States I have visited

Here is a map of states I have visited in the US. How about you?


visited 27 states (54%)
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Feel the Connection

I didn’t feel a connection.

Anyone ever get those words in a rejection letter? I’ve seen them and never knew quite what the editor, agent or contest judge was trying to tell me. I finally got it today. Not the reject letter, the concept.

I love plays, musicals and any type of stage production. I especially like community theater or high school productions. The actors and crew really put their heart and soul into the productions. The audience can feel the energy.

Except today.

I saw a high school musical production of The Sound of Music. I love the story and especially love the songs. Must of us know them by heart, having sung the words by Rogers and Hammerstein from the cradle. The story is a romance story of a plain Jane Cinderella who finds her prince through the love of music.

So why didn’t I love the production?

All of the necessary ingredients were present. Good story, check. Great music, check. Local production, check. Energetic cast and crew, check.

What was missing? I did not feel a connection to the characters. I don’t know why; I can’t explain it. I was hopelessly bored before intermission. The person I went with felt the same way I did. Everyone else seemed to love the play and rave about the production. I smiled and only said the children put a lot of enthusiasm into it.

So, the next time an agent/editor/contest judge writes that he did not feel a connection to your characters, think of that movie or book that everyone raved about and you hated. The story just didn’t have that spark for you. That’s what the editor thinks about your story. No spark; no connection.

What have you given up for your writing dream

Nathan Bransford asked this question the other day on his blog. I had a discussion with a friend and admitted that I had not given up much. I knew I had commitment issues. But I also have a full time job, four children and an active social life. It difficult to give up any of that.

My friend, Shay Lacy, wrote a beautiful answer as to what she has given up. I am awed by her dedication.

Every week when I write my weekly TO DO list, I schedule a time, 2 hours minimum, each day, except Thursday, to write and 2-4-hour blocks approximately 2x/day on weekends. I rarely give up those blocks of time to do anything else. I schedule in my TV shows, my RWA meetings, etc.

But you don't have to block out that much time.

I can tell Bransford what I've given up:

Sometimes I feel like everyone is living life but me.

You don't think I feel bitter that I have to write or edit 2 hours a night?

You don't think I'm tired and wish I could lie on the couch and do nothing?

You don't think I'm harried when I get home late and know I still have to load the dishwasher, run a load of laundry and STILL get in my 2 hours if at all possible?

How do you think I feel when it's a choice between exercising or writing?

You don't think it galls me to give up this much of my life without a contract?

You don't think I'd love to have a week's vacation where I don't have to write/edit?

You don't think I want to chat on the phone with my girlfriends and my family?

You don't think I hear the tinge of bitterness in my mom's voice when she calls and I can't talk long?

You don't think I want to keep up-to-date with blogs, etc., like the rest of you keep talking about? But every hour I spend on blogs, that's an hour I'm not finishing a book.

You don't think I want to read? I love to read. But if I'm reading, I'm not writing. I lose almost 2 days each time my favorite fantasy author puts out a new book!

You don't think I'm frustrated whenever I take an online class that I can't keep up with posts during the week and can't actively participate because that hour is an hour I'm not writing? I have to read my backlog of posts at 8 a.m. on the weekends.

You don't think I'd like to get a little sun sometimes? I can't when I'm editing because I don't have (nor want) a laptop. But I can't schedule when I finish writing a book to coincide with warm months.

You don't think I go into editing with a cringe? I do. But it's gotta be done. Writing is the fun part. Editing is work.

You don't think I get frustrated while I'm stuck at work on a slow day knowing I could be home working on my books?

You don't think I'd love to be a full-time writer, but I don't make enough money yet to quit?

Writing began a job for me a few years ago. I don't get paid to do it. But I'm required to show up and put in my time. I'm like an intern now and I'll be a paid employee later.