I just returned from the 2012 Florida Writer's Association Annual Conference. I've learned a lot, but the most important thing I got from the conference? I am motivated to write. So much so that at 4 a.m. I couldn't stop thinking enough to get back to sleep, so I am up writing. Of course, my daughter heard me up, and now she is up, too. I guess this is just another challenge to overcome. How do you explain to an eight year old that 4:30 is too early to get up when you are up typing away?
At any rate, there are several thoughts running through my head, and I have decided to share them with you. One, I am going to take a piece of advice from my friend Terri and not give myself a hard time about my blog. The point is to write. The point is not to make sure that every blog post is the epitome of perfect prose. I'll have to work on that one, but I would like to get my thoughts out more often.
The second item on my mind has to do with the title of this blog (the whole blog, not this one post). I decided to go with "Thoughts of a Rising Writer" because I want a place to chronicle my thoughts on writing. I, of course, will write about topics other than writing as well because let's face it, life happens. Still, I want to get some things out there about writing and the process a writer goes through from the act of writing to getting published.
Writing is hard work. I haven't been putting the hard work in lately. Writing, particularly when you have a demanding full time job like molding the minds of a hundred plus young people on a daily basis, requires discipline. Writing requires drive. Writing requires one to get out of bed at four a.m. when there are things to be said, and sometimes when there is nothing to be said. Writing is hard work. I hereby dedicate myself to that hard work.
At any rate, there are several thoughts running through my head, and I have decided to share them with you. One, I am going to take a piece of advice from my friend Terri and not give myself a hard time about my blog. The point is to write. The point is not to make sure that every blog post is the epitome of perfect prose. I'll have to work on that one, but I would like to get my thoughts out more often.
The second item on my mind has to do with the title of this blog (the whole blog, not this one post). I decided to go with "Thoughts of a Rising Writer" because I want a place to chronicle my thoughts on writing. I, of course, will write about topics other than writing as well because let's face it, life happens. Still, I want to get some things out there about writing and the process a writer goes through from the act of writing to getting published.
Writing is hard work. I haven't been putting the hard work in lately. Writing, particularly when you have a demanding full time job like molding the minds of a hundred plus young people on a daily basis, requires discipline. Writing requires drive. Writing requires one to get out of bed at four a.m. when there are things to be said, and sometimes when there is nothing to be said. Writing is hard work. I hereby dedicate myself to that hard work.
My current writing space...hot chocolate included. I may need to clean up a bit.
The business of writing is crazy. Still, I want to be a part of it. This past weekend I met with a few agents. One agent is interested in a project I have in mind that may rise out of a blog post or two. I haven't done much on this project, but she liked the idea so much she made it a point to approach me with her business card. Two are interested in Jade, but not book one. They are interested in Jade when I get book two done (the working title, by the way, is Dreamwalkers). Book one was self published, and that lends itself to a number of issues if an author wants to switch to traditional publishing. I'd like to give traditional publishing a try. So that leads me to my other thoughts.
When I wrote Flames in the Midst, there were things I didn't know about the YA (Young Adult) genre. Most importantly, your character should not (traditionally) be in college. The age of eighteen is pushing the limits on YA. Jade has a few more books to go in her story, so I am going to make some changes to Flames in the Midst. I actually think the changes will build her character a bit more. I am going to knock her down by one year. How am I going to do that? You will see. Since I have a small following (hurray, fans!), I am going to post some of the changes I am making here. These will add to Jade's backstory and build a stronger dynamic between Jade and Zach.
What does this mean for book two? For one, I promised one agent it would be done in six months. I plan to finish it much sooner than that, but it will need editing. (Yeah, motivation!) But it also means I won't be putting it out for the public right away. Since I do have a few fans, I will put out some of it via this blog. Let me know what you think. I need to make book two a stand alone book (since publishers apparently don't want to touch the self-publishing world unless you have six figure sales). I know I can do it.
By the way, one of the agents told me, "Well, obviously you can write." I know it sounds lame, but it felt so affirming to hear that from someone in the industry. Truthfully, before I went to the conference, I had almost given up on myself. Now, I am ready to write!
When I wrote Flames in the Midst, there were things I didn't know about the YA (Young Adult) genre. Most importantly, your character should not (traditionally) be in college. The age of eighteen is pushing the limits on YA. Jade has a few more books to go in her story, so I am going to make some changes to Flames in the Midst. I actually think the changes will build her character a bit more. I am going to knock her down by one year. How am I going to do that? You will see. Since I have a small following (hurray, fans!), I am going to post some of the changes I am making here. These will add to Jade's backstory and build a stronger dynamic between Jade and Zach.
What does this mean for book two? For one, I promised one agent it would be done in six months. I plan to finish it much sooner than that, but it will need editing. (Yeah, motivation!) But it also means I won't be putting it out for the public right away. Since I do have a few fans, I will put out some of it via this blog. Let me know what you think. I need to make book two a stand alone book (since publishers apparently don't want to touch the self-publishing world unless you have six figure sales). I know I can do it.
By the way, one of the agents told me, "Well, obviously you can write." I know it sounds lame, but it felt so affirming to hear that from someone in the industry. Truthfully, before I went to the conference, I had almost given up on myself. Now, I am ready to write!
RSS Feed
