was only an addition of Saturday, but GETTING AROUND (who EVER would have suspected I'd have trouble getting around?)--but there were almost 1300 participants... NUTS!
You heard me... The BURROW has a writing month nearly exactly like NaNoWriMo, but OURS! We had great luck last year and are doing it again. Last year, THIS was the time I wrote Kahlotus Disposal Site (my ABNA book)--it is perfect timing to write a book that ends up CLEAN by January. (unless you have competing deadlines... which I do...
Because additionally, I have a book contract for Cozy Mystery, which is challenging my ability to juggle all these events I can't give up... But I WILL!!!
So if I can juggle all that, SURELY you trust me to rule the world? The Naked World Domination movement is alive and well and NEEDS YOU!!!
So there you have it...
If you'd like to be manic, insane, and overcommitted like me, your next opportunity is in June. You can find out the details Here or Here, and or you can just dive in without knowing what's going on Here. (no formal invite necessary--just join the group)
4 comments:
You make me very tired sometimes...
I make me tired, too, if that helps...
*faints just looking at the list*
I have finally come to the conclusion that FOMS is a highly contagious disease that spreads primarily through internet contact. How else can I explain my getting it?
The symptoms have always been there, come to think of it. Just not diagnosed.
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