Up and Running Again!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased, relieved, and excited to announce that the Giles family move, 2015 version, has officially come to an end. I mean, okay technically, there are still about 100 boxes left to unpack, but I finally found the box with all my pants—which was truly missing for like 4 days. Also, the box with my kitchen knives and spatulas, which are also sort of important.

Pants = I can now go out in public. Hooray!

Spatulas = I can make things like grilled cheese without burning my fingers off.

The other boxes—well, I’ll get to them as I can. The goal is a box a day for now. And to be fair, I have organized every room in the house as I have unpacked, so that also takes time. I sort of feel like Super-Woman when I consider how much I have accomplished in the last month.

Me = muscling furniture into place and scrubbing hard water spots off the shower in the rental. (Who needs the gym?)

The downside is I have truly had to set aside my writing projects, which I fully expected and had planned for, but still hurt, since I am right in the thick of about four massive ones. However, I am now getting back into the saddle, and hope to crank out LEGACY and get to work on the sequel for Water So Deep.  

Me = dusts off computer and jumps into the waiting arms of my characters.

So. What have you been up to lately? 

New Horizons and Unique Journeys

Since I first started writing—actually no, strike that—since I first decided to write for a career, I’ve paid close attention to the stories of other writers. When I say stories, I mean their personal stories, not the stories publishers are buying. I’ve paid attention to their real-life journeys.

I admit, there have been times when I wondered what my journey will look like, and if I’ll ever be one of those people with a personal story that is unique enough for others to want to hear it, and successful enough to inspire people to keep their chins up and continue moving forward, even when what they desire most is to quit.

I’m grateful for the inspiration others have shared with me, and so I hope to pay it forward.  Also, I can’t lie. I once thought that paying it forward in that way would have to mean I actually reach that level of success in my career.

But as I’ve mentioned before, success doesn’t always look the way we think it should. And every journey is different. My journey—over the last year in particular—has been a roller coaster of ups and downs and sideways and circular motion that I would never have expected. With the recent announcement that my publisher is closing, I realize how distinctly unique my own story is becoming.

Whether I like it or not, I’m getting my wish.

This year, I’ve gone from aspiring author to agented, published author. And now I’m getting my rights back on that published book and there is a strong possibility that going Indie might be my next step. At the same time, I have other submissions out and other things in the works.

My story has officially become unique, and very different from any other I’ve heard. I have a diverse perspective from others, and something new to share and/or contribute to the world of aspiring authors.

I feel like I’m facing a hurricane, but somehow, as I squint into the wind, I can see the calm of a new horizon. And I understand that all of the best things come at a high price, just like the most precious metals are refined in a fire.

So yeah. It’s all good. I’m just building on my awesomely unique story so that someday, when people ask, I’ll be the one inspiring others to build their own story.

And seriously people, you can’t pay for this kind of experience.

What about you? How is your story unique?

Something Everyone Can Be

The final address at the Teen BookCon was given by author Sharon Draper. This was the speech I most needed to hear that day. I’ve never met Sharon, nor heard her speak, and the awesome thing is that she was speaking to teenagers, about teenagers—teens who write, and teens who don’t. And I just happened to be pretending to be a teen, so it worked out.

Author problem #347: I have zero experience in talking to teens.  (This is one of the reasons I crashed Teen Book Con.)

Besides being an author, Sharon has taught school for 30 years, and her vocal skills show that experience. She was engaging and funny. She read out loud several pages from her books—segments that absolutely hooked the audience. But more importantly, she was profound.

She said something like (I’m totally paraphrasing): Some people are born with a natural talent for writing. Others work very, very hard to learn how to write because they love it and it’s what they want to do. But not everyone is meant to be a writer, and that’s okay. Everyone has something they are either good at, or something they love enough to work hard on, and that is a good place to focus. Not everyone needs to be a writer.

But everyone, EVERYONE can be a reader. Besides novels, there is nonfiction, and magazines and short stories and biographies, and a million other types of books to choose from. Those people who don’t think they’re readers just simply haven’t found the right books or the right materials.

Shannon’s words made me think of my fifteen-year-old daughter. For years, she has insisted that she is not a reader. That she doesn’t like reading at all. But, um, right before The Hunger Games movie came out, she read through the entire series in ONE WEEK. (Not a reader? WHATEVER!) Yeah. I agree with Sharon. Everyone can be a reader.   

Isn’t everyone in the world just looking for a good story? What do you think?

A Personal Investment

And no, I’m not talking about stocks and bonds or whatever, but writer’s conferences. They all cost money. More importantly, they cost us time. As do book signings, and gatherings, and other bookish-type events.

But we go, partly because it’s necessary, and partly because the investment of our time, and often our money, is most likely to have a return. The writing profession is like one of those slow growing bonds that has potential to pay off, but might take a ridiculously long time. Or not. Depends on who you talk to.  

No two investments are the same. No two writing conferences cost the same amount of money, nor do they all run for the same amount of time. And then you have to look at what classes or discussions they offer, and other services, and what’s included, and if you’ll need to also pay for accommodations and transportation…

You get the drift, yeah? So how do you make a decision like that? Especially when, like me, you would prefer to go to everything, be involved with and support everyone, yet have limited funds or time to do so? (I still have yet to find a time-turner.)

Recently, someone kindly reminded me that it is my debut year, and that I need to make sure each thing I attend is going to be worth my investment. And she’s right. I do. These things add up. Both the cost and the time commitments. Suddenly, I have deadlines to keep and swag to buy and promotions to run.

Last week, I missed a conference I have attended for years, because it is now a long distance conference for me (when it wasn’t before), which would have included buying a plane ticket, staying in a hotel, and probably renting a car. During that same time frame, I also missed two or three other fun signing events. In May, there is another conference, another similar situation. I choose to attend that one instead. Because we can’t do everything or be everywhere, no matter how much we wish we could.

How do you choose your best investment of time and money when it comes to your career?

(Stay tuned for Friday’s post, when I will answer this question myself.)

The First Steps to Revolution

So my last post mentioned my personal revolution (as opposed to setting resolutions). And I’m thinking about what it will take in order to get that thing moving.

First up, I think it’s time to get over the moving/packing-unpacking/overwhelming whatever whatever and get back to work. Sooo…

Time to draft a sequel to my May release. And then finish the half-edited book I was working on when my life sort of exploded, as well as the partly drafted book I started in September. And then draft another book, which will also probably be a sequel, but might be something totally new.

Also, I’m going to start sending out newsletters, planning a launch party and some signings, and finishing edits for Descendant (the one that comes out in May). And I should probably start some promotional planning too.  And since I’m teaching at a conference in May, I think I probably ought to plan my classes. And propose a few more for other conferences.

Um, yeah. I have lots to do.

But it’s all good stuff that has me way excited. It’s going to be a great year.

Now it’s your turn. How will your revolution start?   

Things I don’t know

I’m a writer. An author. And not only do I openly admit it, but I talk about my writing and my hopes and dreams quite a lot. And in very public forums. (Like blogging.) Because I’ve been into this for a while, people have a tendency to ask me things. Sometimes, I have answers, but more often than not, I don’t. Not yet, anyway.

There are a lot of things I don’t know.

1. How do you get an agent?
(Um, I can tell you how I’m trying, but since I have yet to be successful in this never-ending endeavor, I might not be the best person to ask.)

2. When is your next book coming out?
(Hm. I’d love to say 2013, but since I’m not feeling the self-publishing vibe, I have no idea.)

3. How does a midlist book make the bestseller lists?
(My guess: good writing, strong word of mouth, and some brilliant marketing from the author. But I’ve never been there, so…I couldn’t really tell you for sure.)

4. How can I make a living as a writer?
(Uh, I’ll have to get back to you on that. As soon as I find the secret, I’ll be happy to share it, because I’m nice like that.)

5. How long are you planning to keep writing / submitting?
(Indefinitely. Because I’ve tried to quit. A few times. Recently, even. Never works for long, so I guess I’ll write forever.)

6. Who is your favorite author?
(Answering this question would be like diving into the ocean and trying to pinpoint a favorite starfish. But I have a particular love for young adult authors these days, so I guess I could start there.)

7. Where did you learn how to write?
(Everywhere. Practice. Lots and lots of practice, and classes, and critique groups, and conferences. But again, see the above questions. It’s entirely possible that I don’t know how to write—maybe that’s why I don’t have an agent and/or book deal and am not making a living as a writer.)

But even with all the stuff I don’t know, there are a few things I do know.

1. I will never get to where I want to be if I don’t try.

2. Trying sometimes = failing a whole lot of times.


3. Winner/ loser/ reject: there are people in my life who will always be there, and they will love me anyway.

4. People will always be more important than money or deals or success.

5. I am the only person who can decide how I act, how I treat others, and how much I value the relationships in my life.

6. I have written a number of full-length novels. Someday they will be read by people who need to read them. It’s okay if that someday is far away.

7. Even though I am not necessarily where I want to be in my writing career, I am already successful. I have done things most people will never even attempt. I have met people and formed relationships, and experienced things I didn’t even dream when I was young. And I am teaching my kids the value of the phrase never give up.

8. Someday, I WILL have the answers to the questions on my don’t list.

Sometimes what we know and what we don’t is a matter of perspective.