Welcome to my very first blog post!

For those of you who know me, you are probably asking yourself why on earth I’ve started a blog.  I mean, let’s be honest.  I am a fairly private person with little to no expertise with internet technology.  As my friends at work constantly remind me, I don’t even own a digital camera.  (That’s right, folks, I still buy actual film, wait to finish the roll and then go to the drug store to have it developed.  Despite the delayed gratification, I still believe film cameras take better pictures.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!)

So… the reason for the blog? 

In a nutshell, I am a frustrated writer who is trying desperately to get published.  Actually, that’s not exactly true.  Writing doesn’t frustrate me at all.  I love to write.  What I don’t love is the horrid process of trying to find someone to validate the fact that my writing isn’t crap by publishing my work.  I finished my first novel late last year and have spent most of 2008 sending query letters to agents, receiving rejections (as well as the odd request for more information or sample chapters) and generally pulling my hair out trying to navigate my way through the maze that is the publishing world.

That all changed last night when I spoke with a literary manager based in Los Angeles who took the time to have a long conversation with me.  She provided feedback about my book specifically and insight into the publishing/marketing process in general.  I’ll discuss the phone call in detail in another post, but one of the things I took away was that in this world of instant information, writers can’t just write.  Writers also must market themselves, their work and their ideas.

Thus, my blog…  So, please kick back, relax and keep checking in if you are interested in:

• Following the steps I take on my journey toward becoming a published author;
• Reading my random ramblings on subjects near and dear to my heart (which include all things pop culture with a special concentration on television)
• Watching me fumble around the blog as I try to figure out how to make this work.  (It took me nearly an hour to upload the picture in the header… I’m not kidding about my lack of web skills.)

I would love to hear from anyone who has been through this process and survived, is currently going through the same process and needs a support buddy and/or my friends and family who think I’ve completely lost my mind.

Until my next post,

Laura