Lately, I’ve been in a funk. I’ve been wondering about my writing career, asking myself if I really think all the dreams I have had for the last decade or so will ever really come true. Most days I’m an optimist, but there are those few days that I sit questioning everything and anything.
I got to thinking, What if someone who sees the future told you they can tell you with absolute certainty if you will ever break through? Would you want to know? Would it make a difference?
What if the answer was no, would you keep writing?
Let’s face it, writers are filled with dreams of the future. The possibilities of what can be are great motivators. Sure, we all write because it’s our passion, our love, our sanity, but a great amount of us write hoping that someday our words will be read by thousands maybe even millions of people.
It would be nice to know for sure if that moment we are waiting for will eventually come. However, I’m not sure I’d want to know for sure.
I write because my soul feels complete when I am putting the pen to the paper. I’m hopeful that my perseverance will pay off. If someone told me my dreams will never come true it would crush me. On the reverse, if they said I will one day be a best-selling author, I might write more furiously so I can get to that point quicker, but still it wouldn’t be the same.
As much as I hate not knowing what will become of me and my words, it’s the not knowing that pushes me forward, keeps me going, and drives me to produce more.
So, if someone with a crystal ball said, “I can tell you if you will find success.” It’s a possibility that I’d say, “Okay, tell me.” but then I might find myself regretting finding out.
How about you? Would you want to know?
Category Archives: meme
Would You Want To Know?
Filed under meme, novel, random, rejections, story telling, Uncategorized, writer's life, writers, Writing
I’VE GOT SUNSHINE
Hey, hey, I’m back. My blog has taken a brief hiatus in recent months and now it’s time to return. I have some cool things coming up that I hope will please my readers.
In the next few weeks you will be able to enter a giveaway (for a signed copy of a super funny book), read an interview (from the author who wrote the super funny book), participate in writing exercises, read some ramblings and hopefully gain some useful information. So, keep reading for new updates and blog posts.
Okay, let’s get to today’s post. Yesterday I received a Sunshine Blogger Award from fellow writer A.F.E. Smith (which instantly made me smile). In accepting this award, I am required to answer a series of questions and then pass the torch (aka Sunshine Blogger Award) to other bloggers who I think deserve the award too, link my nominees to this post and comment on their blog letting them know of their nomination. Below are my answers and the blogs I have nominated, keep reading to see if you are one of them.
- What is your favorite Christmas movie?
I love them all. But, A Christmas Story is definitely my favorite. I remember watching it with my father for the first time and laughing at both the movie and the fact that he was laughing so hard. You’ll shoot your eye out kid, the leg lamp, the brother stuffed into his snow suit, the infamous fight scene, Flicks tongue sticking to the pole, Ralphie muttering the f word, Santa kicking him down the slide, enough said. I love the movie.
Runner ups are Ebenezer Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. Who doesn’t love this movie? Redemption, love, reflection, family and ghosts, it has it all. I can’t not mention Rudolph and Frosty, I love them too.
2. What is your favorite flower?
Wow, I’m having a tough time giving one answer. I have to include two answers for this one as well. My favorite flower for inside the home are Gerber daisies. They are colorful, cheerful, pretty, and make me happy. For outside the home, I love orange Tiger Lilies. These beautiful flowers bloom the week of my oldest daughter’s birthday every year. For me, the orange tiger lilies symbolize birth and joy. Plus, I have always had a thing for the color orange.
3. What is your favorite non-alcoholic beverage? My mother’s fresh brewed unsweetened Iced Tea with lots of ice. It is simply the most refreshing drink. I think it is better than any bottled tea on the market.
4. What is your passion?
My passion is without a doubt writing. I will write until the day I die. It is not only a passion for me, it’s a calling.
5. What is your favorite time of year? I adore fall
6. What is your favorite time of day? I have been a night owl ever since I could remember but as I get older I am beginning to thoroughly enjoy the early evening hours.
7. What is your favorite physical activity? I always enjoyed Yoga but have gotten away from a daily routine. There is something euphoric about balancing the mind, body and spirit.
8. What is your favorite vacation? Anywhere my family is. I love the beach but one day I hope to have a vacation home on a lake.
My nominees are: (Sorry, I had to lis twelve, I couldn’t leave anyone of these great writers out)
- Renee DeAngelo
- Medeia Sherif
- Courtney at Fuzzy Coffee Books
- Taffy at Taffy’s Writing
- Rebecca at Novel Girl
- Laura Marcella at Wavy Lines
- Nutschell at The Writing Nut
- Cricketmuse
- Britney Gulbrandsen
- Andrea Mack at That’s Another Story
- Laura At Writing Straight
- Barbara Davis-Pyles at The Mind’s Elbow
Each blog I have nominated as inspired me at one point or another. Keep writing, you never know who might need your words.
If your blog has been given an award, make sure you post your button award on your blog, answer the eight questions and then nominate ten others. Have a sunny day!
Filed under blogger awards, meme, Uncategorized, writer's life, writers, writing, Writing
Getting Rid of My Book’s “Baby Fat”
I’m approaching the end of my YA novel titled The Cult. I have been writing this suspense novel for about two years. The idea came to me in a dream right around the time Nanowrimo was about to start. I was about three chapters into a middle-grade novel (I’m excited to get back to that one) when my sister-in-law presented me with a challenge. “Hey, let’s do Nanowrimo,” she said. She had been contemplating writing a book for some time and Nanowrimo was the push she needed to get started. I accepted her challenge and began writing never realizing at the time it would take me two years to finish the book I never planned on writing. Writing this book was different from the others I have written. It was the first time I chose to just keep writing and not look back. My previous books I would write a chapter, edit a chapter, and then continue. I took more of an organic approach with this one and I’m hopeful it will pay off.
Growing up in an Italian family meant that eating was good. The more you ate the healthier you were. As I got older I realized that what I ate mattered more than how much I ate. It was time to get rid of the “baby fat”. Today I am getting rid of my book’s “baby fat” and replacing it with healthier options. I have to be honest with myself and admit that some of what I wrote was nothing more than junk or fillers. At the time it sounded good but in the end it weighed the book down. The junk made the pace sluggish and hid the story inside.
It’s time to sculpt my book and help it become the best version of itself. I don’t want it to be filled with empty words. I want it to be healthy and full but not stuffed.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on editing your book for publication. How do you know when your story is weighed down?
“Do you have a hard time putting your book on a “diet”?
Filed under audience, books, character, character building, constructing, creating, editing, emotions, Fiction, Giveaway, Inspirational, life, meme, middle grade fiction, NaNoWriMo, novel, random, rejections, routine, story telling, story writing, Style, Voice, writer's life, writers, writing, Writing, Young Adult