Attitude is Everything

"All serious daring starts from within." --Eurora Welly

Remember the classic children's story, "The Little Engine That Could"? Although the tale is designed for budding minds, the message contained within is pertinent to all, young and old.

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!"

Writers often feel the strain and tug on their own internal engines. Struggling to make it over a difficult passage or pushing through a dark tunnel trusting a glimpse of illumination will soon brighten the way.

So what does that little steam engine remind us? Attitude is everything.

"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." ~Frank A. Clark

When we face adversity, we yearn for sympathy and hugs. *smile* Yet what we most need is perspective. To realize that an unlined face isn't a symbol of youth but of a life not yet lived. To recognize each moment is a tiny seed bursting into bloom.

"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses." ~Alphonse Karr

Few careers afford the luxury of turning those lemons into limoncello. *smile* Every tragedy, setback, and obstacle is fertilizer for the imagination. Yup. The pile of manure spread over those seeds can yield some hefty blossoms. Consider Erma Bombeck. Her hilarious anecdotes wouldn't exist if she lived a quiet, uneventful life. Other artistic careers don't profit as we can from those nagging woes. Ah, but we have the luxury of crafting heroines who struggle against the odds or defeat the dark enemy. Not because we have firsthand experience slamming a spike into a vampire's chest either. *grin* For writers, each glorious moment of personal triumph or horrid hour of despair is a glimpse into a potential story.

"When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dig deep, my friends, because All Daring Starts From Within. Dare to write the passage that eludes you (even if it takes a dozen tries). Dare to edit the scene you struggle with. Dare to send off the query even if your fingers tremble with fear as you punch those keys. If you think you can, You Will.

Know what you want to accomplish, each and every day. Know what you want to accomplish five years down the line. The going will get rough, as the saying goes. To quote John Lennon, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."

"Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose - a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye." ~Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein, 1818

Here's a secret successful people cling to. If you hold your destination in mind, you will arrive even if you end up on a different road. There will be detours and unexpected stops. However, intuition is a potent tool. Keep that vision in your mind and your intuition will guide you no matter what twists and turns you face.

"Faith is a passionate intuition." ~William Wordsworth

Hmmmm… I think I can, I think I can, I Think I Can!!

Let's set some goals!

Last week my own twists and turns included complications with my wisdom teeth extraction. Nothing a few stitches wouldn't fix. However, my down time increased and I'm eager to get back to my goals. So…

15-25 fresh pages.
Rewrite query (as many times as necessary).
New essay to post.
Prepare for the extended holiday weekend.
Record one song (my hobby!).

How's about you?

Remember, We Are Writers!! Go-go-GO!

Smiles to everyone,
Chiron

Be Here Now

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." --Mahatma Gandhi

A few weeks back, I had been struggling to understand some of the psychological patterns in my life. Many of you probably relate. How often do we consciously want to move forward yet take action (or inaction) resulting in a setback? How often do we yearn for proof of our success, or better yet, of our worth? The ruminations lead to worry, which amplifies the insecurity that triggered the dismal cycle of self-doubt.

My own searching resulted in a night of revelations, which I spoke of in my essay on June 9th: Taking Risks vs. Riding the Brakes. My joy over this breakthrough tumbled into an email exchange with my friend, Misty Evans.

Her response (which she generously allowed me to post) prompted even more thought. She's paraphrasing Eckhart Tolle. Here's an edited version:

"Satori is the Zen term for a moment of Presence, where you step out of the voices in your head. When you face your insecurities, you rise up out of the clutter of thoughts and the turmoil they cause. You achieve Presence."

This is familiar stuff that we forget repeatedly, *snort* yet as writers we need to remember. Be Here Now. Don't fret over how your novel will end or if the pieces will tie together; it's only a first draft. Just write. Don't freak out about sending out queries or the endless "what if's?" in your writing career. Just write. Don't panic at the deadlines or the promotion or the submissions. Just WRITE!

Be Here Now. Write in the moment. Feel the presence of your characters. Revel in the story you're telling. FACE your insecurities.

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast? said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully."It's the same thing," he said. –A. A. Milne

There's only one valid reason to be a writer. The Love of Writing. Yet we all know those pressures build up and we forget how exciting and fulfilling and fun it can be! Often times those pressures can be whisked away by those three magic words.

Be Here Now. Forget, even for just a few moments, the worries that rattle your world. Breathe deep and remind yourself there is only one moment that matters, only one moment that exists. Now. WRITE now. *smile*

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." ---Buddha

If a particular passage is sticking, pull up another document and let your imagination play. Often it's nothing more than an unacknowledged fear impeding your progress. Fear of "bad writing" can hold us back . We become paralyzed, frozen by a glimpse into an imaginary future where our book doesn't meet expectations. We forget it's only a first draft because we project that fear into the future. Be Here Now.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and remember the thrill of writing. FEEL the excitement, the euphoria, the absolute JOY of writing. Do you love to write? Then shout it out (though it may be wise to shut the door first *grin*) and let those words rock your world. I Love To Write! I Love To Write!

Now, one more exercise. Close your eyes and picture all those worries and concerns as thought balloons. One by one, release those balloons and let them drift away. Surround yourself with the indescribable joy of Being A Writer.

This week our focus is clear. Let's all Be In The Moment, and remember to Just WRITE!

"Forever is composed of nows." –Emily Dickinson

Ready to set goals?

This week I'm facing the removal of wisdom teeth. Yikes!

My goals:
Ten pages.
Post essay.
Whatever else I can manage. *grin*

How's about you?

--Chiron

We Are All Meant to Shine

"A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her." ~David Brinkley

There's an old saying, 'you can't please all the people all the time.' Which begs the question, why would we want to? When did we decide our Job was to please others? Although it may be a strange question to consider, I think as writers it's bound to come up.

Here's why. We Want Readers. We want readers to enjoy our books and to read them. *smile* Agents and editors have an invested interest in making sales, so they have their own personal stake in this (which often may be driven right through the heart of the book we adore).

So… what to do?

First thing is to remember is this. Writing is an art. Can an artist switch to please the market and be successful? Or happy? Hmmmm…

"At moments of great enthusiasm it seems to me that no one in the world has ever made something this beautiful and important" –M.C. Escher

M.C. Escher is known for his brilliant, precise work. Drawings and etchings of such magnificent complexity it truly boggles the mind. His work features alternate realities and optical illusions with a strong mathematical component. Now, imagine for a moment if he fretted about chasing the market and instead focused on painting in an impressionistic style. Or if the daring masters of Impressionism balked under public pressure (the "newfangled approach" baffled and offended many at the time).

"If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." ~Vincent Van Gogh

While we do need to balance an awareness of the market in our work, moving forward is essential. Part of moving forward is to Embrace What You Love To Write.

"The courage to be is the courage to accept oneself, in spite of being unacceptable." ~Paul Tillich

Here's a thought. There's someone out there who will love your voice, even if you first encounter a dozen who don't. The more books you write, the more books you submit, the more books you publish, the greater the chance You Will Find Your Audience.

Yet there will be fans who feel dismayed or betrayed. Who imagine the story being something different. Or who wish you would write in a particular way. When some romance authors made the change to suspense (Lisa Jackson, for example), fans were disappointed. And boy did they let her know it.

Pete Forever, Ringo Never… Heck, when the Beatles switched out Pete Best for Ringo Starr their fans were outraged too. And we all know how THAT worked out. *smile*

"Other people's opinion of you does not have to become your reality." ~Les Brown

As a writer, you will face naysayers before you finish that first manuscript. When you're submitting, the rejections will feel like a slap in the face. *sigh* The reviews will sometimes hit you where it hurts. *groan* So, what are you going to do about that? Well, I have an idea. WRITE! Write, write, and write some more. You Are A Writer. You Can Do It!! Dare to dream, dare to write!

"Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic." ~Jean Sibelius

Critics can explain in great detail why something won't work (Thank Goodness the Wright Brothers didn't listen) but what do they know? You can spend your life reinforcing all the negative crap that is flung your way OR you can realize this. You Are A Success. You Can Achieve Anything. Anything at all.

"Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know that so it goes on flying anyway." ~Mary Kay Ash

"It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not." ~Author Unknown

Take a moment and breathe deep. Close your eyes and wiggle your fingers and toes. Consider all your dreams, your ambitions, your hopes for the future. Now… Visualize The Reality You Want To Create. If you're working on your first (or fifth) manuscript, visualize typing the words The End. If you're sending out a query (or ten), picture an agent or editor devouring your story, then picking up the phone and giving you a call. Visualize your gorgeous shiny book clutched in your trembling hands. If you're waiting for reviews, paint a picture in your mind of the Best Review Ever.

I'm serious now. Take a few moments and etch that image until you feel the excitement tingling inside. Once you get that tingle, say these words: This Is The Truth. This Is My True Reality. I Am A Success. Anything else is simply an illusion I no longer need. This Is My True Reality.

Belief and Action are the tools you need to make it happen. Write Your Books. Believe In Your Success. You Can Do It!

One more piece to inspire you…

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
--Marianne Williamson A Return to Love

Let's set some goals!

My goals:
15-25 pages on current WIP.
Remember it's only a first draft!!
Rewrite query and synopsis on last WIP.
Weekly essay for blog.
Write up documents for RWAOL forum.
Believe in my success!

How's about you?

Here's to another productive week tingling with potential! Go-go-GO!!

Smiles,
Chiron

Taking Risks vs. Riding The Brakes

"Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That's where the fruit is." –H. Jackson Browne

Last weekend, hubby and I were jamming on guitars. It's something we love to do, sip a little wine and play our favorite songs. He paused and looked over at me, saying, "Don't hold back. Hit those strings like you mean it."

I needed the reminder. His next comment though struck home. "You need to let go of that tendency to ride the brakes all the time."

Bam. Wow. The thought reeled in my mind. The visual image meshed beautifully with the startling realization of my own tentative nature. You can bet I did play more aggressively for the remainder of the evening and loved it. Woo-hoo!

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." –Anais Nin

The next day I studied those words I'd scribbled down with such haste. Riding the Brakes. Being a writer is all about risk. Sure, just about anyone can string words together into the semblance of a sentence. Writing a story can be as simplistic as See Jane Run. Yet as readers, we know the difference between a story that merely connects the dots and one that sweeps us into an enchanted world. No matter the genre, whether commercial or literary, the writer who pushes past the boundaries makes us gasp with delight or sit stunned as a revelation resonates within our hearts.

I want to be that writer. *smile* Don't you?

"Sometimes when you think you are done, it is just the edge of beginning. Probably that's why we decide we're done. It's getting too scary. We are touching down onto something real. It is beyond the point when you think you are done that often something strong comes out." --Natalie Goldberg

Taking Risks vs. Riding the Brakes. Writing isn't an easy task. Which is why we heave a sigh of relief when finished and often eye revisions with the same enthusiasm with which we might face a cluttered, spider-infested garage. Ewwwwww…. But… I'm all done! WAH!

*chuckle*

Part of why the task can feel so onerous is simple. If our story isn't touching our soul, rattling our bones, clenching our fists, touching our heart, we may simply be bored. *gulp* We need to dig deeper. Take our foot of the brake. Take A Chance.

If you're feeling stuck with a passage, pull up a separate document and write the three WILDEST, most preposterous ways to take your scene. Then write three more. Feel that tingle of excitement knowing You Can Write Anything. Anything at all! Anything you damn well please! That's right. It's YOUR STORY. If you're bored or beleaguered, feeling overwhelmed or burnt out, why not twist into a direction you absolutely would never consider? Take a chance. Whether or not you continue in that direction is irrelevant to your process of writing. Shaking up the map will often reveal roads you never would have seen otherwise.

"One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time." –Andre Gide

Writing is a voyage of discovery. We must take risks in order to find not only an incredible story, but also our self within each page. Those amazing revelations that leave you gasping will strike your readers too.

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart... Write from the soul, not from some notion what you think the marketplace wants. The market is fickle; the soul is eternal." --William Wordsworth

Write the story you've always dreamt of. Write a paragraph without worrying how it will fit in (remember our mantra—It's Only A First Draft!). Write from your heart and soul. Let the words flow from you like a burst of spontaneous laughter. *grin*

We all have goals and deadlines. We are Writers. We write. By page count and word count. Yet let's make another goal. To dig a little deeper and remember WHY we write. To experience that tingle of delight, that shiver of excitement, that gasp of awe.

You know what? YOU can do it. YOU are a writer. Feeling a little fear at pushing yourself? Trust me, it's natural. That, my friend, is adrenalin coursing through you. YOU Are An Adventurer! About to leap off a cliff into the unknown, you can trust your wings to carry you off to new lands. You Are A Writer…

So… let's set some goals!

I'm shaking things up this week. *smile*

My goals:

15-25 pages on WIP.
Weekly Essay to post on blog.
Expand outline on NF idea.
PUSH myself to "close my eyes and leap" into my story.

How's about you? Ready to take some risks? Ready to Write??

Let's hear those goals!!

Go-go-GO!!!

--Chiron

Writing the Waves...

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." --Groucho Marx

I must confess, I love to write. Although sometimes the desire is more like a wish to have written. *smile* Maybe because, unlike other activities, say… cooking, I often have no recipe to go by. Just a gnawing hunger and an insatiable desire for a delicious meal.

During those times of struggle I do feel despair. I worry about plot points, I'm convinced my writing is wooden and stale. Yikes-a-rooni! The temptation to fill out invites to a massive pity-party is overwhelming. As mentioned many times before, those days you'll find me pacing my office, bunching hair in fists while shrieking, "I'm a hack, I'm a hack!"

*snort*

Yet the truth is, all writers struggle between waves. The energy waxes and wanes. All writers endure the cycle of highs and lows. We ride a crest of creative inspiration and then hit the dirt. *heh-heh*

"Only a mediocre writer is always at his best." --W. Somerset Maugham

Think about that. How true! Writers who pen books of rare beauty or profound insights struggle just like the rest of us. They too worry about whether the book is working. They write each story One Page At A Time.

"I'd like to speak loftily about my attempts to mold the characters and to reach great heights of wisdom when all I'm trying to do is to tell a story that holds together." –Journal of a Novel, June 27, 1994, Write Away by Elizabeth George.

So, how to deal with the inevitable burnout and wavering confidence that is often a writer's due?

A frothy concoction comprised of equal portions of humor and optimism. *smile*

"It's a damn good story. If you have any comments, write them on the back of a check." --Erle Stanley Gardner

We develop confidence by recognizing that our accomplishments are supreme. Think about this… Last week I joked about Reality Shows. Here's one version you'll never see: A group of writers, trapped on an island until one produces a book that wins the approval of the most selective agents around. *grin*

Fear Factor contestants would quake in their boots! A challenge of thirty seconds versus a quest of how years?

"Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators." –Olin Miller

"Writing books is the closest men ever come to childbearing." --Norman Mailer

So true, so very true…

Ah, but we do have a secret. Despite the struggles, the mind-numbing effort, the endless days and nights of staring hopelessly at the computer screen wondering what the HELL comes next, We Love To Write. Writing is… magic. We Create Books.

Hot Damn.

"I really enjoy writing novels. It's like the ocean. You can just build a boat and take off." --Denis Johnson

Whatever we desire, we have the power and the ability to create. We can peer into the future or plunge backward into a turbulent history. Conjure up a slinky cat burgler stalking her lover's nefarious dealings or explore the ramifications of a family in crisis. Writing is an adventure and an opportunity for self-discovery. I love to write!

"Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals." --Don DeLillo

Now, just for fun, here are some rules of writing to keep us all on track. Which one is your favorite?


1. Do not put statements in the negative form.
2. And don't start sentences with a conjunction.
3. If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that agreat deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
4. Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
5. Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.
6. De-accession euphemisms.
7. If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
8. Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
9. Last, but not least, avoid clichés like the plague.

~William Safire, 'Great Rules of Writing'

Summer is almost here! Let's celebrate as only writers can… *grin* Set those goals and reach for the stars! We Are Writers…

My weekly goals:
15-25 pages
Weekly essay.

How's about you?

Here's to a super-productive week! Go-go-GO!! Write-write-write!

--Chiron

Writing for Life...

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." –Thomas Edison (who reportedly had 10,000 failures before successfully creating the light bulb).

I'd been chatting with some of my writerly friends last week. We'd been dishing about our struggles and commiserating over the need for patience. There comes a time when the wicked truth descends upon every writer.

Writing isn't a hundred yard dash. Writing is a marathon. You have to stick to it. Page after page, scene after scene, chapter after chapter. Then comes the rewrites. But honestly, that's not where the real patience comes in. A vast majority of writers sincerely believe writing their book, THE First Book, is the finish line. Once written, the accolades will tumble in. Contest wins! The query will net 100% response! Agents will BEG to read the full! Publishing houses will start a bidding war! Ten days later, Bestseller List!!

*sigh*

On one loop, a troubled writer had received her first rejection and quite legitimately wondered if she should keep pushing forward or give up writing and stick with her established career.

One author responded with blunt-force trauma saying, in essence, if you have to ask then YES, Quit! Because unless you have not only the fortitude but also the determination, the passion, the absolute unrealistic stubbornness to WRITE-SUBMIT-WRITE until the day you are published, flee now while you can!

*smile*

A noted author responded with her own personal story, which she graciously allowed me to repost for everyone here:

I wrote FIVE manuscripts before I sold, queried over 100 agents, had over 100 rejections, and never considered giving up. I often ask people when I speak, "IF you knew today that you would not sell, would you still write?" If the answer is yes, first, you're more likely to sell and second, you have the desire to write for the long haul, and perseverance is part of the publishing triangle (perseverance, talent, and luck.) Stephen King, John Grisham, Nora Roberts, and many other bestselling authors were rejected countless times. Most authors have been rejected. It's part of the business.

I had one agent request the full of my first manuscript and wrote back a one word response: SUPERFICIAL. Ouch. Yet, she was probably right. She could have been kinder. She could have said, "Your writing isn't strong enough for my list." But she didn't. I could have quit, but luckily I didn't because now I have 8 books on the shelves, a novella, and a short story, have one book in production, and I'm contracted for six more books and two short stories.

Every book I've written is better than the last. If you want to be a writer, you have to keep writing.

Allison Brennan TEMPTING EVIL 5/20/08

Write ON. *grin*

"If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody." –Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Here's the thing. Published writers don't have a special key to unlock the doorway to success. They simply knocked longer and harder until someone opened the gosh-darn door and let them in.

Another thing to consider… The journey is damn important. I know the thought of being published is the dangling carrot that keeps our mulish self plodding forward, one page at a time. But I believe writing is more than a means to an end. I believe writing is an act of self-discovery. Each page you write is a testament to your strength, your courage and your perseverance.

"Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance." –Samuel Johnson

While much credence is given to those who can do everything from Dance With The Stars to Surviving on Bugs in this Reality-Show driven decade, few of those characters could ever accomplish what we do. We Write Books. THIS is our mountain. Everytime we complete another novel, we are planting a flag. Visualize those flags fluttering in the breeze and feel a tingle of pride because We Are Writers. Damn, but we're lucky.

And believe me I know, the trek grows perilous. The rocky path is a chore to climb and too often we pause wondering which way to turn.

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." –Franklin D. Roosevelt

Try this for a mantra:

Success comes to those who persevere. I AM a success because I persevere.

Finish the page, the scene, the chapter (remember it's only a first draft). Edit your WIP until it shines. Submit until The Right Person opens the door. And remember, We Are Writers. And what do writers do? We Write!

Here's to another productive week... Go-go-GO!

Yup, We Gotta Have Faith...

"When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires will come to you. If your heart is in your dreams, no request is too extreme, when you wish upon a star as dreamers do."

--Music by Leigh Harline / Lyrics by Ned Washington

Faith is the light that brightens our darkest moments. We need faith to stay true to our vision no matter what.

I spent my wild high-school years in Orange County, California. I adored Hollywood but my true home was Disneyland. The enchanted land where magical dreams come true. Disney was an innovator, a pioneer and an unabashed dreamer who fueled his vision with a sense of optimism that would not be dimmed no matter how many clouds came his way. We have only to consider his fantastic legacy to realize just how far faith can take us.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." --Walt Disney

Ah, courage. Yikes. It's one thing to bask in the lovely fantasy of being a best-selling author, signing books (not to mention contracts!) and quite another to scrape up the courage to tackle each phase. The Dreaded Synopsis. The Horror of Endless Editing. The Revision That Would not Die. The Curse of the Unwoven Subplot. Each and every aspect of our budding career requires us to believe. To have faith. And to have the courage to tackle the inevitable fear that arises. We may chide ourselves for our procrastination, our innate talent for avoidance. Yet the issue is often deeper than we realize. We need to remember that it is SCARY OUT THERE. We are confronting the Great Unknown. Imagine your fingers are the shaking legs of your inner self, and you're pushing, saying, "Go ahead... step off that cliff. It'll be fine. Trust me."

Of course, it WILL be fine. But our quaking fears don't know that. Yet. That's why we need to keep going. We need to push ourselves a little bit further each time. Remember the first time you rode a bike? The wobble and pitch, the fear of crashing? The fear fades with repetition. Soon, we'll be steering through plot twists, changing gears with ease!

"If you can dream it, you can do it." --Walt Disney

Anything we want to achieve, we can. That's the crux of it. Action is the vehicle to make our dreams come true. It does no good to visualize without taking action though! You can sit on your lawn all you want, visualizing cut grass. Those blades will continue to grow until you get out the darn mower!

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." --Walt Disney

Hah! Aye, there's the rub, eh? There's a huge difference between wanting and doing. Discipline is required. Focus. Determination. Those darn books won't write themselves. Dang it. *heh-heh*

"When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable." --Walt Disney

No half-measures. No... "I sort of think that maybe I might just be able to write if the heavens open up and give me a sign and the weather cooperates and every circumstance happens just right. Maybe."

Say it. "I'm a writer." Believe it. Then make it happen. How? Writer's write. They persist. They push. They don't let up. Ever. Make it happen.

“Somehow I can’t believe there are many heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secret of making dreams come true. This special secret can be summarized in four C’s. They are: curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of these is confidence.” –Walt Disney

The four C's. Oooooh, this works well for writers, eh? Curiosity? You betcha. It's what drives us through our hours of research and our weeks of plotting. The greatest of all though… Confidence. Believe. You ARE what you believe. Remember, we're rewriting the old saying, "I'll believe it when I see it." *heh-heh* We now know that We'll see it when we believe it.

“Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done right.” –Walt Disney

Back to persistence. Yup. Plug away and keep the focus. We start with a cool premise. We type feverishly until we've carved out an incredible story. Then the hours and hours of editing. The critiques. The new revisions. The realization that a subplot needs to be expanded or doesn't work or drops off… and what the heck happened to the dog in Chapter Three anyway???

We begin with the barest wisp of an idea. And out of that tiny, almost imperceptible seed (to which we water, prune, weed, and add loads of s**t… er… Fertilizer *grin* ) a full-grown story blossoms. Amazing. Freaking amazing. Truly, it seems impossible, when we think about it.

“It's kind of fun to do the impossible.” –Walt Disney.

Yeah, Walt. I'm with you on that one.

Have a great week, everyone!

Dare the Impossible.

Dare to Dream.

Even more importantly, Dare to WRITE!!

What are you goals this week? Fresh pages? Editing/revision? Synopsis? Queries? Plotting? What is your minimum goal and your streeeetch goal?

My goals:

Weekly essay.
15-25 pages.
Finish planting.
Spring-cleaning *groan* in time for Memorial Day Weekend.

How's about you?

Remember if we can dream it, we can do it!! We Are WRITERS!!

Now…. Go-go-GO!!

--Chiron O'Keefe

The Power of Belief

"Every morning is a fresh beginning. Every day is the world made new. Today is a new day. Today is my world made new. I have lived all my life up to this moment, to come to this day. This moment--this day--is as good as any moment in all eternity. I shall make of this day--each moment of this day--a heaven on earth. This is my day of opportunity." --Dan Custer

Opportunity. What a lovely word. *smile* Two more I love: Optimism and Optimal. The letters OP nestle within one of my favorite all-time words: Hope.

Sometimes the business of writing—whether it be the necessity of revisions, the frustration of plot-points or the pressure of deadlines—can overwhelm our initial sense of joy. Leading us to forget what led us to being writers… The opportunity to write.

You know, one thing writers know more keenly than anyone is how words can be phrased to elicit emotion. How our choice of language can lead our reader to one conclusion or another. How even punctuation can alter the meaning of a sentence.

Consider this sentence:

A woman without her man is nothing.

Now, let's examine two ways of utilizing punctuation to completely transform the meaning conveyed.

1. A woman, without her man, is nothing.

2. A woman: without her, man is nothing.

Fascinating, Captain!

If punctuation can make such a dramatic difference, imagine what one word might accomplish. Yet in our fervent quest to select the right choice in our writing (bless you, sweet thesaurus), we often forget the impact our words have in everyday life. Not just in how we write, but how we think. Just for an experiment, read the next five sentences aloud, reaching deep and *feeling* what comes up as you speak.

"Today, I have to write five pages."

"Today I need to write five pages."

"Today, I get to write five pages."

"Today, I have the opportunity to write five pages."

"Today I write five pages."

"The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones."
--Chinese proverb

Being a successful writer isn't just about pounding out pages. The small steps we make in our approach to writing can be as significant as our productivity. And words have power. They really do. Words create magic, not just in our stories but also in our life. Let's try another sentence.

"I am a success."

*smile* Now, let's say it like we mean it! I AM A SUCCESS.

The same power that allows you to sweep a reader away into a world of intrigue or romance is at your fingertips, giving you not only the Opportunity To Write, but also the Opportunity To Succeed In Life. Often we forget we have this power. For all the care we exert in selecting the proper word to express our chosen emotion within a story, we forget this same power exists within our life. This is why I encourage us all, every day, to shout WE ARE WRITERS! Words have power. In our books and in our life.

"Some people dream of success... while others wake up and work hard at it." ~Author Unknown

This week, let's focus not just our minds but our hearts. Along with our goals of productivity let's forge a path to success with our thoughts. Once a day, every day, let's invest five minutes in focusing on our success. Feel it, breathe it, believe it! Five minutes where we imagine our life is exactly what we choose it to be. And consider this… Studies show that the subconscious responds to our beliefs as if they are facts. Read that over one more time. Take a moment to savor the thought.

Our beliefs influence our experience. Visualization has improved the performance of athletes as significantly as actual practice. The thought is astounding. Do you realize what this means? Success Comes To Those Who Believe In Success. NOT because positive thinking is cool but because Our Beliefs Shape Our Experience.

Five minutes. "I am a successful, published author. My books are popular and engaging. I love to write. Writing comes easily to me."

Select the words that give you a tingle and repeat them with passion. Tell yourself—for the next five minutes I will suspend any belief in what my present experience APPEARS to be, and believe fully in the reality I choose. I AM a success. I hold within my hand my published book.

Why not? As writers we grasp better than most the need to "suspend disbelief." And the power of initiating beliefs. *smile* Now's the time to Create The World You Want. On paper and in life.

Let's seize the moment and begin anew!

"Our ideals resemble the stars, which illuminate the night. No one will ever be able to touch them. But the men who, like the sailors on the ocean, take them for guides, will undoubtedly reach their goal." –Carl Schurz

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. .... All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world." --Gautama Siddhartha Buddha

"If you can dream it, you can do it." --Walt Disney

--Chiron O'Keefe

Moving Forward--One Page At A Time...

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This week's essay is inspired by all the writers I'm blessed to know. The quotes all come from the many inspirational comments left on my blog. For almost a year now, I've scoured the internet weekly, searching for extraordinary bits of wisdom to insert. This week I want to show what a treasure trove of brilliance sparkles within our circle of writers. I feel blessed and honored (and more than a little inspired) by the thoughtful comments left by others. Here's to our writing family!

I don't think any other career (besides acting maybe) requires you to keep practicing your craft even as the rejections pile up. Instead of looking at the pile of rejections and wondering "why," kick them up in the air and wonder "why not"?

--Carol Ericson

Bravo! Yes, indeed. There's much uncertainty in being a writer. The temptation to slink back and question our career choice may be strong. For those of us who've faced endless revisions or repeated rejections a whisper may creep in… "Why keep going?"

Well, why the hell not? *grin* Just today I read on the RWA PRO loop of yet another author who has reached that glorious pinnacle. After twelve years of hard work and dedication (atta-girl), she happily announced her sale:

I just wanted to remind everyone that there is no secret to this other than never stop submitting and believing. It took me 12 years. It's taken some people less and some more but it can't happen at all if you stop submitting.Write what you love, I stick to that motto because it shows in your work, and keep plugging away.The end result is SO worth it!!!

Michelle Beattie, who has since sold 2 more to Berkley!

Michelle Beattie WHAT A PIRATE DESIRES

If we want to be writers, we must BE writers. That means embracing the craziness, the tears and laughter, the celebratory champagne and the consolation hugs. We commit to this career knowing that we Will succeed, as long as we keep our vision true and those fingers busy. Remember, nearly all "overnight sensations" work for years before they make it. Success requires effort yet the rewards are supreme… *pumps fist in air* Yeah, baby!!

And speaking of embracing the craziness:

My theory about writers is that we must possess a bit of nuttiness, otherwise our worlds aren't as zany as they should be. :) Lea Schizas - Author/Editor

Oh-so-true. Although not a fiction writer, the extremely talented Erma Bombeck leaps to mind. There's someone who snatched all that craziness into a big old bear hug. *heh-heh* And here's something pretty darn cool to consider. If perhaps you're not the type to splash in those puddles or maybe protest a scheduled development by slipping into a duck costume to waddle and quack for the cameras (hey, why not? *grin*), you can Create The Wackiest Character Ever. This is YOUR World. YOU Are Creating A World. And in this world, you, through your characters, can be anything freaking thing you want to be! If that doesn't get your blood racing and your fingers eager to write, I don't know what will. (Says Chiron, who's now considering just where she can stick that duck costume-wearing character).

After reading a cool L 'Engle quote, Cathy said:
BTW, Madeleine L'Engle not only made me want to write when I was a kid (and to swim with dolphins, fly with archangels, and fight evil on all kinds of levels... can we ever ask for more as a writer than to inspire that in a reader?) but the Hitchhiker series convinced me I was nuts enough to create a little magic and enjoy the ride.

Oh, yeah! There's the life for me (Chiron hums with a bit of Yo-ho-ho in her voice). Imagine how much fun it is to create characters who sprinkle a little magic dust on… hmmmm… how about a vacuum? Zoom, zoom, zoom and the modern witch flies high in the sky, cord trailing and bits of dust leaking from the bottom (dang, MUST remember to empty canister before taking off next time).

Let's all vow to embrace that wackiness within our soul and "enjoy the ride." Especially because:

Sometimes, when we are in the middle of a story, and the writing is tough, we forget the magic.-- Renee Knowles

We forget the magic and feel overwhelmed by the Grand Adventure Turned Nagging Task. We need to invigorate ourselves. Rekindle the joy. Rediscover the adventure. How to do that? One way is to step away from the computer or pad of paper, and re-enter the real world. Bask in the rays of sunshine or crack open the umbrella and revel in the drops of rain dancing around you.

We can and WILL finish our stories, edit our stories, publish our stories as long as we're patient and persistent. Taking a break may be the exact 'write' thing to do, *smile* so go ahead, take a moment and breathe.

I think the real problem is that we live in a rush rush society and want everything yesterday. I'm probably the most impatient person you could ever meet, and I'm slowly coming around to realize I need to slow down and smell the roses. Good things have come to me and will continue to come to me, WHEN the time is right. :) Debbie Wallace

Yup… we must temper our impatience and recognize each book is written one page at a time. Each query goes out one at a time. We must incorporate patience and trust, along with our persistence and passion.

Writing is one of the few careers that lets you tests the range of your emotions. :) I try to explore it when no one else is testing me. Angelique Newman

*heh-heh* I hear you, Angelique. If memory serves, such a choice was NOT available when I worked customer service. *snort* But what a marvelous, magnificent reality we embrace as writers. Scream, dance, whisper, rage, sob, laugh exuberantly, and love without restraint—all within the pages of YOUR story. Woo-hoo!

Maybe I'm biased but personally, I believe being a writer is the Best Damn Career there is. *grin* Just think of the magic you hold in your heart and the amazing opportunity to sprinkle that magic onto the printed page.

Yes, there is effort and plenty of struggle. Think of yourself as a sculptor, chipping away at a huge block of stone. Your mental muscles may ache but be patient, my writerly friend, because you truly are creating something magnificent. When you need a boost, reach out to your writer friends because WE KNOW what it takes, don’t we? And we also know… We Can Do It. We Are Writers.

Let's make it happen. I have so many great 'comment quotes', there'll be another essay (or more) devoted to the wisdom offered up by the writers we know. But one last bit of insight to keep us on track:

Always moved forward, don't look back. --Allison Knight

That says it all. One word, one sentence, one page, one scene at a time.

Thanks, Allison and everyone for such incredible comments!

Let's have another Fabulous and Productive Week! Kick the energy up another notch... Remember: We Are Writers!

--Chiron

Stay True to Your Vision

"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence." –Abigail Adams

A word is dead

When it is said,

Some say.

I say it just begins

to live that day.
- Emily Dickinson

As I was reading an email digest, a comment jumped out at me. A poster offered up her opinion: agents decide whom to choose based on how serious a writer seems about their career.

Hmmm… I realized I was tuning into a theme. In a recent email, a dear friend bemoaned jokingly (or not) that the year was rushing past and she had barely taken the time to enjoy it. Another dear friend commented that she has no social life anymore. Both are writers. Like me. And I chuckled and realized they could be describing my life too.

Writing is fun. No doubt about it. Choosing to make writing your career is like deciding to give birth. You most certainly will be sacrificing sleep. Social occasions will dwindle because you just HAVE to get that chapter finished. Free time will become a lost memory. And your TBR stack will tower precariously. I recycle my magazines by bringing them to my hairdresser. It used to be a fabulous idea. Lately, it's been a wee bit embarrassing since it now takes me months to get around to finishing each one. *snort*

Yes, being an author is in some ways similar to being a parent. For with each finished manuscript, You Have Created Life. Several lives, usually. *smile* All neatly contained within the covers of your book.

"When superior people hear of the Way, they carry it out with diligence. When middling people hear of the Way, it sometimes seems to be there, sometimes not. When lesser people hear of the Way, they ridicule it greatly. If they didn't laugh at it, it wouldn't be the Way." Lao Tzu—Tao Te Ching

During the RWA convention last year, I attended the PRO retreat. A lovely writer gave a detailed presentation about self-promotion. The website, the newsletters, guest blogging, reviewers, handouts, mailings, *deep breath* freelance writing, and speaking engagements. A fellow writer leaned over and whispered in my ear, "And when, exactly, are we supposed to write?"

"Can the garden afford any thing more delightful to view than those forests of asparagus, artichokes, lettuce, pease, beans and other legumes and edulous plants so different in colour and of such various shapes, rising at it were from the dead and piercing the ground in so many thousand places as they do, courting the admiration or requiring the care of the diligent Gardiner." –Stephen Switzer, The Practical Gardener 1727

We ARE the diligent gardeners. We till the earth, fertilize the ground, plant the seeds, water the shoots, pull out the weeds (a lovely term for editing!), fertilize some more, trim, water and finally… FINALLY, it's harvest time.

Now all we have to do is gather the fruits of our labor and take it to an open marketplace. ARGH!!

"There is nothing which persevering effort and unceasing and diligent care can not accomplish." –Seneca (4 BC-65D)

"To be a writer is to sit down at one's desk in the chill portion of every day, and to write; not waiting for the little jet of the blue flame of genius to start from the breastbone - just plain going at it, in pain and delight. To be a writer is to throw away a great deal, not to be satisfied, to type again, and then again, and once more, and over and over...." - John Hersey

No, writing is not easy. That's why we celebrate when someone finishes even one book. Why we call writers PRO when they finish and submit a story no matter what the results. Listen up. You Are A Writer. This is not a carefree career choice. Yet you, my friend, are brave enough to make that choice. You have the strength, the passion and the determination to see this through.

For every chapter you write, celebrate. For every book you finish, take a bow. For every rejection you face without giving up, give yourself a well-deserved standing ovation. YOU ARE A WRITER. Bravo!

"What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence." –Samuel Johnson

And take heart. For the initial writing does get easier. The process of editing will go quicker. Not at first. Patience is required to learn to distinguish the weeds from the budding shoots. In time, our eyes grow keener and we can see that trimming this branch will encourage the plant to flower even more. We will sense when the fruit ripens and reach forward with fresh confidence.

Another delightful friend sported a ribbon at Nationals. You may have seen it. The ribbon says simply, Move Over Nora!

Stay true to the vision. Approach writing with diligence. Hold the thought of your published books like the promise of sunshine after the winter rains. Harvest time WILL come.

"Diligence is the mother of good luck." –Benjamin Franklin

And we shall ALL be lucky, right?

Have a wonderful writing week. Let's all remember to acknowledge our strength and our diligence and be proud of what we do. Athletes may pump iron or run a 5k, but they don't have to WRITE!! (she says with a sneer)

You know you want it. You know you have to do it. So go ahead. WRITE! Remember… We Are WRITERS!

Explore... Dream... Discover...

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be." ~Douglas Adams

For many of us, writing is a happy accident. Whether we meticulously plot out every scene in advance or jump into the fray with a vague idea (knowing our future self will have to edit the crap out—literally), we often find that our best writing is a surprise to ourselves. Hopefully, to our readers as well. *smile*

That's where faith comes into the picture. We need to trust that somewhere in the caverns of our unconscious the story resides in full. Like the proverbial block of marble, the completed book already exists—we need to carve away what Isn't the story to find it.

"Like an old gold-panning prospector, you must resign yourself to digging up a lot of sand from which you will later patiently wash out a few minute particles of gold ore." ~Dorothy Bryant

Outlining, editing, revising, querying… Work-work-work, where's the fun? Yup, being a writer isn't the happy-go-lucky traipse through springtime flowers we imagine it to be. *sigh* Ah, but the rewards are indescribable. As our unique tale emerges, we delight in how smooth the story feels, how solid the sculpture appears, how grand and glorious it is to be a writer! There's no denying the effort involved yet what an amazing triumph. Whether the story snaps in at eleven pages or stretches for three hundred and fifty, You Have Created A New World.

A world where characters gasp and giggle, struggle and strive, kiss and snuggle, and dare to prevail against dire odds. You Create Magic. Which is why writers more than anyone understand the element of surprise. Hah! When we re-read a particularly good day's work, we might find ourselves sucking in a startled breath when the words drop off. But… but… but… we sputter… where's the rest? For one amazing instant, we *feel* the complete book and our linear consciousness wonders why the heck we stopped! Relish the shiver of excitement, my friend, because YOU are a writer!

"That's the way things come clear. All of a sudden. And then you realize how obvious they've been all along." ~Madeleine L'Engle

Those bursts of illumination aren't constant. Like fireflies, they flit in and out providing flashes of inspiration when our inner sky grows dark. Yet every writer experiences a similar rush—a combination of exhilaration and anticipation. We Are Magic. Ideas dancing in the air. Words transforming into stories before our astonished eyes.

How freaking cool is that?

This week, let's celebrate the magic. Recognize how the process of writing takes us places we never imagined we could go.

"I think that wherever your journey takes you, there are new gods waiting there, with divine patience - and laughter." ~Susan M. Watkins

Let's recognize writing isn't about playing it safe. Jump into the deep water! Walk the tightrope without a net!

"To do anything truly worth doing, I must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in with gusto and scramble through as well as I can." — Og Mandino

Writing is a grand and glorious adventure. An opportunity not only for self-exploration but to take risks. We're not skydiving here. *smile* We're free to leap out of the airplane a dozen different ways, knowing we can back up and jump again and again and again. Why play it safe? Have faith and tell Your Story Your Way…

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." —Mark Twain

Let's have a fabulous and productive week!

Remember:

"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." --Arthur C. Clarke

Our Secret Power

A wonderful friend, a comrade-in-words, and my sworn soul sister sent me a lovely card, which begins:

“Follow Your Destiny, Wherever It Leads You.” --Vicki Silvers

The words inspire and yet also challenge me. Why? Because the countless books on “manifesting your dreams” or “the secret to success” often seem to obsess over the need to control your destiny. When things reach beyond our control, we feel helpless or worse, as if we’re doing something wrong.

“We can’t control the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” –Unknown

Writers often get this instinctively. How many here have veered away from the outline or, for the many pantsers here, realized that the characters were taking you in a direction you absolutely did not expect? Just the other day I muttered to myself that I better be careful or I would write myself into a corner.

Even in the worlds WE create, there’s still this element of unpredictability, a realization that we can’t control everything. There is no magic wand. No magic spell. Except perhaps one…

Never-ending Optimism.

This the secret power each and every one of us holds deep within our soul. When we choose to activate the secret power, we often find exactly what we need at exactly the right time.

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find, you get what you need.” –Jagger/Richards

What if destiny seems to lead me to something I don’t want? And what if that something turns out to be just what I need? That’s the magic of our secret power at work. If the winds change, it’s pretty darn clear that unless you have faith that you can navigate and trust in your skill as a sailor, your shaking hands won’t be able to adjust those sails and… Hel-lo, Davy Jones’ Locker.

So we need to work with our destiny, realize that life is a relationship. Just as we’ve learned that cooperation is key to a successful relationship with loved ones, friends and coworkers, we also need to embrace the cooperative relationship between Author and Book, between Self and Destiny.

This same wonderful, delightful, most appreciated friend told me that she realized, had her book been picked up last year, she might never have joined RWA. Yet the friendships, the camaraderie was such a joy to her, she believed Destiny knew what she needed. I was touched and more than a little astonished. I certainly wouldn’t choose a friendship with ME over a book contract. *chuckle* And her words gave me pause because I wondered… how many wonderful, delightful, incredible, NECESSARY ‘things’ might pass us by in our fervent quest for publication, our need to promote, our desire for the best-selling book. We push because we believe we have to, yet our secret power is always there.

Never-ending Optimism.

If we remember to tap into that secret power, we can afford to take a breath now and then. We can afford to relax and TRUST that our destiny is working with us. When we rely on our secret magic power, we give more power to our greater self. How many here have wrestled with a plot quandary, only to have the answer come when you finally turn off the effort and just relax? I swear, I HAVE to install a waterproof recorder in my shower since so many of my plot points come to me there.

Last summer, hubby and I fell in love with a new series called Burn Notice. The main character is a spy—half Derek Flint (Our Man Flint) and half MacGyver. What I love is when faced with impossible odds, his face twists into a tight smile and he says, “Hand me that bobby pin, a bottle of avocado oil and some spackle.” *heh-heh* He doesn’t even entertain doubt. He knows he has to win. He is totally in touch with his secret magic power.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” --Winston Churchill

Sometimes, destiny leads us to unexpected places and the greatest challenge is to keep our eyes open to the new possibilities before us. To recognize that there is opportunity for life, for love, for success, for hope in every minute of every day.
As writers, we need this more than anyone does. We need to nurture our secret magic power. Unpublished writers believe that once we hold the golden contract or sign with the all-powerful agent, our heavy lifting comes to an end. Published writers know that it’s just the beginning. No matter what phase we’re in, we need to cherish and cultivate our secret magic power. We need to Believe In Our Destiny.

Oh, and one more thing… WE NEED TO WRITE!! *grin*

This week, let’s all take a breath now and then, let’s nurture our secret magic power and get in touch with our optimism, and most of all, let’s resolve to trust in our destiny…

We Are Writers...

Passion, Patience, and Persistence... The life of a writer.

"Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depth of your heart; confess to yourself you would have to die if you were forbidden to write." ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Passion, Patience, and Persistence. These are three of the essential qualities needed to be a successful writer.

First… Passion.

The need to write, the fervent desire to create worlds and watch the stories unfold on paper is prerequisite. If you don't feel as if your life would be desolate without the act of writing, flee while you can!

Still here? *smile* Good!

Nurture that flame within your heart every day, every hour. Trust me, you'll need plenty of fuel to keep that passion burning. No matter how tempting it can be to wallow in despair, kick any such tendency to the curb. You're a writer, damn it! Your heart beats a little faster when the words fly by, right? You quiver with excitement when a new idea hits and you can't wait to trap that elusive inspiration on a fresh page. Am I close?

When the writing sucks (and we've all been there) you'll be tempted to toss your story out along with your dreams.

Don't.

This is a relationship and the honeymoon phase comes and goes. Okay, that came out a little more risqué than I intended but I do love a good romance. *smile* Nevertheless, the sentiment holds true. You must cling to the passion that first drove you to pound those keys in a fever of excitement. Keep that passion alive. Remind yourself daily: I am a writer. Look in the mirror and pour your heart and soul into those four little words. Hear them for what they are. An exclamation of undying passion to the career you've embraced.

We Are Writers! Yeah, baby!

Next up… Patience.

"The work never matches the dream of perfection the artist has to start with."
-- William Faulkner

Dang it! *shakes fist at muse*

The inspiration dangling before our mind's eye never seems to coalesce quickly enough.

"Having imagination, it takes you an hour to write a paragraph that, if you were unimaginative, would take you only a minute. Or you might not write the paragraph at all." ~Franklin P. Adams, Half a Loaf, 1927

Patience is essential because you never really know where the muse will take you. The process of writing is a mixture of applied focus and blind faith. A good metaphor might be of trying to start a fire by rubbing sticks together. Others have done it. The process looks easy enough. Yet the length of time required before that first spark of flame may feel like an eternity. And to our dismay, the first spark doesn't burst into a raging fire.

Be patient. Each word leads to another. Each sentence becomes a paragraph. Each page gets you closer to a finished draft. In our world of instant gratification, it's difficult to remember how much time is required to write a book. Thank goddess for our passion, eh?

Time to remind ourselves of the heart of our own life story: We Are Writers! We CAN and WILL make this happen. One word, one page, one chapter at a time.

Which takes us to the crux of our quest: Persistence.

"Never give up! Never Surrender!" – from the movie Galaxy Quest.

No matter how many times I use this quote, it always rings true. These words need to be inscribed on our foreheads. Backwards, of course, so that when we're staring at the mirror shouting, "I am a Writer!" we can read them clearly. *grin*

Writers write. And it doesn't matter if you're published, pre-published or don't give a damn about ever being published (I've heard of this elusive creature, though I have yet to meet one).

Writers write. Remember that. Persist even when you hit the inevitable slump. Persist even if rejections pile up. Persist when your heart is into it and when it's not.

Hold that vision in your mind like an Olympic torch. You want to go for the gold? Visualize your finish line. See yourself clutching your published novel in hand. Or signing The Contract. Or answering the phone and screaming like a maniac because you just got The Call.

Got the vision? Great, now get to work!

"If you haven't got an idea, start a story anyway. You can always throw it away, and maybe by the time you get to the fourth page you will have an idea, and you'll only have to throw away the first three pages." --William Campbell Gault

And consider this…

Every writer goes through dark moments. Every writer wonders about his or her talent. Every writer worries about the dark moment or the climax, the character arc or the pacing, the beginning, the middle AND the ending.

"Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow delightful conditions, all heavenly environment; of these if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built." --James Allen

You can do it. Why? Because You, my friend, are a writer.

Beyond the Boundaries--Taking Risks

"Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away… Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday…" (Lennon/McCartney)

With all due respect to Paul McCartney, I prefer to believe in Today. Even better, I want to believe in Tomorrow. Every word I type in the present is transported into a magical future, which is still yet a dream. The essay I'm composing will be read tomorrow or Monday or maybe next Friday. My WIP will take months to finish and weeks more to edit. We can forget in the tedium of the effort involved how miraculous tomorrow can and will be, especially if we lose sight of the magic in our words. There's something to be said for introducing Optimism to Risk-Taking and discovering how amazing this collaboration can be.

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore." –Andre Gide

Every writer goes through it. A manic-depressive swing depending on Where The Story Is At. When we're in the zone, the words fly, the ideas are so thick they infiltrate our dreams and we can't type fast enough. When we're stuck, we are admittedly unbearable. *grin* My favorite image (which I'm embarrassed to say is only slightly exaggerated) is of me dashing through my house, hands waving in the air, while I shriek, "I'm a hack!"

Ups and downs. Highs and lows. Welcome to the wonderful world of writing.

"You can do anything you think you can. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods, for through it you can solve every human problem. It should make of you an incurable optimist. It is the open door." --Robert Collier

No matter how many times we go over it, the truth always bears repeating. Our thoughts shape our world. At the very least, they shape our perception of our world and perception really is everything.

"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes." –Mahatma Gandhi

Studies are ongoing. Mapping the brain and proving repeatedly that Belief Works. Science has taken it a step further, revealing that thinking about doing a task lights up the same region of the brain as the actual activity. Even more exciting, visualizing that finish line (in whatever race we're facing) seems to carve a pathway in our brain that leads to success. Scientific proof for what has been a tenet of every successful person's philosophy for eons: Positive Thinking Leads to Success.

"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness." –Oprah Winfrey

It's good to be the queen. *smile* There are no safe routes or any way to assure a life free of troubles and pain. Life is messy and filled with complications. Since we're going to get out hands dirty anyways, why not go for it?

"The only one who doesn't make mistakes is the one who doesn't do anything." --V. I. Lenin

There's an endless variety of methods people utilize to move past writer's block or procrastination or (let's call it what it is, folks) Fear. Yet each and every method ends up at the same place. Sooner or later, you have to plop yourself down, whether in front of a computer or with pen in hand, and write. Why? Obviously, if you don't write it's all over BUT there's more. This is the horse you've fallen from. The longer you wait, the greater and more fearsome this beast will appear to be. Don't hesitate. Grab the reins and let the words take you for a ride. Don't concern yourself yet with deciding whether the prose is brilliant or prosaic. That's what editing is for.

And keep this in mind: The only writers who don't make mistakes are those who don't write. That's MY quote and I'm standing by it.

"If you're not failing every now and again, it's a sign you're not doing anything very innovative." --Woody Allen

Why play it safe? Safety is for wusses.

I read this brilliant post on the BookEnds blog by Angie Fox, author of "The Accidental Demon Slayer." Her words are so good I'm going to re-post them here along with the link (which hopefully will prevent me from any copyright infractions).

The post is called Angie Fox: Three Things I Had to Do in Order to Sell. Here, she speaks of the steps involved with taking her writing to the next level. To get from "almost there" to SOLD. Here's the first segment (may it whet your appetite for more):

The “No Way” Factor


My characters had to take bigger chances, have more to risk and lose. It’s easy to say, but a hard thing for a writer to do. It’s a vulnerable, risky place to be. I knew my story was big enough to sell when instead of ending my writing sessions thinking, “I hope that’s good enough to impress an editor,” I ended them thinking, “No. I did not just write that. I did not just make my character defend herself with a toilet brush and a can of Purple Prairie Clover air freshener.” --Angie Fox

Taking risks can lead you into unexpected places, and even better… it transforms your perspective of writing from an effort to an adventure. And on a practical note, when our writing excites us our enthusiasm will spark a flame within the hearts of our readers too.

"I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark burn out in a brilliant blaze than it be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet." --Jack London

So, this week's motivation is two-fold: Keep Believing and Take Risks. Those two qualities go together like books and readers.

And remember…

"If you wish to be a writer, write." --- Epictetus

April is just around the corner and summer a mere breath away. Let's keep the energy up and make this next week count.


Go-go-GO!!

Spring into Action!

"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn." —Ralph Waldo Emerson

The power inherent within a single idea is breathtaking. Every life-changing invention, every rousing song, every exquisite work of art and every heartfelt book began with a single idea.

Yet the work involved to pushing that idea to fruition is daunting. We're starting with a barren field! The dirt must be overturned, then sifted through for weeds and rocks. Fertilizer must be applied. Seeds planted then watered. More weeding. Some judicious pruning. Yikes! How long until we bask in the glory of our blossoming tree?

The process can be so overwhelming, many a writer is tempted to give up. Even the best idea might not seem worth the struggle, the tedious hours staring at the screen striving to somehow bring this seed of a story to life. And that's just the first draft! As my good friend Tessy has pointed out, the inevitable process of revising also requires patience. And time. Then even MORE time. Why not just move on?

"Throwing away ideas too soon is like opening a package of flower seeds and then throwing them away because they're not pretty."

— Arthur VanGundy, Ph.D. (Idea Power, 1992)

Because You Are A Writer. If you're looking for an easy career, keep looking. *smile* Trust me, this isn't it. Being a writer requires patience, more effort than seems possible, an eye that is never discerning enough (*sigh*) and a determination that keeps you chug-chug-chugging along like a certain little train from one of the first books most children ever read.

"I don't know much about creative writing programs. But they're not telling the truth if they don't teach, one, that writing is hard work, and, two, that you have to give up a great deal of life, your personal life, to be a writer." --Doris Lessing

Being a writer means sacrifice. It means carving out fifteen minutes of your day when you only have ten. And more: tossing off the covers while the sun is still snoozing or crawling into bed when the rest of the family is already snoring away. Turning down an invitation to lunch because your current manuscript must be edited. Ignoring emails and avoiding computer solitaire! *grin* While there will be those moments when you absolutely need to step away from the computer or set down the legal pad and actually partake of life outside of your story, the key to success is to Spring Into Action. Take charge of your life AND your writing and do whatever it takes.

"The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair." - Mary Heaton Vorse

As one of the writers in our group called it: Butt-Glue. Adhere posterior to aforementioned office chair posthaste and get thee to writing! (And do forgive my complete lack of historical eloquence. *heh-heh*)

In past weeks, we've embraced our desire to spark the flame of inspiration and to embrace our playful nature. This week, let's remember the reality of being a successful writer: the absolute need to stay focused and get our stories written. To return to our manuscripts again and again, polishing until the prose gleams. Which is The Purpose of the Challenge Forum at RWAOnline. We set goals with the intention of keeping them. We establish our finish line and PUSH ourselves to reach it. We know that to establish a career in writing means doing the work.

"Writing is the hardest work in the world. I have been a bricklayer and a truck driver, and I tell you -- as if you haven't been told a million times already -- that writing is harder. Lonelier. And nobler and more enriching." - Harlan Ellison

This next quote is a heady reminder to me…

"The only difference between a writer and someone who wants to be a writer is discipline." --Ayelet Waldman

We need to apply that Butt-Glue, Do the Work, and Take Action to make our dreams (and our books) come alive.

Remember:

"The greatest masterpieces were once only pigments on a palette." --Henry S. Hoskins

The Art of Revision

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." - Douglas Adams

Ah, yes. Deadlines. Whether self-imposed or connected to a contract, the time limit we've chosen is dependent on an often overlooked and deadly serious aspect of writing—the art of revision.

"It is perfectly okay to write garbage--as long as you edit brilliantly." - C. J. Cherryh

Like most writers here, I want my first draft to be brilliant. *smile* It isn't. Surprise, surprise. But writers aren't alone in that expectation, nor, apparently, in that assumption. How often have I received an email and been shocked at how poorly it's worded? Too often to count. Typos, run-on sentences, lack of punctuation. Honestly, I'm flabbergasted at times. To me, this equals stepping outside with a piece of toilet paper stuck to my shoe. Zipper agape, spinach in the teeth, hair mussed, lipstick smeared, shirt inside out, nothing to me is more embarrassing than careless writing. Careless because so much could be, and would be caught with a simple read-through. And lest you think this slipshod writing is situational, here's a sad fact. I've read dozens of emails from corporate execs that display such poor grammar that I wonder how such sloppiness can generate any respect.

The truth is simple. Writing is not a one-step process. To be a successful writer is to be a Re-Writer. Our ego must be gently pushed aside (or ruthlessly shoved out of the way—at least by the third manuscript!) as we hunker down and stare at our prose muttering, Could it be better? Is there more I could say? Is it enough? Is it clear?

"Put down everything that comes into your head and then you're a writer. But an author is one who can judge his own stuff's worth, without pity, and destroy most of it." --- Colette

This is where our innocence must be lost, at least to some degree. Writing is such a magical process. Weaving rainbow tapestries in the sky, spinning tales out of gold and watching them shimmer before our eyes is a rare delight. Except what we see is often colored by what we know about the story, it's not necessarily what we've actually written. Which is why we experience that rude shock when outside readers who are wonderful and brave enough to be honest scribble in the margins, "Huh?"

D'oh!

"Books aren't written, they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't quite done it... " - Michael Crichton

Write, edit, and revise. Along with Goal, Motivation and Conflict, this might be the most important three-step rule that exists. There's no avoiding it and no matter how brilliant your first draft seems, there's usually room for improvement. Thank Goddess for critique partners!

"At one time I thought the most important thing was talent. I think now that the young man or the young woman must possess or teach himself, training himself, in infinite patience, which is to try and to try until it comes right. He must train himself in ruthless intolerance--that is to throw away anything that is false no matter how much he might love that page or that paragraph. The most important thing is insight, that is to be--curiosity--to wonder, to mull, and to muse why it is that man does what he does, and if you have that, then I don't think the talent makes much difference, whether you've got it or not." - William Faulkner

When in doubt, create a special file for all those snippets you cut. Especially in the beginning. Nothing can be more traumatic to a beginning writer than to cut out large swatches of Truly Brilliant Writing. Easier to saw off a limb. If that's how it feels, don't beat yourself up or cause any undue anxiety. Instead, move it to your special "cuttings" folder. Later, you can peruse the material to see if it's needed. Some authors find that a passage that cluttered one story fits beautifully somewhere else. Others just file it away for peace of mind. Whichever suits your comfort zone is fine. It's YOUR book, Your writing. Do as you please.

"I have never thought of myself as a good writer. Anyone who wants reassurance of that should read one of my first drafts. But I'm one of the world's great rewriters.

I find that three or four readings are required to comb out the clichés, line up pronouns with their antecedents, and insure agreement in number between subject and verbs...My connectives, my clauses, my subsidiary phrases don't come naturally to me and I'm very prone to repetition of words; so I never even write an important letter in the first draft. I can never recall anything of mine that's ever been printed in less than three drafts.

You write that first draft really to see how it's going to come out." - James A. Michener

Another reason to celebrate and embrace the art of revision is simple. Knowing we're going to rewrite the damn thing anyway, why not push forward and get those pages down? This is why the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) http://www.nanowrimo.org/ is so popular. Get that idea down while the creative juices are flowing! Write, Edit, Revise.

In fact, I could come up with a whole phrase based solely on the word Write:

Write (the damn book), Revise (for the first time), Incubate (the plot and), Type (those extra scenes to plug up the plot-holes and), Edit (once more).

Then start the whole damn process all over again. *smile* Hah!

"I have written - often several times - every word I have ever published." - Vladimir Nabokov

"Only ambitious nonentities and hearty mediocrities exhibit their rough drafts. It's like passing around samples of sputum." - Vladimir Nabokov

Hmmm… I wonder how many revisions Vladimir's last quote required? *heh-heh*

As one ancient philosopher intoned while perched on a mountain top (with her trusty laptop): "It's a lovely day to revise."

Here's to another productive week!

--Chiron

Breaking Through the Wall…

"I have a love-hate relationship with the writing life. I wouldn't wish to have any other kind of life…and on the other hand, I wish it were easier. And it never is. The reward comes sentence by sentence. The reward comes in the unexpected inspiration. The reward comes from creating a character who lives and breathes and is perfectly real. But such effort it takes to attain the reward! I would never have believed it would take such effort."

---Journal of a Novel, December 15, 1997
Elizabeth George—Write Away

"I’m writing a book. I’ve got the page numbers done."

--Steven Wright

To be a writer would appear to be this glorious, magical journey, akin to traipsing through a field of daisies on a spring day. Blowing bubbles, twirling under the clouds and then… inspiration strikes and with a wave of our hands, the novel appears before us like a rainbow in the sky.

Or… we spend hours, days, months, years, pounding away at the keyboard, pounding away at the wall lodged in our thick skull as we struggle in vain to reach that novel tucked deep within our souls.

The writer's life ain't easy. Moving past the proverbial Writer's Block is as much fun as a root canal. And at least that has a time limit!

"We conquer, not in any brilliant fashion, we conquer by continuing." ---George Matheson

When writers hit a wall, the greatest idea in the world won't help. We need more, we need to break through and we're not sure how to do it. This is our personal Dark Night of the Soul. When we need to push onward down that rocky path despite the lack of light.

And how exactly do we do that? First thing we need to examine exactly what writer's block is. To my mind it's a two-parter. The outer symptom is that we're stuck, we're stumped because we've reached an impasse and don't *see* what comes next. The inner cause though is often simply fear. Fear that the next sentence will suck. Fear that as we type, the words will turn to gibberish. Fear that unless we are struck with a brilliant inspiration that is clear and obvious, we can't write.

Inspiration is lovely but it's perspiration that counts. Many writers will admit that their most inspired moments turn out after reflection to be just so-so. While the writing that seemed humdrum while slogging through a slow day actually turned out pretty darn good.

A friend came to visit James Joyce one day and found the great man sprawled across his writing desk in a posture of utter despair.

“James, what’s wrong?” the friend asked. “Is it the work?”

Joyce indicated assent without even raising his head to look at his friend. Of course it was the work; isn’t it always?

“How many words did you get today?” the friend pursued.

Joyce (still in despair, still sprawled facedown on his desk): “Seven.”

“Seven? But James… that’s good, at least for you.”

“Yes,” Joyce said, finally looking up. “I suppose it is… but I don’t know what order they go in!”

From On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

There are two things one can do with writer's block. One is step away. Take a breather. Live life for a while and take the pressure off.

Many people hear voices when no-one is there. Some of them are called mad and are shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day. Others are called writers and they do pretty much the same thing. --Meg Chittenden

Sitting cooped up with nothing but our imagination and our writing tools can be crazy-making after all. We may just need something to jar us out of our slump, to give us fresh perspective, to help us reawaken the delight within our souls.

I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have by reading novels. — Ernest Gaines

For me, it's music. When I pull away and listen to a favorite tune, I feel transported and rejuvenated. For my friend Cathy, a stroll through the fragrant redwoods gives her a lift and brings her a sense of joy and comfort. Maybe for you it's repotting a plant or hitting a garage sale, repainting the living room or getting a massage. Hmmm… sign me up for that last one!

That's step one. But it doesn't get us writing again. What can we do to actually GET back to the process of writing once more?

The answer is simple, frustrating, annoying and obvious.

Write.

The Pulitzer Prize winning poet Stephen Spender said, "The best thing is to write anything, anything at all that comes into your mind, until gradually there is a calm and creative day."

We're training our mind to respond to our hand movements. Whether it's typing or scribbling long-hand on legal pad, our brain is geared up to associate the mental process of writing with the physical process. Now, sometimes the block is resolved by the foray away from writing. We come back and just *know*. And sometimes money does magically appear on the front lawn (I joke but once I looked out my window and saw a twenty dollar bill flutter to the ground!).

The real test though is in the writing. Which is rather a pisser. *heh-heh* To think the problem and the solution might just be the same!

"People on the outside think there's something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn't like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that's all there is to it." ---Harlan Ellison

So you sit down and write. If you're stuck with a scene, you tell yourself that you will come up with six possible ways the scene could go. The choices can be totally wacky, unbelievable and implausible.

"Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things."

"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

Lewis Carroll from Alice in Wonderland.

This is where we need to realize that writing is both a linear and creative process. When we're stuck and we keep trying to approach the scene with a linear perspective, we find our self pushing against the wall.

You can never solve a problem on the level on which it was created." --Albert Einstein

The above quote applies to writer's block as well. Which is why a change of scenery often unblocks the mind. By letting go of the linear, logical, rational perspective and just writing those six implausible scenes, you are freeing your mind from the constraints. You're giving your creative self permission to color outside the lines. You know what this can do?

How about… Free You As A Writer. Or… Awaken the spontaneous brilliance that leaves your jaw gaping and your skin tingling.

While Writer's Block is often simply fear dressed up as procrastination, it's also an amazing opportunity. It's almost as if our soul is whispering, "This particular path is okay but there's another close by that's so incredible you'll feel transported." You may be "stuck" but in truth there could be a touch of intuition that *knows* there's an alternate idea that's so freaking cool it'll blow your mind.

Dude.

*smile*

So… Go for it. Take those breaks and then get back to work. Listen to the music within your soul, take a deep breath and Play. Dream up impossible scenarios and tell yourself that anything goes. Give yourself permission to color outside the lines and you might just find yourself dancing in Wonderland.

"If you’re going to be a writer, the first essential is just to write. Do not wait for an idea. Start writing something and the ideas will come. You have to turn the faucet on before the water starts to flow." --- Louis L’Amour

Let's make this a spectacular week, everyone! We're approaching spring and all its glory. Let's give the stories that dance in our heart freedom to spill out on the pages. We can do it. Why? Because we're writers, that's why!

Perseverance

“A diamond is a lump of coal that stuck with it.” --Anonymous

Perseverance. An essential quality for a writer. Yet soooo boring. Yikes. I mean… really. Even saying the word takes forever! Come on… Four syllables? Give me a break. A decent writer could have said the same thing with three syllables, maybe even two. Right?

During last year's PRO boot camp at the RWA conference, we listened to Ellen Edwards share details of the long road from book acceptance to book publication. Endless steps on a seemingly endless journey. Her talk followed Colleen Gleason's tight presentation of the many steps a writer can take on the path to self-promotion. For all of us with stars in our eyes, imagining that the most work we’ll have to do (and the most waiting we’ll have to endure) is simply the process of completing our WIP, this came as a shock. Someone flipped on the lights and the stars became an endless series of pinpricks in a very, very high ceiling. Would we reach that ceiling? Did we want to?

"Nothing in life just happens. You have to have the stamina to meet the obstacles and overcome them." ~ Golda Meir

It’s true. Nothing in life just happens. The novel we yearn to pen doesn’t just happen. Neither does submitting it or promoting it. Thrilling this process may be but there’s a heck of a lot of work involved and the essential quality that most comes to mind when tackling that goal is perseverance. You have to knuckle down. Make it happen. Believe, pursue, push, and persevere.

"My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging." -- Hank Aaron

Wow. He could have been describing the life of a writer! The only thing to do is keep swinging. You want to hit the ball out of the park? There’s only one way to make it happen. Keep swinging.

"All right Mister, let me tell you what winning means... you're willing to go longer, work harder, give more than anyone else." --Vincent Lombardi

Um… what he said. *grin* There’s something to be said for sheer grit. Pluck. Resolve. Stamina. I can almost hear the sneer of the imaginary boss as he gazes at our heroine with contempt.

“You think you GOT what it takes? Prove it. Write the damn novel. Write the stinking synopsis AND the query. You want it. You better be prepared to go out there and take it. Ain’t NOBODY gonna just sneak in here and give it to you.”

“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.” -- Julie Andrews

Sometimes the hardest truths are best taken with a spoonful of sugar but let’s get real… there’s nothing sweet about rejection. Yet it happens to all of us. There’s no such thing as universal acceptance. There will always be someone that doesn’t like us or what we do. You think Nora Roberts has it all? Well, I bet she still deals with literary snobs that look down their nose because she writes… Romance… *gasp*

“The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't.” -- Henry Ward Beecher

What do we want to embrace? Our strong will or our strong won’t? Any fool can come up with a dozen reasons why something won’t work. The successful one is the author who points out exactly how it CAN and WILL work. Let’s make sure we spend more time each day reminding ourselves of what we CAN do.

"Destiny is not a matter of chance but of choice. Not something to wish for but to attain." -- William Jennings Bryan

This is a big one. We can wish all we want but if being a published and successful writer is a goal we must Make the Choice to Attain That Goal. We can’t just be hanging out a mall, dangling our manuscript and waiting for someone to magically realize that clutched in our trembling hands is the next million-dollar bestseller. *chuckle* We have to focus, write, plan, promote, believe, query, plot, and persevere.

"Studies indicate that the one quality all successful people have is persistence." -- Joyce Brothers

There you have it. We make the choice. We decide. Do we want to be Successful, Published Writers with a Looooong Career? If so, no matter what stage of the process we’re at we must persist. We must persevere.

Plot the novel. Write the pages. Edit the draft. Revise the damn edits. Piece together the synopsis. Sweat out the query. Start all over again. Even Sherryl Woods has to produce a synopsis for her upcoming novels. After a hundred books! And she will. Because, let me tell you, THAT author knows the meaning of perseverance.

"One man has enthusiasm for 30 minutes, another for 30 days, but it is the man who has it for 30 years who makes a success of his life." -- Edward B. Butler

Therein lies the secret. Hold onto the flame within our hearts. Fan it with whispers of hope. Nurture the fire with chunks of solid effort. Let the possibility of Being All We Hope For keep us warm and our outlook bright. We can do it. Now and for every year beyond. Why?

Because we are WRITERS, that’s why!!

We’re starting another lovely week. The beginning of March. Spring is struggling to emerge. Birds are chirping a happy song and flowers are just beginning to blossom. If the urge to play (or plant) comes upon you, don’t worry. It’s all part of the process. Let yourself refresh and rejuvenate, have some fun when you can. Then Get Back To Work. Even a page a day. If you’re struggling, do some free-write about your character or plot. Whether you’re editing, querying, writing fresh pages, plotting, submitting, or critiquing, You Are A Writer.

Believe it. Make it so...