Disappointing grades

It's been a while again.  My excuse is, I've been busy completing assignments for the OU and travelling (apart from all the house/life/job stuff.)  The husband is working in Abu Dhabi again and I spent a couple of weeks out there, so I am very tanned right now. 
     The assignment has been marked and returned to me. not brilliant but better than last time.  I know now that I am on track for a 2:2, which is a little disappointing as, until this module, I was headed for a 2:1.  As I need a 2:1 to go on to study for MA Creative Writing at my local university, I have to make a couple of decisions.  Do I settle for a lower second or should I do another module and try to get an upper second.  Even if I do another module, there is no guarantee I would increase my grade as I would need to pass with over 70%.  What if I don't get 70%?  Do I go for another, then another module until I do?  Perhaps there are some MAs that will take me with a lower second if I can show my writing is good enough.  Then I think, why am I even thinking like this, I don't need an MA and a 2:2 is good enough, apparently most people get seconds.  I have a couple more months to ponder on this. 
     I'm going to the Winchester Writers' conference in July. I first went a couple of years ago and loved it. Then I was interested in the "how to" lectures, but now I want to do the marketing and promotions lectures.  "Unwanted Visitor" is available on Kindle and I am very pleased that I have a couple of fantastic reviews. (Thank you, kind people) and no, I am not related to them.  Perhaps if I got an MA, agents would be more interested in my novels, but I write for pleasure as much as anything else.  Hmm, I must have a think.

Published!

I am very pleased to tell everyone that I have published my new novel on Kindle. "Unwanted Visitor" by Trish Finnegan. ASIN: B004VTC2ES
     I got fed up knocking on the doors of agents, so I decided to do it myself.  It is only available on kindle at the moment but perhaps I'll bring it out in paperback if there is enough interest.  Now, I have to think about marketing.  I've told my facebook friends and all my family, perhaps I can put a notice in the local paper?  I must research this, it's not like I can go to my local bookshop and leave a few copies.  I wonder if local radio would be interested?  Perhaps, if there is enough interest, I can advertise nationally, or perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself :-) I must see about getting a webpage.  I might try to self publish the other novels I'm working on.  Snowman is almost ready to go.  Hmmm.  Busy days ahead. I can't wait.

Chicken Soup

I've caught another cold, not good for weightloss.  All I want to do is lie on the sofa and eat chocolate and toast.  I've heard chicken soup is good for colds but I can't be bothered making any.
     I decided that the literary agent that I sent my novel to doesn't want it so I have sent it out to another one.  Again, this one takes email submissions and will let me know within 30 days.  So much better than the old way of sending off your precious bundle and waiting months.  Perhaps I should look at epublishing?  Has anyone had any experience with that? 

Fingers Crossed.

I went to my writers' group anticipating hearing the last chapter of the novel one of our members has completed, but he wasn't there!  I'm going to have to wait another two weeks to find out how he manages to pull all the threads together.  I've finished the rewrite/editing of my own novel and it's gone out to an agent, so fingers crossed. 
The weight loss isn't going so well, 1.5lb on this week.  Oh well, at least I'm lighter than I was but I am beginning to doubt I can reach my goal weight in time for Number 2 son's wedding.  I think I'm going to have to do something drastic, like the microdiet (remember that?)  Onwards and upwards.

Good Feedback

It's been a few days since I last posted.  A week was taken up by a nasty virus that laid me low, then we went to Center Parcs with our small grandsons.  We had a great time, just what I needed to perk me up after feeling so ill. 
    I got the feedback from Bubblecow and I'm really pleased with it.  My novel isn't as awful as I imagined, it needs several tweaks and a bit of reworking in a couple of places but all in all I feel pretty good about it.  Somehow, the formatting went crazy during the sending and the indents and line gaps adopted a pattern all of their own.  I have no idea why that happened.  I have an essay to submit this week but after that, I will get to work on editing my novel.  I have to think of a way for Martin to be thrown into the sea then get rescued a day later, without ruining the photos in his pocket.
    The weightloss is going well too, another 3.5lb this week.  I wish I could eat more sometimes as I feel hungry quite often,  but I need to lose weight for September, when number 2 son gets married. 

Day One

Well, it's here, the first day of my new regime.  I hope everyone had a great New Year.  I stuffed myself last night, which perhaps I shouldn't have but I will be good from today.  I weighed myself this morning - Aaargh!  I have so much weight to lose.  My first target is March, when I go on holiday with my daughter.  Perhaps if I am really strict, I can shift a couple of stones by then.  My next target is later in the year, when number two son is getting married.
     I'm sending my novel out in a couple of days, I've been researching appropriate agents to write to so fingers crossed I'll get a positive response.  I can update my writing CV with my third place win, which might make agents more amenable.
     Anyway, I've had cereal for breakfast, ham salad is on the menu for lunch and roast lamb is for dinner.  I'm going to write this morning until my little grandson's arrive.  They are staying with us because it's their parents' anniversary.
     Have a good day, everyone.

I have two apparently insurmountable problems. I want to find a home for my novel, Unwanted Visitor, and I want to lose weight so I've decided that I've got to get serious and approach them in a businesslike manner.  What better time than New Year to embark on new projects.
     I don't want to tell anyone what I weigh, it's too embarrassing, but I will record my weight loss, if any. (What am I saying!  Of course I will lose some weight)  I will enjoy Christmas and New Year, then grab myself by the scruff of my neck and give myself a good shaking until I eat better.
     It is also my intention to continue to write (naturally) and see my novel accepted.  I will also share any other writing success I have.  With this in mind, I have been frantically editing and reworking the manuscript and fretting over details such as, 'Is it all right to have two protagonists?' because I have Jane and Martin, and, 'Why is Phil, my antagonist so nasty?'  Reading it for about the tenth time made me see I had to have a reason for things that happen and I think the novel is now better for the work I did. 
     Anyway, we will see.  I've reached the stage where I don't want to think about the novel until new year, then I'll send it out.  I'd better start researching suitable places.