60k in 60 Days!

I'm doing 60k in 60 days. Are you?

It's a great new endeavor similar to NanoWrimo but with a self-publishing twist. You write a 60,000 word novel or screenplay and self-publish it in two months.

I'm not allowed to figure out what I'm going to write yet (contest rules), but I'm leaning toward something set in a world that I'm intimately familiar with so that I don't have to research it. And something that has commercial appeal since I plan to publish it on Createspace through Amazon.com. Probably a Young Adult novel since young adult novels are the most fun to write (in my opinion).

My first experience with Createspace was during the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition, and I loved it! I always thought that I'd follow the traditional publishing route, but the immediacy of self-publishing is so powerfully enticing. People could read my work now. I could promote my work now. I could take my fate into my own hands...now. It's very appealing.

My greatest concern is editing. Self-editing isn't my forte. As a result, I want to hire a professional editor before I self-publish, but since I'll be writing 60k in 60 days, I may not have time. I'll have to see what happens.

My New Blog!

I am currently involved in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. My young adult paranormal novel "Bloodstone" is a quarter-finalist. I was reading on the Amazon discussion boards that reviewers might want to find me on the web. As a result, I decided to create this blog.

In this blog, I plan to discuss my writing process and to post useful links that I find related to writing. I have read so many fantastic blogs by great writers and reviewers that are using blogspot. Now I can follow all of my favorite blogs!

I'm also a twitter addict. My twitter handle is @serendipbrit if anybody would like to follow me.

In addition to writing, I like to read (young adult novels, of course, as well as romance). I love any stories with paranormal elements in them. I have so many favorite authors that I can't list them all, but just a few are Laurell K. Hamilton, Melissa Marr, Sophie Jordan, Kiersten White, and Tera Lynn Childs. My favorite non-fiction authors are Julia Cameron, Natalie Goldberg, and Eric Maisel.

Although I believe that what people "do" for living isn't all that important, I have worked as a martial arts instructor, a purse designer, a private tutor, a freelance writer, a test technician, a family housing specialist, and a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist. My undergraduate degree is in English, and I almost have a Master's Degree in Counselor Education (have to complete that pesky internship).

When I'm not writing, I enjoy spending time with my animals (four dogs, two cats, two rabbits, and a fish!).