update

New Website Giveaway (woo-hoo!)

FACT: I have not been as active blogging over the winter months as I should have been.

FACT: One excuse is that I was basically sick of trying to deal with Blogger after numerous issues, but was lazy and didn’t want to put in the effort to switch.

FACT: I finally took the time to switch, and my new site is with WordPress (which I LOVE) and is at http://www.csorensenwrite.com

FACT: To celebrate the switch I am having a…

That’s right, the lucky winner will receive a $20 gift card to BN or Amazon.com, your choice!

Click on the link below to use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway (note: okay, apparently everything isn’t 100% better on WordPress, so far, I can’t figure out how to get the widget to show in my post, so sorry for the extra step)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can share with friends, follow or subscribe to my sites, and just basically enjoy all the fun and joy that come from helping a brother out;-)

Where have I been?

That’s a great question. Busy, busy, busy!

Point is, I’m still alive. Slow going more often than not, but still moving forward.

I’m on query number 18 (give or take) for MAIDEN with still no nibbles. But never fear, revising and submitting, waiting for just the right agent. Sent four more out yesterday, so we’ll see.

While working on landing an agent, I’ve taken a short break from MAIDEN to work on an middle-grade novel that’s been in the back of my mind…SEARCHING FOR MALCOLM (working title). Very excited about this one. Different style and tone than MAIDEN and, as a writer, it’s a little refreshing. Will share more about that project as time goes on.

What else have I been doing? Let’s see, work, family, church, and oh yeah, trying – somewhat successfully – to read THE STAND by Mr. Stephen “What Editor?” King. Wow! Talk about a man that isn’t short on words. I really do enjoy his writing style, very down to earth, and really draws you in, but good grief. One of my favorite quotes of King is “1st draft – 10% = manuscript”. More like 1st draft – 46%. But, ultimately, the fault lies with the editor, not him.

I hope you are doing well and I will continue to update (hopefully more frequently).

Be good!

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014!

Are you excited for the New Year?! I am:-)

I have not been on as of late…my family moved into a new home over the Holidays and it kept me fairly busy. But as exciting as the move was, I have repented of my online absence and ready to start the year anew.

Writing firsts in 2013:

– Finished the manuscript of my debut YA novel – MAIDEN
– Queried an agent for the first time
– Got an agent rejection for the first time

And so it goes. But I have learned from that rejection (and the subsequent 7 I have received), but I am moving forward with determination and faith.

Writing goals in 2014:

– Get an agent for MAIDEN
– Finish the first draft of the sequel to MAIDEN
– Be more active in my local book community as well as online

Don’t stop writing, don’t stop getting ~~gooder~~ better, and take it one day at a time!

Inching Across the Finish Line (Maiden Update #7)

The last update I gave was the beginning of May, and a lot has happened since then in getting my YA novel – MAIDEN – ready for submission.

I have had two additional beta-readers go through and give (as always) wonderful feedback.

My critique group, the wonderful Richmond Children’s Writers, have helped me sharpen the first few chapters. I am forever indebted to them.

A good friend with an eye for editing has gone through and red-inked the bejeebers out of it, helping me condense and clarify.

And that’s where we are. In the next couple of days I will give to my wife for final ‘approval’ and then I have my first 5 agents in the queue.

Thanks to everyone for the support and continued encouragement. Dreams do come true, you just can’t give up on them!