Back Seat Writers (Part One)

OK.

You've finally gotten over the fear of labeling yourself as a writer.

The next time the opportunity arises, you will take a deep breath and say, "Yes, I write!"

You may want to immediately take it back when people start giving you unsolicited writing advice.

Today's Problem: Everybody seems to know how to make it in the writing world, except me!

Everybody? Well, almost:

Today, let's focus on the Avid Readers-- Maybe it's a fellow bookstore browser. Maybe it's your good friend. If an Avid Reader discovers there's a Writer in their midst, she'll usually have a few tips for you-- whether you like it or not-- especially if you don't have a book on the bestseller list, or a byline in a national magazine.

"You should write one of those vampire books, they are so hot right now."

"Why don't you just finish your novel and get it published?"

"You like music; why don't you write something for Rolling Stone?"

"You're writing a memoir? Has your life really been that interesting?"

"Send your book to Oprah!"

Excuse Editor Tip: Readers care about the Rabbit, Writers need to care about the Carrots and the Hat.

Non-Writing Avid Readers seamlessly turn hundreds of pages while they sit back and enjoy the stories, the articles, the work of Writers. Because they find the reading so easy, so natural, they sometimes assume that the creation of that work must have appeared magically on the page. Like the magician's apprentice, it is not up to you to divulge the secrets of the final products. You know behind the scenes, the smoke and mirror of metaphor had to be adjusted numerous times for the desired effect, the climatic scene had been tucked in the sleeve of the story until the exact right moment.

Treat the Avid Reader like a member of the audience. Instead of focusing on their theories about how the magic happens, concentrate on their reactions. What are they seeing on that stage of the written word that makes them laugh or cry? What surprises them? What does your bag of tricks hold that can influence them? Practice that on the page and get ready to perform. The stage may be totally unlike their vision. That is fine. There's enough room in the world for card tricks and disappearing elephants-- not every magician has to do both. Pick what is best for you.

Readers who give advice are more concerned about the final product; as a writer, you need to keep your eyes on the work: the process, the journey...the magic.

How do the  Back Seat Writer's in your life hurt your writing? How have they helped?

Spring Scoop!

Well, according to the calendar, it's the first day of spring. Outside my window, though, the snow keeps falling...

No matter the weather where you are, enjoy this month's Scoop. It's filled with current writing contests and markets. And, a new addition this month-- your own personal link to the chronologically-listed table of markets in web form. This is for those of you who had a hard time reading the list as an email. Enjoy!

The Scoop is in your inbox now if you are a subscriber. If you're not, sign up right here at http://www.excuseeditor.com/!

Happy First Day of Spring!
And... Happy Writing!

Rejection Letters-- Necessary Evil

Losing a job was probably the best thing that could have happened to my writing. After the initial drama and agony of the hours after The Call-- I was telecommuting at the time-- I woke up the next morning to realize that hey-- I'm still alive. And ok. The worst rejection I could ever imagine, being told after 10 years with the company that there wasn't a place for me anymore, DIDN'T KILL ME.

Nope, I was just fine. Limbs intact. Ego was a bit bruised, but that would fade in time.  Besides, after a while, I realized-- no matter how much of your heart and soul and time is given to a company-- at the end of the day, it IS a Company. And if you are a part of that world, you are part of a world that makes Business Decisions. And the Business Decision that was made was that I was no longer a good Fit for their Current Budget.

Months later, when I poured my heart and soul and time into a short story only to receive a standard issue rejection letter, I reframed my realization: I was part of this world now, the world that makes Editorial Decisions. And my story was not a Good Fit for their publication. Disappointed, yes, but I knew the only choice was to search for the place where my writing would make sense. I sent the short story out again. And again. And again.

In spite of the rejections that continue to come my way, I keep writing and learning. I know that in order to get more work accepted, I need to submit it. The threat of rejection is no longer one of my top ten excuses not to write or submit. Is it yours?

Today's Excuse: I Can't Handle Rejection

In elementary school, did you ever get a note back from that special someone in response to the heartfelt question: "Do You Like Me? Check Yes or No"? Did the answer shape the rest of your day, your week?

As writers, we are hoping for the Yes box to be checked every time. All creative work is a tiny piece of our hearts, and we are offering it to the world, hoping our hearts will return unscathed. Instead, rejections causes some writers to turn their writing into Old Maids, with pages hidden away in drawers and notebooks, unwilling to risk heartache.

Excuse Editor Tip:

The high points of your creative process are like Spring Break, but eventually your endeavor needs to slap on a suit and get to work.

"Writing is a passion, publishing is a business." ~ Shelley Lieber

Once you send your work out into the world, it is no longer about YOU. It's about the market. It's about finding the right "fit".  Remember when you get a rejection that it is not personal, it's business. The current publishing market reflects our economy; book publishers are not willing to take on anything potentially risky and newspapers and magazines are folding.  It's crucial to have writing that not only sticks out, but fits in. Hmm, that sounds like a strange contortionist pose to me.

The important thing to do is stand up straight and keep writing and submitting. Celebrate every rejection as if it were last place in an Olympic event: So you didn't win--but you made it all the way to the Olympics! There are so many writers out there who never even try out; by submitting your work you are placing yourself in the competition. Good for you!

Keep your writing in shape for the day when the absolute perfect writing fit finds you; it may be the steady column you were hoping for or an acceptance of your novel-- as long as we can get these six chapters edited a bit-- So you need to Be Ready to put your creative mind to work!


How do you feel about rejection? Has it kept you from sharing your work?

Mini-Scoop! A Few Upcoming Writing Deadlines

I'm sure you are working away on all sorts of writing for the contests and markets from the last Scoop, but you may have something for one of these. (Not signed up for the free Excuse Editor newsletter yet? Sign up and get the Scoop, a list of  at least 35 writing contests and markets, starting today!)




Deadline: 3/16/10
Essay Contest (Write an original essay describing creative ways in which you are helping (or supporting) the environment)
250 words max
Adams peanut butter Cause a Stir contest
NO ENTRY FEE
Grand Prize: 5-day/4-night trip for winner and up to 3 guests to Yosemite National Park, CA. Four First Prizes: $100 REI Gift Cards


Deadline: 3/31/10
Short Story Contest
No restrictions on content, style, genre or length
Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest
$4 entry fee
Grand Prize: $1000, 2nd place: $100, Three Honorable Mentions (all 5 winners published in Gemini Magazine in June)

Deadline: 4/15/10
Creative Nonfiction Contest
5000 word max
EVENT 2010 NonFiction Contest
$29.95
Three winners of $500 plus payment for publication

Money and a Room of One's Own

I caught the writing bug as a kid. Jackson Elementary allowed its students to create their own little books for other kids to check out. As a third grader, my books were published almost weekly. I was sure I would be a real author when I grew up.

Instead, I went to college and focused on business—more realistic. I would get back to writing when I had more time, a computer, and (insert excuse here). I had to concentrate on paying my bills. When a co-worker said to me, “You should buy a house,” I thought she was crazy.

My paychecks were small, and I had no savings in the bank. My co-worker and her husband had just bought a beautiful house, but they had two incomes.

She referred me to ‘her guy’. He had taken the news of their credit card debt and their limited savings in stride and worked his magic. My Great American Novel wasn’t forthcoming, maybe a different American Dream miracle was.

I called the wizard mortgage broker, and recited my wishes.

Two bedrooms, at least.

A garage.

Two bathrooms would be nice.

Oh, and I wanted the mortgage to be the same or less than the rent I paid on my tiny one bedroom apartment.

When he stopped laughing, he asked me for some financial information so he could check my credit. “I’ll be able to let you know where you stand, and we’ll take it from there.”

Later, he called me back. He really liked my credit report.

“As a matter of fact,” he said, “You can qualify for much more than what you think. You could get a bigger house, and get a roommate to pay half of your mortgage.”

I thought about that for a half of a second.

The last time I had roommates was in college. I remember struggling to get papers written, books read. How would I be able to write my masterpieces with such distractions?

So, no roommate. I focused on humble, cheaper places.

I called my realtor to show me a small condo. I was drawn to the guest bedroom. It had vaulted ceilings and a window next to a big, leafy tree. Airy and bright, it was a perfect place to find my muse.

I bought it.

Over the next few years, I created the ultimate bachelorette pad. The condo now had Pergo floors and a white cat. I finally bought a computer; however, I spent more time on dating websites than in Word.

That’s how I met the man I eventually married (last year).

He lived in a different state, and he wouldn’t dream of moving away from his two kids. Within a few months, we knew we wanted to be together. I didn’t want to miss out. It was as close as I had ever come to an epiphany. I put the condo up for sale.

I eventually sold it for a healthy profit. I took the money and ran: to my new love. I was able to buy a nice house; it became our new home.

I turned one of the three bedrooms into an office. I thought the light from the large window made it the perfect place to write. I imagined watching butterflies pass the window while I thought of the next perfect phrase.

Instead, it became the cubicle away from the office. At the time, I still worked, online, for the same company I had been with for nine years. Instead of writing, I was reading work email or checking on shipments after office hours.

And then, after almost a year in the new house, I was laid off.

When the initial panic subsided, I realized that it would be fine. I had saved the condo profits for a rainy day…

My personal stormy season, filled with these ‘rainy days’, has served me well. By the time the monarch butterflies migrated past my window that fall, I had a few small pieces published. I use the computer in my office to budget my savings and to submit my work. Because of the condo money, I haven’t had to rush back into a job that’s just paying the bills, I can choose work I enjoy and that enhances my writing. The advice of a co-worker who was unaware of my dreams helped me to get what Virgina Woolf said all women need in order to write: “money and a room of one’s own”.

How do you feel about the Woolf quote, specifically, the money part: Do you need money to write? Or do you believe if you write well enough, you will make enough money?