Monday, June 13, 2011

CONTEST! Truth or Big Fat Lie? AKA, Editorial Letters and Riding Cows

I received my editorial letter for IN A FIX from the uber-fantastic Melissa Frain (@frain on Twitter), and it was brimming kind words and wonderful suggestions. Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, like I'd just downed a cup of cocoa with a slug of Kahlua in it.

Honestly, the woman is a genius at pointing out the sucky parts of a book without making you feel like they were sucky at all, only that perhaps there are ways to make those parts even more brilliant than they already are. I told her that if she were a doctor, she'd be the kind who gave shots her patients couldn't even feel. Yes, she is that good.

Huh. One would almost think she has experience in dealing with writers and their notoriously fragile egos. *grin*

But, since it appears there is room for improvement in my manuscript (shocking, I know), I will be quite busy for the next few weeks. Posts here may be a bit scarcer, or at least shorter.

(Hey! *glares suspiciously* Is that applause I hear? Cut that out!)

So, I think this week we should play TRUTH OR BIG FAT LIE?  

Here's how it works: I will state a "fact" about myself. Something I haven't shared here before. And you get to decide whether I'm telling you the truth or just yanking your chain.

At the end of the week*, whoever has the most right answers will win one of my famous dumb and/or valueless prizes (to be determined later). In case of a tie, winner will be determined by random (silly) drawing.

Okay, Monday's "Fact":

I once had to ride a cow because all the horses where I took horseback-riding lessons were taken by the kids who got there on time.




* My, isn't that a cagey way to make you come back and leave a comment on my Wednesday and Friday posts, too? Yeah, I'm sneaky like that. But, come on--my dumb and/or valueless prizes are totally worth it. You know you want to play. So, TRUTH? Or BIG FAT LIE? You decide.

29 comments:

muffintopmommy said...

Truth. Only you could ride a cow, my dear. And if I had to guess, I'd say you laughed and loved it.

Ding, ding, ding, is that the sound of the winning bell I hear?

Good luck with your edits! We'll try to be quiet while you're working...shhhhh....

muffintopmommy said...

Truth. Only you could ride a cow, my dear. And if I had to guess, I'd say you laughed and loved it.

Ding, ding, ding, is that the sound of the winning bell I hear?

Good luck with your edits! We'll try to be quiet while you're working...shhhhh....

Summer Frey said...

I'm going with BIG FAT LIE! Even though I'm sure you've ridden a cow, I doubt it was at horseback riding lessons! I've ridden one too. Not very fun!

Anne Gallagher said...

I would have to say it wasn't a cow but a donkey/burro/zeedonk/ass/mule kind of creature. I can fully see you on a cow, but I think a burro is a much better picture in my mind. Especially if it had a pink stripe down its mane.

Steve Clayworth said...

Truthiness.

http://www.kountrylife.com/gallery/8671.jpg

Linda G. said...

Thank you, entrants so far! Steve, I feel the need to point out that is NOT me in the pic you linked to, lest anyone take that as proof truthiness. ;)

Unknown said...

I'd say its a bit of both. I have no doubt you've ridden yourself a cow, but im sure it wasnt at a horseback riding lesson...you probs did it on a dare or something

also: you late? unless you were busy with mr craig, I seriously doubt that :)

abby mumford said...

a lie!

they'd have kids share horses before saddling up a cow.

i have no doubt that you've gone cow tipping though..... :)

Dawn@Lighten Up! said...

Oh come on. I am 3-4000 miles away from you, and I know this one's true.
PS: Happy Working! Write on!!

Jennifer Shirk said...

Good luck with your edits!!

I'm going to say... BIG FAT LIE. :)

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Trisha Leigh said...

I say truth, because yeah. I can totally see that happening to you.

Kristina said...

Lie. The times you've ridden a cow were, ahem, how shall I say...at a different "camp". ;p

Michele Shaw said...

I'm going with lie. It's just crazy enough to be part of your childhood, yet there's the ol reverse psychology to consider;) Yes, you are a sneaky one;P (which is why I like you so much)

Elizabeth Barry said...

Nothing to add to the fact or lie contest, but I'm still laughing my butt off!

Glad I stumbled across your blog. Love your sense of humor! I can't wait to read more :)

Kimberly Sabatini said...

Gah! I'm torn....yes, no, ye, no...okay it's the truth! Right?

Favorite line of the post...

"(Hey! *glares suspiciously* Is that applause I hear? Cut that out!)"

Funny Girl on a cow!

Sarah Tokeley said...

I'm going to say it's a lie but I so want it to be true :)

Unknown said...

YAY! I'm glad you liked your editorial letter! :D

And TRUTH!! Totally. Just because I once rode a cow when I was little. So I can picture it ;)

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I'd have to say big fat lie. If it were true, I think you would've mentioned it on my blog when I wrote about the gal riding the cow.

Linda G. said...

Thanks for all those conjectures! Keep 'em coming! :)

Susan -- Would I? Or was I perhaps sneaky enough to keep my lips buttoned, in keeping with my own future blog post? Hmmmm. Guess we'll have to see... ;)

Dianne K. Salerni said...

I LOVE editorial letters! I LOVE revision in general, but being pointed in the right direction is a big help. ;)

And TRUTH. I can SO see the riding stable sticking the late kid on a cow.

Steph Schmidt said...

Liar Liar martini on fire!

I'd expect a stable to stick the late kid on a bale of hay with a saddle on top. Assuming the bales are square of course in your neck of the woods. I hear they come in round version too.

Nancy Kelley said...

(My, aren't you the sneaky one, getting us all to comment every day! Takes note for future blog events)

I'm voting truth. Of all the blog people I know, you win Most Likely to Have Ridden a Cow. I'm not sure what kind of award that is, but it's yours.

A Novel Woman said...

I'd say this one was a big fib. Or maybe the truth. Or an outright lie. My sister, my mother, my sister, my mother....

Truth-ish. I think maybe they punished you by making you ride a cow.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I bet you this is truth. And what nice words about your editor! She sounds wonderful.

COLM O'RIAIN said...

true because you have been leaving little cow pats of humour (as per Jack and the Beanstalk before you) on your Visiting Reality Blog ever since! Case of 'Bean' there, done that I guess!

NotJana said...

Lie :)
I figure you've come across the story about German girl who trained her cow for show jumping because her parents could afford/wouldn't get her a horse. Then again, it also means it has been done before (or after) so it's not completely out of the blue ... but I stick with LIE

Kelly Breakey said...

True...and if it's not you should always say it is so you can so tres chic.

Unknown said...

I say that's the truth -- and I'm cracking up picturing it! (This happened when you were a young girl, right?) :D