Greetings

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Delaware, United States
Deborah Hawkins, penned Debra Renée Byrd, began writing after a blank book project in elementary school and never stopped, fashioning stories based on her favorite TV shows and movies before creating more original works. She studied at the University of the Arts and Florida State University before settling down and graduating from Temple University. She now resides in her hometown of Dover, DE, where she spends most of her time at work or at church. She loves fantasies, superheroes, is a trekkie and a brown coat. She loves television and lives for Final Fantasy video games, having collected most of them. She has read a myriad of authors, and her favorite authors change whenever she finds a new book that changes her life... "When you can't run, you crawl. When you can't crawl...well, you know the rest." -Tracey, Firefly, "The Message"

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Wednesday, August 5, 2015

IWSG: Changes



Happy...whoa, *ctrl+B* Happy August! lol Welcome back to the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by the blogfather himself, Alex J. Cavanaugh.

I went through a few changes for my blog and myself while on my 2-month blogosphere hiatus, and I think it will help refresh my writing energy and query trials.

Blog Schedule. While I was on my hiatus, I returned to express my desire to change my schedule, so I did. After 1st Wednesdays, I'll only be blogging twice a week. This will help me free up some more time for writing and revisions.

Pen Name. You may have noticed (maybe not lol) that my real name is sitting up in that little space by my face now, because I wanted to change my pen name. Partially because I feel like Debra McKellan no longer fits me, despite the awesome reason I chose it in the first place. Partially because I picked it for reasons of neutrality (just like when women writers choose initials because it comes off less female), but in the world of We Need Diverse Books (and all its various social media) and Write Inclusively, I decided I need to be me sans any inclination that I'm someone I'm not.

There's not much about my birth name I'm cool with, to be honest, but nothing else really fits. On Twitter, I expressed that I may just go with my first and middle name (Debra Renée) and went on a spiel from there. Even wrote out my signature to see if I like it (I love it). So, I believe that will be it. Of course, now when I list publications, I'll have to say "Origin" was published under Debra McKellan, but well, I believe other people have done that before. Blah. Still stoked that it was published.

An Opening that Hooks an Agent. I expressed just yesterday that I planned on adding a new scene to my opening. I basically added a whole new chapter from bits I mention later in the story and a short prequel that may or may not ever see daylight. I'm hoping this new opening will wow more than my previous opening so I can stop getting depressed when I check my inbox. Two agents I was pretty nervous about querying and finally did passed. That hurts.

It is now midnight, and I said I would be going to bed 2 hours ago. Fail. Have a happy IWSG Day!

10 comments:

Mark Koopmans said...

Hey Deborah:)

I know a couple of Hawkins in my life - and both are *wonderful* people, so for whatever it's worth, Hawkins is cool (but Renee works, too.... I'm *no* help, am I !! :)

PS... I'm glad you explained the name change, because I *did* notice, and I was naturally curious :)

Have a great IWSG day - and a better week :)

Misha Gerrick said...

I think it's a great idea to change your pen name if the new one stands for something to you.

All the best with your writing. And thanks for supporting my books on Goodreads. :-)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Just be yourself! I like your real name.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Sometimes we really need a break in order to come back re-energized and ready to go! :)

Nancy Gideon said...

Deborah, I can relate to the 'name game' having to write under 3 pseudonyms before using my own name. It is an identity thing! Don't let the setbacks set you back!

Chrys Fey said...

Debra Renee sounds really pretty and I like how it looks. :)

Huntress said...

I don't think I'll ever get immune to rejection in any form. Hardened, maybe but immune. Nope.

Love your picture, btw. And your blog title. But...any sentence containing the word "mage" gets my attention, LOL

Debra Renée Byrd said...

Thank you. :D

Debra Renée Byrd said...

Teehee Thanks!

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
Welcome back and good luck with getting an agent for your books. I know it hurts to get rejections. I can't count the ones I've received so far, but don't give up. Hang in there and keep revising your query until you know that's it and someone will say yes, because you've wowed them.
Shalom,
Pat Garcia