As I wrote yesterday, a family illness has changed my life, at least for awhile, and I am learning a lot from it. Not only abut the disease, but also about the care of invalids, and about writing.
The other night I had a very vivid dream that I actually remembered when I woke and I could explain every detail. I was in a prison with a jailer whom I couldn't see very well, my husband (the invalid), and a woman who was as obscure as the jailer. The jailer was telling me that I had to witness my husband making love to the other woman if I wanted us to get out of jail. I kept protesting that I couldn't do that; it was impossible. "Then you will stay here forever," he answered and I woke.
Easy to explain the dream, isn't it? The other woman is the illness my husband has to embrace before we can go back to our normal living before we can break out of this restricted life. And I have to help him do it every step of the difficult way.
So what did I learn? I learned that I have to be strong for the both of us now, and I will be. As for my writing, I need to keep a dream journal and write down my dreams as soon as I wake before I forget the details. Then, when I write a dream scene for a story, I need to make it as related to the story line as possible. Look how this dream was a clear picture of what we are going through in our lives. That's how real the dream scenes I write should be.
So, some good is coming out of this period of our lives. We will get through it, closer as a couple than we were before, and I just might emerge a better writer.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Writer Interrupted
Life just interrupted my writing plans, but I learned firsthand a most basic writing lesson from it. I have heard for years, "write about what you know." Now I understand that statement.
I have a friend whose husband went through kidney failure and dialysis for years and I felt sympathy for her, but never realized what she really was going through. Now that someone in my family is going through the same thing, I realize what a big deal it is. I've walked the walk-- through the surgery, through the weakness, through the nausea, through the despair, through nine days in the hospital, nine slow days waiting on doctors, suffering through procedures, and longing to be at home.
So how does that relate to my writing? Before this illness, I could write about kidney failure from an outsider's point of view; now I see the entire picture. My feelings and observations are real, not based on someone else's experiences.
Not that I believe that I have to experience everything firsthand if I want to write about it. But I do need to research deeply, talk to people who have been through what I am writing about, feel what they are feeling as much as I can, really listen to them, examine their actions to see how they expressed their feelings, and put myself in their position. Then my writing will have authenticity.
It sounds like a lot of work and time, doesn't it, but it will make my writing come from the heart as all good writing should.
I have a friend whose husband went through kidney failure and dialysis for years and I felt sympathy for her, but never realized what she really was going through. Now that someone in my family is going through the same thing, I realize what a big deal it is. I've walked the walk-- through the surgery, through the weakness, through the nausea, through the despair, through nine days in the hospital, nine slow days waiting on doctors, suffering through procedures, and longing to be at home.
So how does that relate to my writing? Before this illness, I could write about kidney failure from an outsider's point of view; now I see the entire picture. My feelings and observations are real, not based on someone else's experiences.
Not that I believe that I have to experience everything firsthand if I want to write about it. But I do need to research deeply, talk to people who have been through what I am writing about, feel what they are feeling as much as I can, really listen to them, examine their actions to see how they expressed their feelings, and put myself in their position. Then my writing will have authenticity.
It sounds like a lot of work and time, doesn't it, but it will make my writing come from the heart as all good writing should.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Book Proposals and Queries
I have been on a reading kick of all the books of Elizabeth George I can find. If you like mysteries, I highly recommend her books. Today I've found a book on writing that she's written and her down-to-earth advice makes me want to start writing fiction again.
I know for a fact that there is more money in nonfiction; nonfiction is easier to sell; nonfiction is dealing in facts but can be done creatively so the imagination is involved; nonfiction is easier for me than fiction. In nonfiction, you don't have to write the book first; you submit a proposal and if someone wants to buy it, then you get to work writing. With fiction, you have to submit a query on a completed manuscript. So much work and you don't know if you'll ever sell it.
See, I know all the reasons I should stick to nonfiction, but reading George's book on how to write fiction makes me want to jump right in and begin a new book. I have sent a fiction query (a cover letter telling about me and my writing experience, the book's audience, length of book, premise and theme; a short summary of the book; and two chapters) to an agent and haven't heard yet so I've been working on my three nonfiction projects while I wait.
Actually I'm putting together proposals for each of the nonfiction books. First the table of contents, then the summary, then a bio for me which is already done, then a list of books on the market that are similar to my proposed book and why my book fills a market gap. Add a cover, a cover letter, and a sample chapter and I will be ready to submit.
Right before the Christmas holiday is not the best time to submit as everyone is getting ready for the holidays and won't want to be bothered reading yet another proposal, so I have set a date of January 26 to have my proposals ready, or at least one of them. That gives me wiggle room!! I'm sure I can manage to finish one, and, if I complete two, then I will be so proud of myself. We writers are so insecure sometimes that we have to find all kinds of ways to pat ourselves on the back and bolster our morale.
But then, after I've submitted my proposals and I'm waiting to hear, I think I may try my hand at fiction again. In the meantime, I work at nonfiction during the day and snuggle up with a good mystery at night. Ain't life grand???
I know for a fact that there is more money in nonfiction; nonfiction is easier to sell; nonfiction is dealing in facts but can be done creatively so the imagination is involved; nonfiction is easier for me than fiction. In nonfiction, you don't have to write the book first; you submit a proposal and if someone wants to buy it, then you get to work writing. With fiction, you have to submit a query on a completed manuscript. So much work and you don't know if you'll ever sell it.
See, I know all the reasons I should stick to nonfiction, but reading George's book on how to write fiction makes me want to jump right in and begin a new book. I have sent a fiction query (a cover letter telling about me and my writing experience, the book's audience, length of book, premise and theme; a short summary of the book; and two chapters) to an agent and haven't heard yet so I've been working on my three nonfiction projects while I wait.
Actually I'm putting together proposals for each of the nonfiction books. First the table of contents, then the summary, then a bio for me which is already done, then a list of books on the market that are similar to my proposed book and why my book fills a market gap. Add a cover, a cover letter, and a sample chapter and I will be ready to submit.
Right before the Christmas holiday is not the best time to submit as everyone is getting ready for the holidays and won't want to be bothered reading yet another proposal, so I have set a date of January 26 to have my proposals ready, or at least one of them. That gives me wiggle room!! I'm sure I can manage to finish one, and, if I complete two, then I will be so proud of myself. We writers are so insecure sometimes that we have to find all kinds of ways to pat ourselves on the back and bolster our morale.
But then, after I've submitted my proposals and I'm waiting to hear, I think I may try my hand at fiction again. In the meantime, I work at nonfiction during the day and snuggle up with a good mystery at night. Ain't life grand???
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Gaining perspective
I continue to write daily. Yippee! I was afraid that, as Christmas got closer, I would mess up and decide to wrap gifts or bake goodies instead of write. So far though I am keeping to my promise to myself to write each day without fail. Of course, I don't have all my gifts bought yet so that may become a problem later on.
The trouble is that I have three projects that I am currently working on. I want to finish them all but, when I am busy working on one, I get an idea for one of the others, so I go back and forth and nothing ever gets finished. Does anyone else have this problem?
I found the name of an agent who is currently looking for the type of non-fiction book I am writing (inspirational) and would really like to finish at least one so I could submit it. Not that I have to complete the entire book--with nonfiction, you can submit an outline and table of contents and a summary for a proposal and, if you sell it, complete the book. So that is all I have to finish now.
I love blogging! I just reminded myself of something that I know and, in fact, have taught in nonfiction workshops and in my online workshop on writing nonfiction, that I only need to get the outline, table of contents and a summary and tentative word count and I will have enough to send to an agent. So, instead of concentrating on the actual body of the book, that is what I'll do!
Sometimes we get so close to a problem we forget what we already know and go off on a tangent. I think that happens not only about writing but about life and relationships in general. So maybe writing a journal or a blog and putting your thoughts down make you look carefully at what you're doing and you gain perspective. Today's blog has certainly done that for me. Hope it's helped you too.
The trouble is that I have three projects that I am currently working on. I want to finish them all but, when I am busy working on one, I get an idea for one of the others, so I go back and forth and nothing ever gets finished. Does anyone else have this problem?
I found the name of an agent who is currently looking for the type of non-fiction book I am writing (inspirational) and would really like to finish at least one so I could submit it. Not that I have to complete the entire book--with nonfiction, you can submit an outline and table of contents and a summary for a proposal and, if you sell it, complete the book. So that is all I have to finish now.
I love blogging! I just reminded myself of something that I know and, in fact, have taught in nonfiction workshops and in my online workshop on writing nonfiction, that I only need to get the outline, table of contents and a summary and tentative word count and I will have enough to send to an agent. So, instead of concentrating on the actual body of the book, that is what I'll do!
Sometimes we get so close to a problem we forget what we already know and go off on a tangent. I think that happens not only about writing but about life and relationships in general. So maybe writing a journal or a blog and putting your thoughts down make you look carefully at what you're doing and you gain perspective. Today's blog has certainly done that for me. Hope it's helped you too.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Scheduling Writing Time
I was right! It took me a few days, but I am back to writing at least one hour a day, more when I have more free time.
But this is the wrong way to think about it. I need to consider writing as my job; phone calls, shopping, family matters (unless there's bleeding involved), should not be allowed to interfere with my writing time. That's so easy to say, but what do you do when someone comes to the door and it is your writing time? Or calls. Easy enough to say, don't answer, but suppose it's an emergency?
I could tell family and friends that my writing hours are such and such and not to disturb me at those times. That would lessen the disturbances. Or I could choose hours that are less likely to be disturbed which is what I am going to try. I am going for one hour in the morning before my grandson comes and one hour in the evening after he goes home. That doubles the time I have been spending at the computer and I have so many projects to complete, I need all the time I can get. I'm aiming for one hour on my magazine work and one hour on my books. Let's see how it works!
But this is the wrong way to think about it. I need to consider writing as my job; phone calls, shopping, family matters (unless there's bleeding involved), should not be allowed to interfere with my writing time. That's so easy to say, but what do you do when someone comes to the door and it is your writing time? Or calls. Easy enough to say, don't answer, but suppose it's an emergency?
I could tell family and friends that my writing hours are such and such and not to disturb me at those times. That would lessen the disturbances. Or I could choose hours that are less likely to be disturbed which is what I am going to try. I am going for one hour in the morning before my grandson comes and one hour in the evening after he goes home. That doubles the time I have been spending at the computer and I have so many projects to complete, I need all the time I can get. I'm aiming for one hour on my magazine work and one hour on my books. Let's see how it works!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Back to the Drawing Board
Why is writing such a struggle? I was into a pretty good routine, then took a week off to sail the high seas, and now I'm having a hard time getting back into the groove. It's the same with diets, exercise, volunteer work, everything disrupted because of a week-long break!
And what a break: we had choppy seas, a very sick passenger so we had to turn the ship around and return to home port, we couldn't stop at one port because the sea was too rough, and our cabin had to be changed because of an odd odor that couldn't be removed. Holland-America staff were terrific about getting us moved into a great suite which we loved. All in all, we had a great time!
So now it's back to writing. I'm still going thru all the writing newsletters in my email that arrived while I was away. Am I using that as an excuse for not writing? Any port in a storm? I think not. If I can compare writing to getting on a ship--it takes a day or so to get your sea legs, to get used to the rhythm of the sea. I think getting back into the swing of writing is the same. It will take me a few days to get back into my routine. Of course it didn't help this time that Thanksgiving fell right after I came back and I was the hostess this year for the family gathering. I hadn't cooked a turkey in a few years, but all turned out well.
I'm going to try to blog more often because I find that blogging helps me with my other writing. If you don't blog and you feel any kind of writing block, try it. Free writing always seems to loosen up all the words that are waiting to be written, hiding in the back of your mind.
And what a break: we had choppy seas, a very sick passenger so we had to turn the ship around and return to home port, we couldn't stop at one port because the sea was too rough, and our cabin had to be changed because of an odd odor that couldn't be removed. Holland-America staff were terrific about getting us moved into a great suite which we loved. All in all, we had a great time!
So now it's back to writing. I'm still going thru all the writing newsletters in my email that arrived while I was away. Am I using that as an excuse for not writing? Any port in a storm? I think not. If I can compare writing to getting on a ship--it takes a day or so to get your sea legs, to get used to the rhythm of the sea. I think getting back into the swing of writing is the same. It will take me a few days to get back into my routine. Of course it didn't help this time that Thanksgiving fell right after I came back and I was the hostess this year for the family gathering. I hadn't cooked a turkey in a few years, but all turned out well.
I'm going to try to blog more often because I find that blogging helps me with my other writing. If you don't blog and you feel any kind of writing block, try it. Free writing always seems to loosen up all the words that are waiting to be written, hiding in the back of your mind.
Friday, November 7, 2008
query letters
I mentioned on my last blog that Moira Allen had a book about queries; well, she also has a free email newsletter that is very helpful, full of good info in many articles. One of the articles is about query letters--my "beast" of the moment. Anyway her advice was to include 1) the hook, to grab attention; 2) the pitch-what you are offering like a 2000 page article on how to raise kids; 3) the body, details about the piece of work; 4) the credentials--why you are good person to write this piece; and 5) the close.
So, back to the drawing board for me. I actually (surprise!!) had most of the elements although in a different order, and I find her order makes more sense to me as I rewrite my query according to her advice.
If you're interested in her email newsletter the address is: http://www.writing-world.com
I'd like to get my query out this week as I am going away next week and so won't worry about some agent reading it and maybe I will have a response by the time I get back. It's more realistic to expect a response in 6 to 8 weeks, but maybe I'll get lucky and get one sooner. Whatever, at least I will feel that I have something in the works even though I'm vacationing.
So, back to the drawing board for me. I actually (surprise!!) had most of the elements although in a different order, and I find her order makes more sense to me as I rewrite my query according to her advice.
If you're interested in her email newsletter the address is: http://www.writing-world.com
I'd like to get my query out this week as I am going away next week and so won't worry about some agent reading it and maybe I will have a response by the time I get back. It's more realistic to expect a response in 6 to 8 weeks, but maybe I'll get lucky and get one sooner. Whatever, at least I will feel that I have something in the works even though I'm vacationing.
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