Violet Writing

I'm learning to accept that I have so much going on all the time, I'm not going to stay ahead of everything. That's a personal choice, even if I don't carefully or consciously decide to keep things hopping. I'm lucky to live according to my own schedule--and some of the things I've put in that schedule have a lot more flexibility than others. This blog, for instance. Consequently, I'm not exactly steady about posting. But here are some more thoughts about writing.

During these hot summer days, I've been watering and weeding actual plants, not just everything growing in my imagination. And I can't help noticing how many analogies gardening has to give about writing. Yes, I know, it's a big cliche to compare writing and gardening. But bear with me; I promise not to be too terribly hackneyed.

When we moved to this house, the only things growing here were tumbleweeds. Some of them, known as "goat's heads," would grow into nightmarish tangles of very sharp thorns that easily worked their way into any skin they happened to touch. Then they'd break loose from their stalks and go bounding around on the wind, planting themselves far and wide. When sprouting, they looked kind of pretty--bright green, perky, fast-growing. But even when small, they had a sting.

I've learned to pull them up the instant they push their way out of the ground.

What does that have to do with writing? Well, I could get eloquent about caring for your imagination, giving it the equivalent of good soil, water, and sunshine. I won't go there, at least not today. But you see where I'm going, right? Part of taking care of flowering plants is making sure the goat's heads don't choke them out. And part of being able to write day after day is pulling up the doubts and fears that can become so thorny if allowed to grow big.

I'm thrilled to say that my fairy tale, Violet Wings, is now out in paperback. And I want you to know that to get Zaria's story written, I had to pull up more than a few inner goat's heads. So if you're struggling with your own version of thorny tumbleweeds blowing through your mind, all I can say is: Keep digging.

Seer and the Sword in print for 10 years today

Okay, it's pretty obvious that I've been neglecting my blog. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. It only means I've been busy with life. Not that a blog isn't life . . . well, maybe a blog isn't life.

Is it really important to stay current with reports about my life and musings?Aren't there already plenty of blogs in the world? And I'm such a restless person, I'd rather be out gathering new experiences than sitting at my computer. Know what I mean?

But I can't let today go by without a mention. Today, April 21st 2010, my first book turns ten years old. The Seer and the Sword is still in print. It has (quietly) continued to sell, for which I'm so grateful. Here's to you, readers! Thank you! It's always a leap to reveal myself on the page, and it's good to know that others are resonating.

I've learned a ton in ten years. Much of that is shared in Wild Ink: How To Write Fiction for YA. But a lot has simply soaked into my heart and mind as all experiences do, ready to water ideas that still lie dormant.

As spring drives new buds to open and young plants to grow, I feel a renewed appreciation for everything under the surface that's yet to be discovered. Once again, here's to you! May this spring give you confidence and energy for your own writing projects.

Where have I been?

I've been getting some feedback: Where are you? Why don't you write more posts?
So where have I been? I've been, you know, running down a dream. That is to say, chasing a deadline. Working like a fiend so that by a particular date in December, another book will be written. "Written" is a little misleading because a book isn't truly finished until all the revisions and edits and revisions and edits and revisions are done. But I'll have a draft to submit, a draft of the sequel to Violet Wings. So yeah, I've been r-e-a-l-l-y busy, which is my latest excuse for neglecting my blog. I've also been taking some time very day to savor the moments of life: gazing at sunrise and moonrise, hugging loved ones, listening. . .
I hope you're savoring the moments, too. And giving your imagination a place to run free.

New book out today!

It's such thrill when a new book comes out! To all you hopeful aspiring writers out there, let me tell you, it's worth it to persevere through months and years of writing!

My author copy of VIOLET WINGS arrived several days ago. I looked at its dazzling cover art and hefted its 300+ pages, humming with joy.

Once finished, a book can be read in a few hours. The story flows, seemingly without effort. That's as it should be!

But of course, I know how many many hours went into it--not just from me, but from others. I didn't keep track of how much time I spent writing, revising, writing, revising this book. . . And then there were all the contributions from critique partners, editors, designers, artists, marketers. It takes a village to raise a book. :)

If you'd like to read the prologue to get a sense of what the book's about, go to my home page and click on "read the prologue."

Breathe on your own now, book of my heart! Soar through the world with strong wings.

The time question

A comment from my previous post asks a question:
"Um, as a fellow writer i was wondering When do you find the time to write? i know i should plonk my butt in the chair and keep writing but I get so frustrated and worried about what happens next. I hate any ideas I come up with and haven't made progress in months and..."

Here's how I see the time question, and I know I could be wrong. . .

The thing about time is that it often disguises other issues. We say we don't have time, but is that really so? I mean, we're all issued 24 hours a day. What do we choose to do with those hours? Even with a hundred commitments, there is always at least some time left over to write. It might be only a few minutes a day, but it's there to be found if we seek it out.

So what's it mean when it feels as if there isn't any time? I think the questioner above is on to something when she says frustration and worry and self-doubt take over. When that happens, time to write seems to disappear. It disappears into the frustration, the worry, and the self-doubt. Time contracts as our fears expand.

How to work with those fears and open up some time? Well, I'm not a psychologist so I can only speak for myself. I think it's important to remember that doubt and fear are natural, normal, and something to expect. (I write about this topic more in my book Wild Ink.) Writing involves digging into our gut, exposing heart and mind, and wrestling with language! Sometimes, it's very hard.

The main thing: Don't get discouraged. Take it one word at a time. Give yourself permission to write badly while working on the first draft. And the second draft. . . Just about every writer struggles with this, so take a deep breath and keep going.

Eventually you'll seize your story. Just give it some time.

Do you feel sorry for your characters?

Do you feel sorry for your characters?
You should. If you don't, something's wrong with your story.
I feel sorry for mine.
Oh, how they suffer! And yet, I lie awake nights thinking of fresh ways to disturb them and make their lives horrendously hard.
Why?
Because without conflict, a story is about as exciting as a stale marshmallow, a dead toothbrush, or a cracked porcelain bell without a clapper.
We love our characters, so it's tough to make them suffer. If only their lives could be smooth as ironed silk scented with blooming jasmine. . .
However, if we wrote them like that, they'd be so boring they'd put everyone to sleep.
So, another day, another hardship! For the characters, that is.

teen writers' boot camp

Last week I led the "fiction track" of the Explorati teen writers' boot camp. Twenty young writers and I gathered together every day for four days to focus on writing. Whooee! (Meanwhile, other groups concentrated on writing nonfiction, screenplays, or poetry.)

The camp turned out to be just what I needed to feel happy, alive, and inspired. Is that hard to believe? It shouldn't be, but it's kind of boggling how many cultural messages are out there about how "difficult" it is to be around teenagers; how much trouble they are; how touchy, out-of-control and maddening they can be; how etcetera. . .

Maybe I'm just lucky, or maybe I simply like teens in a way that most people don't. I suspect it's a combination. At any rate, "my" young writers were generous, sensitive, fun, funny, interesting, entertaining, and kind. Not only that, but they were excellent writers, and highly motivated to write even better than they already did.

I felt really blessed to be there. And I can't wait to read their books in the future!