Hitting the Town

This has been a stressful week.  We've just finished our second round of illness in our home.  Isn't it nice when families share?  And I've had a deadline that I was determined to not just meet but excel.


Do you ever do that?  Push yourself above and beyond because you want to prove you are capable of doing well under pressure?


To be honest, I utterly failed on this one.  No, I didn't miss my deadline. In fact I managed to come in 4 days early BUT I missed my personal goal by 3 days.  I think my family would have voted me off the island if I'd worked any harder!


My dear friend, and brutally honest critic (love you Danielle!) kept pestering me about pushing too hard.  But like the amazing person she is, she hung in with me.  Through the re-writes, painful edits, and yeah more, slicing and dicing.  All, I might add, while I was going through a painful detox.  Probably not the best idea to start taking new meds this past week!


So she hung in there through my detox induced brain farts, cries for help after an entire day of writing junk, and finally to my final day of frantic doubts.  She kept me grounded, reminding me that I'm a good writer, that my book is gonna be great and that I deserve a star sticker for effort.  Ok, maybe I added that last bit.


So tonight my hubby and I are hitting the town.  No writing.  No thinking of writing.  Just good times with great friends.  I'm gonna totally unwind tonight.  I think I deserve it.  
  

Celebrating the curve balls

Life has a way of throwing curve balls, typically right at your head.  If you don't duck you're going to learn a valuable lesson.  Life took a swing at me today.  

I entered the Amazon Novel competition a month ago, with high hopes of course, alongside a women who has become a dear friend to me.  We have never met in person, talked on the phone or communicated in any way other than through Facebook. But because of our love for writing, we have become close friends.

This morning I discovered that I did not make it through the first cut of the contest, but to be honest, my very next thought was to check if she did.  I was so excited for her success that I nearly forgot about my own book.

Rejection is never easy.  If I tried to tell you that I'm not a little bummed you'd have every right to call me a liar.  I am bummed.  It's natural.  But this couldn't have come at a better time for me.

I've got a great prospect that I'm working hard on right now and being out of the running for the Amazon competition means I can devote all of my time to editing my new teen dystopian novel, IGNITE.  This book is where my heart truly lies so I am grateful for this opportunity .  

Some people say "you win some, you lose some."  I don't agree with that.  I think you always win...it just depends on how you look at each situation!

Well done, Danielle Bannister, self-pubbed author of PULLED.  I can't wait to see how far you go!   

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Chocoholics unite!

How many of you ladies picture this every time you step on the scale?  


Come on, be honest.  


Valentine's Day is a chocoholic's worst nightmare.  I am blessed with an inability to eat too much chocolate but that doesn't mean all of those sugary cupcakes go unnoticed!  Throw a little pink frosting and sprinkles in there and I'm in BIG trouble.


So how do you plan to avoid gorging on V-day yummies?


I for one am eating at home.  I selected a nice lean steak, new potatoes and will steam some veggies for dinner.  I plan to allow myself 1 cupcake.  And then I think a nice walk in the frigid wintry wind will get my blood pumping.  


And if I start to feel temptation to snack I'm gonna pop a bag of popcorn and snuggle up with a good chick flick.  Or my laptop.  I've got books to write!


How about you?  Any big plans for tomorrow night?

Are you a champion?

"Maybe I should have stayed in bed today."


This was a thought that tumbled around in my head for most of the morning.  Who knew this would be the day I would receive my first terrible book review.  It was bound to happen.  I even tried to prepare myself, but just like labor pains, you get knocked on your backside.


I'm a pretty sensitive person.  I like to be liked.  Who doesn't?  But I've learned that to make it in the writing world you have to grow some thick skin.  Today was the first slice I've endured since I stopped adding rejection letters to my pile back in June.


It hurts.  Rejection always does.  But it's a part of life.  It teaches you not only how to be humble but also reminds you that there's always something more to learn.  If I ever reach the point where I think I'm God's gift to writers I give you permission to slap me!


So today has been a tad rocky for me.  I knew my heart wouldn't be into writing, as I licked my wounds, so I switched gears and did some marketing.  What better way to deal with rejection than to get another sale?


I've also done some more tweaking to my blog.  Watcha think?  Kinda nice, eh?  Much better than the dreary black and gray.


How do you handle yet another rejection letter, bad review or naysayer?  


Are you a fighter or do you give up?  I think I might hear the Rocky music floating thought the air!


I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Should you be writing right now?

When your Muse smacks you in the head...

As a writer, I've learned that what you want to happen, and what actually happens sometimes don't line up.  I had this happen a couple days ago. 

I wrote a homework assignment two months ago for my writers group that really piqued my interest.  I knew that it could some day turn into a really interesting book but I had no clue where I would go with it.  It's on my list of novels to get to at the END of the year.  After I finish the Arotas Trilogy and the Rising Trilogy.

Well my Muse decided to change my plans.  Here I am in the middle of writing my sequel to Forbidden and I am smacked up the side of the head with a brilliant book idea.  It's a continuation of my homework that I set aside!

Now I'm not just talking about only a name or maybe the first chapter. I have the ENTIRE book sorted out in my mind. 

That's insane!  And terrible inconvenient. 

I can't just drop everything to work on another book...or can I?  Should I?

This is the dilemma I have lived with the past couple days.  My head is swelling with so many ideas I can't sleep, can't focus and am pretty much zoned out half the time thinking about it.

My husband wants me to finish my trilogy, and I completely understand why.  I want it done too.  But when your Muse shoves something like this is your path I honestly think that you need listen.  Even if only for a couple days.

I have files upon files of ideas for the book.  Characters developed before my eyes.  A plot.  Book title.  Even a hint at something larger...perhaps another trilogy?  (Yikes!)

So my plan is to write as much of it down while I've got it and get back to work on Arotas.  Just because your Muse throws you a curve ball does not mean you let go of your goals.   

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Having the faith of a child

Have you ever watched the faith of a child?  I'm not just speaking of going to church but in all things with life.  They believe they can do it...so they do.  And when they fail they get up, brush themselves off, and jump right back into the fight.  If only we, as adults, could have the same faith that they do.

How many times have you given up before you even started?  Convinced yourself that following your dream was completely insane or too far out of reach?  How do you feel when you give up on yourself?

I know what failure feels like.  I lived with it for years, denying the desires of my heart because I listened to the little voices in my head telling me that I wasn't good enough.  But children don't seem to have those little voices.  Or if they do, their own shouts drown them out.

We can learn so much from our little ones.  My son, who has an imagination that I could only dream of, decided this morning that he wants to write a book with mommy.  He can't put together words yet, or color within the lines, but he has a dream. 

As a mother, I'd be remiss not to encourage this dream.  He sits for hours drawing his little pictures of dinosaurs, super heroes or sharks.  He's passionate about his pictures in the same way I am with words.  A perfect pair.

Yes, no one may buy his book, except the grandparents and big hearted family members, but that's not the point.  My son needs to know that if you have a dream you can find a way to achieve it.  So this afternoon, when we return home from pre-school, I plan on helping my little man write his first book.  It will be a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life.

How about you?  Did you have anyone special in your life that encouraged your dreams?  Did you reach them?

And if you didn't have anyone in your life spurring you on...let me be that person.  I may not know you or ever meet you, but I believe in you.  Why?  Because everyone has a gift.  I believe that each and every person on this planet was created for a specific reason and that reason is to be YOU! 

Not the you that you are told to be or the you that has been molded to fit your boss's extreme expectations.  I want you to be the person that daydreams of what life could be and makes a promise to try.  Even if it's nothing more than taking 5 minutes today to research your field. 

Do you need to go back to college?  Take a summer class?  Do an apprenticeship?  Speak to the leaders in your field?

Whatever it takes...do it. 

For those of you who want to follow the writing path:

·        Start writing each day.  Set aside a few minutes and write about anything.  Most people thinking a writing career is easy...it's not!  Discipline, dedication, long hours, brain overload, cramping fingers...am I making this sound enticing yet?  Haha.  The most important first step is to commit to writing something every day.  It's a routine.  Stick to it.

·        Write what you love not just what you know.  I'm a firm believer that your best writing will come from what you are passionate about.  Do you obsessive over fishing, knitting, fantasy books, comics, etc?  Think about the section in the library that you always visit.  That's your genre.  (If you're not spending any time in a bookstore or library and you want to be a writer then you need to start now.  The best writers are avid readers!)

·        Don't worry about being technical during your rough draft.  Just let the words flow out of you.  There will be plenty of time to edit later.

·        Begin to research publishing.  Do you want to try to find an agent and go with a traditional publisher or do you want to give ebooks a try?  Either way, you need to have a solid grasp on not only how to publish but also the market.  Do your research.

·        Have you managed to finish your manuscript rough draft?  Do a dance.  No seriously, do it!  That's a huge accomplishment.  Writing a full length book is nothing to belittle.  That takes a lot of hard work and dedication.  I'm proud of you!

·        This is where it can get tough.  You've written a book that you love and now it's time to start slicing and dicing.  Ouch!  I've been there.  Trust me, this step can get gruesome.  Strip your novel down to the bare bones without compromising it's integrity.  Word count is crucial if you are going to try to find an agent.  Do your research!

·        Think you've filleted your novel enough?  Now comes the real test.  Give your book to a few people that you trust and who will be brutally honest with you.  Hearing "oh that's lovely" or "that would be a hit" isn't helpful.  It's great to hear but you need to get to the nitty gritty.  What didn't flow?  What was confusing?  Where should you add more depth or pull back? 

·        Take all comments on board and decide how you want to adjust your novel.  My suggestion...adjust it to whatever degree makes you uncomfortable.  Huh?  Did that make sense?  Let me explain.  If you read through you're novel and don't take any of their comments on board AND you're perfectly happy with it...there is something very wrong.  What you think of your novel doesn't matter.  It's what your readers think.  Remember why you are writing.  Is it for you or to entertain your readers?

·        Once you're certain that everything is smooth and shiny set your novel aside.  Bury it in your bottom drawer and work on something else.  Uncover it a few weeks or months later and give it a read through.  Trust me...you will want to make some adjustments!  Before you were too close to it but now you have some perspective.

·        Are you done now?  Nope!  This is where the fun begins.  No matter which form of publishing you want to pursue, it's going to take a lot of hard work, dedication and thick skin, especially if you are going to look for an agent.  You will hear "no" more times than you ever care to.  You will get cold form letter responses that will leave you in a teary puddle on your floor.  Does that mean you give up?  Heck no!  Believe in yourself.  Persevere!

Perseverance for a writer means on thing.  Published. 

You have a dream.  Set your goals and reach them.  The only thing stopping you, especially with the introduction of self-publishing, is YOU!

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Memorable or Forgettable?

As a writer one of the most enjoyable aspects of creating a new novel is giving birth to new characters.  Who are they?  What drives them?  What little oddities will make them endearing?

I’m an avid reader and that’s probably why I love writing so much.  I grew up as an only child and spent countless hours pouring my heart and soul into books.  I wanted to escape, to become someone that I could never dream to become in real life.  But in order for me to desire that I needed a character that I could relate to.

There are several key “ingredients” that are required to make a solid character. 

1. They need to be unique.  If I open a book and read a card board cut out I immediately put it down.  I want a protagonist that isn’t always a blonde hair, blue eyed bombshell.  Give me stubby toes, chipped fingernails, frizzy hair and thick rimmed glasses that sit askew on the bridge of an oily nose.  Think unique gender, body shape, eye color, hair color and length, ethnicity, clothing style, profession and age.

2. There must be specific goals.  Why does she/he get out of bed every morning?  What are they afraid of?  What little neurotic voices hinder their lives?  Who do they want to be when they grow up (physically and mentally)?

3. I want quirks.  Give me a nail biter, a knuckle popper, an obsessive compulsive, or a chocoholic.  Make them unique.  Demand that they stand out among the crowd.

4. Flaws.  Oh yeah, I want them to be flawed.  Now let me state first that I’m not evil in my love of flaws.  I want my characters to be happy…someday.  But honestly, what’s entertaining about someone who sees all sunshine and roses throughout the entire book?  BORING!  I want issues with the image in the mirror, sneaking a cig in the bathroom on school grounds, trouble with self esteem, an illness.  Something to make them human and not superman. 

5. Co-characters.  Ok, this is a biggie for me.  Since I write teen fantasy, I need characters that grab your attention but don’t steal the thunder.  I need interesting, but not overbearing.  Cute but not gorgeous.  Loveable but not smitten.  You get my drift. 

6. Most importantly.  You need an enemy.  Someone who can stand toe to toe with your hero and not back down.  The epic battle, no matter how small and insignificant you might consider it to be, needs to be set in stone.  No weak enemies please!  They need to be just as well thought out as the protagonist.  And I want to know WHY they do what they do?  Give me back story but don’t flood me with useless details.      

So, with that being said, I want to give you a simple example of my process.  I will use the main character from my new teen fantasy trilogy, Forbidden.

Name: Roseline Enescue

Ethnicity: Romanian, non human, Immortal

Height: 5’6”

Hair: bronze, curls around her waist

Eye color: aqua, glows from within at times

Age: Appears to be a senior in high school, actually 322 years old

Skin tone: Pale, hauntingly beautiful

Body type: slender, curvy

Relationship status: Married to Vladimir Enescue (Dracula), dating Gabriel Marston (highschool football star/closet artist)

Personality: cautious but fiercely loyal

Goals: wants to live the life that was taken from her, hide who she is to fit in with humans so she can experience what being a teen is really like.  To be free of the vampire stigma and her husband’s abusive hand. 

Fears: being found by her husband, her identity discovered, endangering her new friend’s lives, losing Gabriel

Flaws: rebellious, sheltered, feels unworthy of human love, fears unleashing her bitterness towards her husband

Quirks: able to physically regenerate would wounded with the aid of human blood, is immortal, secretes a hormone that drives male’s wild, increased speed, strength, scent, superior reflexes and vision.

Support: Sadie (spunky best friend who adamantly fights for her right to wear whatever she likes by shifting through several wardrobe fascinations).  William (Sadie’s surfer styled brother who follows Roseline around like a love sick puppy), Gabriel (football star whose hidden desires are best portrayed by his secret art gallery in his attic). Fane (handsome Immortal friend who taught Roseline everything she knows, kept her sane over the passing years and instigated a spicy fling once or twice). Nicolae (broody Romanian foreign exchange student who watches Roseline’s every move with hawk like vision, fiercely protective over Sadie, and is hiding a big secret).

Enemy: Husband Vladimir Enescue who slaughtered her entire family on their wedding night.  Sacrificed Roseline’s younger sister in front of her eyes and used her blood to transform Roseline into an Immortal.  And Lucien Enescue, Vladimir’s brother whose love of sadistic mass murders and debauchery are rivaled by none.

Conflict: Roseline has lived her entire life under the false myth that she and her family are vampires.  After centuries of trying to bring out the monster in Roseline, her husband Vladimir finally turns his attentions to a new mistress which gives Roseline the chance to escape.

Upon fleeing to America, Roseline inserts herself into a Chicago prep school with the hopes of blending in.  But after a series of events, Roseline finds herself stuck in the spotlight.  Friendships are formed, a forbidden romance ensues, and Roseline is forced to make the hardest decision of her life.  Stay in her new life and risk the death of her friends, or return to the man she fears most of all to save those she loves.

Forbidden is filled with ups and downs, tension and release.  A page turner until the very end.  But the conflict doesn’t end there.  It’s only the beginning.

 This is a basic idea of how to create a character.  Think outside the box.  Don’t try to repeat anything you’ve read or watched in a movie.  Let your imagination go and have fun.  I’d love to hear what you come up with!

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My non-resolutions

Every year millions of people join together to party, kiss at the stroke of midnight and inevitably make New Years resolutions that will more than likely be broken within the first week or so.  Using that new treadmill as a coat hanger?  Classic. Did that enormous piece of gooey chocolate cake hogtie you and force itself down your throat?  Bye-bye diet.

Why do we do such things year in and year out?  I’m sure in some way that could be used as a sign of insanity.  So what about this year?  Will you endeavor to make yet another resolution?

Several years ago I made the decision not to make personal resolutions…at any time of the year.  New Year’s Eve scrooge is what I am.  But I had to have some reason to get out of bed each day, right?

So I decided to make a list.  If you don’t already know me, this is not something abnormal.  I am a list gal.  Too scatterbrained to live without it!

On my list I write my goals for each year.  *BE REALISTIC*  If you don’t have time to spend 4 hours in the gym every day and enjoy eating less than a sparrow, then don’t tell yourself that you want to lose 150lbs in 2012.  That’s just asking for trouble!

I like to write personal goals, of which usually have to do with being more organized so my family life can run smoother.  Hit the gym a bit more, although the Zumba DVD’s that I got for Christmas are really begging to be opened.  And of course learn something new.  Knitting, baking, gardening, engine overhaul (yeah right!) or taking up a new sport.  Whatever my goal might be, I plan my success.

The same thing goes with my writing.  Although I am terrible about planning my books (goal #1) I am fantastic about planning what I want to accomplish.  Last year, in August, was my first real step into self publishing.  And oh my goodness did I have a lot to learn!  I’m still learning.  It’s a process.

I managed to publish book 1 of the Rising trilogy, and followed up with book 1 of the Arotas trilogy.  Throw in a short Christmas story in December and I’m feeling pretty awesome from my efforts.

Some might look at that and say “wow, that’s amazing.  You can sit back and wait for the money to roll in.”  Hardly!  I didn’t dream of writing ONE book or even three.  This is something I want for the rest of my life.  So if you love my books, get ready for a busy 2012.  If you don’t…yeah I can’t really help you with that one!

My goals for 2012:  (widely pliant due to a finicky muse)

·        Roseline’s Novella- her life between becoming an Immortal and her escape from Romania.

·        Arotas- sequel to Forbidden (rough draft is nearing completion)

·        Collide- new teen thriller (in re-write stage)

·        Relinquish- sequel to Defiance Rising (dependent on my sister-in-laws schedule once she had two little ones running around her house)

·        New book idea- had a dream which turned into a homework assignment for my writers group and it has massive potential.  (brainstorming and loving it!)

·        And of course write the third installment for the Arotas Trilogy.  Don’t ask me anything about it.  I don’t know yet!

So these are some huge goals but I know I’m capable of it.  6 books in 12 months?  Is that doable?  Certainly.  The best part is most of them are all in various stages of being written so I’m already ahead of the game.  And of course I will be entering Forbidden in this years Amazon competition.  Super excited to see how it does.

What are your goals for reaching your dreams in 2012? 

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Overextended

If there's one thing that I have learned in my short career as a writer is that it is EXTREMELY easy to get overextended.  Marketing, rough drafts, editing, formatting, publishing, interviews, book reviews, blog posts and so on.  I could literally spend 24 hours a day trying to get everything done and it still wouldn't be enough.  So at what point do you say enough is enough?

I read an article not long ago by a blogger/author Joe Konrath that spoke of putting immense importance on getting your books on a much shelf space as you can.  Until then, don't sweat the promoting. Just write.

I like his theory.  Of course he's got YEARS on me and about 40 novels as well...so he has the time to blog.  Me?  Right now I should be writing on my book, or answering my overflowing in-box, or posting interviews, or doing book reviews...but instead I sit here, rambling because my mind is burnt out!

I've been working hot and heavy on my upcoming book, Immortal Rose, and it's coming along so well...if I only had more hours in the day!  But...I can't write, market, blog, etc all the time.  My brain needs a break at times. 

So, I'm going to shut down my lap top and turn on the Cardinals game and cheer them on to a victory.  Go Cards!  (I'm not actually a baseball fan but since I live near them...)

What do you do to relax when you're overextended?

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Following your dreams

I had a talk with a girl I know this afternoon about following her dreams.  She's got this "crazy" idea of what she'd like in life but hasn't truly pursued it.  Are you like that?  You've got that one thing that just lights up your life like a million Christmas lights, but you're afraid to do it?

Maybe your parents wouldn't approve or other people would think it's silly.  Who cares?  If there is something that makes you happy, truly happy, then don't let anyone keep you from it. 

Did that sound a little soap boxy? 

I've learned some hard lessons over the past couple of years.  Life has a way of knocking you where it hurts.  But the amazing thing is that tough times and tears can teach you a lot about yourself.  Life taught me to believe in myself. 

I've spent years writing.  It was my passion but I let fear and doubt hold me back.  Then I had a wake up call that changed my life.  I'd let life hold me back and I was done hiding in the corner.  So what did I do?  I wrote my first "official" book.  Been working on it for the past two years and I'm only a few weeks away from publishing it as an e-book.

To be honest...I've never been happier!  Taking that leap of faith and choosing to believe in myself has brought me to this point, on the verge of being able to call myself an author and I'm ecstatic.  I've finally realized that I was born to write.  I no longer wonder what I should do with my life or what job I should try to apply for.  I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be and it feels amazing.

So I want to encourage you to follow your dream.  No matter how small or big, how crazy or impossible it  might seem.  You are worth the time and effort. 

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Why I write

Have you ever stopped to think about what drives a writer?  To push beyond the normal limits and create new characters or worlds that have never existed before?  I have.

Why do I write?  I want the people that read my books to feel something.  To fall in love with the hero who deals with their inner struggles.  To root for the underdog.  To want to be swept off their feet just like the lucky heroine.  To feel a longing when the last page turns. 

There is nothing better than a page turner that keeps you racing for the end, only to make you beg for more.  The agonizing months waiting for the sequel to hit the shelves just so you can find out what happens to your favorite characters.  That's what make a book good.  Some characters stick with you.  Those are the ones that I want to create.

I don't want my characters to be card board cuts outs of the latest best sellers.  I want quirks and faults.  I want real failures and real triumphs.  Real characters with real problems. 

What do you think?  Are you tired of cliches?

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Constructive Criticism

Constructive criticism is vital to any writer.  Hearing that your story isn't "perfect" can be a bit hard to take.  But what makes you a great writer is how you use that advice to grow. 

I've had the pleasure of getting to know an amazing writer, Jessica Patch.  I've learned more from her in four days than I'd learned in 2 years of doing research on Google!  Thank you for being willing to take the time to teach me and hold my hand through some painful rewrites.  I'm know I'm only beginning!

Jessica showed me how vital it is to pay attention to word count.  If you're like me, an overly descriptive writer, then you know how hard it is to stay within those word count limits.  My first attempt at writing my novel brought me in at nearly 50,000 words over.  That's huge!  So I shredded, rewrote, cleaned it up and I'm still over!

Funny thing is...after speaking to Jessica I realized that I'm still 30-40,000 words too heavy.  That's amazing!  So in reality I had nearly 90,000 words too many in my novel.  That's an entire book! 

So...for those of you that see every detail and want to share that with the world, I'm here to say it's rough to cut back.  Brutal might be a better word.  But...it's vital to your survival as a writer.  Once you're as popular as Stephen King then you can feel free to write entire chapters that seem to be filled with nothing but stuff and fluff!  Until then, cut back.

Pay attention to how many times you use the same word.  I was able to delete nearly 400 words from my novel just by deleting the word "just." Do we really need to say "He stood up" or "She sat down"?  Isn't it implied that standing or sitting means up and down?  These are simple tricks that have helped me cut nearly 4,000 words from my book so far!

Take a look at your writing and see how many fluff words you can unload.  You'll be amazed at how many words can form contractions that you simply breeze over when reading.  They count so pay close attention!  Make it a challenge to see how low you can get while still keeping the essence of the book.  It can be a lot of fun!

Good luck!   Let me know how you're doing!  And start searching for a critique partner that will be honest in their critique.  Their advice can be priceless!


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Taking a Breather...

Do you ever find that there are times when you simply write too often?  I have.  Some days all I can think about it getting through the day so I can put my thoughts down on a word document.  But others, I don't even want to look at my laptop!  Creativity is fickle like that!

Sometimes we just need to step back and take a breather.  That's exactly what I did over the weekend.  I finished my homework for my writer's group that will be meeting on Monday but I got very little else accomplished.  I will share my homework assignment next week since I don't want to spoil it for some of the members who take a peek at my blog from time to time!

So when you start to feel overwhelmed, bogged down by words or a have muddled mind take a step back and do something completely different.  For me that typically means grabbing a new book from the library.  I know...you're probably thinking that it's still too similar but for me reading is relaxing!  Do whatever makes you happy and when the time is right you will come back to your homework, short story or novel with renewed vigor. 

Happy writing!


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Dealing with disappointment

As a writer it's fair to say that you need to expect disappointments.  There will be doors closed in your face, countless No's before you get that miracle yes and of course the lovely reviews of your fans that simply didn't fall in love with your book.  I was told from the beginning that I needed to grow thick skin to make it in the writing world.  Oh how true that is!

I've always been one of those people that takes things too personally.  Not that I meant to...it's just always been that way.  I can get my feelings hurt or get my dander up easily...so starting out on the writing journey has been an adventure. 

Agents will turn you down with an impersonal email stating that you are not a right fit for their agency.  Publishers will simply not want to read your unsolicited manuscript because you can't get an agent.  It's a terrible cycle of unfairness...but that's the business.

And what about competitions?  Oh my.  I'm there right now.  I entered a writing competition a couple months ago, made it to the second round and realized that my book simply wasn't ready to be judged.  Of course by that time it's too late.  You can't do any editing so you sit and wait for the inevitable...the announcement that you are out of the running.  You tell yourself that you're prepared...and yet when the time comes you still feel that sharp pang of disappointment.

If you want to make it as a writer you need to be your own cheerleader.  When you get shoved, relentlessly, off the horse you brush yourself off and get back on.  Sure having others surrounding you to give you a high five along the way is great...but you have to learn to do that for yourself.  I'm convinced that too many great writers gave up before they found their big break.

So...the next time something doesn't pan out for you remember why you wanted to be a writer in the first place.  Write down your goals...your dreams.  You can even leave Post It's of encouragement around you house...of course if you don't live alone this might be bothersome to the other occupants!

You are not defined by your failures but by the way you get back up.  The largest leaps of growth that you will ever experience are in times of trial.  Enjoy the journey, get past the failures and embrace the successes no matter how small they might be!  As long as you are growing you are succeeding!


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Driven

Every writer I have ever met could be considered quirky.  I say that with love of course since I happily add myself to that category.  We're different...set apart from the mundane world that many people are simply happy gliding through.  But not us.  We're driven to be something different...to make the world a better place through words.

For a painter: It's the longing to see brilliant colors splashed across a blank canvas.  For a musician: It's the skillfully mastered piece that makes even the angels in heaven smile.  For the chef among us: It's the wafting smells that entice our stomachs to take a tiny bite of perfection.  For writers: It's the opportunity to sweep your reader into a fantasy world where reality doesn't have to be quite so brutally black and white.  We live for that next life changing novel that so beautifully enraptures us that it's painful to say goodbye to your beloved characters.

We writers are unique.  We are passionate.  We are talented but more than that we have a voice that we are driven to share with the world.  Sure most of us will never become a household name...but that's ok.  We don't write just for recognition.  We write because we must.  Because we will burst if we can't pour out our souls onto the page.  We have something to say...and that gives us purpose in life.

So what drives you?


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Lost your mojo?

Nothing can be more frustrating for a writer than to be stumped for an idea.  This is not normally a problem for me but today I just feel like I'm in a rut. On a typical day I could write for four straight hours and never realize that so much time had passed.  Today...nothing!  It's like I have this bottomless void in my mind.  I'm having the biggest brain fart of my entire life!  It's kinda creeping me out to be honest!  I guess it's a good thing I had already planned on spending my evening editing my manuscript. 

So what do you do when the words simply won't come?

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Bite off more than you can chew?

Thousands of people across the country share the same dream...taking that leap from writer to author.  It's a grand goal...but not one that can simply be achieved through a pretty smile or directionless purpose.  To become the author that you long to be you have to set goals, milestones that you can mark along the way.

I look at the journey of a writer much like an overweight person that is desperate to shed those unsightly pounds.  They strive so hard for their main goal that they completely overlook the journey.  Or they get so overwhelmed by the 100lbs that they need to lose that they forget to celebrate the 2lbs they lost this week.

It's all about perspective.  Are you looking at the big picture or are you dissecting it into small, attainable goals?  Either way you can reach the prize but taking the small baby steps will make the journey much more relaxed and enjoyable!

So you have had an epiphany and you're sure that you've got the next best selling idea.  What next?  Well logic tells you that you can't simply sit down and write the book.  It takes planning, detail and a lot of blood, sweat and tears before you complete your manuscript.  For some that might mean only a couple months invested...others a lifetime. 

You're goal may be to have your newly published book in your hands, the smooth glossy cover sliding like silk under your fingertips as you lovingly caress your masterpiece...but there are many steps between an idea and a finished product.

So...words for the wise (and it's only because I've been there too!) set a small goal for tomorrow.  Maybe it's sketch out one scene or create a full 3-D view of one character that goes beyond the general hair and eye color.  Create mannerisms that will endear your character to your readers. 

Or perhaps you need to work towards finishing three paragraphs by the end of the day.  If you're adventuresome try for an entire chapter.  Whatever your goal might be, make sure it is realistic.  Plan out your day, set aside "me time" to write and work towards that goal.

If we writers don't schedule in our writing time it's easy for it to simply disappear like vapor in the wind.  Set your mind to it and do it.  Be your own champion.  Believe that no matter how many doubts might be tumbling around in that brain of yours that you are worth taking the time to invest in yourself!

My personal goal for tomorrow: return to a manuscript that I began a couple weeks ago and write another two chapters. 

What's your goal?


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Blurry eyed and yawning my head off...

Do you ever stay up too late to write?  You stare blankly at the vivid white screen and think for the millionth time that you should be in bed.  Sometimes it's easy to blow past your bedtime.  For me, the wee hours of the night are my best opportunities to write.  The house is quiet, the tv is finally off and I can focus all of my attention on the blank page in front of me.  But when your eye lids begin to droop and your concentration plummets into the depths of sleep deprivation then it's time to call it quits.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply call it a night.  Forcing yourself to stay awake will only accomplish the obvious...typos, forced creativity and probably a whopping headache to boot!  It's just not worth it!  Write down your final thoughts for the night and get some rest.  You'll feel refreshed and ready to make a new start tomorrow.

Best tip of the day: if you want to be a great writer then get some sleep.  without a rejuvenated mind how can you possibly hope to perform at your peak?

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Perspective

This is an area that I greatly struggle with.  Some people that I speak to enjoy writing and do so as a once in a while hobby.  But for me it's a need, an addiction akin to the likes of some of the best drugs on the market.  I've always been like that...whether reading or writing.  I live to create a new world in my mind.  But reality tells us that life must go on.

So how do we gain perspective in our lives?  How do we set goals that enable us to achieve everything necessary to keep our lives in order?  Set mini goals.

For me, as a housewife and stay at home mom, my "job" is to take care of the house and be with my son.  I can't do that too well when I'm focused on a computer screen all day long.  So how do I manage to make it all work?  Well, to be perfectly honest, some days are worse than others.  I do have a tendency to push aside necessary chores in order to get that last bit of inspiration typed out.  It's a flaw...sigh...but something I am working on.

My goal for each day is to try to have my house at least look respectable in case visitors were to drop in unannounced.  No it's not always to my husbands standards, which I know is an area that I need work on, but I do my best.  So I set aside strict times in which I can write.  When my son's at school or in the evenings when my family has gone to bed.  I set aside "me" time for writing.  That way my life can proceed as planned and everyone wins.

So how about you?  How do you fit it all in to your busy day?


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