Gearing Up for NaNo!

Writers on your marks...

It's that time again, folks! The writers are lined up. Their sensible shoes grinding into the manicured soil of the track. They blow out a breath, shaking the stiffness from their joints as they focus their sights on the lined path stretching out before them. The finish line won't be seen for thirty days. The challenge is daunting, infinite. Can they do it?

Who will cross the finish line? And who will take a face-plant into the unforgiving dirt?

That's right. It's November again. November is National Novel Writing Month. It's time for the NaNo challenge: 50,000 words in one month. Could you do it? Should you do it? Who are these lunatics who volunteer for such a grueling, treacherous suicide mission??

Well, those lunatics you're referring to would be writers! This year, I am one of those lunatics. 

For the last two years I have longed to join the ranks of the racers, but this or that prevented me from doing so. This year, I am in between novels. I have cleared my calender and I have no deadlines to meet or any outstanding obligations to stop me from going all in.

What is NaNo, you ask?

Also referred to as NaNoWriMo, it's a creative abbreviation for National Novel Writing Month. 

Most active writers know about the month of November. Somehow and somewhere, a challenge was born: Write 50,000 words or an entire novel in one month's time. This challenge caught fire and spread worldwide. NaNo now has it's own website. New local chapters and support groups are popping up every year. I have a local NaNo chapter right here in Salem, as a matter of fact. NaNo is not a fad. It's here to stay, and this year, by Jove, I'm going to do it!

As you can see from the NaNo coat of arms just above, writers only need four things to survive the month of November: Pen, paper, computer and a bottomless cup of coffee for fuel. Sounds like heaven to me!

If you're not a writer, but you have friends or a family member that writes, it's safe to say that you can kiss them goodbye for the entire month. Being that today is October 31st, I have already said my goodbyes to my family. I have installed a sturdy lock on my office door, cooked and frozen meals in advance for my inevitably hungry family and, last but not least, I have invested in a pair of headphones that render me virtually deaf to the world around me. 

With the exception of a house fire or earthquake, my family knows that they won't see their mother/wife for an entire month. You can expect the same from the writer in your life. They are not dead. They have not been abducted by aliens. Don't call the police or search and rescue. They're fine. They're just writing. You'll have to fend for yourselves for a while. 

You have only one job to do. When your beloved writer comes up for air on December 1st, be there for them. Let them vent their frustrations and triumphs to you. Then, with a smile on your face and a gentle spirit, read what they have created in the heated race they've just won. I'll bet it will be their best work yet. 

HAPPY NANO TO ALL, AND MAY THE MUSE BE WITH YOU!!

Networking Pays Off!

Don't ever let anyone tell you that social networking is a waste of time!

That's the gist of my post today, and I'm going to tell you why. I'm also going to give you some advice on where to go to schmooze and rub elbows...at least in the literary world.

Were you popular in high school? I was not. I wasn't a cheerleader and I wasn't a geek. I was somewhere lost in the Sea of In-Between. I had my circle and that circle knew me and loved me. To everyone else, I was invisible. 

 As in the movie, Chicago, the character of Amos complained that no one seemed to notice him. He could yell, "fire" in a crowded theater and not be heard.

This chronic invisibility translated into my adulthood. As a writer trying to get noticed, invisibility is a major stumbling block.

Perhaps invisibility isn't your problem. Perhaps yours is shyness or less than stellar social skills. Welcome to the League of Dysfunctional Writers. You wouldn't be a good writer if you didn't have quirks. :-)

The nice thing about this electronic age is that we don't have to limit ourselves to public appearances, etc. We have the internet. We can stay "virtually" anonymous behind our websites and blogs and such. However, the virtual aspect of marketing will have to wait for another post. (I'm still trying to master that one.) Right now, I'd like to share a success story with you. 

Although I'm not the most socially adept person in the world, I still want to get involved in my local writer's community. I live in a mid-sized city; not not a metropolis, but still plenty of civilization, culture and...smog. If you keep your eyes peeled, there are always events and gatherings to attend in your area that would at least help you meet fellow writers, if not people of higher literary influence. 

When I moved here, I attended book fairs, awards ceremonies and author appearances as a spectator. It didn't matter if these people were strangers to me. I slipped into a nice dress, loaded up on business cards and put on my best smile. I didn't talk about myself unless I was asked. I joined conversations and listened intently about everyone else's work, their books, their accomplishments. And when all was said and done, I handed them a card. 

Sometimes I walked away feeling like an inexperienced hack who had no business schmoozing with such creative geniuses, but I learned how this community of writers worked. I saw the politics and the social/professional dynamic. What I didn't realize at the time was that I was making an impression. 

A few months ago, I got an email out of the blue from our local rag, The Statesman Journal. Somehow, they'd heard about me and wanted to interview me for a local author feature in one of their bi-monthly publications. Of course I jumped at the chance. Any kind of publicity would help, right?

I felt like a celebrity as they interviewed me. I felt like a movie star during the real, live photo shoot! The fluttering butterflies in my stomach were the good kind of butterflies; the excited kind. And afterward, they told me when to expect the article's release. 

Imagine that: Lil' ol' me was going to have an article in a magazine! How exciting. How thrilling! I couldn't wait to read it. Imagine my surprise when I arrived to pick up a copy at The Statesman Journal.

There I was, ON THE COVER! Judging by the startled faces of the newspaper employees, I gathered that they were not accustomed to someone squealing with delight in their lobby. 

Not only did I receive a delightful full-color spread along with my article, but I received the pleasant surprise of being a Cover Girl! Publicity x's 10!

I found out later that I was recommended for the article by a fellow writer, a woman I'd met at one of the functions I'd mentioned above. She was also featured in the magazine and she'd passed my name along to the people in charge. 

That, folks, is a prime example of how networking pays off. 

So even if you think it's not doing you any good, even if you think you're floundering in the Sea of Invisibility, your efforts WILL pay off.

Looking for ways to get involved? Try these tactics:

• Check your local library frequently. Often times, they'll hold events, groups and contests for writers. 
• If you write children's or young adult tales, local libraries and schools offer story time where you can read to kids and promote your work.
• Check with your local City Hall. They usually have a list of upcoming events. Nowadays even small towns have websites with this information. 
• Keep your eye on local coffee shop and supermarket bulletin boards for author book signings and appearances.
• Contribute your two cents on writer's blogs and group internet sites. With a little detective work, you're sure to find a few located close to home. The more you contribute, the more your name and work will be remembered. People you meet on these sites will be more likely to approach you for interviews or guest blogging on their site.
• Offer freebies. If you have a book out now, give away free copies to interested parties. The other day, the gas station attendant I met was tickled pink with the honor of receiving a copy of my book. Don't be surprised if such interactions result in further sales and glowing reviews. 
• And last but not least: If there are no writer/author events in your area, make one. Get out there and talk to the local library or City Hall, and organize a book fair. Talk to the local newspaper about interviewing you for an article. It's okay to shamelessly promote yourself once in a while.

Despite any social misgivings you might have, people are interested in your work. Get out there and talk to them about it. You'll be delighted in the results. I know I am. :-)  
 

The Writer's Mysterious Muse

Have you ever wondered how a writer's mind works? What thoughts are going through their heads to come up with such creative and sometimes downright twisted musings? Well, that's the magic word: Muse. That invisible, mythic being who whispers stories into the minds of the writer. 

Yesterday, while I was at work, I was arguing with my muse over a story I'd been working on. As I argued, I marveled over the fact that I was arguing with a "voice," someone that doesn't exist, but plays a pivotal role in my writing. I stopped working and just stood their in the middle of a block of cubicles, and I thought, "Hey, I should write a story about arguing with my muse." So that's what I did. Below is my true story of dealing with a less-than-forthcoming creative spirit. If you are a writer, I'm sure you can relate. If you're not a writer, this ought to answer all of your questions. Enjoy! 

 

Listening to Tina

By: Jennifer B. Fields

            I know this sounds crazy, but I hear voices…well, one voice other than my own, actually. Normally, people would call that schizophrenia, but I’m a writer. I take comfort in the fact that writers are in the realm of artists and therefore are considered “creative” or “artistic” rather than schizophrenic. The voice I hear is what is commonly referred to as my Muse. And my Muse is rather annoying. She shows up at the most inopportune times and won’t stop pestering me until she gets what she wants.

I’m not complaining, mind you. No, really I’m not, but how am I supposed to get any work done when her talons are digging into my shoulder and she keeps breathing into my ear, interrupting every single thought I have with her own two cents?

“Should her hair be brown or gray?” I ask the creature perched on my shoulder.

Tring, tinkle, bling.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that my Muse speaks to me in music. I know that I’m the only one who can see her and hear her. I can understand what she’s saying, but sometimes (like today) her melody sounds more like gibberish than anything melodic. Essentially, what she said was, “why can’t she have black hair like me?”

“Because we’re not writing about you, Tina.” (Oh and by the way, her name is Tina.) “We’re writing about a character in a story that looks nothing like you.”

Skitter-skat, blong, blong, snaaark!

            Translation: “But I’m gorgeous! Every character should have blong, blong hair like mine!” (You can fill in the blong-blong’s.)

            “Would you watch your mouth, please? You’re so snippy lately. What’s wrong?”

            Flooop, trop, trop, trooooow.

            For the purpose of conserving space, I’ll skip the musical translations from here on out. Here’s what she said in Humanspeak: “You haven’t been listening to me,” she pouted. “You know how upset I get when you don’t listen to me.”

            “What makes you say that? I ask your advice every step of the way.”

            “She should have black hair.”

            “Fine, I’ll give an elderly white woman raven-black hair. Will that cheer you up?”

            Silence. Tina angles her head and preens her shiny feathers with her beak.

            I type one sentence and stop, waiting for her inevitable opinion. “Well?” I ask. “How’s that?”

            Tina leans down and scans my creation on the monitor. Her talons bite into my shoulder hard enough to make me wince. I think it’s her way of punishing me. She may have the head and body of a crow, but her face always reminds me of Betty Grable. Her hair too, pulled up in a gleaming updo like a pin-up girl from the forties. I suppose the rest of her is what I make her to be. Perhaps a combination of everything in my imagination. Her face is a perfect blend of human and bird features. Her body is that of a crow with very feminine, human curves. But instead of bird’s wings, my bizarre mind has given her the wings of a fairy. She wears no clothing, only a white hibiscus flower within the curls of her opaque hair. The white of the blossom against the black of her feathery hair is an exotic contrast. I always find it distracting, like it’s too beautiful to look away from.

            “I don’t like it.” Tina says, turning up her beak at me. “It’s not what I want.”

            “I wish you’d just tell me what you want instead of being so cryptic.”

            “Where’s the fun in that?” She flutters her wings. She always does that when she gives me a hard time.

            “I think I liked you better as a blue hamster. You didn’t have such sharp claws then. Take it easy, will you? You’re going to leave marks in my skin.”

            “Not possible,” she states. “I’m not real to anyone else but you.”

            “I’m not sure you’re real to me either.”

            “Of course I am!” She’s indignant now. “You’re talking to me, aren’t you?”

            “That’s what scares me.” There’s an awkward silence between us for a moment, and I worry that I had offended her. Secretly, my biggest fear was that she’d get fed up with me and go away forever. How much punishment can one Muse take before they pack their bags and disappear? “Look, I’m sorry.” I tell her. “Really I am. This story is giving me a bunch of trouble and you’re being so…”

            “Cryptic. I know. I’m sorry too. I’ll try harder.”

            This makes my heart feel better and I could tell by the spark in her fiery eyes that she feels better too.

            “Did you mean what you said about the hamster thing? Because I can change if…”

            When I was four years old, Tina first appeared to me as a tiny blue hamster; my first and only imaginary friend. I “carried” Tina everywhere with me for quite a while. My mother thought my choice of imaginary friends was amusing, but to me, Tina was very real. As I grew, Tina morphed into whatever I needed to see at that time in my life. Now that I’m an adult, her current form is what I need to see. I need to see the fantasy in everyday life. I need the wonder and the beauty and the freedom all rolled into one. But apparently I couldn’t do anything about the attitude.

            “No. No,” I say. “I don’t want you to change. I love you just the way you are. Even if you can be a stubborn pain in the butt sometimes.”

            She warbles a giggle that sounds like a mother bird. “You should talk. Are we going to work or are we going to argue all night?”

            “Not sure,” I offer a mischievous smirk. “Will I get anywhere if I keep arguing?”

            “Haven’t you learned yet that I always win arguments?”

            “Unfortunately.” I say with an exaggerated frown.

            “Alright then. Where are we?” She leans over the monitor again. This time, her claws don’t pinch.

            “Our elderly protagonist has just found her true love’s cabin in the woods. When she looks in the window, she sees that he hasn’t aged a day. He’s exactly how she remembers him.”

            “Hmm.” Tina considers the story for a moment. The music of her voice takes on a Celtic tone to it. It always does that when magic is being made. “I’ve got it! He’s the same age as the last time she saw him, but there’s another woman in the cabin with him; the witch who cast the age spell on our heroine.”

            “Very nice.” I nod. “I smell trouble for our raven-haired old lady.”

            Tina caresses my hair with her translucent fairy wing. It amazes me how she can use them like hands. “Now that some time has passed,” she says thoughtfully, “I think you were right. She shouldn’t have hair like mine. Give her hair the color of spun silk.”

            I smile, wishing she were real enough to hug. “Spun silk. I like that.” As I make the appropriate changes, she croons a soothing birdsong to me. It comforts as much as a hug would.

            I’ve lost count of how many times Tina and I have fought. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve questioned her about who she is and where she came from. Asking why she’s with me has always irked her. “We’ve always been together,” she would say. “It’s not like I was assigned to you or anything. I am you and you are me. So when are you going to learn to listen to me?”

“You mean listen to myself?” I would tease.

“I am your heart, writer lady. Just listen to your heart and you’ll be alright. We’ll make beautiful music together if you just stop second-guessing.”

Music. That’s what I hear when my words paint the page in just the right way. They make a symphony. Tina whispers and I create. As I happily type away, painting a story to share with the world, I smile to myself. Yeah, we make a good team, Tina and I.

Here Comes "Wallflower"

We've come a long way, baby. Do you know what today is??

It's release day for Wallflower!

Today is the culmination of years of hard work. My book has been released on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I still can't believe I can say, "my book". It's my very own creation, from my own twisted brain.

I've found my calling and I'm living my very own dream.

When they say it takes a lot of hard work, they weren't kiddin'! Bringing my book to the world was the hardest thing I've ever done. But also the most rewarding.

If you truly love writing, you won't mind toiling in the mud repeatedly for long durations. I don't. As long as I'm breathing, I intend to do it again and again, because I love it.

I invite everyone visit my page on Bradley Publishing and pick up a copy of Wallflower today. Make sure you leave me a lovely review on Amazon or B & N. I really hope you like my little story. I think it's awesome, but I know I'm biased. :-)

The Culmination of Wallflower

My, my. It has been over three years since I started this blog about my novel, Wallflower. Three years of writing, creating, editing, toiling, agonizing, querying, requerying, complaining, rejoicing and ultimately finding a publisher for my little book.


What a ride!


Wallflower will finally be released on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in three days (April 23rd.) I will be a published author. The euphoria has yet to wear off, and I hope it never does.

But don't get me wrong, folks. This blog is far from finished. 

Upon publication, a new battle begins. Now I go from writing mode to marketing mode, which I know little about. I've certainly done my share of research on the subject. I've gotten myself a decent platform started (present blog included.) But I have a lot to learn, and I'm eager to share my findings with you.

So hang on tight. As Bette Davis would say: "It's going to be a bumpy night." I'm glad I have all of you to lean on. And while you're at it, travel on over to Amazon or to Bradley Publishing's website and pick up a copy of Wallflower. See what all this fuss has been about. 

And thank you to all my loyal readers and followers. You've helped the seed of my writing grow into a vibrant and colorful Wallflower.

♥♥♥

The Literary X-Factor

Whenever I'm not writing, I'm pondering about writing.
Don't look at me like that. Ask any writer, they'll tell you the same thing. Being a writer is a never-ending cycle of education and improvement. No matter how many degrees a writer has, they can never claim to be an "expert" writer. Aside from the sciences, writers are discovering new things every day.

Now, in my "ponderings", I've kicked around the theory that there does exist a literary X-factor. Playing off of Simon Cowell's belief that there is a certain, largely undefinable recipe for talent, I have come to the conclusion that such a factor isn't limited to wannabe pop stars. There's a writer's X-factor as well.

As any good writer should, I have read countless books in my day, spanning the spectrum of genres. Very few of those stories still stick with me today.

Let me ask you something: Have you ever read a book that you seemed to burn through from beginning to end like warm butter? On the flip side, have you ever read a book that was a struggle to finish? Where each turned page felt like more of a physical equivalent of running a marathon?
In both of those instances, you were witnessing the X-factor. Book "A" had it, book "B" didn't.
So how can you harness the coveted literary X-factor for your own books?

Let's look at what the bestselling books have in common:
1) Compelling plot
2) Compelling characters
3) Readablility

The first two are self-explanatory.  How do you know your book is "readable"?

I can answer that with a question.

Do you write like you talk? Or do you write to impress people with your knowledge or intelligence?
I don't necessarily mean using big, scary words. I mean the pompous, nose-in-the-air habit of spelling things out for your readers who are surely more ignorant than yourself.

DON'T DO THAT!

In my personal belief, if you speak to your readers as you would speak to any of your plethora of friends at your average cocktail party, you'll reap the rewards of increased readership.

But that's only a small step into the X-factor phenomenon. Perhaps you could help me with the rest. What sets James Patterson apart from James Smartypants? Aside from having a wicked awesome agent, what made the world sit up and take notice of J.K. Rowling, while ignoring the works of Ima Trying (of course, my examples are made up authors. My apologies to any Smartypants or Tryings I have offended.)

So writers and readers, you've read plenty of books. What are your thoughts? Aside from being a genre you love, what makes a book a page-turner?

Sure, I May Look Calm and Collected, but...

Don't look at me like that. 

I know I've been neglecting my blog. 

My fingers have been busy on the keyboard elsewhere. Lots to do with a book coming out in just a couple of weeks...


It's still so amazing to hear that: "I have a book coming out in two weeks." :-D


With the second round of edits finished, I promptly moved on to concocting a book trailer video to post on youtube and my website. With the help of Windows Movie Maker I put together my masterpiece. I call it that, because it took twelve days and a good chunk of my sanity to make it. The finished product is exactly what I pictured when I began, and I've never been more proud.


No, I can't post it yet. The book's not out yet. I can't have people going to Amazon to buy a copy of a book that's not there. But I will post it soon.


With the book trailer done, I now have to focus on a marketing strategy. *Sigh* That's the tough part for me. I don't know where to begin. I'm already a befuddled mess. But because I'm an organized person, I think I'll start by laying out a schedule of sights to visit each week. I'll leave my fingerprint behind and move on to the next target. 


I sure would appreciate some input from my friends and followers in this department. Have you marketed a book in the past? Found a site that did wonders for you? Please leave a comment and share it with me. I could use all the help I can get. :-\

Deadlines Don't Scare Me!

I've done it!

I have finished the first round of edits on time!

Shortly after my last post, I received a red-slashed package in my e-mail. I knew what to expect, but it didn't cushion the blow of seeing all those red marks spattering my hard work. 

I can't speak for other writers, but I, for one, thrived in the face of such a challenge. I was given a little over a week to complete the corrections, and I dove right in with a great cannonball splash.

Even though I barely spoke to my family for a week, and my housecleaning suffered, I had a blast! This writing thing is such a cursed blessing. I'm loving every single ounce of it. Even the hair-pulling parts. Such a whirlwind of emotions. One moment frustrating, the next, exhilarating. 

The whirlwind won't stop at the editing process. Once Wallflower is all pretty and polished to a mirror shine, I have to market my book. 

That's a full-time job in itself. I must admit, I don't have a clue where to start. So many avenues. So many websites. How do I get my foot in the door? How do I get on that list everyone seems to be on for invitations to guest blog and interview? How do I become an active participant in selling Wallflower?

Though it may be mind-boggling now, don't get me wrong. I'm enjoying every minute. Next step: Round two edits. I'll keep you posted.

Shut up Murphy!

Have you ever heard of Murphy's Law?

The contemputous and fictional Murphy states "If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong."

This seems to be our mantra since we moved to Oregon...No, actually since Billy and I have been together. Life or fate or whatever you want to call it seems to have a bottomless sack of monkey wrenches to hurl into the gears of our well-oiled plans, no matter how small. The bigger and more important the plan, the more monkey wrenches we can expect.

The latest wrench?

I'm writing this entry from our brand new laptop. We were forced to spend a chunk of our precious tax return on this infernal, but utterly necessary contraption since our other dinosaur decided to join the ranks of instinction last week. As with any of our wrench-riddled life lessons, this one was unexpected and expensive.

Meanwhile, I couldn't get online. I couldn't check my email. I wondered if my publisher had contacted me. I pictured said publisher huffing and puffing at their desk because their newest venture was being...difficult. I imagined the worst: Finally getting online only to behold an angry email sprinkled with expletives about how ungrateful and unprofessional I behaved. This nightmare email always ended with YOU'RE FIRED! (Yes it was in all caps in my nightmare as well.)

You can imagine my relief when no such email was found once I was able to return to the www. 

In fact, NO email was found from my publisher at all...Now my fright has turned to panic with a chaser of disillusionment. What are they waiting for? My release date is scheduled for mid April. Hadn't we better get going on the editing?

Oh well. No news is good news, I suppose. In the meantime, I'll happy pluck away at my latest project, "Furthermoore." And I'll be doing it on my new $500 japanese-made monkey wrench. I'm not exaggerating when I say that as I prepare to finish this post with my fingers curled stiffly over the keyboard, I cast my perturbed, puckered puss skyward and ask Mr. Murphy to go pick on somebody else for a while.

Bye all!

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

Boy oh boy, do I have news for you!!   

After five years of querying agents, researching publishers and slogging through slush piles across the country, I've landed a book deal for Wallflower!!

Yes, you heard me right. Wallflower has found a home.

I've signed up with Bradley Publishing. They believe in me and my book and they have eagerly offered to market Wallflower to the masses in the form of e-book and paperback.

Let's pause here a moment and reflect. Take a deep, satisfied breath in the realization that I am going to be a published author. Zen...

Wow, what a feeling.

I can't wait to get going on the editing process. Yes, I know it's going to be difficult. Yes, I know that I may not like some of the mutilations...I mean, changes they suggest for the manuscript, but it is a necessary evil. In reality, I welcome such input. I don't get a lot of writer-to-writer interaction here in this not-so-upscale RV park or in Salem for that matter. I'm simply desperate for some writer show-n-tell. It's what I live for, after all.

In a few months, I'll have a book cover to post on my website and a novel to market. I'm just so proud. I imagine it feels like raising a baby to adulthood and watching all your hard work strike out on its own to change the world.

I did it. I'm a legitimate author.

Stay tuned for my adventures in editing. Today is the first day of the rest of my life and I'm ecstatic!