Writers Can Be Friends

21
Nov

At first, it may seem that writers cannot be friends with other writers. We are told that publishing houses take fewer chances on new authors and their slush piles (we keep hearing) that tower in corners of intern’s closet offices. Add to that the element of envy and it would seem that it is every man for herself out there.

Except that it doesn’t have to be.

Russell Crowe at the Picadilly Circus, London while filming A Good Year (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Did you ever see the movie, A Beautiful Mind, with Russell Crowe? There’s a great part when he had a mathematical breakthrough in a bar and realized that if he and his friends worked together they could all achieve something for themselves that would not have to put them in competition with one another. Rather than all going after the one bombshell girl, if they ignored her, they could all get dates. It was a win-win.

I think of writing like that.If we as writers support each other (especially now in the age of platforms and internet marketing and promotion) we can all achieve what we desire — to be published — without taking anything away from another writer. The market is deep and wide, with plenty of niches for everyone. Your success doesn’t have to threaten me or diminish my chances.

When I started my first novel (don’t sweat it, I’m only now writing a second one as a NaNo challenge. It’s not like I’ve written five or had even one published – nope, not yet. But it could happen!) through a series of “happy coincidences” I was put in contact with a woman who had established her career as a writer. Her encouragement helped me feel validated as a writer. It was as if I needed to hear from someone who had experience in the field in order to feel like I wasn’t play-acting.

She didn’t have to do much (she didn’t have to do anything!) to make a difference to me, I would have been thrilled with one kind word, but she went above and beyond, even shared personal contacts. To a fledgling writer, her words of encouragement went a long way. I wouldn’t go so far as to call her a friend, we don’t go out for coffee or send each other birthday cards, but she helped me feel like maybe I wasn’t just chasing an ill-founded dream, like maybe there was a chance that I was onto something real. Here’s her website: http://www.nancyjosullivan.com/ and her books are out there in bookstores and can easily be found on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Jo-Sullivan/e/B001H9TLN0

An unanticipated benefit of NaNo has been getting in contact with other writers who are out there working at their craft. No matter their experience or “success”, they are out there putting in the time each day during the month of November. Maybe they are working with more intensity than they would otherwise (some days those word count meters don’t seem to budge n matter how long I’ve sat at the computer!) but they are investing the time and creative energy. Knowing that other people are out there makes it seem like I’m merely writing in a next-door room rather than all alone.

So write on, fellow authors. We may not be published, we may not win NaNo, but that does not mean we aren’t writers. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and thanks for the encouragement you are to me.

What You Should Know About Writers (maasmith.com)
The Invisibility of Writers (marcys.wordpress.com)
Pep Talks for Writers (nepheletempest.wordpress.com)
Writing Communities (eemoxam.wordpress.com)

That Didn’t Go the Way I Planned

19
Nov

Booo! (Photo credit: Steve B, UK)

An alternate title for this post is “The Lack of Writing was Monumental.”

I had all these writing plans for this weekend. They were all very reasonable and responsible, conscientious even. And they all seemed to go in the crapper (excuse me very much).

Booo hoo, waaaahhh for me, right? I know, I’m pathetic. I shouldn’t get to be discouraged when I have so many good things that were my distractions: my kids, friends, church, birthday parties, and family. But the writing…

Ah, the writing.

I’ve never been a big drinker, and I’ve never grown addicted to cigarettes or any other chemical (do fountain Diet Cokes count? I’m sure they must.), but the desire to write is how I imagine a low-grade addiction must be; an impulse or hankering that seems to grow the longer you deny it.

Have you ever had a project you couldn’t wait to get home to?

Maybe you decided to paint the bedroom. You picked out a color you love, you’ve got everything prepped and taped, and all that needs to happen now is to change into your grubby clothes and get to it?

That is a good example of writing for me. I often feel that when I sit down, I finally get to apply a coat of paint and get rid of that boring off-white, replace it with a deep red or rich, buttery yellow.

Even though I am discouraged tonight, and I might have to face the grim reality that it is unlikely I will be able to make up the 10,000 words I am behind schedule, I’m not going to walk away from the project. I’m not going to put the dresser back against the wall. I can admit that I might not end on time, but I can still work through the whole story and let the characters have their say.

Any Nano-ers or writers out there, how are your writing projects coming? How are you giving yourself permission to not become a hermit? I hope you’re having all kinds of breakthroughs and moments of brilliance. And if it didn’t happen today, there’s always tomorrow morning at o’dark hundred. That’s what I’ll be doing before the sun comes up (but that’s not saying much — I’m in Minnesota and sunrise isn’t until 6:30 or so right now).

Happy writing!

Not Everyone Can Be A Techie

17
Nov

All I can say about this is that if I was a true techie I would know how to paste this colorful NaNo thingy onto a sidebar on my blog. But I don’t know how, so that confirms any suspicions you might have had. Further evidence: My date-of-post is all smushed in with the title of each post. Plus, I can’t figure out how to get rid of the “edit” word in the title area of each and every single stinking one of my posts! I hope someone’s not going to be a smarty pants and click the dangling “edit” just to spite me, although if they did, I would deserve it.

No more for tonight, I must sleep so my unconscious mind can prepare for tomorrow morning bright and early. I didn’t make my word count goal, but I know I have more time this weekend than I might otherwise (or at least it looks that way now.. with kids you just never know). Here’s wishing you all a bright and shining tomorrow.

Mid Month Word Count (uniquetotheend.wordpress.com)
NaNoWriMo: Day 15 (takayta.wordpress.com)
Hurray! Word count progresses! (jayeedgecliff.wordpress.com)

Neglect the Family: All-In for NaNoWriMo

16
Nov

The Common Pheasant, the most important bird for many gamekeepers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My husband likes to hunt.

I don’t share this interest, but I am glad to benefit from his efforts. I didn’t grow up eating hunted things, but during our marriage I have developed an appreciation for wild game of different kinds.

Being a hunter, he goes out of town on hunting trips.

In the past I’ve been fine with these trips. He gets a lot from being outside and really enjoys everything about hunting. It’s the equivalent of a spa day for some people. I’ve gone with him once or twice, and there is something that feeds the soul when you walk through areas with no path and take in the beauty of creation.

That is, it’s very nourishing until your socks are wet, you can’t get warm and you’re considering peeing your pants rather than hang your cold, naked buns over that fallen log to do your business.

While I’ve been an Accommodating and Supportive Wife in the past, I’d say that this year I might teeter on the edge of Enthusiastic Wife. He’s got a trip coming up and I have to be honest and say I’m happy about the timing. With him gone, I can spend the evening typing away with abandon, with no guilt or compunction about neglecting him, since he’ll be out in the woods somewhere in South Dakota.

Because I am a SAHM, there is a certain amount of guilt that goes with being busy in the evenings. There is an expectation I have for myself that if there is anything personal or just for me that needs to get done, I should be able to fit it in during the day. Two of my kids are at school all day, and the preschooler is gone a couple hours most days. Surely this must be ample time to address any personal enrichment activities, right?

Not really.

If you’ve ever stayed home with kids, you already realize that they are a whirlwind of papers, toys and peanut butter. When my kids get on the bus, it takes me an hour just to put to rights the path of destruction they created by being in the house.

It doesn’t get any better when they get home in the afternoon.

In order to make any headway on daily chores or projects (and not be forced to employ someone else to do it), I spend hours, hours, in movement everyday to keep the great tide of chaos at bay. I fold, sweep, load, unload, wipe, scrub, recycle, sort and organize. And still my house is not as tidy as I would have it in an ideal world.

On the other hand, I like to think our house is fun.

During this weekend of temporary single parenting I’ve lined up plenty of kid-friendly activities for my three monkeys, sure-fire meals and snacks, and an aaaaaample amount of screen time. I may be behind in my word count for NaNoWriMo but as Meg Ryan said in the movie French Kiss, “I shall triumph!” (I just dated myself, didn’t I? I can’t help it, she was a bit of a style guru for me for a while, and I have photos of the haircut misadventures to prove it.)

My husband will have fun hunting, my kids will have their fun, and I will have fun writing like a crazy person.

Let’s all charge victoriously into the weekend and our writing (or hunting). 🙂

Coffee Shops and Opium Dens

13
Nov

Classic Car (Photo credit: jemoström photo)

I should be working on my NaNo novel rather than typing this blog post, or I should be at home with my family helping with bedtime snack, but instead I am sitting in a coffee shop trying not to listen to the conversations going on around me. And I’m wearing headphones! It’s the body language I’m interested in, the subtle nonverbals I’m most interested in. People lean forward, crane their necks, lean away, avoid eye contact, sneak glances at girls nearby. It is so entertaining…and distracting!

There was a meeting I was supposed to go to tonight, but I ran late and decided not to go when I was in the car already fifteen minutes late and still fifteen minutes from my destination. When I was rushing out the door, my husband asked why I wanted to go to the meeting so badly. And I had to admit it was because I knew that when I went there tonight and got to tell this group I had gotten two things in print since the last meeting, I knew they’d be excited for me. They’d say I did a good thing (apparently I’m some kind of golden retriever?). I don’t even know these people, except that we are joined by a common desire to write. They get it. They understand the terror that is the submission process. They’ve been rejected. Honestly, it’s what I imagine a support group is like. Maybe I’m a writing addict, but when I’m there it’s like a writing opium den.

Don’t we all need a support group? Don’t we sometimes wish there were people who “got it” and could empathize with us?

Maybe that’s what the online community becomes for people, a place to connect with people who understand a deep love of cats or classic cars, a profound fear of crowds or being hit by lightning.

Maybe that’s what this blog could be for people, a place to connect and be encouraged. I have been so encouraged by your comments and interest. Thank you for visiting here.

Whatever the subject matter, I hope that you have a group of people who cheer your accomplishments and mourn your losses.

Happy writing…or collecting Precious Moments figurines, or whatever your “thing” is. 🙂

Writing Tip #4: Build Your Portfolio

10
Nov

Writing can be a bit of a mobius twist. With good reason, people want to see your credentials and work before they take you on. In order to get those examples, someone has to take a chance and let you do a job without any of those examples. So if you don’t have them, how do you get them?

Reading (and common sense) in this area tells us that often we start too high up the food chain, and then we experience frustration when Time Magazine doesn’t want to use the brilliant article we put together.

This is Writing Tip #4: Don’t be afraid to start small.

I recently had something included in a neighborhood newsletter. It was just a small article, but it went out to the whole area where I live. It was a solid article with a good voice and positive spirit. Who knows what might happen because of it?

Two days ago, a piece I worked on earlier in the fall finally came out in the town newspaper. I’m not ultimately interested in journalism, but now I can use that as an example of my ability to write an informative, tight article. The paper has a circulation of 15,000 homes, plus online consumers. However, because the article was an interview, people from the interviewee’s (that seems like it should be a word?!) organization are also sure to read it, which extends the circle. That’s a good reach for me.

This summer, a blog asked for guest submissions and I volunteered. The blog isn’t about writing, nor is it a field of personal expertise, but by writing an entertaining blog post, I can point to it as an example of versatility and initiative.

None of the above have been paid opportunities.

That’s okay.

As I build my portfolio, I view these as something current to add to the materials I have from a few years ago (before I started having kids and temporarily lost track of everything outside of who needs a snack and when did we last change the baby’s diaper?). The fact that they are unpaid is unimportant at this point. Would I like to eventually be paid for my work? Sure. But these pieces are mutually beneficial: the organization gets new content, and I get to fill my writing resume and make some contacts.

What I’m working on now is a system for keeping track of deadlines, what went where and when, deadlines for contests, and a sort of “closing date” for each individual piece. If you have a way of keeping your writing organized, I’d love to hear about it.

Keep working your writing and don’t worry about if it is for a national audience. Do your best work each time and you never know where it will eventually lead!

Happy writing!

The keyboard of the Malling-Hansen writing ball, invented in 1865 by Danish churchman Rev. Rasmus Malling-Hansen and first produced in 1870. It was the first commercially produced typewriter. Although as in many early typewriters, the page is not visible as it is being typed, as late as 1909 the writing ball was still being used in European business offices. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Juggling Life and NaNoWriMo

8
Nov

Housewife (Photo credit: garryknight)

Last night I made dinner for my family and it didn’t involve cereal. Oh believe me, it WILL involve cereal at least once during the month of November while I try to churn out enough words each day as a part of NaNoWriMo. But so far, everyone has been fed, dishes have been done, laundry has been folded (or at least it in the basket in order to be folded) and the pets/domestic animals have been fed and are still living. These are all good indicators I think, but check back with me at the end of the month and we’ll see how the animals (and the family) fared.

There is a strategy here. The way I figure it, if I keep them clothed and fed, they can’t begrudge me a little neglect in other areas, right? After all, as a stay at home mom, there is a base-line of familial duties that fall to me. I couldn’t, in good conscience, hear my husband come in the door after being at work all day, peer at him over the top of my computer and ask him to rustle up dinner for our family. I mean, I could. And my husband would probably be a good enough sport to do it. But making meals is one of my responsibilities.

There’s a funny thing about being a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM). Until you’ve done it, you imagine that it must be so boring (like what do you DO all day??) or that you get to do whatever you want all day long. Neither of these are accurate. SAHMs are first and foremost Moms and that probably means there is a kid around. And when there are kids around time operates in a different way, more fluid or stretchable. Minutes can seem like they go on forever and other times you look at the clock and panic because how did it get to be that time? We’re going to be so late – hustle, kids, hustle!

If you are a person who manages a household, here are a couple things you probably do, but let’s let the others know about our little routines or the things we do to make life easier for ourselves, shall we? These things can keep your life in order while you complete that ground-breaking novel of yours.

Put the dirty dishes directly into the dishwasher, rather than leaving them in the sink.
Keep a few easy meals on hand (think soup, sandwich, salad, etc.). You’ll save money, time and stress.
Just break down and do a load of laundry every day. You’ll stay ahead of it, and you can keep the stink off your favorite writing pants with the elastic waistband.
Put your family to work. Even little kids can do small chores, and contributing to the family/responsibility is a great lesson.

I could do a lot more with #4 but even with a small amount, we’ve found that our kids respond well to having a manageable amount of “jobs” each day or week.

A few years ago I wasn’t actively doing any of these little routines and life felt a whole lot more hectic (true, my kids were a few years younger at the time as well, but I could have been helping myself more than I was). I owe a lot to FlyLady for bringing these routines to my attention and helping me take hold of my house. She’s kind of amazing. (http://www.flylady.net/)

If you chip away at the everyday things around you — you can apply that to making forward progress in your writing as well — , you will be able to work in a less chaotic environment. Notice I didn’t say UN-chaotic, but sometimes just lowering the level of mess or last-minute-ness can really make a difference. You’ll have more room for your gigantic writing ideas to walk around if they’re not tripping over piles of stuff.

Happy writing! Hope you have a miraculous breakthrough in your story today!

Jump Start Your NaNoWriMo

6
Nov

Vermont Valley [This may be Vermont but it looks just like Western Wisconsin!]

Vermont Valley (Photo credit: pchgorman)

Somehow I hit the jackpot this weekend. My dear friend, who is really as close to another sister as you can get, had me and four other women up to her family’s cabin in Western Wisconsin (a beautiful and under-appreciated part of the Northland) for the weekend. And just for the record, the stock photo to the right may be Vermont but it could have been taken in Western Wisconsin!

It was a highly caffeinated, chocolate-y event.

People worked on scrapbooks, knitting and other craft projects, and I typed. I will admit I was less social than I would be normally, since when I tried to work out in the communal area my friends were far too distracting with their witty banter and mind-bending political and theological analyses. I thought of using headphones to tune them out, but I didn’t want to be that person. Instead I took my computer and retreated within my retreat to a bedroom.

There was a writing desk, a window with a view of the lake, a red afghan and more pillows on one bed than my house has in all the rooms put together.

It was lovely.

For the next day and a half I wrote, listened to music, drank coffee and ingested the equivalent of two pounds of sugar. My friend claimed one night that she was pregnant with cheese. I laughed until I cried (it may have been the late hour but I still giggle when I think of her comment).

I made great progress over the weekend and tried to work ahead so that if I don’t make my budgeted number of words on a future day (Gasp! Fie fie! Get thee behind me!) I should still be on target for the 50,000 word goal.

The thing I’m trying to be mindful of is that if I’m in a good flow, I should type until my fingers can type no more. And if it isn’t flowing, I jump to a part that sparks my interest. Later, I return to the trouble spot. Who knows? Maybe I will need to tweak it to fit with something that comes later.

The other thing I like to do is leave myself a note or a memory jogger/prompt so I’ll know where I intended to take a scene. In addition, it often helps me to stop writing when I do have a clear idea of where I’m going (rather than giving up in the midst of a trouble spot), so that I am able to pick right up when I begin again the next time.

I really believe that if you try to do these things, you will have an easier time making it to your 50,000 word goal. Also, I think that if I ever do NanoWriMo again in the future (and this is a rookie speaking here, so take it with a grain of salt) a great way to jump start the endeavor is to spend a couple intense days to lay a solid foundation. Get away if you can, get a babysitter for a nice chunk of time, take a vacation day or anything that will allow you to get the thing going, I highly recommend it!

How do you work towards your writing goal? Do you do your best writing in the morning or evening? What rituals do you use to indicate to yourself that it is now time to write? I’d love to incorporate anything that works for you and utilize it in my own routine and approach, so don’t be bashful – let’s hear it!

National Novel Writing Month

3
Nov

This is insanity. Why would I sign up to do National Novel Writing Month? If I go along with the website’s recommendation, I will have to write like 1600 words a day to make the goal of 50,000 words in 30 days. How can I do this and pay attention to anyone in my family? How will the animals get fed? Must I forgo showers?

There are three main reasons I’m committing to this madness.

External motivators are effective — It is way too easy to let other things get in the way when it comes to writing. Having a specific, measurable goal makes me get my butt in gear.
Friends are fun — I’ve been trying to get connected to other writers in my area and this seems like a good way to go that.
There’s a novel running around in my head — I’ve had this story idea for over a year and since I haven’t been able to shake it out one ear, I figure this is a good time to see where it leads.

NaNoWriMo_2 (Photo credit: nataliesap)

Have you ever thought about writing a book? If you have, what would it take for you to actually do it? The way I look at it, even if I don’t finish (but I will finish, doggone it! I’m going to make NaNoWriMo say uncle!) I will have a great deal more to work with than I do now, with characters and ideas contained in my brain and causing me to get a glazed, far-away look in my eyes when a new thought joins them. Maybe you should check out NaNoWriWMo’s website and decide if you’re a closet novelist! P.S. I do plan to check in here during November, but please forgive me if I use this as a procrastination tool rather than a place for deep content during this time.

Could You Define the Word? (a.k.a. Successful Writing)

1
Nov

Writing sometimes feels like torture, very much like Sisyphus and his boulder. Plus it is often a self-motivated activity. Even if you are in the business of writing, if you are self-employed you are the one who has to get out there and wrangle the next job. If you are writing a novel or book of any kind, there are many moments when you’ve got to ask the question, “Why am I doing this to myself?”

There are lots of valid answers to the question of “Why write?”

There are many definitions to the word “success” and what success looks like to one person is not the same for another.

Last year I interviewed (I use the term loosely) a friend for the novel I was working on. See? Even a phone call to an old friend can count as research for a novel — all business! When I told him I was trying to get my novel published, this wise friend asked a good question. He asked what success would look like to me. He said that if success was only defined as being published, would I feel I had failed if that didn’t happen?

It took me a minute to wrap my brain around the thought that someone wouldn’t immediately snatch up my fantastic story.

Once the thought landed and I considered it over the next months, I realized that just finishing the novel was a success in my life.

Taking up deliberate, consistent writing again after a looooong hiatus had been a success.

The discipline of engaging creative side of my brain felt like a success.

Had my sole motivation been a contract with a Big Six publisher, I would probably never achieve success, since the chances of that happening with my first novel were/are astronomically low. But when you redefine the term and what constitutes “success” then you’ve got yourself a ballgame.

Writing Tip #3: Success does not have to mean “getting published.” Define success for yourself.

What does successful writing look like to you? If you release yourself from the use of “I saw my book in a store” as the only measure, what other benchmarks constitute success for you?

success may just be telling someone that you’re actually working on a writing project, and inviting that person to know about something that may be intensely personal for you. It may be taking that risk and sending a query letter. Let your little light shine and don’t let frustration at being published (or not) foof it out. 🙂

TC Larson

Stories and Mischief