The End of the World...Er, I Mean, The End of the Road

Hello Friends, 

Does the image to your right look familiar? That's my baby. If you grabbed yourself a copy, I would like to thank you. As a writer, my primary goal is to share my stories with the world and hopefully bring joy and fascination to my readers. 

Secondly, if you did get a copy of Wallflower, you are one of the few to own a real, live limited edition novel. You see, after only one year in business, my publisher has closed its doors, returning me and my book to the mean streets of the literary homeless.

I am no longer a represented author. I am no longer published. 

I can hear you now: "But Jennifer, why can't you just self-publish Wallflower?" I would, my friends, but you must understand, self-publishing is an expensive venture. One must be somewhat independently wealthy to do so. I could just slap it up on Amazon and sell only e-copies, but I feel I would be cheating my readers out of the possibility of owning a paperback. Aside from that, I wouldn't be able to buy copies of my own book to sell at public appearances and book signings. After all, you must have an actual, physical book in order for me to sign it. 

No, I'm going to jump back into the fray to look for a literary agent to represent my stories. I've already begun the slow and arduous journey of slogging through the slush piles as I claw my way to the surface for some air.

This blog is about the evolution of Wallflower. Unfortunately, I feel this particular work has moved as far up the evolutionary ladder as it can possibly go. As a result, I've decided this will be the last entry for this blog. It's time to retire it and I'm very sad. 

No, I'm not giving up, mind you. I have plenty of finished stories and novels just waiting to test their wings, but they can't leave the nest without a nest to leave from. Perhaps I will start a blog about that. 

To those of you who have been following my work, thank you. I hope to find myself in your good graces again as quickly as possible. As the saying goes: When one door closes, another one opens somewhere. I'm off to find that open door. 

This is Jennifer B. Fields signing off. 

Write On!

Afraid of Fear

I was just reading a novel by Mary Higgins Clark in which her character states that Emily Dickinson may have been a better writer if she was able to face her emotions instead of being afraid of them. I've been dealing with that very same thought in my own writing lately.

Many bad things happened to me as a child. Although I had a privaledged upbringing, my mother was still abusive. It took me thirty-five years to find my calling as a writer and I credit my horrendous mother and difficult childhood for leading me to writing. But the sentence I read in MHC's book struck a cord with me. I am afraid of my own emotions and I know it's negatively affecting my writing.

If I can't face my own emotions, how can I possibly expect to convey them to the reader?

You'll find this situation a lot in the world of writers. Most successful or memorable writers and poets were successful and memorable because of their tormented minds; Sylvia Plath, Edgar Allan Poe and Ernest Hemingway just to name a few. Where would we be without the products of their tortured psyche?

Everyone's had it rough in their life. I'm certainly not going to sit here and wax superior on my mental issues. Writers are an eclectic bunch, that much is certain. It's because of their torment and obstacles and abuse that their message is so relateable. But I have some work to do. Somehow, I have to stop being afraid of crying and welcome the tears. I have to stop being terrified of terror and write about it. Somehow--and I don't know how--I have to trust the world and people and myself. Somehow I have to close my eyes and allow myself to fall backward, trusting that something will catch me.

Until I can let the trust in, my writing will only be good. It will never be profound.

Am I alone in feeling this way? Are there other writers out there who feel that something is missing from their writing? Would Sylvia have written as well if she were mentally stable? Would Ernest have touched as many hearts without the alcohol? If Edgar hadn't suffered great losses, would his lyrics have been lost in time?
What are your thoughts? Do you consider yourself a tortured artist or does beauty determine your prose?

The Inner Writer vs. the Inner Editor

Yes, I've heard it before, but I didn't listen. As a writer, I educate myself by reading articles and blogs as well as attending as many classes and conferences as I can afford. On more than one occasion, I've been told NOT to edit as I write. "First blush is the best" they say. Don't interrupt the muse or distract it by going back and tweeking the last paragraph.

Well this is hard for me. Very hard.

I don't expect a perfect first draft, but I do expect something that's readable, if not remotely resembling the finished product.

If you're anything like me, you'll finish a paragraph or two and go back and read it over. For me, this helps realign my thinking with the plot ahead. I become so completely immersed in the subject at hand, I need to be reminded where I'm going with this.

Well, yesterday I received my daily email/writing prompt from savvyauthors.com. It laid out a detailed exercise of free writing for 10 minutes. (10 minutes is just an example, but you can set the time however long you want.) They suggest that you set your kitchen timer, or your watch for a ten minute alarm, sit down with a notebook and write without self-editing for the set duration.

"Write the first thing that pops into your mind." They said. "Don't pause to reflect or come up with a better adjective, just write. And above all, don't go back for corrections. If you misspell something, leave it. No matter what you write, leave it."

Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? I'm not sure I can pull it off, but I will admit that I spend entirely too much time self-editing on a first draft. I wonder what it would look like if I just scribbled down the uncensored words in my head. I think I'll try it.

What about you?

Are you a chronic self-editor or perfectionist? Or are you the "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" kind of person? Let me know. Hopefully, I'll post the results of my 10 minute exercise later today.

Ta-ta!

Checkov's Gun vs. Red Herring

I've recently familiarized myself with the theory and practice of what writers call "Checkov's Gun". I'm writing this blog today because I'm constantly surprised and invigorated by these little writing secrets and cliches I've come across.

Do you know what a red herring is?

How about a MacGuffin?

Checkov's Gun is another one of those intriguing little anecdotes that gives a name to something that writers know about, but didn't know what to call it.

Checkov's gun refers to the use of introducing a seemingly benign item or object early on in the story that turns out to play a pivotal role in the plot later on. (See link above for more info.)

A red herring is the opposite of Checkov's Gun. A red herring is a useless, meaningless object, person or occurrence that diverts your attention away from the truth or the suspect or the issue at hand. If not done properly, a red herring could lead to holes in the plot of the story and confuse the reader.

In one of my books, (and I'm not telling which one) I used a red herring to make an innocent person look guilty. If I didn't use this little trick, the plot would be thin and extremely predictable. So, red herrings can be useful if used properly.

I'd like to thank my friend Jessie for allowing me to participate in her recent workshop "Stargate Deconstruction". The movie Stargate has several excellent examples of Checkov's Gun. It was this workshop that introduced me to the concept.

Before I knew what Checkov's Gun was, I identified the concept in books and movies. I tried to explain it to my non-writer husband. All I got was a polite nod loaded with extreme disinterest. I suppose it's only
fascinating to writers and that's okay.

Red herrings and Checkov's Gun are both useful tools to make your stories richer and more dramatic. At the very least, I feel like a better writer just knowing what they are and how to identify them. I hope I was able to help you as well.

BFN

What Do They Mean, Cover Letter?

As any writer in the thick of querying agents, I come across a few surprises when I research each agency's submission guidelines. Just when I start getting into a routine of knowing exactly what I'm doing, up pops something new that snaps me back to attention.

Sometimes, they want your query attached in a certain format or file type. Sometimes they request your query be put in an attachment rather than in the body of the email. Sometimes vice-versa. But the one request that has always stumped me is when the agent/publisher asks for a cover letter. Everyone's heard of a cover letter when applying for a job. Most people know what that entails. I'm referring to a literary cover letter.

What's in a cover letter?

What are they looking for?

So I searched the internet. Would you believe I couldn't find anything? I asked my writer friends. Everyone drew a blank. I was actually passing up the agencies that asked for a cover letter simply because there was no information on how to create one.

Finally, I happened upon an article that spelled it out nicely for me. Hooray!! Here's the answer to the burning question:

A standard submission cover letter in the body of your email.

* Start the email by writing your contact information in the top left corner: Real name, address, phone, email address, title of the work, pen name if any, genre or category, and the word count of your manuscript according to MS Word. Don't round, and don't use "approximately 55,000 words." Please use the actual word count.

* Include your web or blog URL and any publication credits you may have.

* And don't forget the most important part-that short blurb that will pique our interest and make us eager to read more. Or at least give us your best attempt. We'll still read your manuscript even if the blurb isn't perfect.

How about that? My options have now vastly improved and I even get to practice my elevator pitch with a cover letter.

So there's your lesson for today folks. Now you won't feel like a twit when they so casually ask you for a cover letter. :-)

The Fickle Muse of a Writer

Greetings Writers and Blog Followers!

It's been a while since I've posted anything. Mainly because I don't have anything substantial to report. I've received a couple more rejections. I think I'm starting to get used to it, which is slightly disturbing. I guess it comes with the territory.

I've also been doing a lot of reading and researching lately and I've come to the conclusion that I should share a recurring theme I've encountered. Whenever an author is interviewed, you can almost guarantee that the interviewer will ask, "Where do you get your ideas?" or "Where do you find your inspiration?" Unless a writer has only one place or situation in which they find their story ideas, this is an unanswerable question. 99.9% of writers will be unable to pinpoint exactly where or when their muse will strike. Inspiration is like lightning. You never know where it's going to strike and once it does hit you, you'll never be the same again.

In my case, I get most of my story ideas from my dreams. That's where "Wallflower" came from as well as about a half-dozen others that are yet to be written. Aside from that, my muse has pulled me aside and demanded my attention at the most inopportune times...say in the middle of church or at work when I'm dealing with a customer and can't break away.

I share something in common with many writers who say that their inspiration hits them when they're driving or in the shower. I can't tell you how many times I've been caught with soap in my hair and a brilliant idea of which I have no way of penning until I finish the showering process, dry off and make haste to my notebook. By that time, I will have surely forgotten the gist of the juiciness.

If you're just starting out as a writer or you're dying to learn how your favorite author conjures his or her magical tales, you're going to have to forget about it. He or she may be able to tell you where each individual story came from, but for the most part, a writer's muse is a fickle creature. It's always lurking in the shadows and you may or may not be able to put yourself in a situation where it's conducive to the muse, but for the most part, writers are at the mercy of their muse. You cannot, summon it. You cannot, replicate it, and you definitely cannot force it.

So you're asking, "Well, how do I find a story idea, or how do I get past this damn writer's block?"

First and foremost, calm yourself. Take a deep breath and stop trying so hard. Your muse can't work with all that stress and tension in the way. (Remember, your muse is a fickle celebrity who will storm off to their trailer at the slightest offense.)

Second, give your muse something to work with; a jumping off point, if you will. If your stories generally tend to be romantic or exotic, take a notebook and go someplace quiet and beautiful. Perhaps a museum or a botanical garden. If your stories are busy, hectic or horrific, go to a hospital, a police station or a graveyard. Sit, observe and imagine. Your muse will take one look at your surroundings and start spouting off "what-ifs" in no time.

Achieving the Bliss Note

If you're a fan of Southpark, (my sympathies BTW,) you may recall an episode where they referred to what was called "the brown note". As I am a lady above all else, I will not elaborate as to what the brown note means. The reason I'm posting today is about how to achieve "The Bliss Note".

The Bliss Note is self-explanatory and has the opposite effect of the brown note. All writers have their own unique style of writing. They come from different corners of the globe, different walks of life, different work environments and each has a different way of getting themselves in the "writing zone." I'm comfortable in assuming that most writers have one thing in common: They listen to music while they write. Some may prefer complete and utter silence, but let's just say that MOST like to hear some music in the background, if only for the ambiance alone.

I am an extremely  imaginative person. I see magic in everything and I soak it up like a wide-eyed child on his or her first trip to Disneyland. I have recently discovered my penchant for a certain sound in music. It is not genre necessarily, but the note arrangements. (Someday I will ask a music expert if such an assortment has a name.) This sort of music includes songs by Evenescense, Owl City and Daft Punk. It's a dreamy electronica kind of music with lots of minor and sharp notes.

Listening to this music catapults me into another world or dimension; a creative dimension. With this music in the background, (not blaring until my speakers have a tempter tantrum) my muse flows effortlessly and it actually gets me excited about writing and life in general.

Is there a certain music or artist that does that for you? Have you ever heard a song that makes the hair on your arms to stand at attention and forces you to close your eyes and sway with it? If you answered yes, you've caught a glimpse of your Bliss Note.

Don't be alarmed. They're not sending you subliminal messages in the music, the music itself has tapped into that ever-illusive spot in your brain that switches your creative juices on. Seize that song, download it and put it on a loop. I know that can get old quickly, so start making a list of more songs that have that magical effect on you. Write them down and before long, you'll have an epic playlist.

It doesn't matter how silly your choices are. Heck, I'm sure most of you would laugh yourselves into hysteria if you heard mine. Everything from Fatboy Slim to Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade. Music = inspiration. Push play, close your eyes and feel yourself launch into that cosmic infinity. Your stories will thank you for it. Every writer needs to find their Bliss Note.