Getting out the pieces/parts

I once heard (or maybe read...it all blends together after a while) that it's important for writers to get the story pieces & parts out of their heads and on paper, no matter how small or inconsequential or irrelevant we think they are at the time because when we get rid of the stuff running circles (think mouse on a treadmill) in our minds, we free up all that creative space for the really good stuff to come hit us. If we're still thinking about the old stuff, the new stuff doesn't have anywhere to plop in.

I didn't really buy this at the time because I'm a mental "chewer". Depending on the issue, idea or thought I get (not necessarily just from writing), it can literally be weeks that the same idea is floating around my brain for me to "chew" on during those quiet times. This is how I've often worked on stories in the past...just let it keep floating and fermenting.

But writing now the way I've written in the past isn't working, so I decided to give this a try. I've got the notebook with me everywhere and every time something strikes me about the story I jot it down (or scribe it into the Palm for later use).

Talk about a flood of stuff coming out (yeah, I know I'm a writer and should use more description than "stuff" but it's working for me). Every day --literally-- something new is showing up in the brain radar about the story. Enough to keep me excited and focused on the multiple plotlines. In weird ways, I'm also sort of discovering solutions to problems I anticipated in the story. Like..as long as my brain keeps firing across those synaptic connections (Doc, that one is for YOU...lol), the story will solve itself.

Now, if I could just get it to WRITE itself I'd be rich...

have paper, will travel

The new goal of writing every day is finding me writing in some interesting places. Today I worked on internal motivation of my heroine at the doctor's office and the external plot of my hero while working the desk at the yoga studio.

Even cooler, most of the really good breakthrough ideas came at the yoga studio desk. Maybe I should write there every day....

longhand or typed?

What is it about writing longhand that helps me think through my story at a deeper level than typing on the PC?

It's almost like my story (only two pages old) took a massive twist down a different highway when I was too lazy to come get my laptop last night to write and instead wrote in my fave notebook. Scrawled out several pages, and when I opened it today to write (which includes reading over the previous day's work), I was struck with how different the story now feels (in a better, deeper way) than it did on the laptop.

I wonder if we use different parts of the brain (and different kinds of creativity) when we write with different modalities (handwritten vs. typed). I'd be curious to see if other writers think this happens too or if I'm just floating around in Bethieworld again...

Only two pages?

I know I've been away ...from blogging...from writing...for a while, but I haven't been *that* far away. Physically, maybe, but not mentally.

Fiction writers will understand why. I've been battling the idea of a particular story for about two years. Maybe longer, but a solid two years I can say with certainty. The idea has hounded me off and on, through fiction stories and nonfiction assignments, through my thesis and monthly columns for different publications...in my sleep, in my waking hours...on vacations and in the shower....

Ok, you get the point. I've just been waiting this long for that perfect first line, that opener that will never, ever need changed and will light the way for the rest of my story. No, I'm not on drugs...I'm a perfectionistic writers and can't stand the thought of starting and restarting.

Til now. I started the story today. I've plugged out two pages of decent stuff but am still missing the hero's external journey and the mystery to keep the reader reading (never written anything with a mystery/suspense element before...that's scary!) but I've done enough character mapping, brainstorming and outlining to write, well, a book, and these two pages feel satisfying at the same time they feel tenunous. Most important, they're in the light of day so there's no going back...

Who knew two pages could be so scary?!

Good Stuff

So much good stuff going on in the writing world lately...where to start?

Well, most importantly, the first edits for the short story have been sent to the editor with the requested changes. For everything my pubbed author friends have said about the editing process being harrowing, I've found it to be challenging but fun. It's funny that several of the places in the story where my writer's intuition said something like, "That's not clear enough" or "you need to add detail" or "you need to flesh out this scene better", my editor highlighted it for change. Living with the mind of a writer, I often spend hours, days, weeks, even years hashing out the same scenes to the same story again and again to the point that I know the underwear color of my characters, but when pen meets paper for that rough draft, I leave out key things that I know but my readers need to know. Interesting how that workd.

Other cool stuff...let's see.

I've signed up to attend Lori Foster and Dianne Castell's Readers and Writers Get Together in Cincinnati on June 1 & 2. I debated on this one--no way will my story be out but I do have a story to promote, and there's no time like the pre-publishing to get the word out. I'm actually getting really excited. It'll be my very first outing as a published (almost) writer. I'll be attending with tons of my great author friends and am really looking forward to hanging out with readers. In the vein of promotion, I even ordered some promo cards with my story info on it. And they arrived today! They're cute. I designed them myself and aside from a tiny spacing problem in the blurb, I think they're adorable. I'm going to share them with the girls at work tomorrow--only one of whom knows I've contracted a short story (sounds like I have mono or something). And I can't wait to tell mom!

Hmm....what else?

I don't think I've mentioned it but I might have another writing gig later in the summer doing some pharma research reports. Thanks to connections through an interview, I was contacted out of the blue to consider working with a company to research some really interesting stuff and put together reports. I had to turn down immediate work--one quality of a good writer is that they know their limits, and with signing that fiction contract and having an upcoming deadline (May 15) along with teaching the fiction to freelance course (June 11-22) I knew I'd not have time to devote to doing a proper job in a field I'm just learning. Ah well...soon!

Ok, that's enough for now. I have a rough draft demanding my attention and outlining skills...get back to your own desk and start writing!

Beth

Why Is This So HAAAAAAARD??!

I know, I know. That title may have been a bit misleading, and if you're thinking you're gonna find something a little dark, steamy and erotic, you're way wrong.

I'm talking about writing my author bio.

I mean it!

I'm working on finishing up the author info packet for the marketing department of the publishing house who just sent me the contract for the short story, and I have to submit a short bio. I'm thinking three paragraphs at most.

Why is this so hard? I have no idea. I've written six novels of 55,000-60,000 words, countless articles, monthly columns and a graduate thesis on kids from another country and their educational issues, and I can't come up with three stinking paragraphs about my writing career? This is just wrong.

I could go with the bio on my website but that needs updated, too. I like humor in the bio--otherwise it's just boring drivvel in my opinion. Unfortunately, funny isn't happening for me at the moment.

Nothing is happening for me at the moment. I think I need a little more chocolate to help me through...

Anyone who knows me & my writing--I'm open for suggestions. Just don't include anything that would embarass me. You know, the stories of the headlight dance, anything remotely related to OSU tailgates, Camp Hamwi antics or tequila.

On second thought, I'd better do this myself...

Off to bio myself,

Beth

What We Don't Know...

You know, sometimes I just wonder about this writing gig. In a good way, of course.

Last year on my birthday, I had, for all intents and purposes, decided to go with nonfiction and freelance writing. I'm not setting any landspeed records in getting published (my original 2007 New Year's "goal" was to have an article pubbed every month...not quite there yet) but the important thing, to me, is that I AM getting published (the kind of published that results in nice paychecks) after being a writer since the second grade. Time to put my money where my mouth was, and I think I have.

But I digress, of course.

Last year on my birthday I made an unwritten creed to myself that if I wasn't published (or hadn't had a hit of interest from an editor) in fiction by this year's birthday, I vowed I was giving up fiction forever. Harsh, yes, but despite my initial claims to writing friends, writing fiction and nonfiction/freelance at the same time requires a hell of a lot more brain power and usage than the normal sane person can do (and I mean writing both in the same day, not "fiction this week, freelance next"---I'm a fiction in the morning, freelancing at night kinda gal) and still have brainpower left over to teach and, well, basically function.

So, as I've blogged, I did manage to catch the interest of an editor with one of my sappy short stories earlier this year. Cool, huh? I finished the requested edits, submitted, and she said it might be a bit of time before she'd get to look over my second submission, but promised she would (believe me, I know time flies...).

Well, yesterday in my as-of-late-kinda-empty writing email box, what did I get? Lo and behold, a contract for my story and all the goodies for author info and promo that come along with it. How way cool is that! (a Rachael Ray line I usually hate but feel like using this morning).

And none too soon. Guess who's birthday is tomorrow? I keep wondering if I knew it all along or if I really was on the verge of giving up and that sparked me into better writing/more submitting/being fictionally active mode. Who knows? All I know is that now I have a reason to get author photos done...!

Tomorrow's pink frosted cake will be a little extra sweet...

Beth

Me? A plotter? You must have mistaken me for....

Finally received the promised edits for the short story the editor wanted to see in Jaunary. Time got away from her, I absolutely understand....

At the moment I'm smack-dab in the middle of editing the story per her suggestions (how did we ever efficiently edit without the little bubbles in Word from track changes? Geez) but am taking a quick brain break to share something I just realized.

In her note to me, she said..."The story has nice bones. It just needs a little work."

I'm not hung up on the "it just needs a little work" part. That much is obvious--it's my first fiction story in a few years and the first to make it past a slush pile onto an editor's (real!) desk.

What shocks me is the "nice bones" part. Bones, here, to me, suggests "plot" or "structure"--which is something I've never considered myself good at. In fact, it's the reason I've often quit writing stories--because I don't have the structure to know what comes next. I've always fancied myself a character-driven writer (which plays somewhat in a posting I've been wanting to do for several weeks on the merits of character vs. plot-driven stories. Sometime...)

Me? A plotter not a pantser? Oh, come on...!

Anyways, all for now. I've got edits to finish....

Beth

my advice? be nice.

A writing colleague emailed last week to get my feedback and some quotes for an ebook she's working on (on how to freelance...imagine that!), and I was more than happy to help. I truly enjoy working with her--not just because she also serves as editor for one of the publications I write for regularly but because I've found that writers are the most friendly, most accomodating group of wonderful people in the world.

She liked my comments (I commented on how to find assignments, working with editors and something else that escapes me now) but I want to tell her one more little piece of info I forgot to mention in the section on how to find assignments/markets:

Be Nice.

Yes, in caps. Mom said (says) it never hurts to be nice and when it comes to writing, it can get you in doors you didn't even think were doors...LOL. I've gotten more than one assignment by just sending a note to the editor about something I've enjoyed in their publication--an article, the way the theme was rounded out, the type of magazine they put out, etc--and casually mentioning I'm also a freelance writer (sometimes I mention ideas, sometimes not) then they contact me about my ideas or if I'd be willing to write something for them.

I love it when that happens--because those notes go to editors of publications I'd really like to write for (Sports Illustrated, are you reading this??!)

And, lucky me, it happened again yesterday. In working toward my serious goals for the serious writing girls (new goal set yesterday: ten circulating queries in the (e)mail at all times), I sent a nice note/query to an editor of a magazine I just picked up and really liked a bunch. I thought one of the ideas I've been toying with for like, five years (hey, writers, don't deny you've had ideas that continue circling in your head for more years than you might own a pair of underwear...), might be a good fit for her publication--which resulted in her emailing back that she liked the idea and wants to talk about it.

So, Cheryl, if you're reading, :), copy my "be nice" comment from the "working with editors" section to the "how to find markets" section. Not that we have to tell writers that--but it never helps to try it in places you might not suspect!

beth

oh, and I forgot...

In my excitedness (yes, a word...remember the english teacher's permission to create new words)about the fiction story, I forgot to mention the editor from the RWR emailed the me the contract for the April article. Already faxed it back and am working on a few more ideas to propose with the thank you note.

Should be out in the April issue. Tentatively: From Ficiton to Freelance In 5 Easy Steps (she was really excited about how good it looked in layout when she emailed, which only increased my own excitedness)

Test on new words Friday.

Beth

happy-trot

just a little happy dance (maybe more like a happy-trot...lol).

Got a note from the editor yesterday who's had my short story since January. She likes it (she likes it!). Says the premise is "fresh", but that she'd like to work with me to make it "sparkle" before they offer me a contract.

Way cool. Especially since I *love* sparkly things.

On another good/bad note, I didn't meet the goals with the seriouswriter girls for this three weeks. Yeah, I know. Fork over the money, honey! Just got hit with one of those mid-winter depressions from the weather (the snow is melting...I see the shingles of my neighbor's roof!)

The good part of that is that the new goal is to have, in three weeks' time, 10 queries in the (e)mail. Ten, whoa! That means I actually have to SEND the queries I write, huh? LOL. Cheated a little. I sent one out this morning (official new goals don't go into effect til tonight). I think the girls will cut me some slack!

Get back to writing...
Beth

joking..but seriously...cut a girl a break...

One question I frequently get from non-writers when I introduce myself to them as a writer (amazing conversations that spawns, by the way) is "where do you get your ideas?"

I wish the question were "where don't you get ideas?" Of course, I couldn't answer that in a proper-english-grammar-kinda-way, because it sounds illiterate to say "i don't not get ideas anywhere."

Ok, so more simply, I say "Everywhere." Literally. I read the newspaper, I get ideas. I watch Superbowl commercials, I get ideas. I listen to Barry Manilow songs, I get ideas. (Yeah, those kind of ideas too). There used to be a few sacred places in my life where ideas for articles and stories didn't hound me around every corner...yoga class (defeats the purpose), doing dishes (ever wondered the proper way to load a dishwasher? There's an article in that), emptying trashcans (which breed bacteria like my empty mind breeds article topics) and, the most sacred of spaces to everyone the world over: the bathroom.

Yeah, well, that was last week. Over the weekend, I went to the bathroom (just the thing you want to share in a blog, right?!) and after washing my hands, thought I'd put away the clutter on my sink. Toothbrushes, a few scrunchies, a jar of eye cream and two tubes of toothpaste. Not that one isn't good enough for my family, but one was a travel-size I hadn't yet put away from my recent weekend out west. Naturally, the colors on the front of each tube, drastically different mind you, caught my eye. I started reading and discovered that one guaranteed less plaque while one guaranteed whiter teeth...when they're both basically the same. Kick in the writer's brain, who demanded research on which five toothpastes actually whiten best and which five toothpastes actually clean better.

I know there's a market somewhere, but honestly. Can't a girl get a little peace for a few minutes a day? It's like the toddler knocking on the door...never a moment alone. (I actually kinda like it!)

Beth

what's the word....?

I think this is a rhetorical question, but I want to know the word that defines that specific period of time between the moment you send your article, book, short story--any piece of writing you're hoping to get published--to the editor and the time they get back with you. You know, the span of infinite waiting that seems to drag on longer than an episode of Friends where all we get to do is watch Rachael whine? The duration of time where we ask ourselves "Will she like it? Will she buy it? Did I use periods? Did I write in English?" like a mantra?

I want to know the name for that period of time. If anyone knows or is able to create something creative, I'm all for it. Being an English teacher, I do have the default ability to create new words, so if you've got a suggestion, bring it on.

Just sent in the article yesterday to the RWR. My lag time (?!) wasn't long--the editor--a wonderful lady I enjoy working with--sent back a quick note of approval within the same day. That's writing karma for you.

Not so much karma on the workshop end of things. Got two (when one just isn't enough) rejection letters from RWA stating that they're not interested in my freelance workshop (solo) or my dialogue interaction workshop (with soon-to-be-published friend Donna MacMeans). Ah, well. Just means I'll have to sell more freelancing to be able to afford the conference fee. I'm not passing up Dallas...

Back to the writing. A day off school...queries call!

Beth

a day away

With that self-imposed deadline of Friday for the article due on Monday, you'd think I spent last night slaving over punctuation and tearing apart sentences, but you'd be wrong.

I did nothing.

Well, not exactly nothing. I conducted my first phone interview ever (as a writer) with an entertaining guy who conducts the most fascinating research on gender-specific marketing (to support the article idea brewing in my mind), but I didn't do a tootin' thing with the freelance article. Not that I needed a break. I just think fresh eyes (as fresh as two days can be) will give me better perspective. I won't get to it tonight, either, as I've got a new yoga class til nine. Three days should be better than two, right?

Actually, I'm not that far away from it. There's one sentence driving my mind batty (transitions from the intro don't usually suck this bad) and I'm playing with it in infinite directions so this is my time to nail that baby down.

A writer's mind never stops, does it?

Beth

Draft #2

Finished the second draft last night of the article due Feb. 5th. For all intents and purposes it's complete--my second drafts are for adding quotes, transitions, making sure all names and author information is correct. Yesterday I received responses from two more fiction/freelance authors, so I added in a quote from each. I think it's 98% done. Just need that fine-toothed editing comb to tighten and activate my words...the funnest part of writing. (Yeah, I know. I'm allowed to use "funnest").

Even cooler is that, unlike every day of my past three years, I don't have to put my writing on a shelf to get back to the grad research--I get to write again! Next up is a short (comparatively, anyway--1500 vs. 3000 words) article on female spies in the Civil War. Due Feb. 15th. I could really dig this freelance writing stuff...learning about things I didn't know existed.

And speaking of fiction, still awaiting editorial word if the short short was accepted. We'll see.

Beth

How Rough is the rough draft?

Pretty rough, but more importantly...DONE.

I've had a weird relationship with this article (on helping fiction writers transition into freelancing). I love the idea--I've had so many people ask how to get into freelancing and I love helping them get started that idea really created itself. I was psyched when the editor requested it, and I get wound up each time I think about the info in the article.

But for some reason, putting my butt in the chair to write this one was an adventure in procrastination--something I've battled, slayed and thought I'd overcome. I used to be the world's #1 procrastinator but grad school taught me the value of planning ahead. I don't like the feeling of procrastinating now (obviously not enough) but this piece didn't listen to that. It's due on the 5th of February and, well, it's obvious how long I've put it off.

Luckily, it's done. Longhand, 15 pages or so. Ready to be typed tomorrow. As I said...
DONE!

Beth

Mystical Alignment

I don't know if it's the alignment of the planets or what, but the writing is going so well lately it almost scares me.

I've been toying with a few queries, editing a short story I've had for about a month, and gathering together interviews to write an article due on Feb 5th. All nicely writing related, going at an even pace. Got an unexpected gift yesterday when school was canceled, and decided to pretend to be a writer all day.

Finished the short story, sent off a query and synopsis only to have the full requested by the afternoon. Haven't had fiction requested in eight years (well, haven't submitted fiction in eight years, either). Sent it in pronto.

Just waiting, now, to get the verdict. Isn't waiting the worst part of writing? Some say it's brainstorming, other say editing. I say waiting. I'm impatient.

Beth

In the groove...

It's true I've been gone a while. And it's also true I've not been on top of my game with the whole writing thing. Life intervenes, saps energy, drains creativity, sucks away precious time.

Yeah, you get the point. After finishing my thesis three days before it was due, I happily claimed my diploma in December with grand plans of jumping right back into writing where I left off. I didn't count on the fact that I needed to get myself back into prime writing condition. Takes time to start waking up at 4:30 on a regular basis (even with the impatient whining of my lovable dog Omar demanding her morning walk).

I'm glad to say--I think I'm back in the groove. None too soon, either. I've got a major deadline coming up--Feb. 5th for an April article--and haven't started yet. I've brainstormed and have a working outline which, for all intents and purposes, serves as my first draft. (Maybe I should translate that to my fiction writing...hmm....). Planned to put BICHOK into action yesterday but it just didn't get done. No worries...my self-imposed deadline isn't for another week and a few days.

One cool note is that I'll be teaching an online course at the Hearts Through History RWA site this summer. Entitled "From Fiction to Freelance in 8.2 Seconds", it's meant to help give fiction writers a solid foundation for using all that acquired knowledge to break into the freelance market. I'm really excited and looking forward to it.

Hearts Through History offers some killer workshops for writers. Took one last year on sensuality in writing and it was a gem. If you're interested, here's their main class list:
http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/class.htm

and here's mine:
http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/freelance.htm

Here's to meeting all those lofty 2007 writing goals...
Beth

Feedback, Or Why I Love To Write

With feedback like this, who wouldn't want to be a writer?
(I edited out the non-pertinent stuff)
==========

Dear Beth:

I just read you review of THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER, and needless to say, I was thrilled. But what I really want to say is that after dozens of reviews, yours is absolutely the most creative, the most original. Not that one thinks of reviews as a contest for originality (-; , but how could anyone want not to check it out and pass it on.

I must send you big thanks and hugs.

This is quite an amazing review--quite unlike anything I've ever received or seen! (-:

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Author USA Book News' Best Professional Book and Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award Winner, THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T

============

Wanna see the review for yourself? (amazing book!): (yeah, shameless self-promo--too bad!)

http://www.writer2writer.com/frugal.htm

Ahhh...I love writing for writers. They always get it.

Beth

End in sight...

Thesis is due next week (at least the final presentation is due, so the project should probably be due, too). I've set my own personal deadline of being done by Weds this week. So far, so good. Keep your fingers crossed.

Just because I've not been posting (and have had my head buried in research, tables and the APA Style Manual) doesn't mean I've not been working on writing. One of the coolest things I've got going is that I"ll be teaching an online course this summer through an RWA group who offers online courses. I think it's June (it's in my agenda) and it'll focus on how to help fiction writers (especially romance writers) use all their knowledge & research to break into freelancing. Just another facet of my proposed presentation to RWA National and the RWR article due in Feb (that I've not yet started).

I've also had a request for an article on goal setting for a local newsletter so I'll be cranking that out soon, too.

As for NaNoWriMo, at least I did more than procrastinate this year. Didn't get anywhere past those 8 pages I mentioned earlier but small steps are good steps.

Here's to keeping the sanity through the holidays by writing...

Beth