Falling Behind
The other day I lost 8,000 words of the novel I’m currently writing. This happened after a full week of speaking engagements and feeling sick and meeting a couple of deadlines. 8,000 words is almost 1/10th of a novel. Some of those 8,000 words were really great, too. It really, really aggravated me.
I mean, I knew I could rewrite those words. I knew what happened in that scene. Still…8,000 words. Ouch!
Then, as it goes, I started going through the highlight reel of all the ways I’ve fallen behind over the last few months. Here I am, days from Spring Break and months from the end of another school year, and I don’t have a completely finished and polished novel. I have nothing to give my agent to sell to a publisher. I’m not getting going on novel #5.
What is wrong with me???
The answer? What’s wrong is that I’m being too hard on myself. At the end of October, I sent A Cup of Dust to Kregel Publications. November and December, I started researching for a novel (which I’m planning to write next year). January, February, and March I’ve been planning, pre-writing, and drafting novel #4. That and I’ve picked up a freelancing job and more responsibilities with Breathe Christian Writers Conference.
That’s not chopped liver. And I’m not saying that so you know…I’m saying it because I need to acknowledge it.
I have this tendency to think I can do everything right this very now…and do it well…without taking a break. That’s just not possible.
I need to give myself some grace. I need to look back and see that, yes, I did accomplish much in my writing and in my family life. And I need to be grateful for all that God has done with my writing this year so far.
I’m not behind. I’m still moving forward.
Reading Unboxed
A few years ago, I heard Daniel Nayeri speak at Calvin College’s Festival of Faith and Writing. He talked about his book Straw House, Wood House, Brick House, Blow. He also showed us the book trailers (which I’ll put below).
I HAD to read the book.
And I finally did. Just a few days ago. I wish I would have read it sooner.
This book is the most unique book I’ve ever read – and you know I read a lot. It’s a collection of 4 novellas, each with a completely different storyline and characters. Nayeri is clever and imaginative.
This book was so far out of the box that I wondered if the box was blown to smithereens.
I loved this book. I will read it again. I’m looking forward to when my kids are teens so they can enjoy it, too.
Like I said, I read a lot. But I can get stuck in a rut easily. I could easily read Steinbeck for years with nothing else in between. I have to be intentional about pursuing books that are wildly different. It’s good for my creativity. It’s good for my writing. Even if I’ll never write a novel from the point of view of death (yes, that’s one of the novellas…and he’s pretty charming, really), I’m still engaging my creative brain in a new way. It’s good for me.
So, tell me, what books have you read which denied the “box” of convention? What’s a book that delighted your creativity? Or what’s a book (fiction or nonfiction) that made you laugh out loud?
And here, as promised, are those book trailers.
The Beauty of Rejection
This week is a crazy one. I’m speaking at three different schools to three different age groups about one thing: Writing.
Today I’ll be at an area elementary school. The coordinator asked that I talk about my background in writing (basically we didn’t have cable, video games, or a computer in my house…but we did have a kazillion books and a nice sized backyard…imagination was my favorite toy). She also asked that I talk about the hard work that goes into it.
Thinking about my writing life, I got to contemplating the rejections.
Why would I want to focus on that? Some of the rejections have been painful, some of them were unexpected or rude or just plain mean.
I focus on the rejection because it’s part of my writing. Each rejection has played a part in who I am as a novelist.
I went to where I keep special papers and pulled out a letter I received from an agent. “You have flashes of good writing but overall it (Paint Chips) still needs work.” I opened my email file with all the rejections. “Don’t give up.” “Your story is important.” “I have faith you’ll find a home for it.”
And then the rejection that makes me giggle a little…”Um…I’m going to have to pass.” (I’m not kidding, that was the whole email. Funny.)
I look back at those rejections and see how I didn’t quit. I pressed on. I cried a little, ate a little chocolate, and went back to work.
And I see where God has put me. The opportunities He’s given me to write my stories. And along the way, I’ve learned that rejection isn’t the end. It’s a chance to try again.
And that is a beautiful thing.
“Cheese Food” and giving anything but my best
It’s a rare cheese I don’t enjoy. That rare cheese? Limburger. But all other cheeses are my favorite. Cheddar, gouda, feta…you name it, I love it.
But when it comes to “cheese food”…no. Just no.
I’m not a picky eater and there are few foods which are absolutely banned from my kitchen. But cheese slices are one of those “food” items. Why? Because they’re plastic. They are tasteless. They are not cheese or food. They are “cheese product” (note the quotation marks, they’re important here).
They are synthetic.
That’s why when I read about Kraft singles donning the official “health food” label from professional nutritionists, I thought I was reading something from a joke site. Sadly, it’s real. Not only was it given a stamp of approval, it’s the first in the “Kids Eat Right” campaign.
My first thought? Why not apples? Or spinach? Or….or….anything other than icky, fakey “cheese”?
Blech.
Why would I feed my kids something that was a poor substitute for the good stuff?*********
I was thinking about this on my way back from dropping the kids off at school. My thoughts of “cheese product” oozed into thoughts of my work like melty mozzarella (oh, mercy, I’m drooling).
I thought about my writing. I’ll admit, there are days I just want to slap a piece of pre-fabricated, formulaic, less-than-my-best writing on the novels. “Ah, who’ll even notice if I don’t rework this sentence 20 times?” or “Nobody pays attention to if my character is on the shore one moment and suddenly next to the antagonist on the dune the next…details, details…” or “I’ll just let the editor take care of this tangled scene…that’s their job!” (NOTE: NO NO NO NO NO!!!! That is not the editor’s job. NOT THE EDITOR’S JOB!)
Giving anything but my best (and consistently) weakens my work ethic. Just like plastic “cheese” gives dairy a bad name.
Today I have several projects to tackle. I have a novel to write, marketing for A Cup of Dust to plan, prep work for church stuff, a freelance project to attend to, a house to clean, food to cook (without “cheese product”), kids to snuggle, a hubby to smooch…And it all deserves the best I can offer. Not a cheap replacement.
What I have to give is not perfect, but it’s the best I can do.
********(Note: Kraft Singles aren’t even a money saver. Buying a real block of cheese is cheaper than a pack of the pre-sliced, individually wrapped, blech worthy “product”)
Get to the Point
The other day I was writing (yes, hand writing) and realized that I was beating around the bush. I was describing too much, adding too much unnecessary detail and dialogue and action.
I was avoiding a big kaboom event that would get the story rolling. Why? Because it would toss my characters into the muck of conflict and I didn’t feel like they were ready yet.
Um. Note to self: characters are never ready for conflict because real life people aren’t.
So, I went on and on, rambling away. Then I told myself to get to the point. In fact, I wrote it in the margin of my yellow page. Get. To. The Point. Stop farting around (excuse my french) and get to it!
I do this all the time. I stall, hoping for a little more time to get myself together. In my writing, in my relationships, in my housework. Instead of just getting busy scrubbing the stove-top, I find about a kazillion other things to do. It wouldn’t take me too long to get the scrubbing done, but I’m stalling for time.
I just need to get to it.
Do you do this too? Please tell me I’m not the only one.
So now I’m going to practice what I preach and get to it.
The Makings of a Fruitful Blog
This Friday I’m leading a blogging workshop at the Jot Writers’ Conference here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This will be the third time I’ve headed (or co-headed) a session on this topic and I often feel unequipped.
I don’t have troves of people flocking to my blog. I don’t know how to monetize with advertisements or get the GoodReads widget to work correctly or how to write html code. When I think about it, I’m not all that great of a blogger…and I usually don’t even call myself that. Susie: Wife, Mother, Novelist, Coffee drinker, Chocolate inhaler, Laundress, Cook…but I wouldn’t add “blogging” to my list of credentials.
Yet, on the Jot site, they called me a “prolific blogger“. Talk about pressure! I mean, when I think of the word “prolific” I think of Stephen King’s mountains of 800+ page novels or Shakespeare’s list of words he made up. Prolific is a HUGE word.
And it’s a word that probably means more than I give it credit for.
It means a person, plant, or animal that produces a lot of foliage, offspring, or fruit.
Well, I mean, these eyebrows could count as foliage…just ask the lady who waxes them (amiright, Sarah?). And I’ve got 3 kids…somedays that feels like a lot of offspring. And fruit. Hm.
What’s the fruit of my blog?
I could mention the month of short stories (anybody remember that crazy challenge?) or that I got in touch with my first publisher (WhiteFire) because one of their editors read my blog. Or I could go digging and find out how many posts I’ve written.
But that’s not the fruit. Not really. I mean, they’re benefits. They are results.
The fruit, as far as I’m concerned, has more to do with people. With you. I feel like I’ve made some great connections with readers, other writers, friends through this silly little blog. That’s really why I keep blogging. For the conversations we have, the support we can lend one another.
My workshop this weekend is called “Thriving in the Blogosphere”. You know how I’ve thrived? How I’ve survived?
You.
And I wanted to tell you thank you. You mean so much to me.
I’d love for you to come to Jot this weekend. It’s open to anyone! And it’s FREE. All you have to do is call Baker Book House to RSVP at 616-957-3110. I hope to see you there!
Overcoming a Book Phobia
March is reading month and I’m going to be issuing challenges. Wheee! Check out the last two: Read a Series and Read Something Different.
When I was a kid there was one book that haunted me. The cover looked nothing short of sinister. A boy holding a lantern and an ax peers into the dark woods. Something bad was in those woods, I knew it. But that wasn’t why I was terrified to read the book. It was because of what was with the boy.
Dogs. Two of them.
All dog books end with the dog dying. All. Of. Them. Even at a young age I knew that.
So, yeah. No thank you.
I successfully made it to my 37th year without having read Where the Red Fern Grows. That’s right. I skipped on by it, figuring that I could live the rest of my life without it.
See, here’s the thing. I was an emotional child. I couldn’t make it through National Geographic nature movies without breathing into a paper sack because the mean old lion killed a gazelle or whatever.
That’s not to say I didn’t read emotionally charged books. I did. In fact, books in which the characters struggled were my favorites. They made me feel less alone. I have always liked a story with grit.
But not when the grit had anything to do with a dog suffering. That was just too much for me.
So, I didn’t read it. And I felt perfectly fine about that. Until a few weeks ago.
That’s when my husband discovered, with shock and disgust in his voice, that I’d never read it. It, apparently, is one of his favorite books. So, I gave myself a challenge. I read a book that scared me.
I have to say, the book was completely different from what I’d expected. I mean, some things I’d predicted did come to fruition. But it was a beautiful story. Truly. Loyalty, friendship, family, faith. A boy growing into manhood (even though he did cry a lot).
And, can we just take a moment to talk about Old Dan and Little Ann? Because, seriously, that was some good characterization. Also, if a dog shelter is trying to market dogs, they need to give out free copies of this book because I suddenly have a strong NEED for a dog or two.
There are other books that scare me. Not in the Stephen King kind of scaring (I don’t tend to shy away from his novels).I mean books that intimidate me. Books that were off limits to me when I was a kid because I was in the lowest reading level (I know…I know…it all started because I was being a picky reader and my teacher thought I struggled to read…). Books that I fear I’ll hate, even though everyone else loved them. Books I’m afraid to love because everyone else hated them. Books that might push me to the emotional limits.
Books that might just force me to change the way I view others in the world.
As I learned as I read Where the Red Fern Grows, the reading is worth the risk.
What will you read? What book scares you? Why? I’d love to hear from you!
Jot 5 Needs Your Help!
I’m so excited for Jot! If you’re a writer or think you might like to learn more about writing, this is the place to be! See you there!
At the risk of plagiarizing myself, I’d like to share some ways that you (yes, you!) can support the Jot Writers’ Conference. You see, Jot 5 is right around the corner (March 13, 2015) and it would probably be good if we had some people there.
Why? Because I honestly feel that this Jot will be the best one ever. Our speakers are top-notch. We have more workshops than ever. And the venue (Baker Book House) is still a beautiful place to be. So why not roll up your sleeves and get the word out with me about the best free one-night writers’ conference on this side of Heaven?
There is a reason Jot is free. Most writers aren’t rolling in piles of cash. We understand that. In fact, we represent that.
So here are a few ways that you can help us out for little or no…
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Something Different
Like I mentioned on Monday, March is Reading month! Hip Hip Hooray! I’ll be writing often this month about reading because, well, I like to read. It’s a big part of my life. I’ll also be challenging you to be a little more adventurous in your reading.
I can very easily fall into a reading rut if I’m not intentional about changing things up every now and then. I can gravitate to what’s comfortable. When I do that, I’m actually stunting my growth as a writer and a thinker (okay, I just giggled a little when I called myself a thinker).
When I’m in those ruts, I grab a book that I normally wouldn’t read. I go to a different genre.
Just last week, I read Dina L. Sleiman‘s newest novel DAUNTLESS. Dauntless is the first in a series of Young Adult novels (which I’m beginning to read more of) which are set in Medieval England. I don’t usually read novels set that deep in history, but thought the idea of a band of merry child thieves headed by a girl would be interesting to read. And it was. It had a bit of an “Ever After” or “Knights Tale” feel to it. But the big kicker that made this book something I generally wouldn’t pick up was the romantic element.
Romance is not not a genre I gravitate toward. That’s not to say that it’s an invalid form of literature or that it’s wrong to read it. It’s just not my thing. And that’s okay.
Dauntless had a bit of a love triangle. There were feelings of budding relationships. There were a few kisses. A good deal of the plot is driven by the romance between two characters.
But the love aspect isn’t all that this book has to offer. There are acrobatics, fight scenes, historical context, power-plays, lessons in friendship and loyalty. Merry, the protagonist, is a good leader. She makes sacrifices for the good of those who need her help. There is a spiritual stream that runs through the whole of the novel.
Dauntless is more than YA Medieval Romance. It’s a book about finding refuge in the Lord.
It’s amazing what kind of beautiful nuggets you can find within the pages of a book you normally wouldn’t read.
I challenge you. Pick out a book that isn’t your typical go-to read. I bet you’ll find something of value there.
***
A little about Dina Sleiman. She is the editor who discovered me. She also edited both Paint Chips and My Mother’s Chamomile. Dina is part of the reason I’m the writer I am now and for that I am grateful.
March is for Readers
Did you know that March is Reading Month? Yeah, I didn’t either until last year. Why is it reading month? Because of Dr. Seuss’s Birthday! Do we really need a whole month dedicated to reading?
Um. I don’t know what kind of question that is…
Now, if you’ve been around here for awhile, you know that I’m a big reader. And you know that I encourage others to give a little of their time to reading, too. So, to keep things fun, I’m going to be sharing some reading challenges to help us all expand our reading lists.
Ready for the first challenge?
Drumroll…
Read a series!
I wasn’t much of a series reader until recently. Last year I started reading The Heroines Behind the Lines series by Jocelyn Green. All four books are set during the Civil War and highlight different women who act courageously in dire situations. I enjoyed this series because the writing was consistent and every once in awhile, the characters made an appearance in later novels. I enjoyed the grit and the grime that made these stories so very real. I appreciated the extreme research Jocelyn did in order to write these women into being. I’m so glad I read this series from start to finish. I’m also looking forward to sharing the books with my daughter when she’s old enough.
Also, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that Spy of Richmond, the last in the series, released yesterday! I’m having a difficult time trying to decide which of the 4 were my favorite. I’ll have to say it’s a tie between Yankee in Atlanta and Spy of Richmond.
Here’s the thing about reading a series, you get to see the evolution of a writer when reading along. Whether it’s Hunger Games or Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, the reader grows along with the writer. That’s fun! Also, it takes patience to get to the conclusion. I’ll tell you what, there’s nothing more satisfying than reading The Chronicles of Narnia all the way through to the BEAUTIFUL end of The Last Battle.
My challenge to you is to commit to reading one series this year. Start to end. Bite off what you can easily chew. Don’t think you could tackle a 2,000 page series in one year? That’s cool. Find a shorter one. Have kids? Bring them in on the fun. Last summer my kids and I read all the Wizard of Oz books (there are 14). We bonded over the recurring characters and formed inside jokes as we read.
So, what series do you love? Which ones left you feeling flat? Which collection of books are you itching to read? I love book recommendations. And I love hearing from you!
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