Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Confessions

Last week, I took part in Write On Con, and one of the suggestions for building your social media presence was to take part in a "meme". One of the "memes" I discovered, that spoke to my love of lists was this one: Top Ten Tuesday from Broke and Bookish.

Every Tuesday there's a topic for bloggers who love books to write on. I love this for several reasons.

1. It gives me a topic once a week that I don't have to come up with on my own and still addresses my love of books.

2. It's a list. (Duh.)

3. There are many other writers around the world writing about the same topic. It's like a synergy of literary cohesiveness... wow... where did that come from? Must be all the mind melding.

But I digress.

So here is my list of my Top Ten Bookish Confessions 

1. I have a library fine almost every month, even though I'm at the library, on average 2-3 times a week. I should also add I admit to telling the library I lost the book because it was cheaper than paying the fine. (I really hope no one at the library reads this!)

2. I have dog-eared books in the past. However, since discovering a pattern for Corner Bookmarks, I've curbed this habit.  

3. I almost lost an inter-library loan book from my book club. (I found it the day before I was going to walk up to circulation, my head hung low.)

4. I've spent hours on fanfiction sites laughing at the amazingly creative people out there.

5. I have a couple signed books I've never read.

6. If I really like a book, I get the e-book, hardback and paperback version. The e-book it to have with me where ever I go, the Hardback is for the shelf and hopefully getting signed someday and the paperback version is to loan. I have four copies of the Hunger Games... two paperback editions: one to loan and another to do a plotting/pacing exercise with.

7. I am horrible about figuring out where commas go. My motto is it's easier to take them out then put them in, so I slap them in where ever I think it should go and let my writing partners slap me around during crits.

8. I have bought pop-tarts with the intent of staying up all night reading and telling my kids to have at it when they complain they're hungry the next morning.

9. Sometimes I post on FB that I'm writing, but I'm actually on pinterest. I know... I'm horrible!

10. If I only had one book to take with me on a deserted island, it would be Pride and Prejudice. Deep down, I'm an Austen girl all the way!

Agented or Bust

I have made a decision that can only end with me finding an agent. If history has taught me anything, it's that there is one phrase that will get me what I want.

I WILL NOT CUT MY HAIR UNTIL...

Since I was old enough to decide when it was time to get my hair cut, I've been a short haired girl. For my wedding, I grew it out just long enough to have an up-do and promptly cut it the next week. I like having short hair. My husband would prefer it long. I don't really care what he thinks, in this matter. It's my hair.

So, I've been growing it out for a while and was ready to chop it off when it occurred to me: I could use my hair as motivation. I know it sounds silly, but if it's fear of rejection that stops me from sending out my ms., then fear of having long hair is going to push me to get over it.

I know it may sound silly to you, but having longer hair is a constant reminder that only through doing the work can I actually accomplish my goal. Each strand that falls in my face is a challenge to take a risk, whether it's in the submission process or writing my next book.

And, it's a physical manifestation of my commitment to my career. So one of two things is going to happen. I am either going to have lots of hair to donate to Locks of Love OR I am going to have an agent.

So here it is, without further ado: I WILL NOT CUT MY HAIR UNTIL I HAVE SIGNED WITH AN AGENT. (I reserve to change this decision based on the fact that I have free-will, but not before one year has passed. What did you expect? There's always fine print,)

So, reader peeps, what goal are you working toward and what is the zaniest thing you would be willing to do to make it happen. All superstitions allowed. Leave a comment and follow this blog to enter. My favorite answer gets a signed bookmark from Erica O'Rourke, author of the amazing Torn Trilogy! 

No matter what you have to do to push yourself, BE PASSIONATE about the goal and the destination!

Write On Con 2012

Write on Con 2012 is about to begin. Having spent the last few weeks frantically getting the kidlets back to school while making revisions to the WIP before sending out requests, I am really looking forward to WOC and here's why:

1. The conference is free. (Hubby can appreciate that.)
2. The conference is online.
3. Since it's online, I am free to attend sessions in my PJs, hanging out in the hammock, or both.
4. I've told everyone I'm attending a writing conference, but I failed to tell them about facts #2 & 3.

I don't know much about the conference and I have a feeling what I think I know if probably off, but I'm glad to be taking part in it with my writing group and I hope to make more writer friends along the way. Look for more updates as the conference goes on. No matter what the next week has in store for you, BE PASSIONATE about everything you do!