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| Flood of '83 |
In a region where weather forecasters
are never taken seriously, and we don’t believe
a cloud means rain before the musky scent of creosote pervades, tropical storm
Newton has bucked the odds and barreled up from the Baja. Flooding began as
soon as it crossed the border and the eye has yet to arrive. I hope we’ve
learned to drive since last time…
But that’s not what I meant to talk
about today as it’s once again the first Wednesday of the month when the Insecure
Writer’s Support Group convenes to discuss whatever is on our writing
minds. The question for this month is “How do you find the time to write in
your busy days?” That’s easy since I
write all the time; anywhere and everywhere. I once wrote the first line of a
story on the back of a doctor’s appointment card. I went on to finish the story
but subsequently missed the appointment
because I had tucked the card away in my “story ideas” drawer!
After spending a few years just sitting
on the shore, though the sea of publication hadn’t lost its allure, I decided
to kick off my shoes and trepidations and wade back in. See, last time out, I
met a shark right off and swore I didn’t need this. Actually, I still don’t,
but I want to.
Recently, I was appalled by the story
of a writer’s disappointment at being rejected simply
because while the publisher sat on the work for nearly a year, other work in the same genre was in the process of
publication! Should we take that to mean
that all mysteries have been solved, and
no one else will ever fall in love, so don’t bother writing about it? Was it
the (publisher’s) timing?
It’s been my experience that there
will always be a “brightest star”, but not the same one every night. So who’s
to say a writer’s work; when polished just a bit, won’t shine above the rest? I
hope the writer saved her work for
brighter days; I sure would have.
It’s these and other questions that
remind me of a story about a magnificent marble statue which drew so many
visitors from all over the world that the marble tile complained to the statue
about the unfairness of being stepped on, while the statue was revered. “We’re from the same stone, you know.”
“While you resisted the sculptor’s painful tools,” replied the statue “I decided I could endure and thusly was
transformed.”
It’s Be Kind to Editors and Writers
Month!
Do you believe there’s room for more in every
genre? If you were to create a whole new genre, what would it be?
Hi, Diedre!
ReplyDeleteI was asleep at the switch, dear friend. I didn't even know that Arizona was in the path of a tropical system with the potential for flash floods. What an unusual occurrence - only the 6th tropical storm on record to have its circulation center reach Arizona intact. I hope you and your loved ones stay safe, dear friend!
I enjoyed your latest musings for the IWSG. I usually have snippets of paper with topics, ideas, words and phrases written on them scattered all over my desk, in my drawers and in my pockets. Yessum, I think there will always be an audience for a well told tale and we will never get tired of experiencing vicariously the thrill of falling in love or the fun of solving a good mystery.
I appreciate your metaphor of the statue and the tile. I might add that the tile is a chip off the old block and that sculptor is nothing but a chiseler. :)
I'll be thinking about you as Netwon passes through your region, dear friend Diedre. God bless!
Hi Shady!
DeleteI think my entire town was a bit taken aback by the fact the forecasters were right this time;-)
We should all do fine long as we don't drive around any barricades. Thank you for the wishes, my friend.
I'm glad you agree that as long as folks keep having adventures, there will always be room for another story. The world would sure be dreary without them.
Ha! You do make me giggle; the way you sculpt your words. You are a delightful chiseler!
Thanks, dear Shady.
On the back of a doctor’s appointment card? You certainly do use every opportunity. And I laughed at the part of you missing the appointment because you put the card in your story ideas drawer. That is priceless!
ReplyDeleteI fully believe everything happens for a reason. Every book rejections. If one agent/published doesn't accept it, I feel that means the right one is out there, waiting.
Hi Chrys!
DeleteUnfortunately, writing things on whatever is handy; including appointment cards and shopping lists, and filing them away is something I do all too often ;-)
Everything for a reason is exactly how I feel too. The fruit is always sweeter when you've climbed a tree to get it ;-)
What a great post and perspective. I liked the analogy of the tile and the stone. Happy IWSG
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
What a great post and perspective. I liked the analogy of the tile and the stone. Happy IWSG
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
Thank you, Juneta!
DeleteI believe a good story is a good story regardless of the genre. Even a market packed with paranormal books has room for a great paranormal story.
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly!
DeleteSo true, no harm in embracing variety when the only downside is the opportunity for having favorites ;-)
While it's a bummer the publisher held it that long, there is still room and many other options. Even similar stories in a genre can be told so many different ways.
ReplyDeleteHi Alex!
DeleteThat's exactly how I see it too! As they say, if one door doesn't open - go through a window ;-)
We think the same about the forecast of snow and ice. Everything comes to a standstill. However, snow usually comes when nothing has been forecast. It snows about once every ten to twenty years here.
ReplyDeleteYou have posted some good thoughts about getting your work out there. I am no where near that point. But I now stay away from the naysayers. They have valid points but if I fill my mind with that, I will quit. I am a pragmatist at heart. So if it is not positive, I will ignore it.
I'm a big believer in appreciating what you have and acknowledging there will be a time for everything if it is meant to be. So I don't push things like I did at one time.
Hi Ann!
DeleteSame here with faulty forecasting - but they sure have their work cut out for them when temps can be above 70 one day and right out of the blue SNOW the next. I wouldn't apply for that job (grin).
I like your positive thinking! It sure puts an end to nail-biting ;-)
That happened to me--"too many similar stories are on the market" after they sat on it for nearly a year...and we'd had a long phone call where they asked for revisions (which I did). It's more about "the market is oversaturated." They did that with dystopia. Almost as soon as the movies started coming out, agents/editors were already saying, "We don't want to see any more dystopia." So crazy! But luckily for many, small presses don't often feel that way. They don't need that guarantee that it's going to sell thousands of copies.
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie!
DeleteThey even requested revisions? I am stunned by the audacity! Once burned, twice shy I guess. It's practices like that which convince authors to take the reins themselves.
Thankfully, as you pointed out, there are just as many avenues as there are opinions ;-)
I also write ideas on random things, but too funny about having missed the appointment. Whoops! We also don't believe the meteorologists here. How awful to have them sit on the manuscript for a year then say no. That's not reasonable.
ReplyDeleteHi Shannon!
DeleteMy husband once questioned something I jotted on the back of a recipe card: "half a spider's bottom", he wanted to know if I'd picked that item up at the store;-)
I fully believe if your work load is that full, you don't accept submissions until you clear some room. Or accept multiple submissions rather than putting the author's work under a rock on your desk. If wishes were horses, beggars would ride I guess ;-)
Too funny that you missed the doctor's appt! Yes, I think there is always room for new voices.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog earlier this week.
Yvonne V
Hi Yvonne!
DeleteFor someone who doesn't care for filing, I can sure be embarrassingly efficient sometimes ;-)
I very much enjoyed visiting your page when you hosted Stephanie, even had a peek at a few of your blogs and thought I would enjoy some return visits - see you there and thanks for popping in!
Every month should be Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month!
ReplyDeleteHi Cynthia!
DeleteHa! I absolutely agree ;-)
I had to laugh about the doctor's appointment card story. But how frustrating for the author to have a publisher sit on their story for a year and then reject it. There's always room for new voices and good stories. Yay to being kind to editors and writers!
ReplyDeleteHi Lori!
DeletePretty silly, huh? In my defense the appointment was scheduled several months in advance and I might have lost the card completely had it not contained precious smatterings of an overactive mind ;-)
Oh absolutely, cheers to all editors and writers! Where would we be without each other?
No matter what genre, I think there's always room for good writing. The task for the readers is to wade through the dreck and not-so-good writing and find that which shines. But being entertained is okay too.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Hi Arlee!
DeleteI agree, wading through is a given for finding that shining gem. I really appreciate how easy technology has made it to do so these days. I remember thinking that Nancy Drew was the ultimate - though there weren't many other choices. Now, there's a million and I love it!
I think there's always room for more in every genre because every writer brings something new to the table. Good luck wading out into the sea of publication!
ReplyDeleteHi Nick!
DeleteThanks for the wishes ;-) Though I've several WIPs only one has always been intended for traditional publication. Even if it never happens, my muse will know I tried ;-)
I think there's definitely room for more in every genre! Avid readers gobble up books faster than we can write them. Lots of great books equals LOTS of happy readers! I hope all is well with the flooding?
ReplyDeleteHi Quanie!
Delete"Faster than we can write them," such an assuring thought! There's nothing I like more than having choices - no offense to Stephen King, of course ;-)
Aside from a midnight rescue of an injured hiker from the canyon near the house, and a leak in a skylight in the guest bath; which now allows one to, er, multi-task, we survived Newton's wrath!
Hi Diedre,
ReplyDeleteOops and oh my, it took me a week to arrive at your blog post. Hopefully, the plane to Canada wont take as long as I have.
Anyway, if by some strange occurrence, I actually have a thought about something to write about, if I have no pen or paper, I've been know to mutter away into my cell phone aka mobile phone recording device.
Plenty of room in every genre and then some. There is of course, a little know genre where a dog, or even a cat, pawhaps, um, perhaps, pawblishes, sorry, publishes something in an animal pawspective, doh, perspective genre.
That's it, I'm outta' here.
Penny's fictional human,
Gary :)
Hi Gary!
DeleteIt's good to see you anytime you drop by;-)
Voice mail is an excellent way to 'record' your thoughts! I have a recorder for expressly that purpose, though I've only used it once.
You know, Penny has such a unique pawspective on her fabulous fictional human that I foresee pawlenty of followers!
Can't wait to hear about your travels :-)
I think there's always room. Sometimes I get tired of a genre, but writers bring something new and fresh to the table.
ReplyDeleteHi Medeia!
DeleteYou are so right! This summer I made a point of reading only authors I hadn't yet read and have now added 5 or 6 to my list of favorite authors!