Notre Dame has a new football coach. That's big news around these parts. His name is Brian Kelly and he came to speak to a group of our freshman this week. During the Q & A, one of the students asked his thoughts on recruiting players who were interested in playing for the NFL. His answer was something to the effect of "I recruit players who want to play for Notre Dame. And if they come here and work hard, they may have the opportunity to play for the NFL one day. But I recruit players who want to play for Notre Dame. That's the experience I'm focused on and that's where they should be focused."
I think I may have lost my focus. When I first started writing, I wrote because I had ideas and stories that I needed to put on paper. It was fun and I kept the stories to myself mostly. After about a year of mucking about with them, I felt ready to share and all the positive feedback made me think about publishing. With the help of my critique group, I've whipped at least one of them into great form and have been focusing lately more on the path to publishing than the writing. I'm "showing off for the scouts, instead of working on my game." Perhaps this is why I've been feeling somewhat disgruntled about the process. I need to take a page out of Coach Kelly's playbook and write and revise because I enjoy it and want to keep improving. If I work hard, one day I may get published, but I've got to keep my eye on the ball.
I imagine Saturday's SCBWI conference will be like the Blue Gold Game last weekend here at ND. No winners, no losers, just lots of excited folks who love the game. It will be good to part of the pep rally!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A shot in the dark
No time for a real blog post tonight and, thanks to a lacrosse game and a stint in the snack bar, tomorrow's not lookin' real good either. I did take the 30 seconds needed to make my daily entry in the HGTV Green Home giveaway, however. It's really quite lovely and I've never been to Cape Cod. It has some wonderful spots to curl up and write. So which is the bigger longshot - winning a house or finding an agent or editor who'd like to publish one of my stories? I'm thinking that Vinnie the Bookie doesn't like the the odds in either case. But it's like Wayne Gretzky said "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Some shots are a little wild, but every once in a while you get lucky!
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Must.write.words.now.
It's 10:20 on Sunday morning; the whole day is ahead of me and yet, I already know it won't be enough. So I'm trying to prioritize. The fact that "post to the blog" ends up at the top of the priority list tells you something about my path of least resistance approach to getting things done on Sunday. Checking email was actually the top thing and the blog gets rolled into that under the rationale of "might as well as long as I'm at the computer." Of course, I could work on my real writing but that takes a level of concentration I don't feel just yet. The deadline is looming, however. Submissions for our next critique group are due on Friday and I'm headed to the SCBWI MI conference on Saturday. It would be good to feel like a writer when I get there. Right now I feel like a poser (to borrow a term from my British nephews). They say that physical activity is good for the brain so I think I'll try a cob-web clearing walk around campus and see if inspiration strikes. Stranger things have happened...
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The F Word
No, not that one. F is for Feedback. Feeling flush (before I got our tax bill), I paid to have Bring Your Tools to School edited by an agent that freelances on the side. The fee was actually quite reasonable and the fantasy was that she'd read it and beg to publish it. It's called a fantasy for a reason.
On the plus side, she said my writing was strong, clean and clear and that I captured the emotion that I was striving for. I read those two sentences frequently. The rest of the four paragraphs started with "That being said..." Not my favorite lead in. She made a lot of excellent points and suggested that what I had written was a terrific start and now needs layers to develop the main character and a couple of the supporting characters. She asked questions that will help me frame my changes and made suggestions that indicate she read the text thoughtfully. It was well worth the money.
And I hate it! My writer's group thinks it is an amazing critique. They are so excited for me because now I know exactly what I need to do to take my story to the next level. It's a perfect road map for revision. Did I mention that I hate it?
Here's why (if you are still reading and pretending to care): The story started as a way to convey a lesson I created when I taught gifted and talented third through sixth graders. Students were given a tool kit to help empower them to be active, risk taking learners. In my mind, the main character is the tool kit. The students in the story are necessary, but secondary. I picture this, at least in part, as a story that teachers will read to the class and use the original lesson in some way. Developing all these characters, and tension between them, blah, blah, blah diminishes the role of the tool kit in the story. That worries me. This started as a picture book, but felt incomplete so I added to it and now see it as an early chapter book with illustrations like a Nate the Great book.
But I will read the books that the agent recommended would be good models and I will spend some time with my characters and see if I can develop them in ways that enhance the main idea of learning and the classroom dynamic. And hopefully, one day, I'll be posting that the story is so much better as a result and I can't believe I ever thought it was done.
And maybe I won't hate it.
On the plus side, she said my writing was strong, clean and clear and that I captured the emotion that I was striving for. I read those two sentences frequently. The rest of the four paragraphs started with "That being said..." Not my favorite lead in. She made a lot of excellent points and suggested that what I had written was a terrific start and now needs layers to develop the main character and a couple of the supporting characters. She asked questions that will help me frame my changes and made suggestions that indicate she read the text thoughtfully. It was well worth the money.
And I hate it! My writer's group thinks it is an amazing critique. They are so excited for me because now I know exactly what I need to do to take my story to the next level. It's a perfect road map for revision. Did I mention that I hate it?
Here's why (if you are still reading and pretending to care): The story started as a way to convey a lesson I created when I taught gifted and talented third through sixth graders. Students were given a tool kit to help empower them to be active, risk taking learners. In my mind, the main character is the tool kit. The students in the story are necessary, but secondary. I picture this, at least in part, as a story that teachers will read to the class and use the original lesson in some way. Developing all these characters, and tension between them, blah, blah, blah diminishes the role of the tool kit in the story. That worries me. This started as a picture book, but felt incomplete so I added to it and now see it as an early chapter book with illustrations like a Nate the Great book.
But I will read the books that the agent recommended would be good models and I will spend some time with my characters and see if I can develop them in ways that enhance the main idea of learning and the classroom dynamic. And hopefully, one day, I'll be posting that the story is so much better as a result and I can't believe I ever thought it was done.
And maybe I won't hate it.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Oops, I buried the lead!
It's possible my first three posts were a little too laden with my angst and frustration with the publishing piece of this adventure and the joy involved in the actual writing may have gotten overlooked. There was an article in the WSJ today that said spouses should make a list of ten things they like about their spouse and carry it in their wallet. IF I write that list I probably won't post it ;-) but I thought I'd see if I could make a list of 10 things I like about writing. So here goes, in no particular order:
1) I like to rhyme really odd words like leiderhosen (I don't know I'm just supposin').
2) I like the act of filling a blank page with all sorts of scribbles, scratch outs, arrows and lists of rhymes for a variety of words.
3) I really like sharing my writing with people who don't write because they are always way more impressed than they should be.
4) I like having an excuse to read children's books even though I'm not reading to my son or a classroom anymore.
5) I like having to keep a note pad near my bed because some of my best ideas come to me in the middle of the night. (I've become very good at deciphering notes written in the dark).
6) I absolutely love when an idea comes together and all the pieces start to fit even if the words aren't quite perfect yet.
7) I like feeling creative.
8) I like that it is something I can do anywhere with no special supplies.
9) I like that I can create an emotional response in my readers and love to see people tear up or smile and laugh as they read something that I wrote.
10) I like that my efforts are fueled by hope and possibility, even if they are sometimes derailed by angst, frustration and fear.
What's on your list?
1) I like to rhyme really odd words like leiderhosen (I don't know I'm just supposin').
2) I like the act of filling a blank page with all sorts of scribbles, scratch outs, arrows and lists of rhymes for a variety of words.
3) I really like sharing my writing with people who don't write because they are always way more impressed than they should be.
4) I like having an excuse to read children's books even though I'm not reading to my son or a classroom anymore.
5) I like having to keep a note pad near my bed because some of my best ideas come to me in the middle of the night. (I've become very good at deciphering notes written in the dark).
6) I absolutely love when an idea comes together and all the pieces start to fit even if the words aren't quite perfect yet.
7) I like feeling creative.
8) I like that it is something I can do anywhere with no special supplies.
9) I like that I can create an emotional response in my readers and love to see people tear up or smile and laugh as they read something that I wrote.
10) I like that my efforts are fueled by hope and possibility, even if they are sometimes derailed by angst, frustration and fear.
What's on your list?
Monday, April 19, 2010
It's not you, it's me.
Rejection in the publishing world is the equivalent of the dating brush off - and every bit as hurtful and unhelpful. I finally heard today from an agent I had queried on Feburary 14th. The submission guidelines said they responded to all queries in 2-3 weeks. They got the first part right; they responded. It was the standard rejection: Thanks for your submission, but it's not right for our agency. In other words, it's not you, it's me.
While I'm happy to have closure, it would have been nice to have something to work with. I know that rejection with comments is not the industry standard and these are busy folks, but would it have taken so much longer to add a line or two about why it wasn't right? Why am I not their type? Is it something I can work on or is it a fatal flaw? Was our timing just off or (gasp) did they meet someone else? If they actually read the submission then they must have some opinion, helpful or otherwise. Please share. Writing is, at its core, a tough industry for your self esteem and most writers I know are harder on themselves than they should be. Why compound the problem by making us wonder about what might be the problem? We're sure to assume the worst.
There is a stereotype out there that authors are often a bit eccentric. You can argue the chicken and egg theories, but I would assert that they probably weren't that way before they tried to become published. I'm just sayin'...
While I'm happy to have closure, it would have been nice to have something to work with. I know that rejection with comments is not the industry standard and these are busy folks, but would it have taken so much longer to add a line or two about why it wasn't right? Why am I not their type? Is it something I can work on or is it a fatal flaw? Was our timing just off or (gasp) did they meet someone else? If they actually read the submission then they must have some opinion, helpful or otherwise. Please share. Writing is, at its core, a tough industry for your self esteem and most writers I know are harder on themselves than they should be. Why compound the problem by making us wonder about what might be the problem? We're sure to assume the worst.
There is a stereotype out there that authors are often a bit eccentric. You can argue the chicken and egg theories, but I would assert that they probably weren't that way before they tried to become published. I'm just sayin'...
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Please sir, may I have some more? Time, that is.
In keeping with the title of the blog, the month of April has been all about road trips. Easter found us in Memphis for vacation, then we traveled to Nashville, Cincinnati and Columbus for a combination of college campus touring, high school lacrosse games and a work conference for me. Yesterday's road trip was to Indianapolis for more HS lacrosse. In total, about 6 hours of driving and 7 hours of bleacher sitting to watch 4 games. Our son figured prominently in the 2 JV games, and did see the field for a few minutes in the last Varsity game. It was a beautiful, sunny, but windy day. With only 2.5 more years of our only child at home we are trying hard to relish all the hours spent in pursuit of his goals since, all too soon, he'll be off on his own and we'll be wishing we had a game to go watch.
However, and this is the point of this post, these road trips don't leave much time for writing. And, I find, life in general doesn't leave much time for writing. Given that the income stream from my writing endeavors seems very far away (and often non-existent), I am going to keep my day job. 8 to 5, every day, all year - with a little time off for good behavior. Layered on top of the job are my son's activities and all the related feeding, laundry, shopping & forms to sign, quality time with my wonderful husband, household responsibilities, the pursuit of a social life (of sorts), attempts at incorporating exercise into my routine, and the all-important sleep component of my day. Confession: I am not a morning person and can be a grouch all day if I am at all sleep-deprived. And please don't misinterpret my venting. I am blessed to have such a full life. I get that and I do try to appreciate it. It's because it is a good life that I am loathe to let things go in order to write. I don't deal well with chaos and disorder. I'm not a true artist in that sense; there's definitely some anal-retentive tendencies that drive my every day priorities.
But all the books, blogs and articles say you have to write every day. And you have to research editors and agents. And you have to work at your craft and revise, revise, revise. And you have to have a blog. And, and, and... It's that last and that leaves me a little frustrated. There simply aren't enough hours in the day and my creative muse is a random creature at best. So I wonder how others carve out time from their busy lives to feed and nurture their writing habit (or any other talent or hobby for that matter) every day?? Warning: Please don't suggest getting up at 5:00 a.m. and writing before work - I know that works for some but all I'll be able to write is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Thoughts?
However, and this is the point of this post, these road trips don't leave much time for writing. And, I find, life in general doesn't leave much time for writing. Given that the income stream from my writing endeavors seems very far away (and often non-existent), I am going to keep my day job. 8 to 5, every day, all year - with a little time off for good behavior. Layered on top of the job are my son's activities and all the related feeding, laundry, shopping & forms to sign, quality time with my wonderful husband, household responsibilities, the pursuit of a social life (of sorts), attempts at incorporating exercise into my routine, and the all-important sleep component of my day. Confession: I am not a morning person and can be a grouch all day if I am at all sleep-deprived. And please don't misinterpret my venting. I am blessed to have such a full life. I get that and I do try to appreciate it. It's because it is a good life that I am loathe to let things go in order to write. I don't deal well with chaos and disorder. I'm not a true artist in that sense; there's definitely some anal-retentive tendencies that drive my every day priorities.
But all the books, blogs and articles say you have to write every day. And you have to research editors and agents. And you have to work at your craft and revise, revise, revise. And you have to have a blog. And, and, and... It's that last and that leaves me a little frustrated. There simply aren't enough hours in the day and my creative muse is a random creature at best. So I wonder how others carve out time from their busy lives to feed and nurture their writing habit (or any other talent or hobby for that matter) every day?? Warning: Please don't suggest getting up at 5:00 a.m. and writing before work - I know that works for some but all I'll be able to write is zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Thoughts?
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Peer Pressure
How many times have I said "Don't be swayed by peer pressure." As a parent of a teenage son, as a former elementary school teacher and in my current job advising college students, I use many variations of the old favorite, "If everyone else was jumping off a bridge, would you?" And yet, when my writing critique group said (repeatedly), "You need a blog. Everyone's doing it. Everyone's expecting you to do it. You can't wait until you feel ready, until you really need it...you need a blog now!" what did I do? I came home and started a blog. Another stunning example of Do as I say, not as I do!
Of course, it's not really the same. This is a professional activity, not an irresponsible action that I'll later regret. Right? This has a purpose, it's not a waste of my time. Right? This is yet another outlet for all that creativity that might ultimately lead to something like all those queries sent to agents and publishers, and contests entered, and time spent on internet research...
Anyway...it's a journey. Moving from writing rhyming birthday invitations for my son to actually crafting picture book texts has been a circuitous journey. Starting a critique group and growing as a writer has been a joyful journey. Heading down the road to publication is a long, long journey. Taking that journey with supportive friends makes it bearable. That point was reinforced at our meeting tonight by our resident sage, Karyn. There's a lot that can make the journey hard, even painful, but if you share it with other like-minded, fun, creative people it's like a road trip - and I love nothing more than a good road trip.
Of course, it's not really the same. This is a professional activity, not an irresponsible action that I'll later regret. Right? This has a purpose, it's not a waste of my time. Right? This is yet another outlet for all that creativity that might ultimately lead to something like all those queries sent to agents and publishers, and contests entered, and time spent on internet research...
Anyway...it's a journey. Moving from writing rhyming birthday invitations for my son to actually crafting picture book texts has been a circuitous journey. Starting a critique group and growing as a writer has been a joyful journey. Heading down the road to publication is a long, long journey. Taking that journey with supportive friends makes it bearable. That point was reinforced at our meeting tonight by our resident sage, Karyn. There's a lot that can make the journey hard, even painful, but if you share it with other like-minded, fun, creative people it's like a road trip - and I love nothing more than a good road trip.
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