Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
I’m kind of excited. There are several things happening this year. New things. New challenges.
First - In February, if my check got there in time, (yes, Dawn, I know checks are antiquated lol), I’ll be taking an online class about plotting through motivation by Campbell. Maybe it will make my synapses snap a little brighter. Maybe it’ll be a slap to the back of my head. It’s been awhile since I’ve taken one and I’m soooo looking forward to it. There are four stories waiting for me to get my act together, as I said in my previous posting. I’ll keep you informed unless I screw it up. :)
Second – I’ve registered for the RWA’s National Conference. It will be the second conference I ever attended. This one’s huge. This one’s a bit scary. I will be going as President so I’ll also be attending the Leadership seminar. I’m sometimes good at talking to people one on one or in small groups but put me in a large bunch and I become a mute with a brain seizure. I’m going to make this a challenge to improve myself – to go out there - say “hi”, introduce myself and to string more than two words together.
Third - If the above-mentioned workshop helps, then I will be pitching at least one story at this conference. Trying to make someone interested in your tale - your vision in just a couple of sentences can make you feel as if you’re under a hundred feet without an air tank. It is a tense time for anyone who writes. I am definitely no exception though I’ve done it a couple of times. It becomes another place where I can sharpen my skills. I’ll also be perfecting my spiel at the LIRW’s annual luncheon.
As the year gallops on I’m sure other ventures will present themselves. What kind of challenges have you set for yourself this year?
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Confession Time
Ok time to fess up. I have not written anything, besides the interviews and a few blog posts, for nine months. Yes, nine months. Talk about your writers block, I’ve got a whole barricade –moat and all.
Oh sure I’ve come up with ideas for stories, four in fact with heroines and heroes and main premises. But they sit with their luggage at a closed station waiting for a train to take them their destination. They’ve been there for so long they’ve set up housekeeping. They may be getting a bit too comfortable. When I knock on the door, they don’t answer. Little do they know I could destroy them with a stroke of my pen, but I won’t. They’re smug with that knowledge.
It started, as I said, about nine months ago with big holes in the body of the stories and it has progressed to halting any ideas for my blog. If I do get something down it sounds like crap to me. Being President of a writing group, I feel like a charlatan because besides guiding the group with the help of the Board, I feel I should be writing pages upon pages of spellbinding words. It doesn't happen. As I listen, during the critique period of our meetings, to the great work some of these members have written, I feel inferior almost to the point that if I do conjure up something to read they’d find a hundred faults with it.
I’m also the moderator of our Book in a Week group where I’m suppose to help members meet their writing goals. This should be real interesting (insert sarcasm). But maybe, just maybe, some of those words of wisdom, those hearty cheers will catapult boulders through my wall. I think they will.
Did I tell you this so you could say wow is she screwed up? No, I wanted to show those of you who are out there having problems that you’re not alone. You have to want it and work for it if you want change to come. This little confession has had, for me, a slight cathartic effect. Maybe you could start there - write down all your fears, then rip them up, burn them, get them out of the way. Try taking an online course, that’s what I’m going to do. It will force you to think and write. So would an all day workshop. You can sign up for a conference where there’ll be agents and editors. That will give you a deadline because you’ll need something to pitch. I’ll be doing that at the LIRW annual luncheon and at the RWA conference.
Try different things. There’s no magical cure all except to keep at it.
Oh sure I’ve come up with ideas for stories, four in fact with heroines and heroes and main premises. But they sit with their luggage at a closed station waiting for a train to take them their destination. They’ve been there for so long they’ve set up housekeeping. They may be getting a bit too comfortable. When I knock on the door, they don’t answer. Little do they know I could destroy them with a stroke of my pen, but I won’t. They’re smug with that knowledge.
It started, as I said, about nine months ago with big holes in the body of the stories and it has progressed to halting any ideas for my blog. If I do get something down it sounds like crap to me. Being President of a writing group, I feel like a charlatan because besides guiding the group with the help of the Board, I feel I should be writing pages upon pages of spellbinding words. It doesn't happen. As I listen, during the critique period of our meetings, to the great work some of these members have written, I feel inferior almost to the point that if I do conjure up something to read they’d find a hundred faults with it.
I’m also the moderator of our Book in a Week group where I’m suppose to help members meet their writing goals. This should be real interesting (insert sarcasm). But maybe, just maybe, some of those words of wisdom, those hearty cheers will catapult boulders through my wall. I think they will.
Did I tell you this so you could say wow is she screwed up? No, I wanted to show those of you who are out there having problems that you’re not alone. You have to want it and work for it if you want change to come. This little confession has had, for me, a slight cathartic effect. Maybe you could start there - write down all your fears, then rip them up, burn them, get them out of the way. Try taking an online course, that’s what I’m going to do. It will force you to think and write. So would an all day workshop. You can sign up for a conference where there’ll be agents and editors. That will give you a deadline because you’ll need something to pitch. I’ll be doing that at the LIRW annual luncheon and at the RWA conference.
Try different things. There’s no magical cure all except to keep at it.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Simple Words
My wish to you . . .
May the new year be gentle and give you what you need.
(It may not be what you want but if you have what you need, you'll get by.)
Hugs ~ Donna
May the new year be gentle and give you what you need.
(It may not be what you want but if you have what you need, you'll get by.)
Hugs ~ Donna
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