Monday Musings

I thought with HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN being on submission that I should probably start working on another project.  Yes, I would love for my alien novel to be a trilogy, but you really shouldn't start on the other parts of a trilogy unless book one sells, so now I need a shiny new idea.  The problem?

I CAN'T THINK OF A SHINY NEW IDEA.

The first full manuscript I completed came to me in a dream, well the initial idea that threw it into my head and wouldn't let go.  My second full manuscript came with an idea from a friend.  How to Date an Alien...that one just sort of came to me when I realized the lack of science fiction and aliens at the time I began writing (note: this was Spring of 2010 that I had the original idea.)

So how do I come up with something new?  I had this great idea, it was brilliant!  My critique partners loved it, I loved it, and then my husband pointed out that it was a book that had already been written..grrrr.  I've thought about taking my women's fiction manuscript (see: writing) and making it YA with some fantasy elements, but that one is coming a little bit slower than I had imagined.  So now I need to find me some inspiration...

How do you come up with ideas for your new WIP?  Have you ever taken a manuscript and changed genres and age groups?  Are you tired of hearing me talk?

Unwanted Advice

As someone who is –newly married, pregnant, and a writer I’ve found that people like to give out A LOT of advice whether you want it or not.  Sure I may ask some more experienced writers and authors about their journey or my married friends may have given me some advice about not stressing over wedding planning.  But what happens when you get an advice overload?

You need to do THIS to make your manuscript perfect

If you don’t have real flowers, your wedding will look cheap

You NEED to use these sleep sacks or your baby wont sleep

I’ve heard them all and sometimes all this advice makes me want to pull my hair out.  I constantly groan and moan to my husband about this, but my dear husband always has to play Devil’s Advocate and sometimes he makes the best Devil’s Advocate. 

He always tells me, “You don’t have to listen to your advice, but everyone likes to give it.  People want to help you and it’s not like they’re out to get you.”

*grumblesmarthusbandbeingtoonicegrumble*

It’s true.  Even though I’m sadistic and think that some people just like to hear themselves talk, it’s not like they are trying to hurt me by giving me all this advice they just want to help.  And I guess I’m guilty of doling out the advice when others don’t want it either…but really I just like to hear myself talk and pretend like I’m special.

How do you handle unwanted advice?  Do you find yourself giving out advice without even realizing it?  Is your husband too nice for his own good?

An Open Letter

This is an open letter to a certain agent (No names mentioned...i will not embarass her that much) as to the reasons why you want me as a client.


Dear Ms. Agent Majesty of the book universe,

As you know, (if you are reading this...are you reading this? Because if you are that would be SWEET!) My name is Magan and I wrote a book.

It's actually really funny. I think I'm kind of funny... I mean you did say that my first chapter made you laugh and that was something that you couldn't ignore. I do firmly believe that, as I have quoted in my book, "Humor and food can fix anything." Which I really believe that. I think if all the world leaders got together and had an Iron Chef competition we may be closer to World Peace. Okay actually that might not work. The Prime Minister from France would probably prepare some awesome French dish that everyone would be jealous of and then the Italian Prime Minster would get all angry because he would think that he had the best dish. Then it could could be WWIII. That would make a GREAT reality show though.

I literally just proved nothing to you there, except for the fact that I think about cooking and food alot. Which is why my book is AWESOME. I talk about food and actually have people eating. I even incorporated my own attempt to make prailines in the book. Which does lead to the next point that there is so much of ME in my book and writing. I read so much writing were there are unbelieveable characters and situations. No,no I dont' do that. I truly did get my heel stuck in the wooden plank floor of a pool hall and fall. It was not pretty.

Not only does my book contain bouts of humor, my love of food, and so much realness, BUT I'm also willing to put those all into action to promote it. My grandmother-in-law has agreed to teach me to make prailines (so I won't burn down the kitchen...again). I am willing to go to every book store in America and stand with a box of prailines in one hand and a copy of my book in the other. (I would TOTALLY buy the book if the author did that. Okay, no I may not. I would actually probably pick it up and then put it down somewhere else in the store while I ate the prailine.)

In short...I want you to want me...I need you to need me. Okay now I sound creepy. But I just want to say that that one bit of positive feedback made my WHOLE week. I was so happy I even went to the gym! It was like eating a whole box of Girl Scout cookies! A big chocolate/carmel happiness laced in an e-mail from an agent. I want to work with you. I want you to help me make this novel the best darn thing it can ever be and for you...I will promise to promote the heck out of it! I would offer you prailines...but they are picky little buggers and wont set in the right temp so they probably can't be mailed. I do make one heck of a Lasagna though...

Anywhooo....Enjoy...we'll see if you read this, but if you don't well I just kind of put out all my weird little quirks for my loyal 8 fans! WOOO GO LOYAL EIGHT FANS.