Disappointment at the Library

Taking the advice of several bloggers in the publishing, I went to my local library to explore the section on publishing, writing, etc. I left near tears. Not much to choose from and all of it seriously dated. I did manage to find Stephen King's On Writing and Pen on Fire (a guide for busy women). I thought there would be much more.



I also realized I am going to have to obtain an illegal St. Louis county library card, if I am going to be able to do effective research. This revelation came only after listening someone ask the reference desk manager who Aaron Burr attempted to assassinate, and she had not a clue.



My next stop will have to be Barnes and Nobel and Borders to check out their writing sections. Who knows, maybe I will run into someone in the same position I am currently in.

Audience?

My husband would be an interesting character study. He tries to be supportive of the idea of writing for a living, but he does not understand how you may need uninterrupted time and solitude.

In my shareholders' meeting on Wednesday night, he agreed to ground rules, claiming to understand how serious I was about this, but I should have known. He does not take or support my current job of teaching high school English. He says things like "She doesn't have a real job," or "She works practically half-days." He does not realize all the hours I spend grading papers, planning lessons, making copies at copy machine.

Today as I am trying to type this simply posting, he is chatting away in one ear. At the beginning of the conversation, I didn't mind because he brought up a question I had been mulling over for months - "who is your audience?"

I have no idea. I know that some authors stick in one genre their whole life, others branch out in the same markets, and still others branch out in to several genres in different markets. I find it fascinating. One blogger advised in his post, "write what you read." Well, I am sure you can see from my Shelfari book case at the bottom of the blog, I read pretty much anything that I can get my hands on, and I am trying to branch out even more.

Another blogger suggested, "write to the audience you have the most contact with." I think that is pretty sound advice. I would be writing for my students, but as far as book ideas or even short story ideas, I don't have any.

My husband's advice, "Write for Oprah." I shot back a sarcastic "funny." I thought about writing for my child, but maybe that would narrow my market too much.

And can a writer be successful in several different genres? Or should they work on perfecting one before moving on to the next one? (I believe an editor suggested that in his blog.)

Difficult questions that must be answered soon.

Certain Level of Insanity?

Today, after chatting at length with a self-published writer (and noted pessimist), I realized a certain amount insanity is required to be a writer. Just think about all the impossibilities that one must overcome to actually see his or her piece in print.

Like I said in a previous post, I have spent time mining blogs for advice and tips on the market, the writing process, what is selling, how to make the process easier, etc. And I have already added to what I thought was going to be a long and tedious process.

I realized while I am working on a novel-length submission, I might also want to be working on articles, short stories and contest pieces because many agents like to see accolades and accomplishments on your resume before they take you on for a book deal. (When will I have time for that?)

Not to mention once you have checked off the accolades and accomplishments off the checklist on your way to becoming a published author, then you must work on this "All-Deciding" query letter that just might make or break your career, which may be attached to a synopsis that could be equally damning.

I was told by another writer to have 4 versions of summaries in my arsenal when I approach an agent. The one sentence summary, the 1-2 paragraph summary, the elevator pitch, and the 2-12 page summary (with some rule about 1 page for every 25 pages of writing). All of this has my head completely spinning. And all of this to just land an agent.

Then if I think the agent is going to take over the load of the work, I would be sorely mistaken. There are rewrites and rewrites and rewrites to look forward too. And if you are fortunate enough to survive this, then contracts come and market plans are tossed around for review. And in one to three years, your book will hit the bookshelf at the local Barnes and Nobel or Borders. But in the mean time, you have set yourself for all this abuse again with another manuscript.

That is a lot of energy to be pouring into a project that may never see the light of day. Consider that less than 1% of manuscripts received ever get published. (That is almost enough to make you throw away your new collection of pencils and pens.)

Shareholders' Meeting

Usually, when I attempt to take on a task like this I like to keep it quiet. (You know, like a diet.) I wonder why that is. With a diet, I guess there is a certain level of shame attached. You are admitting that you have gain a significant number of pounds that warrant starving yourself back into some ideal outfit or swimsuit.

But why have I chosen in the past to keep my writing a secret? I guess it goes back to the fear of failure. I also dread those questions that usually follow after an announcement like this.

"How's the writing thing working out for you?"

"Get anything published, yet?"

"How long until I can buy one of your books at Borders or Barnes and Noble?"

These questions are usually asked by the ignorant. They don't understand that it is a process that can be wrought with rejection -- lots of rejection, before one can report great success. Needless to say, these are also often asked by the less creative minds in the world, who only ask about the bottom line. So why do I care what they think?

Because there is something in their questions to consider. How long does one try a keep failing? Can you really try for a lifetime and never succeed? And what if the answer to that question is yes, how do you cope? But these are questions for another time.

Tonight, I am holding the first shareholders' meeting. I realize that this cannot be done alone. I have to have support from my husband and child. They have to be willing to give me at least an hour to work on this a day or I am sunk before I leave the port. They have to invest in my future if this is going to work.

No more diet writing.

The Game Plan

Game plans, action plans, attack plans, working plans, strategic plans, tactical plans…whatever they are called, no one can deny their importance. Everyone has a plan….CEOs, administrators, professional athletes, agents, managers, etc.

So, what is mine?

Several, several years ago, when the St. Louis Rams were still the "Greatest Show on Turf", my husband recommended a short weekend getaway to the Rams training camp. (I guess now is a good time to tell you that I am an avid football fan. So, I did not consider the trip unpleasant.)I took in everything those mornings we sat ogling our gridiron heroes.


I realize now, like a professional athlete preparing for a championship season, I have quite a bit of work to do. Like the Rams, I need to do conditioning drills, attend practice and devise a winning game plan.


But, how does one even sit down and begin to scratch out a playbook? Study game film? Exactly. I have spent the last months reading several blogs from authors, publishers, agents, etc. I mined out a few gems that I believe can get me started. (I would like to mention Alice Pope’s Blog on Children’s Writers’ and Illustrators’ Market. I read her blog first and used it as a way of locating other blogs, using some of her recommendations. Alice, if you ever read this, a heart-felt thank you.)


My Game Plan:

1. Conditioning

• Read, Read, Read.
• Continue to mine blogs for useful information. Any information learned now, can only help later.
• Seek out Critique group and writer's support.

2. Attend Practice

• Write daily on blog.
• Write on project daily. (I believe the quote was "Ass in seat and write."

3. Devise winning plan.

Do I expect this all to work the first time? No. I know that at times I will have to scramble, change course, and punt. The game will never be perfect, but that is why there is half-time.

The Dream

"When we are dreaming alone, it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality." ~ Dom Helder Camara


I have never written or spoken a word of my dream. The thought of putting it into words terrifies me. In the thoughts that surround this fantasy of mine, I fear the more that share in my dream the greater the failure I will be if nothing becomes of it. This is how I continue to protect myself. This is how I keep myself from typing a single word.


But today is anew, and today I begin the pursuit of a dream that has existed since I was able to scrawl my first words on paper. Today I begin to hold myself accountable. Today I share my dream.

My Dream

The glow of the dawning sun lights the horizon. I realize I only have a few moments to brush my teeth, make my morning coffee, and stretch the remaining sleep from my body. A morning ritual that I never find tiresome even after all these years in this chosen lifestyle.

Rushing to the kitchen with a renewed sense of purpose, I pull the Columbian coffee beans from the freezer and place an amble amount in the self-grinding coffee maker. Checking the natural clock, the only one I follow, I have more than enough time to wait for the coffee to brew and prepare a whole grain bagel. After smearing Strawberry preserves on the bagel, the coffee maker chimes an alert. I pour a cup and trot up the stairs to continue with the best part of the morning.

I enter my favorite place - a rustic office equipped with just enough modern gadgets to still be considered in touch with society. The office is bookshelf lined with all my favorites, except for a small space holding an overstuffed cream-colored loveseat and floor lamp - my reading nook.

I move across the room to a solid wood desk holding a new computer. Flipping the computer on, praying the internet connection won't fail, I pull a tiny remote from the right-hand drawer. Pointing it at a gadget on the shelf, the room fills with music.

I kick back in my office chair, enjoying the coffee, bagel and view. The sun is just peaking over the mountain top, mixing its orange light with the reds and pinks already painted in the sky. I wait for the sun to strengthen, to warm my face, to light the office.

My fingers run over the keys. Today, it comes easily. I am a writer, an author, an artist of words. Successful and self-supported, I have all the time, solitude and muse-rich environment to perfect my craft.

Lofty, I know, but it is my dream. Now, I begin the pursuit of the dream.