Writing Friends

I spent most of last night critiquing a friend's novel. I stayed up until 10:30 working on it. Anyone who knows me knows I do not normally stay up that late. I'm an early to bed kind of person. But this book was so good I couldn't stop reading. Unfortunately, I had to stop just at the worst possible moment.

Why? Well, because of a technical glitch. I was working on my laptop from files I have on my desktop. I got to the last chapter - and it wasn't there. I checked my flash drive. Nope. Not there either. I'd neglected to download the last chapter and transfer it. And I'd already shut down my desktop for the night.

I can hear you all now. So why not just power the thing up and keep going? Mostly because of the time. By this time, I was bleary-eyed and barely awake. I knew I could finish the chapter, and had I been just reading it for fun, I might have. But I was reading this in edit mode (although I have to admit, the story is so good that I often forgot to do that during the read). By not finishing it last night, I could come to it with a fresh outlook this morning. And I did.

All I can say is wow. Unfortunately, by waiting, I also was kept awake a good bit last night wondering what happened to the characters. Maybe I should have read it just to have that closure, but still...

This writer is going to go far with her books.

Another writing friend may not. She is going through a crisis of choice right now. She has a dozen finished novels and has been marketing them, but can't get an agent or editor to go beyond her query. The books are good - not great, but definitely good. And sweet. She is thinking of quitting. Her finances are such that she needs to work at least part time and, believe it or not, writing can be an expensive endeavor. There's ink for printing out, postage, paper, and if you do sell, there's marketing expenses that can really add up. She loves writing, but is so discouraged that right now, she doesn't see light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. All she sees is the darkness surrounding her.

And that's sad. This is not a profession for the weak-willed. It takes stubborn determination to reach the magic ticket to publication. But what she is going through is something we all go through. I was ready to quit when I sold. I know others who have been in the same spot. The thing to remember is, if you keep writing, keep submitting, keep going, you may someday make it in the door. But if you quit, it's and absolute certainty you won't. One thing to think of - you may quit submitting, but will you quit writing? Quit creating? Quit playing with characters that want you to tell their story? If you can honestly say "yes" - then you may not be a writer. But if you can't put it away and need to put down on paper that great idea you had last night, you are a writer. You may quit submitting and never become published, but you are still a writer.

So to everyone who is a writer I say wait. Keep trying. Keep submitting. Keep writing.

Birthdays: Alan Sillitoe, Johann Wyss,

Tips and Teasers: What is your book about? Boil the answer down to no more than two sentences. This becomes the basis for your pitch to editors and agents.

Thought for the day: "The muse whispers to you when she chooses, and you can’t tell her to come back later, because you quickly learn in this business that she may not come back at all." – Terry Brooks