Trisha Jones' Blog

  As a new writer I am going through the same issues all new writers go through. Hounderds of rejections. I get that what I write not every one wants that's fine but what bothers me is when the agent doesn't even read the query letter and or sample pages.   I don't normally post about an agent but this one is one that has bothered me the most. This rejection came fro me Doreen Thistle " Dear Ann, Thank you so much for your query, but we are going to pass at this time. Unfortunately, the concept and sample pages didn't connect with us as much as we’d hoped. Due to this, we don't believe we are the right agency to champion this piece. Thank you for considering us for your work, and we wish you luck in your writing future. In your search for the perfect agent, you may want to check out  Writer’s Digest Guide to Literary Agents blog . We have found it to be a great resource for finding new agents who are looking to build their lists. We also encourag

  I alway have issues writing when it's the holidays(thanksgiving thru New Years). The stress of getting everything done and seeing all the people I care about.   Thanksgiving is over it went well my hubby kids and I went to my mom in-laws and a very good friend joined us for a little while. All in all it was a good day, but no real writing has gotten done for the last few weeks.   I have most of the gifts for everyone but hubby and kids. I will finish up getting gifts in the next few weeks. I will be happy to get it all done, so I can concentrate on my writing.   I have the Christmas tree up and decorated we had to get a new tree since our other peel it tree died last year. I will post 2 pictures, it is the same tree it changes colors from white lights to multicolor lights it's really neat.   I need to get back to editing. I will blog soon Happy reading Happy writing

  I told you all once I figured out my medical issue I would fill you all in. I went for my yearly check up a few months ago and one of the yearly test came up with something that could have ended up being cervical cancer. It took me a while to find a doctor to do the more in depth test since my doctor's office was not able to do those kind of test.  Finally on the 18th of October I was able to get the more in depth test that involoved a byopies or 2 of my cervix. I got the results today and everything is normal I go back in April for a recheck but everything is ok.    I have been so stressed out that my writing was not moving as well as I wanted. Now everything should start flowing better. Well it's kind of late and I should get to bed. Happy reading Happy writing

  The past few weeks have been kind of hard for me. I haven't gotten any real writing done with evevrything happening. We got a new car for me to drive last week(the 7th), which is an early birthday day and the same day I got a new tattoo(I had one session the tattoo will be first the 21st). Those are both good things but I have had a few thing that had been coming up that stressed me out.   First last week for 3 days and 2 nights my husband was away on a business trip. He had never been away from home that long since we got married(we have been married over 16 years) so i was not handling it very well. I was very happy when he got home.   Now on Wednesday I have to see a dr for a medical issue I found out about at my last check up. I am very worried about it. If it's serous I will blog about what the issue is.   But in between my husband's trip and my dr visit was my birthday. It was yesterday, I didn't do a whole lot other than try to relax and spend the day wit

  This past weekend was Archon weekend, the weekend was really fun but I did not go to any of the panels I wanted to go to. I was busy with other things and kind of forgot to go to those panels. I spend the time with my family and friends I do not see often other than at archon every year. There was lots of hugs and laughs while catching up with friend this weekend. I had a very enjoyable time.   So I did not write, or edit all weekend, I did try to get back to writing/editing yesterday tho I did not get much done. I do plan on working on my writing today, after I get some paper work I need to get done.   I'm sorry this blog post is short, but I need to get back to work Happy reading Happy writing

Today is the day we are having a total solar eclipse. So I figured I should post something special. In honor of the solar eclipse I have written a short story in Ann’s world. Enjoy!! We had been hearing for months that there was going to be a solar eclipse. I didn’t really think much of it I had seen partial solar eclipse when I was a kid, I knew the only difference between that one and this one was this was going to be a full eclipse but not everyone would see it in totality. I was super excited about it I never have been one to get excited about it. Joe on the other hand was ok until about a week ago. He started getting worried but didn’t tell my what was going on until a couple days ago when I woke up to hear him talking on the phone. He was sitting on the edge of the bed talking on the phone. He was trying to be as quiet as he could. I woke up with my back to him and I heard him say “how will it effect us. I know the partial eclipses and lunar eclipses don’t seem to bother t

That's right my kids are going back to school today! My kids are very excited to be starting school today. I think they were getting bored this summer, I guess mom is not as cool to be around as they used to think. That's ok I understand they are 13 and 15.   I am full of mixed emotions about them going to school. I am looking forward to being able to write with the sun being up again. But I will miss having them home. So I will being crying off and on for about a week. I know it's silly to get sad that my kids are growing up and going back to school but this is how I get every year. I will be ok in about a week.   I have been going to a gym to exercise to help me lose some extra weight. Over the last month or so I was able to go at night but since the kids are back in school I have to try and go during the day while they are at school or in the evening when hubby gets home so I am not staying up so late. I need to lose about 50 lbs to be were I want to be. I also think

 I know I have not written a blog post in awhile. I'm sorry, my life has gotten in the way again. I have 2 teenagers who are getting restless and school will be starting in about a month. I am having some personal issues as well but everything will be ok it just will take some time. I have not written anything in a couple week due to my personal issues and I got a new tattoo a week ago today, and it has been a little painful to sit in my desk chair.( the tattoo is on the back of my right shoulder so it hurts to lean my back against the desk chair or any chair)   Now that the tattoo is a week old it's not as painful to sit in my desk chair, I should be getting back to writing this week. At least until life gets in the way again. I just wanted to let you all know I am still here and plan to stay around for a long time. Well I am off to get some writing done Happy reading Happy writing

Yes you read that right, this blog is about writing and weight loss. Here is something I posted today on Facebook about weight loss and after I will explain why this is helpful for most people. "Ok most of you know i am working on losing weight. I have been asked more then once why. So i decided i will post here why and how i am doing it. I am not doing it for health issues though diabetes due to weight does run in my family a long with heart issues and high blood pressure. Me losing weight will lessen the chances of getting any of those issues. I do have hip, knee, and ankle issues and getting some weight off my body and strengthen the muscles around those joints will help. I am not dieting, diets do not work. I am changing my lifestyle and eating habits. I exercise by walking, using my elliptical, and light weight lifting. I do these things every other day (m,w,f,su,tu,th,sat) i try to walk/elliptical for an hour and the arm lifts i do every other day 4 reps of 10. I

  Ok i got a rejection letter today from an agent that rejected me because i don't have a platform(a bunch of people who want to read my book). but one how do i get a platform if i do not have any other ways to get my name out there without being traditionally published.but i need a platform to get published.  For those of you that follow this blog, you know i have this blog, a webpage, a twitter account , an author page on goodreads, a Facebook author page. I hand out busness cards everywhere i can. What more can i do with out being published? I have been trying to figure this out, but all I got is I need to be published to get a platform but I need a platform to get published. How the heck does that work? I am truly confused about how to get the one thing I need to get published without being published. If any of you can help me figure this out comment or send me a message. I would be very grateful. I am off to bed so I stop thinking so hard Happy reading Happy writin

   The end of the my kids' school year is here, at least for my son. Today is his last day of his freshman year of high school, he doesn't have to take finals due to his really good grades and his perfect attendance. My daughter's last day as a 7th grader is Tuesday. So by the middle of next week I will have both kids off for the summer.      I always have a hard time switching my writing schedule to at night in the summer and during the day during school year. But I will get it worked out, I have been asked a few times why I switch my schedule. When I explan why other parents understand but I get more questions from people who don't have kids.    I know I have explained why in a blog post here before but I think it's been I while. I will refresh my explaination. I switch to nights during the summer while my kids are off school because I will not have many distractions if any at all. If I try to write during the day while the kids are home they interrupt my writ

I am not writing this to hurt any bodies feeling or to tell anyone not to blog. This is just advice from my own experiences. A good friend of mine started a blog (https://prayerwarrior777blog.wordpress.com) I asked him why he did it. He said "I wanted one, I feel like I had something to share with the world" I said ok but don't let it get lost. I tried to help him the best I could, and it made me think that I am not the best blogger or the only blogger out here. But maybe some one who reads this will use the advice. It's best to not try to do a daily  maybe a weekly I do a monthly or bimonthly. But I started out trying to do a daily and within two weeks I ran out of steam and ideas to keep it going daily. I realized its best not to do daily because I have to keep it interesting so you all will keep coming back and reading my blog. Have something to say it doesn't have to be earth moving. Just something interesting something more than just "I went to the

  First Easter was good, the kids loved their baskets. We spent it at home, just us this year. We didn't do a whole lot since it was rather rainy that day. I'm not sure how much longer the Easter bunny will be showing up at our house since the kids are going on 13 and 15.   I have decided to go over The Were I Have Become book 1 again to see if I can add to the word count with out adding filler words. I have only gotten cookie cutter rejection letters for it so after I get done editing the manuscript I am going to see what I can do to make the query letter better. I am working hard to try and get an agent before the end of the year.    Life has been hard on me first a little back story. I have had really bad teeth most of my life and was in pain everyday. I did everything I needed to do to have healthy teeth with no luck. Finally I found a dentist who agreed I needed dentures. I had all my teeth ( the ones that were not already pulled) November last year(2016). Since Januar

I was asked how I keep track of the agents I query. I figured others wonder the same thing so I am writing this post I have a book I write the name of the agent, the date I queried that agent and when I should hear something back if they want to know more. If I get a rejection letter or the date that I should have heard something has past I put rejection under the should hear by date. As you can see I have used this for a few years.  The book has been around for a while it's pretty beat up from all the uses it has had. I am still using it.                                                   I know what the next question is, "How do you keep track of when you got the query?" I print the rejection letters if the agents send one and put it in a folder, but if not I assume the date I should hear back is the rejection date.  Now I am not sure if I have said this in another blog, if I have it's worth repeating. I query multiple agents at one time. They only ones

 I have had a nasty head cold last week, as we all know a cold is not the worse I could have had. But when you are not feeling well it's really hard to write. I just wanted to sleep the whole time, but I know that would not work due to all my responsibilities I have. So I got up and got my kids off to school everyday, did what housework I had and tried to write.   I have looked at what I wrote last week, some of it is ok but not for this story. Then some was really really bad. I have been weeding out the bad stuff and moving the stuff that doesn't work with this story. This is going to be a long process, so no new writing until I fix last weeks work. I think I have procrastinated enough Happy reading Happy writing

 The weather here has been crazy, 70's one day freezing the next. It's been nuts for February and March. I am tired of the weather, I wish it would make up its mind already.   Because of the weather life got a little busier than normal. We had a couple runs to the urgent care due to ear infections, sinus infections and of course one time with strep. All this on top of dentist appointments, orthodontist appointments for the kids, then a doctor appointment for my son ( just a normal check up because of his ADD meds).   I have also been trying to lose weight, I have been walking for awhile now but my loving hubby bought an elliptical for me to use. I have been using it every other day(mon,wed,fri,sun, tues,thurs, sat......) and I am up to 13 mintue work outs. Iam hoping it will help with my weight and energy level.   I am writing but not as much as I wanted but since life seems to be calming down some I should beable to write more. Well I am off to write on one of my ideas

   Ok first I got the edits back from a beta reader who is helping me out, so I am going over what suggestions were made and some punctuation I missed. I am hoping to be done with them soon. This should be the last round of edits until I find an agent.     I have the newest copy of  " Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents Who They Are, What They Want, How to Win Them Over" I went thru it and found new listings for agents. I will query them after I get responses ( or lack there of) from a bunch of the agents I queried. I am hoping to find an agent before the end of the year.  Until I do I plan on to keep writing the novels and stories that I enjoy doing.      I have not decided if I am going to put books 2 and 3 together yet. I want to finish book 3 and see if it's good as a third book or if I will add it to book 2. I have also gotten a few other ideas written down so I might go work with them and see where they go. I better get ba

  As some of you know I have been working on book 3 in my Werejaguar series. Well I was going over book 2 and realized or re-realized I guess would be a better way to say it, well anyway I saw it was only about 46,000 words which is too short and I'm not sure book 3 will be much longer than book 2. I am trying to decide if I should combined books 2 and 3 in to one book which would be book 2. Or if I should leave them as two separate books and try to work them to be longer.   I have been trying to make this decision for awhile now. I want to keep them like they are but they are not long enough. If I put them together it would make them into one longer book and would have to find a way to blend them together. I know I should beable to make this decision with out much problem but I am having a really hard time with it.   In other writing news, I have been working on a couple other story ideas which look promising. I am hoping one of them will be ready to be edited soon. I also am

  Yesterday was the first dance practice of they year and my kids were happy to be back at practice, they get about two hours a week more exercise when they have practice. They also sleep better when they have practice.   For those who just started reading my blog or for those who may not remember my kids ( who are my 12 year old daughter and my 14 year old son) are part of a Native American interpretive dance group. The group is called the Kahok dancers, my kids have been part of this group for almost 7 years now. They have practice every Monday in a moose lodge in  caseyville Illinois which is not too far from where we live.    I normally write during practice, The reason I didn't yesterday was that I had gotten in the habit of writing where my word count started, end and the total for everytime I write. Which is something new I am trying to help keep me writing. I had not taken the notepad I am writing that stuff down in and I was lost. It's a habit I want to keep, so I

   Well this is the first post of the new year it's 2017, the kids started back at school today and it's snowing. It's not a lot but it's enough to make it slippery and it's flipping cold out. Yea I know of course it's cold it's snowing. I always hate going out in the snow but I hate getting my kids out in it more.    I have been writing, and I sent some query letters out. That brings me to yesterday, I sent querys out yesterday in the morning. I didn't think I would hear back from any of them for a while if at all. We one of the agents I queried yesterday sent a rejection by like 12:30 pm. That was the fastest rejection I have ever gotten. I will not allow that to discourage me from getting an agent before the end of the year. I am hoping to get the W. I. P done before too long and get it out for editing. I am going to get published one day soon. Well I better get back to my writing, have a great day Happy reading Happy writing