I know there have been hundreds of articles, books, and blogs written on this subject.  Still when it happens, no matter how you much you tell yourself you expected it, YOU DON’T.
So like life, it happens.  Where do we go next?  I can better answer that for myself by acknowledging what not to do and I should know since I just did it.   I’d sent off a submission and waited, and waited and waited.  Or so it seemed.  Actually the turn around was relatively fast at three months.  Anyway the …

Has a month passed by already? That must mean it’s time for the second installment in my Excel for Authors workbook. If you visited here last month, you already know that the first worksheet, a production tracker, tracked word and page count and gave you completion stats based on that input.  Here’s a link to my article about that: http://jeannieruesch.com/wordpress/?p=3375
I got a lot of requests for the production tracker and some wonderful comments about how useful it is. Thank you to everyone who took the time to let me know …

This blog will serve two purposes.  1.  It will let others know that they are not alone in their fear/dread/utter torture of sending query letters, no matter where they are on the writing journey. (You know you’re out there, just like me!) 2.  It states my intent, putting it out there so that I have no choice but to actually do what I say I’m going to do.
It’s time for me to start the query process all over again.  Yikes!  The thought of it makes me cringe while at the …

First things first… I promised books, and I haven’t forgotten!  AND the box arrived safe and sound, which I’d begun to worry about…  If you’re name is listed below, please email me at writer@elizaknight.com with your snail mail addy and your book preference.  In a perfect world, I could give you all the exact book you want, but in this case, I’ll have to do it first come first serve, and the last person will get the last book.
Laurie Ryan, Janel, Lavada Dee, Suzi, Sue Brandes
The five books (of which …

It’s been an interesting two weeks. Life sure is different on the other side of the publishing table. While revisions were fairly easy for me (they should have been, I’d been editing the darn book for 12 years!) it’s odd to suddenly have a deadline.
But there’s one thing I didn’t prepare for…reactions from the people I know and love.
Most are truly happy for me. Some cried, some shrieked with glee…others seemed  a little jealous. That I wasn’t expecting. How do you respond to, “Will you remember me now that you’re …

Do you know how many keys are on your laptop or computer keyboard?
I do.  My new one has 99 and my old one has 87.  Yes, I counted them.  And no, it wasn’t because I had nothing better to do or was trying out a new procrastination technique.
It has to do with a two-year old, curiousity mixed with a head cold and a forgetful grannie.
Now that I have your attention, I assure you that you need to stop and draw in a breath of air because it is going to whosh out of …

I don’t care what I call it, I’m not getting anything done and the day is slipping by, and I don’t feel good about it.  The longer I procrastinate the more sluggish I feel.  I keep to-do lists so you’d think I’d just move on to another item on the list.   Oh no, instead I do the email.  Now we all know we need to keep up with networking both personal and professional right?
From there I move on to checking out Facebook and Twitter.  Again essential in networking even though …

Apologies for my late post. I just got back from Nationals and brought a nasty cold with me.
This year the RWA National conference was different for me because I had to look at it from a different perspective. Since my last post, I am happy to report that I have sold! Woot!!!
The Chase is On was the first book I wrote nearly twelve years ago. I’m so excited because I’ve heard many writers never sell their first book. I’ll let you know when I get a release date from The …

To all of you just returned from RWA Nationals in Orlando, welcome home! To the rest of you, who, instead of slaving away at your writing, you were slaves to Twitter looking for the next RITA and GH announcement, I salute you, for I am one of you.
This month, I’d like to begin a group of blogs that discuss how Excel can help you as a writer. I’ve spent quite a bit of my life working with Excel and I realized a while back that it’s a great way to …

Writing is a solitary business.
How many times have we heard that phrase or something similar?  It’s true.  But it’s not.  If we don’t have a writing partner (and the majority of us don’t), creating the books we create is something we do all by ourselves.  Hours at the computer, typing and plotting and editing and polishing.  That book’s done…and we do it again.
But there’s a hidden treasure in our solitary profession.  Other writers.  Last week was the RWA National Conference 2010 in Orlando, FL.  Other writers willingly shared their knowledge …