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#SampleSunday: The Ex-Files – Chapter 1

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — 5 Comments ↓

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As promised to my daughter (and on my blog), I have begun the process of finishing the abandoned chicklit novel….the only novel of mine she has ever read.

As added incentive, I am participating in the Clarion Write-a-Thon. Please consider supporting a writer (doesn’t have to be me). Back in ’88 I spent six hot week in Michigan on the MSU candidate writing, critiquing and talking about writing with seven published writers (one a week for 5 weeks, plus Kate Wilhelm and Damon Knight for the sixth week). Best. Time. Ever. Your sponsorship can make sure future writers get a chance to do the same (though they’ve moved from the MSU campus to USCD).

Comments with critique are welcome, but no promises that I’ll follow anyone’s suggestions, no matter how brilliant. I’m a stubborn writer, to which my various critique partners and editors through the decades can attest.

HISTORY: This book made it to the submitted proposal stage (book stages are: 1-raw idea written on scrap of paper; 2-more baked idea typed up into several paragraph; 3-first pages; 4-proposal of several chapters and a 1-3 page outline; 5-complete manuscript; 6-published manuscript). My then agent hated it (and all chicklit), so I submitted it myself to my then editor.… Read the rest

Tagged with: #SampleSuday, #SS, chicklit, the ex-files
Posted in #Sample#Sunday, Clarion-Write-a-Thon, Crazy or Genius?, My, How This Business Has Changed, My, How This Business Has Not Changed, The Ex-Files

#Sample#Sunday: The Ex-Files – Chapter 2

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — 3 Comments ↓

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As promised to my daughter (and on my blog), I have begun the process of finishing the abandoned chicklit novel….the only novel of mine she has ever read. This is part of the extended Wedding Day Promo plan.

As added incentive, I am participating in the Clarion Write-a-Thon. Please consider supporting a writer (doesn’t have to be me).

Please note: This is a draft. There will be typos. Once I’ve finished the novel and revised it, I will: send it out to an editor; ask a cover artist to make a cover; and put it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for the Kindle and Nook. You’re seeing the raw process behind book creation. If reading an uncooked story makes you squeamish, wait for the fully baked novel to appear at an ebook retailer near you.

If you missed Chapter One, you can find it here (or click on the Ex-Files or #Sample#Sunday tag and you’ll see just those posts, for easier flow).… Read the rest

Tagged with: #Sample#Sunday, #samplesunday #clarion, Clarion-Write-a-Thon
Posted in #Sample#Sunday, Clarion-Write-a-Thon, My, How This Business Has Changed, My, How This Business Has Not Changed, The Ex-Files

#Sample#Sunday: The Ex-Files – Chapter 3

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — 2 Comments ↓

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As promised to my daughter (and as part of the extended Wedding Promo), I have begun the process of finishing the abandoned chicklit novel….the only novel of mine she has ever read.

As added incentive, I am participating in the Clarion Write-a-Thon. Please consider supporting a writer (doesn’t have to be me). In fact, I strongly urge you to look at what Victoria Griesdoorn is offering for those who support her efforts to help Clarion fund another round of student-writers. You can win a prize if you sponsor Victoria, which is pretty cool and dedicated. Clarion is a great writer’s workshop, and that six weeks of my life helped shape my writing in ways I could never have imagined before I attended back in ’88.

Tagged with: #Sample#Sunday, chicklit, clarion writers workshop, Clarion-Write-a-Thon, romance, self-publishing, the ex-files
Posted in #Sample#Sunday, Clarion-Write-a-Thon, Crazy or Genius?, My, How This Business Has Changed, My, How This Business Has Not Changed, The Ex-Files

#Sample#Sunday: The Ex-Files – Chapter 4

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — No Comments ↓

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As promised to my daughter (and for the Wedding Promo …only 7 days left for the 99 cents sale of The Fairy Tale Bride), I have begun the process of finishing the abandoned chicklit novel….the only novel of mine she has ever read.

As added incentive, I am participating in the Clarion Write-a-Thon. Please consider supporting a writer (doesn’t have to be me). Only 2 weeks left, and a few bucks goes a long way…just sayin’

Comments with critique are welcome, but no promises that I’ll follow anyone’s suggestions, no matter how brilliant (had some very useful advice from last week’s comment, which has given me insight into something later in the plot that isn’t working, and how to fix it). I’m a stubborn writer, to which my various critique partners and editors through the decades can attest.

Posted in #Sample#Sunday, Clarion-Write-a-Thon, Crazy or Genius?, My, How This Business Has Changed, My, How This Business Has Not Changed, The Ex-Files

#Sample#Sunday: The Ex-Files – Chapter 5

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — No Comments ↓

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NOTE: This is the last day of The Fairy Tale Bride 99 cents Wedding promotion sale. The price will bump up to $2.99 at midnight(ish–depending on Amazon’s speed). That’s still a discount from the $3.99 retail price, but 99 cents sounds better than $2.99, so if you want the book and haven’t bought it yet…you might want to buy it today. Just sayin’.

If you never heard about the big wedding promo during the last six weeks, you can read about it on my blog series Confessions of a Turtle Mom: Why My Mommy Karma Needs a Wedding Shine.

If you have been following along, I’ve updated the wedding gown shopping trip with actual pictures (sorry it too me so long). You can find them at Confession 40: Not a Shopping Wing Mom.

On to the chicklit novel. As promised to my daughter (and on my blog), I have begun the process of finishing the abandoned chicklit novel….the only novel of mine she has ever read.

As added incentive, I am participating in the Clarion Write-a-Thon, and today instead of linking to them, I’m linking to a writer who has gone over and above to get donations.… Read the rest

Posted in #Sample#Sunday, Clarion-Write-a-Thon, Crazy or Genius?, My, How This Business Has Changed, My, How This Business Has Not Changed, The Ex-Files

Sample Sunday: The Ex-Files Chapter Six

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — 2 Comments ↓

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In Wedding Promo News: Amazon and B&N still battling the battle of the 99 cents price hike chicken game. Blah. But you, the reader, benefit with the resultant continuation of the low, low price of 99 cents, so maybe fate knows the wedding is going to need a little more capital. I guess I have to decide whether to pull the book from B&N if the price doesn’t change by Wednesday. We’ll see.

As promised, The Ex-Files continues here with chapter six. You can catch up with the previous chapters by clicking The Ex-Files on the category list to the right.

Remember: this is a raw draft. Comments welcome and valued, even if not used, but I am a stubborn, hard-headed type of writer.

CHAPTER SIX

“So what’s so bad about the word desperate? Surely you can’t mind the series thing—you’re looking at the Pulitzer eye to eye.” Trust Emily to be my cheerleader, even when I needed a dirge player.

“Pulitzer? For writing articles about a desperate woman—who just happens to be me, by the way—turning over the rocks of her past relationships to see if she missed a gem among the worms? Remember, men give out the Pulitzer and it’s never going to be given to a woman writing about desperation—or menopause or PMS either, come to think of it.… Read the rest

Posted in #Sample#Sunday, My, How This Business Has Changed, My, How This Business Has Not Changed, The Ex-Files

Sample Sunday: Chapter 7 – The Ex-Files

Posted on August 14, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — No Comments ↓

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In Wedding Promo News:

(1) My daughter read my blog and approved. Woo Hoo! She says I got a few things wrong (she was a cheerleader for two years, for example). I’ve asked for a list of errata, and I’ll begin editing for posterity’s sake.

(2) Amazon still has not raised the price from 99 cents (B&N did, but Sony has it at 99 cents, apparently…not that I’ve *ever* made a sale at Sony…but I digress). But you, the reader, benefit with the resultant I GIVE UP! continuation of the low, low price of 99 cents. I have too much else to do to fight with Fate on this one. Besides, if you read the Confessions of a Turtle Mom series, you know that Fate always wins.

As promised, The Ex-Files continues here with chapter seven. You can catch up with the previous chapters by clicking The Ex-Files on the category list to the right.

Remember: this is a raw draft. Comments welcome and valued, even if not used, but I am a stubborn, hard-headed type of writer.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Friday evening came very quickly, it seemed, even though I was as prepared as anyone can be for ex-dating.… Read the rest

Tagged with: brides, chicklit, confessions of a turtle mom, the ex-files, the fairy tale bride, weddings
Posted in #Sample#Sunday, Crazy or Genius?, The Ex-Files

Sample Sunday – The Ex-Files, Chapter 8

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — No Comments ↓

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Okay. Here’s Chapter Eight of The Ex-Files, as promised to my daughter as part of the wedding promotion. I’m posting late because I had to do this one from my notes.

I’ve been married a long time, so my dating and ex-regret experiences are distant memories. I had to do some research to see what kinds of things single women nowadays are regretting about breaking up with Mr. Imperfect. Surprisingly, it is the same kind of thing that we were regretting back in the dark ages, when I was young and single. Go figure.

I’m really interested in hearing what kinds of questions other people would pose to an ex in this situation. If you want to leave a comment, you just might see your question pop up in the book in the future — and see what answer I come up with it, as well.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Henry Kingston

Stockbroker, 35

Top Score: job – 10

Bottom Score: listening – 1

I feigned distress. “You did know I was going to interview you, didn’t you? I was very clear with your secretary.” And then I felt a twinge of real distress. He’d made me communicate through his secretary.… Read the rest

Posted in #Sample#Sunday, My, How This Business Has Changed, My, How This Business Has Not Changed, The Ex-Files

#SampleSunday – The Ex-Files, Chapter Nine

Posted on August 28, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — No Comments ↓

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Okay. Here’s Chapter Nine of The Ex-Files, as promised to my daughter as part of the wedding promotion. I’m posting late because I had to do this one from my notes.

As I wrote this chapter, I tried to think about what it would feel like to revisit an old romance? Would you wonder why you broke up with the jerk? Or would you wonder why you ever dated him in the first place? I think it would probably be a little of both if the relationship was at all serious. But maybe you have a different opinion. If so, please share.

CHAPTER NINE

Henry ignored Nick. I remembered, then, how often he had ignored Nick when we dated. The two of them just never got along. Tough. This was my job, and they’d both have to suck it up.

When Nick raised the camera to capture Henry’s unhappy frown, I moved just enough to ruin the shot. “Carriage ride is out. I have a job to do, and Nick’s part of that. We’re going to the comedy club.” I left Henry and his now puzzled frown behind as I headed for the curb to hail a cab.… Read the rest

Tagged with: #Sample#Sunday, chicklit, dating, free read, Mr. Right, Mr. Wrong, the ex-files
Posted in #Sample#Sunday, Crazy or Genius?, My, How This Business Has Changed, My, How This Business Has Not Changed, The Ex-Files

#SampleSunday: The Ex-Files Recap

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Kelly McClymer — 2 Comments ↓

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Today is a holiday in the States (Labor Day, to celebrate the workers who make the goods that make this country profitable — oh the irony, given the recent push to pay laborers less, and make them work longer for a smaller share of the profits…). As such, I won’t be posting a new chapter of The Ex-Files (next week, though – a worker’s work is never done and I labor for a harsh taskmistress).

For Twitter #SampleSunday on Labor Day, I will make for an easy drive-by reading experience, by posting links to all the chapters, for those who may be just coming to the blog, and for those who may have missed a few.

This is part of the wedding promotion. I promised my daughter I would finish this chicklit novel (begun while she was in Madagascar in the Peace Corps, and mailed to her chapter by chapter…until chicklit died and I turned to writing my YA novel The Salem Witch Tryouts). She is now home, has earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan, and is engaged. So, really, I owe her.

Brief recap of the premise of The Ex-Files: Emily is a young woman with a life plan, who hits thirty without making her milestone of getting married.… Read the rest

Tagged with: chicklit, Mr. Right, Mr. Wrong, the ex-files, wedding
Posted in #Sample#Sunday, Crazy or Genius?, My, How This Business Has Changed, My, How This Business Has Not Changed, The Ex-Files