Of fiction & freelance

Let's see...an update.

Well, I've not freelanced much lately. Putting together my thesis has sapped my logical, informational brain center and I find it difficult to string together words that explain. I'm still coming up with ideas, not as compulsively as usual, but any idea is a good one--proof that the old noggin is still kicking.

What I have been writing is fiction. Signed up for NaNoWriMo and challenged myself not to the full novel-length work in 30 days but to hit at least 50 pages. I should be there now, shouldn't I...but not yet. I think I managed 8 pages in the last week or so--nothing to sneeze at, especially when I think the beginning of the story (the one set amongst the Mayan pyramids at Chichen Itza in the Yucatan jungle of Mexico) is a keeper. Dynamic and my heroine comes to life.

I need to get my act together and start gathering research for the next RWR article (if you're a published romance writer and you've been published in nonfiction/freelancing, drop me a note...I'm always looking for quotes....). It's chomping away in the back of my mind...and with the holidays right around the corner (and the article due in Feb though I want to turn it in in Jan), it's never too late...

Ok. Back to the fiction writing. Maybe.

Beth

Fingers

Do your fingers ever do bad things while you just watch?

 

I had a week like that last week. Finished proofing the anthology article (sent it off Friday) and thought I'd have a few days to catch my breath before starting the research for the next RWR article. Cracked open an issue of a writer's ezine I've been reading for some time only to find a note that their internet resource columnist is moving on and the position is open. Before I could remind myself that I have far too many things I want to write myself, I'd whipped up a letter of interest and copy/pasted a sample article. (Reminds me of one of my favorite songs...John Mayer's "My Stupid Mouth" except in this case it's "My Stupid Fingers") And sent it.

 

Oh, but that wasn't enough. In the midst of reading another great ezine and saw they had--even better--an opening for a volunteer editor. Now--this zine is by far and away one I admire greatly. Since I consider myself qualified, I zipped off another note of interest, got the job specs and sent in my name for consideration.

 

It's like the synaptic connection between my brain's logical center and my fingers has either disconnected or taken on a Frankenstein-like connection where I"m just an innocent bystander. I just hope I have all the words (and stamina, but that's greatly helped by caffeine) to keep up with what my fingers think I'm capable of.

 

Happy Writing...

Beth

First Conference Goodie

No notes yet--haven't had time. Finishing two articles requested for the anthology and wrapping up the proposal for the RWA conference next year in Dallas, but my friends Lori & Tony Karayianni (who write as Tori Carrington) posted some wonderful photos from the conference on their site (they're just sooooooo fun!) and I wanna share.

 

Visit the photos in the blog on their site at: http://www.toricarrington.net/indexblog.htm

 

(I'm in the one titled "A shot of our conference table". Third row, middle photo. That's me in the Buckeye cardigan. (I'm insanely superstitious. And it worked. We beat Michigan State...)

 

Anyway..check out all the good-looking writers there.

 

More soon.

 

Back to writing....

 

Beth

Follow Ups

....doing a (quick) happy dance...

 

Just got a reply from the RWR editor and she likes one of my (two) proposal ideas I sent along with the thank-you note after receiving the contract (You send those follow up ideas, right? Strike while the iron's hot my friends...)

 

This time it's for the April issue. I can make that, just hoping I can target the topic as she wants. Gonna email her and find out...will let you know....

 

Beth

Refilling the Creative Well

Something mystical about the way writing conferences refill your creative well.

 

I don't know if it's the people, the topics, the invisible karma generated when a bunch of creative-types gather, but after returning from my writer's group annual conference (Central Ohio Ficiton Writers) I'm full of the belief that I can--no---will! be back working on fiction (and simultaneously freelancing) in no time.

 

So many excellent speakers with such good advice and ideas....I took lots of notes and plan to post some of them here for those who don't have the luxury of getting to a conference soon. Great advice from great authors (Jenny Crusie & Bob Mayer, Tori Carrington (aka Tony & Lori),) excellent agents and editors...I'm inspired.

 

So what am I doing here and not writing?!

 

Notes soon...

 

Beth

Relapse, Part II

Is there a word for a second relapse of larger proportions than the first relapse? Because, if so--that's me.

 

First fall off the freelancing wagon all I did was write a little fiction. Honest. A paragraph or two, a few first lines, a couple of character names and plot twists...easy enough to scoop myself up and get tough the next day, leaving my notebook in the dust.

 

But that little taste sparked a big idea that woke me at 4:30 am the next morning and had me not just writing a few notes but a damn short story. (it's my blog, I can curse). Yeah, no lie. Started at 4:30, had it done by 6. About 1,000 words but the entire story came pourrrrrrrrrring out. Beginning, middle, end, structure, character, plot, details...wow. Almost in publishable form, too. Did some market research and have three places to submit. Hey, that's bringing it full circle back to freelancing, right?.......

 

Beth

Relapse

Ok, I admit it. I'd planned to keep it hush-hush but I might as well update the blog with the truth:

 

I wrote fiction.

 

Yeah, it's true. Not a bunch--just about two pages of brainstorming for a story that's been nagging from the back of my mind. Happened at that one weak moment of the day, right before bedtime when I was exhausted after a day of presenting a workshop and didn't have the willpower to put down the notebook and fountain pen. Notebook is still on the floor as a reminder of my downfall.

 

Strangely, I don't feel the need to overindulge myself (like with chocolate) or obsess over it (like with a query letter). I really feel relief. Like I got stuff out, my creative, fiction brain still works but isn't on overdrive with the guilt that accompanies a fiction story I can't finish fast enough for my own high standards. Just a nice, fiction-inspired peace.

 

Even more strange is that it inspired me to finish a proposal for RWA's national conference next year and an anthology submission I've been dragging my feet on. As Stephen King so masterfully says: Writing begets writing..(no matter what kind it is).

 

Back to the story..erm...article....

 

Beth

Proof

Quick story to those of you who believe editors don't reply to your submissions (fiction or freelance) out of spite or because they don't like you personally

 

(you do know that's an excuse on your part, right? Editors are wonderful--the reason we're published).

 

My friend Katy--one of the Serious girls--received a rejection today for a submission she'd sent some time ago--January of 2002, to be exact.

 

You read that right. Coming close to five years and she just received a reply.

 

That's an award-winner. Can anyone top that?

 

Here's hoping my recent queries get accepted (or rejected, but we must think positively) by 2010....

 

Back to the writing....

Beth

Finally....

Yay...it's here!

 

Got my RWR in the mail Saturday. A little late because I didn't (as I thought) update them with my new address (so no one to blame but me).

 

But--it looks fantastic. Kathleen (the editor) was right--I love the layout. Great graphic. It's so cool when you see your articles put together with the layout and art the editor chooses (knock wood--I've always had good ones but like authors who cringe at their book covers, I'm sure there are less than perfect ones out there) and it mirrors what you've imagined.

 

Gives a little spark to the current articles and queries I'm working on, too. Now to get busy on those....

 

Happy Writing...

 

Beth

Making a Name

One of the hardest things about being a writer is that occasionally it's easy to slip into doubt about whether your writing is making a difference to others. Whether fiction (providing a much-needed, entertaining escape from reality) or freelancing (giving information someone must need to know somewhere), even NYT authors have to question themselves at times.

 

Not that I've been in that funk lately--I'm soooo wound up for this RWR article to come out (and it has--I've received wonderful notes from writing friends who love it--but I'm still awaiting my copy...but I digress...), so I'm still riding high on that. But in checking my email, I've recently received two cool notes about my writing that give me that sense of external success.

 

THe first is from an author I reviewed earlier in the year. His book on punctuation for writers was just stellar--even invited him to speak to my local RWA group. He emailed to ask if I'd review his collection of poetry. True, it's been out a while but it's still need to be sought out for my opinion. Like it's really worth a dime...lol.

 

The second is from my outstanding web designer who just overhauled my site with the vision I've had forever for the site (if you're here, isn't it just gorgeous?). She read my articles for writers and, once she gets her online review/book magazine revamped (get busy, Jo!) she's interested in featuring me and one of my articles. Way cool.

 

But the coolest is the RWR article, which as I said, is out. Nothing beats that moment of opening the mailbox and seeing the article with your byline--not even the check. The wait is killing me...

 

Beth

Oh, those darned ideas....

What makes ideas so darned elusive when you're looking for them--but they pop their heads up at the weirdest, most inappropriate times?

 

Spent the other morning working on an article for a writer's anthology I was invited to submit to. Had my slant, bullet points (yes, I outline rough drafts) and the draft in my mind ready to be forced onto paper.

 

However, the article had other ideas. It refused to come out in a neat and orderly fashion, so I had to squeeze it out. Like fresh orange juice, it splattered all over my paper, but I took what I could get.

 

Later that morning, at a massively important meeting with the boss and girls at the office, the entire, full-blown article idea that'd been on the tip of my brain came rushing full speed. It had no sympathy for the fact that I was trying to keep up with program changes at work, thinking of the methodology section for my thesis, mentally proofreading something else for work--it just jumped out.

 

I frantically scribbled in my own, unique shorthand way everything flying at me, and it all made sense later in the day when I went back over the notes. Beautiful. Emailed some editors for quotes and fleshed out the rest of the article over lunch.

 

Moral of the story: If the idea ain't there when you want it, just wait. It'll come. And if it doesn't, well, I can't help--but maybe it wasn't the right idea for you.

 

Happy Writing...

Beth

A Perk of Freelancing

As you might know, I'm still having fictional writing withdrawals. I have those moments of weakness where I'm tempted to grab a notebook and start in on a character stalking my thoughts or a plot that won't quit peeking at me from around every corner.

 

But I'm being strong and sticking to what I've decided. Not that it's been tough--I'm a huge believer of the life theory that if you set your intentions, you'll draw those things to you that help your intentions come to fruition, (Ok, so I'm still working on that intention to get Tom Brady to stop by for dinner after practice) and the possible writing assignments have started seeking me out since I made the switch (a profile of a Fulbright scholar for a big local magazine, a national teaching magazine looking for expertise on teaching ESL students, a request from an anthology on how I got one particular article published...).

 

Anyway, I digress (as usual).

 

In working on the article for the teaching magazine all day yesterday (the outline basically wrote itself last week), I couldn't get the opening paragraph to work for me. It didn't want to be about a student and it didn't want to be a spotlight on my school. I wrote both, then just plain dove into the meat of the article. Before I went to bed, I felt a little defeated that the article didn't come as smooth as the outline. I felt like giving up on it.

 

This morning, bright and early, as I looked at what I did yesterday then at the schedule deadline I'd given myself for writing the rough draft, I realized I have another entire week to finish the rough draft. Woohoo. I couldn't do that with my fiction--there is no light at the end of the tunnel (unless you're pubbed and on deadline)--but with the nonfiction, it's a little grease on the gears to know that meeting the deadline is the real challenge. With the fiction, I'd have just given up and started a new story.

 

Don't tell me, fiction writers, that you haven't done that...

 

Beth

The smell of contracts

There are so many cool things in the writing process that get me excited (easy feat, I've been told). When an idea comes together, when a query snaps along, when an editor loves an idea and asks for more, more, more....

 

and when the contract comes.

 

There's something satisfying about the contract that puts the whole process in stone for me. I've sold to small ezines and small magazines that don't offer contracts but do offer some small token of payment...maybe $5, maybe $10, but they let you keep all your rights for those two paragraphs. Ain't nothin' wrong with that either--those little gems are the ones you can sell and resell, marketing your name and writing talent while picking up a little more dough along the way.

 

But there's something I just really dig about signing a contract and faxing it back. I received mine from the RWR yesterday afternoon. Didn't have a chance to fax it back yet but it's #1 on my to-do list. Surprised it didn't take more rights, but that's a good thing...resell potential along with tweaking ideas for targeting the same idea to a new publication in the future.

 

And the note from the editor was nice too. She told me I'll love the layout and that she can't wait for me to see it. Of course I will. It's one of the plusses of freelance vs. fiction publishing--I don't get bad covers ...lol...

 

So now the funnest (yes, it's a word) part of the entire writing process is about to come to fruition....getting the magazine with my article inside....

 

Back to writing....

 

Beth

Smart choice or giving up?

The more I think about it, the more freelancing seems the smart choice. I just got two new market leads today in my mailbox at school that sound viable. Ideas are hounding me around every corner--so how about I just shake up my entire world and vision of myself (you know, the one sitting at the table eating chocolate, drinking champagne and smiling coyly as Barry Manilow asks me to sign 'just one more' of my romance novels for him?) and dive headfirst into freelancing?

 

They're still words, I'm still published and forces outside myself seem to think I"m good at it.

 

We'll see. Fleshing out ideas tonight.

 

Beth

a book and writing life review

Just finished reading an interesting book for a book review column I write each month for a writing ezine.

 

While I had to read it twice for it to stick, there's lots of good advice in it for thinking of your plots and scenes in a different way. I always think reading books on plotting will help my plotting--and they would, if only I would finish writing the damn story in the first place.

 

The book is Martha Alderson's Blockbuster Plots: Pure & Simple. She gives two charts for us visual learners out there--a scene tracker and a plot planner. The plot planner is pretty similar to the "W" plotting chart, something I'm intimately familiar with thanks to my Serious Writing friend (and now Golden Heart winner--WOOOO HOOOO!!) Donna, so I didn't figure I"d learn much.

 

Of course I did. I learn more when I think I don't have anything to learn. Weird how that works.

 

Anyway, the scene tracker is a really cool tool I'm thinking of trying on the first scene of the third draft of the last short story I finished. Starting little is nothing to sneeze at when some people can't start at all :) If so, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Not sure I want to venture back into ficiton, anyway. Still debating the merits of sticking to nonfiction for a while. Found two new, really cool freelance markets yesterday and already have two articles outlined. Starting back to school this afternoon, so I'm trying to not load up the plate **too** much.

 

Oh, and if you're interested, I'll post the review link when it comes out (for Blockbuster Plots). It's the writer2writer.com ezine--good stuff Cheryl puts out each month--sign up for free on her site.

 

Back to writing....

Beth

This month in the writing life...

So for those who've missed the last month or so of my writing life (myself included)...

 

I sent off the article on male-female speech patterns to the editor on July 15th. Not due til August 5th, but I left on July 20th to volunteer for two weeks working at a summer camp for diabetic teenagers (the best part of my summer.)

 

Hoped the editor would hold off to making any changes til after August 7th, since we moved to a new house on the 5th. (What can I say? Even summer time spent not teaching is insane in my life).

 

The bad news? I couldn't check email til the 5th.

 

The good news? She loved the article! The only thing she requested after I sent it was my bio-byline (which I'd conveniently forgotten because I hate writing those things). Sent it off maybe two weeks ago and am looking forward to it coming out in October (the last date the editor mentioned) issue (which normally comes out in September.

 

So I'm holding my breath til the RWR (Romance Writer's Report) shows up in my mailbox (I did change my address with them, didn't I?).

 

I could have mentioned the name of the magazine sooner (or maybe I did and forgot, who knows?) but I'm terribly superstitious about things like that.

 

I'd sound pretty stupid to say I didn't do it for the money (not much--flat fee) but there have to be a few of you in the audience who secretly get an unbelievable thrill you can't get from anything else in life when you get that magazine (or book cover or article, etc.) with your name on it. Ain't nothing sweeter, I'll tell you. Except maybe booksignings, but I haven't made it there yet.

 

Which brings me to the thought of the week (ok, month) I've been grappling with...since it seems my nonfiction is meeting with more favor publishing-wise than my fiction, should I just throw in the fiction towel and concentrate on non-fiction? Maybe get my schedule to resemble that of a freelancer, with lots and lots of deadlines spaced over the next twelve months to the point that I don't feel guilty not working on the fiction? Or just keep trying to maintain that happy fiction/nonfiction balance? Fiction in the mornings (soon to be back at 4:30 am) and nonfiction after I come home?

 

Anyone have a crystal ball or magic 8 Ball I can consult? I'll pay.....

 

Get back to the writing!

Beth

*Really* done

WOOOO HOOOOO...it's done.

 

No, I mean *really* done.

 

Finished the article and had an editor friend proofread. Giving it a day's rest before fine-tooth combing for spelling & grammar...then sending it to the editor.

 

Interesting process in working with my friend, M, in editing. As a true-blue editing mind, she really made me think long and hard about stuff in my article--mostly structure. I write with A LOT of emdashes. You know---like this---to offset my thoughts. While I know perfectly well how to use commas, I prefer emdashes. I even told her (a dirty little secret) that I honestly THINK in dashes. When I see words in my mind, I see dashes, too. Always have.

 

WEll, she broke me of that habit right quick. The final article has only two dashes, and those were direct quotes from an author. Reads so much smoother...amazing.

 

What's really amazing is that I managed to get this article done, finish a research paper for my graduate class, pack to move into a new house and pack for two weeks at summer camp with teenagers in 3.5 days. Tomorrow I"m planning to spend the day trying to relax since I leave for camp Friday morning.

 

yeah, right.

 

I'll share the details on the article once I hear from the editor.

 

Til then, happy writing...

 

:)Beth

And now for the truth....

Ok, the truth.

I didn't have the whole rough draft done when I posted last time. I had 99.50% done. I'm just horrible when it comes to conclusions--fiction, nonfiction, letters, articles, stories...you name it, I can't finish it on the first go-round.

But now I really did. And I'm excited.

 

Even more excited because I sent emails to a bunch of my published-author friends with a questionnaire on dialogue and I got back some AMAZING responses that will make my article sparkle.

 

Just gotta get to the second (and probably third) drafts....I have til Thursday....but the hard part is done.

 

Honest.

Good news, good news...and OK news

I thought summer was for sipping lemonade under an umbrella by a beach....yeah, right.

 

Instead I find myself loading up on the caffeine to beat deadlines and stay sane in this rush I'm calling "life".

 

First the good news...

The rough draft of the article on male-female speech patterns is done! WOO HOO!! Not that it was tough, just had to finish researching and find a time to sit down and put it all together. Not bad, either. It's due to the editor by August 5th, but I'll be out of town (working at a summer camp for diabetic teenagers) then and wanted to zip it off to the editor by July 21st (the day I leave).

 

What, you don't turn in articles early? I can't believe I, the princess of procrastination, do now but I've learned it really helps out the editor. If they can count on me to be on time for one article, they can count on me again when they're pressed for time and need something put together on a whim (at least I'm hoping for that...).

 

Anyway, the article is still really rough draft (long hand by fountain pen--the only way I can compose rough drafts). I have lots of excellent feedback from a questionnaire I sent out to several of my romance-novelist friends to incorporate, and that's the game plan for tonight...second draft.

 

I even had a dream last night about the final article layout. I can see it now.....

 

And other good news....

I've wanted to redesign my website for some time. I like what I have content-wise (did it all myself) but wanted a new design...something clean, fresh, pretty and professional....so I approached a designer who several friends have recommended and she sent me her first ideas on the design this morning.

 

They're awesome! Really. She took ideas I didn't even know I had and made them come alive through pixels. It's a totally rough-draft phase--but she wanted my opinion on the stuff before she went further. I'm sooooo excited. I'm hoping to have the new site up and running by the time the article comes out. Neat-O!

 

The OK news:

We've managed to sell the house (no small feat, and we did it in less than a month with the help of our wonderful real-estate agent-friend) but are still up in the air about the house we're moving to. We made a bid on a house we like (well, the DH and DT (teenager) love it more than me but I think it'll grow on me) and are waiting for the acceptance or counter offer--which we should have today.

 

I'm mostly worried about a good kitchen (I'm a cook & bake-a-holic) and a peaceful place for writing. I've established the spare room here as my writing refuge (no one enters when I'm in there unless there are severed limbs) and am having anxiety attacks about moving to a new spot and disrupting the writing karma. Ah well...such is the life.

 

At any rate--hope you're still writing. I found a great exercise on creating characters in a recent issue of Writer's Digest, so maybe I'll share that next post.

 

Til then....

 

Beth

Schedule? Or Not?

The writing went well today. This morning, actually.

 

Why is it when summer rolls around I think I can write so much more--since I don't have lesson plans to create or papers to grade--but I spend significant time NOT writing.

 

I think it's the schedule thing. When I don't have to go in to school, I don't have any reason to try and get things done in a timely fashion. I can set my own schedule, work on my own time and luxuriate over one perfect word for an hour.

 

Not realistic if I want to become a full-time writer, is it?

 

Ah, well. I'll work on it. I'm about five pages away from finishing another short story, and next week I'm participating in an online write-all-you-can-in-one-week challenge hosted by my local RWA group. Gotta get this short done so I can work on the time travel I started a few years ago. I know, I should be working on the contemporary I challenged myself to finish by the end of this year but I'm still struggling with the heroine.

 

Off to write...

Beth