One of my critique partners is moving across the country this weekend.

This is a big, jarring bump in the road. But there's the internet. And three way phones, and all sorts of other ways he can still participate in the group. Still. He also happens to be my brother and best friend. The good news is he'll be back after a year.

Today I got the latest critique of my query letter from a real live published author. There are some edits to make. Then in about a week or so, this will get interesting. I'm one of those people who have absolutely nada connections with anyone in the publishing world. I keep hoping I'll run into this SF agent that I'm going to query. Hey, there's only a hundred miles between us. It could happen.

Writers Tip: Read a book by Kem Nunn.

It's been over a year. I know. But seriously, this road to publication is long and boring--are you familiar with that stretch of the 5 between SF and LA? It's kind of like that. Once in a while you'll come across a neon oasis on the side of the highway and think, I could use a milkshake. That is, if you can get over the smell of Harris Ranch. My brother calls it Cowschwitz.

I could've spent the last year ranting and raving about the ups and downs of writing in this thing, but then I would've lost that time to writing my book. And now I've finished. Hit page 391. Wrote the query and synopsis. Prepared for that stop in Rejection City. No, it's not a lack of confidence in the writing. I've done this before, and it's just one of those unavoidable things. Think pit stops.

This is where the road gets bumpy.

Writers Tip: Don't blog. Write.