Rappelling Down Toronto City Hall -- Definition of Insanity

I wrote the post below before the grand rappelling adenture...

Unfortunately, I forgot to post it. Now, it's a bit anti-climactic, but I figured I would stick it up anyways, so you could see how I was thinking at the time.

So, it suddenly occurred to me that I might be insane.

Why is this?

As many of you know -- On June 3, 2010, Karina Sumner-Smith and I started fundraising for Right to Play as part of City Chase. Thanks to the wonderful support of friends, family, and complete strangers, we've raised over $2,600 -- more than our target.

Our reward: an opportunity to rappel down City Hall here in Toronto. Talk about the chance of a lifetime. Seriously. I'd never walk by the building again without thinking about it.

The thing is… I've been on vacation for the past two weeks. For the first time since our fundraising efforts began, I came into my office on the 23rd floor of an office building. During a meeting with my boss, I happened to glance out her window (because I don't have one).

You know what I suddenly realized? 23 floors is pretty high up. I mean…VERY HIGH.

City Hall, of course, is 28 storeys tall. I've written this number for the past two weeks without thinking about it. Yesterday, ksumnersmith and I even went to City Hall and stared it down (looking up from the ground).

Sitting up here on the 23rd floor of a building, I'm now getting the downward view.

We're insane. No question in my mind.

Whatever possessed me to want to do this? I mean, really? Okay -- that's a rhetorical question. I know exactly what possessed me.

When an idea comes into my head to do something new -- I tend to jump at the opportunity:

Do I want to spend a year in Japan? Sure.
Do I want to enter City Chase? Sure.
Do I want to go to Hawaii for 5 weeks to write a book? Sure.
Do I want to try and raise $2,500 in donations so we can rappel down City Hall? Sure.

You get the idea.

If I have the time to do something (and the money), I usually convince myself to try.

Aside: Yes, there are lots of exceptions…Do I want to go parachuting? Heck no. Bungee jumping? Never. Do I want to write another story about cats? You couldn't pay me enough.

I kind of didn't think about the actual rappelling down a giant building part of the question of whether I wanted to try and raise $2,500 in 10 days as part of City Chase. I just saw an interesting -- once in a lifetime -- opportunity and said …YES.

Me…the person who can barely climb a ladder. Who has never been on a real roller coaster. Me.

Insane? Heck yes.

Chance to Rappel Down Toronto's City Hall - But there's a catch‏

Yes -- a post not about writing. crazy, huh? No, what's crazy is why I am posting.

Some of you likely know that I participated in City Chase last year with my friend ksumnersmith . Well, this year -- we are doing it again. But this City Chase is going to be like no other. Because this year, teams are getting a chance to make a 28-storey rappel off Toronto City Hall (talk about the chance of a lifetime)...except there's a catch.

To do the rappel, we have to raise $2,500 for charity organization Right to Play -- before Tuesday, June 15th at 12 PM.

Impossible? Yes, maybe (probably) -- but that's not going to stop us from trying!!

I hope you'll consider taking a look at my profile page or our team page (Writers With Day Jobs), and making a donation.

Team Fundraising Page

My Fundraising Page

Every little bit helps. Currently, we are 17% of the way to our goal (not bad for one day of fundraising). If you can't contribute yourself, I hope you'll consider mentioning this to anyone you think might be interested.

Thank you!

Out into the World

My first round of queries went out today for my novel.

The best thing I could have done was plan to submit the queries on the day I left for a trip...after all, now I have other things to worry about besides the resulting rejections (or requests for pages -- you never know).

I am going to be online throughout the trip, so on the off chance I hear back from anyone, I can respond. Although to be honest, I doubt I'll start hearing back for a few weeks yet. So, I can go enjoy Las Vegas without any worries at all. I plan to do all sorts of exciting things beyond my friend's birthday party. Tomorrow, for instance, I'll be headed to the Grand Canyon. I've always wanted to go back.

On the writing front, my attention will shortly move from the book to the screenplay. My goal is to have that drafted by mid-July.

Jana (Never one to be bored)

Busy, Busy

Nothing like being busy to remind me how interesting life can be...fortunately all to the good.

Book Update

The final draft of the book is underway, complete with edits as my third round readers get back to me. So far, all comments have been really positive or very minor (i.e., line edits). No major issues identified to date.

I am currently investigating other options for a title, because pretty much every reader I’ve had agrees that the current one doesn’t fit what the book is now (The original version of Summer of Flight was initiated in 2005 – and included a roller coaster accident).

My current front runner titles are A Breath of Air or A Rustle of Wind, the latter of which is very close to a friend’s short story title that I’ve always loved (Hi Ruth!). Not sure either of these fit better. Maybe I'll leave it as is and see what happens.

Query Letter Update

I had to go back to the drawing board for the two paragraph summary (to go in my query letter). Apparently my version didn’t cut it. I kind of expected this – which is why I am glad I have twenty more days to work on it. A friend took the new version I came up with and actually made it good. It's a bit long, but hopefully I can edit it down without loosing the awesomeness.

Synopsis Update

I have one page of my synopsis done (courtesy of my grant application way back when). Next, I have to write the second half. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to writing it. ::laugh::

Television Show Pitch Update

This morning, I finished my last three television show pitches – this time for family dramas with a specific twist. Technically there are only two pitches – but one has two versions (a mainstream audience version and a speculative audience version). If you recall, I was asked to write concepts for a show I would watch. It was kind of fun, actually, trying to figure out what kind of show would make me tune in every week. I think these ones would.

Needless to say, I believe these are my best ideas yet - probably because of the vested interest. Mind you, I also think these are going to be the hardest to win support for - so I don't have my hopes up too high. At least I won't have long to wait to see if the development company is interested. Apparently, there's a meeting tomorrow to discuss them. So, if it's a "not quite right" (which I wouldn't at all be surprised by) I'll know by then.

Goodness, I love the speed of their decisions. No time to even be worried.

I’ll let you know what happens.

Well, that was a Surprise

The completion of Draft #3 that is. It was supposed to take me to the end of next weekend. I thought I'd need to do a fair bit of re-work to address feedback on my second-to-last chapter.

No, I just needed to not to be dumb. In other words, I needed to put in the real reason for why X occurred...which just happens to link to the whole giant story arc.

Funny how that works.

So, Summer of Flight has the right ending, two characters that I had made "not themselves" are back to being who they were supposed to be...and I can go about being a surprised, yet happy, writer.

Draft 3 Word Count? 78,823.

Edited to add: Wow. Amazing what words I use way too much. I just did a search for "At Least" and "Even." These two must join "just" on my list of overused (way too much) words.

Quick Update

May 1st.

Considering June 1st is my (personal) deadline for getting the book out to my first round of Agents - I had better get to work. Not too much time to blog.

Did I mention I have to take five people for High Tea if I miss the deadline? Yikes. Talk about incentive. Mind you, I won't send it out unless I am ready...but still, that would be a painful penalty! On the positive side, if I do get it out the door, I am the one who will be taken out. Much nicer option.

Currently working on Draft 3. Most changes at this point are finicky - to address points of confusion, etc. Last weekend I did have some real fun when I added a thousand words just beyond "X" in order to build a relationship up a bit more. Nice to have something fun and easy to do.

Today it's back to the more challenging bits. Those are fun to address too - just in different ways.

Other things...I've pretty much given up hope on the television pitch going anywhere. That's okay. Like I said, I've learned a lot from the whole process -- more so than most new writers in the field. And, seeing as I knew zilch about TV going in, I can't really complain. I now am that much farther ahead for next time.

I have been asked to write another pitch...this time, for a show I'd never want to miss. This is kind of fun, because it'll be like writing for an anthology. I'll create something just for me. I figure it'll be the most fun to write yet, if the least likely to go anywhere. ::chuckle:: To a degree, it's a blank slate with a theme.

This new pitch also needs to get done before the end of next weekend. Yea! Nothing like multiple deadlines to make me work harder.

So -- looks like I am in for a busy few weeks. I'll let you know how it goes!

Where I've Been, What I am Doing

I had a lovely time at Ad Astra. Met some interesting new people, saw some folks I know but never see often enough, and spoke about all sorts of interesting things…like taxes for writers. ::cough::

Overall, a very productive convention.

Right before I left for the convention, I received comments on my second draft from someone whose opinion really matters to me. I admit to having been terrified while I waited – hoping this person wouldn’t say it was dreadful.

Instead, it sounds like this person liked it. Sure there were suggested edits – but nothing really crazy (yea!).

My favourite part of the comments? Having my book called “exquisite and entrancing.”

::smile:: That compliment will carry me through many a month of wondering when I do get this out to agents (Yes, I am still on track for end of May).

Speaking of which, I’ve been making a list of good YA agents, and then ranking them according to personal preference.

I’ve been reading blogs and documenting contact information, submission requirements, and the like.

It’s been very interesting to learn about all the slight differences that make individual lives easier. As someone who is finicky about formatting, I am more than happy to oblige by giving each agent what they ask for.

But still – definitely no standards in terms of preferences. From 3 pages to 3 chapters, Times New Roman to Arial (Yuck), email to hard copy, synopsis or no synopsis…its all over the map.

Once draft three is done, I’ll be starting to develop my submission packages. I can already see that will be fun!