Welp. This is it. I have waited for this day to get here for the last five years. At first it was with a fatalistic acceptance that I was never going to achieve what I wanted, then timid hope, then cautious excitement, and now exhilaration. This may sound a bit overblown because I didn’t cure anyone, or ease anyone’s pain, or invent anything brilliant, or any of the things…
As of this post, I’ve written four complete novels, six detailed synopses, and roughly one million poems and short stories. And I’m here to tell you that while first drafts do get easier, they never stop being messy, fickle beasts. In fact, I was just talking a friend about this very subject. My first (trunked) novel was an exercise in meandering. I had no deadlines, no critique partners, and I…
I really don’t like talking about fear. Oh, little fears, sure. I detest rollercoasters because I’m sure they’re going to break and kill me, I’ve been known to dive under picnic tables to get away from wasps which are clearly dark minions sent forth from the bowels of hell, and my horror of open water has been reinforced for decades by nightmares and augmented by that time my baby sister almost…
I just got around to checking this week’s topic and nearly fell off my chair when I realized what it is: Debuting As a Writer When You’re An Ancient, Shriveled Fossil. So many things wrong here. First, I am not old. I mean, I don’t feel old, but possibly that is because I am immature for my age.* Second, I was thinking of passing myself off as a twenty-something author—possibly…
This week the 2017 Debs say goodbye and welcome in the 2018 class! The other gals have also said it, but I want to parrot how it’s hard to believe this is my last post as part of the Deb Ball Class of 2017. It’s been a wonderful year and I’m not sure it’s possible to list all the ways in which I’m grateful for this experience. But, I simply…
After spending many years and numerous manuscripts to reach the point where I can proclaim, “I’m a published author!” it’s a bit surreal that my debut year — and my time on the Debutante Ball — is winding down. It’s been our goals to give everyone a glimpse into our author lives, our book journeys, and even into our personal lives. We’ve shared our publishing fears, our covers, our celebrity…
For about thirty years, I hoped that I would write and publish a book. And then it happened. Thirty years is a long time to anticipate something, and yet, the year has been full of surprises. There were a lot of things that I was anxious about from the outset, but there were many that I never expected. I’ve had loads of “OMG” moments — both good and bad. Here…
Calling Debut Authors! Now Accepting Applications for the 2018 Debutante Ball! Read this post to learn more. Hurry! The deadline is July 28! This week the Debs are writing about what we’ve learned in our debut year and what advice we’d give to forthcoming authors. Mine: ya gotta keep writing (and reading). That big scary shark? Yep, that’s the publishing industry. And in order to survive, I’ve learned ya need…
Calling Debut Authors! Now Accepting Applications for the 2018 Debutante Ball! Read this post to learn more. Hurry! THE DEADLINE IS JULY 28! This week we are writing about what we’ve learned in our debut year and what advice we’d give to forthcoming authors. My advice is simple: find the joy in this journey. One of the most surprising things about being a debut author is that in some ways, the stress is…
WWOWW (= wine with other women writers) has become my new favorite hobby/necessity. I write and write and write for hours all by myself, and at the end of the day, I LOVE to meet with other writers to bitch, laugh, encourage, and commiserate. The best part of being a debut writer — hands down — has been meeting my new support network of women writers. And the thing is, I’m not all…
