Being A Writer -- Part Dedication, Part Inspiration

I've been in a writing slump.

Yes, I know. I've said on a few occasions that I was writing again. And I was. Only none of those attempts lasted.

Mostly I've been thinking about writing. Turning story ideas over in my head. Fretting about the dearth of words actually getting on to paper. Wondering if my constant battle with procrastination was finally turning into paralysis. Hoping I wouldn't turn out to be another all-talk-no-writing person hanging out on the periphery of publication but never realizing her dream.

Don't worry. No pep talks required. As Most Honorable Son No 1 says, "I'm good!"

I wouldn't call what I've been going through writer's block. Because that suggests that I'm sitting and staring at a screen or page, and the words won't come. I haven't experienced that and hope I never do. This is more about the need to clear my head, to get life relatively under control, to free myself from the negative thoughts that would enchain me.

When I get like that, I have to wrestle with my demons.

I prefer to wrestle mostly alone, kind of like Jacob wrestling with the angel in the night.

Because I know what desires God has placed in my heart, and I know He has a plan.

I just have to get with the program. Easier said than done sometimes.

I could offer a world of excuses, some quite legitimate. But I won't because that's a road that leads back into the abyss.

Excuses are the tools of the incompetent, I was once taught.

It's true.

Those who do are those who persevere.

I'm persevering.

Dedication means never giving up. For some, it looks like putting words on paper every single day, no matter how yucky they might be. I'm not that person. Helps to keep me free from the guilt of not writing if I miss a day, a week, a month...

For some, it looks like continuing to push through the haze that threatens to swallow one's dreams, remaining connected, if not productive. I am that person. Because I know me, and I know that eventually, if I hang on long enough, I will get going again. I always do.

Inspiration takes many forms. Sometimes it comes from the successes of others. Sometimes from hearing inspiring words uttered by someone who is where I want to be. Sometimes an inquiring nudge from a cherished writer friend. Sometimes a comforting whisper from deep within encouraging and urging me on.

As far as storytelling inspiration, it might be seeing something that makes me think of an intriguing first line or a snippet of dialogue, an interesting character or a potential plot line. When this happens, I write it down.

And wait.

I wait to see whether any particular idea takes hold. I might even jot down a few words, write a page or two, or start an outline.

If I'm not feeling it, if the idea hasn't wrapped itself around me like a clinging vine refusing to let go, then I go back to waiting. And observing. And connecting with other writers. And of course, reading.

Until something takes hold.

Then I can write. Then I write like the wind is at my back, the sun shines on my face, and my life depends on getting what's in my head out.

I might go back someday to some of the ideas I've toyed with. In fact, I'm sure I will. Some require more skill than I currently have. Others require more thought. Still others will never see the light of day.

But right now? I'm writing. In the last two days, I've written an entire synopsis and cleaned it up a bit for submission to my critique group. I welcome their feedback.

This idea has roots and I'm getting started. I'll even tell you my working title. Good Girls Finish First.

I have a blank page in front of me.

Chapter One...

What inspires you to write?

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Writing African-American Christian Romance

I'm blogging today over at Kaye Dacus's blog. She's been doing a series on writing romance and asked me to talk a bit about writing African-American Christian romance. It was fun but hard because it's a topic I'm rather passionate about. Come on over and tell us what you think!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

2008 Emma Award Winners (Romance Slam Jam) & More

Now that the Romance Slam Jam, held this past weeked in Chicago is over, the winners of this year's Emma Awards have been announced. A special shout-out to Gwyneth Bolton, a regular reader of this blog and winner of Favorite Anthology for Cuffed by
Candlelight (Beverly Jenkins, Gwyneth Bolton, Katherine D. Jones, and Simone Harlow), and Francis Ray, a special author who was featured here last year, winner of Favorite Sequel for Only You. Congratulations to all the winners!

--------------------------------------------

I purposefully left my last blog post up until now. I wanted folks to hear about Bettye Griffin's new release, Once Upon A Project. (Still. Waiting. On. My. Copy, Amazon!)

But I do have a few tidbits I picked up last week that I'd like to share:
I heard about a new inspirational publisher looking for stories, Sheaf House.

Learned about a couple of new short story markets: Grassroots, which I believe is a new short story market, and Zoetrope All Story, an established market.

May is the month for Brenda Novak's On-line Auction for Diabetes Research. Thanks to the writer community and a number of tremendous sponsors, this auction contains unbelievable items. Everything from full manuscript reads by editors with 24 hour response--51 different editors have offered reads!--to agent meetings to computers to a Hawaiian vacation or African safari. All for a good cause. And you can limit bid--put in your high bid and let the computer bid up to that number for you--so you don't have to sit around and monitor. There are one-day items, items for readers, items for writers, items for everyone. May 1 - May 31. Don't miss it!

There's a new conference, the Visions in Print Online Writers Conference, sponsored by the Southeast Atlanta chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. This conference consists of ten workshops and chat sessions that will help you improve your writing and/or market your current work, including a chance to win a critique from an Essense-bestselling author. Authors include Rhonda McKnight Nain, Dee Stewart, Tia McCollors, Kendra Norman-Bellamy, and Sherri Lewis. The date is May 31st; the cost is a mere $10. For more information, send an email to visionsinprint@yahoo.com.

For those interested in romance writing contests, RWA National has a new page on its website which lists all the RWA-sponsored contests, conferences, and workshops for the next several months.

That's all for now. Working on a guest blog for Kaye Dacus on AA Christian romance.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Featured Book: Once Upon A Project by Bettye Griffin

Today I get to feature the new release of one of my long-time blog supporters, Bettye Griffin. Bettye stopped by my blog one day when she discovered that I'd read and immensely enjoyed one of her books. She came and never left. You'll see her in the comments pretty regularly.

Bettye writes "contemporary stories today's woman can relate to". That's a fact! Sometimes her stories are a bit too, uh, real, depending on what may be happening in one's life. You may cry as well as laugh but you'll always be entertained!

We had a chance to meet when she was in FL over the Christmas holidays. Such a lovely woman! She's the adorable one on the left.

Her newest book, ONCE UPON A PROJECT, releases today! When I asked Bettye to write a guest post for my little blog to help promote her book, she didn't hesitate.

--------------------------------------------

About the Book:
Elyse, Susan, and Grace are tickled when their friend Pat organizes a reunion luncheon for past residents of the Chicago Housing Project where they all grew up. It is, after all, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of its opening, and the lifelong friends are also turning fifty. But none of them suspects the event will have life-altering changes.

Elyse plans to attend with her husband, but as usual lately, he bows out, pleading fatigue. He's thirteen years her senior, and Elyse fears he's slowing down. But does that mean she has to do the same?

Susan also arrives alone. Her marriage is faltering since her diagnosis of breast cancer. But when she runs into a former flame at the after-party, it feels like time has stood still . . .

Twice divorced, Grace worries she'll grow old alone. Once a cute kid four years Grace's junior, Eric is now a handsome man whose age doesn't matter - but their differences in financial status might . . .

Forced by tragic circumstances to give up the love of her life, Pat never again found love. When an old friend from law school sees a media report about the reunion and contacts her, will she at last find the love that's eluded her?

--------------------------------------------

Without further ado, here's Bettye:

My latest novel of women’s fiction, ONCE UPON A PROJECT, will be released today, April 29th.

The idea for this novel about lifelong friends turning 50 came to me--when else?--shortly after I turned 49. I was rather morosely reminding myself that in another year’s time I’d be 50, a half century old. I used to marvel that my late father was born just 50 years (1911) after the firing on Fort Sumter that started the Civil War. It seemed like an eternity, especially since he lived until 1999. And soon, I thought, I’d have been around that long. It didn’t matter that I was too young to remember the major events of the year I was born . . . the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, the launch of Sputnik, Sam Cooke’s first #1 hit, "You Send Me;" or the catchy tune from the film that would go on to win the Oscar for Best Picture, "The Bridge Over The River Kwai." I was around. That’s what mattered.

I felt a lot more traumatized than I did at turning 40. At least then I could presume that I might not have hit the halfway mark in my life, if I were to be fortunate enough to have the longevity my parents enjoy/enjoyed. But at 50 there’s definitely more yesterdays than tomorrows. (Did I mention I was morose?)

I dealt with my blues like I usually do . . . I put on some music, danced around a little, and then asked myself if there could be a story idea behind all my angst. Why not write something about turning 50?

So began my idea, which soon became brainstorming. There would be four main characters, each with different life circumstances. I wanted to reach as many women as possible and wanted everyone to be able to identify with at least one of these characters. So I created one who’d never been married and who had no children (Pat), one who’d become pregnant at 17 and who is now a grandmother (Grace), one who’d been a first-time bride at a later than usual age and became a mother around age 40 (Susan) and one who married a divorced father and had both children and stepchildren (Elyse). I agonized over the problems I would give them, which included some very stressful situations that many people go through in real life. I didn’t want to bring up any bad memories for anyone, but if everything was rosy or their only concerns were getting older I wouldn’t have much of a book, so I went for the jugular.

Using the "what if I'd done this . . . or that?" mode of thinking with all the wisdom (giggle) of someone of my years, I had a synopsis fairly quickly, but as I wrote I wondered if my editor would greenlight the project or reject it. I don’t keep up that well with the writing trends, but from what I knew, a lot of women writers out there over 50 are writing about main characters much younger . . . most often in their 30s, and sometimes even their 20s. (I’m reading a Danielle Steel novel right now, where Steel, now in her 60s, writes about a heroine who’s 42.)

If today’s novels do have older characters, they’re usually relegated to subplots taking up small amounts of print, often with nothing to do but support the younger heroine. After all, we do live in a youth-obsessed society. Just because my gray hair isn’t bothering me enough to cover it up with Clairol doesn’t mean my editor will jump at the chance to buy a book where all the main characters are 50, not just occasionally seen mothers or older sisters, and having hot flashes to boot. So the minute I sent the synopsis to my agent I started writing an alternate synopsis for something that might be more in line with what book buyers seem to want. Besides, I’d need something to do as a follow-up, lest I be dismissed by readers as “the one who writes about old people.”

My agent loved the story and sent it on to my editor. As it turned out, the editor liked it, too. I completed the manuscript on my 50th birthday last summer while on a blues music vacation in Memphis, which I took as a positive sign. So if you enjoy a nice, meaty story, by all means, check it out!

P.S. That alternate story I wrote in order to have something else to offer my editor in case of a rejection will be in stores next year.

Thanks so much, Bettye! I expect my pre-ordered copy from Amazon Any. Day. Now... And the rest of y'all? Go out and get this book!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Just Some Happenings in My Writer Life

Only 29 days of school left in the school year (40 calendar)! Yaaayyyy!

My life begins when the school year ends. No, I'm not a teacher.

See, although I still am the mother of three during the summer, it's veeerrrry different. I get to sleep later. I don't have to run around making drop offs to various schools or pickups from various schools/practices/games. I don't fight as much about bedtime. Life is kinder and gentler. Yes, there's still summer camp, filling their long, non-camp days, and pushing them to read when it's only required by Mommy, but it's still a more relaxing time. Last summer I wrote a whole manuscript and dropped 17 lbs.! (Don't ask...)

I can't wait!

--------------------------------------------

I've discovered I'm my own worst promoter!

Yesterday, I blogged over at Romancing the Blog about finding ways to fund one's writing, particularly for relatively new writers. Would have been nice/smart/logical/(fill in the blank) to plug myself over here, wouldn't it? Too easy. I simply forgot.

Clearly, I have a lot to learn about marketing and promotion. LOL!

I did at least send shout outs to a few writing loops that I'm a member of. A big thanks to everyone who hopped over.

I'll make sure to tell you when I'm up on Kaye's blog.

And since it's only fitting that I take my own advice, I started a short story. Plan to submit a few while continuing on my novel outline. Need to raise some funds for the Faith and Fiction Retreat that will be in Destin, FL in August.

--------------------------------------------

I always hear writers talking about agenting. Well, one can never go wrong with a Chip MacGregor column. Here Chip tells us when we should not get an agent...and when we should.

--------------------------------------------

Oh yeah...Did I tell you my Alphie died? No, not my pet. My Alphasmart, the one my niece gave me. Worked fine initially then started acting funky. Bus error. Tech support diagnosed and prescribed a new keyboard. Okay. $25 plus tax. Installed the replacement keyboard. Worked fine for a bit, then more funkiness. Same bus error. Tech support said send it in. $35 plus $25 shipping costs. Okay. Sent it in and got a quote for another $145 to fix it.

Wuh???

Hey, I can get a brand new Alphasmart Neo for only $219 plus tax and s/h. I figure I'd better cut my losses on this one.

Going on an eBay hunt...

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Friday Tidbits (on Monday) and a Revised Tagline

I meant to post my tidbits on Friday as usual but my mind is engaged in coming up with two blog posts for other blogs. I'm up on Romancing The Blog this Thursday (and no, I don't have a topic yet!) and one of my writer friends and fellow bloggers, Kaye Dacus has asked me to guest on her blog (and no I won't tell you the subject just yet!) So here are a few Friday tidbits on Monday:

Trademarked words in your writing? Writer's Digest's managing editor Brian Klems offers some advice to ensure you don't run afoul of trademark restrictions here.

Lots of doings in the world of publishing right now that might have authors a little antsy. Agent Chip MacGregor ofers his take on all the happenings.

On the Bright Side, new webzine looking for humorous stories. Paying market. Guidelines here.

Here's the one that I know will get a number of writers going... Avon Romance is actively seeking submissions. No agent required! Learn more here.

And oh btw, I'm working on a scene outline for my latest wip. (Gotta update that sidebar...) I've got 13.5 chapters outlined so I'll be wrapping this up soon, and getting back to writing in earnest.

Despite my original 2008 tagline/mantra "Stay focused. Work Hard. Believe.", I've been quite unfocused, mostly due to daily life stresses. Ever consider how hard it is to "work hard" when your head is all over the place? I've never stopped believing. It's the belief that carries me when the rest is floundering.

But I'm regaining my focus--both personally and in my writing--and beginning to work toward my goals again. I realized that the "work hard" part was incorrect because I've never stop working hard. Life won't let me. I just wasn't doing enough critical things that were moving me forward. (No accident that I haven't reviewed my goals for the year!) So I'm changing that portion to Move Forward. And I'll keep on believing.

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia

Stay focused. Move Forward. Believe.

Writing Your Best Story

I've heard or read where coutless published authors, editors, and agents advise aspring authors to write their best story.

I get the notion of producing the best work you can, the most polished and flawless manuscript within your capabilities. But is that your best story?

How do you know what that is? How does one tell?

Well, it's probably not your first manuscript.

Of course, it could be, because I always allow for the possibility of pure genius. I also allow for those who study everything there is to know, sit down, and get it right the first time. Improbable but possible.

More than likely, your first complete manuscript is riddled with issues a freight train couldn't miss. A weak opening. Multiple POVs within a scene. Boatloads of backstory. Boring scene/chapter endings. A sagging, if not, fallen middle. Too many subplots. Uninteresting characters. A rushed or tired ending.

What happens to that first manuscript in many cases? It sits on a hard drive, or other storage device, never to marry with a printer, much less a publisher. Or, for the sake of actually being able to hold it in one's hand and feel the weight of that first opus, you print it in all it's glory, rubberband or box it up, and slide it neatly beneath your four-poster bed.

Then, you start another story.

Hopefully somewhere before the start of that first story and the start of the second, you learn some things. You attend online classes, fly to a popular writer's conference, absorb every recommended craft book, lurk on every "must-read" blog, join a friendly and encouraging critique group.

So the next story will be a better story. Better written, anyway. But will it be your best story?

Margaret Mitchell wrote one book. One. All fans of romance and women's fiction know that book to be Gone With The Wind. There are some things she could have done to make it a better book, in my opinion. (I realize I'm bordering heresy here for some folks but stay with me.) I haven't read GWTW in a while but I've read it numerous of times. It's looong. Too long. Lots of omniscient POV narrative, even if it was the writing style of the day. A few subplots, and maybe even a few major plot plots, probably could have been dropped without damaging the story much. But it was her story, the only one she was moved to write. Likely her best story. I believe that's truly why she quit.

So, let's say your second novel is now friends with the first, lying dormant somewhere and you begin yet another and then another, all the while improving your craft. You're writing better quality manuscripts, and they're starting to get noticed but are they your best story? What if that first effort, or second, was truly your breakout idea?

Maybe you consider revising one of your manuscripts, now that you know so much more than you used to. You know your voice. You know what genre works best for you. You've mastered the craft and you're confident in your writing skills. But are you telling your best story? What if it's already behind you or waaaay into your future?

I've got loads of story ideas, and I wrote my first complete manuscript last year. It was hard but fun. I proved to myself that I could. Then I tried to revise it and I couldn't. Just couldn't wrap my brain around going over and over that thing to make it much better. Too many holes and problem spots, even if I knew where exactly where every one of them lay. (If I'm screwing up the lay/lie thing, forgive me. It's my Achilles heel.)

It was too much work, I felt. I knew I could make it a better crafted story but I just wasn't willing.

Writing is hard work. I know and accept that. Part of that hard work is revision. I know that too.

But I think I also knew it wasn't my best story. In truth, I knew it when I was writing it. I had a good story idea, one that others might enjoy reading. But it wasn't my best story.

Some folks, like Margaret Mitchell, find their best story on the first try. That's why you hear of writers revising that one novel again and again and again. Deep down, they must believe, they know, it's their best story. If not, why would they put in so much hard work on something that's merely good?

A writer friend allowed me to read and critique one of her stories this past week. I thought it was a really good story, one that could be published and enjoyed by many, but it needs some work to get there. She said, as I did last year, "It's too much work." Now that bothered me a bit, which is what got me thinking about this post. I think her book could really sell but maybe for her, it's not worth the effort because it's not her best story, the one that springs from a place in her imagination so fertile and so deep that when she finds it she'll know it's is the one.

I suspect the best story of many novelists is never published. Either they find it too early in their writing careers, before they know enough to execute it well, or they get too far into their writing careers, maybe in a different genre or style of writing, that they push away or tamp down that best idea, the one that might cause their agents or editors to squirm and their readers to turn away. I think many writers, especially those who write in multiple genres, are still looking for their best story and this is part of what drives them to try new and different things, risking fan loyalty and continued income.

I think this is where the quest for "The Great American Novel" began. I don't think I've found my best yet, the one story that I can't turn loose no matter how much work has to be done to get it right. The one that I'll write and polish and revise again and again before submitting and submitting again because it has taken hold of my heart and I've got to see it through to the end. Nope, I don't think I've found that story...yet.

So, I've begun again. I'm writing a new story, trying to incorporate everything I've learned while writing the previous manuscript and since.

Is it my best story? I don't yet. As I write, perhaps it will evolve into that. But I think it's at least a good story so I'll work on it and give it my best effort. And who knows? It just might wind up being saleable and getting published.

Then I'll be off again, starting yet another good story, in search of my best story.

What say you? Have you found your best story, that one idea that deep within your spirit feels like you've hit the motherlode? The one that holds on to you like a clinging, tightening vine, no matter how many other books you write and maybe even publish? The one that gives you goosebumps even in your sleep?

Maybe I should have gone to bed earlier last night...

Peace & Blessings,
Patricia
Stay focused. Work Hard. Believe.