OMG!!!

He requested the full manuscript...

He requested the full manuscript.

THE FULL MANUSCRIPT!!

What a great Christmas present this would be if only...if only...

Jeez, I'm going to give myself a heart attack. I need to calm down. Where's the chocolate?

More later.

I'm Officially Official!

Hello Everyone!

I told you that I'd let you know when my website was up and running....

My website is up and running! I'm very proud of it. It's beautiful thanks in large part to my friend and tech-wiz, Anne. Thank you Anne. You are a blessing beyond measure.

Here's the link: http://jenniferbfields.weebly.com/. On my site, you can read summaries and excerpts from all of my work as well as find some very helpful links. I'd appreciate it if you visited the "Get Jennifer Published" link and left a little encouraging word for any agents or editors that may pop in.

I'm looking for unpublished authors to feature in the upcoming "Author Spotlight". Here, I will post a short bio about a promising author to watch along with an excerpt from their work among other things. Each author will remain on the "Author Spotlight" page for up to two weeks. If you're interested in being featured, contact me here or on the "Contact" link on my website. It's a great way to get your name and your work out there.

So, I'm officially official! My name is Jennifer Fields, and I have my own website. How 'bout them apples? :-)

Characters in Your Midst

Those that enjoy writing novels, poems or essays share the same mentality, I've noticed. It can be paraphrased as a "creative mind", but that label doesn't seem to cut it. Imagination abounds for writers and artists. They see the world differently than those with literal or analytical minds, and thank goodness for that. If no one had any imagination, books would be terribly boring.

I got out of the house the other day, which is a rare accomplishment for a writer. (Most suffer from self-imposed agoraphobia.) As I was driving down the street, I spied two old men sitting in the old-style metal lawn chairs with a black and white dog in between them.

They'd obviously been working on the property and were taking a break when I happened by. Their flannel shirts were rumpled and faded, their jeans hopelessly smudged with dirt. Both men had scraggly, Santa Claus beards and one man puffed on an elaborate pipe as they chatted with their faithful herding dog looking on. What a picture! A snapshot that was worth a million words. I could create a story just from that image alone.
People watching is a great way to find characters for your books.

For instance, I met Tom at karaoke one night. I live in a small town and I thought I knew everyone. But up walks Tom, a bow-legged old cowboy with a belt buckle as big as his head. He grinned an enormous, toothless smile and let out a rolling cackle of a laugh that was reminiscent of an old pirate. This was character worthy enough, but my character meter went into overdrive when I saw his expertly-curled handlebar mustache and long gray ponytail beneath his gallon-sized cowboy hat. I was in love! I had to stop myself from salivating and scramble up a napkin to scroll down what I saw. It was too deliciously juicy to pass up.

They're out there folks, but you have to keep your eyes peeled.

Inspiration is everywhere. The next time you're hurrying about your errands and fighting your way through traffic to get home, stop a moment and look around. The crazy old lady with the rainbow-striped socks that seems to endlessly be waiting for the bus every time you pass by, the woman with the really bad wigs at church or the toothless old cowboy you saw at the bar the other night; you never know which one is begging to be a part of your next book.

And hey, they sure make life interesting, don't they? Imagine what they'll do for your writing. ;-)

Platform: A Jumping Off Point

If you're like me, you're a writer who's earned their chops on the page and shamelessly promoted yourself a time or two. You're also trying to get published and doing whatever it takes to stand out from the crowd. Unfortunately, if you're anything like me, the one area that you fall short is your platform.
Are you familiar with this term?
A platform is an editor-invented word for "a way that the author can pick up the publicity slack." Fewer people are being signed to book deals nowadays, due in large part to the slumping economy. Agents and editors can only spread their funds so thin. If an author has a strong platform--there's that word again--it gives him or her a leg up on other hopeful authors. Possessing a strong public presence can make agents and editors salivate when you approach them.
It also tells them that you are: A) A serious writer
                                       and B) You know what you're talking about
Until recently, a solid "platform" was more of a concern for non-fiction writers. Along with a winning book proposal, an agent would ask the author about their platform. In other words "What are you planning to do to take some of the advertising heat off of us?" This practice has spread to all genres. It is now an vital part of any authors life.
So how do you develop a platform?
Here's where it gets interesting. We live in the internet age. Throwing yourself out there just got that much easier. Start by setting up your own website. That's what I'm working on now. I went with weebly.com. It's a free hosting website and there are lots of free sites to choose from.
On your new website, link the crap out of yourself. I'm not kidding! This is your chance to shine. Don't worry about how conceited you look. Slather the self-promotion all over your website. It's yours after all. It's all about you. Get a Facebook page just for your writing and link it. Get on Twitter, start a blog. Enter all the writing contests you can handle. Get yourself out there any way that you can.
Ta-da! You're off to a good platform start.
Then check out any number of books on the subject. For instance, an author friend of mine and Facebook buddy Christina Katz wrote a book called Get Known Before the Book Deal (See below.)
 

• Learn the definition and meaning of an author platform
• Find out why most books fail
• Answer the three key questions about platform to increase your chances of success

Excerpted from Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz



Having your own platform is something of a mystery to aspiring writers like me. I'm a nobody. I come from Small Town Nowhere. Who's going to remember me? There are ways and I intend to find them. You're officially caught up to my level of expertise. Can any of you supply me with a marketing idea that I haven't thought of yet? I'd love to hear about it. In the meantime, good luck to you and good luck to me. I'm sending my friend Christina a knowing wink ;-)
TTYS

Look Mom, No Computer Skills!

I'm sure everyone feels like doing that once in a while. In my case, I feel like committing hardware homicide on a daily basis. In my infinite imagination, I've daydreamed and fantasized the many glorious ways that I could end the life of the machine that loves to mock me. Don't get me wrong, I know enough about computers to get me through the day, but I'm am frequently reminded why I utterly and completely failed freshman computer lit.
I do not speak computer. My mind doesn't work that way.
That is why I am thanking the shiny stars above that I have a computer savvy husband and tech-literate friends who love me. Without them, I would never start a website of my own.
That's what I've been working on today. It's not up and running as of yet, but the prototype looks beautiful! I am in awe of the intricacies of the process; click this, add that, drop-down menus, control/V, text boxes, formats, jpg's, click this box, don't click that box...YIKES! My head would have imploded within five minutes if I'd tried it alone.
Thank you Anne for all your hard work today. And to all of my followers, my website should be ready soon. You'll be the first to know.
So don't kill your computer. It may not be able to show it's affection for you, but it does love you all the way down to its little pixels.

Not-So-Magic 8 Ball

If you're a serious writer, querying agents is not an easy or pleasant task. I've spent my day pouring over websites, checklists, articles, writer's market guides and applicable blogs in order to research which agents are THE MOST appropriate fit for my work. How many queries have I sent out as a result?
One. I've sent out one, single, lonely query.
It turns out that I'm stuck on one literary agency. There are two, count 'em two agents employed at this agency who seem equally fit for paranormal/magic realism fiction. It's bad business to query more than one agent with the same agency. So, hoping to get a leg up on one or the other, I read their bios...no big eye-opener there. I proceeded to Google where I found several short articles about each of them. I couldn't tell weather I would be better suited with one or the other. They both seem like lovely people. How can you choose?
The final step in my research plan was to go to sites like Predators and Editors to see if anyone had a negative experience with these two individuals.
Nothing...
So, I got down and dirty and desperate. I consulted the magic 8 ball.
First, I asked the magic 8 ball, "Should I choose Agent 'A'?"
A: Ask again later
Crap!
Then, I asked the magic 8 ball, "Should I choose Agent 'B'?"
A: Maybe
Double crap!!
With my jaw firmly affixed in grinding position, I got up from my office chair and took a shower. Twenty minutes later, I returned with my wet hair wrapped in a towel and assumed the position yet again.
Should I choose Agent 'A'?"
A: Ask again later.
Urrrrgh!
Should I choose Agent 'B'?"
A: No.
I guess that narrows it down...sorta'...maybe...kinda'...damn it!
Breaking away from the eye-crossing blur of indecisiveness, I thought that perhaps a blog entry would help. Another day, another single, lonely query.

Every Club Has It's Hazing

Everybody knows that when you decide to pledge a fraternity, club or member establishment, they must first go through the initiation process, which in and of itself is a daunting prospect. Add to that the likelihood that you will be subjected to some sort of hazing ritual before you are considered "one of them". 
Being a writer is no different.
Anybody can apply to this fraternity, but the initiation process is a deadly gauntlet compared to most. I plunged headlong into the writing world with vigor and superhuman determination (maybe even a healthy dose of naivety.) I prepared myself for the hazing ahead. Hazing is intended to weed out the weakest of the links; to punish, demoralize and humiliate the halfhearted majority. 
I refuse to be placed in that category.
I'm writing this because I just received my first formal rejection letter. 
Remember in my last post, I mentioned that an agent asked for the first 50 pages of Wallflower? I just got word that she has rejected my manuscript. 
No, a rejection is no surprise to me, and in no way do I plan on throwing in the towel. It's just that my dreamy, romantic side is sorely disappointed. Somewhere in the back of my creative mind, I daydreamed about being swooped up on my very first attempt. How awesome would that be? I know it was a silly notion, but hey, I wouldn't be a writer if I didn't dream. 
So I've been hazed. It's official, I'm a member of the club. I'm sure I'll get a few more paddles before I reap any rewards. There's lots of agents out there. I guess I've got some work to do! 
More later.

Flabbergasted-verb-to overcome with surprise and bewilderment; astound.

I have oh so much to update you on. No, I have not been neglecting my blog. I have been swept up in the rapid current that is my life at the moment. Gee, where do I begin? Allow me to paraphrase: 
             1.)  I came up with a new story idea that has grown and expanded so much that it will now surpass all my previous story ideas to become my next project.
              2.)  I sent off query letters to 2 of the 3 agents I mentioned before.
              3.)  I received a response from one of those agents two days later. She's requested the first fifty pages of my manuscript!!

Whew!!

I'll start with dessert first; #3. For fear of retribution, I will not use the agent's real name. We'll call her "Agent A". I met Agent A at the Willamette writer's conference last August. After participating in one of her audience-involved exercises, she was impressed with my pitch and permitted me to send a query. 
I must say, it was harder to send off a query than I anticipated. I prepared the query as close to perfection as I could. I pulled up Agent A's email address and attached the query. Being the thorough perfectionist that I am, I read the letter over again....and again. I moved the cursor over the send button and froze. 
My chest tightened. I began Lamaze breathing. Even in the November chill of my house, bullets of sweat colonized on my brow. There is no "unsending" this, Jennifer. I warned myself. Are you sure - are you certain that this is absolutely perfect?  
I blew out a short breath and licked my lips, finding them as dry as a Savannah creek bed in the summer. You have one chance; one chance to impress. Don't make an ass out of yourself. Don't look like an idiot. 
Reading it once more for good measure, I willed my stubborn index finger to do what it was told. 
*Click*
The insignificant sound resonated in my ears. It was gone. It was done; surfing the internet waves to it's destination. Out of my hands. Out of my control.
What was next? 
Waiting....waiting....waiting.
I fully expected to wait weeks or even months before receiving that cold and lifeless rejection letter. I was prepared to play the waiting game and roll with the rejection punches. Still I checked my email a few times each day with the same expectant breathlessness that one experiences when checking the latest winning lottery numbers; half of me expecting to find nothing but spam and half with the childlike hope of what Santa Claus might bring.
A mere two days later, there it was. The sender was the same person I'd sent the query off to. I stared at the subject line, trying to decipher if the email I'd sent had somehow been returned to me as undeliverable (Heaven forbid). 
No, It was FROM Agent A. I opened it, though I don't remember opening it.

 

Dear Ms. Fields,

 

I would be interested in reading a few chapters of your story. Please send the first fifty pages as a response to this message, putting the text directly into the body of the email.

 

A smile took over my face, stretching until it hurt, but I hadn't taken a breath yet. 

Below the simple correspondence,  was a signature that said, This agent is NO LONGER ACCEPTING unsolicited query letters. Unless you have been referred by one of our authors, an agent or publisher, please check our website for another appropriate agent.

 

Do you know what that means??  That means that I got my foot in the door. Thanks to the conference I attended, I was able to query an agent that is otherwise untouchable to the general writing public...and she wants to see more. 

Thankfully, I do not have heart problems or I may have dropped dead right there at my computer desk (which is probably where I'll die anyway.) 

She wants to see more.

She wants to see more.

Two measly days later, she wants to see more. Not weeks or months later; two days!

Cloud nine doesn't cut it. I have surpassed cloud nine for rocketship nine and I'm well on my way to the moon.

Don't get me wrong. I understand that this is a small victory in the quest for representation, but I was fully prepared to rewallpaper my house with rejection letters before I ever received a smidgen of hope or a positive response. I braced myself for the cruel, heartless literary world. To receive a request for more on my first try is astounding. 

Even if Agent A gets back to me in another two days with a rubber stamped rejection letter, I can relax in the fact that I did so well right out of the gate. There is hope. My work at least intrigues people. 

Imagine, if you will, what will happen if Agent A's response is NOT a rejection....

 

In the midst of this glorious turmoil, I have come up with my next project. Over the last four years, I've kept a safety deposit box of sorts, filled with future story ideas written in quick summaries so that I might never forget them. There are 17 novels waiting there for my creation and they're all perfectly intriguing.

The other day I was telling my husband that since the writing bug bit me, my ultimate dream has been to create my own Oz; my own Wonderland. I wanted a place of my own where I was not limited by the confines of this planet and the lifeforms on it. 

No folks, I'm not talking about your run-of-the-mill fantasy or sci-fi novel. Many times those novels have characters whose names you can't pronounce. They take place on other mysterious planets, and they utilize variations of plants and animals that are derived from earthly examples, (i.e. talking trees, unicorns and other tired cliche's.) 

I came up with my Wonderland. As of this moment, I'm calling it "The Swamplands", but I may change it to "Tinker Swamp." It's a YA novel about kids getting trapped in a parallel universe. Kids have been disappearing from this small Michigan town for over forty years. The townsfolk believe that Old Man Helvig (aka The Tinkerman) is using kids for his crazy science experiments and murdering them. Helvig has joined the group of six boys in this strange land. When brainy Johanna and her friend Virginia get trapped in 1947, Johanna joins forces with The Tinkerman to find a way back home. They don't realize that they are not alone in this world. Besides the strange and dangerous creatures that roam the swamp, there are those that will do anything to keep the gateway closed.

I smell a book series. Move over Harry Potter! Here I come. :)

More later

   

Milestone

ATTENTION WORLD:

 "Wallflower" edits are done!!!  I have completed my final edits and I am prepared to send my precious little story out into the big, bad beyond. "Fly. Be free!" I say as I nudge my little story out of the nest.
 Too much? Over the top?
 Perhaps, but it's a huge milestone for me. For those of you following along, we've reached a culmination of sorts in this blog. I have three agents that are expecting the first 50 pages of this book. That's my next goal, but I had to share my joy with you today.
"Wallflower" is not my favorite work, but it is the nearest and dearest to my heart. Out of all of my works, I believe "Wallflower" to be the roundest, fullest and most complete of my novels. I love the characters and everything about the storyline. I hope that the agents feel the same way.
Now I'm fantasizing about a bidding war. In my daydreams, I can see two or more agents fighting to represent my work. Oh how they will vie for my affections, sending the literary equivalent of flowers, candy and obnoxious singing telegrams. In the grand tradition of Scarlett O'hara, I shall fan myself and bat my eyelashes saying, "Boys, boys! Don't fight over 'lil old me. Fiddle-dee-dee."
Ahhh, this is the sigh of the contented writer.
More later...

No Way to Go but Up!

I'm currently up to chapter 12 in my editing journey. "Wallflower" is coming along nicely. I'm looking so forward to sending off the finished, polished product to agents everywhere. 
On top of my editing duties, I just found out that I need to revamp my second novel "Hibiscus, Believe" as well. 
I entered "Hibiscus" in the Page to Fame contest on Webook.com nearly a year ago. Slowly but steadily, my little fairy story climbed the ranks from level one to level three. Each time I was promoted to the next level, I lost more and more interest in the progress of this novel. I knew that the writing was sub-par. I've learned so much since I submitted that book to the contest. In reading it, I could see the glaring oversights that I couldn't see before, but I was powerless to change it...until now!
Since my little story has made it to round three, I will no longer be graded by webook readers. In round three, I will be rated by Webook reading pros as well as professional literary agents...Did you hear me??? I said AGENTS!! 
Webook informed me that I can now edit my book if I choose and take up to three months to resubmit my book for round three. 
SO...in addition to polishing "Wallflower", I must now go back and edit "Hibiscus, Believe". I don't mind the extra work. Anything to improve my writing is worth the time. :)

One Hippopotamus, Two Hippopotamus...

Things are much better today, but it seems I'm hippopotamus counting. Small goals, baby steps. I quit smoking on the ninth. Today is day three. My husband and I managed to keep from killing each other yesterday. (He's quitting too.) I think we're over the worst of it. 
Out of all the positive aspects of quitting, do you know what my main motivation is? I'll be able to sit longer at book signings and speaking engagements if I don't have to race out for a smoke. Jeez, I don't even have an agent yet. Hey, if you're gonna dream, why not dream big, huh? :) Wish me luck.

Swimming with the Fishes

Well, it's official. I have been thrust back into the pool of oblivion with the other fishes. In other words, I'm swimming with the fishes.
Remember a few entries back when I told you about the published author that agreed to read my work and give me a letter of recommendation? 
She has withdrawn her offer of assistance, claiming a tight schedule. I know she's a busy lady, but I don't think she has any idea how much I was depending on her. A recommendation from a respected author gives any struggling writer a leg up on the competition. Now, I'm no different from the rest. 
And to make matters worse, I was waiting for her impending letter before I sent off any queries to the agents I met at the conference. I've wasted valuable time waiting for her. 
Damn it. It's been two months. I hope they remember me.

Feeling Better

 As the title says, I'm feeling better. Not only has my health improved after being sick for a week, but my writing has become something I can be proud of. As any writer can relate, I've been battling procrastination and that little devil on my shoulder that whispers, "Your writing sucks!"
As I've mentioned in past posts, I purchased a book called "Word Painting" to help me with my descriptive prose. As much as I can absorb the information, it seems to be working, but at the very least, reading the book inspires me. 
Below is the beginning of my book "Wallflower". I'll give you a before and after example of how "Word Painting" has improved my descriptive ability:

Before:

“Where am I? Oh, God! Where am I?” A young lady, waifish in stature, calls out in terror. Distraught she spins in circles, trying desperately to take in her blurry surroundings. Where is this place? How did I get here?

“Please, someone help me.” She whimpers. There are people, lots of them, and books, rows and rows of books. It’s a library, but how?

After:

“Where am I? Oh, God! Where am I?” A young lady calls out in terror. Distraught, she spins in circles, trying desperately to take in her blurry surroundings. Where is this place? How did I get here?

“Please, someone help me.” She whimpers. The sound of her own voice is a strangled echo in her head. Between a blinking strobe of darkness and reality, she sees people, lots of them, and books, rows and rows of books. She knows it’s a library, but how? How did she get here?

See the difference? Sure, it adds to the word count, but I now feel secure that the reader will be able to place themselves into the action rather than being an outside observer.

That's all I had to report for today. What's in store for me tomorrow? More writing, and I'm looking so forward to it. :) 

TTYS 

Any Suggestions??

Hello World!!

I'm on a mission today. I've been sick for a week and I haven't typed a word. I plan on doing my part to catch up on the writing I've missed. 
However, I could use your help on another issue. In speaking with a local writer friend of mine, the subject was brought up that most first-time novelists choose to write in 1st person POV since it seems to be the easiest route for beginners. My novel, "Wallflower" is in 3rd person. Aside from a novella I wrote once, I haven't tried the 1st person angle. 
The dilemma that my writer friend and I came across is how does the writer of a 1st person work switch points of view when it is NOT the main protagonist in a scene? You can't stay on one single character throughout the book. So how do you switch?
I'm asking my readers to provide me with the title of a good book written in 1st person. I'd like to see how the pros do it. Any suggestions?

Contradictions

Greetings all!

My nose has been reapplied to that ever-abrasive grindstone. I spent the better part of today polishing chapters 4-6 of "Wallflower". I found the work both pleasant and frustrating. Since I know exactly where my weakness lies as a writer, I've gone to great lengths to educate myself and improve my shortcomings. I've attended a writer's conference, consulted with the masses on several writing community websites and bought an extremely insightful book on the subject - the subject being my descriptive prose. Each of my efforts have been mildly helpful, but I still find myself butting my head against the same brick wall.

I've heard from several different and unrelated sources that my writing is too general. "Immerse me in the situation." One writer told me. "I feel removed from the scene." Another said. The truth is that I knew I had a problem before I even met these people. 

Here's my quandary:10% of the population says "I need more description." 90% continue to tell me, "Write for yourself. Don't write for anyone else. Be true to YOU!"
Okay folks, I need your input on this one. Which is it? Immerse myself in description or march to my own drummer?

I'd love to raise my nose in the air and proclaim, "I am an individual! No one has a writing voice like mine. I shall not be squelched." But my logical mind says, "Hey lady, if you ever want to get a book deal, you need to conform to the demands of the suits."

Ah yes, the suits, the big wigs, the people who sign the checks. They want the next Edgar Allen Poe; the next Hemingway. They want a strong voice; profound prose that earns high praise in the NY Times, the sort of masterpiece that finds its way to Oprah's nightstand. 

This is not me. This is not my work. I do not claim to be profound, nor do I desire to become profound. I want to entertain the masses and tell delightful, intriguing stories. That is what I do. I am a commercial novelist.

That is also what JK Rowling is. Like it or not, I don't believe you're going to find anything remotely profound or life-altering in the pages of any Harry Potter novel, but if you listen closely, you'll hear the sound of Ms. Rowling laughing all the way to the bank.

The truth is folks, I write ordinary stories about ordinary people, FOR ordinary people. I can always "improve" my descriptive prose, but do I need to be downright poetic? So what's it going to be? Should I exhaust myself to learn an angle that could be valuable or should I write what I enjoy and possibly never get published? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.

Killing Two Birds with One Essay

           What am I putting off right now? Excellent question! I’m putting off revising my novel. Perhaps it’s a bit of good old-fashioned procrastination, but mostly it’s a lack of “zing” on my part.

            Life has gotten to me lately and even though revising my book is a vital first priority, it is also the pink elephant in the room that I’d rather not acknowledge. My book is worthy of my time, don’t get me wrong, but I see it as my own Mount Everest; daunting and seemingly insurmountable. (Notice how the word insurmountable has the word “mount” in it, as in mountain? That can’t be a coincidence.)

            I digress. I started this little blurb as a writing exercise that I found on creativity-portal.com in an attempt to bring back my motivation and my imagination. As I looked at what I was typing, I realized that it would be a perfect entry for my currently neglected blog. Perhaps I could kill two birds with one essay and alleviate the guilt I carry for two separate offenses.

            Ahhhh, better already.

            I’m in chapter 4 of the revision stage of “Wallflower”. I must complete the necessary revisions before my book is fit for agent consumption. No pressure there, right?

            One scene at a time Jennifer. One scene at a time and pay no mind to the blinking cursor that’s mocking you.

Nothing Ventured, Something Gained??

Please excuse the tired cliche title with a twist. It's just a fancy way of saying that I'm procrastinating out of complete and utter cowardice! Like staring at a closed door when you've always wondered what's on the other side; like wondering what would have happened if you'd asked your boss for that raise, or like the time you didn't invest in that little fledgling company called "Microsoft", I am staring with complete reproach at a manuscript that's ready to go...but I am not!
No matter what you might think, confidence and self-esteem are two different animals. I have all the confidence in the world that I WILL get signed to a book deal someday soon (my magic 8 ball told me so.) BUT - and that's a big but -  my lack of self-esteem is perched on my shoulder whispering, "They're going to hate it. You're an amateur and they eat amateurs for breakfast!" If you're a writer, you've had that same little demon on your shoulder a time or two.
Let me give you the scoop: I met a lovely lady at the Willamette conference. She's a published author and a renowned speaker. She agreed to read my book, and if she likes it, she'll give me a good review in a letter of recommendation. Ladies and gentlemen, to a writer, that is a Golden Ticket.
Imagine! A good review is an elephant's foot in the door.
The problem? Am I ever going to be "ready" to send it off to her?
I'd better make my decision fast before the iron cools. *Sigh*

What's the Hold-up?

For those of you who are wondering, "Wallflower" is my third novel. I write paranormal/fantasy fiction, but I'm not comfortable with such a broad label. One of my stories has to do with fairies, but the protagonist is human. Other than that, my stories are about magical things happening to ordinary people. Often there are love stories tied in there, which gives them the romance aspect. As many writers can empathize, I feel hopelessly stuck between genres.
Now, on to my point...I learned a lot at the Willamette writers conference this last weekend, but it seems that I came home with more questions than when I arrived. As a newbie writer, I'm fortunate enough to recognize my weaknesses on the page. I hoped to solve some of those problems at the conference. 
That didn't happen. 
Don't get me wrong, I learned plenty. For instance, I learned that although cordial and polite, agents and editors could care less about helping you solve your petty issues. They simply slide their business card across the table and say "Don't give up."
I learned that you need to have money to make money as I had to sell a piece of my soul just to make it to the conference.
AND
I learned that if I wanted to solve my writing problems, I needed to fork out more illusive and largely nonexistent funds to take creative writing courses and such.
If you're like me, (and chances are you're as strapped for cash as I am,) you can't afford things like this. So I'm winging it; flying by the seat of my britches as it were.
When it comes to my writing, my biggest areas of concern are punctuation (never had a knack for that) and descriptive prose. 
I can't put to words what my imagination sees, not like the pros do. How many ways can someone gasp or pant? How creative can you get when describing a surprised expression? I can't seem to get over that hump, but I'm trying. I'm doing a lot of comparative reading and I purchased a book by Rebecca McClanahan called Word Painting. Hopefully that will help.
Now, having spilled my guts, I'd like to know what your writing hang-up is. Past or present, what roadblock did you face in your writing life? And if you were able to overcome it, please tell us how.
Thanks for reading today.

Taking that first step

I've been wanting to start my own blog for some time now, but I was hesitant. I was under the misconception that only published authors had one of these things, and what's worse, I thought that lil' ol' me wasn't good enough for a prestigious blog of my own.
I was wrong x's 2.
I recently returned from my first writers conference and I brought with me a wealth of information and inspiration. This particular conference offered several helpful workshops which I attended with wide-eyed fervor. There were two recurring themes that I heard loud and clear throughout my three days there: 
1) The only rule of writing is that there are no rules.
and
2) Start your own blog. 
Seeing as how several different speakers emphasized those two points, I took them both to heart and here I am. 
My name is Jennifer B. Fields. I hope to have a successful career as a novelist someday soon. I've started this blog to share my writing journey with the you. It is my hope that I can offer advice and insight to all the struggling writers out there. I plan on keeping you apprised of the progress in my latest endeavor entitled "Wallflower". I can also predict that you will be forced to bear witness to my own personal ups and downs of confidence, opportunities and expeditions, both positive and negative. If you are a writer, you know that these ups and downs are frequent and can be rather severe and even debilitating.
Still, I vow to get back on that bucking horse of publication and continue my quest to become one of the few "lucky" ones to make it to the bookstore shelves. I hope you'll join me. :)