Many of you know how talented I am. Mostly because I keep telling you so. I figure repetition will make the heart grow fonder yes?

Yes. Say it with me now. Yesssss….

Excellent.

Now you’re probably already rolling your eyes, but bear with me a bit. As most of you know who’ve read this blog occasionally know, I write. I may not do it as often as I’d like, or as well, but I’m learning. You might have also stumbled across my bartending hints with some of the lovely drinks I mix up now and again. And some of you have further had experience with my ability to conquer all things HTML and WordPress.

BUT

Did you also know I make jewelry? Yup, that’s what makes me multi-faceted.

When I was a kid, I was the one mom sent to every craft class. I made every girl scout project from petrified cattails to sand candles. I learned to tole paint and macrame. I worked in a craft store once and macramed a dozen door banners that spelled out NOEL. Yikes.

Then one day, I decided to make jewelry. Why? Because my friend made me a bracelet. And I said as soon as I put it on – “I can do that.” She gave me a startled look and I said “Oh, I meant thank you.”

I’m multi-faceted, but I’m lacking in social graces.

My first necklace exploded in a million pieces. As did my second, third and fourth. Five held together however. And I was hooked. I have since made over 500 pieces of jewelry, held three or four craft shows and gave tons away for gifts. I sell online (okay, not much because I don’t get a chance to promote it the way I should) and in a few stores locally. People buy my jewelry off my body while I’m at work. I get custom orders while standing in line at Wal-Mart.

Am I bragging? A little. =) But mostly, I’m sharing my relaxation with you. For me creating of any sort, whether it’s writing or jewelry or even, for the love of God, macrame relaxes me. It lets the brain go, the imagination flow. Sometimes I even surprise myself with what comes out in both my writing and in my jewelry.

So occasionally, if you’ll bear with me, you’ll see bits about me, my cats, my writing, my happy bar drinks and my jewelry.

Now let’s hope I don’t take up raising alpacas.

=)

below were my experiments with glitter (which the cats are still wearing) and resin (which I’m still wearing) as well as my octopus necklace. Every girl needs an octopus necklace right? right.

carrie

Carrie Spencer Author - Smart Ass Romance

Can you hold my tarantula for me please?

However. (and yes, this is how you know I’m going to say something profound)

However, I wrote a synopsis today. And while it wasn’t as much fun as a margarita on a hot summer day, neither was it as non-fun as a UTI.

As a matter of fact, what was to be a short synopsis, of only 2-3 pages, became 10 pages long. And now, not only do I have the synopsis written, I also have the entire layout of my story, the internal and external conflicts and how they get resolved, as well as the HEA. (which made me cry, but don’t tell anyone I said that.)

Frankly, it was one of the best plotting/motivational/conflicting tools I’ve used in the two years since I’ve decided to “become a writer.”

There is however, two main questions that beg to be answered. One, can I write the story the way I’ve outlined it. Two, how the hell am I going to cut this down to two pages?

Back to work!

hi ho hi ho

=)

carrie

Carrie Spencer Author - Smart Ass Romance

Yup, I’m up to my neck in it.

Finished three, count ‘em three! chapter ones this weekend. Mostly revising, some inventing, some chopping.

The trick is to keep your mind coordinated as to which one you’re working with.

We don’t want the middle grade genius boy getting the hots for the Jane Hathaway look-alike, nor do we want our fabulously chic screenwriter suddenly dressing in polyester! The men….well, one is impeccably dressed, one is wearing the worlds ugliest Hawaiian shirt, and one is 90 years old, so keeping them straight isn’t as hard. =)

Luckily, just as eating sorbet between main courses clears the palette, so does eating a Hershey’s in between each chapter clear the brain.

But mostly, it’s all about progress.

I received an email from an editor in the past week, she’d like to see the first three chapters of one of my works, AND A SYNOPSIS as well as a little tightening up in another piece as well as the ever elusive emotional conflict being upped.

I’ve gotten really good comments on my MG as well, both from a published author and an agent, so will be revising those chapters to try to bring a finish to that book.

And I still have a request for a full that I meant to have done in March. Oops. Well, it’s mostly forward progress.

Sound like I’m bragging? Well, maybe just a little.

=)

carrie

Carrie Spencer Author - Smart Ass Romance

I have no idea what my fascination is with writing contests. About once every six months my brain does some kind of hormonal release (somewhat like a hot flash I presume) and I MUST enter writing contests. Doesn’t matter whether I win or not (okay, I’m lying) I just HAVE to enter.

So this year, for my 49th birthday, I entered four. Three for the romance novel and one for the middle grade. And I did pretty darn well really. No wins (okay, fourth place on the MG), but some great comments, even some compliments. Easy reading style. Fun to read, great voice. Sweet.

And some things to work on. Needs more conflict. Too coincidental. Quite using parenthesis, they’re distracting. (do you think they’re distracting?) (I really like parenthesis) (darnit)

So, I’m back to the drawing board. Mostly. A little. Okay, technically not much. I’m ramping up conflict, I’m un-coincidentalizing things (yes, it’s a real word) and I’m taking out some of my parenthesis (two).

Contests can be a valuable learning experience, even though they can also be unqualified disaster. I had to delete one of my comment sheets, it was giving my anxiety attacks. I immediately infused myself with chocolate and while recovery has been a bit slow, I hope to get back to writing sometime this summer. (sarcasm)(maybe)

(see how handy those darn little parenthesis are?)

Seriously though, I have some major work to do. I have a couple editor requests, an agent request and a work schedule that doesn’t allow me more than a few free hours a week.

But for now, contest season is over – for at least another 6 months. Time to get back to work!

Hi ho hi ho!

carrie

=)

Carrie Spencer Author - Smart Ass Romance

Naughty. Busy. It’s all the same right?

Sorta.

So I did warn you, I was going to be entering contests. And enter I have. I entered my MG in one, my Man Hunter in two and a separate one I made up today in about six hours in another.

I’ve entered two pitch contests. TWO. One of which was an audio pitch. And them puppies ain’t easy, I’m tellin’ya. =)

Am I done?

I think so. =) The written contests will be months to hear from. The pitches I heard from within the week and got good reports (although no wins) all the way around. I entered contests where the judges were either editors or agents I wanted to get my work in front of, and I’m feeling pretty good about that. I’m going to hold onto that feeling, because I KNOW what happens when you get the judging sheets back. Intense agony and soul searching. Pain and agony. Screaming and margaritas.

Contests aren’t for wimps.

So that’s where I’ve been, MIA. I promise I’ll be better now that I’ve gotten all that out of my system.

Except there’s just that one more…..hmmm……

=)

carrie

Carrie Spencer Author - Smart Ass Romance