IF A TREE FALLS

We’ve all heard the saying: "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

I’ve been writing this blog for a number of days and  wonder if anyone reads it. I posted it on my facebook page and know some of my friends have checked it out.  But, how many people actually look at it more than once? Even my husband – my biggest fan and endless cheerleader – hasn’t read my blog. How sad is that? He's a procrastinator--but to not even peek.

Okay, he did peek once. When I asked him what he thought he said, “It’s okay.” That’s

Phil-speak for it isn’t so great…he doesn’t want to hurt my feelings and say it sucks.

I questions blogs. Are they ego-driven? Kind of a “look at me” and my views sort of thing. Perhaps.  

If a writer writes and no one reads those writings do they make a difference?

Is my blog an ego thing? I don’t know. I was told to start one in order to “showcase” my writing. Well, if that be the case – for me – it’s an ego deflator.

I have decided if no one reads my blog, so be it. I accept life as it is, not as I want it to be. My blog is for me. It keeps me writing, searching for my voice, expressing my frustrations, and hopefully showing my weird sense of humor.

WORKING OVERTIME

When it comes to writing my brain never stops working.  Well almost never.

Yesterday I had a gem of an idea for a picture book. But, the idea wasn’t producing anything. I guess you could call it a diamond in the rough. I had a lump of coal – no diamond.

So I called on my brain to get busy.

I planted the seed deep in the recesses of my mind hoping something would sprout.

Did it?

Nope – not during the day. Perhaps my brain was too active doing other things like grocery shopping and trying to decide what to have for dinner. Or sitting with James Patterson’s latest evil villain and searching for his hideout.  (James Patterson books – one of my many guilty pleasures).

Okay, my brain was rebelling, so I went to the computer and researched everything I could find on the topic. That should stimulate the old gray matter.

Did it?

No. Geez, what’s up with that?

I gave up and went to bed. And that’s when my brain went to work. At 4:30 this morning my eyes popped open and there it was – not quite the diamond I had hoped for…but a direction in which to take the book.

Moral of the story: “It’ll shine when it shines.” (Whatever the heck that means).

SPELL CHECK – FRIEND OR FOE

My computer – I can’t live without it. Remember manual typewriters? How about the electric ones? Dinosaurs!!!

My computer – my best friend.

No more dictionary – just right click – and “look up” any word.

No more thesaurus – yep – right click – and “synonyms” pops up.

And then there is my favorite – SPELL CHECK – gotta love it. I can type to my heart’s content not worried about carbon paper, ink erasers, white out or the bulky dictionary… that little red zigzag highlights my errors. Another right click and all the words I need are at my disposal. How cool is that!!!

Hold on a minute. What would my third grade teacher say??? No dictionary, no thesaurus…no white out...no way! 

I found every now and then, spell check throws me a curve. It lurks as close as my keyboard to steer me the wrong way. How about when I want to say your but I type you. Where’s my friend when I really need her.

As an example. Last week during I was gathered at Books-A-Million with my critique group – I was reading the latest chapter of my book, ON THE RUN. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw everyone furiously scribbling on my (perfect) manuscript. How dare they!!! When it was time for comments they all noticed something I didn’t…they all noticed something my spell check didn’t…I had typed the word it instead of if.

Arrgh, that drives me crazy. I knew the word was if – I read it as if - but on closer look, I saw it.

OMG – How could that happen!!!

My BFF let me down. Or, do I depend on her too much.

I wonder - is spell check my friend or foe??? Food for thought.

Oh, Mrs. Crandall (my third grade teacher) – I still use the dictionary and thesaurus!! Give me an A+.

WHEN IN DOUBT – PUNT

I’m not big into football, but I watch an occasional game or two. I always find the strategy fascinating, especially near the end when the score teeters one way or the other. Each team tries to get close enough to the goal to score. Watching them slowly inch their way down the field in the last jaw dropping moments – and, oh, my, those last two minutes take FOREVER  – raise a fans blood pressure to near stroke level. And, finally – the kick. It seems to hang in the air as everyone holds their breath, eyes following the arc – and ta da, a win…or a lose.

Well, I’m close to the goal in my writing, but I fumbled. I have an article to write for our local newspaper, but I dropped the ball. I have written the article twice – and both times – as quarterback, I missed the mark. So, now what? I’m close to a first down, perhaps a touchdown, but the ball is as slippery as a pig at a fair. I guess – when in doubt – punt.

So I did! I have a friend in the business. I wrote her for advice. She’s a cheerleader on my team. How lucky am I? I found that surrounding myself with like minded writers enriches my life, my writing, my very soul.

Creativity is a team effort – and what a team I’m on!!! I punted, the ball is in the air – now let’s see if we can make the touchdown. Stay tuned...the clock is running...

Write. Write! Write?

Do you write every day? The truth!

I was raised in a military family – yeah, yeah, yeah, I know-- I’m a military brat, and rule follower. My brothers and I were given “the rules” for good behavior in the womb. These dictates were never, EVER to be broken--EVER. My father’s career depended on it. Did we walk the straight and narrow? You bet. Well, I did – my brothers?—well that’s another story.

Now, it the business of becoming an author, I was given this unbreakable rule: Write – EVERYDAY.

As you can see – I haven’t written in my blog for three days. When I open my front door in the morning I peek out, exit quietly and tiptoe down the stairs. I feel them. They’re there - just around the corner—my knees shake in fear that the writing police will arrest me for breaking this steadfast decree.

I’m ready with my alibi. “Okay, okay, so I don’t write for hours each day, but, I think everyday. Does that count? I corner my muse everyday. Does this count? I observe human behavior everyday. Does this count? To me, yes.

So, how about you? Do you write every day? If not, can you give me some good excuses in case, (just in case) I encounter the writing police on my way to the grocery store?

BTW: I did write yesterday. I queried another agent – an e-query. Hopefully I won’t get

e-jected this time.

And to my beautiful daughter - Happy Birthday!!!  I love you.

R*E*J*E*C*T

Guess what I got yesterday?

You can sing the answer to the tune of Aretha Franklin’s RESPECT!

R-E-J-E-C-T

Find out what it means to me

R-E-J-E-C-T

Take care, TCB (I think the TCB stands for Thoughtful, creative, but…)

Figure it out? Yep, another rejection. It was an e-jection really – to a e-query. To tell you the truth I knew I’d get it. I had met the editor at an SCBWI conference and she wasn’t the most receptive person, but hey, I had to try.

I have been told that getting published in the children’s book arena is akin to winning the lottery. The odds are about the same. Discouraging—maybe. But, I have a theory – you can’t win the lottery unless you buy a ticket. So, I keep “buying tickets,” aka, sending in manuscripts.

I still have seven floating on the sea of hope. Maybe, just maybe, one of these days I’ll hear:

A-C-C-E-P-T  

Guess what it means to me

A-C-C-E-P-T

Take care, TCB (Then TCB will stand for Thoughtful, creative, brilliant)

Take care - keep writing - and keep submitting!

Where’s Mine?

Don’t you just love stepping into Barnes and Noble? Perhaps Books-A-Million. How about the corner mom and pop bookstore? It's one of my favorite adventures.

 Upon arrival, I find myself surrounded by wizards and vampires, kings and queens. I encounter serial killers and their victims. There are books to help me lose weight, find my karma, inspire my life. Books that feed my soul, books that hold recipes to feed my body.

I love the sights, the sounds, but most of all the hope I receive when I cross the threshold of my local bookstore. I sometimes let my mind wander and visualize the table where I’ll sit when I autograph my first book. Silly, I know, but I believe I will someday be there. After all there are thousands of books. All written by someone. Why not me.

At a recent conference I attended there was a workshop on the industry and e-books. I felt like I was sitting around a campfire trading ghost stories. Any minute the boogieman would appear holding the dreaded        e-book…the bane of writers everywhere. How scary is that. Will this new mode of communication hurt or help the publishing industry? Well, duh – help, of course. Someone still has to write the words.

When I write my picture books I put on my illustrators hat and visualize them not only as traditional books, but as e-books. How cool would it be to see the characters I develop actually move. How about highlighting the words as they are read by the invisible reader. Or, turning off the sound and a parent can read the words. Just like in old fashion, turn the page, books. Ah, the possibilities for this business of ours!

So, where’s mine. Well, it’s probably sitting in some slush pile in the land of words and phrases. But, hey I have to start somewhere.

Get ready to set up that table, Barnes and Noble, I plan to be there SOMEDAY.

Log Lines, Hooks and Other Torture Devices

I would rather drink buttermilk than create a log line. Listening to fingernails on a chalkboard is more desirable than crafting a hook. And a query – OMG, how hard can it be?

For me these are the torture devices of writing.

I subscribe to three writer’s magazines and read them cover to cover when they arrive. Oh, they are crammed full of good information. On my desk sits piles of enlightening articles about--“How to Write a Good Query." I’ve read them all – twice.

Yesterday my latest writer’s magazine arrived and hidden inside, on page 23, was a list of agents looking for writers!!!  Yea, pick me, pick me. But here’s the rub: I have to hook them with a good log line and a letter perfect query. Bring on the buttermilk.

Why is it I am able to write a manuscript of one hundred pages, but to put down in one sentence what it’s about is torture? I agonize for days. I write sentences to tantalize an editor. I write log lines that would make even the most seasoned agent run down the hallway screaming, “I found it. Move over New York Times Best Seller list.”

I let them sit for a day or two – then I re-read them – and hate them. I’m never satisfied. Where is that pesky muse when I need her?

Like me, she probably rummaging around the refrigerator looking for the buttermilk.

MIHYAP

I am a writer. A lover of words. A pretty good speller, if I say so myself.

I am a fan of texting. An awesome way to keep in touch – a spur of the moment, easy to use mode of communication.

But I absolutely hate text slang. SRSLY, ih8it. What a slam on our beautiful language!! IMO it’s a lazy way to correspond. LLTA.

Now young people will probably say that I am OOT. I know, I know, our language changes with the times, but to slaughter it is tomfoolery.

If you agree, MMYT. If not MMHATY.

• * * * *

Another thought:

This being Sunday, I wanted to pass along a little tidbit I like:  If God is your co-pilot, switch seats.

TTFN

Are We There Yet?

"Are we there yet?"

"Yep, we're there!" I respond.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Didn't you see me put it away. Geez."

"Finished?"

"Yes, finished, complete, done - I'm so over it. Now let's talk about something else."

That's the conversation I had this morning while on my daily exercise routine. I walk to the beach every morning. Most people I pass have a "significant other" walking with them. I have an invisible "significant other" -- my muse. And she never lets up!

Just as the sun is rising I put on my Sketchers Shape Ups -- you know the tennis shoes that are suppose to give you a workout. Well, they do, believe me -- but as far as weight loss -- hmmmm that's another story. When I walk I think, I observe, I listen to my muse -- it's when I get all my inspiration for writing. It's also the time  when I forget to take my recorder to record my great ideas and I end up begging the tram driver to borrow his pen and write on a napkin at the beach cafe. But, hey, any port in the storm....

So today I was feeling rather smug because I finished another manuscript. Or, so I thought. My muse would not leave me alone.

"You left Emily standing before the judge," my muse said.

"So?" I bark back.

"How does she feel? What does she do next? Didn't you forget a major 'show, don't tell' portion."

Dang, I hate it when she's right.

When I got home, dripping with sweat (it's still majorly hot and humid here) - I slid onto my chair, opened my computer and went to court. There was Emily standing before the judge - scared - yeah, yeah, I know I'm telling not showing...but I haven't written it yet. I poised my fingers on the keyboard and began to write.

"Are we there yet?"

"No, we're still working on it. Emily runs into the tin lady again and I need to SHOW what happens next."

So how do you know when you have finished a story? Do you obsess like me - always thinking I could add a little more here or show a bit better there?

BTW: Don't tell my husband that I forgot my recorder. He bought it for me and isn't happy when I return home holding seven napkins.

Self Publishing – Is it the new wave of the future or like kissing your sister.

In my hometown newspaper the other day sat a big spread about a friend of mine who finally – after exhaustive hours on the computer – published his first book.

I admit that green eyed monster called envy wormed its way into my heart. “Dang, my books are as good as his,” I thought. Then I read the article:

He self-published the book. Hah! There you go – rejected by publishing companies and agencies– so he took the non-traditional route and published the book himself.

Is self-publishing the wave of the future -- a way for us struggling writers to become “authors?" Or, it is like kissing your sister – or in my case my brother?

In articles I have recently read, it has become a respectable alternative to getting one's book published. When working with major publishing companies one faces months between submission and rejection.  And if by some miracle acceptance finds its way into one's life, it takes months and possibly years to achieve actual publication. The services offered by these self-publishing companies are remarkable and the resulting product -- very professional.

In retrospect, my friend put his money where his faith is -- in himself and his book. To thine own self by true.
Congratulations.

I Can Handle Rejection, I Raised Teenagers

Do you check your mailbox daily for that sought after letter of acceptance?

I always did until those rejections found their way to my door. But, hey, I can handle rejection, I raised teenagers.

So I have come up with a few tricks on how to handle the waiting game.

1. Once I mail a manuscript I put it out of my mind.

Of course, for me, it is like sending my children to college. I can't quite forget them--the children, that is,  or the manuscript. I make a note on the calendar when I should expect to hear from a specific publisher. Okay, okay when that date arrives I begin to obsess. But what writer isn't a little OCD.

2. I immediately begin working on my next book. Keeps the mind occupied and forward thinking.

3. I view each rejection as one step closer to acceptance. My neighbors can hear my cries of joy as I watch the mailman drive away. "Hey, I got a rejection. Another short-sighted publisher that missed my best seller."

This is my first try at a blog. I will try to write daily and post my musing in groups of three. See above. After all aren't we writers told the rule of three. I like rules. I like three. I like blogs.

But, for the life of me I am not sure if I have set this up correctly. But, like my manuscripts, I keep trying.