Howdy Folks.
Well, I’d pretty much hosed this blog until last week. I was standing around the kitchen thinking about food when suddenly (smack on the forehead), I remembered that I’m a writer!
For the maybe two people who read my blog entries last year and wondered what the hell happened, here’s the short version:
Last October I decided to write the Great American Novel. During the November NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, www.nanowrimo.com) project, I pounded out 50k.
I continued refining the book until March 3rd when I pitched a fine synopsis package at a writers conference. One editor basically blew me off; the other listened politely and told me that because the novel was a coming-of-age story (17+ readership) set in the disco era (40+ readership), Barnes and Noble wouldn’t know how to shelve it and thus it was doomed from the getgo.
So how did I, a successful nonfiction writer who produces books on goal-setting and stress management, react to this negative feedback?
I ordered cheesecake and stopped writing. I took one editor’s opinion (the woman who blew me off doesn’t count) and let it completely define my future as a novelist.
Say it with me, people: stupid.
Well, I’m not a writer who whines and sits, I’m a writer who whines and writes. Clearly it’s time to get busy again.
Anais Nin says that your world shrinks or expands according to your courage. Since my budding courage tends to flower when I strategize properly, I’ll start the new book by gathering support. First, I’ll reconnect with my best writing friend, Lorna. She stuck with me last year until I crawled under a rock. Second, I’ll teach a writing class at the college with NaNoWriMo as the guiding theme. That’ll provide plenty of courageous, energetic students writing alongside of me. And last, I’ll keep up this blog while recording a few more WriteNow sittings. Will you write with me as well? (Less the cheesecake. That’s just my thing.) See you at the keyboard. –Dawn
