Let's see. Here's an easy one. My goal for 2012 is to get published.
Oh, wait. I can't control that. Okay, my goal is to get an agent. Darn. Can't control that one, either.
Well, I guess my resolution will have to be to keep going – keep writing, keep revising and editing, and keep meeting with my critique group.
Not as easy as it sounds. With busy schedules it's hard to get together even once a week with my critique partners. It's hard to convince my spouse I'm not wasting my time because I'm not entirely sure that's true. It's hard to justify the amount of time I'm spending on my writing with no income to show for it.
Typical writer's angst, I suppose. As I write this, I'm reminded of a favorite movie, The Shawshank Redemption. The main character (Andy) tells a fellow inmate that hope is a good thing. His friend responds that hope can drive a man crazy. I have to agree with both of them. Hoping can be exhausting. But to not hope, is to give up.
So, I hereby resolve to continue reading and writing, to keep exploring and learning and, above all, to not chuck it all in the trash and stop trying.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Christmas memories of a child bookworm
I passed my first bell ringer for the Salvation Army yesterday, and last night, I saw several homes in my area already decorated with Christmas lights. So as I pondered what to write today, my thoughts turned to Christmas.
When I was in third or fourth grade, I received one of the best Christmas presents of my life – I got an entire boxed set of Laura Ingalls Wilder books.
I loved these books. By the time I received the set, I’d already read all the books, probably multiple times. But that didn’t matter. The fact that I had my very own collection was a really big deal. The books smelled new and were in perfect condition, and fit together inside a special display box. And I cherished them. They captured my heart and my imagination.
I remember Christmases in the Big Woods with only a peppermint candy stick in a sock stocking for Laura and Mary, and the Christmas that Laura got her rag doll, Charlotte. There was the Christmas on the prairie where Mr. Edwards crossed the swollen creek, and the Christmas when Almanzo braved a blizzard to get home to see Laura. (Probably the first ‘romance’ I ever read!)
Today, the collection is still complete, though the pages of the books show their years with yellowed edges, a few dog-eared. I rarely flip through them anymore, and they didn’t seem to touch my daughter the way they did me, although she, too, has always been an avid reader. These books from my childhood are still part of my library, sitting in a place of honor on my shelves, and I love having them.
Friday, November 11, 2011
woo-hoo
Woo-hoo! Cha-cha-cha. Woo-hoo! Cha-cha-cha!
That's the sound of me doing a little dance. Just completed the "final" edits on my manuscript. It is d-o-n-e. Done!
Now it's time to hit the contests and send the queries. Calling all agents . . .
That's the sound of me doing a little dance. Just completed the "final" edits on my manuscript. It is d-o-n-e. Done!
Now it's time to hit the contests and send the queries. Calling all agents . . .
Sunday, November 6, 2011
what's the rush?
One of my favorite romance authors is Judith McNaught. I was hooked after reading just one of her books – Paradise. Since then, I’ve read many of her novels, and read them many times.
When I began thinking about writing some stories of my own, I went back and read through a few of my old favorites, including a couple by McNaught. It’s funny, but this talented, New York Times bestselling author just might have a hard time if she were starting out today.
I’m guessing she’d be told that her story starts in the wrong place. Not enough action. There’s waaaay too much back story. No body cares. Chop, chop. The pacing is too slow. Get to the point.
In Paradise, the heroine doesn’t even meet the hero until page seventy-six! Copyrighted in 1991, the book is twenty years old. Yes, I get that times have changed. People supposedly have less time to read (never mind that each generation thinks they’re the busiest ever) and won’t tolerate pages that aren’t action-packed from the get-go. Sadly, impatient give-it-to-me-quick readers will miss a few gems.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Critiquing Confusion
Feedback is a good thing. A critique group is a good thing. But too many opinions from multiple sources can be too much of a good thing!
Too much critiquing can, in fact, muddy the water and be more confusing than helpful when you're trying to edit and improve a manuscript. I recently paid to enter a couple of contests in order to get some constructive feedback from other writers. It turned out to be almost a waste of time and money because so many of the judges' comments were in direct conflict with each other. While one judge loved the first couple of lines of my story, the other judge was not impressed. One was unsure of the conflict and where the story was headed, while the other loved the multiple conflicts and thought it might be hard to get everything resolved by the end of the story. One judge gave one of my manuscripts a 5; another gave the same manuscript an 8.5 (on a 1 to 10 scale).
I ended up no further along than I was before entering the contest. Which judge should I believe? I didn't know their background, what kind of books they read or write or whether they were published or unpublished authors.
A critique partner recently had a very similar situation -- so much conflicting feedback, that she simply had to put her manuscript away for a couple of weeks because she was so confused on which direction to go.
So what's a writer to do? When it comes down to it, we decided, you have to like your story. You have to like the flow, the characters, the plot, the scenes, the conversations. Reminds me of a song from a ways back -- You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself.
Truly, there are hundreds of thousands of books out there, and they don't all appeal to the same people equally. Just because one person doesn't "get it" doesn't mean the next person won't love it.
My thinking is that you take the information you get and study it, listen to what makes sense to you and discard the rest. If you get the same response from two or three trusted readers, consider yourself lucky and go with it. It's so fun when both of my critique partners make the same comment about one scene, character, sentence, word, etc. That's when I know I can confidently make a change that strengthens my manuscript. And that's a good thing!
Too much critiquing can, in fact, muddy the water and be more confusing than helpful when you're trying to edit and improve a manuscript. I recently paid to enter a couple of contests in order to get some constructive feedback from other writers. It turned out to be almost a waste of time and money because so many of the judges' comments were in direct conflict with each other. While one judge loved the first couple of lines of my story, the other judge was not impressed. One was unsure of the conflict and where the story was headed, while the other loved the multiple conflicts and thought it might be hard to get everything resolved by the end of the story. One judge gave one of my manuscripts a 5; another gave the same manuscript an 8.5 (on a 1 to 10 scale).
I ended up no further along than I was before entering the contest. Which judge should I believe? I didn't know their background, what kind of books they read or write or whether they were published or unpublished authors.
A critique partner recently had a very similar situation -- so much conflicting feedback, that she simply had to put her manuscript away for a couple of weeks because she was so confused on which direction to go.
So what's a writer to do? When it comes down to it, we decided, you have to like your story. You have to like the flow, the characters, the plot, the scenes, the conversations. Reminds me of a song from a ways back -- You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself.
Truly, there are hundreds of thousands of books out there, and they don't all appeal to the same people equally. Just because one person doesn't "get it" doesn't mean the next person won't love it.
My thinking is that you take the information you get and study it, listen to what makes sense to you and discard the rest. If you get the same response from two or three trusted readers, consider yourself lucky and go with it. It's so fun when both of my critique partners make the same comment about one scene, character, sentence, word, etc. That's when I know I can confidently make a change that strengthens my manuscript. And that's a good thing!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Good news!
And now for a bit of good news . . . I was notified over the weekend that I made it through the first-round judging of a writing contest I entered a couple of months ago! The flash-fiction contest is sponsored quarterly by Women on Writing. I entered two pieces, a middle-grade coming-of-age-type story, and a snipet from my current work in progress, which is a women's novel with romantic elements.
At a maximum count of 750 words, both entries are very short.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure which one is moving on to final judging. But I'm excited for the chance to get my writing in front of agent Elaine Spencer from The Knight Agency. She handles both of those kinds of writing.
It seems that I'm getting just enough little positive tidbits to keep me from trashing everything and giving up on the whole writing/publishing endeavor. Guess I'll take that as a sign to keep plugging away!
At a maximum count of 750 words, both entries are very short.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure which one is moving on to final judging. But I'm excited for the chance to get my writing in front of agent Elaine Spencer from The Knight Agency. She handles both of those kinds of writing.
It seems that I'm getting just enough little positive tidbits to keep me from trashing everything and giving up on the whole writing/publishing endeavor. Guess I'll take that as a sign to keep plugging away!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Critique Group
A critique group! I finally have one – and it's working very well.
Just three people, all serious about getting published, meeting once a week.
The good news is that we seem to be clicking, each of us making progress, and enjoying the process. So far the comments have been valuable, their input helping me see where my manuscript is dragging, what needs cutting or expanding, etc. And so far I don't think anyone's had their feelings hurt. :-)
The bad news is that even though I've almost accomplished my goal of hitting 80,000 words by the end of the month, I still have a lot of work to do! Lots of re-writing and re-thinking. In the end, though, it will be a stronger, more compelling story.
It wasn't easy pulling this together. Had a couple of false starts. Worked with one gal who just couldn't move along as fast as I wanted to. Was invited to join another group, but they rarely met and they read only a few pages at a time – and out loud. I hate that. So finally, I think I have something that's working!
Can't wait to toast success with these ladies. I'm confident we'll each get there eventually!
Just three people, all serious about getting published, meeting once a week.
The good news is that we seem to be clicking, each of us making progress, and enjoying the process. So far the comments have been valuable, their input helping me see where my manuscript is dragging, what needs cutting or expanding, etc. And so far I don't think anyone's had their feelings hurt. :-)
The bad news is that even though I've almost accomplished my goal of hitting 80,000 words by the end of the month, I still have a lot of work to do! Lots of re-writing and re-thinking. In the end, though, it will be a stronger, more compelling story.
It wasn't easy pulling this together. Had a couple of false starts. Worked with one gal who just couldn't move along as fast as I wanted to. Was invited to join another group, but they rarely met and they read only a few pages at a time – and out loud. I hate that. So finally, I think I have something that's working!
Can't wait to toast success with these ladies. I'm confident we'll each get there eventually!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Book Club!
Book Club tonight – at my house! Just finished a major cleaning effort. That's right, for my book club groupies I've actually vacuumed, dusted, scrubbed, wiped, mopped, etc. Took care of the most important thing yesterday – stocked up on a nice chardonnay.
Tonight we're discussing a classic, an old favorite – To Kill a Mockingbird. I haven't gotten around to re-reading it yet. But maybe I can thumb through it quickly this afternoon. I've read it multiple times, and of course, have seen the movie several times also.
What an amazing feat by Harper Lee. Her first book an incredible best-seller.
Tonight we're discussing a classic, an old favorite – To Kill a Mockingbird. I haven't gotten around to re-reading it yet. But maybe I can thumb through it quickly this afternoon. I've read it multiple times, and of course, have seen the movie several times also.
What an amazing feat by Harper Lee. Her first book an incredible best-seller.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
March!!!!
Finally, it's March. There's light at the end of that cold, dark and dreary tunnel known as Winter. I look outside today and still see some snow on the ground. And it's kind of windy. But the sun is shining and the daffodils are sprouting. Before I really get started writing today I may have to walk around the squishy yard and peek at all the beds. That ought to keep me inspired for a scene or two!
Come on, Spring!!
Come on, Spring!!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Ahhhhh
Just got back from having my Valentine massage. It was quite nice. Got a gal with firm, strong hands this time, and she worked me over good. She told me my neck and shoulders were "ridiculously tight," and that I should come back in a couple of weeks. Yeah, right.
I don't know what makes me so tense. Seems like basic life to me.
Amazing how fast an hour of self-indulgent soft music and dim lighting, scented oils and deep massage can fly by. Afterward, I picked up my purse, which seems to weigh a good 2o pounds, got into my car and drove home, and opened my computer. I think I need to go back already.
Sigh. Maybe when I sell a book . . .
I don't know what makes me so tense. Seems like basic life to me.
Amazing how fast an hour of self-indulgent soft music and dim lighting, scented oils and deep massage can fly by. Afterward, I picked up my purse, which seems to weigh a good 2o pounds, got into my car and drove home, and opened my computer. I think I need to go back already.
Sigh. Maybe when I sell a book . . .
Monday, February 21, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Worth every penny
I've already gotten my money's worth out of the online workshop I'm taking this month.
It's all about POV -- going deep, staying in one character's voice and really connecting with characters.
POV is my biggest challenge. So I was very excited this morning to get the instructor's comments back on this week's assignment. I got a "very good," a smiley face, and she said I made her laugh (in a good way). Woo-hoo! I think that equals an A! :-)
Progress, and another positive sign that I can do this!
It's all about POV -- going deep, staying in one character's voice and really connecting with characters.
POV is my biggest challenge. So I was very excited this morning to get the instructor's comments back on this week's assignment. I got a "very good," a smiley face, and she said I made her laugh (in a good way). Woo-hoo! I think that equals an A! :-)
Progress, and another positive sign that I can do this!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Promise of Spring
For the fourth year in a row, my Mother's Day orchid has suddenly sprouted a new shoot. It's very exciting. First, because it means I've actually been able to keep the thing alive for four years. And, second, because it's my first sign that spring is on its way!
It'll take a while, but I'll be able to see almost daily progress. The shoot will get about 18-inches tall and grow 6 to 8 buds that get to be about the size of quarters. Then they'll suddenly pop open into gorgeous bright pink flowers. It's fun to watch the process.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Tea Time
I could possibly be a teaholic. Tea is by far my favorite drink, and I consume a rather large quantity of it. Yesterday, my sister sent me an email to tell me that she's decided to drink more tea, and asked me for a list of my favorites. So, I thought I'd pass it along.
Right now, my favorite caffeinated morning tea is Tropical Green from Harney & Sons. It has a light pineapple flavor to it. I drink a couple of cups of that each morning, particularly on winter mornings. Sometimes I'll also have an Earl Grey, especially if I'm not at home and don't have my own tea bags with me, or don't want to use them. (I generally carry a few in my purse.)
Then, in the afternoon, I usually switch to flavored teas. A couple of favorites are Bigelow's Lemon Green Tea and Blackberry Sage from the Republic of Tea. The Republic has several good ones, including Mango Ceylon and Ginger Peach. The Blackberry Sage is also good as an iced tea.
Ahhhhhh. Iced tea. Nothing better on a warm summer day. Anyone who dines with me on a regular basis knows that iced tea is not iced tea is not iced tea. Iced tea can be ruined. It can, in fact, suck. It has to be fresh. It has to be brewed. Freshly brewed. It cannot be sweetened, and it must have a sufficient amount of ice. I don't know where the food industry got the idea that tea can be a fountain drink. No. Sorry. It can't.
It's interesting how iced tea can vary across the country. When traveling, finding good iced tea often becomes a quest. And, often, a disappointing one. Truly, there are some states in which it simply isn't safe to order an iced tea. It's putrid. One state that gets it is California. Yes, one more thing to like about Sunny California. They know how to make iced tea. Some of the best iced tea I've ever had – with flavors of apricot and passion fruit – has been in California.
Oh, a quick note on flavored tea. Flavored tea is made when there are bits of organic flavoring in the loose tea or tea bag. The flavor is released as the tea is brewed. Let me repeat that – as the tea is brewed. Flavor is not a syrup that is poured into a cup of tea. Ugh.
My very favorite tea for making iced tea was introduced to me several years ago in Colorado. It's called Tropicana from Xanadu. I used to be able to get individual tea bags, but for the last few years, it's only been available as loose leaf. A bit of a pain. But, in this case, worth it. A little goes a long way, so I combine one bag of Tropicana with a couple bags of regular Lipton decaf. Pretty darn yummy.
So now you know why all of the characters (the women, anyway) in my stories tend to prefer tea to pop or coffee. I'm a bit of a tea snob.
Right now, my favorite caffeinated morning tea is Tropical Green from Harney & Sons. It has a light pineapple flavor to it. I drink a couple of cups of that each morning, particularly on winter mornings. Sometimes I'll also have an Earl Grey, especially if I'm not at home and don't have my own tea bags with me, or don't want to use them. (I generally carry a few in my purse.)
Then, in the afternoon, I usually switch to flavored teas. A couple of favorites are Bigelow's Lemon Green Tea and Blackberry Sage from the Republic of Tea. The Republic has several good ones, including Mango Ceylon and Ginger Peach. The Blackberry Sage is also good as an iced tea.
Ahhhhhh. Iced tea. Nothing better on a warm summer day. Anyone who dines with me on a regular basis knows that iced tea is not iced tea is not iced tea. Iced tea can be ruined. It can, in fact, suck. It has to be fresh. It has to be brewed. Freshly brewed. It cannot be sweetened, and it must have a sufficient amount of ice. I don't know where the food industry got the idea that tea can be a fountain drink. No. Sorry. It can't.
It's interesting how iced tea can vary across the country. When traveling, finding good iced tea often becomes a quest. And, often, a disappointing one. Truly, there are some states in which it simply isn't safe to order an iced tea. It's putrid. One state that gets it is California. Yes, one more thing to like about Sunny California. They know how to make iced tea. Some of the best iced tea I've ever had – with flavors of apricot and passion fruit – has been in California.
Oh, a quick note on flavored tea. Flavored tea is made when there are bits of organic flavoring in the loose tea or tea bag. The flavor is released as the tea is brewed. Let me repeat that – as the tea is brewed. Flavor is not a syrup that is poured into a cup of tea. Ugh.
My very favorite tea for making iced tea was introduced to me several years ago in Colorado. It's called Tropicana from Xanadu. I used to be able to get individual tea bags, but for the last few years, it's only been available as loose leaf. A bit of a pain. But, in this case, worth it. A little goes a long way, so I combine one bag of Tropicana with a couple bags of regular Lipton decaf. Pretty darn yummy.
So now you know why all of the characters (the women, anyway) in my stories tend to prefer tea to pop or coffee. I'm a bit of a tea snob.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
A Sunny Day
Ahhh. The blizzard has passed, and today is a deceivingly sunny day. Lots of blue sky out there. The snow is pretty, and it looks nice. But it's bitterly cold, and I have no intention of going out.
One more day to hunker down and ignore the rest of the world!
The choices are hard, though. I could curl up with a book and a cup of tea. Or I could curl up in a sunny spot and take a nap. Either of those would be lovely. Of course, the ideal would be to combine a few of those elements and stretch out in the sun on a beach with a book and a glass of iced tea, or a girly umbrella drink.
But, I digress. Back to the choices at hand – I could watch a movie. Or, I could do online research, or listen to RWA workshop sessions.
Or, yes, I could write. Okay, maybe I'll do some writing, then reward myself with a little time in the sunshine.
One more day to hunker down and ignore the rest of the world!
The choices are hard, though. I could curl up with a book and a cup of tea. Or I could curl up in a sunny spot and take a nap. Either of those would be lovely. Of course, the ideal would be to combine a few of those elements and stretch out in the sun on a beach with a book and a glass of iced tea, or a girly umbrella drink.
But, I digress. Back to the choices at hand – I could watch a movie. Or, I could do online research, or listen to RWA workshop sessions.
Or, yes, I could write. Okay, maybe I'll do some writing, then reward myself with a little time in the sunshine.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Online class
Sharing introductions today for an online workshop that starts this week. Participants are from all over the country. I'm looking forward to this one, and hoping it can help me really get a handle on POV. The class is called "Going Deep: Creating an Unbreakable Connection Between Your Characters and Readers." It's sponsored by LRWA and taught by a published author of several books, Toni Andrews. Should be fun!
Also on this snowy, home-bound day, I had my hubby snap a quick photo, which I will be adding to my profile soon.
Also on this snowy, home-bound day, I had my hubby snap a quick photo, which I will be adding to my profile soon.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Encouraging feedback
Finally! I got some much-needed feedback from an agent! Woo-hoo!!
No, it didn't come with a contract, but it came with some very nice comments and encouragement. I'm very grateful to her for taking the time to actually read my entire manuscript. And then to actually take the time to offer me some helpful, specific advice.
Yes, she pointed out some problems, some of them being simple technical errors that are easily fixed. Others involving craft that aren't quite so easy to fix. But it's enough to keep me going and keep me feeling like I can do this. She liked my voice, my characters, the story. But my favorite line is the one where she declares that I am a writer! :-) Oh, and I really like the part about sending her my next manuscript!
I've printed the email and will keep it close at hand, to be read and re-read whenever I feel discouraged.
No, it didn't come with a contract, but it came with some very nice comments and encouragement. I'm very grateful to her for taking the time to actually read my entire manuscript. And then to actually take the time to offer me some helpful, specific advice.
Yes, she pointed out some problems, some of them being simple technical errors that are easily fixed. Others involving craft that aren't quite so easy to fix. But it's enough to keep me going and keep me feeling like I can do this. She liked my voice, my characters, the story. But my favorite line is the one where she declares that I am a writer! :-) Oh, and I really like the part about sending her my next manuscript!
I've printed the email and will keep it close at hand, to be read and re-read whenever I feel discouraged.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Counting Words
Hit 35,000 words today on my current work in progress. Need to get to at least 80,000. So that means I'm almost half-way. I think that's a significant milestone. It's forward progress, anyway. I've got the basic storyline down and some key scenes. Now it's pulling it all together and filling in the blanks. Probably a couple more months of work ahead. Plugging along . . .
Friday, January 28, 2011
Good News/Bad News
I took another baby step this week toward my goal of becoming a published author. I was notified that I got my official RWA designation as a PRO. That's the good news. It means I'm recognized as a professional writer, someone who's out there pounding the pavement, so to speak (more like getting lost in cyberspace), to actively get something published. It also means that I can attend PRO-only workshops and events at conferences.
The bad news is that it means I've received at least one rejection letter to prove that I'm actually out there trying to sell something. I guess the other good news is that it also proves I have at least finished a manuscript. And that, in itself, is a very big step. A friend in my writing group told me that 99 percent of all author wannabees never actually finish a book!
The bad news is that it means I've received at least one rejection letter to prove that I'm actually out there trying to sell something. I guess the other good news is that it also proves I have at least finished a manuscript. And that, in itself, is a very big step. A friend in my writing group told me that 99 percent of all author wannabees never actually finish a book!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Save Borders
I'm so disappointed that Borders is still struggling financially and talking about closing stores. Yes, Amazon is great. Barne's & Noble is nice. And I admit I shop the Half Price Bookstore. But I love Borders. I like the open atmosphere. It's so browse-able. And I can almost always find what I'm looking for. Hopefully, their internal restructuring will do the trick. But, we can help. Let's save Borders! I'm buying my next book there!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Up & Running
Hello, and welcome to my new blog!
I'm told a writer has to have a blog these days. So, I'm blogging, though I'm not sure exactly what I want to say or how I want to use this space, or whether anyone out there will care!
I write under several different pen names because I write in several different genres – so far those include children's, romance, women's lit, and nonfiction.
I've been writing in newspaper and corporate communications for years, but I'm just launching my career as an aspiring fiction author. I've been busy searching online sites and learning about the business. I've joined a writing group and writing organizations. I'm blogging, taking online workshops, and listening to recorded sessions from the RWA national convention, entering contests – oh, and trying to fit in a little writing as well!
Would love to have you "follow" me on my journey!
I'm told a writer has to have a blog these days. So, I'm blogging, though I'm not sure exactly what I want to say or how I want to use this space, or whether anyone out there will care!
I write under several different pen names because I write in several different genres – so far those include children's, romance, women's lit, and nonfiction.
I've been writing in newspaper and corporate communications for years, but I'm just launching my career as an aspiring fiction author. I've been busy searching online sites and learning about the business. I've joined a writing group and writing organizations. I'm blogging, taking online workshops, and listening to recorded sessions from the RWA national convention, entering contests – oh, and trying to fit in a little writing as well!
Would love to have you "follow" me on my journey!
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