Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Wearing The Tiara...

I have many flaws, but the thing my husband says he wishes he could change most is that I tend to brush off successes in the overall push for perfection. And since perfection isn’t possible, I always feel like I’m failing. I have trouble appreciating my accomplishments, and usually say something silly like “Yes, but I still have to do X and Y before I can get to Z.” I never just enjoy the moment.

So, one of the things I’m working on is to celebrate little victories.

To that end, I will tell you about “The Tiara”. Early on in my critique group, we decided that we should do something to reward our milestones on the path to publication. We were all pretty new to the craft, so we decided we would celebrate all manner of things: first novel completion, contest finals, requests, first submissions, etc.,--all the way up first and subsequent sales.

So, off to Walgreen’s I went, and purchased the $3.98 plastic princess tiara with matching jewelry set and a bunch of big fat stuffed plush roses (it was around Valentines Day, so there were plenty of romance type things to choose from—a great time to buy things for promotions, btw).



Whenever a member hits a writing related achievement, she gets to wear The Tiara all through critique group. We make cards, take pictures…it’s great fun. We’ve celebrated some fabulous triumphs, most recently Fran Abram’s 2009 Emily final (with request for a full) and Katy Madison’s 2-book contract with Avon.

A couple of weeks ago, I learned that my manuscript, “Sweet Enemy”, is a finalist in the SpacecoasT Authors of Romance’s “Launching a Star” contest. I was very excited when I got the call, as I’d been beating myself up about my writing for a few weeks. Soon, however, my exhilaration wore off, and I started the “Yes, buts”. I won’t bore you with all of my negative self-talk, but I did subject my poor critique group to it and let me tell you, I got a lovely but firm e-mail butt-kicking from my friend (and fabulous author) Katy Madison. I’ll spare you that, too , but in a nutshell she told me to BE HAPPY. And she signed off with:

“And you are absolutely wearing The Tiara”.

So, here I am, wearing The Tiara.



Sunday night, I found out that “Sweet Enemy” is also a finalist in the Romance Writers Ink’s “Where the Magic Begins” contest. I am over the moon (cliché, I know!). It looks like I’ll be wearing The Tiara again on Wednesday. (Don’t worry...no more pics).

It is an honor to be among the incredibly talented finalists in the historical categories of “Launching a Star” and “Where the Magic Begins”. Therefore I am going to celebrate it and leave my “Yes, buts” behind.

So, let’s use this comment section as The Virtual Tiara…go ahead, toot your horns! I want to hear any and all tiara worthy things you’ve accomplished of late…

21 comments:

  1. There should be a wave and some gaudy doorknob on the hand that waves!

    You should be proud of yourself toots! You deserve it.

    gj

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  2. Life is too short .. NOT to celebrate the little things. It is important to just BE STILL, and savor the moment. Take your mental picture and then worry about Z.

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  3. I have told you before that you're a very good writer. Don't be so hard on yourself, Heather.

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  4. That is awesome Heather! Good job with the final's and request! When I see you next year in the check in line in Nashville, we'll both be getting our pink first sale ribbons!

    Cheryl Smith

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  5. YAY!! Congrats on finaling in TWO contests. How happy I am for you. I love Katy's advice, "Be happy."

    Those are some tough competitions too (I know; I've entered one!), so that even doubles your accomplishments. Can't wait to hear more Tiara-wearing news in the future!

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  6. First let me offer my Congratulation. Now let me say how I'm going to start celebrating when I finish each my novels thanks to your advice.
    All the very best and continued success.

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  7. Way to go Heather - Tiara queen extraordinaire!! Congrats on your finals and gold stars earned on all your hard work on your blog and website. I'm rooting you on!
    Cheers ~~ Mary B

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  8. Gretchen ~

    Great to see you! I'm thinking this calls for firing up the gas powered margarita maker...

    H

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  9. CC ~

    So true! Thanks for stopping by.

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  10. Sandy~

    You're always so encouraging. Thank you.

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  11. Cheryl ~

    How awesome to see you! And congrats on your first sale. I can't wait to see "Matching the Courtesan's" in the bookstore! I will be one of the first in line.

    See you in Nashville.
    H

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  12. RQL ~

    Thanks for the nice comment, and welcome from Canada! I'm glad to hear you'll be celebrating. Make sure to let me know so I can celebrate with you!

    H

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  13. Mary~

    How nice to see you! Thanks for stopping by. Hopefully, I will be yet another "Power Plotting" success story...

    H

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  14. Way to go, Princess :) I'm so happy for you!

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  15. Hi Heather, congrats on your finals!!! I hope you're still wearing the tiara! cheers,

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  16. Hi Claire and Nancy! How lovely to see two of my fav authors drop by!

    Thanks so much. My 18 month old LOVES the tiara, so I had to wear it around all day yesterday (a fact which my hubby found quite hilarious when he got home from work yesterday).

    I'm glad you both stopped by!

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  17. Two weeks in a row wearing the tiara, you go girl!!! The tiara is so much fun. I look forward to all us wearing it again and again.

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  18. Yay! Katy is in the house! Good to see you...and I agree. Long live the tiara!

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  19. Well...YEA!!!!
    Good luck with both contests and keep writing!

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  20. Good luck and congrats. That tiara is very becoming. Sometimes the "yea, but" thing is a woman thing. I also do it, and so do my friends. Why is that? We are smart intelligent women. It must be generations of repression or something.
    Bask in the glow girlie!

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