Emotionally Driven

Guess what? I just finished a fifth (or sixth?) draft of a manuscript. That makes two solid edits I’ve finished this year—and it’s not even February yet!

*dances around*

Also, I’m working on an outline for another idea. I’ve decided to take a different approach with this one, since it’s going to be for a different audience than my other work. I’m reading publisher websites, requirements, requests, that sort of thing. Also, I’m paying attention to what people in that target audience are reading.

I’m not surprised by what I see.

In all my research, in all genres of YA and adult material, there is one thing that will always have an audience, no matter the story. Emotion.

Stories that are emotionally driven will always have readers because emotion is something with which everyone can identify and which we all feel. Romance, love, anger, hate, happiness, contentment, fear, triumph—these are the feelings we experience every day, and also the ones our favorite characters experience in our favorite stories.

What are your favorite emotionally driven story lines?

That Fairy Tale Life

Dudes. I don’t watch a lot of TV. Seriously, I think Chopped is about the only show I watch regularly because it’s on late at night as I’m getting ready for bed. But every once in a while, there is an exception.

Like the new abc series, Once Upon a Time. *clutches chest* LOVE!

Usually, when I find a TV series and watch it regularly, it’s because I love both the characters and the storyline. But this one’s even better, because it has been created out of stories and characters I already loved, put a new twist on all my favorite fairy tales, and plunked them down in the modern world.

More love!

This is what it feels like to be on the other side of brilliant writing. It’s a learning experience, and not just for writers, but for everyone. I think whenever you take a perfect life lesson and turn it and twist it and move it into different places and take it to new heights, it makes us question our morals, our values, and our how far we would go for love, life, and the pursuit of, well, happily ever after.

What’s more, it makes me personally evaluate my own happily ever after. Have I reached that place yet? Keeping in mind that life changes daily, I ask myself if I died tomorrow, would I be happy with the life I’ve lived?

I still have a long bucket list, so I hope I don’t die tomorrow. But if I did, if some freak accident happened and I was hit by lightning or a bus or dropped off a cliff, would I be able to say I’d loved as deeply as I could, given back to the world in the best way I knew how, and affected someone else’s life for the better?

I certainly hope so. What about you? Are you living a fairy-tale kind of life?

The Beauty of An Open Mind

When I first started writing, I had grandiose and rather naive dreams of how my newly chosen career would go. I’m sure you know them. They go something like this:

a. Write a single book in one draft.
b. Publisher falls in love with single book and offers buckets of money to publish it immediately.
c. Agents fawn over author, fighting over who gets to represent her.
d. Author makes so much money, husband can retire and together they can travel the world while the author writes more bestsellers.
e. Fans go so crazy that author has to hire personal security to follow her around.
f. Movie directors snatch up the gem and turn single book into multi-million dollar series of films.
g. Etc, etc, etc.

All right. I must admit, I wasn’t quite that disillusioned. But I won’t say I haven’t wished for similar scenarios. All authors have dreams like this. (And if you don’t, you’re either lying to yourself or crazy. Just sayin.)

But the reality is so very, very different. What’s more, each author’s journey is vastly different from that of his or her author friends/ acquaintances/ peers. In a market that offers so many levels of success, it would be impossible for two people to have the same experience.

My personal journey continues, and while I am probably still a long way from that story of wild success, I’m happy with where I am because I’ve opened my mind to all the new possibilities and levels of achievement. More, I’m learning to adjust my hopes and dreams as I discover new realities and potential I never before considered.

And I’ve come to realize that the one thing—the MOST IMPORTANT thing—is that no matter where I am in my career as an author, there will always be another level for which to reach, another skill to learn, and another book to write. The best thing I can do to ensure my own success is to learn how to keep an open heart and mind.

That, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

Attracting Positive Energy

The other day, someone paid me a really nice compliment. She told me that good things happen to me because I am always so positive. It was kind of an offhanded comment, which made it mean all the more.

I believe that we attract the same kind of energy we put out, so if we put out positive energy, that is what we will attract—what will be drawn toward us.

For instance, if you believe in the parking fairy, she’ll work for you and make sure you get good parking spaces most of the time. And if you try hard to always see the good in people, situations, and circumstances, good things will come to you, largely because you’re LOOKING for them.

What do you think? Am I crazy, or does positive + positive = WOWZA?

Good Movies vs. Bad Movies

I like movies as much as anyone, but I don’t often take the time to see them. Although, I’ve seen several lately. Some were extremely well written, and some were very poorly written (no, I’m not telling titles—you’ll have to figure that out on your own).

The well written movies had high tension levels, strong suspension of disbelief, identifiable characters, and plots with unexpected twists and turns.

On the other hand, the poorly written ones moved slowly, weren’t believable for one reason or another, had characters that were difficult to connect with, and a plot that didn’t fulfill the viewers’ expectations.

What’s the difference? Well, in the case of two of my recently viewed movies, several million dollars in ticket sales. But even more than that, fans that walked away either stimulated and satisfied, or feeling like they wasted their ticket money.

Notice I didn’t bring up the big-budget/small-budget comparison. It’s because I believe small budget movies can be well written as often as big-budget movies are poorly written. It’s a mixed bag.

One thing we can do to assure we don’t end up on the bottom end of the spectrum is to fact check and research. Especially real life scenarios. If law enforcement plays a big role in your storyline, talk to a law enforcement official. If your story draws on medical science, talk a doctor to or research the relevant subjects. If there is a strong historical side to your story, make sure your story is set in the right time and that you have given your characters the right tools.

I’m not saying you have to get everything exactly right. Just make it believable to the reader or viewer.

What other things can we do to assure that our stories are the best they can be?

Me in Ten

I’ve done posts like this before. And for those of you who’ve been around for a while, please forgive the repeat. I’ve picked up a lot of new readers this year, so I figure it’s time to do a sort of get-to-know-ya post. Yeah?

Okay.

1. I’m older than I look, younger than my age, different than you think.

2. Four kids (one who will be graduating from high school this spring), and two golden retrievers all call me Mom. (Okay, the dogs don’t actually talk, but ya know.)

3. If it sparkles, I’ll like it. Also, if it’s colorful.

4. I live in the Utah mountains, but hope to someday move to a place with sand, water, and palm trees.

5. I’m an author (see sidebar or click the my books link above) of two small press books, and intend to break into the YA national market very soon.

6. I type fast and read fast, but the stories in my head evolve slowly.

7. I believe that love conquers all and that determination can help us overcome all obstacles, and compassion should be part of our daily decisions (maybe a little too idealistic, but that’s me in a nutshell).

8. Driving with my convertible top down is my preference. Even if it’s raining. But I don’t like to be cold, so not in snow.

9. I have four parents and ten siblings, not including the in-laws on either side. Also, over a hundred aunts, uncles, and cousins and three-living grandparents. Yep. Makes for some crazy family gatherings. I like it that way.

10. Travelling = yes please. Whenever and wherever I can, I love to go, go, go. Adventure included? Thanks!

There you have it. Me in 10 statements. If you’re a new reader (or not) feel free to tell me a few things about you. Let’s get to know each other!

Stick-to-it-ness

If you’ve been a follower for very long, you’ll know I’m a gym regular, and that January is the season for newbies to join, come for a couple weeks, or a month, and then never return.

Newbies can be picked out from across the room in a packed gym, and it is not because their workout attire is either brand new or inappropriate (aka jeans, flip-flops, etc.). It’s that look of panic on their face, the confusion when they look at the equipment, the indecision that causes them to wander in circles.

Sadly, by the end of February, one of two things tends to happen with these people. Either they’ve given up the idea of getting fit and have moved back into old habits, or they’ve figured out the machines, found a routine, and bought a good sports bra or compression shorts.

The same thing happens to writers who are attending a conference or workshop for the first time. From the look of panic, the confusion when trying to figure out which breakout sessions to attend, and the indecision that causes them to wander the halls.

By the end of the conference though, either they’ve decided they really don’t want to be a writer and are looking into basketweaving or taxidermy, OR they’ve taken reams of notes, broken out of their shell to make friends with other authors, and are planning to attend other conferences near them.

There’s nothing wrong with being the newbie in either of these cases. It’s a very admirable thing for people to branch out and try new things. I’m all over self improvement. (Disclaimer: some people aren’t meant to get in shape in a gym. There are other methods. Some people aren’t meant to learn to write in a public setting like a conference. There are other ways to do that, too. And I wish those people luck. Today, I’m addressing those who ARE made to do things this way. )

The only way to reach a difficult goal like getting in shape or writing a book is to stick with it. Even when it’s hard. Even when it’s so hard you don’t know why you decided to do it in the first place. Even when you wonder why you subject yourself to such methods of torture. Keep going and keep going and keep going, because eventually, you will see results. You will lose five pounds or ten, or write a chapter or an entire rough draft, or even a short story.

Once you start seeing results, you’ll remember why you started this journey, and hopefully, that will be motivation enough to help you stick through the next difficult phase, until eventually, you manage to reach that goal.

What helps you through the tough parts?