The Happy Writer

Despite the once-common stereotype of the tragic writer creating heartbreaking literature whilst drowning her sorrows in port, I think most writers would prefer a happier route through our writing lives. And yet, the odds can seem stacked against us:

• Creative people are more likely to suffer from depression.
• Writing is (usually) a solitary pursuit, which means we lack the day-to-day support and feedback provided in a more conventional workplace.
• Writing is a VERY TOUGH field in which to succeed, with many writing novel after novel for years on end while collecting piles of rejections—positive feedback can be few and far between.
• During the long writing apprenticeship (check out Justine Lee Musk’s excellent post on the writer’s apprenticeship process), most of us have to work at other jobs. After all, those rejection slips don’t come with paychecks.

So here we are, struggling writers, overworked, underpaid, prone to depression, and, unless we do something about it, creating in the void, with little feedback or encouragement. Makes you wonder why we do it!

Don’t worry. Writing is hard, but for some of us, it’s also the most wonderful occupation in the world. So how do we get past the inevitable bumps in our writing road? I think the first step is to recognize the challenges listed above.

And then? Then we can start to DO something about those challenges! More coming tomorrow….

:) Cheryl

When the end's in sight

I have an abominable time estimating how long a rewrite will take me. I think it's because the "real" writing seems like creating the story idea, plot structure, characters, setting, and so on inside my head. It always seems such a simple hop from there to a fully written manuscript.

And then, too, there's the problem that I always assume there are more hours in the day than actually exist. And the problem that I rarely have enough time that I have to stop writing from sheer exhaustion. It happens--but it's always a surprise to me.

But despite my troubles with time estimation, I'm nearing the end of rewriting Juggling the Keystone, a book upon which I'm resting quite a few hopes. As a writer, you can often tell when your writing takes a leap forward. This book is, I believe, a leap and a bound better than my previous manuscript, both in terms of plot structure and writing style. I've had several nibbles of interest from conferences. Now all that remains is to finish polishing and send it out. Sounds simple, right?

Simple and exciting and terrifying. I find it's hard to get started each day, because I'm a little afraid of finishing and sending this baby out into the real world. After all, I'm high on hope right now. If I send it out, I'll probably start hearing a few "no's", no matter how good it is.

This is an unexpected hurdle to cross, but I guess I'll get past it the same way as all the others: one step at a time. Happy writing, wherever your writing road take you today!

:) Cheryl

Rejection Remedies

Today's news: just received a "decline" email on one of my submissions. An extremely nice decline, but still. Bummer.

I hate rejections. Who doesn't? But we all know--intellectually, if not emotionally--that they're part and parcel of the writing business. When I started writing for magazines, I received plenty of those "Dear Author" letters. Eventually, they moved on to "Dear Cheryl, We like your writing, but...." and (finally) to the "Please sign below to sell your piece titled __________ to us because we love you!!" (Okay, maybe that's not word for word, but you get the idea.)

I'm working through the same process in the book market. First I received "Dear Author" letters; next I moved on to the "Dear Cheryl, this has some fun writing, but...." I know, it's part of the process, but like I said before--bummer.

Writing must go on, though, so what's a girl to do? Here are a few rejection remedies that work for me:

1. Take 10 minutes to be sad (aka, hugging the poodle.)


2. Remind myself of the above truths: Writing is a process. I'm on the right road and doing the right things. Be patient.


3. Gifts for me: Raised glazed donuts work for me. Hey, I get to pat myself on the back for sending my stuff out into the wide, wide world!


4. Gifts for my muse: I like to promise my WIP a few uninterrupted hours to play with a character's backstory or dream up crazy plot twists.


5. Jump back into writing: The search for publication is a necessary evil (if you want to be published, that is) but it doesn't take away from the joy of putting words together.


6. Share: Lucky for me, I have a delightful group of fellow writers who share disappointments and celebrations with me. Maybe I received a decline, but hey, one of my writing buddies just got a contract on her beautiful nf book!
   

There--all better. Have any rejection remedies of your own? Please share!

~Cheryl

When the waiting's over...

When the waiting is over for a writer, the news isn't usually good. That's because publishing is such a subjective business, even the best manuscript has a good chance of receiving a few rejections before it finds a home. When writers submit their work, we're taking a chance that it will be declined (which is a far nicer--and more realistic--word than "rejected.")

My wait for news from Andrea Somberg ended this afternoon and--you guessed it--she's passing. Bummer.

I'm sad and disappointed, but not nearly as sad and disappointed as I expected. Why? Maybe because I knew the odds were against me. Maybe because she read the entire book. Maybe because her email contained some specific--and helpful--thoughts about what I'm missing in the manuscript. Maybe because of the guinea pigs.

Maybe because I'd promised myself a new pair of earrings when I heard from her, just to celebrate my bravery for submitting.

I'll wait a few days, give the manuscript another once-over, and then send it out again. Will it ever be published? I think so. I feel like I'm following the same path as when I started writing for magazines: at first I received form rejection letters, then form letters with hand-written notes of encouragement scrawled across the top, then more detailed rejection letters, then substantial rewrite requests, and finally acceptances. As I've submitted and rewritten The Last Violin, I received first form rejections, then form rejections with handwritten notes, and now a personal note...I know I'm on the right track!

:) Cheryl