Saturday night and I'm looking forward to two days off from my babysitting duties. I love my grandson to distraction, but two days to pursue my own interests, even if it's laying around reading all day, sounds so good to me.
Tomorrow I am going to have the first hot stones massage of my life and I'm a little apprehensive simply because it's something new that I know nothing about. Isn't that true about so much in life? I mean we can't know everything about everything, but it's hard to either ask for information or to just go ahead and try something new.
For any writer who's reading this, it applies to writing genres too. For instance, if you're a writer of fiction who's never written nonfiction, trying your hand at an article or a book about something you know about or are interested in learning about could be a way to refresh your writing. Vice versa too. I've written a lot of nonfiction stuff, and I can't tell you what a delight it was to write a novel for middle-graders. What fun. Now I'm back to writing nonfiction again but looking forward to trying something else fictional too.
Sometimes you just have to jump into the unknown or you get stale and there's nothing worse than stale, done-two-million times-before writing.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Proposals
Haven't blogged for awhile because I've been busy writing!! Well, that's my business. I've done some magazine work and sent my middle-grade book out to an agent and am preparing a proposal for my nonfiction book on saints. Whew! And, in the middle of all this activity, we celebrated Nick's 75th birthday with Elvis singing Happy birthday to him. It was fun.
Which brings me to the point of tonight's blog--we are never too old to do something that we've dreamed of doing but couldn't because of life's circumstances. Look at me-70 years young and I'm submitting novels and proposals with high hopes of getting them published. My first books were not published until I was over 60.
You're also never too young to pursue a dream--look at all the young (really young from my perspective) entrepreneurs who are starting very successful business.
Age is just a number.
I have finished two sections of my saints book, enough to send to an agent or publisher, so out come the rules for writing a proposal. Succinct cover letter with my writing credits, addresses, numbers included; table of contents with chapter summaries; synopsis; author bio; and sample chapters. Oh, and a handsome picture for the cover of the proposal.
That should do it, so I'd better get to work.
Which brings me to the point of tonight's blog--we are never too old to do something that we've dreamed of doing but couldn't because of life's circumstances. Look at me-70 years young and I'm submitting novels and proposals with high hopes of getting them published. My first books were not published until I was over 60.
You're also never too young to pursue a dream--look at all the young (really young from my perspective) entrepreneurs who are starting very successful business.
Age is just a number.
I have finished two sections of my saints book, enough to send to an agent or publisher, so out come the rules for writing a proposal. Succinct cover letter with my writing credits, addresses, numbers included; table of contents with chapter summaries; synopsis; author bio; and sample chapters. Oh, and a handsome picture for the cover of the proposal.
That should do it, so I'd better get to work.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Research
I can't imagine being a reporter or daily column writer. It is hard to find the time or topic for a daily report. Although I suppose if it's your job, you find the time and your editor gives you the topic.
Since I last wrote here, I completed my middle grade novel and sent it off to an agent who had commented on it favorably a few years back and had given me some advice. In the rewriting, I followed her advice, so I hope she will like the result.
And, yes, I said years. I don't know why people (non-writers) think all you have to do is sit down at the computer, put down your ideas and bingo! there is your book. They don't realize the research and rewriting, rewriting, and more rewriting that go on for fiction or nonfiction.
When I was writing my non-fiction books, I used to think that all the time I spent on research would end once I began writing fiction. Not so. In this novel I had to check for what is normal weather at various times of the year, what insects would be around at various times of the year, judicial appeals and how much time someone would spend in jail for embezzlement, asthma attacks, and dementia. The idea is that no matter what you write you have to have accurate information.
One of the members of my critique group did mention that some things will be taken on faith by the reader. So if I'm writing about a horse who saves a little girl's life, readers will accept that even if there is no written record of anything like that ever happening. Readers want to believe; if something isn't too far fetched, they will accept the concept. That said, it's good to know what the reality is before you expand on it to make sure you're not getting too far into the realm of the unbelievable.
Since I last wrote here, I completed my middle grade novel and sent it off to an agent who had commented on it favorably a few years back and had given me some advice. In the rewriting, I followed her advice, so I hope she will like the result.
And, yes, I said years. I don't know why people (non-writers) think all you have to do is sit down at the computer, put down your ideas and bingo! there is your book. They don't realize the research and rewriting, rewriting, and more rewriting that go on for fiction or nonfiction.
When I was writing my non-fiction books, I used to think that all the time I spent on research would end once I began writing fiction. Not so. In this novel I had to check for what is normal weather at various times of the year, what insects would be around at various times of the year, judicial appeals and how much time someone would spend in jail for embezzlement, asthma attacks, and dementia. The idea is that no matter what you write you have to have accurate information.
One of the members of my critique group did mention that some things will be taken on faith by the reader. So if I'm writing about a horse who saves a little girl's life, readers will accept that even if there is no written record of anything like that ever happening. Readers want to believe; if something isn't too far fetched, they will accept the concept. That said, it's good to know what the reality is before you expand on it to make sure you're not getting too far into the realm of the unbelievable.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Seeing through the Character's Eyes
Josh and I walked to the Dollar Store today in the rain, both of us carrying umbrellas. It was a real thrill for him to hold his own grown-up umbrella. His delight made me wonder when do we, as adults, lose the capacity to feel delight over the simple things in life? Do we get so jaded that we need more and more to enchant us?
Looking at the world through Josh's eyes has changed me. When I was raising my own kids, I didn't seem to have the time to experience the wonder of their childhood--unfortunately parents get so busy with working, keeping house, making drs appointments, chauffeuring, etc, etc, that they often don't get to savor the magic moments. I wish every young parent could read this and know that it's okay to let the housework go and to plan fewer activities and just enjoy the time with their kids and view he world through their eyes.
So, I have to ask myself, have I written my novel looking through my character's eyes? Am I seeing the world as a 13-year-old would see it or as I, an adult, would see it? I've tried to remember how I felt at that age-of course, it was a long time ago, but some feelings stay with you forever, especially the angst of adolescence.
Looking at the world through Josh's eyes has changed me. When I was raising my own kids, I didn't seem to have the time to experience the wonder of their childhood--unfortunately parents get so busy with working, keeping house, making drs appointments, chauffeuring, etc, etc, that they often don't get to savor the magic moments. I wish every young parent could read this and know that it's okay to let the housework go and to plan fewer activities and just enjoy the time with their kids and view he world through their eyes.
So, I have to ask myself, have I written my novel looking through my character's eyes? Am I seeing the world as a 13-year-old would see it or as I, an adult, would see it? I've tried to remember how I felt at that age-of course, it was a long time ago, but some feelings stay with you forever, especially the angst of adolescence.
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