1 Degree

Yes, it really is one degree outside my house in Ohio. This is the the coldest weather I've ever seen with wind chills at -37 degrees. I bundled up from head to toe to walk two houses to my neighbor's this morning for a cinnamon roll and coffee. (Thank goodness for friends and kindness.) I made it swiftly back to my home after our short visit.

There are few that brave these elements, even the US Postal Service has suspended delivery today in many areas. I keep thinking to myself this would be a great day to write, but I find a laundry list of other things that begin to steal my writing time. Preparing food, long overdue phone calls, website duties, tidying up the house . . . This is where a sacred practice must come in. A habit of sitting down with one's thoughts on a consistent basis where it simply feels wrong to miss. I confess, I don't have this habit now.  I go through phases where it is my passion and other times writing gets crowded out by the life duties I have acquired and I seem to be okay with that progression. And then I question more and more often if writing is in my end game. Only time will tell.

Time has all the answers, but we have the ability to make time reflect our priorities. 

Be warm and safe.
~ Cindy

I Am

Ever since she discovered HGTV, Melina envisions becoming an interior designer. Thanks to shows like Property Brothers, Fixer Upper, and Love It or List It, she talks about open floor plans, wainscoting, and the difference between coffered and tray ceilings. She draws floor plans of houses she might like to help build someday, and her current project is a board game, tentatively called “House Hunters.” (Tentative because she realizes that the name is currently in use by the television show.)

So far, we’ve bought a mat to serve as the board, a fine-tip permanent marker so she can write words neatly, and small round counters (or chips) for use as money. Last night, I helped her cut up some blank index cards we had around the house to make the cards that direct players to the next step (and help them find the right house). They say things like, “This place doesn’t have a master ensuite. You can do better than this, people!”; “This house doesn’t have a basement. Not only do you want a basement, but you need a basement.”; “This house is really old, and you’re not really up for any ‘surprises.’ ” (She wrote these gems herself, and I’ve had a ton of fun going through them.)

As we sat to figure out how large the cards should be and whether or not I should cut them with the scissors or just fold and tear them, Melina took a long time with her decision. She flipped the cards over and examined each side, then she moved her fingers along the edges. She turned to me, a quirk to her lips, a furrow in her brow. She held up two cards.

Melina: I like that these edges are so precise, but somehow, this edge seems cleaner.
Me: You sound like you’re a designer.
Melina: I AM a designer.
Me: You are so far beyond me honey. Congratulations.

I high-fived the child and gave her a hug, and the pride I felt just about burst through my chest. Here I sit, a woman with a coffee table book and several published short stories and essays to my name, and I can barely call myself a writer, much less an author. And there she is, a ten year old kid, bubbling with confidence in what she knows and is interested in.

I’m taking my lesson from her today. I am a writer. I am an author. And if I truly feel that Melina will reach her dream of becoming an interior designer–and I do–then I need to have confidence that I’ll reach my dream of publishing my novels someday.

My new mantra:

Happy Writing!
~ Christina

(This post was originally published at Christina's website.)

Believe In It

Writing has been a large portion of my routine for the better part of six years now. And I can say, with certainty, that I have become more adept at the craft of writing, and at recognizing what constitutes good writing in both myself and others. Meeting up with The Plot Sisters every two weeks is the real reason behind that growth, but I should pat myself on the back, too: to keep a writing routine at all, no matter how much or how little, despite all the busyness that life bestows, is an accomplishment in and of itself.

But there's one aspect of writing that I need a little work on. Often, I read a book and I think, "This novel is published, and mine is not." And then, my mind spins into a downward spiral of self-doubt. The writing must be better. The query letter must be better. The premise must be better. A multitude of excuses for why my novel hasn't attracted an agent spring to mind.

And it's not for lack of trying, I tell you. My current WIP has been critiqued by my writing group, a published author, and a professional editor. It's been through multiple rounds of revision, and has been requested by agents. The problem isn't the book, or the feedback, or the fact that I live in southwestern Ohio and not New York City.

The problem is that I don't believe in it.

What does that mean?

I don't mean that I think the story isn't any good. I love the story and have always said, "It's a good story, dammit!" What I mean is that when I read other books and think about the fact that those authors are published and I am not, I always look at the negative, when I should be looking at the positive. Instead of lamenting the fact that my story hasn't found a good home, I need to remember that if the published book in my hand found an agent, then by golly, someday mine will, too. I have to believe in the process. In the book. In myself, really.

And that's just plum difficult to do in any aspect of life. Good luck to us all.

Happy Writing!
~Christina

Little Things

February brings with it so many conflicting emotions for me.

My mom's birthday falls in this month, but she no longer remembers that fact. The winter wind and chilly temperatures seem to burrow right through me, but Punxsutawny Phil taunts me with the idea that we still have more winter in store than I care for.

And while the days are getting longer—I no longer drive home from chauffeuring the children in the dark—summer seems just too far off to even adequately picture sunny skies and sandy, Michigan beaches (yes, Walloon Lake is already calling to me).

On days when the conflict gets to be too much, I look for the little things to get me through. Little things like:

A cup of hot tea

       Chocolate-covered pretzels

A new story idea

       Smiles from my kids

A kind word from a colleague

       A friend's triumph

The realization that it is, indeed a Friday.

I hope your Friday is going well and that you find what you need to make it through the next few weeks of winter.

Happy Writing!

~Christina

We Need Our People

A lot of writers say it's important to arrange a schedule and keep to it. Whether you write at the same time of day, commit to a certain number of words a day, or just grab ten minutes whenever you can--writing becomes a daily commitment. Habitual behaviors keep us well practiced in any field. I keep a schedule for myself that includes at least a couple of hours each weekday morning.

Life gets busier every year, it seems. Afternoons and evenings pile full of activities and commitments. I have two teenage children, three dogs, and an inability to choose between writing and music. Therefore, music gets the evening and writing gets the morning.

Problem: the Plot Sisters (my writing group) meet in the evening on the same night as I sometimes sub for a regional orchestra. This year, I have missed more than two straight months of Plot Sisters meetings. I haven't written much of anything. Sure, I keep up with their manuscripts, sending comments digitally in time for meetings I can't attend. During my writing mornings, I shuffle words around on my manuscript and make no progress.

I've been reading books, watching movies--even viewing Breaking Bad in its entirety because so many writers recommended it. These things distract, rather than inspire me. I have nothing to say. My manuscripts bore me, which is distressing. If I'm not interested, why would anyone else be?

With a little schedule tweaking, I make it back to the Plot Sisters. I'll have to skip one rehearsal a month in two different musical groups, but it's more than worth it. I've met with these women for five years now, and our relationship is important. At my computer, I write very little. Maybe it's a slump. I begin to wonder if I have the determination needed to continue.

Then, my turn comes. I have to share something. I scrape up a chapter here, a chapter there. They hang together somewhat. I felt inspired when I wrote them, but that feeling faded months ago.

We meet. They critique. Positive comments come in a generous and honest spirit. But the magic happens when they tell me what they don't understand, what doesn't work. They even tell me I've spent a whole chapter in a character's head and no action happens.

The light snaps on. Brilliant, lively, captivating. I know now what to do. I can fix all these problems. I feel glee--I've never spent a whole chapter in a character's head. If I could jump up and click my heels together, I would do it. This is progress!

And so, with thanks to my Plot Sisters, I have found inspiration again.

This post is a reminder: The screen gives us nothing. The schedule has no soul. We need our people.

P.S. Thanks to all five of you. I wouldn't have made it this far alone.~Jen

A Lesson in Grace

The last Plot Sisters' meeting of 2017 included a visit from local author, Linda A. Marshall, who came to talk with us about her book, A Long Awakening to Grace. The memoir recounts a period of twenty-two years, when "Linda grew in wisdom and strength as she grappled with her children's puzzling behavior and searched for the reason behind it."

Linda spoke about her evolution as a writer, citing journaling from childhood on to be foundational to her work.

     "Journaling truly is a spirtual practice," she said.

Aside from writing in journals, she also credited taking writing classes and being involved in writing groups (both in-person and on-line) to keep her accountable in her process.

Linda's humility in her writing and also her meeting with us is extremely evident. Her greatest desire is that she might help someone else who finds themselves in a similar circumstance. We asked Linda if her book had opened any doors and she candidly shared:

     "The doors haven't opened easily. Many times, I find myself banging on those doors," she said.

While struggling with her own acceptance of the life she and her children had been dealt, Linda explained that through her surrender she found a surprising gift:  being vulnerable and confronting her own fears while writing her memoir not only allowed Linda to convey an important message to others, but it also created a sense of personal freedom she never expected.

Thank you for visiting, Linda. We're looking forward to reading more of your work in the future.

~Cindy

Gratefulness

Thanksgiving is a great time to think about all that we're thankful for. But as one of my daughters' said, "Aren't we supposed to be thankful every day of our lives?"

My daughter, who will turn sixteen in January, uttered that statement in a somewhat snarky, only-as-a-teenager-can way. But she's right. We're supposed to be grateful for what we've been given every day, not just one day every year. And over the last several years, I've started my day with this mantra: "Every day that I wake up is a good day."

With the focus on the positive right from the moment I wake up, I've found that my days have changed. I no longer count the number of hours I have until I make it home from work or rue the number of minutes I have to spend in the car on Tuesdays driving my kids all over the city. My mind leans toward spreading the contentment I feel to others, and hope that with my cheerful countenance and can-do attitude, I might be able to turn someone else onto the thought that they, too, are grateful to be awake. Every. Single. Day.

That gratefulness spreads to my writing life as well. It's not the number of words I manage to get onto paper, or whether or not I've submitted enough in a week. Each story, blog post, or chapter is sufficient enough for me to say, "Thank goodness I could do that." Of course I have days where I'd like to get more accomplished, but I'm grateful for what I get done.

As we go into the thick of holiday season and the New Year, consider how starting your day with being thankful can change your life. You might just surprise yourself.

Happy Writing!

~Christina

The Book in the Mailbox

You might not know this, but I (along with many others) am a John Green fan. Knowing how much The Plot Sisters like books and writing, that statement might not be surprising. But it might shock you to know just how many times I've read and reread his books. (Actually, I'm not sure of the numbers, which means you'll just have to trust me on this topic.)

What is it about his books? Maybe it's the quirky characters or the witty dialogue, the Midwest setting or his themes. His books have so much to like—SO MUCH—that I've been waiting in a state of heightened anticipation for the release of his newest book, Turtles All the Way Down. I even pre-ordered a signed copy, which arrived in my mailbox today.

I skipped, literally, from the mailbox to my car, grabbed my belongings, and ran inside to open the package. Kiss the book, I did not. However, I will admit to inhaling a very large portion of the air that surrounded my newest acquisition. And then, despite the fact that I had a laundry list of items to take care of, I began reading.

I'll have to hold off on any judgment about the book until I've finished it, but I can say this: I've never read a John Green book as a writer, only as a reader. This time, I can't not read it as a writer, and I'm finding that like with many well-known, best-selling writers, Green gets away with things that I cannot.

For example:

1. Overuse of the word was/were: "Across the table from me, Mychal Turner was scribbling in a yellow-paper notebook. Our lunch table was like a long-running play on Broadway: The cast changed over the years, but the roles never did. Mychal was The Artsy One. He was talking with Daisy Ramirez . . ."

In fact, on the page I took that excerpt from (p. 2), I counted eleven instances of the words was or were. If Green had given just a wee bit more thought to the sentences, some of those could have been taken out.

2. Overuse of the pronoun I: "I pulled out my phone and . . . . I clicked over to the article . . . . I scrolled down farther to a list . . . . I reminded myself . . . ."

The paragraph from which those (incomplete) sentences arose consists only of five sentences, four of which begin with "I" and then a verb. As my editor likes to say, "Don't have pileups of declarative phrasing get in your way." Green's a good enough writer to again, take some of those out.

3. Introduction of a slew of characters right off the bat: This is no Game of Thrones, but in the first chapter alone, we meet or have mention of the main character, Aza, as well as Mychal, Daisy, Davis, Dr. Karen Singh, and Molly. In addition, we find out her friends call her Holmesy. Not too many characters, but in one fell swoop, the list might be a bit long.

Since I haven't read all that far, I'm stopping my critique here and now. The plan will be to read the book as a reader first, and then to go back and read it again as a writer. Green is a master; he can teach me quite a bit. But I need to be open to that learning and growing before I can expect to actually reap the rewards from such a teacher.

Happy Reading and Happy Writing!

~Christina

The In-Between Times

Yesterday, on the rainy September 2nd of 2017, I came to the realization that I feel stagnant. At this point in my life I am feeling the need to see progress. Tangible, visual progress. I feel like I’m going through life without much success. I’m sure we all feel that from time to time, but at this moment in my existence it is more evident.

I surveyed my home inside and out, did a personal internal inventory as well. I have several bare spots in my yard, a handful of craft projects in various stages of completion, two to three writing works in progress that have been immobile, and a small home mortgage I have come to define as burdensome.

Recognizing my earning for visual signs of growth I decided to take action. I recognized three projects in various stages, beginning, middle, and end and made mental and photographic evidence of each.

1) Beginning- I planted an all-in-one grass seed, fertilizer mix into two bare spots in my yard.

2) Middle- I made a trip to the bank to physically pay, by old-fashioned check, both extra principle and an early monthly payment for next moth (October). I need to see the number of  my home mortgage subside.

3) Ending-  I completed one knitted scarf that I'm replicating from my own existing scarf. 

During my fluster of action, I also made myself pause and took stock of the changes

and evolution that has transpired in my life in recent months and years. It’s very easy for me to lose perspective of the longevity of the journey and hone in only on the here and now.  

I’m hoping the growth of the grass from seed to blade will enable me to gauge the tiny increments of growth from beginning to end in a relatively short amount of time. And, whether it be in my writing, larger word counts of works in progress, or simply checking the bucket list of published, a decrease amount on my home mortgage as I implement a recent strategy to be debt free, I believe surrounding myself with visual results will encourage my soul. Starting is the first step to any successful endeavor, and the actual finishing is so satisfying, yet the laborious in-between times are where many people lose their way. I’m hoping my action steps aid me to reclaim the motivation and inspiration to make it to the finish line.

*I’m curious, how do you keep yourself engaged in the process of growth? If you read this blog, share some tips and insight in the comment section. I’m sure we all can use a little nudge. Thanks in advance.

 Forward,

~ Cindy
This post was originally published on Cindy's blog,
 finding me one day at time, Sept. 3, 2017. 

You're Worth It

Three activities I engage the most in are parenting, writing, and running, probably even in that order. Do you know what those activities have in common? Or rather, what does one need to possess so as to be successful in all three of those activities?

I'll let you think about that for a minute . . .

(It's not a trick question.)

Okay, time's up. I'm sure you can a find many suitable responses to my question, but in my opinion, it's necessary to be consistent in order to be a successful parent, writer, and runner.

I cannot even imagine what chaos would have ensued at our house if we hadn't established rules and boundaries or set up a routine when the kids were small. We've adapted, shifted, and changed those lines (actual bedtimes is a great example), but we're consistent in having them (that we have a bedtime at all).

With writing, I find that blogging is a consistent way for me to practice the craft. In those busy months when I don't have as much time to put my fingers to the keyboard, I get rusty. My sentences are more clunky, my mind less free. It takes longer for me to get back into the groove of writing than it would have if I'd just taken the time to sit and write a few minutes each day.

And the same can be said of running. Everyone who has tried to maintain an exercise regimen knows that the best thing to do is to stick to a schedule. Being consistent about running has allowed me to keep it in my life for the last twenty-six years.

Of course, it's easy to say to yourself, I need to be consistent. What if consistency isn't a part of your life? How do you fold it in?

Well, I'm no expert, but I'd say to start small and remember that you're human. Let's say you want to try to ride your bike more often. Look at your schedule, see what openings you have, and begin with once or twice a week. When you've tackled going that often for several weeks, throw in another day. The same can be said for any activity: schedule it in. See how it goes.

But keep in mind that you'll need to be prepared to make adjustments. With most folks, life can get in the way at times. It's okay if you don't get out for that Wednesday bike ride. Do you have time for a ten-minute walk instead? And if not, don't berate yourself. Make sure to go out at the next scheduled time.

It might take a bit of work and determination to incorporate consistency into your lifestyle, but if the activity is important enough to you, it's worth the effort. And guess what? You're worth it, too. (And in the case of parenting, your family is definitely worth it.)

Happy Writing!

~Christina

Follow Your Destiny

"Is being an editor fun?" My youngest, Melina, looked up at me with a quirk to her lips as she asked me that question this morning. She'd been reading a book and had come up to me to comment on the length of the sentences. According to her, the author had used too many short sentences next to one another. Actually, she said the author had several "simple sentences" and that "she could have used more compound sentences" to make the work better.

That idea launched into a conversation about variation in sentence length and how, when I edit something, I look for that variation. "Maybe you should someday consider being a book editor," I told Melina.

I wish someone had uttered that same statement to me when I was nine years old. Even at that time, I wrote almost daily and read as much as I did then as I do now, which is ALL THE TIME. Why didn't anyone notice that passion and help me channel it in the right direction?

I'm not here to lay blame or think of what could have been. Instead, I'd like to remind you that following your passion—your destiny, if you will—is important. Even if you feel as though you're plodding along toward your goal, with no real end in sight, you're making progress one little step at a time. If you want something bad enough and you work hard enough, you can make it happen.

Speaking of making it happen (and following that destiny), our sister, Traci Ison Schafer, is making things happen. Her debut novel, The Anuan Legacy, is set to launch this fall. Find out more about Traci and her book, and consider signing up for her newsletter over at her website, which can be found here.

~Happy Writing!
Christina

Editing- That's What I Meant

Have you ever found yourself telling somebody that’s what I meant or that’s NOT what I meant? Well, that happens all the time in writing. The entire story is in the writer’s head, but what comes out isn’t always clear, just like in conversations. That’s why it’s so important to get fresh eyes on your drafts. No matter how great or successful a writer you are, your work has to be looked over by other people who can catch all the things you meant to say but didn’t (outside of your own mind, anyway).

I started my first novel, The Anuan Legacy (coming fall of 2017), from a place of zero knowledge or experience on how to write a book. Therefore, it may have spun around longer than a seasoned writer’s work would have, but nobody should ever scratch together a draft and immediately send it out the door without putting it in the hands of qualified reviewers and editors first.

My critique group (The Plot Sisters), does a great job of being my first round of fresh eyes, and sometimes my second and third rounds, as well. But after a while, they don’t have fresh eyes anymore, either. They know all the things that have been cut and may no longer recognize when something is missing that should have been included. 

For The Anuan Legacy, after I wore out my Plot Sisters, I hired a trusted and reputable professional to give a critique as both a reader and someone who knows the current dos and don’ts of novel writing. (These change over time.) This resulted in more revisions. I then passed the manuscript on to beta readers. Beta readers are volunteers who have never seen the story before and are willing to read it and give feedback. Of course, this drove another round of revisions. Once those were complete, I ran the updated draft through a second professional critique. More revisions. Then my Plot Sisters graciously agreed to review the manuscript yet another time. The material had morphed enough since they’d last seen it that their eyes were fresh again. Of course, I received more revision suggestions. Next, more beta readers and, you guessed it—more revisions. My manuscript went through so many revisions it barely resembled the original draft anymore and the time had come to bring in the heavy hitters. I sent it off to an editor who gave it a good content edit. And, yep, I had more revisions to make. 

I might mention that after every set of comments, whether it be from my Plot Sisters, a professional editor, or anybody in between, I wanted to kick myself for not catching those things on my own. It always seemed so obvious after someone else pointed it out, but “tired eyes” just miss things. 

This process can go round and round and round. So, where do things stand now with my debut novel? I just received the manuscript back from line editing. If you guessed that will result in more revisions, you’re right. But hopefully soon, it will be ready for proofreading and publishing—with a million other steps in between like blurbs, cover art, formatting, reviews, launch activities, and so on. 

Suffice it to say that when this book finally reaches all of you, it will not just be made of paper and ink, but of my blood, sweat, tears, heart, and soul. I hope you enjoy it. 😊 

Happy Reading!

Traci

This post originally published on Traci's website: http://www.traciisonschafer.com/ 

April 12, 2017

Visitors Part II: Fred Marion February 2, 2017

 

Fred Marion with the Plot Sisters

                                 (Cindy, Jen, Fred, Jude, Chris not pictured Ruthann & Traci)



   Last month we had another distinguished guest that shared their writing story with the Plot Sisters. We were pleased to have Fred Marion.

  

     Fred finished revisions on his middle grade fantasy novel, The Very Strange and Very Secret Trash Can Club, earlier this year. The manuscript is currently in the hands of his notorious agent, Ms. Jenny Bent from the Bent Agency. She will hold the key to the next step towards publication. Ms. Bent agreed to represent Fred after receiving an awesome query letter and reading his full manuscript. Fred shared that Ms. Bent shared many suggestions and asked him to revise aspects of his novel which he toiled over for months. 

     Not only did we relish and celebrate with Fred in the retelling the how of landing his agent, but Fred also shared endearing personal tales of steadfastness, perseverance, and providence. He told us how he believes writers process their own emotions in the words in which they write. How "writers have to keep writing because they simply must write." 

     Fred's background includes an English degree from Wright State University with an emphasis in creative writing, copy editing at the Dayton Daily News, journalist stints in both North Carolina and West Palm Beach, Florida until finally finding himself back in Dayton, Ohio. Today Fred creates a weekly newsletter of writing and literary events in Dayton, carves out time to work on his own projects, as well as freelances and does webdesign part time. He credited his wife for encouraging him not give up on his dreams. 

     Among the tips Fred shared with us were the following:

1) Create Accountability

2) Read A Lot In the Genre You are Writing

3) Information Diet- don't get too distracted by "other" information that may hinder your writing

4) Vary Sentence Length To Keep Your Writing Interesting

     Fred is going to be speaking on a panel, March 25, 2017, at the Antioch Writers' Workshop Spring One-Day Seminar about "Finding Your Writing Tribe." Other panelists will include Becky Morean, Grace Curtis, and Ryan Ireland. We hope you find him as charming and refreshing as we did. You can find out more information about Fred and his work on his webpage. http://fredrickmarion.com/

~Cindy

    

Love Stories

I've been writing novels for about five years now. When I first started, I had the seed of one idea in my head: the story of a little girl named Laney and her friend, Harvey the Hippo. These characters had sprung from some things I'd written in high school, and my first attempt at a book resulted in a novel called Drops of Jupiter.

I like the story, but I've done nothing with it since I finished it so long ago. Instead, I moved onto writing (in order) Hunting for Lilacs, Beyond the Trees, After We've Fallen, The Chocolate Garden, and Just Be.

The last of those was the novel that poured forth this past November, when I participated in NaNoWriMo 2016. It is a love story at heart and something I struggled with for a long time. Should I write a sappy love story? Does this love story have to have a happy ending? It this story really categorized as a romance? And how do I feel about that?

I didn't have the answers to those questions, and part of me wondered why I was so against writing a love story. What's wrong with them? If written well, the story can put smiles on people's faces. Isn't that what I want to do?

Well last week, I gave the first 20 pages of Just Be to The Plot Sisters to read and it was as if I'd purged myself of any bad feelings about love stories. They enjoyed reading the pages, and after our discussion, I realized that every other book I've written, with the exception of Drops of Jupiter, has a love story either at the center of the book or on the periphery of it.

I think I'd better come to terms with the fact that I just might be a love story writer. Plenty of worse things exists out there, don't you think?

Happy Writing!
~Christina

Visitors: Part I: Jan Irvin, January 19th, 2017

     In this late week of February, around the Miami Valley winter is giving way to spring. We thought it was significant to share the Plot Sisters' visitors these past few months on our blog. It has been a privilege of sharing conversations with two local authors; Jan Irvin and Fred Marion. We've divided this blog post into two parts. Here's Part I: Jan Irvin, January 19th, 2017.

Jan Irvin (publishes under J.E. Irvin)

    Although a few of our Plot Sisters had known Jan before her speaking engagement with our writing group in January, she opened with getting to know each of us a little better.  She asked us to give a short introduction about our own individual works in progress. This led into her speaking about her books, The Dark End of the Rainbow and The Rules of the Game, that were both published by Whiz Bank LLC, a small publisher out of Florida. Contests can provide opportunities many writers over look. Initially, her first chapter was entered into a contest to which she won, and that event opened the door to her first published book.

     As a retired public school teacher and adjunct professor from Wright State University Jan found that her own writing has been a life-long activity. She had submitting numerous short fiction pieces and endured many rejections before she began to get accepted on a regular basis at literary magazines. She shared with us craft specific advice along with encouraging tales of tenacity. Among the many craft techniques she sprinkled in the importance of finding the arc of the main character, character motivation, and the impact of pacing. Jan outlined four themes that are "must-haves" for her writing:  1) Mystery, 2) Surprise, 3)Suspense, and 4) Romance. One of the many admirable qualities Jan possesses is gratitude. Her humble spirit and excitement that she can share her published work with others is apparent and contagious. Thanks, Jan!

*If you'd like to learn more about Jan or her books go to: https://janetirvin.wordpress.com/ or follow her on facebook : facebook.com/darkendoftherainbow.


~Cindy

Measuring Success

I love writing. I love rewriting, fixing loose bits, brightening the fuzzy spots, clearing out the rubble. It is a habit and a hobby, and I can spend blissful hours lost in the worlds I'm making. But I've never had one thing published, ever. I don't count blogging as publishing and I don't care if other people do.

So why go on writing?

Point #1: There are people in the world who go their whole lives without finding a lasting passion for something. Work, eat, sleep, love your loved ones; repeat. Life is busy, but is it full? I count it as a tremendous success to find something you love to do. The passions that drive us to excel come from something unique within us. We have to work to find them.

So, if you find something you love, you're an explorer who's found a place worth planting a flag on. Celebrate your success.

Point #2: Once you've found something beautiful, you really do want to share it. In comes the idea of publishing. The only thing is, it shouldn't be the very next thought. Publishing is hard. There are lots of little steps between finding and sharing. Steps that might make it easier to go on writing when you feel discouraged.

Point #1a: Find a writing group. That may not be so easy, so if you do it, remember to celebrate that success, too. The PlotSisters met in a writing class and we just never stopped meeting. If you want to meet other writers, you have to go to events and talk to people. If that gives you hives, then it's a big success when you get out there.

Good writing groups will give you praise and criticism. If you find a group that only does one or the other, ditch them. They won't help you. If you feel discouraged after a critique, think clearly—are you being too sensitive, or is your group a bunch of jerks? This is an important point. Critique can hurt, especially if the critique is spot-on.

Point #1b: Sending things to editors or agents is hard. First, you worked to make your stuff good. Then you had to write a cover letter. Groan. After that, a synopsis and bio. Oh, and I forgot to mention everybody has different formatting rules. Groan again.

So when you actually manage to send something in for consideration, you've accomplished something. It's worth celebrating, really.

Point #1c: While you're waiting for the probable rejection that's coming, remember that you love writing. Everybody gets way more rejections than acceptance. Receiving a 'no' is part of writing. Keep trying. The things you love are worth it.

Happy Writing!

~Jen

That Time of the Year Again

Here we are, 20 days into November, and I'm guessing that many of you are in the thick of writing for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). If you're not familiar with that challenge, you can head on over to the link provided for the details, but the crux of the challenge is this: to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Yes, that's right, at the end of 30 days, a person should have a first draft of a novel in hand.

This is the third time I've written a first draft in less than a month (twice I've participated in NaNoWriMo), and while I find that each time, my style of writing has been different, my life's commitments have been different, and my attitude has been different, what has stayed the same is my approach to writing those 50,000 words.

And here's my best advice:

1. Sit down with your writing utensil. I know that sounds funny, but it's true. Lots of people say they are going to write but never bother getting their butts in the chair. Wherever and however you write, you need to get there first.
2. Ignore all unnecessary items. That could mean Facebook and Twitter, laundry that really doesn't need to be done, or the book club you were supposed to attend. If you put aside a few things that can wait until after the month is over, you will have more time to write.
3. Be ready to write at a moment's notice. One day that I logged almost 6,000 words was the day I had my draft open and ready to go all day. I didn't have a huge chunk of time, but those little intervals, by the end of the day, really added up. 
4. Write, don't revise. Any person who has "won" NaNoWriMo will tell you the same thing: put the story on the paper and don't go back until you've hit the 50,000-word mark. Sure, you might have written the most horrible sentence in the history of horrible sentences, but who cares? Get the story out. Then worry about the rest of it.

Even if you missed out on NaNoWriMo, these tidbits will help you at any time. So go ahead and choose a month that works for you, and see how many words you can get done. I'm sure you'll surprise yourself and in no time, you'll have accomplished that dream.

Happy Writing!

~Christina

Starbucks

Where it all began!  At least our writing group that is. Every other week, like clockwork. We meet. We exchange critiques, ideas, encouragements, and suggestions for improvements on each others' writing. I'm getting ready to head out the door soon, but wanted to take a minute to just take a deep breath.

Today is September 1st. This weekend is the last official weekend of summer and bam! just like that it's Fall. Many of the Plot Sisters are teachers or former teachers of some capacity, not to mention mom's of school kids, and Fall always translates to BUSY. There's a challenge into staying balanced in responsibilities, but yet continuing to devout time to develop one's craft. And I'm trying my best to devote time in front of the computer screen or trying to keep a legal bad in front of me to write the ideas that keep beating around in my head. "You have to get 'em down on paper" How many times have we heard that? A lot. And it's true. I've got several irons in the fire and when I can't extend on an idea on one project I have to move on to another project and pound out some words. It wasn't as productive of a summer writing wise as I would've liked, but I can't reflect too long about the past or I'll never move forward. And there's so much in the future that it's not worth giving up to stand still.

Happy Writing!

~Cindy

Just Do It

It's hard to believe that the last time I posted, I'd just returned from my Happy Place. June meant lazy days, and the promise of a long, hot summer.

Two months have passed since then. Despite the chaos of summer, The Plot Sisters have met on schedule. Much writing has been done, but very little blog posting. And that's okay, right?

Right.

Because not all of us find as much value in blog posting as I do. I use my personal blog for communicating with my friends and family, but also as a means to practice my craft. I use this blog as a way of connecting to people, but it, too, helps me practice the craft. I have found, over time, that--get this--I am a better writer because of all the writing I do! Who knew that practice could do that? (Wink, wink.)

But writing a blog takes up a lot of time. And by a lot, I mean A LOT. I could probably work on some of my short pieces or clean my house, improve my lectures or spend time with friends. I choose to use my time the way I want to, and you, my friends, do the same.

What I want to emphasize, though, is that in order to become the writer you envision, you must write and write often. If you don't want to work on a blog, then simply journal. Or jot down some poetry. Or write paragraphs that sum up your day, or start a new piece. I don't care in what way you do it, but as Nike says, "Just do it." Now.

Happy Writing!

~Christina

Happy Place

I woke up this morning after a week's vacation to realize that while I hadn't done much writing over the past week, I had done much soaking. As in soaking in the inspiration, the peace, the serenity, the goodness that comes with a venue I call, "My Happy Place."

Happy Places are so important for all of us, whether or not we realize it. Happy Places help us become who we are and who we should be. They keep us calm in the midst of personal hurricanes, and at least for me, they can lend guidance when I most need it. Happy Places can help us grow, heal, and just be.

What is your Happy Place? And what does it do for you?

Happy Writing!

~Christina