Dive In and Start Swimming

I once had the privilege of hearing Nora Roberts speak at the Romance Writers of America National Conference. She was the keynote luncheon speaker, and she gave an "author chat" later that day, too. Her books are too many to count and she is very dedicated to her career.

What's her secret? Just write.

What's her message to people who give excuses and stay on the sidelines? Get in the pool and start swimming.

This message is true for anyone pursuing any activity or goal. If you want to do something and achieve something, please don't sit around and make excuses for not doing it. This is just another way of avoiding the possibility of failure. We've all been there. We've all failed. The trick is to move beyond the failure and keep on trying.

Here's my tip for the week: Whenever you hear yourself saying "I'd like to do this BUT ...." turn around the phrase and say, "Even though this situation exists, I am going to push myself to work toward my goal anyway."

Here's some wonderful excuses I've heard whenever I hear people say they'd like to write a book, or they could write a book, or how easy it is to write a book if only....

They'd do what I've done if only they had enough time. Well we've already discussed the time issue here. They'd do what I've done if only they didn't have a day job. I've got friends who work full time and write and raise families. Somehow they manage to make the time. They'd do what I've done if only they had no health problems, no people tugging for their attention, no family members sick, no... no... no...

Hmmmm. I see a pattern here. A pattern punctuated by one word. The word "no" is ringing in my ears. If only? If only is another way of saying "no." "But" is another way of saying "no."

Turn this around. Tell yourself "yes." Yes, I will make the time. I will set aside a place for my dream. I will go for it. I will push through the litany of words that hold me back from achieving my true potential. I will seek out the joy of pursuing my dream despite the possibility of failure. I will push through the disappointments and letdowns until I emerge victorious.

Fabulous Friday Blog Roll

Okay, Listen Here (not just because the recipes posted were amazing--great group of inspiring ladies)

The Character Therapist (great info about real life behaviors we can incorporate into our characters)

The Edited Life (Gwen has a sidebar about Scrivener that is very helpful)

Seekerville (this blog has a lot of great advice and inspirational stories)

Don't Pet Me, I'm Writing (just super funny)

Debut Novel Contest Comment Winner is Anne Gallagher!!

Writing Takes a Back Seat

Well it's official: life is hijacking me. Actually it needs to. We have a trip to plan and we're leaving in 9 days. The house is still a mess--not cluttered but needs cleaning. And my DD needs me to drive her all over the place. Between the lists for the trip and the after school activities, I barely have time to breath. Of course, I would have done this last week.... but.... oh well.

I have been reading about PRO and agents and publishing and editors' letters to authors and it is all sooooo disheartening. I feel like such a novice even though I've got 4 books written, tons of good contest results, and a sense of my writing voice. But when I see people with blogs and websites and published novels in their signatures, I feel soooo inadequate. This has got to be my year to break through--I keep telling myself it is, but what if I really do stink? What if my stories never resonate with anyone in the publishing business? I keep getting stories, but will they ever be good enough to make it through the slush pile? And will I ever have the perfect query, the perfect letter, the perfect synopsis, the perfect first three chapters?????

God this is a frustrating business. I am glad I procrastinated on getting the PRO pin. Which, by the way, hasn't arrived! ARGH.

My original plans for this time were to revise the third book a bit more. But instead, I find that I have so little time to commit to it, that I need to just kick back, print out what I have from a critique buddy, read about the business and start thinking about querying when I get back. I need to get my PRO stuff organized and my plan for attacking the publishers and agents and editors worked on before I go forward. When I get back, I will finish the stupid billionth revision (it is NEVER done), and then I will query it.

I just wish I could final in the Golden Heart. It would make me feel like I had accomplished SOMETHING that would get me closer to getting published. But I don't hold out much hope for it after reading the LHAoE contest judges' comments about the infamous KISS scene and the editors' letters about how they decide to accept or reject.

Blah....

Abnormal is the New Normal

Well I had hoped for a normal week this week. Ha. My darling daughter has already squashed that idea by Sunday, 4pm. She got out of the shower covered in some weird rash on her right torso. As soon as she dried off and dressed, off we went to the urgent care clinic to check it out. With our family's history of cellulitis, we simply don't fool around with any skin issues.

Almost two hours later, I am dashing home to toss the antibiotic prescription and skin cream medication prescription into dear husband's hands. DD and I wolf down a sandwich (her) and cold pizza (me) and dash off to another DD event obligatory Parental meeting while DH finishes taxes and then fills scripts for me.

DD was supposed to do HOMEWORK at the event meeting, but instead she and her friends watched a movie. Came home to wait for her to finish HW, rub cream on her, give meds and then she was so tired, we opted to let her sleep in so she'd be rested for the ridiculous mythology exam she has this morning.

This morning, I get up and fake the doctor note so I don't use up another "parent excuse" for her absence at first period (WHAT A PAIN THAT IS!!!)--yes, I will stoop to rewriting the receipt because I DON'T WANT TO WASTE ANOTHER VALUABLE MINUTE at the Urgent Care Clinic. Enough valuable time has been wasted there.

Now I am still wondering when I will get at least 45 minutes of "writing" hahahaha.... as I have to deal with all this other baloney like grocery shopping, tearing down a houseguest's bed and washing linens, doing my own bloody laundry, and getting my paperwork started.

But I've learned to surrender to the madness. Today I will not fight the anti writing Gods as I am in revision mode and am waiting to hear back from my friends re: my MSS. So I will send my MSS to another writing buddy, start reading through my one friend's critique if I get my other boring chores accomplished, and try to squeeze in organizing my PRO paperwork. At least that will put my brain in writing mode for tomorrow.

I don't have to look for things to keep me busy and preoccupied as my goal is to have nothing standing in my way as I write. People who say they don't have enough time to start and finish a project aren't looking for the time as far as I am concerned.

And that is the difference between me and people who say they want to do something like write a book, get published, get a career, make some money, and follow their dreams. I DO it, regardless of the boulders standing in my way.

And that is why I believe, one day, I will be published. Because I know I can find time to do what I love, even if it is only for an hour, and that I can fight for more time to become available to pursue my dream of being published because I DO IT.

Forced to Relax

I'm gearing up for the BIAW Intensive writing week, starting this Saturday. Well, I have LIST THIS LONG from toes to shoulders to complete before I am BICHOK in a big way. But all of that went the hell in a handbasket due to a weird allergic reaction while stripping the sheets from the bed. I must have gotten a strange touch reaction to the shellfish in hubby and dear daughter's clothes/bed sheets or something, and I had a swelling lip. I popped two benadryl, called my neighbor and went over to her house to wait it out. Popped another benadryl and now am free of swelling, but unable to stand hardly due to the side effects of the benardyl. It is the worst. Now my entire afternoon of good deeds is SHOT.

argh.

and my plan to start tomorrow is out the window.

STUPID SHELLFISH And really could my people be any more STUPID?????

All I am capable of doing is showering and dressing--maybe.

What a waste!!

Collages and Brainstorming

Yesterday I went online and found a whole lot of pictures for my book's collage. This is a BIAW assignment. I also went to the grocery store and bought some rag mags, and poster board, for the collage. I didn't make it yesterday, but I got about 10 - 15 post-its hanging in front of me regarding setting, character stats, ideas for the character's houses, and a cool idea for a place they will visit. I also know that they'll both be from the NoVA area, and that they moved South as adults. This allows me to have them head north for a trip, away from prying eyes and nosy parkers. And this allows me to utilize old research regarding a winery and bed & breakfast scene. My first book is crap, but I've farmed it twice for research!! Haha. At least it is worth something more than hanging out in a box underneath the bed.

Today's assignment is to write out fears/imagery. I'm sure that will spark some thoughts about the book. I also have more time today to fiddle with the scene cards because my darling daughter has dance and rehearsal after school. I do have to go to the school to pick up her science fair board, but that's a 20 minute distraction.

Feeling good about the story. Wish I could say the same about queries. I need to brush up on them. Big time!

December Distractions

Up until last year, I took the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas OFF. I enjoyed getting ready for the holidays and spending time with my friends. Last year, I changed the routine, but found myself feeling guilty every time I wrote or every time I didn't write. It wasn't a good feeling. This year, I decided to follow the 100 words a day advice I got from the Wet Noodle Posse. I feel that way I am not taking away time from my writing or from readying for the holidays. No more guilt!!

Writing 100 words a day isn't really what I am doing. I am shooting for an hour a day. And it is amazing how much you can accomplish in an hour. Since Monday I have plowed through 21 pages of my MS for the revision. Spending an uninterupted hour in front of the computer means getting at least 1 scene tweaked in the MS. If I get stuck, I use another trick and write XXX so I can look for that later on in a seek/find throughout the MS. The point is to get SOMETHING done. Perfection no longer is the key. If I keep going at this pace, I should be able to plow through another 90 pages before Christmas hits.

I know that once my daughter is home for the break, I won't get much accomplished, but I am planning on utilizing my Lark tendencies to my benefit. I'm up before everyone else, so I can chop out an hour before the lazy ones arise.