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Would you really want to be the next J.K. Rowling or Stephanie Meyers?

By on July 12, 2010 in Random

My family has asked me this question.

And when I said no, they didn’t believe me.

Yeah, the money would be nice. The validation would be nice. All the fan mail would be nice.

But when you’ve already hit the top what is left? Will your next series be as big? Or do you end up being stuck?

I’d love to be successful with my writing. I’d love to be able to write until I’m 90 years old. But I also want to be able to continue to create and tell different stories and build with each one. To spread my creative wings and fly – sometimes over the desert and sometimes over the mountains.

I’d love for my work to never go out of print and continue to be loved by future generations. I’d love to hit the best seller list.  But I feel like J. K. Rowling and Meyers don’t have many places left to go.

I hesitate to even pick an author whose career I’d like to emulate because everyone’s path is different. I want it to be my path. And we all know that success and publication doesn’t bring happiness and contentment, right?

What do you think? Would you want to be the next J. K. Rowling? Seriously.

Comments { 19 }

You are not a real writer until…

By on July 9, 2010 in Random

Yeah, you can write a million words or read a thousand books in your genre but you’re still not a real writer.

You can read The Art of Fiction, The Art of War, and the hundreds of craft books out there dedicated to the topic of the three act structure, but you’re still not a real writer.

You can write a novel and revise a novel, but you’re still not a real writer.

You can query agents and receive your first rejections, but you’re still not a real writer.

You can even read Stephen King’s, On Writing, but no, you’re still not a real writer.

You can memorize Strunk n White’s style guide, but nope, not yet. You’re not quite there.

You can twitter and blog as if your life depends on it, but you’re not a writer, not yet.

So, you must wonder what in the blogosphere makes you a real writer? I’ll let you know. After hours of researching blogs, I’ve discovered the elemental truth, my dear friends.

I’ve finally found the secret…

It’s branding your candy.

Yup. What is it that you snack on while the butt is in the chair and the keyboard’s clacking? Cheap chocolate? Twizzlers anyone? Kit Kat bars?

I’ve been giving this some serious thought. If you are experiencing writer’s block. If you can barely muster the mental strength to flip the computer on and click on your document. If you haven’t landed an agent yet…maybe it’s because you haven’t connected with the right kind of candy.

And just like the whole “branding” thing, you need to claim your candy and let the world know. Just think about it, people are wandering in the grocery aisle, see your candy, and then have the sudden urge to go to the book store and buy your book.

So do you really eat candy/chocolate all day? Or is that just one big misconception out there. You know, a blogging/twitter thing.

Comments { 29 }

Because it’s too easy to forget…

By on May 31, 2010 in Random

Thanks to all who have served, are serving, or have lost loved ones.

Comments { 8 }

I discovered the one thing harder than keeping track of a run away plot!

By on May 28, 2010 in Random

Before I reveal my amazing discovery. Let me tell you, it was HOT today! And it’s only June. Okay, end of May, almost June.

It was so hot that I couldn’t bring myself to mow the lawn. What was my husband thinking? Instead, I brought my kids to the lake after school today and – I actually kept my feet in the water. And if you know me, that is truly amazing. It definitely helped that it was 90 degrees, which is truly incredible for New Hampshire. Plus, it’s been high 80s all week.

So, while I stood at the water’s edge contemplating at how refreshing a dip in the lake would feel and wishing I’d worn my bathingsuit (kinda), it hit me – a task so stressful that it quite honestly uses up my full mental capacity.

 A conversation? Impossible.

Plotting while my kids swim? No way.

Fantasizing about a book deal? Not gonna happen.

And here it is – the one thing that is way harder than keeping track of a runaway plot:

Keeping track of my kids in the water when a dozen other little boys have blonde hair too!  And someone is trying to talk to me. Scary! Heck, if I can do that, I can write a story.

Comments { 10 }

Plot and LOST and Unanswered questions.

By on May 26, 2010 in Random

A plane crash. Fate vs. Choice. Survival. Secret societies. Kidnappings. Time travel. Immortals. Ghosts. Captivating setting. Love triangles. Pushing a button or the world explodes. Miraculous healings. Deserted ships and planes. Betrayal and revenge. A strange statue. World mythologies. Flashbacks. Three dimensional characters. A moving island. A smoke monster. Romance. Tragedy. Humor. Heartbreak.

Sounds like a good book, doesn’t it? One that each time you read it, you’d catch more and understand more. Layers and layers of storytelling.

LOST did so many things right to hold viewers captivated week by week. They’d answer one question and introduce another.  

But, all that said, there were dropped story threads and unanswered questions. So many, I can’t even remember them all.

Here are my questions:

  • What did the numbers have to do with everything?
  • Why wasn’t Anna Lucia included in the church at the end?
  • Charles Widmore didn’t seem to play as big as part in the show as I thought. What’s up with that?
  • What happened to Walt? Poor kid.
  • Why didn’t Hurley have a reunion with Libby?

Time to vent. What were your unanswered questions. Or, what aspect of the plotting did you like and can apply to your own writing?

Comments { 12 }
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