Congrats are the order of the day

It's important to share about other blogger's successes and I am happy to do that today.

If you have never gone over to Greg's blog before, then I really encourage you to do so. Greg visited my blog a few months ago. Since then I've learned a little about his writing endeavors and like many of us, he worries about rejection too.

But his style of writing reminded me so much of Andy Rooney's that I hoped some day he would find a home for it.

When I read his post yesterday I about screamed. I am so happy for him. Hee took a huge step in his writing career and now has a column for a newspaper!

I'm waiting to read how it all came about still--maybe he will share that in one of his future posts. So if you get a chance, please pop on over and give him a cheer too!

My What Ifs

What if.

Two words that trip me up every day. I'm not talking about the good what ifs. I'm talking about the other kind. The kind that make me miss out on life. The kind that make me wonder who I've turned into.

What if we get a hurricane? What if I get sick? What if my car breaks down and I can't find help?

My what ifs quite often swallow me whole. Swollow my life. Swallow me.

It never used to be this way. I have certainly done my share of adventurous things. Ridden in a horse and buggy in Central Park at midnight with an ex-con. Flown to Paris and learned how to maneuver the subways and survive. Driven all night for twelve hours half-asleep.

And those were the safe things.

But somewhere along the way, as I aged, I started counting how many years I had left to live. I started hanging on to them tightly as though I could really control my number of days. And I found myself wanting them to last--safely.

Part of it came from reading too many newspapers, listening to too much news, seeing my daughter move to the other side of the country where I couldn't take care of her anymore, having a grandson born who I couldn't watch grow up, and living in a city where crime is growing as fast as my weeds.

The ladies at my encouragement group on Saturday noticed how often I used my what ifs. They decided to enlist their help even if it meant blindfolding me and making me bungi jump off a bridge.

So today I'm declaring an end to my what ifs.

Because if not, what if I never really lived the life God intended me?

That would be the worst what if of all.

Avoiding the Inevitable?

I read a lot of books. Always have. It's what I do and I think what spurred me on to write. I always tried to figure out what the writer did that grabbed my attention and tried to simulate it. On one level, my method worked.

Then I found I needed to go to the next level. Put more of myself into my writing. Find what makes my writing my own style. In some ways, I'm still working on that.

What I haven't done is learn all the technical aspects of writing. My eyes glaze over when I read about scene structure and plot development. I tell myself I will never get all that and never be able to write fiction. It reminds me of why I hated selling real estate. My brain isn't wire that way.

Does that make me a bad writer? Does that make me less than? Does that mean I'll never have a book published?

In my defense, I have read quite a few books on writing and have my favorite ones--the ones I can figure out and make immediate sense. The ones that don't cause me to break out in a sweat.

But I'm still unsure about the next step. Am I fighting the inevitable? Will I have to one day read those books and figure this craft out totally?

Sigh . . . in the meantime, I'll continue to write from the heart. The place I know best.

How about you? Are you taking on the unknown in what you do?

The Little Things

My husband helped tear off a roof for Habitat for Humanity last week. He hasn't done physical labor like that since he shut down his construction company in PA and we moved to Florida eight years ago.

But he said it felt good. Strangely.

Even though it isn't what he wants to do now. Not in his plans for the future.

But it's something. Something God might need him to do before he gives him the bigger jobs.

When I first began writing, I wrote for everything that would take anything I submitted. It wasn't really what I dreamed of at all, either. I usually didn't get paid. Usually no one saw it except a few other hundred people and me. Definitely did not compare to my dreams of writing a book.

But it was something--a start. And sometimes that's where we need to be. It's where I needed to be to learn my craft, to learn about publishing, to learn to be faithful to my dream.

The little things count. They turn into bigger things. Soon I was getting a real check for my labor. Eventually I was published in real books. And now I am taking the next big step. Querying my books.

Are you being faithful to the little things that God is asking you to do?

Progress?

I think I'm making some progress and wanted to share some of it today. I didn't get a chance to get around to some of my favorite blog places yesterday partly due to my next plan, but will today.

Although I'm in the middle of editing and revising my third and latest book, I stumbled across Avon books (check out post here ) and decided I might revise my first book and submit to them. They publish inspirational romance books. The more I submit the better the opportunities. But as I'm looking back at that book, of course, I'm finding all sorts of needs. That takes time.

I wanted to also share abit more about my card writing venture as well. Many of you know it was Blue Mountain who contacted me. I've sent a few in and they are contracting options on some of them.Those cards will then go to Market Review which can take any where from six months to two years. If they do well, then the cards are chosen for publication.

A process for sure but one that I thought I might attempt so I'm writing and sending a few each week. The editor is kind enough to work with me to let me know what they like.

Well there's my progress report for this week for what it's worth. What's yours?

Honestly

I wrote this great blog post today. Then I deleted it. It wasn't what I really wanted to say after all.

So I'm starting again.

What I really want to say is how amazing this entire blogsphere is. When I go to other sites and see familiar names and pictures, I wonder how it all happened. How did I get to be friends with so many like-minded people? How did we find each other out of the zillions of blogs there are out there?

It's a process, I know. You read something you like that someone said and then you go check out their blog. If it appeals to your senses, then you read more the next day. Eventually, you follow this person who thinks like you do or who challenges you to think outside your box.

I've been blessed to meet so many great people in the past months. I enjoy following your writing careers. I cheer you on and tell others I know about your successes. I wait eagerly for the day when I can show up at a conference, see your name tag, and say, "I know you!"

It's the honest blogs I'm drawn to. The ones that tell me they are struggling too with this writing adventure.

And I'm happy to have found so many of you.

From back in the day

I noticed in a flyer that Walgreens would take old tapes and put them on a CD. So I dug through our pile of vacation VCR videos and stumbled across some of my old books.

Little Women.

It was my favorite childhood book. I got it in 1967 for Christmas. So maybe I would read some of it. I took it out to the patio, opened the first page . . .

Oh my goodness! The book I loved so much had broken almost every writing rule I've learned.


sighed Meg, said Beth contentedly, Meg said in an altered tone, exclaimed Jo, said Meg warmly. . .

Page after page of dialogue tags and -ly adverbs--what's a girl to think? It shattered my beloved memories.

Ok--who would have thought so many years later, I would try to reread one of my favorite books and find it thus so?

But here's what I think. Writing styles have changed over the years--some of the stuff used then is outdated now. But what hasn't changed is a good story. Little Women is a good story with a good plot. I cried reading it. I wanted to be Jo. I identified with her in so many ways.

Today we need to write the way the rules are set for today to even get a hope at being published.
I'm sure years from now though, someone might read something we've written and declare how old-fashioned it is. But hopefully one thing will remain the same.

We've written a great story.

Kinkos loves me

The Kinkos man and my husband are fast becoming good friends. Every time I need a large amount of copies of my work done up, I send him in there.

Yesterday, we ran off two copies of my WIP. One I will use to do my edits from. The other one I sent to a good friend to read. (let's not even talk about the anxiety there)

This method of printing off everything I write and doing a review that way seems to work great for me. It amazes me what mistakes I can find when I see it that way. Even spacing errors shows up better. Besides, I can carry it everywhere with me so much easier.

What are some tried and true methods you use when you edit? I would love to know--but hopefully it won't mean ousting my Kinko man.

What's the worse that can happen?

I was shocked when I read the e-mail. I read it again just to be sure. Then I printed it off and read it to my husband. "Yes, that's what it says." He nodded and turned back to his golf channel.

Someone found me.

Someone out there in the land of Blogs and Twitter and whatever else there is figured out what kind of writer I want to be. One who encourages others.

That someone was a card company. Last week, the editor from a company I knew well, emailed me and asked if I would consider trying my hand at writing cards--to encourage others.

"I don't know how to write cards," I said to my husband, who still sat glued to the set and the last put.

"Give it a shot."

"But cards are short. General. I'm trying to write fiction--where I have to flesh out everything."

I knew I was whining but it came from fear. Fear of blowing a chance to reach others. Fear of thinking I might fail. Fear that I might find out I can't write 200 words and have it make sense.

"What's the worse that can happen?" he said as I studied the email again.

He was right. Again. What's the worse that can happen?

So that's what I'm doing. I'm giving it a shot like I plan to do with every new opportunity that comes my way.

Not because I think I can write a card, but because God might think I can. And that's who I hope to please anyway, isn't it?

Are you making the most of all your opportunities today?

Out of Breath

When do you quit?

When do you throw in the towel and say,"I've had it. I can't do anything else. I'm done. It's over. I'm history."

My husband has an old tablet from his former company that says, "Failure is not an option." The company is now almost bankrupt.

How do you know when it's time to stop what you're doing? To stop going through the motions?
Of course, there are always those clear-cut situations that demand you stop for your own safety.

But what about those others--and the times when you want to quit but you don't know what to do next then?

Think about your writing. How many rejections do you take before you decide you stop sending?
Is there a definitive number you can put on it?

I don't think so. Not if you love to write as I do.

Instead we keep pressing on--toward the goal. Do we have another choice?

The same goes for our lives. I have days when I think I can't do any more than I am doing to give us a good life. When it all crashes down in front of me, I want to give up. But I can't. That's not what God expects from me.

Keep running the race. He promises us it's worth it in the end.

Movie or Book?

I finally used a gift certificate from my daughter yesterday. I dragged my husband to see the movie My Sister’s Keeper—the story from Jodi Picoult’s book. I was curious to see if the movie version worked as well.

I have to admit. I liked the book better.

But what it did for me was to get my brain to thinking about plots. Lots of plots. And how to spin them so they make the reader want more. I came home ready to write but I didn’t. Instead, I’ll jot down some notes and save them for when I’m ready again.

An update on my WIP: I finally finished reading through it on Sunday. Now I’ll go back and do the harder edits. The fleshing out of the characters—the dialogue and making sure everything makes logical sense. I’m not rushing this book. I want it to be my best.

I want to leave readers thinking it beats watching a movie.

What about your latest story? Do you want to read it or watch it?

Asking the Hard Whats

My dishwasher broke today. Granted, it’s ten years old, but still. I didn’t relish washing and drying a full load first thing this morning. It put a cramp in the start of my entire day. It will put a bigger cramp in my check book.

But in the past few weeks, I’ve learned something I should have learned two years ago. I’m a slow learner and I think God knows that.

I don’t ask, “Why, God?” anymore.

Instead, I try to ask, “What God?” What do you want me to learn from this situation? What can I take away from it? What do you want me to do?

Asking why does nothing except cause me to keep spinning my wheels. The answer to why isn’t important because it won’t change a thing.

Two years ago, my husband lost his job. We packed our Jeep to the rooftop and drove to Charleston to work. All the way up I kept asking, “Why? Why us? Why did this have to happen now? Why did you take me from my home?”

The funny thing is—I still don’t have the answer. And I might never .

A couple of months ago I got an e-mail asking me to speak at a writer’s conference. I turned it down out of fear. I wondered why God would ask met o do it when I wasn’t even prepared yet.

I should have asked, “What do I need to do Lord to do this?”

Are you asking too many whys today? Why did my latest submission get rejected? Why didn’t the agent answer my last email? Why this? Why that?

Maybe instead, ask the hard What questions. What does God want you to do about that last rejection? Should you submit it someplace else? Should you have someone look it over?

What are you doing with your whys today?

A blast from the past

I really shouldn't post this. But this blog is about my writing journey--the good and the bad.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I tried to write my first book about ten years ago--without a computer--without benefit of any writing books--without all my blogging helpers and critique partners.

I was digging around in my files and found some of the original pages. Horror.

I will share with you just one short paragraph:

"Is that all you ever think about?" Nathan surprised himself for the way he blurted out his question. Amy could see instant disbelief and hurt flood his features and she swallowed hard, regretting immediately how tactless she had been again. Nathan shoved his chair back, and stood none too gently. Placing his napkin on his plate, he picked up the bill and tossed it on her plate. "I hope you remember your promise". With one last contemptuous look cast her way, Nathan stalked out of the restaurant leaving a very dismayed Amy in his wake.

Pretty bad, huh? I know. Made me understand why it was rejected. Too many common writing errors. Change in POV, bad punctuation, poor adjectives and more.

Have you looked back at some of your earlier writing? What do you dislike most about it?

Divorce Your Story

I'm not an advocate of divorce but I've learned to be when it comes to my writing.

How many times have you written the perfect short story or the perfect first three pages of a manuscript? You know it's the best work you've ever written. You can't wait to share it with your friends, your family and maybe even your writer friends.

But then it happens. Someone makes a comment about it. It needs what? I need to change it where? !!!!!!!!! How can that be? I wrote it perfectly! It will sell just as it is!!! They don't know good writing when they see it!

Sound familiar?

It does to me. Because I've been that person. Unwilling to appreciate that some comments are correct. That maybe I do need more help.

Maybe we need to let go of our work and not hang on so tightly to something that isn't working. Maybe our work can improve if we take some well-meaning advice.

Divorce hurts. Letting go of a cute phrase or entire chapter hurts too.

But in the end--maybe we'll find the perfect marriage for our work with an agent or a publisher.

Are you hanging on too tightly today?

The Winner is...

Thank you for such a huge response to my blogaversary on Monday! I enjoyed reading your answers as did my husband. I must say he groaned when he saw how many he had to read.

But he did and he chose the winner of the $30 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

CONGRATULATIONS SUSAN J. REINHARDT

If you haven't visited her blog, I urge you to take a tour of it. Susan kindly does book reviews for authors, sends her readers to other blogs and encourages and answers everyone who leaves a comment.

I can't wait see how God will use all of us writers and bloggers this next year. Thank you for the blessing you each are to me and to each other.

Do you want to clean up your writing?

I enjoyed last week so much because many of you let me read your WIP. I didn't plan to do this, but since we learn from each other, I thought I would post some of the more common errors I came across--ones that I have had to learn myself not to do.

1. Putting period outside of quotes

2. Not using contractions in every day dialogue

3. Using quotes around phrases you want to stand out—better to drop them

4. Repetition—repeating the same idea in the same paragraph several times

5. Starting sentences with There was, this was, or that was rather than finding a stronger way

6. Weak beginnings

7. Ending doesn't have a hook to next chapter

8. POV shifts

9. Too much Telling and not enough showing

10. Using an –ly adverb + a weak verb instead of a stronger verb

11. Change in tense

12. Improper use of em dash

13. Too many dialogue tags

14. Repeating the same word in several close sentences

15. Using the phrases: at this point, the fact of the matter, in fact

16. Same sentence lengths, Break them up for variety

17. Punctuation error “Go there,” he said instead of “Go there.” He said.

It's here!

No, I haven’t sold my house, won the lottery or even had a book published. (YET)

But today is my THIRD anniversary of BLOGGING! (Can you believe it?)

And since I didn’t celebrate the first or second year, I am long overdue. (Way overdue)

In celebration, I am giving away a THIRTY DOLLAR gift certificate from AMAZOM.COM to some lucky blogger friend this week on Wednesday. I’ve asked my husband to be the judge and since he enjoys eating, he has kindly agreed.

How do you win?

Easy.

Please leave your answer to the following THREE questions:

1. How long have you been blogging?

2. What do you enjoy most about blogging?

3. How do you give back to other writers on your blog?

Without all of you fellow bloggers, the time I’ve spent on here would have no meaning. And I’d be a lot less further along with my writing. Thank you for making blogs a great place to hang out and a place to learn.

It's Coming!

Get ready for a big surprise! Check back on my blog on Monday to see what I mean. It's coming and I can't wait to tell you. It's almost here! My heart is pounding so hard--fireworks can't even compete!

But for now. . .

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Thank you

I had to pop on for a minute today.

I want to say thank you for all the fantastic reads you allowed me to be part of when I offered to do a quick critique!

I read quite a few chapters and stories yesterday and not only did I make suggestions but I learned as well. We all have different styles of writing and it was fun to see what yours is.

I plan to read more as they come in this week. So if you are thinking you want a second eye or opinion--send it over:)