Serenity… refocus – seek joy – thrive

1. Joan Kelly

   11:24 am on July 10th, 2009 1

   a) I’m sorry that I have not commented more often, as I love how much you are posting and how you write and I know you’re not sitting by the metaphorical blog-phone waiting for me to comment-call, but I hate how behind/out of the loop I am in my online relations for a little while now.

   b) woo hoo that you’re writing a book!!!

   c) I have a couple of contacts in the publishing industry (a couple of literary agents and editors) and whenever you’re ready, I’d be happy to put you in touch. I know things are still a crap shoot, but it’s true that half the hurdle is getting anyone to actually read your manuscript or proposal. The people I know will read the stuff of whoever I send their way, is the good part.

   d) I relate to the feeling of overwhelm, when it comes to doing research in connection with writing a book. I mean I can’t even get my mind around where/how people start and/or some linear process of find stuff out —–> catalog it?—-> incorporate it? I don’t know what the eff. So I keep writing non fiction stuff that requires nothing of me but narcissism and re-writes!

2. Nanette

   8:36 am on July 12th, 2009 2

   Hi Joan! Always good to see you, and of course I await your comment-calls (whenever you feel the urge, that is)! You are, after all, my commenter As for being out of the loop, I’ve almost completely lost the thread. It seems really hard, sometimes, to get time to participate and desire to do so to coordinate their appearances.

   And wow, thanks so much. I forget I know actual writers! I think narcissism and rewrites come with the territory. I am trying daily to become even more narcissistic (or at least self confident). Knowing that should I ever finish (okay, think positive – WHEN I finish, or at least get to a point) there is a possibility of a professional someone actually reading it makes it seem… well, real. Something to work towards, anyway, because although my goal is really just to tell the stories as they won’t leave me alone, lol, I know how very difficult it is just to get a hearing, let alone a reading. I have to actually finish something now (even if it’s total crap, as many first books are) to show appreciation for that honor, if nothing else. So, thanks for that little push.

   On the where/how process, that stumped me for a bit too – I had like three or four different places where I was putting information and writing; evernote, paper, some writing software that allows scenes and characters and something else, which I forget, and so wound up losing track of lots, but then I thought… dang, why not just a blog? With the endless and nested categories that you can name what you want and all that, I can have my research, scene ideas, characters, chapter outlines and everything right there, in one place and accessible with one glance. Perfect for someone like me who doesn’t have the foggiest idea *how* to write a book and is not used to doing much of anything at all in a linear fashion.

   So, that’s what I did, started a private blog (cuz nobody is reading a thing until after a certain point – everything (including my ego!) is far too fragile right now) and will just do everything there. My computer blinks out regularly so it also has the advantage of having all my work online, with it backed up in yet another place online so that, hopefully, I’ll rarely lose anything in crashes.

   Anyway, how I do go on. Thanks again, much, for the encouragement!

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