Tagged Again!

Ane Mulligan tagged me with some great questions for readers and writers. Since I’m always looking for excuses not to work, I decided to play along!

Here are the questions:

1. What's the one book or writing project you haven't yet written but still hope to?

I would love to finish a book I started several years ago about Scottish king, Malcolm Canmore. Just haven’t had the time (or energy) to finish the research, what with all the mysteries I’ve been working on lately.

2. If you had one entire day in which to do nothing but read, what book would you start with?

My daughter is taking an Honors English course next year with required summer reading. Two of those books are Lord of the Flies and Catcher in the Rye. I think I would read Catcher in the Rye again, just to refresh my memory. It’s been years since I read that one.

3. What was your first writing "instrument" (besides pen and paper)?

Besides pen and paper? Well, that would have to be my computer. I never really used a typewriter much, except when I was at work.

4. What's your best guess as to how many books you read in a month?

I try to read at least two or three books a month, more if I happen to be judging a contest. I like to stay current on the kinds of projects other people are working on, and what publishers are buying.

5. What's your favorite writing "machine" you've ever owned?

My Toshiba laptop. I LOVE that thing! I can write anywhere, including my bed. Really helps when I want to meet my word count for the day, if I can flip the thing open first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

6. Think historical fiction: what's your favorite time period in which to read?

Ah. . .I love medieval and regency tales. Knights. Kings. Dukes and Duchesses. What’s not to love? They are all thoroughly romanticized, of course, with none of the icky truth of living in the time period—things like no indoor plumbing, deodorant, or personal hygiene products. Still. . .

7. What's the one book you remember most clearly from your youth (childhood or teens)?

No Flying in the House by Betty Brock. I LOVED that story. Must have read it a thousand times. In fact, pondering this question made me think back to that book, and I went ahead and ordered a copy from Amazon.

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Working out the Kinks

The End.

It always feels good to write those last two words—for about five minutes. After that, I face the daunting task of (gasp) rewrites.

So what is the purpose of rewrites? Wasn’t the story good enough the first time I wrote it? The simple fact is, when I sit down to write, I’m not thinking about strong character development, story movement, or plot holes. I’m thinking about spinning a yarn. I imbue it with a few colorful strands of course, funny scenes and such. But overall, my focus is on getting from page one to page two hundred and one, with several pages in between.

Now, as my story winds down and I am zeroing in on the last fifteen thousand words, I’ve started pondering all the loose threads. Did I really tie up all the frazzled ends? Has my character been fully developed, with not only a past and present, but the possibility of a bright future? Were all the clues placed properly, and is the outcome satisfying to the reader? Those are the questions I seek to answer as I begin the task of rewriting.

See, it’s not so much about changing the story, as it is fleshing it out. By now, I’ve gotten to know my characters pretty well. Actually, that’s an understatement. These characters have lived with me for months. They have become living, breathing, people inside my head, and with my new understanding for their fears, motives, and desires, I am better able to go back and weave in those little nuances that make them feel real. And let’s not forget all those little misspelled, misplaced, or outright omitted words that need to be filled in. Spit and polish, polish and spit. That’s what a really great critique group is for. I’ve got two, and I’m so glad to have them.

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The Light at the End

Crazy Cousin Mary was dead. There was no doubt about it.

Catchy, huh?

That is the opening line of my latest book, The Trouble With Mary. Problem is here lately, the trouble hasn’t been with Mary, it’s been with me, and finding time to write.

I took on some added responsibilities at church when our youth minister resigned and we needed somebody to fill in. Shortly after that, we went through a reorganization at work, and my responsibilities not only changed, they grew! Added to that are the normal, every day things that pull in so many different directions. When is a girl supposed to sit down and crank out a book?

For me, finding time to write meant learning to be ultra organized. No TV for this writer chick. I cut out the hours watching “Gilmore Girls” and focused on creating characters of my own. Guess I’ll have to wait until next season to find out of Luke and Lorelai ever get married.

I also limited my emails. My crit partners can tell you, I’ve been almost invisible for the past several weeks. While this hasn’t been easy, it’s made a world of difference. Now, instead of surfing the web the minute my computer boots up, I make myself write a minimum of five hundred words. When that is accomplished, I reward myself with a few minutes of internet time before heading back to the book.

Will all this extra frugality make a difference? I hope so. I’ve twenty thousand words to go and only two months left to do it. Then again, when I say it like that, it sounds completely doable!

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Youth Camp

Remember what it was like to get away? Recharge your batteries? That's just what happened this week when I and twenty others set off for church camp. The speaker, Ed Crouch, was awesome. The praise band, Pearl Merchant, got my blood pumping and reminded me what it means to truly worship in spirit and in truth. All in all...it was a great week!

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What I know about my Dad

Dads are different from normal human beings. There is no weakness inside of them. Their innermost being consists of iron and grit. They are hard, firm when the need arises, and they come equipped with a ‘Daddy’ voice that instantly instills fear, respect, obedience. . .but mostly fear.

Dads are hard workers. Their shoulders are broad, designed to carry the burdens of their obligations with ease. They rarely cry, for most of the moisture from their body is poured out in sweat. When they hurt, they lash out in anger. When their family hurts, it’s even worse.

Somehow, dads have managed to compress their brains, like a zip drive. Inside, they carry the wisdom of the universe, yet sometimes, their word processor fails and they are unable to communicate what is in their hearts.

Like the rest of their body, their hands are roughened by work and built to handle any task. Their grip is like steel, their touch hardened by callous’. Dads are big, and strong, and tough.

Except when it comes to their daughters.

When it comes to their daughters, dads are soft, pliable. Their heart is full of love, and their eyes shine with compassion. Dads are still tough when it comes to their daughters, but instead of a grip like steel, it is more like a firm hand cradling a fragile egg. Dads teach. Inspire. Instruct. They challenge their daughters to be all they can be, and they lift up, support them with their words. . .sometimes unspoken. Dads are heroes. They’re gentle giants no matter their size. They are a reflection of the Father, a symbol of His love.

Dads are different from normal human beings. They’re special. The word’s “I love you,” seem so inadequate, and yet we don’t tell them enough.

Dad, I love you. May your day be blessed.

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Living With Rejection

Three down, five to go. Proposals that is. I've heard back from three of the eight agents I submitted proposals to, all rejections.

Sigh.

Being a writer means living with rejection. Lots of if. Thankfully, I've discovered a bit of wisdom that helps me to live with it.

Put on your big girl panties and deal with it!

Not every editor, agent, publisher is going to be foaming at the mouth, waiting to snatch up my book because they are certain it'll be the next big story.

There is that one, however, who believes in my work and can't wait to sign me so he or she can start helping me accomplish my dream. I just have to find them. That's why I'm adding to my list of potential agents and preparing query letters and proposals as I speak...er, type. The list is growing! Anything to help better my odds, right?

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The Hit List

It all started one dark and stormy night. Well, not really. But it sounded good, and it went with the title.

Actually, it all started with a LOT of research. I booted up my computer, dusted off my keyboard, and went to work researching agents. Here’s what I found:

Many CBA agents can be found just by Googling them, but who has the time? This website in particular proved invaluable for listing agents, their submission guidelines, and contact info:

http://www.christianwritersinfo.net/tips7.htm

And just in case you need a more definitive list, I’m including the agents I have submitted to, along with a link to their submission guidelines. Enjoy, and happy researching!

Beth Jusino, Alive Communications

Chip MacGregor, MacGregor Literary Agency

Deidre Knight, The Knight Agency

Janet Kobobel Grant, Books and Such

Janet Benrey, Benrey Literary Agency

John Eames, Eames Literary Agency

Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency

Wendy Lawton, Books and Such

Also, since part of pitching to an agent means preparing a top notch proposal, I’m attaching a copy of mine. Hope it helps.

Book Proposal

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