It comes in many forms. One of the things I love about attending conferences is that they always seem to inspire. They make me think about the industry and/or about stories and figure out where both are going.
I attended the James River Writer's Conference this past weekend. I had a good time and really enjoyed the speakers. I learned a bit and stared considering my career and what I want to do over the next year.
David Balducci was Friday's speaker. He's really funny and an inspiration. Sent his book, Absolute Power to six agents. Six agents wanted it. I couldn't help but think...all I need is one. One will do fine! LOL. But I digress. I enjoyed listening to his stories. He had one about being on a train LOL and discussing poisoning. I'm going to have to find that book.
Adriana Trigiani was Saturday's speaker. I could have listened to her, too for several more hours. She's a very funny, gregarious woman. And very giving. When she was being told it was over, she kept saying, "I don't feel like I've done enough." Her advice, "Finish the damn book!" She said you can do anything once you finish.
I enjoyed seeing several of the agents in action. And several speakers. The panel on first page critiques for Fiction was interesting. The seminar on Romance was so much fun. I definitely feel inspired to start the "next thing."
Amazing how a few days with other writers refills the well.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany Of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com
Showing posts with label Writer's Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writer's Life. Show all posts
Monday, October 13, 2008
Monday, June 30, 2008
Rejection!
Rejection
By N.J. Walters
Rejection! We’ve all been on the receiving end of it. Felt the sharp sting of disappointment, the prick of tears, or the rise of anger. It’s not fun.
But some of us set ourselves up for it. That’s what being a writer is all about. It’s mounds of no thank you’s and form letters, with only the occassional yes thrown into the bunch, if you’re lucky
According to the Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, to “reject” means to: refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use. To cast off. To throw back. To decline.
Sounds simple. Your book does not satisfy our requirements at this time. Why you ask? You sweated blood for it, spend countless days and hours slaving over it. Why doesn’t it fit?
Because it doesn’t.
It’s as simple and as complex as that.
Nearly every writer has been rejected at some point or another in their career. Most of us, many times! My very first book was rejected due to POV (point of view) problems. Like most beginner writers, I had a hard time with this. Why? Because many established writers get away with head-hopping from one character to another within a scene, but most publishers won’t accept this from a new author. Go figure.
Still, the rejection letter and the handwritten note helped me realize what was wrong with the book. If you’re lucky enough to get a handwritten note or a letter that isn’t a standard rejection form—READ IT! This is a professional editor giving you free advice. I reworked that first book at least a dozen times, if not more. But guess what, it finally found a home. It took almost a decade, but I did it.
Rejection is easier when you’re just starting out and haven’t published. No, really. I mean it. Getting rejected once you’ve been published hits you even harder. After all, you’re a professional now and are supposed to know what you’re doing. Right?
At least that’s how it’s been for me. I had a story rejected by one publisher only to rework and tighten it and have it accepted by another. One book almost never saw the light of day because it was rejected the first time around. I was so devestated by this rejection I almost chucked the entire book. Instead, I put it away for a while and finished my current work-in-progress. When I was done, I pulled out the rejected manuscript, looked at the editor’s comments, reworked the book and resubmitted it. This time it was accepted!The book has been out for a while now and it is a fan favorite.
If there is one thing I’ve learned as a writer, it’s that you have to make peace with rejection. It’s a fact of life and it’s not personal.
Rejection is a great teacher. It taught me that I can always rewrite a book, can fix any problem (no matter how large), and can always find a home for my story—even if it takes years and another stack of rejection letters.
While it’s no fun, rejection can be helpful. It’s all in how you look at it.
Emotional~Sensual~Satisfying Reads!
http://www.njwalters.com
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)
A Legal Affair—Samhain Publishing—July 15th
Jackson’s Jewel—Ellora’s Cave—July 25th
By N.J. Walters
Rejection! We’ve all been on the receiving end of it. Felt the sharp sting of disappointment, the prick of tears, or the rise of anger. It’s not fun.
But some of us set ourselves up for it. That’s what being a writer is all about. It’s mounds of no thank you’s and form letters, with only the occassional yes thrown into the bunch, if you’re lucky
According to the Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, to “reject” means to: refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use. To cast off. To throw back. To decline.
Sounds simple. Your book does not satisfy our requirements at this time. Why you ask? You sweated blood for it, spend countless days and hours slaving over it. Why doesn’t it fit?
Because it doesn’t.
It’s as simple and as complex as that.
Nearly every writer has been rejected at some point or another in their career. Most of us, many times! My very first book was rejected due to POV (point of view) problems. Like most beginner writers, I had a hard time with this. Why? Because many established writers get away with head-hopping from one character to another within a scene, but most publishers won’t accept this from a new author. Go figure.
Still, the rejection letter and the handwritten note helped me realize what was wrong with the book. If you’re lucky enough to get a handwritten note or a letter that isn’t a standard rejection form—READ IT! This is a professional editor giving you free advice. I reworked that first book at least a dozen times, if not more. But guess what, it finally found a home. It took almost a decade, but I did it.
Rejection is easier when you’re just starting out and haven’t published. No, really. I mean it. Getting rejected once you’ve been published hits you even harder. After all, you’re a professional now and are supposed to know what you’re doing. Right?
At least that’s how it’s been for me. I had a story rejected by one publisher only to rework and tighten it and have it accepted by another. One book almost never saw the light of day because it was rejected the first time around. I was so devestated by this rejection I almost chucked the entire book. Instead, I put it away for a while and finished my current work-in-progress. When I was done, I pulled out the rejected manuscript, looked at the editor’s comments, reworked the book and resubmitted it. This time it was accepted!The book has been out for a while now and it is a fan favorite.
If there is one thing I’ve learned as a writer, it’s that you have to make peace with rejection. It’s a fact of life and it’s not personal.
Rejection is a great teacher. It taught me that I can always rewrite a book, can fix any problem (no matter how large), and can always find a home for my story—even if it takes years and another stack of rejection letters.
While it’s no fun, rejection can be helpful. It’s all in how you look at it.
Emotional~Sensual~Satisfying Reads!
http://www.njwalters.com
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)
A Legal Affair—Samhain Publishing—July 15th
Jackson’s Jewel—Ellora’s Cave—July 25th
Monday, June 9, 2008
Think before you hit send
I’m constantly amazed by the way some authors conduct themselves online. Very few seem to have stellar online presences that actually appeal to readers.
I started thinking of rules to live by when going online.
The internet has a long memory. Nothing is ever permanently deleted. Once you put it up there, it lasts forever, either by copying or staying in caches.
Think before you hit send.
Private email/forums/loops are NEVER private. Only vent to a person you’d trust to NEVER share. Luckily I have a couple of people I trust not to share. Or better yet, vent to your significant other or your cat in real life. My cat is a lot of things but she’s never going to tell anyone my deepest rants.
Think before you hit send.
Never argue with a review of your book. They may have completely not gotten the story or the characters. Vent to the cat, thank them for the review, and move on.
Lurkers could be the person you’re venting about or their best friend. You never know who is reading.
Think before you hit send.
Everyone on the internet has a long memory. And, they will remember what you put out there. If it’s things they don’t like, that could interfere with them being a reader of your book. Being mean doesn't nab you readers.
Think before you hit send.
Any other rules? I think we need a list out there on the internet with the long memory about how to act.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
www.mechelearmstrong.com
www.melanylogen.com
I started thinking of rules to live by when going online.
The internet has a long memory. Nothing is ever permanently deleted. Once you put it up there, it lasts forever, either by copying or staying in caches.
Think before you hit send.
Private email/forums/loops are NEVER private. Only vent to a person you’d trust to NEVER share. Luckily I have a couple of people I trust not to share. Or better yet, vent to your significant other or your cat in real life. My cat is a lot of things but she’s never going to tell anyone my deepest rants.
Think before you hit send.
Never argue with a review of your book. They may have completely not gotten the story or the characters. Vent to the cat, thank them for the review, and move on.
Lurkers could be the person you’re venting about or their best friend. You never know who is reading.
Think before you hit send.
Everyone on the internet has a long memory. And, they will remember what you put out there. If it’s things they don’t like, that could interfere with them being a reader of your book. Being mean doesn't nab you readers.
Think before you hit send.
Any other rules? I think we need a list out there on the internet with the long memory about how to act.
Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
www.mechelearmstrong.com
www.melanylogen.com
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day!!!!
In honor of Mother’s Day, I’ve compiled a list of things that the children of writing mother’s everywhere can learn from us.
- Follow your dreams—no matter what your age.
- Never give up, even when things are tough.
- Believe in yourself, even when no one else does.
- You can be both very creative, and a very savvy business person.
- Learn to take criticism and use what will help you, and let the rest go.
- Learn how to handle rejection and learn from it, without letting it define you.
- Learn how to make friends and contacts wherever you go.
- It’s okay to play “what if” and live inside your imagination. It’s even better to get paid for it!
- Don’t let anyone steal your dream, no matter how well-meaning they might be.
- Anything worth having is worth working hard for.
- Don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life.
- Learn how to adapt to the many changes life throws at you.
- How to meet deadlines.
- How to plan workflow and work effort.
- You can make money doing something you love.
- There’s a whole lot less stress in life if you follow your passions.
- Fill your life with people and activities that give you joy.
- Don’t spend all your time worrying about what others think of you.
- Being a strong parent means doesn’t mean martyring yourself for your children.
- It’s okay and even necessary for a healthy person to set boundaries.
I’m sure there are several more. So I welcome comments and additions to this list.
A big Happy Mother’s Day shout out to all of you for having the courage to live your dream!
Tina/Cassie
- Follow your dreams—no matter what your age.
- Never give up, even when things are tough.
- Believe in yourself, even when no one else does.
- You can be both very creative, and a very savvy business person.
- Learn to take criticism and use what will help you, and let the rest go.
- Learn how to handle rejection and learn from it, without letting it define you.
- Learn how to make friends and contacts wherever you go.
- It’s okay to play “what if” and live inside your imagination. It’s even better to get paid for it!
- Don’t let anyone steal your dream, no matter how well-meaning they might be.
- Anything worth having is worth working hard for.
- Don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life.
- Learn how to adapt to the many changes life throws at you.
- How to meet deadlines.
- How to plan workflow and work effort.
- You can make money doing something you love.
- There’s a whole lot less stress in life if you follow your passions.
- Fill your life with people and activities that give you joy.
- Don’t spend all your time worrying about what others think of you.
- Being a strong parent means doesn’t mean martyring yourself for your children.
- It’s okay and even necessary for a healthy person to set boundaries.
I’m sure there are several more. So I welcome comments and additions to this list.
A big Happy Mother’s Day shout out to all of you for having the courage to live your dream!
Tina/Cassie
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