The Secret to Being a Productive Writer

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I dream of an office just for me and my writing. One lined with books from floor to ceiling and a large bay window to my right, overlooking the flower garden. On my large mahogany desk would be my 18" laptop (my eyesight is starting to fail), a steaming hot cup of Joe, and a dainty dish filled with Hershey kisses. Yes, in that setting I could pump out best-selling novels like nobody's business. I could be so imaginative that writer's block would never even enter the domains of my brain. Yeah...wouldn't that be nice.

Well, in the meantime, my 15" laptop and desk with a view will have to remain in my living room overlooking the screened in porch. My books will have to remain crowded on my one large bookshelf in my bedroom, spilling onto the floor. And I'll have to settle for coffee without chocolate because Hershey kisses last about two seconds in this house.

I believe it is important to have a peaceful place to write that's quiet and flutter free. And although I would love to have the office described above, I don't think that is what is necessary to produce great writing. I think sometimes writers (including myself) are guilty of placing blame on the people or things around them for their own lack of creativity and effort. I'm not complaining when I say my desk is in the loudest room of my house during the day. If I tried writing at 10:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m., I might as well just type with my toes because my writing would be worthless by the time I got finished. Life is busy in my house - probably yours too - but instead of blaming factors that are out of my control, it makes more sense to find a solution that will work.

Lately, that solution has been getting up with the chickens when my living room is dim and quiet. While everyone else is dreaming, I've got my ears plugged with inspiring music and a good dose of caffeine within arm's reach. For now, that seems to be working for me. Later, I may need to adjust to something else, but ultimately I understand that in order to reach my writing goals, I have to find a way to make it work. That, I believe, is the sort of determination that produces great writing. I'm sure many of the great writers before my time didn't have my dream writing space or even the ideal environment to write in. I'm also sure that life happened to them just as often as anyone else. So, what was their secret?

I'm guessing, passion and perseverance.

Anyway, it's high time to stop blaming anyone but yours truly for the lack of productivity. I have dreams, and somehow I'll find a way if I want to accomplish them.

What is your secret to being a productive writer in the midst of life's happenings? Where and when do you write? What is your dream writing space?

What is your passion?

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There are many things that I am passionate about. I am passionate about big things like Christ, my family, and my church. I'm also passionate about little things like reading, quirky food joints, and holiday decorations. However, what I'm really asking is, what makes you tick? What specific thing or things make you feel like you're making a difference in the lives of people outside your comfortable circle of family and friends? Whether you work for an employer or run a household, there is a lot of time spent in your day doing things that you're...not so passionate about. I don't have to give you a list. You know. 

I can tell you that from where I'm sitting, being a Business Analyst is not very exiting. As blessed as I am to have my job and the flexibility that comes with it, it is not my passion. It may be someone's passion, and I won't discredit that, but I don't get excited when I sit down at my desk every weekday morning. I am, however, thankful for it. This job allows me the time and flexibility to do what I am passionate about, which I probably don't have to spell out for you, but I will. W-r-i-t-i-n-g! 

I love telling stories. Not just any stories, but ones that can inspire or move. That's not to say they will inspire or move everyone. They won't. However, the thought of making someone smile or laugh, giving someone hope, or delivering a message of truth about the God I serve is something I can say really excites me. I believe God has given everyone a talent - one that we can be passionate about, and use to serve Him and witness to others. Sometimes we have to dig deep within ourselves to find it, but it's there, armed and ready to change the world. 

Are you using the talent God gave you? What is your passion?

Ah, Books...

I have a bit of an obsession with books. Not just with reading them, but the physical make-up itself. It doesn't matter how many times I walk into a library or a bookstore, I always have the same quaint experience. First, it's the unmistakable smell - the indescribable, but clearly identifiable, combination of new and aged paper and leather with musky and woodsy notes. While the world outside is rumbling with conversation and laughter, engines and sirens, and any other noises that ring the facts of life into our ears, the library invites us into the quiet. A place where we can study, contemplate, organize, plan, or just simply take a trip with our imagination. If I'm having a rough week and the kids are a fuss, a trip to the library is just the thing we need. I'm always amazed how quickly they settle, studying page after page without a word.

It's interesting how my perception of books has changed over the years. As a young child, I watched my mother immerse herself in books quite often. I remember taking frequent trips to the local second-hand store where she would sift through unorganized mounds of books, picking out her selection carefully for just ten cents each. I would pick out my own selection, taking care to get the ones with the most interesting cover and illustrations. Then without a second thought, I would catch up with my sisters at the large box of used toys where the real treasures could be found. By early middle school, reading was more of tool for learning than an enjoyable pastime. From time to time, due to utter boredom, I read books from the Boxcar Children Mysteries series and The Baby-sitters Club by Apple Paperbacks, which I did enjoy. But watching Who's the Boss and Saved by the Bell was time much more well spent than time spent reading.

It wasn't until the summer before eighth grade that a book really sparked my excitement for reading. It started with another summertime trip with my mom to the second-hand store. In my mom's search for her summertime reads, she got my attention with a couple of teen romance books she ran upon. One of them, Megan the Klutz, by Alida Young, had a cover I'll never forget. An average girl in a mortifying situation, while a popular boy finally takes notice (pictured above). It was probably the first book that I couldn't put down until the end. That's also the summer I received my first real kiss. I believe it was that book, along with my first summer romance, that likely fueled my love for reading romance.

After cleaning out the second-hand store of their stock of teen romances, I convinced my mom to sign me up for a teen mail-order book club. I still remember the unexpected emotions that Don't Die, My Love pulled from my heart. That book, by Lurlene McDaniel, made me ball like a baby! It was the first time I realized how much a book could, not only entertain, but move its reader - even change them. It's a book I kept even to this day. Remember Liz and Jessica Wakefield? Yep, I belonged to the Sweet Valley High book club too. It's when I read my first historical romance. The Sweet Valley Saga: The Fowlers of Sweet Valley. I'm pretty sure I still have that book too.

Today, I have kids of my own, and I encourage them to read every day - fiction and non-fiction alike. I almost never say no to the purchase of a new book because I know it is money well spent. My love for reading is one of the reasons I began writing. As many books as there are available on the market today, I still believe there are even more stories to be told. There are books needed to educate, warn, promote, and stir emotions. They're needed to entertain, uplift, show empathy, give hope, or simply tell a story (fact or fiction). I believe books can be powerful and make a difference in people's lives. This is why books will continue to be written and why people will continue to read.

What sparked your love for reading? Has a book ever changed your life?

Fall Into a Routine and Take Time

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I can't stress enough on the importance of routine. If I didn't have some sort of structure to my day, I don't think I could get through it efficiently or effectively. The fact is, I'm not a child anymore. I can't ignore the clock as if time doesn't matter. I often miss the days when I only sought a clock to see if the school bell was about to ring, or if it was getting too close to my bedtime. Nowadays, I feel as if I'm racing the clock, and I have to be careful not to see time as an enemy because time is really a friend when you think about it.

Sometimes, my day can be so overwhelming that I have to take a time out, and put into perspective the things that I'm thankful for. One thing that almost always comes to mind is time. Every day that I wake up is a blessing from God. I can't think of a more wonderful blessing than having the time to spend with my family. If I'm not careful, the entire day can expire in my race to get things done, and I will forget to be appreciative of this. This is why routine is important.

Let's face the facts, work has to get done, children have to be fed, and deadlines won't budge. When your schedule is packed, and it doesn't seem as though there is enough time in a day, make a list of the things that must get done, and then set a time to do them each day.

Commitment is key here! You must stick to the routine.

When the really important things are done, your day won't feel as stressful, and it will be easier to tackle the less crucial things that you want to get done. More importantly, you won't turn into a monster and take your stress out on your family and friends. You'll even find that you have more time to reflect on what's really important in your life, and where your priorities should be in reference to time.

There are certain things (besides work) that a person MUST take time to do each day, and those things may be different for different people, but for me, it's prayer, reading God's word, and quality time with my family. If I can't make time for those, then I don't have my priorities in the right order.

Do you have a daily routine? What important things do you take time for?

Novel Writing: A Great Interpretation of Show vs. Tell

One of the main struggles I had with my first novel (still unpublished, but working on it!) was creating a captivating beginning. I have learned that it isn't enough to have good grammar and pace. It isn't enough to write lovely prose, or be intimately descriptive. It isn't even enough to have a great plot and exceptional characters. If you're a novelist, and you wish to publish your story, you must write a story that can, in some way, connect with the reader. That being said, it also isn't enough to tell a great story. The story must have the ability to captivate the reader and entice them to continue turning the pages. 

I previously posted about how too much backstory, especially at the beginning of your book, can be a bore. I can only speak for myself, but as a reader, I can attest that if a book bores me in the first couple of chapters, I will likely NOT continue reading. Maybe 20 or 30 pages in, the story will explode into action, and be the greatest book I have ever read. For many readers, however, 20 pages will be too late. For some readers, three pages may be too late. The point is, from page one, the writer (fiction or non-fiction) must gain the readers interest. 

There are several different things that work together to create a great beginning. However, for my book, the problem was too much telling. You've probably heard or read authors, editors, and literary agents speak about writers telling, instead of showing. When I realized that this was one of the problems my story exhibited, I was set on correcting it. However, I wasn't quite sure I understood the concept in its entirety. Sure, there were the obvious things, like showing emotions. For example, instead of stating, "Gloria is mad!", the writer should show us how Gloria is expressing her anger. Like this... "Gloria's cheeks radiated with heat as her hands curled into two white-knuckled fists at her sides." This kind of show vs. tell, I understood. What I had a hard time with was figuring out how to inform the reader about something without stopping the story to do it. 

I haven't yet heard, or read, a better explanation to this than the one Jeff Gerke gives in his book, The First 50 Pages. In the book, Mr. Gerke explains the importance of a book's first impression. As I mentioned, there are several different concepts working together to create a harmonious beginning to your book, and Mr. Gerke explains each of these things in detail in his book. However, the most informative for me was chapter three when he explains show vs. tell. He does this from a film-audience point of view, which created a much clearer picture for me. Think about it. How irritating would it be if you were watching a movie, but before it began, a narrator spoke for ten minutes giving you information about the background of the upcoming scene. Wouldn't you just rather watch the backstory play out instead? Think of your book in the same way.

Instead of throwing in paragraphs of backstory, which brings the story to a halt, allow the information to play out throughout the book when the information is needed. He explains that this can be done easily in the dialogue, for example. Instead of telling how Sally's mother died, have someone ask Sally how her mother died. This will push the story forward, instead of bringing it to a halt while you explain. 

In addition to show vs. tell, Mr. Gerke explains many more useful tips and techniques for creating the most captivating first 50 pages of your novel. This is not only important to gain readership, but more importantly, Mr. Gerke explains that it is vital in gaining the interest of the literary agent, editor, or publisher, who can help you share your story with the world. If you're struggling with a great beginning, I encourage you to read this book. 

Do your characters have character?

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Part of the fun and excitement of creating a new story is creating the characters. Before I begin writing, I like to iron out as many physical characteristics and personality traits as possible. There’s not many things worse than a heroine with blond hair, blue eyes and no personality.

I want to nail down things like: their strengths and weaknesses. Are they patient, clumsy, hot-tempered, shy, or sassy? Are they adventurous or timid? Do they speak before thinking, or careful with what they say? Do they have a real hatred for Brussel sprouts?

I believe that it’s a good thing for the reader to be able to connect or relate to the character in some way. What is your character’s life experiences that have brought them where they are today? If that is taken into consideration, I believe it is easier to build the character traits. Certainly, the experiences a person faces in life can shape the type of person they become.

I just recently read a romance whose main character, I struggled to like. I’m guessing that, in a romance, the reader is supposed to want the heroine to get the guy, or vice versa. In this case, I wasn’t sure she was right for him. His character was warm, charming, and thoughtful. I can’t really tell you what she was like because her personality bounced from shy to outspoken, from careful to careless, from certain to unsure. I also disliked the fact that she had to be nudged by her friend to make the right decision.

With that said, I also believe it is okay for your characters to make mistakes. This can make them appealing to the reader. After all, nobody’s perfect. However, be careful not to make the reader feel as if the character is deceitful, unreliable or unremorseful.  

On the other hand, too much of a good thing can also be an issue. If your character is always letting people run over him/her because he/she is too nice, the reader might become irritated with them. Hero or heroines in a story should be someone we want to root for. I don’t want to question if they can be trusted, or, in a romance, if the guy/girl could do better.

Oh, and never give the hero or heroine of a romance bad hygiene! Not even the slightest little thing. No, I’ve never encountered this, but I thought I would throw it in for good measure.

Have you ever read a story where you didn’t root for the hero or heroine of the story? What was it about them that you didn’t like?

Sailing on...

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Sorry for my lengthy vacation. Lately, I've been swamped. Work has been busier than usual in the last few weeks, home projects are starving for attention, and I've been going back and forth with an agent who I soooo want to work with. I've not talked much lately about where I'm at with finding representation for my novel, but that's because things haven't really changed. I'm still submitting to multiple agents, and getting rejected regularly. However, recently, one agent, I'll call Agent A, has given me another chance to prove my talent.

This particular agent is at the top of my list. I really want to work with her, and hope that after she reads my revised story, once again, she will want to work with me as well. However, I'm learning that it's so important to have a plan B, not to put all of your eggs in one basket. Never stop querying other agents, and here's why... After receiving a long list of No's, I also, just recently, received another request from an agent, I'll call Agent B, to review my full manuscript.

Agent B definitely has the credibility I'm looking for, and even though I prefer Agent A, I know I need to consider that there's a chance God has other plans for me. Since Agent B requires exclusivity when reviewing full manuscripts, I can't send it to her until Agent A makes her decision. This is undoubtedly the hardest part of this process. Waiting.

On the bright side, I'm now freed up to work on my other to-do items, like this blog. It is summer after all, for most, a less stressful time of year. Right now we complain of the heat, but soon we'll be bundled up in our Snuggies and woolly socks, complaining about our high electric bills. For me, I plan to soak in as much summer as I can, drinking iced tea, swimming with the kids, or just lounging on my screened-in porch. When fall comes, watching the leaves change, visiting the pumpkin patch, and shopping for sweaters and boots.

One thing is for sure, I'll keep sailing on, continuing to seek representation, and hoping and praying that my potential will finally develop into something deemed "talented enough" to take a chance on. I'll let you know how it goes.

Where are you, lately, on your writing journey?