That hurts.

But I don’t blame ya, I’ve been busy. Not just a little busy, but overwhelmed actually. I hate that.

On the good side, the silver lining, I have a request I’m turning in today, for a synopses and partial. I hope I’m turning it in today, but since I’m already 10 min late for work and haven’t gotten near the shower yet, that could change.

On the bad side, my back and hip are out from having spent approximately 10 hours a day at the computer – on top of 10 hours a day on my feet. And yes, that does add up to 20 hours a day, and yes, I’m only getting 4 hours of sleep.

I hear the Bride of Frankenstein look is back in style.

On the good news, my cold/sinus infection is finally letting go and I’m halfway through the bridal jewelry I’m making for a friend of mine. My three simultaneous online classes end next week and then I’ll be CAUGHT UP! I’ve also starting writing a YA/MG that’s halfway through chapter two.

So I’m hoping this week, things even out. I hope we have electricity for the entire week, that the sump pump keeps going full steam (heavy rains for the past two weeks here in Iowa) and that my tiny little chapter/synopsis inspires someone to smile and think hey, we’d like to sign her.

Keep your fingers crossed and your umbrella open.

=)

carrie

I work approximately 40+ hours a week at my day job, I work 20+ hours a week designing websites. I also design/repair jewelry in my spare time. I moderate online writing classes for a writers group, I write on three blogs, and I write.

For some reason, I’ve also decided to take three online classes this month, and for some other crazy reason, I started writing two YA novels. At the same time.

Yes, I need to be locked away.

But, can you leave me with my Blackberry please?

=)

carrie

*please, ignore the dangling participle*

So who is RU and what do they do? And what on earth am I doing there?

RU was started by Kelsey Browning, Adrienne Giordano and Tracey Devlyn a year ago after the three had met at RWA Nationals the year before. It’s a way to provide free education, lectures and even advice from editors and agents to the romance writing population.

And what are they doing with me? I’m still learning the ropes, baby. I have my first interview tomorrow, May 18th, interviewing those three ladies on their first anniversary.

SQUEE!

Yeah, I’m sending out links to everyone so they can read it.

Oh, here’s one for you!

Romance University

Stop on by and see how they met, what’s coming up next, and what they’ve learned over their first year.

And what they have in store for me. =) eek

Top o’ the world Ma! (well, of COURSE I sent a link to my mother. And both of my sisters. And my entire facebook group)

(ok, I only have 11 friends on facebook, but it’s the thought that counts right?)

I did mention I was proud of being part of the group didn’t I?

Oreo’s and champagne for all!

=)

carrie

Hello, everyone!

Remember, 2010 is the Year of the Sub-genre at Romance University. Each month, we will poke, prod, and beg publishing professionals close to the sub-genre to give us the latest information. Is it hot? Is it not? On April 2, we highlighted erotic romance with author Eden Bradley. Be sure to check it out!

Permission to forward lecture schedule is granted and encouraged! Want RU’s weekly lecture schedule in a cool new email format straight to your in-box? Sign up on RU’s homepage or any of the lecture posts!

Mon, 4/12 – Crafting Your Career: Borders’ book buyer Sue Grimshaw tells us how all those lovely books get onto the shelves.

Wed, 4/14 – Anatomy of the Male Mind: Wayne Levine’s back to reveal how a ropes course can teach guys to become better men. Don’t miss this insightful conversation.

Fri, 4/16 – Chaos Theory of Writing: Managing Editor Theresa Stevens starts a new lecture series about writing effective sentences. She’ll begin with the five major verb tenses and why traditional grammar instruction on tenses doesn’t do fiction writers much good. Wanna talk to a grammar guru? Be sure to stop by!

**Kelsey, Adrienne and I are excited to announce the newest addition to the Romance University faculty: Carrie Spencer. Carrie has been a regular reader and participant at RU since the early days. With her knowledge of our mission, her technical background and outgoing personality, Carrie was a perfect match for our faculty needs.**

All Romance University lectures are generously provided by our Visiting Professors. RU is a tuition-free zone!

Best regards,
Tracey Devlyn, Kelsey Browning & Adrienne Giordano

This is not so.

My hair needs coloring. Seriously. Like maybe twice through just to cover all the gray.

I have a twitch. It alternates from eye to eye, but it’s definitely a twitch. On the other hand, I seem to be getting better tips at the restaurant. Maybe I’ll keep it.

I generally receive 150+ emails a day. Note to self – go digest next time.

My chocolate addiction has morphed into chocolate enslavement.

It takes two Cadbury creme eggs every day. And I’m saying that like a heroin addict.

I haven’t written on my book in 2 weeks.

My socks haven’t matched since Groundhog Day.

My brain is moving at the speed of a snail in the Olympic Figure Skating coliseum.

Jack Daniels is my friend.

It wouldn’t be so bad, but three of the teachers are remarkable, demanding, challenging, awesome. They work my brain, they draw things out of there I didn’t know existed, and then they make me work with the stuff that pops out of it.

And I love it.

I’ve learned so much, that as my friend Kelsey says, I’ve grown new wrinkles in my brain.

And I’m still learning. And next month, I’ll be learning more.

Why’s that?

Why because I’ve signed up for five MORE online classes, that’s why!

Send the valium – please. And my hair colorist. She’s got a big job ahead of her.

carrie

This month I signed up for 5 online classes. Five. Cinco. Waytoomany. It seemed like a good plan, my other job is always slow this time of year, bring it on!

Unfortunately almost all five classes are run by superior instructors who demand a lot of information and homework from their students. Which is a good thing! Otherwise it’s just someone throwing information at you and hoping you’re listening.

And while I whine and moan and complain about the homework, let me just say there are people out there who shouldn’t be taking an online class. The woman who wrote to the entire class and said, sorry, I’m too busy to take this class right now….. Then why did you sign up sweetie? The teacher is here to teach those who want to learn..if you don’t want to learn, keep your email to yourself….or the one who said, gee it must be nice that none of you have to work as hard as I do, that’s why I’m behind in my homework. I personally hold down a full time job and have 3 companies of my own. But my homework is in on time.

But my favorite is people who argue with the instructor, as if they know better. One of my instructors has been published 54 times. And one lady in class actually told her she didn’t want to learn part of the lesson (on enneagrams) because she found them worthless. Published 54 times vs. unpublished. Let me think…..who would I rather listen to? Pissed off the instructor royal too. I don’t blame her.

Another instructor posted that we were to post no more information until she finished going through our first lesson. So what did people do? You got it, started posting lesson two, even though she hadn’t finished going through their first lesson. WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT THAT TO UNDERSTAND? But I’ll be darned if people didn’t start throwing nasty comments left and right, and distracting the entire list with hundreds of emails with brilliant thoughts like “I think that too.” or “Oops, so I didn’t read that.”

Get a clue people. If you’re on a class list, you’re showing upwards of 100 people what an idiot you are every time you post on top of filling our email boxes with useless junk.

ok, done ranting, back to the regularly scheduled program. =)

So, I’m learning. And I’m doing about 10 hours worth of homework a week. And this week, yes this very one, is the one two of my instructors say is going to be THE WEEK. This week will make it or break it, this week will be the hardest one.

Yikes.

So it’s time for me to don my cape and tights, suck it up and get back to my homework…one of the classes is already over, so I’m down to just four.

Sounds like a walk in the park eh?

carrie

So, I wrote a book. 250+ pages of romance novel, in about 2 months. And then I started taking online classes. This is how Columbus must have felt when he sailed to the New World. Not so much wow, look at that huge land mass I’ve discovered – but HOLY SHIT!

So, in taking classes, I found out everything I did in my ms is ..well…wrong. I did head hopping, had no viable GMC, I was a pantser without a clue. I was proudly showing off my first chapter, and getting blasted back to the dirt. “What’s your heroines long term goal?” Say what? Umm..to have sex with the hero? Bzzzztttt! Wrong answer! “What’s your black moment?” Umm…when I first look in the mirror every morning? Bzzzttt!! Not only was I mistaken in how to write a novel, but I found that very few online class instructors have a sense of humor about such things as GMC’s.

So I learned. And I polished. And I turned my 250 page ms into a 17 page chapter. Huh. I have a blurb, I have a logline, I have a query – all for a book I no longer have written. Those other 223 pages? Gone with the wind. Oh, I might be able to salvage parts, but once I got technical with the story, turns out it’s weak. Flimsy. Unconflicted.

Crap.

So, with the help of instructors, classes, books and so on, I’ve now polished my first chapter. It’s beautiful. It has conflict, sexual eye contact, flowing hair.

But now, I have to move on to chapter TWO. It’s taken me technically 6 months to have a perfect chapter one…how on earth do I start chapter two? I no longer know where my story goes, who my characters are…I have to learn them all over again, re-invent their story and move on….to chapter two!

Does anyone have a chapter two class out there!???!

hellllpppp!

=)

carrie