So for those of you struggling with the idea of writing outside the box, or wondering where you fit in this writing world, be encouraged. Say what you have to say.
8.19.2013
Picture Quote Monday {Say}
I've come across the same bit of advice several times from different sources over the last couple of weeks. In my own words, the advice is this: Don't write the book you think will sell. Write the book you want to write; the book that's longing to be written. Because my book isn't in the vein of current trends, I've struggled with the fear that it's too hard of a sell and that I'll never find an agent/publisher who will catch my vision and want to take it on. But at the end of the day, I have to remind myself that I wrote a book that came from my heart. I wrote the book I was supposed to write. It wasn't a waste of time and it wasn't a foolish decision. And I hope - and believe - that somewhere out there is an agent (and a publisher) who is going to fall in love with it.
So for those of you struggling with the idea of writing outside the box, or wondering where you fit in this writing world, be encouraged. Say what you have to say.
So for those of you struggling with the idea of writing outside the box, or wondering where you fit in this writing world, be encouraged. Say what you have to say.
8.17.2013
Sparkles and Butterflies and Unicorns, Oh My!
There's a joke in my writers group surrounding unhappy endings in books or films. Several of our members can't stand it if a story ends without resolution, or in a sad and/or depressing way. As we like to say, their stories have to have "Rainbows and Unicorns". I am one of the few who actually enjoys melancholy storylines (as long as they're done well) and thereby, I often have to give a "no rainbows and unicorns" disclaimer when recommending books or films.
You can understand why this made me giggle.
You can understand why this made me giggle.
8.16.2013
State Your Favorite - Boys' Quest
 |
You can find my latest bit of published work in the August 2013 edition of Boys' Quest! This article about America's many unique state foods--from New York's apple muffin, to Oklahoma's ten-course meal--was the result of one of my assignments while I was enrolled with the Institute of Children's Literature. Even though I've had other stories published over the last couple of years, this one is near and dear to my heart because it was my very first piece accepted for publication. (Nothing like surviving ten rejections, finally getting your first "yes!" and then having to wait three years to see it in print!) After two rejections from agents regarding my book, it was nice to have this show up in the mail this week. A good reminder of what I've already accomplished, and how patience can pay off!
8.15.2013
Own It
Last week someone said to me, "So you're an author?" It threw me for a second because most people who ask about this ask if I'm a writer. I'd never had someone ask me if I was an author.
I mustered up all the courage I owned and forced a hesitant-yet-hopefully-confident "yeah"
through my lips. Then I promptly chickened out and backtracked. "Well, I haven't published a book yet. Right now I'm in the
process of trying to get an agent for my children's book." My gaze
darted to the door where I was sure the writing police were about to
burst through, ticket for false identification in hand. I squeaked out a
quick defense of my earlier affirmation: "But I have had some short
stories published in a few magazines!" So much for confidence.
After having conversations with other writers and reading blog posts and Twitter feed comments, I've come to realize I'm not the only one who has a hard time labeling who I am as a writer. In fact, there seems to be a trend--a pattern to the words we use to describe ourselves, depending on our level of confidence and/or perceived accomplishments.
When we first venture into the writing world we tend to define ourselves as "aspiring writers". This is the newbie level. We walk by the exclusive Writer's Club and we can see the bright lights and smell the freshly published books and hear whispers of 5-star reviews. We cast longing glances toward the line of people waiting to get through the door and say to ourselves, "Someday..."
Fast forward a few short stories and a couple of NaNoWriMos later, and we get brave, drop the "aspiring" and move up to just "writer". Writing is something we love doing, and we do it often enough to be (somewhat) comfortable allowing ourselves the title. At last we feel like we've reached a high enough word count and taken enough classes or read enough craft books to sneak to the back of the line. But then panic sets in because suddenly there's a rumor cascading down the queue that only authors are allowed through the door and you don't know if you're an author yet and you can only shuffle closer and closer to the door with anxious pulse and sweating hands and hope your name's on the bouncer's ultra secret clip board because who really knows where the point is that you cross the threshold from "writer" to "author" and who makes that decision anyway? And the closer you get to the door, the more you convince yourself that you should just step out of the line and wait until your name graces the cover of a book inside a real Barnes and Noble and you can bring it along as proof that you really are what you consider yourself to be deep down inside.
*deep breath and...exhale*
Here's the reality: There's no difference between being a writer and being an author. Merriam-Webster's definition of author is this:
Check out these great posts for more encouragement on owning your writer/author label:
Don’t Eat the Butt–Lies that Can Poison Our Writing Career #1 - Kristen Lamb (one of my favorite bloggers)
- See more at:
http://authoritypublishing.com/book-publishing/when-should-you-start-calling-yourself-an-author/#sthash.LsW6Zk8o.dpuf
- See more at:
http://authoritypublishing.com/book-publishing/when-should-you-start-calling-yourself-an-author/#sthash.LsW6Zk8o.dpuf
After having conversations with other writers and reading blog posts and Twitter feed comments, I've come to realize I'm not the only one who has a hard time labeling who I am as a writer. In fact, there seems to be a trend--a pattern to the words we use to describe ourselves, depending on our level of confidence and/or perceived accomplishments.
When we first venture into the writing world we tend to define ourselves as "aspiring writers". This is the newbie level. We walk by the exclusive Writer's Club and we can see the bright lights and smell the freshly published books and hear whispers of 5-star reviews. We cast longing glances toward the line of people waiting to get through the door and say to ourselves, "Someday..."
Fast forward a few short stories and a couple of NaNoWriMos later, and we get brave, drop the "aspiring" and move up to just "writer". Writing is something we love doing, and we do it often enough to be (somewhat) comfortable allowing ourselves the title. At last we feel like we've reached a high enough word count and taken enough classes or read enough craft books to sneak to the back of the line. But then panic sets in because suddenly there's a rumor cascading down the queue that only authors are allowed through the door and you don't know if you're an author yet and you can only shuffle closer and closer to the door with anxious pulse and sweating hands and hope your name's on the bouncer's ultra secret clip board because who really knows where the point is that you cross the threshold from "writer" to "author" and who makes that decision anyway? And the closer you get to the door, the more you convince yourself that you should just step out of the line and wait until your name graces the cover of a book inside a real Barnes and Noble and you can bring it along as proof that you really are what you consider yourself to be deep down inside.
*deep breath and...exhale*
Here's the reality: There's no difference between being a writer and being an author. Merriam-Webster's definition of author is this:
1 :one that originates or creates
2 : the writer of a literary work
By definition, you are the author of anything you have written. Therefore, I am an author. And I'm hoping the more I repeat that to myself, the easier it will be to simply answer, "yes" the next time someone asks. (So if you see me mumbling to myself, don't worry, it's just a confidence building exercise.)
Now some of you may hesitate to even go so far as to call yourself a writer, much less an author. As if you have to be published (aka getting paid) in order to lay claim to that title. But I say, NAY! I became a mother the moment my first child entered the world. I don't have to put in 10 quality years of child rearing, or wait until my daughter successfully graduates from college in order to earn the title of Mom. (And last time I checked, I'm not getting a paycheck.) The moment you wrote down that first idea, that first line--the moment you birthed your story--you became a writer.
Now some of you may hesitate to even go so far as to call yourself a writer, much less an author. As if you have to be published (aka getting paid) in order to lay claim to that title. But I say, NAY! I became a mother the moment my first child entered the world. I don't have to put in 10 quality years of child rearing, or wait until my daughter successfully graduates from college in order to earn the title of Mom. (And last time I checked, I'm not getting a paycheck.) The moment you wrote down that first idea, that first line--the moment you birthed your story--you became a writer.
Own it.
Because the bouncer isn't there to check if someone else put you on the list. He's there to see if you'll put yourself on the list. He's there to ask one question.
Are you a writer? Are you an author?
Whether or not you get in is entirely up to you.
Because the bouncer isn't there to check if someone else put you on the list. He's there to see if you'll put yourself on the list. He's there to ask one question.
Are you a writer? Are you an author?
Whether or not you get in is entirely up to you.
Check out these great posts for more encouragement on owning your writer/author label:
Don’t Eat the Butt–Lies that Can Poison Our Writing Career #1 - Kristen Lamb (one of my favorite bloggers)
The Simple Reason You're Not A Writer (Yet) - Jeff Goins
At What Point Can You Call Yourself A Writer? - Writer's Digest
When Should You Start Calling Yourself an Author?
8.12.2013
Picture Quote Monday {Courage}
And we're back! After a refreshing family vacation, I'm (almost) ready for the craziness of the fast approaching school year to begin. I can sense adventure on the horizon, and I'm ready to move ahead with courage and excitement. Hope this gives you some inspiration for your week!
7.29.2013
Picture Quote Monday {Striking Out}
I love this quote from Babe Ruth. A good rule of thumb to live by.
Step up to the plate and take a swing this week. You might just knock it out of the park.
7.26.2013
Oh Hello, Irony
There are times when the truth slaps you with a load of irony.
It goes something like this: First you're like, "whoa", and then there's this awkward moment when you realize you're going to have to admit you were wrong, and then you do and you feel SO much better.
At least, that's been my experience.
You may recall a post I wrote a couple weeks ago involving unicorns and writer's block. Well, the reason I was so desperate to overcome my creatively stuck position, was because something awesome was about to start and I had made a goal--a goal which I had shared with a major author and a couple thousand people.
Let's flashback a bit and this will make more sense...
Earlier this month, I responded to a blog post by Jon Acuff, in which he gave a Safety Not Guaranteed-esque call to those willing to go on an unspecified adventure. If you were willing to embark on said adventure, without knowing any details, you were to email him your name and mailing address. And in true clandestine fashion, the blog post was set to self-destruct in 24 hours.
Thus began the Start Experiment. A group of individuals from all over the world, taking a chance and ultimately being grouped together to encourage and assist one another in the pursuit of a dream or a goal, punching fear in the face in the process. One of the first things we were asked was what we were each willing to risk--what would our goal (to be moved toward over the course of 24 days) be? I immediately knew what mine would be: To write the first draft of my second novel.
Hence the need to be able to actually write.
The entire foundation of Jon's experiment, and the theme of his latest book, START, is that fear needs to be overcome in order for you to move toward your goal. So I was going to overcome the fear of stalling out, the fear of not being able to write, the fear of running out of ideas. Fear was going down!
And then a funny thing happened on the way to the fear smack-down.
It goes something like this: First you're like, "whoa", and then there's this awkward moment when you realize you're going to have to admit you were wrong, and then you do and you feel SO much better.
At least, that's been my experience.
You may recall a post I wrote a couple weeks ago involving unicorns and writer's block. Well, the reason I was so desperate to overcome my creatively stuck position, was because something awesome was about to start and I had made a goal--a goal which I had shared with a major author and a couple thousand people.
Let's flashback a bit and this will make more sense...
Earlier this month, I responded to a blog post by Jon Acuff, in which he gave a Safety Not Guaranteed-esque call to those willing to go on an unspecified adventure. If you were willing to embark on said adventure, without knowing any details, you were to email him your name and mailing address. And in true clandestine fashion, the blog post was set to self-destruct in 24 hours.
Thus began the Start Experiment. A group of individuals from all over the world, taking a chance and ultimately being grouped together to encourage and assist one another in the pursuit of a dream or a goal, punching fear in the face in the process. One of the first things we were asked was what we were each willing to risk--what would our goal (to be moved toward over the course of 24 days) be? I immediately knew what mine would be: To write the first draft of my second novel.
Hence the need to be able to actually write.
The entire foundation of Jon's experiment, and the theme of his latest book, START, is that fear needs to be overcome in order for you to move toward your goal. So I was going to overcome the fear of stalling out, the fear of not being able to write, the fear of running out of ideas. Fear was going down!
And then a funny thing happened on the way to the fear smack-down.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)