23
May
I just finished reading Dead Beat, a novel from Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series, and I have to say, Butcher’s books just keep getting better and better. I didn’t think he could top Blood Rites (which had been my favorite thus far), but I dare say, he outdid himself again!
I discovered the Dresden Files books after the TV series came and went far too soon. Hoping to stop my bitching over the cancellation of the series, my HH bought the first several books for me the following year for my birthday. He then proceeded to bogart them, so I didn’t get around to reading the novels until around a year or so ago. And I was hooked.
Unfortunately, my reading time is rather limited, so it’s taking me a while to work my way through the series and catch up to the newest release, but it’s definitely time well-spent! If you’re a fan of mysteries, fantasies, paranormals and/or thrillers, you’d probably enjoy Butcher’s novels. At some point, he hits on all of these genres–sometimes all at once!
In addition to proclaiming my admiration as I reader, I also have to offer my thanks as a writer.
When I began writing Red, it was immediately clear to me that the protagonist’s story had to be in her own voice with no filtration from the narrator. This was a huge deviation from my normal writing M.O. and was both liberating and terrifying at the same time.
Fortunately, I started writing Red right around the time I started reading the Dresden Files series, which couldn’t have been more serendipitous. Butcher does such a fabulous job writing in the first-person, I think I would have been a lot more timid while writing had I not been exposed to such a fantastic example of how to carry it off. Butcher’s voice is, quite simply, fearless, and, as such, authentic–which, in turn, makes the stories much more engaging and enjoyable.
Aside from sharing the same genre(s), my manuscript has almost nothing in common with Butcher’s work, but inspiration can come from just about anywhere and in any form. And I was definitely inspired and have learned a lot about the more subtle nuances of telling a story from this point of view. I’m sure I still have a long way to go until I’ve mastered the craft, but that’s all part of the fun!
And so, as I continue to edit and refine Red in hopes of one day bringing the story to print, I offer a grateful nod to Jim Butcher for showing all us hopefuls how it’s done.
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20
May
I finished the first draft of Red on May 6th and am extremely excited by how it has turned out! I think this is definitely the strongest and tightest manuscript I’ve written so far, but, as with any project, there’s still work to be done. So now I’m busily working on the first round of revisions and awaiting input from my beta readers, which will inform round two.
More updates to come…
2
May
Recently, my friend Sheila mentioned on her blog (www.batsmeow.com/blog) that her teenage son, Jordan, is writing a novel. The news made me feel a little nostalgic. I was right around Jordan’s age when I wrote my first novel manuscript, and even today I remember how incredible it felt to accomplish something of that magnitude. Unfortunately, when I finished writing the manuscript I had no idea what to do with it. I had no mentor to help guide me or even say, I’ve been there.
So, seeing as how the point of starting this website was to chronicle my journey and help others along the way, I dedicate this post to Jordan in hopes that he will be encouraged and assured that the aches and pains of being a writer are the same regardless of whether you’re in your teens or your thirties. I feel your pain, kiddo.
Now, here are a few things I wish someone had told me when I was your age:
Lesson 1: Keep Writing
I attended my first writers’ conference about a year after writing my first manuscript, and it was so informative and frightening I pretty much decided that although I’d keep writing, attempting to publish anything at that point was far too formidable a task to even consider. It just wasn’t a good time to even try. After all, I still had high school and college ahead of me.
I told myself that as soon as I graduated from high school I’d have the time to really devote to my writing. Then I told myself that after I graduated from college I’d have the time to really devote to my writing. Then I told myself that after I finished grad school, got married, had babies… Well, you get the point.
And, now, twenty-odd years after writing my first novel, I finally have the time to really devote to my writing. But not because I’m any less busy, that’s for damned sure! Maintaining a full-time job, house, husband, kids, activities, and everything else that comes along with being a grown-up certainly doesn’t leave much time for writing. I realized if I was ever going to realize my dream of publishing, I needed to stop waiting for the perfect time to write and just do it. And keep doing it.
Lesson 2: Keep Trying
When I started shopping a novel two years ago, I emailed a couple of my favorite published authors, just to see if they had any friendly advice to share. One of them actually emailed me back and said that it took ten years of trying before she got her first book deal and it definitely wasn’t her first book! Now she’s doing really well and has numerous published novels.
I firmly believe the only difference between an unpublished author and a published author is perseverance. So don’t give up, even if you don’t hit it big in your rookie season.
Lesson 3: Keep Learning
Even the most seasoned authors go to workshops and conferences. Read, study, write. All three activities will help you hone your craft.
Lesson 4: Be patient
I’ll admit this one’s tough. I still struggle with impatience for something — anything! — to happen that will move my career forward. It’s incredibly frustrating to have this kind of need to write and not be able to share it with anyone. However, it’s important to remember that even though it seems like the folks who have hit it big had it easy, that’s not necessarily the case. It took years for Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, John Grisham, and oh so many others to finally get their first book deal.
Lesson 5: Learn to Take Criticism
I hate this one, I really do. It’s not easy to take criticism, no matter how long you’ve been doing this. I confess, one of the other reasons I held off trying to publish until now was that I knew I hadn’t yet developed a thick enough skin to take the inevitable rejection inherent in the process.
Honestly, the turning point for me was writing my thesis. My advisor, Lee, was brutal in his criticism. There were times he’d respond to my submissions with comments that absolutely infuriated me! But after giving it a day or two, I’d reread what he’d said and realize he was right. Then I’d make the changes and my writing was always better for it. I owe Lee a huge debt of gratitude for making me write to my full potential. And, after going through the process for two years, my ability to take constructive criticism without taking it too personally was much improved.
You never really get over the initial shock and disappointment of someone criticizing your work, but over time you learn how to gracefully accept the comments, sift through them, and discern what’s worth taking to heart. The rest you let go.
So, there you go, kiddo. These five lessons might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget them. Hang in there and, most importantly, have fun!
Love,
Auntie M.
