For All the Writers, Agents & Editors Reeling Over HQN's New Venture

For writers and agents this past week has been interesting. We've all had our say about HQN's latest venture, pro/con--angry/sad/unsure--disbelief. Yet we've continued to forge ahead with pursuing our goals, one and all. I love my professional organization, RWA, and I love my writing comrades. Whether I know you in person or only via the wonderful world of the Internet, I am connected to host of strong people.

By far, writing has become more than a dream to be published. It's become a place I call home with a lot of talented individuals who care about this industry and nurturing each other toward reaching the goals we've sent. Regardless of where one is in their writing career, published or  not, we all share a common bond: we have people in our heads and we are compelled to tell their stories.

And we have a group of people, Agents and Editors, who love to bring these stories into the world. The right stories. The ones that hit their nerves. Our first readers and our greatest champions when we strike a chord in their hearts.

We're on a journey. Occasionally, we hit bumps and potholes. HQN's announcement was a HUGE POTHOLE/BUMP/OH SH** THE SKY IS FALLING MOMENT. But it has passed. We're still writing. We're still moving toward our goals. And we're safe in the knowledge that we have an amazing umbrella of protection.

RWA and the Chapters to which we belong.

Meanwhile, whenever you're worried or feeling blue or you get an R with INTEGRITY, then this song's for you... play it, gaze at the beautiful man in it, and then move on to your destiny....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj1tOiG9Xys

Idea Exchange

I am lucky: I have really wonderful writing comrades and chapter mates. I had a dilemma and I pinged all of them with my dilemma. They helped solidify my next step.

And I appreciate it all. And I am intensely aware of how blessed I am to know these women.

Writers are a strange lot. We are in a hole, typing away, and listening to fictional characters in our heads on a daily basis. We discuss ways to bring people together and rip them apart. We brainstorm ideas about how to make the stories in our heads marketable and how to make them work on the pages we spit out. We are emotional, cerebral, sane and insane. Our families get us, a bit, but our writing friends KNOW our struggles.

It is a lonely job, yet it is one filled with interesting companions along the way.

So cheers Ladies! I love you all for what you bring to the table of my life. The platter is full!!