Adventures in Writing

Speed bumps

As March 2011 wound down, I was 33K into my WIP and loving it.  I'd managed the balancing act of keeping my family life in check, whilst pounding out 30,000 words in under 5 weeks.  All was going along swimmingly.  I was in a very Zen place.  

Cue the ominous music.  
Speed bump #1.  THE MOVE:  My husband and I decide to move.  No, not to another county (it was a possibility), but rather, 20 miles away to another part of Houston, hoping to cut my husband's commute time by 1/2.

Speed bump #2.  THE MOVE PREP:  As it often does, #1 brings #2 along for the ride.  Preparing to list a house is hard work.  That long honey-do list that waits so patiently suddenly can't wait another second.

Speed bump #3.  THE BREAK:  I discover that I'm far more clumsy then I'd ever imagined.  Through a series of laughable and slightly mundane actions, I break my leg while I am in the midst of hanging curtains for the upcoming listing.

Speed bump # 4.  THE SEARCH:  Because I'm kinda crazy, I decide to list my house anyway, broken leg and all, and consequently spend the whole of April searching out a new house while on crutches.  (Just for reference sake, I don't recommend this option.  With my absurd lack of coordination, stairs on crutches is just asking for a full-body cast––this leaves me only one way up and down:  the bum-scoot.  Again, not recommended, people.) 

Speed bump #5.  THE SHOWINGS:  Maintaining a clean house in the best of times is difficult.  Keeping the house immaculate for showings with three active boys and a very heavy cast on my right leg (which by the way, prohibits driving) is near impossible.  I get overwhelmed just thinking about it, so let's just say it's been a tad busy 'round these parts.

So, now May has dawned.  I've successfully found a new home.  I've navigated the listing, the showings and in 13 long days from now, I will get this blasted thing off my leg.  I have made progress, but just not on my WIP.  At all.  Not one word since March 31st.  

It bothers me, like that horrible itch under my cast that I can not reach.  I hear my characters' toe-tapping impatience in my head.  I just keep telling myself (and them) that life has forced me into a series of speed bumps, so steady as she goes, slow but sure, and all of that, but man, am I anxious for the open road again.  

My current thoughts of inspiration

Having begun the journey of writing a novel again after taking a break, I thought I had all the inspiration that I required but after finding myself whiling away several hours on agent research, I realized I needed a kick in the pants.  Let's be real, people.  My WIP wasn't even finished.  I needed to work and work and then work some more before I even thought about what agent to query.  It was a stupid bit of self-indulgence.  I came across this quote and it spoke loudly of just how indulgent I was behaving.  

"Writing has nothing to do with publishing. Nothing. People get totally confused about that. You write because you have to - you write because you can’t not write. The rest is show-business. I can’t state that too strongly. Just write - worry about the rest of it later, if you worry at all. What matters is what happens to you while you’re writing the story, the poem, the play. The rest is show-business."

-Peter S. Beagle

I need to keep this in the forefront of my mind.  If I write what is beating down the door in my imagination, the rest will come.  Maybe I'll never be published, but I know that every day I write, is a day that I feel something real.  

Be a Warrior and then...hey, where'd you go?

That video clip featuring Ira Glass was the last thing I wrote.  Or so it seemed.  The message was meant to inspire but it had exactly the opposite effect on me.  "Keep plugging away.  Be a Warrior," it said but I got a little lost.  

My then-current WIP was out on submissions.  I had two fulls and a request for an exclusive full, which I couldn't fulfill until the other two agents got back.  One did so rather quickly with a 'no' and the other languished in no-man's land.   I didn't do much better.  I didn't start anything new even though I had intentions to do so.  I stopped reading my writing blogs.  I didn't beta for anyone.  And I didn't write.  At all.  

I quilted.  i redecorated a bathroom.  I mothered.  I celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and finally Valentine's day and still, I didn't write.  

I felt zapped and overwhelmed.  I felt defeated.  At some point I nudged the agent that still held my full and got nothing.  It had been too long to hold out hope, so I considered it a 'no'.  I could have sent the full to the agent asking for an exclusive, but I didn't.  I just did nothing.  Why?

Honestly, I think I just needed to assess what was important.  i loved writing but when I write, I lose myself in the story.  it eats up all of my extra time and some time that isn't extra.  I needed balance.

Here's the sunshine in all the doom and gloom.  I think I've found some balance.  I am writing again.  I try to write a little every day but the majority of my writing is done on Tuesdays and Thursdays when my youngest is at preschool.  If I don't write much on the other days, I let that be okay.  I still have a life outside of writing.  I enjoy my family time without looking longingly at the laptop.  Maybe to some that sounds like I've lost my fire, but I think the opposite is true.  

Before, I burned bright and fast and went out just as quickly.  Now, I hope to sustain a long glowing fire indefinitely, sustained, not distracted by my family and life outside of writing.  

Balance, people.  It has saved me from myself.  

What works for you?  How do you keep your writing fire burning bright?

 

"Be fierce. Be a Warrior." Ira Glass

Great interview from Ira Glass, of "This American Life" on overcoming doubt and becoming great with whatever creative outlet you seek.  I found it to be very inspiring.  Enjoy and thanks to Stephanie Perkins for posting.

I won!

 Okay, so I didn't actually win first place.  I got third place, but still that's saying something, right?  About a week ago, one of the author blogs that I follow posted a contest to help title her newst manuscript.  Here's what she wrote about the third (that's me!!), second and first place titles:  

"Third Place THE ASSASSINATION OF MARVIN HERMES by Diana. Love this title. Really love this title. But if anybody’s name is going to be in the title, I’d rather it were Seth’s.

Second Place FEED DEAF by Too Cute (Penelope Wright), which I am taking the liberty of changing to STREAM DEAF. I didn’t mention it before, but sometime between now and when I first set up this contest, I actually came up with two titles I really liked. STREAM DEAF was one of them, so when Honey Bear read this one off, I just about snorted my ice water. I figured it was a sign:)

First Place WHOSE TEETH ARE AS SWORDS by Ben Spendlove. I honestly couldn’t decide between STREAM DEAF and WHOSE TEETH ARE AS SWORDS, but I decided to give WHOSE TEETH the win because it was the one title I couldn’t get out of my head. The phrase comes from a scripture in Proverbs (Proverbs 30:14), and that verse couldn’t be more applicable to Bob."

I have to say, I can see why she picked the first place title.  It has a certain feel or texture.  I like it a lot.  Good luck Krista with BOB, I mean WHOSE TEETH ARE AS SWORDS.

Well Said

I'm probably opening myself up to a whole lot of hate mail from either side of this issue, but I just have to put in my two cents.  The Twilight Series.  It's funny to me how polarizing this specific series of books has become. I will freely admit that I've read it and liked the series overall.  There is something about the pacing and the escapism that I really enjoyed, plus I'm a real sucker for love triangles––what can I say?  However, I wouldn't call Twilight literature. 

  The interesting part was that as the phenomenon grew to a fevered pitch there arose a choice--you either had to love it or hate it.  There was no room for appreciating the book for what it was.  Either it was total crap or the greatest thing ever written.   

When I read this post by Nathan Bransford about the Writing vs. Storytelling, I almost stood up from the computer to say 'Amen'.  

"What I meant by last week's post is not that every popular book is written phenomenally well, but a popular book is doing SOMETHING very well, and it's far more valuable to try to pinpoint what that writer is succeeding at rather than simply dismissing a book as being horribly written just because you don't like it or just because the prose isn't top notch.

It might be the suspense, it might be the tension, it might be the pacing, it might be the setting, it might be the characters, or even more likely a combination of several different elements. But if a book is phenomenally popular, something is working that is attracting readers, and no, it's not just the marketing....

Yes, good writing aids storytelling, you need a certain level of writing for a book to work. But just because you don't care for the prose doesn't mean there's nothing that's working and nothing to be learned."

Thank you Mr. Bransford, for again stating so clearly what I have been wanting to hear.

When Death is the Only Option

In my first manuscript, Read My Mind, there is a death, that although it happened years before, effects the choices of my protagonist.  This death was premeditated and necessary for the storyline and I accepted it as such.  However, I have recently discovered that not all authors are natural born killers.  About three weeks ago, I spoke to a writer friend of mine who was in the throes of the realization that her beloved character should/would bite the dust.  She was so distraught that the it was clouding her ability to proceed.   This post by The Authoress comfirms that she, too, struggled with killing her character.  Maybe her post will be helpful if you are bothered by knocking off a character or two.  I don't seem to have a problem...a recognition of which is somewhat disconcerning.    

 I guess I'm just a cold-hearted writer, but I didn't have a single qualm whacking my character, but it was just the first go around.  Maybe I'll be more reticent with the other figments of my imaginations that are still swirling around in my head, awaiting their turn to tell their stories.  Maybe their deaths will require a card and flowers... and possibly chocolates.

It happened again last night

Yesterday was a long day, filled with potty-training a two-year old, 4th grade homework, fixing meals, cleaning house and refereeing a den of 8-year old cub scouts.   By the time ten o'clock rolled around, I was lying in bed eagerly waiting for sleep to claim me.  That's when it happened...again.  I recognized that proverbial knock on the door of my imagination and rolled over determined to ignore it.  Several minutes later, I finally cracked the door to tell whoever it was to skedaddle.  

"Hello," said a young man who peered at me through the thin line of the doorway .  "I apologize for the hour but if you don't mind, I need to tell you a few things."  I shook my head and tried to shut the door in his face, but he stiff-armed it open.  "Just a moment of your time, ma'am.  Then I'll be outta you're hair."

But I knew if I let him in, it wouldn't be just a minute and I was exhausted.  "No, please.  Not tonight.  I'm tired. Can't it wait?"

"I don't expect so," he answered calmly, and then, through the crack of the doorway, he began to tell me about himself––where he came from, his family, his farm, but mostly he told me about a girl.  

After twenty minutes, I gave up, crawled out of bed and invited him to take a seat while I booted up my laptop.  

These late night visits aren't doing much for the ole' beauty sleep. 
 

Plotting and What Not To Do and Fledglings

I recently came across an series of postings on PLOT by Author Laini Taylor.

Second thing:  Author, Rachelle Alpine gave some advice on WHAT NOT TO DO during the query process.  I'm really working on #1.  

And finally, I found this cartoon and I am sooo feeling like this right now.

 

The Shortest Distance?

When I first heard about this book, I thought "I should read that."  Then I did nothing.  The second time it was recommended, I thought "I really need to read that."  And I did nothing.  The third time, I was told that if you want to learn about the process of publishing a book, read this, I didn't think, I clicked over to Amazon and bought a copy.  By Susan Page, The Shortest Distance Between You and a Published Book is supposed to be the best resource for people like me who are unpublished.  When it arrived today, I felt all giddy and excited.  Not that I expect a miracle, by any means, but I'm very anxious what this book can offer.

Have any of you out there, read this and if so, what did you think?

A Query Minefield

Where am I in the publishing process?  Well, I'm in the querying stage.  Querying simply means submitting work.  

I began researching agents seriously about August of last year.  I first searched out the literary agents that accepted my genre (Fiction/Young Adult) and then compiled a short list of those that I was most excited about.  I included all their submission guidelines in my little spreadsheet––I love spreadsheets–-they make me feel all warm and fuzzy.  

The reason I felt a spreadsheet was necessary is because every agent has a slightly different guideline for submitting.  Some want just a query, while others want a query, synopsis and 50 pages of the manuscript. Some agents will only accept email queries and others only take snail mail.  Most refuse to accept attachments, but a rare few require that your sample pages come attached.  Querying is like walking through a mine field.  One wrong move and...REJECTED!

But some may ask, what is a query?  Essentially, it's a cover letter introducing you and your manuscript to the agent.  The biggest and hardest part of the query is the "jacket-cover' blurb that condenses your 250+ page book down into 250 words.  Say it with me...EEK!

My best advice for writing a query is this:  Write the very best query you can and then put it away and a week or so later, start again with a blank slate.  Refine that version and then put away again.  After three or four times, pull up all the queries and see what works in each.  Try submitting that new and best version to a forum for comments, like on Absolute Write.

But don't settle for my measley advice.  Google is your friend.  There are tons of agent blogs that will post successful queries or really UNsuccessful ones.  Take a look and see what the agents like.  I submitted my query to an agent blog for posting and comments.  I didn't really think anything would come of it.  But my query actually got picked to be posted.  My query is the second one of the two posted––the query signed D.W.  I got some good comments but didn't actually get the agent's advice. That was disappointing but still, I bettered by query with the experience.

Literary Agents are like College Degrees

Some of my family and friends have asked why I'm submitting my manuscript to a literary agent, instead of directly to the publishers.  I will offer my opinion and links to a few more reputable sources.

So, why are literary agents necessary?  Short answer:  Because literary agents act as gatekeepers to the publishing houses. 

 
A longer answer:  Getting an agent is like getting a college degree.

 
 In today's world, it's unlikely that you'll be successful without one.  Some say, "well, so-and-so got published without an agent."  Yes, I know.  And there are examples of people that are extremely successful without a college degree, but as you will agree, these people are the exception, not the rule.

There's a certain vetting process that happens while obtaining an agent.  The process is frought with mindless hoops, but in the end you (and your manuscript) will come through smarter and better prepared.  Publishers will see that you've done what it takes to get your "degree", proving that you might be someone they would "hire". 

I hope this answers your questions.  Where am I in the process?  Well, I'm still the geeky freshman at the back of the Publishing 101 class.  I hope I pass.

Beta Readers: The good, the bad and the ugly

A Beta Reader is a person who reads your written work for the purposes of improving it. When I first completed my manuscript, I was very hesitant to allow anyone to read it.  It was so frightening to have that part of myself 'out there'.  The idea of beta reading was crazy talk...at least at first.  

With time, I got over my fears (well, mostly).  I realized that during the brainstorming/creative phase, I needed cheerleaders around me––people who told me I was great, that my manuscript was awesome and gave me helpful, but safe critiques.  But now that I'm nearing the final stages, I needed something else.  I need a stranger.  Someone who won't care about hurting my feelings.  Someone who can be brutally honest, but in a constructive way.  This is where a beta reader comes in.  I found a great beta reader at Absolute Write.  If you have interest in doing this, please do yourself a favor and read the section on protecting yourself and your work in progress.

So, question for anyone out there actually reading this.  Am I alone in wanting a cheerleader first and then a critic later?  Do you want the cheerleaders all the time and never the honest type?  Or are you tougher than I am, and look for the harsh reality, no matter the circumstance?

 

My two favorite muppets.  I'll take criticism from them any day. 

I Wrote a Book

I wrote a book.  (A manuscript actually, as the term 'book' refers to published works, which this is not...yet.)

A while back, I came up with a concept for a book.  For fun, I decided to write it down but I had no intention of ever letting it see the light of day.  Within a week, I had several chapters written and the plot line for most of the story, but the end was still obscured in the mist of my imagination.  After two more weeks, I felt the need to tell someone.  I chose my sister.  She became a great cheerleader.  I don't think I would have finished had she not encouraged me.  I am very grateful to her.  

Anyway, I began writing in earnest.  I wrote and then wrote some more.  By the time I finished, I decided to be serious about seeing it publishing.  Then I realized I had two problems.

Problem #1:  I don't know anything about publishing a book.

Problem #2:  I don't have any writing credentials or a degree in English.  Remind me again why anyone would publish me?

Well, there isn't really an answer to problem #2, outside of writing something else and getting it published in a magazine or something.  Of course, to do that I'd probably need some kind of publishing history, right?  Hence the conundrum.  

So, I went back to the problem I could work on––#1.  I spent hours researching the publishing industry.  Hours.  And.  Hours.  Of.  Research.  One of the first thing I learned was that I needed a literary agent to represent my work to publishers.  Second, I learned my manuscript was entirely too long. Like Tolstoy long.  I began editing and in doing so, I learned a lot more about the writing craft.  I rewrote, edited and revised for several more months and then impatiently decided my manuscript was ready for submission to literary agents.  I knew the manuscript was still too long, but I submitted it anyway, along with a query, that I freely admit was total crap.

Amazingly, I had about six agents show interest.  In the end, I sent the full manuscript to three and received some very good feedback.  Good, in the fact that it taught me a lot. Essentially, they said what I already knew:  good concept but too long.

I took a break and shelved the whole thing.  After another two months, I decided to re-enter my writer's cocoon.  I did a beta read, which helped immensely and then began revising. Revisions took another two months and now I'm restarting the submission process by querying a select group of agents that I've researched.

So, that's the story for now.  Hopefully, I will have more to report as time passes.  Thanks for reading this very long entry––you deserve twenty brownie points.  A hundred if you clicked through to the links.