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Handling the Insecurities of Publishing A Novel
*** It’s a challenging endeavor. I’ve done it twice now with fiction, and twice with nonfiction books. And I’m about to do it again when I release my latest, third fictional novel. There will always be anxieties that manifest themselves into insecurities about putting our work out there. The tendency to feel nervous about it is normal. We’ve invested a lot of time and energy into our stories, and we hope people will appreciate that time and energy regarding our work, too. But there are no guarantees. Some people will love it, some will think it’s just okay, and some will downright dislike it. It’s the way of the world,…
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A Little Fairy Magic … and Imagination
* Mystical fairies looking after us, guiding us, keeping watch over us—it’s not a bad idea, really. We could all use a fairy godmother or godfather every once in a while. Think about how many of us wish Harry was real and there was a place called Hogwarts; why not want to cling to the idea of fantasy? Sometimes the fantastical life is far more interesting and engaging than real life. At least, I think so sometimes, which is why I make up characters and stories and plot lines and write fiction. It’s just so much more fun to believe, I think. My husband and father think the idea of…
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Thick Skin
This week in classes we’ve talked a lot about the craft of writing…what goes into it, what makes a good piece, what makes a good novel. One thing I’ve learned in life, love, and writing is that we have to have thick skin. If we can’t take criticism well—either to heed it or let it roll off our backs—we’re not going to enjoy being in the writing world. We’re not going to enjoy the beauty of putting something out for public consumption. I’ve been to many different types of book talks, and the truth is, not everyone is going to love everything we write. I chalk it up to the…
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New Year’s Resolution: The Top Ten Things I Will Not Lose in 2012
*** As we kiss 2011 goodbye, and welcome the new year, I’ve made my resolutions. Have you? Here they are, keeping in mind what JK Rowling (Luna Lovegood) says: “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.” Hmmm…that may be true for wizards, but I’m not so sure about it in the muggle world. Here are the Top Ten Things I Will Not Lose in 2012: 10. My Keys 9. My Sense of Humor 8. My Hair 7. My Temper 6. A Bet 5. One Sock 4. My Cellphone 3. An Argument 2. My Mind 1.…
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Friday Fiction: Strike Out
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Be Careful Or You’ll End Up In My Novel…and other thoughts…
*** Sometimes I want to toss my novel out the window. I completely understand what Dorothy Parker meant when she said, “This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.” I’ve been working on Beneath the Mimosa Tree for so long that I would be lying if I didn’t say I could throw in the towel. Writing is painful sometimes. We are hard on ourselves. But then I think of what Raymond Carver said: “Technique alone is never enough. You have to have passion. Technique alone is just an embroidered potholder.” Luckily, I have the passion. I could put my novel out…
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Friday Fiction: Strike Out
