NaNo Comes to an End, and Life Resumes as Normal

 

NaNo has come to an end.  I wasn’t able to meet my goal of 50,000 words, but there is always next year!  It was, however, a wonderful experience and really reminded me of how much writing I can get done if I prioritize it a little better.  How did you do?

It has been nearly a month without critiquing my fellow writer’s work, and without having my own work critiqued, so I have been very excited to get back to business as usual.  Our first night of critiques went really well.  I had thought, based upon my own writing, that our NaNo work wouldn’t be written at quite the same level it usually is, but everyone had wonderful submissions.

This got me thinking… if my fellow writers, some of whom have taken long breaks from writing, can write this quality of work in a month, what really holds us back as writers?  I think many of us struggle, feeling that our work isn’t good enough or isn’t going the way we want it to, but maybe just pressing forward and actually writing is half the battle.  Maybe when we get out of our heads and just write continuously, our work won’t be perfect, but it will get done, and often will be better than we even imagined.

So, I learned a valuable lesson during my first NaNo: most of the excuses we use to keep ourselves from writing are just that, excuses, and if we truly want to be writers, we need to push them aside and just focus on making writing a constant part of our lives.

Let’s Try This Again

Okay, fair warning, don’t eat while you read this blog because for some reason analogies of festering wounds have been coming to me regarding this topic. Well, this week I had an epiphany: I realized that whereas I liked the general storyline of my WIP, there were certain elements that I no longer felt were a good idea. Also, I realized that I had some of those pesky little holes in my overall plot. The other evil dwarves don’t seem to think “it just does” is a good answer when they question the dynamics of my world building. 

I know that everything is fixable, but at the same time after being with the group for a few months, I realize there are certain things I would like to add to the story, and that my setting isn’t working for me. Plus those lovely dwarves have also been helping me with formatting (my current formatting skills are lacking). So with all of these various items weighing on my mind, it became a bit overwhelming. Cue the epiphany.

Time for a rewrite. This WIP is one of those I have gone back and forth to over the years because while I loved the story idea, I wasn’t 100% sure where it was going. In retrospect, after joining a critique group, I know why I wasn’t sure, because the story has issues. So as not to disappoint those who set aside their lunch: a good story is like a wound. The initial idea is when the injury first occurs and the closing of said wound is when all of a writer’s plotting comes together perfectly. If a writer has a deep enough connection with a reader,  a nice scar may be left behind, and the reader will never forget your story. On the other hand, sometimes stories don’t close up well and they start to fester. You ignore them until you realize you can no longer deal with the infection,and at this point you can amputate (give up on the story if you’re sure nothing else you do can fix it), or you can tear off the scab, clean the wound, and start over. I’m choosing the latter.

So I bought Scrivener as I believe it will help help me with at least a general outline (I’m a bit of a panster) and organizing my research. So today is to new beginnings. I’ve got a fresh band aid so let’s close this one up.

 

Short but sweet…

Unfortunately, this week my post is short and sweet.  Thanks to having to travel for the job that pays the bills, I was marrooned in an aluminum container many, many hundreds of feet above ground for a couple of hours where viruses of all sorts and sizes were allowed topercolate.  Now I am the proud owner of a sinus infection.  So other than trying to get the Prankster Duo, the hellhound and the knight in slightly muddy armor back on track for the upcoming week, I’m wracking my brain for a good tag line and trying to gouge out the synop for Shadow’s Soul. Once I manage some sort of progress, I’ll submit it over the Evil 7 and pretend I’ve accomplished something this week!

I promise a better blog next week.  Until then…have fun, but not so much that you can’t afford the bail!

Wicked

The Horrifying Blank Page…

So with 2012 off to a stumbling start and the fact that it coincides with the fact that I have to start an entire new book from scratch, I thought I’d drag you along each week as I trip my way down the writer’s path of creation.

From previous entries you’ll have noticed that I thought I was doing well.  I had what I thought was book 3 all plotted out.  I even used an actual outline this time around.  I was so puffed up with a sense of accomplishment, which lasted until I gathered at the Swamp Shack with some of the other Dwarves.  Then my puffiness deflated into an oozing pile of goo.

They weren’t overly mean.  I mean I could hear Eerie whispering with Mischievous and only made out a few words: “How the Fur Flies might work”, Quirky just kept saying over and over again, “No, no, no…”, Smokey perked in with an occasional “Did you say you created a book tree? What’s a book tree?”, Jedi  just held onto her Yoda Zen-like opinion  of “Write, do not write, there is only plot” and Snarky, she kept stroking her whip while giving me the evil eye.  Seriously, really not the normal bloodbath but still…

After much debate, some ducking of flying objects I reluctantly had to admit that yes, this would make a fantastic book 4, and I needed to go back and not cheat my future readers and follow  (no spoilers allowed) this particular character for book 3.

So I spent a few days tossing sharp edged things at the wall to see what would stick.  I scratched out a new plot outline, which was similar to pulling teeth with no Novocain.   So now I have a plot that will work with the overall story arc but I can’t get my opening scene to gel!

My typical application of Lady Clairol is just not up to the challenge of covering my spontaneous eruptions of white hair as I labor to bring forth the bestest opening scene ever.  However, this time instead of worrying over the bones of it, much like the hellhound and his decapitated duck from Christmas, I’ve given my self until this weekend to get it together.  Because come Swamp Gas or Zombie hordes, I will begin this book this weekend.

Defenders of Creativity

Here in the swamp there is one day every month that I look forward to with baited breath and giddy excitement–the first Saturday, that joyous day when I make the trek through our stomping grounds over to Smokey’s place where delicious and enticing aromas waft like catnip through the air.  This time I left not only the Prankster Duo and the hellhound behind, but even my knight-in-slightly-muddy armor stayed at home.  He was muttering something about playoff tournaments and had pulled out his old high school jousting thingy. The Evil 7 were meeting for our monthly eat-n-gab and I was anxious to fling a few ideas off of them.

As I made my way through the swamp even the Zombies had a small pep to their normal shuffle-drag so it was more along the lines of shuffle-drag-hop.  Mischievous was tormenting our newest arrival-Mr. C. Rock Adail.  There were bets circulating on how long before Mr. C. Rock-AnAss lasted before someone decided Mrs. Swamp Thing needed a new pair of boots. I was down for a month, but we’ll see…

As I basked in the inspiring atmosphere of the other dwarves, it hit me why these other six individuals are so important to me as a writer.  I thought I’d share these pearls with you all…

1.  They are the only ones I know who can understand that the voices in my head do not equate to a psychotic break, but are in actuality–character development.

2.  Just because I think I have developed a perfectly awesome plot outline for book 3 and should be lauded for my brilliance, they will be the ones to shake their heads with varying degrees of pity and indulgence as they slash my ego down to size with, “Awww sweetie, this is great.. but it’s not book three, this is book four.”  Only they could walk away unscathed from pointing out my mistakes.

3.   They push me to stretch my limits to a breaking point and sometimes even get me to reset those limits somewhere completely new.  Who else could would understand my fear of writing a character who’s not tempered into a lethal weapon by a torturous past?  I’m sure Freud would have a field day with me, but only the other Evil 6 get why the thought of writing a character with a happy past makes my skin clammy and cold while my stomach twists into a Gordian knot.

4.  They’re safe.  Strange concept for a motley group like us, but oh so true.  With them, it doesn’t matter how twisted, dark, wildly inappropriate, weirdly humorous, or silly the concepts are, I can share them and know they aren’t wondering when I’ll hit their house in the middle of the night in a white mask or show up in a white jacket with buckles in the back.  Every writer needs somewhere to bounce all sorts of things around, just to see where they’ll hit or what ideas they’ll spark.  With my group, I have the freedom to do that without worrying if they’ll think differently of me because of it.  They already know I’m warped, so no use in hiding it.

5.  Without them I wouldn’t be working on a book 3, book 4 or even considering 5-8.  We may  have all moved into the Swamp at different times, from different spots in our meandering journeys, but they become my cheering squad, my cattle-prods, my stinging whip of determination and my life saving rope of sanity in the very perilous world of writing.  They’re the ones who can make sure your characters are being true to themselves and their world, your plots may twist and turn but smooth out in the end, and you don’t ever stop writing.

6.  They understand the importance of taking time to dream.  Each of us have had to learn how to snatch our precious dreaming time from the clutches of the real world.  Every writer needs those precious minutes every day.  Time to flesh out those voices in our head, add topography to those worlds we’re creating, and finagle a few twists and turns in those pesky plot lines.  Others may snark at taking time to dream when reality is an oppressive monster, but we understand just how vital and necessary the skill is to our artists souls.  And we guard it zealously with no apologies.

The first Saturday of the month may provide me with lots of adult conversations that seem to be lacking in every day life, but it’s also my time outside of time. It’s a chance to share laughter, ideas, and insights with individuals who are my friends and defenders.  I take huge comfort in the fact that together we become formidable defenders who protect the tiny pieces of our souls that we set into story and lay on paper and place before the intimidating eye of the world.

Wicked

A True Writer’s Holiday…

So this week the the Evil Dwarves headed out on a well earned vacation, a true writer’s holiday.  Since summer in the swamp is not really an ideal way to coax your muse into a sharing frame of mind, we decided to offer them some time up in the mountains.  Unfortunately, the gods of the isle of fire had followed my clan home and set up shop about where we were thinking of sneaking away to.  So, I have to admit I was expecting:

 

Imagine my surprise when we arrived and found this instead:

As long as you don’t mind a little brown along the edges of your forest line, it’s absolutely gorgeous.  A great spot to entice those pesky muses to sit down and cooperate for a little while.   Since I missed last week on the blog due to circumstances beyond my control (an irritating gnat known as the “real world” intruded) I thought I’d take a few minutes to share the joy of finding a spot away from the day-to-day reality demands that can tempt a writer to stray away from the keyboard. So before I began interrupting the sounds of nature with the soft clacking of the keyboard as I put to paper Raine and Gavin’s next adventure, it’s a strangely unreal experience not to have to worry about cooking anything (we have enough food to feed an invading army if so inclined), watering the hellhound, providing nourishment for the Prankster Duo, or being tempted (on oh so many levels) by my own knight in shining armor, I’m actually daunted by the fact I find myself with almost three days of uninterrupted writing.  It’s enough to send a girl into a swoon!

Until next week, go forth and live your own adventures!
–Wicked

PS: And not to rub noses of those left behind, but it’s only in the 70′s over here.

 

An Exciting new journey…

Hi All, the clan and I survived our trip to the Isle of Fire and a smokin’ good time was had by all!  Lots of memories were made, and the Duo learned all sorts of new skills–snorkeling, kayaking, and how to out run eels.  Did you know being hissed at underwater is just as intimidating as being hissed at on land? Yep, it surely is.

So let me explain the above picture. You’re about to embark upon a very exciting, nerve wracking journey with me.  I have received my very first contract offer! Let me take you through the roller coaster ride from day one.

Day 1

You open your email and have a response from a query you sent, and after all this time you’re getting use to the “we love your characters/world building/plot/ but….” The dreaded “but”, it’s a killer every time.  I’ve had “but there’s not enough sex”, “but there’s not enough romance”, “but it won’t make a good fit for us at this time”, the list goes on.  I don’t envy editors and agents swimming desperately through their oceans of submissions, because it takes a great deal of patience to make it to shore and find that lone perfect pearl that’s going to shine out in the world.  So I owe all those who’ve I queried who’ve been nice enough to say exactly why the book didn’t work, a huge “Thank you”, because without them, all those changes that made the book better wouldn’t have come about.  Between them and the Evil 7, they’re what keep pushing me to put words to paper regardless of how many “but”s come my way.

Back to our story, there’s an email from an e-publisher you queried and as I open it with another sigh preparing to read on why my book isn’t going to be a good fit, I start to read. “Thank you for submitting your manuscript, Shadow’s Edge, I enjoyed the manuscript and would like to offer you a contract to publish the book.”  It takes me five minutes of re-reading the first line before it sinks in.  OMG! They want me (insert Susan Lucci moment here!)!  I end up dragging my other half over to the computer to make sure I’m reading this correctly and not hallucinating.  Nope, he assures me, it’s real.

I immediately contact some important others…the Whipmistress, my mom, my sisters, my husband (who patiently just smiles as I tell him for the umpteenth time), my kids, my dog, the list goes on.

So for the remainder of the day I alternate between breaking into spontaneous song and dance moments, and smiling like a mad woman.  However, I heed the Whipmistress’s advice, wait a day before responding.

Day 2

I’m up early, I’ve already drafted the reply, but one snag before I can say “Oh hell yes!”, I need to touch base with an agent I had just submitted to, and who had requested materials.  Nerves are strung tight and the little voice in my head is muttering, “What if you ask for time and they say, nope don’t want you then? You’re going to blow your chance.” Word to the wise, pay someone to take out that annoying little voice, it can cause more trouble than it’s worth. Ignoring it, I send off my response of “I’m interested, but can you give me a couple of weeks to check in with other submissions”, sounding very calm and professional in the email, even though my nails are now just bloody stubbs on my fingers.  I hit send, then off to the next email, letting the other person know I’ve been offered a contract so….

I got two emails back that day, one from the second query saying, could you send me your entire book and give me a couple of weeks to read it?  The second from the publisher saying “no problem, by the way do you have a second book in this series planned? If so, we’d like to offer you a two book contract.”

As soon as my heart re-started there ensued more song and dance routines.  Yet once the exuberance passed, the doubts started creeping in.  For all new writers out there, take heed.  This part of things will drive you nuts. My advice, talk to those who know what you’re doing–critique group partners, significant others, family, the guy down the street who thinks the aliens are coming, whoever, but talk to those you trust.  Go through all the pros and cons you have concerning accepting a contract and all that it entails.

Day 3

More discussion of pros/cons and what ifs.  The biggest question, am I really ready for this?  Up to this point, I go out, I write my stories, I share them with my critique group, who then sends me back arms loaded with suggestions, and I continue on.  Now there’s going to be more, I can see it coming my way.

Day 4-15

I flip back and forth between what-if scenarios as I wait to hear back from the second query.  Finally the d-day arrives and I haven’t heard anything, so I send off a polite email asking if she’s had time to look it over.  She very promptly responses, “Yes, I love your world building, characters and plot, however (another word for but) I’m not in love with it enough to represent at this time.”  I’m a little heartbroken, because when ever you hear “I’m not in love with” whether there’s a “you” or an “it” attached, it’s hard.  For me, though it caused a sting, it also helped settle the what-if questions I had running through my head.  One door closes, another opens, so off went my email to the e-publisher of “Sign me up!”

Day 17

I start emailing with my prospective editor and now I have to think about promotion, websites, domain names, cover art, and oh yes, don’t forget about finishing book 2. And that’s just for the writing side of my life, never mind the family side and the work-that-pays-the-bills side.  Starting to see the huge boulder rolling down the hill toward you? I am and I’ve never been a good runner in my life.  For writers who find themselves in this same spot, I know it’s overwhelming at first, but just breathe, because you’ll get through it.

Day 18

I get a copy of the contract and thank goodness CampChef has connections, because I’m not a lawyer.  It gets review, revisions are suggested, I draft an email and off it goes to the lawyer.  Now I wait….and while I’m waiting, I start looking at cover art, domain names, websites and I want to pull my hair out.  Here’s the thing,writers write because they love to tell stories. However, if you haven’t noticed, most writers like being solitary, so this whole go out and promote your book idea, terrifying.  Yet it’s a truth of the industry, if you want your stories read, you have to go tell people about it.

Day 19

So here I am, playing catch up on my blog, brain fried from all the “practical” aspects of becoming a published author swirling around in my head.  I’ve put all aside for today because right now, I need to get back to book 2 and get it finished.  Stay tune, because I promise to drag you along this road with me.

Wicked

Fame, such a fleeting thing…

Fame, or as close am I’m going to get to it…

When you go to submit your soon to be world famous novel to the lucky editor who’ll get to say, “I knew them when…” all advice tells you to include your writing achievements.   These accolades are not to include the research paper you did in high school and smoked all your classmates with, or the nifty little poem that made it to the state fair.  No, these noteworthy successes are to be final masterpieces that have been…gasp…published.

Now up until recently, I had to struggle with this lovely part of my dreaded query letter.  Why? Because the only piece I had “published” was a non-fiction short on National Public Radio which I wasn’t even aware was out there.  Here’s what happened.  A handful or two years ago, before I found my place among the Evil 7, I tried a few different writing groups. You know how it goes. You’ve been out of practice so you think, “I’ll find a little group, and start small. Just get those creative juices flowing.”  Soon each week I would end up in a room with other moms and we would present short stories, generally non fiction, for critique.  Or as I now know better, discussions.  Not a lot of critiquing, more friendly “perhaps you should…”s.   Nowadays, I have to say,  I’ve come to value the blood baths that I currently endure with the Evil 7.  They seem a bit more productive, funnily enough.

Anyway, I digress.  So we did these mom pieces, and I had one.  They asked me to record it for something, which I now can’t remember what it was.  Then two years later, a co-worker calls me up from Oregon and says,  “By the way are you the one who has two tattoos and tons of siblings?”  Color me shocked. Seemed  he liked to listen to NPR, and lo and behold my recorded story was out there.  Ah fame…gone before you even know you have it.

Fast forwarded to current times.  I’m trudging through the torturous endurance test known as a query letter, and I’m hitting up the other six for some advice, lamenting how I have no publishing cred.  Then Mistress of the Whip, Snarky, dryly points out that I do indeed have some cred, doofus.  Yep, she’s one of the few who gets away with calling me that. A few bloody slashes later, the notation of a piece on NPR made it’s way into the letter. Viola!

Recently I had a request from an e-pub who’s had my story for some time, but since it seems my book has disappeared into the great abyss, I’ve started shopping it out again. Since the notorious piece with NPR, I got to take part in another non-fiction anthology, also to do with moms.  Although it’s under my “real” name because it’s non-fiction, I’m doing this for two reasons.  The ever elusive publishing cred and the fact that all proceeds from the book sales go to charities.  You can’t beat that.

So if you’re looking for a sweet Mother’s Day gift for a mom or grand-mom, check out this site (www.oursharedwisdom.com) and enjoy the anthology, “A Mother’s Wisdom” edited by Cathryn Lomardo.  Lots of great stories from lots of great moms and grand-moms. Yep, I’m in there, on page 15. Have at it.

It’s all I can give you for now because somewhere out there is an editor just waiting to pick up my next great novel. And when they do, even you can join in the “I read her when…”

–Wicked

But you’re published now

I’ve heard from a few writers and a few non-writers recently the above phrase. I’ll be talking about my writer’s group, the 7ED and how I have such and such project in for their critique.

I get a look of wide-eyed disbelief, then the comment, “But you’re published now. Why do you still need a critique group?”

And all I can do is laugh. Yes. I’m published now (with my very own editor, now 2

But that doesn’t mean all of a sudden I transformed into the most awesome, perfect writer ever born. HA!

I need them now more than ever. Talk to most published authors, and they’ll tell you how badly they still need their critique and writers groups. Because even published writers make mistakes. Huge glaring ones. And sometimes, we even forget to write a plot into a short story

I wouldn’t be here without my great, wonderful and totally awesome group.

And I wouldn’t last long in the publishing world without going to the 7ED first with everything I write so they can rip it to shreds. And I love that. Because it makes me a better storyteller and a better writer.

Love to all of them.

~ Amber aka Snarky