The process of Becoming a Writer . . the reality.

This is for fun and maybe it looks a tad cynical but I wrote it all with a smile knowing that we all get here at some point.

What a non- Writer thinks the process of getting a book published takes.

Step 1- Write a book

Step 2-Sell book to a publisher

Step 3- Roll in all the money that flows from the Heavens

What a newbie writer thinks the process of getting a book published takes.

Step 1-Write a book

Step 2-Query an agent and sign a contract

Step 3- Agent sells book to a publisher

Step 4- Roll in all the money that flows from the Heavens

What a writer who’s been in the trenches a while thinks the process of getting a book published takes.

Step 1- Write a book

Step 2- Revise said book more than once

Step 3- Query many agents, pick your favourite who requests your material

Step 4- Agent sells book to publisher

Step 5- Roll in all the money that flows from the Heavens

Then there is the reality of getting a book published.

Step 1- Write a book, this might take you three months is might take you 3 years

Step 2- Revise, revise, revise

Step 3- Hire an editor to work with you on your book, query letter and synopsis

Step 4- Attend conferences and educational seminars to network and learn about the business

Step 5- Revise again now that you’ve learned some more

Step 6- Query agents

Step 7- Receive many rejections, revise query and submit again

Step 8- Wait

Step 9- Still waiting

Step 10- Yay! An agent want to read your manuscript

Step 11- It’s not for them

Step 12- Query again

Step 13- Another agent asks for a read, this time they sign you on!

Step 14- Revise manuscript again as per agents suggestions

Step 15-Agent submits to publishers

Step 16- Wait

Step 17- Still waiting

Step 18- Publishers like it and sign you to a contract

Step 19- Money does not flow from the Heavens and you are not suddenly JK Rowling.

Step 20- You can finally say you are a published author and that alone is worth all the time, blood, sweat and tears the process pulls out of you. And for most of us, that acknowledgment needs to be enough because 20 steps might not be all it takes. It might take 30, or even 40 depending on the timing, what we write and who we pitch to.

Is there anything you can add to this list? A step I’ve missed or glossed over?

Sweetly Simple Writing Advice

Don't get it right . . .

Get it Written!

Ideas in the Simmering Pot

Egads, do you ever have a moment where you have a bundle of emotions and ideas swishing through your brain and trying desperately to reach the surface but to no avail?

Today is one of those days. I have things I want to say, points to make, important pieces of advice to share but my head, heart and typing fingers refuse to work in tandem. I suppose that means I have to let the ideas simmer a little longer, perhaps let them age a little and see what fine vintage they become with some time.

That is how the writing process can be for me, whether its a blog post, short story, outline or revisions. The ideas need more than a single moment to be developed. They need to be put into a big, simmering pot where the ideas can sit and I can turn them over in my mind, mixing and figuring out what they want to become. Sometimes this process takes a few days, sometimes a few weeks. I had one story simmer for nearly two years before I did anything with it.

With all these ideas I have you'd think I could pick one and start, but today just isn't that day.

What I'd love to know is do you have a process for your ideas or do you dive right in?

Finding A Writing Groove

Last week was a whirlwind, cementing my business relationship with Carolyn (the agent), working my fingertips to the bone trying to knock out a decent word count every day, ignoring my husband's pleas for real food and perhaps some clean clothes and pretty much just immersing myself in the writing world.

This week it was back to reality. I've worked my day job everyday from 8am-8pm at a minimum, yesterday I wasn't home till almost 9. I've barely managed to get 3k words written this week and I was managing nearly twice that daily last week. Am I upset? No, not really. I don't have the luxury of NOT working my day job. I have to manage both, I need them both.

Hubby though, he's having to step up to the plate whether he likes it or not. He's had to make dinner twice (which really means he's brought in Chinese and KFC) he's had to do all the barn chores AND feed the dogs on his own. But best of all, he's not complaining! He even cleaned the bathroom without being asked.

I'm pretty much rambling now. I'm exhausted, full of KFC and wishing I had just a little more energy to work on the WIP. But I'm not too worried, tomorrow is another day with more opportunities to write whether it be at home, in between appointments, or while hubby is folding laundry. It all comes down to finding my groove, writing at every possible chance I can get and praying it's enough. Lord, I hope it's enough!

And the agent is. . .

Okay, the larger than life lady has sung a ballad and I finally feel its safe to say I HAVE AN AGENT! Her name is Carolyn Swayze with Carolyn Swayze Literary Agency. I met her at the PNWA Conference in Seattle and I'm super excited to be working with her.

Carolyn and I had a wonderful chat today, went through the next few steps to get to publication and she really took her time with me, not even rushing for the phones I could hear ringing in the background!

My #1 job for the next month is to get my draft of book #2 near completion if not completed. I have to put together a synopsis for book #2 and would be helpful if I had a synopsis for book #3. Then in September, we (as in Carolyn) will be submitting to the editors that I met at the conference in Seattle who were very interested in it. At first I thought that September was a ways off, then realized we are already a week into August.

Crap. I have a lot of writing to do, but I couldn't be more excited! Thanks to all of you out there who've supported and loved me, despite myself! Could not be here without all of you :D You might think I'm thanking you guys every other blog, but its important to me for you to know what an impact you have all had on my writing journey.

With that, I have to get back at it.

Missing Marbles

This post is exactly why I say nothing until some fat lady (or I guess it could be a guy) sings. I may be freaking out for no reason, but after waiting all day yesterday, not sleeping last night, and waking up sick to my stomach, I realized I am freaking out, reason or not.

I hate waiting, and that's what this is about. Its taken me six years to get to this point where someone in the business has seen value in my work and now I just want things to GO! Waiting in any amount seems to be stressing me out. I can handle small amounts, even large amounts if I know where the end of the waiting will come. But this waiting with no end in sight? Not good, not good for me at all.

The silver lining in this crapstorm of waiting? I'm not really able to eat with my stomach in knots and those extra few pounds are slowly coming off, all on their own. So while I may lose my marbles in the process, the upside is I'll gain a better waistline.

To be honest, I'd rather be a little chubby and keep my marbles intact. Ah well, so is life. Now, enough whining and back to writing. If nothing else, I'll use the angst as motivation.