Anne Faye

One Catholic Writer's Way of Dealing with Criticism

2012-01-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

All writers have to deal with painful criticism from time to time, and no matter what, it hurts. I once had a person write me, not once, but twice, on very nice stationary to tell me just how bad a writer I am. Ouch!

Nancy Carabio Belanger recently dealt with a very critical review on Amazon, and wrote about how she coped: Life Goes On

What About All Those Indie Bookstores?

2012-01-17T18:13:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest - I love my local Barnes and Noble. The first time I went to one, I was amazed. So many books all in one place and they didn't mind if you sat down and read one while you were there. It was (and still is) a little slice of heaven.

But, there is something to be said for all those independent bookstores as well, and I hate to see them dying out. A few years back, I read Shelf Life: Romance, Mystery, Drama, and Other Page-Turning Adventures from a Year in a Book store by Suzanne Strempek Shea about her year working at the now-defunct Edwards Books in Springfield, MA. It was very interesting! I think every writer or book lover has dreamed of working at a bookstore. This offered a taste of what it might be like.

In any event, I was thinking it might be interesting for someone (not me - no time) to go to a whole bunch of independent bookstores, photograph them and tell the stories behind them. I think it would make a great book! So, there it is - a free book idea for the taking.

Writing Historical Fiction? Check out this website.

2012-01-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

I have definitely added the Massachusetts Historical Society Library to the places I would love to visit. I was reading their newsletter recently and they truly have some amazing items in their collection (and I'm sure it must have that wonderful old library smell).

Fortunately, for those of us who can't make it there in person, they have a pretty amazing collection on-line as well. For example, they have just put up the Online Adams Catalog - a comprehensive record of the papers of John Adams, Abigail Adams, John Quincy Adams, and other family members. It includes every known Adams family document from 1639 to 1889. How cool is that! Imagine the possibilities.

Do You Have to Write?

2012-01-11T18:19:00.000-08:00

Quote of the Day

There is only one thing you should do. Go into yourself. Find out the reason that commands you to write; see whether it has spread its roots into the very depths of your heart; confess to yourself whether you would have to die if you were forbidden to write.

This most of all: ask yourself in the most silent hour of your night: must I write? Dig into yourself for a deep answer. And if this answer rings out in assent, if you meet this solemn question with a strong, simple "I must," then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your whole life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse.

Rainer Maria Rilke
Letters to a Young Poet

New Short Story: The Aftermath

2012-01-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

Writer's Digest was running a short story contest (the due date is tomorrow). The subject was "You return home to find out that your house as been condemned." Usually, I see these contests and pass right by them. I am insanely busy with a non-fiction project. Writing anything fiction right now just hasn't been happening, but I reached a major deadline in my other project and decided to give myself a treat and tackle this short piece of fiction.

It had to be less than 750 words. I figured that was no problem. I write 500 word essays every week - hammer them out in about an hour. One night and I should have this in the bag, right? Wrong. I wrote, I revised. I had too many words and had to cut. I decided to go in a different direction . . . LOL It turned into a mini-saga all of its own. In the end, I think I spent about five hours on it. I sent it into Writer's Digest last night. I came in at 749 words! I have no expectation of winning, but it was still fun to delve back into fiction. I've missed it and look forward to getting back into it. So, I thought I would share the story with you. Hope you enjoy it :)

The Aftermath

I had never planned to return here, to this place where I had grown up. I had ran away years before, placed the “For Sale” sign firmly in the ground and hauled away all the old memories to the dump after the liver disease had finally won its battle with my father and I had buried him in St. Michael’s Cemetery, next to my mother who had been waiting there since three days after I was born. There was nothing left for me here, but here I stood, compelled by a news story to get in my car and drive for four hours.

A tornado in Western Massachusetts? That couldn’t be. Could that pile of rubble on the screen actually be my high school? I had walked there each day with my best friend Kathy Miller who lived next-door, smoking cigarettes and trying to hike up our Catholic school uniform skirts as far as Sister Principal would allow them to go.

Kathy’s home was my refuge, a safe haven from the storm that was my father, who would come home from his job at the mill, silent and angry, ready for his evening routine that generally involved falling asleep in a drunken stupor. I was a living reminder of the woman he loved and lost. I don’t think he ever forgave God for taking her away. He certainly never forgave me. Mrs. Miller was my surrogate mother. She had eight children of her own, but she always had room for one more. She made sure I went to Church on Sunday, and made me clothes, and told me about the things a young woman needed to know.

Kathy and I had such big plans. But, she fell in love with Bobby our junior year and our dreams were thrown away like yesterday’s newspaper. The week after graduation, I wore a ridiculous pink dress with a big bow as I stood there as a bridesmaid with a pasted-on smile while my heart felt like a stone sinking to the bottom of a murky pond. She moved to Ohio, had three kids by the time she was twenty-three, and I never heard from her again. I always wondered what happened to her – always missed my friend. I left Springfield and never looked back. I had exchanged Christmas cards with her mother until she died. I should have come back for her funeral, but I didn’t. I had always regretted that.

I parked at the end of street and walked, retracing the steps of my childhood, climbing over felled trees and around pulled up sidewalks. The street was crowded – some people working hard to remove debris, others handing out water and lemonade, still others simply watching. I made my way past a painted wooden sign, “Bless this Mess,” invoking God’s protection over a home completely destroyed.

My house and Kathy’s had huge oak trees lying across them and branches and items strewn across the yard. The roofs had collapsed and windows were shattered. They were marked with giant X’s – already condemned by the city, apparently making quick work of declaring places inhabitable. A photo rested on the ground. The glass was broken, but the faces smiled back at me – parents and three children, standing in front of the fireplace in the living room that no longer existed. I was glad that they had brought some happiness to this place that had been so sad for so long.

When I looked over at Kathy’s yard, I stared at a teenage girl gathering up branches. The girl’s hair was shorter and brown rather than blonde, but she looked so much like Kathy. Could it be?

An older woman emerged from the back yard. She saw me, and looked away, then looked again.

“Oh my goodness, Donna, is that really you?”
“Kathy?”

She nodded and came towards me. We embraced in a big hug and the years melted away. We were young again, sharing our deepest secrets.

“Do you live here?” I asked.

“No, my niece and nephew bought the place after Mom died. We’re just here helping clean up. Can you believe this?”

I shook my head. “it’s incredible.”

“Oh, but it is so good to see you,” she said. “I’ve thought about you so much over the years.”

“Me, too,” I said. “It’s been far too long.”

She took my hand and led me back to her family. She introduced me, “I’d like you to meet one of my oldest and dearest friends.”

Save the Date: The Catholic Writer's Guild On-Line Conference

2012-01-09T17:30:00.001-08:00

The 2012 Online Conference is happening March 17-31.

We've extended the dates thanks to feedback from attendees who say there's too much to balance in one week. This year, we'll be holding the forum part of the conference first. From March 17-24, the forums will be open so that you can read, do assignments and get feedback from our fantastic presenters at your own leisure. (Remember, forums are open 24 hours a day, and presenters will be visiting them frequently.) The forums will remain up, but presenters do not need to reply to posts after March 24.

March 24-31, we will have only chats. These are scheduled one-hour moderated chats on a variety of topics. We will also be holding pitch sessions and prayer time this week.

More info to come!

I Want to Buy This House, Part 2

2012-01-02T18:16:00.000-08:00

I recently wrote about a Church/House I would love to buy: I Want to Buy this House! Well, today I did get the opportunity to go and see it. And . . . while it is a fabulous, beautiful space with absolutely TONS of potential, it still needs a great deal of work. So, the person who buys it not only needs to have those funds, but also the funds to continue fixing it up.

But, in an odd turn of events, I came to find out a bit about the current owners - an artistic couple and their small daughter. The man is a musician and the woman is a jewelry artist. She had converted the basement into this great studio space and had some publicity articles about herself posted, so I got to see her picture.

Well, after viewing the house, I headed to Thornes Marketplace in Northampton, a local artsy town. I love it there, but I don't go often - maybe once a year. It just happened that I wasn't far and had some time, so I thought I'd go enjoy myself and soak up some atmosphere. It turns out that the woman whose house I had just seen owns a shop there (named after herself) and was there manning the store. I did not go tell this woman I had just ventured through every part of her home (I think that would have seemed a bit stalker-like!), but I just found it such a strange coincidence. Me, who rarely goes much of anywhere, and has never heard of this woman before, suddenly finds myself touring her house and her store in the same day.

In any event, I would love to see the house find some wonderful artistic owners who can appreciate all that this space would have to offer. It's a pipe dream for me, but someone with enough financial resources could make it a reality. Who knows? Maybe someday after my next novel becomes a New York Times Bestseller or a screenplay I write gets optioned, I'll be able to do the same for another unique property. One never knows where life may lead.

So, here is the MLS listing, for anyone who is interested: http://www.newenglandmoves.com/real-estate/property/76-lincoln-st-holyoke-ma-01040/single-family-home/mls-71321622/3522182

I want to buy this house!

2011-12-30T18:19:00.000-08:00

I visited a friend in Holyoke, MA today and as I was leaving, I noticed that this Church/house was for sale! At first, I thought that it was still set up as a Church and would need some serious renovation, but when I looked it up at home, I discovered it has already been renovated.

I love this place! I'm hoping to actually go see it. Oh, it is totally out of my price range and impractical for my family and the location isn't the best, but . . . to live here! It has beauty and history and I don't think you could be here and not be inspired. My other thought was to buy it and have it be an artists / writers retreat. I've always thought it would be nice to have a drop-in type of place where creative people could just come and work and be around other creative people.

I looked up the history of the Church. It turns out it was The Highlands Methodist Episcopal Church. You can read more here: http://www.holyokemass.com/transcript/church/ch9.html.

Unless someone has $300,000 I can have, this most likely won't happen for me, but it is something to dream about . . . and sometimes dreams can be almost as good as reality. At the very least, it might be the start of a good story!

Do you want to join Stage 32?

2011-12-27T17:39:00.000-08:00

I received an invitation to Stage 32 today - a new social network for members of the film, television and theater communities (including writers). Part of membership is that I am supposed to invite 5 other people. If any of you would like to be a member, please message me (AnneMFaye at gmail.com or leave a comment) with your email address. I'll be happy to send you one.

Write a Letter This Christmas

2011-12-21T18:49:00.000-08:00

Looking for a perfect last-minute gift? How about writing a letter telling somebody special just what they mean to you.

I read a wonderful article by Jon Maksik in Living magazine (unfortunately the article isn't on-line) about how every Christmas and birthday since the year his son was born, he wrote a letter to him, chronicling what was going on in his life and reiterating his love.

In this era of modern technology, letters are largely disappearing. Email and texts are great. They allow us to communicate with ease and across great distances. I wouldn't want to go back to life without it. But, most of these simply fade into the great virtual void. Sure, they can be printed and kept, but how many actually are?

A handwritten letter is tangible and lasting. It can be tucked into the pages of a journal or kept in a special box. It can be opened and read many years later and the reader is transported back in time. It is special. And today, it is even more precious.

Write someone you love a heartfelt letter this Christmas. It is a unique gift that will truly be treasured.

It's Never Too Late To Live Your Dream

2011-12-15T18:27:00.000-08:00

You may have heard this story of Captain James Arruda Henry, but it definitely bears repeating. He learned to read and write in his 90s and just wrote his autobiography. Just goes to show, it is NEVER too late to write that story you've always wanted to put on paper. This man is an inspiration. To find out more, please visit fishermanslanguage.com

The Pain of Rewriting

2011-12-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

I have a story that I need to seriously rewrite. Honestly, the process scares me a bit - much more than the initial writing did. That was fun! This will be painful.

I came across this quote from Stephen King in the January 2012 issue of Writer's Digest:

When your story is ready for rewrite, cut it to the bone. Get rid of every ounce of excess fat. This is going to hurt; revising a story down to the bare essentials is always a little like murdering children, but it must be done.

You Can Write that Novel - Even if You Only Have 15 Minutes a Day

2011-12-04T17:53:00.001-08:00

Check out my latest post on the Catholic Writer's Guild Blog: The Value of 15 Minutes a Day

Celebrate Fiction! Second Annual Catholic Arts & Letters Award

2011-11-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

The Catholic Writers Guild, an organization founded to promote and nurture Catholic writers and their work, is gearing up for the second annual Catholic Arts and Letters Award (CALA) for Fiction.

The CALA for Fiction is awarded to authors of works of fiction in which judges find exemplary literary merit. All submissions must first be awarded the Catholic Writers Guild’s Seal of Approval, a process by which books are reviewed by a Catholic panel to certify that content does not disregard Catholic doctrine.

“The Guild’s mission is to lift up Catholic writers,” says CWG President Ann Margaret Lewis. “It hopes to encourage them and embolden them to create great art and compete in the world of ideas. This award recognizes well-written fiction that does just that.”

At last year’s CMN, the CWG awarded the first CALA for fiction in two categories. In the children’s fiction category, Regina Doman was awarded for her young adult novel, Alex O’Donnell and the 40 Cyberthieves. In adult fiction, it was awarded to Michelle Buckman for her novel, Rachel’s Contrition.

“It was a great privilege to be the recipient of the first CALA for fiction,” says Michelle Buckman, “especially given the high caliber of the other submissions. My hope is that this award is bringing attention to the availability of great Catholic novels. I encourage all writers to submit entries, and all readers to check out the growing list of Catholic fiction listed on the Catholic Writers Guild website.”

Regina Doman was equally thrilled to be awarded the CALA in the Children’s division.

"Catholic fiction for children and young adults provides entertainment that also reveals faith at work in our lives, and this award will hopefully make more people aware of all the great books available. I am grateful and honored to be the first to receive this award."

The deadline for 2011 book submissions is January 31, 2012. Details can be found at the CWG website – www.catholicwritersguild.com.

Download "Through the Open Window" for Free

2011-11-07T18:36:00.000-08:00

In honor of National Novel Writing Month, I thought I would offer my novel about a woman whose whole life changes because she decides to write a novel during November as a free download for a limited time: Through the Open Window.

Enjoy!

It is also available for Kindle or in Paperback through Amazon.com:

What Every Story Should Be About

2011-11-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Two time Pulitzer Prize winner Gene Weingarten told Writer's Digest that a story "must be about something larger than itself - some universal truth."

All stories are about the search for the meaning of life. We all search for it. How does your story add to the search?

The Most Important Reason to Write

2011-11-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

The November/December 2011 issue of Writer's Digest features an interview with best-selling writer James Lee Burke. He offers this reason for writing and keeping at it in the face of all the hardships and rejection:

If God gives a gift to someone, it's for a reason. It's to make the world a better place. And you never forget that lesson. . . .God doesn't make mistakes when he presents someone with a gift like that. It's there for a reason. . . There's nothing worse than remorse about not using what you have.

Miles to Go and Foster Care

2011-10-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

I recently enjoyed reading Miles to Go: The Second Journal of the Walk Series by Richard Paul Evans. It continues the story of Alan Christoffersen who is walking across the country after having lost everything. It is a quick read and a great story. I'm already looking forward to the next installment!

What I liked best, though, is Richard Paul Evans' statement at the back of the book: "I write with the hope of improving the world." He included a character named Kailamai in the story based on a real life woman by the same name. He is hoping to help her and others like her who are aging out of the foster care system. "Research from the Pew Charitable Trusts shows that 6 out of 10 youth aging out of the foster care system will be homeless, incarcerated, or dead within the first two years. Most youth aging out of the foster care system lack the essential skills, resources, and support to live a safe and independent life."

Go-Mentor is an organization working to help these graduates of the foster care system. Find out more at: www.go-mentor.org

The Notebook - 15 years later

2011-10-19T19:28:00.000-07:00

I read on Facebook that Nicholas Sparks had a party to celebrate the fact that it has been 15 years since The Notebook had been published.

That story spoke to so many people. I know I am only one of many, but it has had a special place in my life since I first read it back in 1999 (yes, I read it a few years after it came out.) I read and cried and read and cried, finishing the book in the parking lot of my workplace. I have read it a few times since and seen the movie and loved that, too, even if both always make me hurt.

Life doesn't always work out the way it does in books. Happy endings can be much harder to come by and while deep old wounds can scab over in time, it doesn't take much to reopen them and cause the tears to fall again - long and hard. Where there is love, though, there is always hope. I've always loved this letter from The Notebook. I have the page dogeared in my personal well-worn copy. I don't believe in reincarnation or past lives, but I do believe that we are eternal and that some people are connected very deeply in ways we can never totally understand. I reread this letter today and wanted to share it with you - in case you haven't had the pleasure of reading the book.

The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. Maybe they always have been and will be. Maybe we've lived a thousand lives before this one and in each of them we've found each other. And maybe, each time, we've been forced apart for the same reasons. That means that this good-bye is both a good-bye for the past ten thousand years and a prelude to what will come.

When I look at you, I see your beauty and grace and know that they have grown stronger with every life you have lived. And I know that I have spent every life before this one searching for you. Not someone like you, but you, for your soul and mine must always come together. And then, for a reason neither of us understands, we've been forced to say good-bye.

I would love to tell you that everything will work out for us, and I promise to do all I can to make sure it does. But if we never meet again and this is truly good-bye, I know we will see each other again in another life. We will find each other again, and maybe the stars will have changed, and we will not only love each other in that time, but for all the times we've had before.

Book Review: "Boston Public Library"

2011-10-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Boston Public Library (Images of America)
by Catherine J. Willis
Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2011

This book quickly caught my attention at (where else?) my local library. Part of the "Images of America" series, it is primarily a pictorial history of the Boston Public Library system, but the introduction and photo captions provide a wealth of information. Written by Catherine J. Willis who is manager of technical services at the Boston Public Library, it takes the reader back in time to the beginnings of the public library system in this country.

Originally founded in 1852, the Boston Public Library was the first large municipally funded library in the United States. Later on, it would become the first public library to open a branch and to have a dedicated children's room.

This book will be of interest to anyone who loves libraries, architecture or social history. I personally loved seeing the way the books were delivered to patrons - you actually had to request the books and then the call slips were sent via pneumatic tubes to stations on each of the six floors where librarians would retrieve the books and send them on elevators to the delivery room where patrons would pick them up! It was also interesting to see how women had their own reading room.

This book is truly fascinating. I cannot recommend it enough!

Time to Get Ready for National Novel Writing Month

2011-10-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Check out my latest post for the Catholic Writer's Guild on getting ready for National Novel Writing Month: Getting Ready for National Novel Writing Month

What Pen Name Should You Use?

2011-09-14T17:33:00.000-07:00

This is a just for fun kind of post. Here is a Fake Name Generator - http://online-generator.com/name-generator/fake-name-generator.php. Your perfect pen name awaits!

Some Tidbits from Writer's Digest

2011-09-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

I have to return the September 2011 issue of Writer's Digest to the library on Wednesday, but before I do, I wanted to share a couple tidbits of writing wisdom I found within its pages.

In the article, "Ways to Harness Fear and Fuel Your Writing" by Sage Cohen, she advises, "Do What Scares You Because It Scares You." What do you fear most in your writing life? Take a moment to evaluate if it truly is likely to do you serious harm. If the answer is no, then I invite you to make a point of doing this very thing - as much as you can - until you exhaust fear's charge around it.

Her own personal fear was public speaking which she has conquered by doing it as often as possible!

The second tidbit comes from "10 Ways to Launch Strong Scenes" by Jordan E. Rosenfeld. It offers this checklist for making the most from each scene.

Does your scene

1) Have a beginning, middle, and an end?
2) Launch vividly and engage the reader?
3) Have a rich subtext, complete with texture, themes and imagery?
4) Include complications that up the ante for the main characters?
5) Leave the reader hungry for more upon its ending?
6) End in a logical way that leaves room for the next scene to launch?

I'm on the Catholic Writer's Guild Blog!

2011-09-05T18:44:00.001-07:00

I'm pleased to be a new contributor to the Catholic Writer's Guild Blog. You can read my first post here: http://blog.catholicwritersguild.com/2011/09/to-pen-name-or-not-to-pen-name.html

Catholic Writers to Enjoy Special Spiritual Retreat

2011-08-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

Lansing, MI: In collaboration with FAITH Catholic Publishing and Communications, The Catholic Writers Guild, will sponsor Your Word is My Delight, a Catholic writers' retreat, Oct 5-9, 2011. Come and delight in God's word and sacrament, and pray in a beautiful and serene retreat setting.

The retreat's key presenter is Pat Gohn, Catholic columnist, podcaster and catechist (link: http://www.patgohn.com/patgohn/About.html) . Other presenters are Father Charles E. Irvin, David Krajewski, Father David Rosenberg and Father Larry Delaney.

Writers will enjoy five spiritually-enriching days of daily Mass, adoration, the sacrament of reconciliation and many hours of writing time. Talks will explore how God speaks to and encourages writers through Scripture, papal writings and other topics in order to promote faith-filled writing.

Opportunities for networking also will be offered through an informal "book bash and social hour" Wednesday evening and Faith Catholic's one-on-one "pitch sessions" that give writers the chance to sell their current writing projects.

Cost for the four-day retreat is $450, which includes meals and accommodations. Deadline for registration is Sept 28. A nonrefundable deposit of $45 is required at registration.

To view a schedule of events, click here. Schedule of Events
To download a brochure, click here. Brochure
To register for the retreat click here. Register

Because there is a blank page . . .

2011-08-10T12:56:00.000-07:00

I'm engaging in some leisure reading right now and enjoying The Last Promise by Richard Paul Evans.

In his Prologue, he writes of his inspiration for the story. I like this line: "I lifted my pencil to the page, not because I had words, but because a blank page beckoned."

So much of being a writer is writing even when the inspiration seems far away. It comes. It always comes, but you have to put yourself in a place to receive it. You need to be willing to do the work, to open the notebook (or the laptop) and start writing.

Dr. Suess Inspirations

2011-08-08T17:56:00.000-07:00

Dr. Suess, aka Theodore Geisel, was an iconic children's book writer. Who among us is not familiar with the Cat in the Hat or The Grinch that Stole Christmas? Born and raised in my hometown of Springfield, MA, our city features a sculpture garden in his honor. Right now, The Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History is featuring a special exhibit, "And to Think That He Saw It in Springfield" illustrating the many sources of inspiration that he found in this city.

All writers seek inspiration. It can come from many sources, but the places that we live and work can be especially fertile ground if we can see them with fresh eyes. This exhibit compares some of Dr. Suess' fancicul drawings with photographs of the actual places that inspired them. For more information on the exhibit, please visit: And To Think That He Saw it in Springfield

Catholic Arts and Letters Award Winner

2011-08-05T18:31:00.001-07:00

Congratulations go out to Michelle Buckman for winning the 2011 Catholic Arts and Letters Award for Adult Fiction for Rachel's Contrition (Chisel & Cross Books). This is an amazing book. The award is well-deserved.

For Henry David Thoreau's Birthday

2011-07-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

I read in the paper today that it is Henry David Thoreau's birthday. Here, from Walden is my favorite Thoreau quote:

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. . . I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life.

Writing from our Lives

2011-07-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

I have to return my copy of Writer's Digest to the library tomorrow, but I wanted to leave you with one last quote from an article by Dinty W. Moore (either that is not his real name or his parents had quite the sense of humor!):

It's not what happens to us in our lives that makes us into writers; it's what we make out of what happens to us.

Looking for inspiration? Create a soundtrack for your story!

2011-07-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

I've been drinking in the pages of the latest issue of Writer's Digest. So many good ideas! So little time!

I did come across this great idea in "The Geyser Approach to Revision" by James Scott Bell:

"To do the best revision possible, you need to recapture the feeling you had while writing your draft in the first place. One way to do this is through music. Find several pieces that move you to feelings consistent with your book. . . Compile a playlist of songs that evoke the mood - or better yet, a medley of the various moods - you hope to convey in your story, and use it as background each time you sit down to self-edit."

Do You Remember Getting Your 1st Library Card?

2011-06-29T18:11:00.000-07:00

I was at the library today and a little boy was getting a certificate commemorating his getting a library card for the first time. I remember getting my first library card many years ago. I'm pretty sure I was eight years old. It was the Aldenville Branch Library in Chicopee, MA. Back then, they were still paper cards and you had to sign out library books. Anyway, I remember that the librarian asked me if I knew what year I would graduate from high school and she was very impressed that I actually knew!

My parents actually weren't very big on going to libraries. The only times I was able to go was for school related research, but it was love at first sight for me. Libraries were (and are) magical places! All those books just begging to be read. Once I was able to go on my own, I became a frequent visitor.

Over the years, I amassed quite a collection of library cards - every library I visited required its own. Of course, now that has been rendered obsolete by a computerized system which my wallet appreciates because I only have to carry one card!

Do you remember getting your first library card? Share your story here!

What if Your Book Sold a Million Copies for the Wrong Reasons?

2011-06-24T19:15:00.000-07:00

Nancy Brandt raises an interesting question - "What if your book sold a million copies because people thought it was the worst book ever?" on her blog What if it sold 1 million copies?

I can see how that would be disheartening. After all, you want people to read your book because they enjoy it and tell their friends how they have to read this book. But, I think I'd still be happy with the money! I could do a lot of good with that kind of money. And I guess I'm really not that proud! LOL

She raises the question of how one can have a writing career after that kind of notoriety - easy! Write under a different name. Writing, unlike most careers, allows for multiple personalities!

Catholic Writers to Convene in August in Valley Forge

2011-06-10T17:42:00.001-07:00

The third annual Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE will take place
August 3-5, 2011, at the Scanticon Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia, PA. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild (CWG) and the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), it will be held in conjunction with CMN’s annual retailer trade show. The Catholic Writers Conference LIVE provides Catholic authors with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, fellow writers, and bookstore owners from across the globe.
CWG President Ann Margaret Lewis said this year's conference will, “focus on marketing and selling one’s written work.” Highlights of the conference include:

• Over 30 sessions taught by professionals in writing, marketing, blogging and publishing
• Pitch Sessions where writers may meet privately with representatives from four publishers
• One-on-one coaching sessions. For $35 an author can have a 30 minute private consultation with a specialist who will review their manuscript and guide them toward publication.
• Rapid-fire readings. Published authors will each have five minutes to read a selection from one of their books. A mass book sale and signing will follow.

Lewis says the conference comes at a modest cost. “Registration for the jam packed three days is only $90 for CWG members or $100 for non-members. And we have a special price of $42 for students. Our conference allows you to connect personally with Catholic publishers and retailers, to show your work, learn the craft and network.” Priests and religious are invited free of charge, but must register at the email address: http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.

This year’s conference speakers include:

• Catholic publishing representatives Claudia Volkman of Servant Books/St.Anthony Messenger Press,
• Regina Doman, acquisitions editor for Sophia Institute Press,
• Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, author of Mother Teresa and Me,
• Michelle Buckman, author of the young adult novel Maggie Come Lately and the adult drama Rachel’s Contrition,
• Angela Breidenbach, author of Gems of Wisdom and
• Patti Armstrong, co-author of the best-selling Amazing Grace book series and author of Catholic Truths for Our Children, Stories for the Homeschool Heart.

Past attendees gave glowing accounts of their experiences at the conference:

• Carol Bannon, author of the children’s book “Handshake from Heaven,” said, “Attending this conference has been the best thing I have done for myself professionally.”
• Writer Melanie Cameron concurs, “I recommend this conference as a resource for any author (or wannabe) at any stage. You will walk away empowered!”
• Maureen Martin, a consultant and trainer said she attended to connect with other professional Catholics. “It was such a wonderful, nurturing environment where we could share our faith and our love for literature.”

The Catholic Writers Guild, a religious non-profit organization, sponsors both this live conference in August and an online conference in February to further its mission of promoting Catholic literature. “Our conferences are totally focused on encouraging faithful Catholics to share genuine Catholic culture and faith in their writing no matter what genre,” says Lewis. “These events are integral to our mission of ‘creating a rebirth of Catholic arts and letters.”

Also at this year’s conference, the CWG will be presenting its first ever Catholic Arts and Letters Awards (called the “Lilies”) for the best in Catholic fiction. This award will recognize one book in the adult market and one in the children’s market for its literary merit.

Information for the Catholic Writer’s Conference can be found on the conference web site: http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.

The CWG is a professional group of writers, artists, editors, illustrators, and allies whose mission is to build a vibrant Catholic literary culture. The organization is loyal to the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

Setting Realistic Goals in Writing

2011-05-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

Colleague Karina Fabian writes about her writing goals in Writing: Setting and Keeping Realistic Goals. She's trying to write 3000 words a day on her work in progress. I started reading and thought "Wow, that would be really nice, but it isn't likely to happen for me anytime in the near future." Then I read this line: "When I first started writing, I was homeschooling two kids, had a toddler and a baby. My goal then was a sentence a night. That's all I could realistically achieve." I burst out laughing. Yup, that's my life in a nutshell these days.

In all honesty, I can't really see myself writing just one sentence a night. Once some other projects are wrapped up, I hope to be able to get back to writing at least 10 minutes a day. We shall see. But, in the meantime, Karina has some really good ideas and gave me some hope that maybe all is not lost in my writing career.

The Importance of Details

2011-05-09T18:08:00.000-07:00

In the May/June 2011 issue of Writer's Digest, Natalie Taylor talks about writing Signs of Life: A Memoir about her life as a young, pregnant widow, She states "I still wish I had been even more observant. As I went back through my manuscript, I realized it was the tiniest details that were the most powerful and most important to the story. You can never have too many of those in the bank."

On Catholic Fiction

2011-04-26T15:26:00.001-07:00

The National Catholic Register is featuring a wonderful article on Catholic Fiction. Check it out here: Catholic, Will Write

How $1 Could Make You a Bestselling Author

2011-04-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

This is a good article on how a small purchase (provided you actually use it!) could make your writing career:

How $1 Could Make You a Bestselling Author

MFA/MA in Children's Literature offered by Simmons College/Eric Carle Museum

2011-04-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

I was very intrigued by this article in the Springfield Republican about a collaborative program between Simmons College and the Eric Carle Museum to offer an MFA/MA program in Children's Literature: Students 'Master" Writing for Children. You can find out more about the program at the Simmons College website: Simmons College/Eric Carle Program

What's New with the Catholic Writer's Guild

2011-04-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

The Catholic Writer's Guild is busy with many good projects. Find out more at What's Up, CWG

It's National Library Week

2011-04-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love libraries. They are second only to Churches as my favorite places, and I'd like to think that heaven has the most amazing library ever (where I hope to spend some quality time after I leave this world). Learn more here: National Library Week

To Blog or Not to Blog

2011-04-06T19:15:00.000-07:00

If you are a writer, do you have to blog? Sarah Reinhard ponders that question (and offers some really could reasons why you should NOT blog) at To Blog or Not to Blog

Stanford's Online Creative Writing Certificate

2011-04-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

I came across an ad for this program in a magazine today and it looks interesting. Unlike most writing programs, there is no residency requirement. Stanford's Online Creative Writing Certificate

A Reason to Never Give Up

2011-03-31T19:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I get very discouraged with my writing career/progress. Stories like this one How I Got My Agent - Mary Glickman offer some hope!

Check out the new Catholic Writers Guild Blog

2011-03-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

The Catholic Writers Guild now has a blog - check it out at Catholic Writers Guild Blog

I Miss Writing

2011-03-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

When I don't have a creative outlet, I get restless. It's just part of my personality. In some respects - it doesn't really matter what it is - it can be painting, or quilting, or writing (and somehow my nonfiction writing doesn't count for this particular purpose) - I just need to have that way of expressing myself in some way. And right now, none of that is happening and I am getting a serious itch that needs to be scratched in order to keep myself in good balance. Hopefully soon . . .

How Not to Write a Screenplay

2011-03-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

For a whole host of reasons, writing has needed to take a backseat lately. But I did have a little time today to read the first half of How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make. It isn't written by a writer, but rather by someone whose job is to read screenplays. He's seen all the flaws and he points out what not to do. It makes for interesting reading. It definitely shouldn't be the first book on screenwriting you read, but once you learn what to do, this book is great for pointing out mistakes you might not have thought of.

Postertext

2011-03-11T17:42:00.000-08:00

This is a tidbit I picked up in the March/April 2011 issue of Writer's Digest

Postertext is a company that makes posters using the text of novels. What an awesome concept! I'm personally quite fond of the Little Women one. To find out more, visit Postertext.

Looking for the Joy far in the Distance

2011-03-10T06:28:00.000-08:00

When you long for something so much but God does not grant it to you do not sorrow. There's something even greater on its way! Although the sorrow may last through the night, joy comes in the morning.

This was a FB status on one of my friend's pages and it spoke to me. At a time in life when it feels like I have to pack up all my dreams (again!) and put them away for an undetermined amount of time and I am grieving for them, it brings me some comfort. I want to trust that God does have something good in store, even if it isn't in this lifetime. Lent is all about dying to oneself and picking up one's cross. It is so easy to say and so hard to do.

How Do We Know When It's Time To Quit Being A Writer?

2011-03-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

This is a good post on the Guide to Literary Agents Blog: How Do We Know When It's Time to Quite Being a Writer?"

With all the ups and downs of the writing life, it can be tempting to quit. J. M. Tohline offers the following words of wisdom:

I have written to write. I have written because I have no choice but to write. If I ever try to quit, I'll just come right back.

In truth, my path has probably not been so different from the one you are traveling yourself, or (you better start preparing now) the one you will travel yourself. And unless you are a masterpiece of mental toughness and emotional unassailability, you will sometimes find yourself asking that dark question: Is it time to just plain quit?

The answer, of course, is simple: Can you quit? Chances are, you probably cannot. So keep writing, Dear Writer – because that is what you are. Whether or not you have a novel in bookstores. Whether or not the whole world has read your writing. Whether or not anything of yours is ever published, as long as you live, you are still a writer. It is part of who you are. Keep writing. It is never time to quit.

Time to Cut Some Scenes

2011-03-03T19:19:00.000-08:00

Life is busy right now, and I honestly don't know when I'll get to work on my screenplay, but a couple days ago I did finish my first scene outline - and I have about 50 scenes too many! So, some condensing is definitely in order! That will be the next item on the screenplay agenda. I need to cut and combine scenes while keeping all the important information in the story.

And the Oscar for Best Screenplay goes to . . .

2011-02-27T18:08:00.001-08:00

Ah well, a girl can dream! Maybe someday :)

Save $6,936 a Year by Using Your Public Library

2011-02-23T17:50:00.000-08:00

I picked up this interesting flyer at my local library the other day. It explained how using the library can save a family of four $6,936 over the course of a year. You and your family may use some of these categories more than others, but any way you slice it, the library is a tremendous value and cost-saving measure. I don't know what I would do without it!

Books
2 books per week for each child - 16 monthly @ $12 = $192
3 books per month for each adult - 6 monthly @ $15 = $90

Videos and DVDs
2 videos per week for children - 8 monthly @ $4 = $32
1 video per week per adults - 4 monthly @ $4 = $16

Programs at the Library
(includes story times/adult programs/other activities)
monthly savings - $68

Museum Passes
2 visits per month per family of 4 = $100

Online Databases (Magazines, Newspapers, Journals)
used 4x a month for school, research, etc - $80

The Great Screenwriting Project has Begun!

2011-02-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

I am half-way through reading The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script and have been taking tons of notes. (I'm pretty sure if I continue with this, I will need to buy this book, but for now I have the six week library loan and I am taking all the advantage of it I can.) It is a very practical, helpful book stuffed with information.

I had a couple hours of time today and I began creating the scene by scene outline for my screenplay. It's so exciting to actually begin to work on this. As with so many things, the starting seems to be the hardest part. I think about it, and think about it, and stress about it, and dream about it, and then I get to work and it starts to be something real, and that is an amazing thing. Wherever this road takes me, it is a new skill to learn and that in itself is a good thing.

The Latest Book on the Reading Pile: The Screenwriter's Bible

2011-02-16T18:40:00.000-08:00

I picked up The Screenwriter's Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script at the library today. I was so excited to pick it up (I had requested it a couple weeks ago.) I'm looking forward to reading it and seeing what I can learn.

Free On-line Writing Conference Starting February 14th

2011-02-13T05:03:00.000-08:00

Interested in getting some free advice on writing?. Check out the Free online-conference starting tomorrow: Savvy Authors

Exploring Screenwriting a Bit More

2011-02-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

Ever since I finished reading Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting, I find myself analyzing the movies I'm watching. How were the scenes broken? What was the inciting incident? What were the emotional shifts in each scene? What was the climax? The resolution? It has given me a whole new perspective.

Meanwhile, I explored my library catalog to see what else I can learn about screenwriting. I have a couple more books coming to me (I LOVE the interlibrary loan system). Yesterday, I picked up The Sense and Sensibility Screenplay & Diaries: Bringing Jane Austen's Novel to Film (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebooks). I wanted to see what an actual screenplay looked like. It is an added bonus that this is a wonderful movie that I have seen several times. I love Jane Austin!

I also picked up a stack of index cards so that I can start creating scenes - one scene per card. I'm excited about this project. I wish I had more time to devote to it, but it is good to have a dream to work on.

Interview with Nicholas Sparks

2011-02-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

I was so excited to see Nicholas Sparks on the cover of the February 2011 Writer's Digest! He is one of my all-time favorite writers. WD has an in-depth interview with him: Bestselling Author Nicholas Sparks Explains the Creative Process.

Sparks also talks about writing on his own website: Nicholas Sparks for writers

I especially like his "grandmother rule:" "My grandmother's still alive; she reads me, and if she would get mad at me, then I can't write it."

Get Inspired to Write by your Dinnerware!

2011-01-31T18:23:00.000-08:00

I absolutely LOVE a brand-new notebook - all those pages just begging to be filled! I even love the smell (Not quite as much as I love the smell of old books, but it is up there on the list).

So, when I saw these cups and plates advertised in Writer's Digest, I knew I had to blog about them. They are designed to look like notebook paper! How cool is that?

They can be purchased here: http://www.fishseddy.com/browse.cfm/4,1541.html

How writing can help you heal

2011-01-29T05:15:00.000-08:00

I think most writers are aware of the fact that writing can be cathartic - getting out on paper all the emotions and pain swirling around inside - some of which we can't even tell our closest friend. Here is a good blog post about one writer's healing through writing: How writing about loss helps you heal

Reading about Writing

2011-01-28T19:22:00.000-08:00

I've been continuing reading Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting. I'm currently on page 314. There is just so much quality information in that book. I would like to get back to writing, but I don't know when that might happen. There is just so much on my plate right now. Still, it is great to at least be reading about writing, and learning some things in the process.

This Just May Be the Best Book on Creating a Story Ever

2011-01-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

A while back, I was lamenting that I didn't know how to revise the story I was working on. It's not that I didn't have the desire, I just truly did not have a clue and the general advice I was receiving simply wasn't helping. I needed specifics and some hand-holding.

A reader commented that I should getStory: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee. He said that even though it was about screenwriting, it was the best book on creating a story that he had ever seen. One hundred twenty pages into the book, I'm inclined to agree. I've been taking copious notes. McKee is so step by step in his explanations and they all make perfect sense. I know that the implementation will still be a challenge, but I'm eager to finish reading this book and to dig in to my story with fresh eyes. I may even attempt to turn it into a screenplay! This is the hand-holding I needed. Thanks so much for the recommendation! I, in turn, recommend it to all of you.

Vote for Your Favorite Faith-Based Fiction in the Grace Awards

2011-01-23T16:39:00.001-08:00

What was your favorite faith-based novel of 2010? Vote for it at the Grace Awards

Using Books as a Design Element

2011-01-23T16:38:00.000-08:00

People have been using books as decoration as long as there have been books. They automatically add a certain element to a room whether intended or not. This article by Penelope Green shows individuals taking it to a whole other level. Searching and buying books to decorate the shelves? Now that could definitely be a dream career for a book lover. Selling a Book by its Cover

Some Beautiful Journals

2011-01-18T18:32:00.000-08:00

In the event my recent posts on The Journal Keeper have you inspired to start journaling (the old-fashioned kind - in books, as opposed to blogging), here is a link to a store with some incredibly beautiful journals. I saw them advertised recently, and they took my breath away: http://www.figmentsstudio.com/journals.htm.

Of course, one does not need such expensive journals to write in. I've been happy with a variety of blank books over the years. Some were gifts; others were picked up at bookstores; some at a dollar store. All are precious. Other people are perfectly happy writing in spiral bound notebooks or composition books. If you want to journal, you will find a way to do it.

Some thoughts from "The Journal Keeper"

2011-01-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

I finished reading The Journal Keeper: A Memoir by Phyllis Theroux today. Her life definitely went in some unexpected directions, which just goes to show that no matter how old you are, life is still full of surprises.

As this is a blog (mostly) about writing, I thought I would share some of her thoughts on writing.

Keeping a journal not only saved my life in the record-keeping sense but saved it in a deeper, more mysterious sense as well.

Yesterday went well. I worked on the plot outline for the Christmas book [ Giovanni's Light: The Story of a Town Where Time Stopped for Christmas ]. No real writing, but I spent several hours working steadily without wanting to be anywhere else. It was exciting. What is happening is that my imagination is engaged; scenes and ideas are filling in the spaces of the story in a satisfying way. I am still not sure of certain things, but I am living with the questions, turning them over in my mind.

There are two ways to look at the act of committing your thoughts and feelings to paper: 1) as a frightening revelatory act that leaves you less in control. or 2) as a way of taking your thoughts and fears and subduing them, like pinning butterflies to a wax tablet, so you can examine them more closely.
The second is what has always motivated me.

Books need no towels or linen, just an inch on a shelf. And they'll talk to anybody who will listen.

These last two quotes aren't about writing, but they spoke to me just the same.

You can't jerk someone into the sunlight when grief is all they have left. We can see nothing with grief-struck eyes. That is what "blind with grief" means.

"Use your life to illuminate something larger." That's it. That's what we're all called to do.

"The Journal Keeper"

2011-01-16T19:30:00.000-08:00

At the library last week, The Journal Keeper: A Memoir by Phyllis Theroux called to me. Despite the fact that I have a pile of books waiting for me to read them, I picked it up. The name itself spoke to me. How could I resist?

I read half of it today. "Savored" would be a more accurate word as I drank it in and enjoyed every moment. The book covers Theroux's life from 2000 - 2005. She's in her sixties, caring for her mother who is in her eighties. Theroux is a woman coming to terms with what it means to live and what it means to die. She deals with questions we all must face.While she and I have very different faith walks, she is a woman longing for a deeper connection to the spiritual .

She is also a writer, and as such, I recognize a kindred spirit. I, too, am a journal-keeper. I've been journaling for over twenty-one years now. So much of my life is in those bound books. I pick them up and read the pages and I am back in that moment of time, simple moments, many of which would be lost forever had I not recorded them, but together, they have all conspired to make me who I am.

Stay tuned - I plan to offer some brief kernels of wisdom from "The Journal Keeper" in the coming days.

January Issue of Writer's Digest

2011-01-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

I've been reading the January 2011 issue of Writer's Digest. I'm a big fan of that publication in general, but I think that this particular issue is one of their best in terms of pure practical application. The major theme of the issue is "How to Write Your Novel in 2011." Unfortunately, the articles aren't on-line (one thing I DON'T Like about Writer's Digest), but you can find a list of the articles here: http://www.writersdigestshop.com/product/print-issue-writers-digest-january-2011/?r=homesidebar. You can also order a copy of the issue.

How writing a novel is like, well, a novel . . .

2011-01-05T18:05:00.000-08:00

I came across this great quote by John Dufresne in the January issue of Writer's Digest

Now it dawns on you that writing a novel is itself very much a plot. Novels are about characters who want something. And you want something, too - to understand the lives of your own characters, which means resolving the trouble in your protagonist's life, which means completing the novel - and you want it intensely. If you don't finish, your life will be significantly diminished. And so you pursue your goal and battle every obstacle . . .You sit day after day. You struggle and at last you finish your novel. Plot's resolved.

The Writer's Chronicle

2010-12-30T18:29:00.000-08:00

"The Writer's Chronicle" was my latest find in the donation box at my local library. Published by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs, it offers in-depth interviews with writers and reflections on writing. There are also (as one might expect) many advertisements for writing programs. I didn't read it cover to cover, but what I did read, I found very interesting. It is definitely geared more to fine literature and poetry than to popular reading, but it is good to be exposed to different ideas and different genres. I hope whoever the anonymous person was who donated his copy will donate others soon.

A Return to "The Rose Ring"

2010-12-29T19:22:00.000-08:00

With a couple weeks of time since I last looked at it - time enough to put some distance between me and the anger and disgust I felt when I first looked at it when it came back from the editor (anger and disgust with myself, not the editor who actually did a very thorough job) - I took a little bit of time tonight to start revising my manuscript. I'm starting with the easy changes the editor suggested - changing a phrase here and there, making grammatical changes, etc. I still don't have a clue how to fix the bigger issues of character development, strengthening the story, etc. I wish I had someone to help me, but I'm alone on this one, unless some burst of divine inspiration comes my way.

I'm still trying to convince myself that the story matters. It's hard to explain the way I feel about it. I enjoyed writing the story, but I feel ashamed of its weaknesses. Also, I'm very conscious of how I use my time. I try hard not to waste it. Is writing fiction worth my time? No one but me cares if I do it or not. Very few people even know that I write. Will the world be better in any way because of this story? Probably not. I pray to write what I should when I should, to get published if and when I should. Is my ambivalence an answer to the prayer? Am I meant to surrender? Am I not meant to travel this road? Or is it just something I need to work through - to conquer my own fears, to write even though there is no tangible reward in sight. I honestly don't know.

Are there too many books?

2010-12-28T19:13:00.000-08:00

I read something recently (I'm not sure where) about all the people who are out there writing books now. I know when I look at Barnes and Noble or Borders, I get overwhelmed simply by all the titles that line shelves, and I realize that is only a small fraction of the books that are published each year.

Should fewer books be written? Certainly there are more books than the market can support. Yet, the act of writing still matters to the writer. Every time a book is published, even self-published, that is someone's dream coming true. Someone imagined that book (perhaps with some spark of divine inspiration), worked at it for countless hours, and brought it to life. A book exists where there wasn't one before. It is an act of creation. For that reason alone, it has value.

Books have the incredible potential to change people's lives. Some will be read by relatively few (and yes, that is hard to accept when confronted with the millions of books the writers on the NY Times Bestseller List sell), yet they may matter to that small few. Perhaps the book will matter to only one person - the writer. The one who writes the book is forever changed by it. Is it still worth it? I would answer that with an unequivocal "yes."

Every book has value. It simply isn't possible to have too many.

Great Interview with Michelle Buckman

2010-12-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

Michelle Buckman is doing good things for Catholic Fiction. Her best-selling novel Rachel's Contritionis flying off the shelves and changing lives in the process. The National Catholic Register has a great interview with her. Read it here: What Catholic Fiction Should Be

Taking a Break

2010-12-16T18:49:00.000-08:00

I'm taking a break from writing fiction. I'm honestly not sure if I will come back to it. I might. Never say never, as they say. But, for right now, this is what I need to do.

What I Would Like From an Editor

2010-12-12T18:48:00.000-08:00

I know that this is asking too much, but what I would like is someone to hold my hand and tell me exactly what I need to do to fix my book. Instead, I am given suggestions. They are good, valid suggestions. I just have no clue how to actually implement them. Obviously, if I knew how to increase the level of conflict, obstacles and character development, I would have done it in the first place. I need someone to take my ideas and make them into an interesting compelling story because I am not up to the task. Ugh. Back to the drawing board.

In the meantime, I am enjoying listening to 50s music while I work. This all started because I heard a commercial with "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" by the Platters in it. That is one of my all-time favorite songs. I plugged that into YouTube and have been meandering since then.

The Books I'd Like to Write

2010-12-10T18:57:00.000-08:00

Jane Lebak wrote a wonderful blog post on what Christian and Catholic fiction should be: http://philangelus.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/writing-the-rainbow/. These are the types of books I would like to write.

Meanwhile, her book The Boys Upstairs has received high praise: "Although I normally don’t seek out inspirational titles and consider myself to be anything but religious in my beliefs, I found this story of brotherly love and second chances to be well-written and touching." Good for you, Jane!

Juggling Projects

2010-12-09T19:27:00.000-08:00

I have a few different projects on my plate right now (on top of Christmas preparations which are a project all in themselves), and I'm trying to give them all the attention they need. A half-hour or an hour on a daily basis and they will get done. I'm still trying to make the time to write.

I've said it before, but it does give me something to look forward to at the end of the day. Even a couple hundred words makes me feel like I've accomplished something. Yes, they are baby steps, but they are adding up. I'm on page 56 and the story is progressing nicely. It is certainly rough, but it is coming to life, and there is something magic in that process.

Hating Your Book?

2010-12-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

Rachelle Gardner had a good post today on hating your own book: http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-hate-my-book.html. I know I've experienced that moment - when I can't bear the sight of something I've written or I wonder how I could have possibly written such pathetic material. I also hit that point when writing a story - where I'm convinced the story is horrible and I don't want to go on, and I have to force myself to do it anyway. I usually just tell myself that I can go back and fix it later (which I can, even if the fixes are not easy to come by).

As for my current story, I crossed the 15,000 word mark tonight.

Writing is a good way to forget

2010-12-05T19:21:00.000-08:00

My mind and heart have been a bit heavy today. I wasn't sure if I was going to do any writing on my story tonight. I had other work to do which kept me busy for much of the night. As the clock got close to 10 pm, I did decide to spend at least a few minutes writing. It was rather helpful. I lost myself in the story. 400 words flowed easily (I'm currently at 14, 152 words). It allowed me to forget for a bit and gave me some temporary peace. That's a good thing.

So You Want to Write A Novel

2010-12-02T14:14:00.001-08:00

This was shared by one of my FB friends - she said she was ROFL. Of course, she HAS a bestselling book. For the rest of us still trying, I'm not sure it is quite as funny. But, it does have its moments and a lot of truth to it.

More Writing

2010-11-29T19:22:00.000-08:00

I crossed the 12,000 word mark tonight. I'm currently at 12, 157.

My friend said that editing my story would take about a month. Honestly, I'm a bit scared. She is really an incredibly intelligent woman - probably one of the most intelligent women I've ever met. I warned her that my story was of the "popular-fiction" type - nothing erudite in there. But what if she thinks it is totally stupid? What if she thinks that it is one of the worst stories she has ever read? How will I ever face her again? I know - that is just my pride talking. But still - ugh! This is nerve-racking. Why did I ever think I could write novels?

Another day . . .

2010-11-26T19:23:00.001-08:00

Part of me really wanted to blow off writing today, but I did it anyway. Not much, I admit, but I added about 200 words.

Thanksgiving writing

2010-11-25T19:17:00.000-08:00

With no work tonight, I ended up writing about 800 words tonight. I'm writing dialog for an extrovert which is a bit of a challenge for me because I am such an introvert. Just writing her talking so much tires me out! LOL

Editing and Writing

2010-11-24T19:07:00.000-08:00

I had taken the past two days off from writing. I was licking my wounds a bit after my rejection. I went back to it today, though, and wrote about 500 words.

I also hired an editor to take a hatchet to my other story. I debated back and forth on this one. I absolutely hate spending money on myself, especially in a case like this when it feels like I'm just sending it off into the wind. There are so many other, more important, things to spend money on. I enjoy helping other people, though, so I'm trying to think of it in that light. I hired a friend who has just started an editing business, so I am helping her get her business off of the ground. I told her to be brutal. I really do want to improve in my writing. I hope that she can help me.

A "Good" Rejection

2010-11-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

Not that there is really any such thing, but I did receive what in the writing world is considered a "good" rejection today. The editor who was considering my novella said that it just wasn't quite ready yet, although it was an interesting concept. She feels I should have someone critique it, rework it, and then resubmit. She even took the time to send me a marked-up first chapter. I do greatly appreciate her time and feedback, and she even got back to me within the promised three-month time frame. So, overall, I was pretty lucky!

I'm not sure where to go from here, but I don't need to decide today.

I really wasn't expecting an acceptance, so I'm not very disappointed. I've been praying to write what I should when I should and have things published when and if they should be, so this must have been what was supposed to happen. It isn't the end of the world.

10,069

2010-11-21T19:29:00.000-08:00

The American Music Awards are not the most conducive background for writing, but I did get out a few hundred words and crossed the 10,000 word threshold which was my goal for the evening. I'm 1/8th done.

Labor and Childbirth in the 1950s

2010-11-18T19:06:00.000-08:00

My main character is about to give birth in 1958. I didn't do any writing tonight, but I did watch this fascinating childbirth education video from the 1950s:

http://www.theunnecesarean.com/blog/2010/11/1/1950-video-labor-and-childbirth.html

Crossed the 9000 word mark

2010-11-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

I am up to 9082 words on my writing adventure. One thing I've noticed moving at this more slow pace is that I'm much more prone to editing. Rather than just feverishly moving the story forward, I'm finding myself more determined to get it "right."

Spending days working on the same chapter gives me much more time to think about them and want to make changes. Tonight, for example, my 400 words of writing were all additions to previous scenes. I'm also much more likely to change how I phrased something. It's a different way of working, but that is OK - this is a different sort of story for me. I've currently completed three chapters.

One tenth done

2010-11-15T19:17:00.000-08:00

I crossed the 8,000 word threshold this evening. I am one-tenth of the way and 31 pages toward my goal. At one level that is really depressing - that I still have so far to go. On the other hand, I have lots of writing to look forward to.

Now, my throbbing head and I are going to go to sleep.

Writer's Digest - Top 10 Productivity Pitfalls

2010-11-14T16:48:00.000-08:00

I read the new November/December 2010 issue of Writer's Digest today. I'm always so excited to pick up the latest issue at the library. Unfortunately, the articles I wanted to link to weren't up on the website (at least not yet), but I did come across this one on Top 10 Productivity Pitfalls

Writing Update

2010-11-12T19:22:00.001-08:00

Current Total - 6761 words. Making progress - slowly but steadily.

An Amazing Writing Story

2010-11-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

Here is a post on an amazing writing story: The Journey Begins Gwen Stewart began writing after a 20 year hiatus and wrote a novel in a week and a half!

Writing Progress

2010-11-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

I had a good night of writing while listening to the CMA's on TV. I actually had about 1 hour to write after getting my work done. Current word total - 5,642. The words aren't coming that easily, but they are coming. There is a story there. I tend to see the story as a movie in my mind. Converting that movie into words is always the challenge, but I keep working at it.

Taking life one day at a time and God's will and our dreams

2010-11-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

Here are some other good quotes from Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance (Artist's Way)

Life unfurls one day at a time. It is full of situations that will resolve themselves if we give them enough time and give God a chance to get his hand in. The trick is not to panic. The trick is not to overreact. Life unfolds one day at a time, and we must let it.

We do not need to feel that our dreams and God's will for us are at opposite ends of the table. We can consider the possibility that our dreams come from God and that God has a plan for their proper unfolding. When we seek daily spiritual guidance, we are guided toward the next step forward for our art. Sometimes the step is, "Wait. Not now." Sometimes the step is, "Work on something else for a while." When we are open to Divine Guidance, we will receive it. It will come to us as the hunch, the inkling, the itch. It will come to us as timely conversations with others. It will come to us in many ways - but it will come to us.

Finding Water

2010-11-08T18:57:00.000-08:00

I had picked up Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance (Artist's Way) a couple weeks ago at the library. I've been skimming through it to see if there were any kernels of inspiration before I have to bring it back.

I did come across a couple so far:

Over the years, writing has become easier, a daily routine. But there many days when my stint at the page still takes all of the courage I can muster. "Please, God, send me ideas," I pray. Then I listen and type out what I hear. "Inspiration" is really as simple as the act of listening and being willing to trust that still small voice. Some days I am willing to trust. Others I am not. On those days, I must pray again. "Please, God, send me the willingness to just listen and write." And then I must listen and then I must write.

There is a divine plan of goodness for us and our work, but we must go along with the plan in order that it may transpire. Careers do not unfold in an orderly manner. They do not proceed A to B to C. They zig and then they zag. We must tack with them. We must be willing to be made what it is God is making us. For our own comfort, we must be willing to surrender to a power greater than ourselves.

A Saturday Writing Treat

2010-11-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

I got to write today! I'm up to 4,089 words and am working on Chapter Two.

Writing Update

2010-11-05T19:28:00.000-07:00

I actually had 45 minutes to write tonight, thanks to being able to get some work done this afternoon.

I wrote about 600 words. Current total - 2,560. I'm on page 10.

How long will this take?

2010-11-03T19:17:00.000-07:00

All around me (at least in the virtual world), people are cranking out words for National Novel Writing Month. Many of them will accomplish their goal of writing a novel in the month, or at the very least write way more than they would have otherwise. I have been there and done that and loved the process. With my current goal of writing 10 minutes a day, I'm definitely taking a different approach with my latest work.

Nevertheless, I am writing and that is what matters. I'm currently just under 2000 words. I figure if I average 1000 words a week, it will take me 80 weeks to reach my word count goal - a little more than a year and a half. I'm sure there will be times when my work load might be less and I might be able to write more, but we shall see. Still, I'm looking at finishing this project some time in 2012! Even though I know it will go by quickly, that seems a long way off.

In other news, I finished reading The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks today. It was one of the few books by him that I hadn't read. I heard recently that they are making it into a movie so I wanted to read it. It was a good story. It had some dark undertones, but was at heart a romance, which is what he does best. It was some pleasant escapism. I need that every once in a while.

National Novel Writing Month starts tomorrow

2010-10-31T19:24:00.000-07:00

National Novel Writing Month starts tomorrow. I wish all of you who are taking the plunge the best of luck with it. I'm a little sad I can't do it this year, although I do have the comfort of knowing I did do my big writing push this past summer.

Still, I am writing and that matters to me. A friend asked me the other day how the "10 minute a day" novel was coming. Ten minutes works out to be a paragraph or two. I save it for the last thing I work on in my day. It gives me something to look forward to. I'm currently on page 5 with 1,128 words. Not much, I know, but it is 1,128 words I wouldn't have written otherwise. It helps satisfy my creative longing and a story is taking shape. These are all good things.

Art is RIsky

2010-10-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

I finished reading The Sound of Paper: Inspiration and Practical Guidance for Starting the Creative Process today. It was the only book I read this week - a sure sign of how busy and stressed I've been.

I will leave you with this one last bit of advice from Julia Cameron.

Often, when I advise a writer to write a whole book rather than a proposal, I am greeted with "But, Julia! I don't want to do all that work for nothing." But we never do all that work for nothing. When we write, we become better writers. When we paint, we become better painters. Dancing improves our dancing, acting our acting. . . When we ask for a guarantee of success, we are asking to make risk-free art, and art, by definition, is risky. . . It is the practice of our art form, and not the marketable product we produce, that warrants us the name artist.