The holidays are upon us and the busy-ness is endless, so today I've done something different . . .
Our soldiers have returned from Iraq this week, just in time for the holidays, and I decided to repost a blog from May . . . which shows what's in my heart and why I write.
My heart is over-joyed for these families that have been reunited, yet in the dark recesses of my mind, I remember so well and worry. My prayers are that these men and women are counseled and debriefed before being expected to fit back into society, and are given a solid contact name to call, if needed. Someone who has been where they have been, someone they can trust with their feelings! Also, that their families and friends have compassion and patience as these warriors try to adjust back into family life.
This is their GREATEST DESIRE . . . please remember where they've been and what they've been through.
The trick is keeping your heart open. Natalie Goldberg
May 5, 2011
This blog began as a tool to move me into publishing. Accountability for my time and actions was my purpose. Most entries have been lighthearted and chatty, other than the first. But the time has come when I must share more. And I'm uncomfortable. So please bear with me.
Write your heart out. Never be ashamed of your subject and your passion for your subject. Joyce Carol Oates
War has gone on since the beginning of man's creation. And will continue until the end of time. This necessary evil brings death and pain not only to its victims, but also to the warriors and their loved ones covering our small planet. It's not the way we'd like it to be . . . it is the way it is.
Brave men and women fight wars in hostile lands where life is valued differently. Armed with rifles, they're exposed to sights and sounds no human being should ever witness. And at times, they must engage in unthinkable acts to save their friends, which riddles them with shame and guilt. Or they survive an ambush and the others don't.
Can you imagine the horror?
It's not a movie in the theater you pay to watch . . . it's real life! And it's happening this moment in remote parts of the world. How does a warrior return to a normal life with this running through their head?
It's called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder . . . a normal reaction to abnormal life threatening stress.
Those who know me know my story. They know what I wrote about, and why. And those who don't know me, other than through this blog, will one day share an experience . . . one that will be hard to forget.
My book? It's a love story. And shows how I met the love of my life and we were married. He was a Vietnam vet. I didn't know he had post traumatic stress disorder. I didn't know what post traumatic stress disorder was. Nor did I know I would develop PTSD from living with my husband's illness.
The ravages of war tainted our marriage eclipsing it into a nightmare. And by grace alone, my love gave me the strength and the courage to survive.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind . . . bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Excerpt from my book proposal . . .
Diary of a Vet's Wife shows the innocence of love unblemished with hope and promise, unaware of the imminent demons vowing destruction. And all too soon her impossible dream is shattered by nightmares her husband doesn't recall and hidden pain he refuses to share. Her love is unyielding, her journey is long. She retreats to a life of secrets in order to spare the children and her family from the truth, yet she has no place to turn.
The reader will slip into her world like a fly on the wall as she takes them places most have never been, while bonding with others who know the terrain that only love dare travel.
So there you have it . . .
Lesson learned . . . my two cents
Be open to your readers opinions . . . they're one of the reasons you write.
Show compassion to our brave men and women who have served and suffered for this nation, and our safety. You never know what a person is going through by looking at them. Would you lay down your life for your country? Please do me a favor. When you see someone in uniform, or meet someone who has served in our military, go up to them, shake their hand and say, "Thank you." It would mean so much to them. I know from experience . . .
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Sunday, 11 September 2011
What is a Synopsis and Why? . . . Part Two . . . And an Award!!
"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by a conscious endeavor."
— Henry David Thoreau
Me? An Award? I'm speechless, which is unusual. I never knew this award even existed!
I graciously thank Carol Apple, a talented writer from SheWrites for this Liebster Blog Award. What an honour! My very first award ever! I feel like Sally Fields. "You like me . . . You really like me!!"
Liebster means "beloved" in German where the Liebster Blog Award is supposed to have started. This award is designed to bring additional recognition to quality bloggers with less than 200 followers. Please show Carol some love by visiting her unique and highly resourceful blog at http://www.carolsnotes.net/
The rules associated with this award:
1. Thank the giver of the award and link back to them.
2. Give the Liebster Award to 5 bloggers and let them know with a comment to their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award onto your blog.
4. Enjoy the love of some of the most supportative people on the Internet.
5. Have fun blogging!
These are my picks for the new winners of the Liebster Blog Award:
1. Fi Phillips - Fi's Magical Writing Haven - The writing, thoughts and ideas of a playwright and hopeful novelist @ http://fionajphillips.blogspot.com/
2. Julie Farrar - Traveling through . . . the World, the second half of my Life, and my own Mind @ http://www.traveling-through.com/
3. Becky Green Aaronson - The Art of an Improbable Life - My Twenty Years with an International Photojournalist @ http://animprobablelife.com/
4. Lori Robinson - Africa Inside @ http://africainside.org/
5. ThelmaZ - Widowsphere: A Circle of Hope @ http://www.widowsphere.blogspot.com/
Enjoy your Award . . . and may this be "just the beginning . . ."
And readers, please take a glimpse at the unique blogs listed above!
Any stragglers riding the fence like me?
And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. - Sylvia Plath
Let's say you've seen a great movie . . .
Lesson learned . . . or my two cents
Did you know that in 1992 chewing gum was ban in Singapore? In fact, littering of any sort warrants a hefty fine . . . like $700 for a gum wrapper . . . if not jail time. There are 400 undercover agents always watching. Thus, Singapore is rated as the cleanest country in the world. Wouldn't that be lovely? People who live there know the rules, it's the visitors who have problems it seems. Check it out on Google. I did because it was hard to believe . . .
Has anyone experienced this beautiful clean city . . . visiting, or better yet, living there?
— Henry David Thoreau
Me? An Award? I'm speechless, which is unusual. I never knew this award even existed!
I graciously thank Carol Apple, a talented writer from SheWrites for this Liebster Blog Award. What an honour! My very first award ever! I feel like Sally Fields. "You like me . . . You really like me!!"
Liebster means "beloved" in German where the Liebster Blog Award is supposed to have started. This award is designed to bring additional recognition to quality bloggers with less than 200 followers. Please show Carol some love by visiting her unique and highly resourceful blog at http://www.carolsnotes.net/
The rules associated with this award:
1. Thank the giver of the award and link back to them.
2. Give the Liebster Award to 5 bloggers and let them know with a comment to their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award onto your blog.
4. Enjoy the love of some of the most supportative people on the Internet.
5. Have fun blogging!
These are my picks for the new winners of the Liebster Blog Award:
1. Fi Phillips - Fi's Magical Writing Haven - The writing, thoughts and ideas of a playwright and hopeful novelist @ http://fionajphillips.blogspot.com/
2. Julie Farrar - Traveling through . . . the World, the second half of my Life, and my own Mind @ http://www.traveling-through.com/
3. Becky Green Aaronson - The Art of an Improbable Life - My Twenty Years with an International Photojournalist @ http://animprobablelife.com/
4. Lori Robinson - Africa Inside @ http://africainside.org/
5. ThelmaZ - Widowsphere: A Circle of Hope @ http://www.widowsphere.blogspot.com/
Enjoy your Award . . . and may this be "just the beginning . . ."
And readers, please take a glimpse at the unique blogs listed above!
Publishing is a business. Writing may be art, but publishing, when all is said and done, comes down to dollars. - Nicholas Sparks
I sit here, prepared to write Part Two of my Synopsis blog . . . yet something I read this week, keeps knocking on the inside of my forehead. I guess this means I'm to mention it now . . .
At this point of My Uncharted Journey into Publishing, I'm straddling the fence . . . vascillating between an agent and traditional publishing . . . and self-publishing! The more I research and study, the more I'm leaning towards self-publishing.
Yesterday, I came across something that took place in March . . . which REALLY OPENED MY EYES!
NYT Best Seller Barry Eisler turns down $500,000 advance in favor of Self Publishing
A Newbie's Guide to Publishing has an article titled, "Ebooks and Self-Publishing - A Dialog Between Authors Barry Eisler and Joe Konrath, which is a MUST READ for all straddlers like me. Then judge for yourself . . . check it out on Google.Any stragglers riding the fence like me?
And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. - Sylvia Plath
What is a Synopsis and Why . . . Part Two?
TIME FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM!!!
Envision one or two things while you rework your synopsis . . .
- Writing a book jacket blurb for your book
- You must pique the casual browser's curiosity, make him want to buy the book to see what happens.
- Read a few jacket blurbs to get the feel of how it's done.
- You're describing it to a friend . . .
- You're not saying "Cameron Diaz was chased by this drug addict and the police shot him . . . the end." Sound enthusiastic?
- No . . . you say something like, "Cameron Diaz was terrified, this pot-head kept calling her by another name like she was someone else. He was everywhere. His phone calls were more scary. Finally she slips a note in her roommates purse to alert the police where she's going next. The police are waiting undercover. There's a struggle, he's killed. Only then does she find out it was the same creepy guy from her old job she refused to date. (not a terrific example but you get the idea)
- Enthusiastic
- Enticing
- Tantalizing
- Description that makes the reader pick up the manuscript to find out what happens!
- Start with main character and his crisis.
- Include snippets of dialogue from the manuscript itself.
- Show the character's emotions and motivation that explain why the character does something . . . keep it brief.
- Only use background information necessary for reader to understand story.
- Build excitement as you near the end, using short sentences and paragraphs.
- Synopsis is a sample of your writing. A flavor of what reading your work will be like . . . give it your all.
- It should be in your synopsis, or cover letter. Editors and agents like having this extract as something they can use when presenting your book to the buying board.
- And it's something you can use when someone asks you, "What's your book about?"
Lesson learned . . . or my two cents
Did you know that in 1992 chewing gum was ban in Singapore? In fact, littering of any sort warrants a hefty fine . . . like $700 for a gum wrapper . . . if not jail time. There are 400 undercover agents always watching. Thus, Singapore is rated as the cleanest country in the world. Wouldn't that be lovely? People who live there know the rules, it's the visitors who have problems it seems. Check it out on Google. I did because it was hard to believe . . .
Has anyone experienced this beautiful clean city . . . visiting, or better yet, living there?
Sunday, 26 June 2011
Marketing in an Electronic World. . . My First Steps
Writing is ninety percent listening. You listen so deep to the space around you that it fills you, and when you write, it pours out of you. Natalie Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones
Our world may teem with pain and violence, but we have the ability to turn off the chatter, and open our minds to the peace and tranquility all around us . . . this is your choice.
I see wonder in the ordinary, and often get lost in taking pictures of no one . . . pictures without people.
A weathered wooden fence dappled with layers of peeling blue paint, lifted by decades of heat and rain. A single rusty nail draws me close. Who pounded that nail and why? "Click, click." Or white crusted barnacles growing on the pilings under Santa Monica pier like on a grizzled old whale. "Click, click." Staircases, fire escapes, the angles, the lines. "Click, click." A vine hidden treehouse abandoned in the woods long ago. Where are the laughing children who once played there? "Click, click."
Shadows are my favorite, clinging to their subject, if only by a thread. Shadows add character, depth and dimension to the existing beauty. If only I can catch it before it disappears. "Click, click."
Do others see what I see?
Less than 10 percent of new writers have enough promotional ammunition to interest large publishers.
Michael Larsen, How to Write a Book Proposal
Never before has a writer had more opportunities to market their own book than today. Technology continues to advance at such a fast pace it's hard to keep up. Yet, this is one of the most success-filled avenues to promote your book . . . and the best news is that your choices are ENDLESS.
I'm still wallowing in information, but I want to share what I'm learning as I go . . .
How did this happen?
Each week, after I post my new blog, I send an announcement to all friends and family in my email address book (approx. 80). This way they know it's posted, and don't have to search for it. And they have the option whether to view it now or later, or not at all.
Each day, SheWrites forwards emails from these writers showing what they posted that day. I reply to the emails of interest, or to new friends I've made. My blog address is attached at the end of my reply. This is time consuming, but definitely joy-filled, and a necessary tool for your success. And I've met the most amazing women!
This is where Time Management plays a key role. And once I figure out how to manage my time . . . I'll be the first to share because I know all writers wrestle with the infamous time bandit.
The women on SheWrites are talented writers willing to share their expertise. It's been a pleasure getting to know them, and their work, gleaning new ideas daily. Their comments and encouragement were unexpected, offering friendship from across the country and around the world.
. . . to be continued.
Lesson learned . . . my two cents
Anytime you meet someone new, and they learn you're a writer and show interest . . . NEVER miss an opportunity to ASK for their email address. Then add it to your address book ASAP (placing a key word next to their name for later recall where you met). Little pieces of paper have a tendency to disappear, and you don't have time to waste looking for it . . . nor lose a potential sale.
Note: You can visit: In The Beginning . . . and Q is for Query Letter . . . to learn what my book is about.
Our world may teem with pain and violence, but we have the ability to turn off the chatter, and open our minds to the peace and tranquility all around us . . . this is your choice.
I see wonder in the ordinary, and often get lost in taking pictures of no one . . . pictures without people.
A weathered wooden fence dappled with layers of peeling blue paint, lifted by decades of heat and rain. A single rusty nail draws me close. Who pounded that nail and why? "Click, click." Or white crusted barnacles growing on the pilings under Santa Monica pier like on a grizzled old whale. "Click, click." Staircases, fire escapes, the angles, the lines. "Click, click." A vine hidden treehouse abandoned in the woods long ago. Where are the laughing children who once played there? "Click, click."
Shadows are my favorite, clinging to their subject, if only by a thread. Shadows add character, depth and dimension to the existing beauty. If only I can catch it before it disappears. "Click, click."
Do others see what I see?
Less than 10 percent of new writers have enough promotional ammunition to interest large publishers.
Michael Larsen, How to Write a Book Proposal
Never before has a writer had more opportunities to market their own book than today. Technology continues to advance at such a fast pace it's hard to keep up. Yet, this is one of the most success-filled avenues to promote your book . . . and the best news is that your choices are ENDLESS.
I'm still wallowing in information, but I want to share what I'm learning as I go . . .
- Start promoting BEFORE your book is finished - Your objective should be to first create interest. Then sustain that interest as you build on it. This will begin your potential reader base . . .
- Create a blog
How did this happen?
Each week, after I post my new blog, I send an announcement to all friends and family in my email address book (approx. 80). This way they know it's posted, and don't have to search for it. And they have the option whether to view it now or later, or not at all.
- Join a Writers Group Online
Each day, SheWrites forwards emails from these writers showing what they posted that day. I reply to the emails of interest, or to new friends I've made. My blog address is attached at the end of my reply. This is time consuming, but definitely joy-filled, and a necessary tool for your success. And I've met the most amazing women!
This is where Time Management plays a key role. And once I figure out how to manage my time . . . I'll be the first to share because I know all writers wrestle with the infamous time bandit.
The women on SheWrites are talented writers willing to share their expertise. It's been a pleasure getting to know them, and their work, gleaning new ideas daily. Their comments and encouragement were unexpected, offering friendship from across the country and around the world.
. . . to be continued.
Lesson learned . . . my two cents
Anytime you meet someone new, and they learn you're a writer and show interest . . . NEVER miss an opportunity to ASK for their email address. Then add it to your address book ASAP (placing a key word next to their name for later recall where you met). Little pieces of paper have a tendency to disappear, and you don't have time to waste looking for it . . . nor lose a potential sale.
Note: You can visit: In The Beginning . . . and Q is for Query Letter . . . to learn what my book is about.
Saturday, 21 May 2011
B Is For Book Proposal . . . Part One
It circulated for five years through the halls of fifteen publishers and finally ended up with Vanguard Press, which you can see, is rather deep into the alphabet. - Patrick Dennis on Auntie Mame
And I thought a query letter was daunting . . .
Let me reiteriate, I never intended to write a book. But life happened and grabbed my heart so fiercely that I had to put it on paper to keep my sanity. A query letter was one thing, but I was totally unprepared to learn I was now expected to write a BOOK PROPOSAL . . . I was not happy.
I learned in class to think of a book proposal as a sales tool pinpointing the benefits of publishing my book.
A writer can send a book proposal directly to a small press publisher, but major publishers do not accept "UNSOLICITED" books. This writers success depends to a large degree upon the quality of the proposal. Cork Millner
The book proposal is written in third person, and varies in length from four pages to twenty-five pages . . . plus sample chapters. The sales package is divided into several sections listed in the Proposal Table of Contents. These include the BOOK CONCEPT, ABOUT THE MARKET, PUBLISHING DETAILS, ABOUT THE AUTHOR, OUTLINE OF CHAPTERS, and SAMPLE CHAPTERS.
I was overwhelmed riding on the verge of a migraine . . .
If I had not invested so much of my life in this book, I would have thrown up my hands and hid in the closet. But I'm not a quitter! I'd been through much harder situations than this, I told myself, so I said a prayer, squared my shoulders and trudged on . . .
Without my teacher, and the support of my writing class, I would have been down and out in Round One.
Attached is a copy of my Proposal Table of Contents:
New Zealand . . . where did that come from?
I leave for New Zealand on Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. I hadn't planned to go to New Zealand, it wasn't on my to-do list, but when my daughter and her family moved to Auckland in September . . . I knew I must go to New Zealand.
We have a close bond, and lived within a 20 mile radius. I witnessed the birth of her first baby, Max (7) but I missed Charlie's (3) because I had the flu. I spent time with them at least once a week, by invitation of course. I had it made!
Then New Zealnd popped into the picture . . .
I can't wait to see them. It's going into winter there. We moved our clocks forward, they moved their clocks backwards. I leave Auckland at 1:05 p.m. on the June 6th, and arrive at LAX at 6:30 a.m. that same day Strange, I return before I leave. Wrap your mind around that concept . . . like the galaxies in outer space that go on forever.
I'm very excited, but I HATE TO PACK! Is there such a person as a professional packer? I'm not one of those throw-it-all-in-a-duffle-bag kind of females. Can't help it. It's the way I'm wired. But if I don't consider every "what if" sceniro, my mind will not rest. I'm surely not the only female who puts herself through this torture . . .
Lesson Learned . . . my two cents
There's only one way to ride a horse . . . you have to get on it!
And I thought a query letter was daunting . . .
Let me reiteriate, I never intended to write a book. But life happened and grabbed my heart so fiercely that I had to put it on paper to keep my sanity. A query letter was one thing, but I was totally unprepared to learn I was now expected to write a BOOK PROPOSAL . . . I was not happy.
I learned in class to think of a book proposal as a sales tool pinpointing the benefits of publishing my book.
A writer can send a book proposal directly to a small press publisher, but major publishers do not accept "UNSOLICITED" books. This writers success depends to a large degree upon the quality of the proposal. Cork Millner
The book proposal is written in third person, and varies in length from four pages to twenty-five pages . . . plus sample chapters. The sales package is divided into several sections listed in the Proposal Table of Contents. These include the BOOK CONCEPT, ABOUT THE MARKET, PUBLISHING DETAILS, ABOUT THE AUTHOR, OUTLINE OF CHAPTERS, and SAMPLE CHAPTERS.
I was overwhelmed riding on the verge of a migraine . . .
If I had not invested so much of my life in this book, I would have thrown up my hands and hid in the closet. But I'm not a quitter! I'd been through much harder situations than this, I told myself, so I said a prayer, squared my shoulders and trudged on . . .
Without my teacher, and the support of my writing class, I would have been down and out in Round One.
Attached is a copy of my Proposal Table of Contents:
The Concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Premise.
Overview
Manuscript
The Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Characteristics of reader
Statistics
Competition
Genre
The Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Mission Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Chapter Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Sample Chapters
Chapter 1 – I felt like I was going mad . . . 19
Chapter 31 – I knew better than to ask . . 24
Lifeline Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
New Zealand . . . where did that come from?
I leave for New Zealand on Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. I hadn't planned to go to New Zealand, it wasn't on my to-do list, but when my daughter and her family moved to Auckland in September . . . I knew I must go to New Zealand.
We have a close bond, and lived within a 20 mile radius. I witnessed the birth of her first baby, Max (7) but I missed Charlie's (3) because I had the flu. I spent time with them at least once a week, by invitation of course. I had it made!
Then New Zealnd popped into the picture . . .
I can't wait to see them. It's going into winter there. We moved our clocks forward, they moved their clocks backwards. I leave Auckland at 1:05 p.m. on the June 6th, and arrive at LAX at 6:30 a.m. that same day Strange, I return before I leave. Wrap your mind around that concept . . . like the galaxies in outer space that go on forever.
I'm very excited, but I HATE TO PACK! Is there such a person as a professional packer? I'm not one of those throw-it-all-in-a-duffle-bag kind of females. Can't help it. It's the way I'm wired. But if I don't consider every "what if" sceniro, my mind will not rest. I'm surely not the only female who puts herself through this torture . . .
Lesson Learned . . . my two cents
There's only one way to ride a horse . . . you have to get on it!
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Q Is For Query Letter . . .
Ode to Saturday morning and the opulence of writing in my PJ's. A steaming cup of black coffee, a handful of cold cherries and a rice cake smothered in peanut butter at my elbow. Seagulls screech over the crashing waves at Big Sur ebbing from my Media Player. A setting decadent as a piece of rich dark chocolate.
What more could a writer want? THEIR BOOK PUBLISHED!
The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.
Gilbert K. Chesterton
A query letter was my next mountain to scale. Daunting and foreboding. I knew it must start with a "hook" like my story, something that will grab the readers attention. And it must be short!
Research . . . write, then rewrite. It took weeks before I had something solid in place. Something I was ready to read in class, if asked. And I was . . .
Why was reading aloud so terrifying? But I knew the answer . . . self-doubt!
May 1, 2010
“Why in the hell did you call 911 when I tried to commit suicide?”
This was part of a message left on my answering machine by my husband, a Vietnam vet, three months before he took his own life. Devastated, I could not comprehend why our men and women die by their own hand after surviving the ravages of war. I knew I wasn’t alone suffering in silence, watching the man I love destroy himself. I knew tens of thousands, perhaps millions of other families live this nightmare with no place to turn.
Critique given in class showed compassion and concern, confirming the need I saw for those touched by war. Now to find an agent and/or publisher who held the same vision . . . the same passion.
Within weeks, I attended the Orange County Christian Writers Conference. Mick Silva, an acquisition editor with WaterBrook Press, was key speaker, later hosting a workshop. He announced he would accept any well-written book proposal. I only had my query letter, which he agreed to take a look at.
But it wasn't meant to be. By the time I returned from my family reunion in Ohio, he was no longer with WaterBrook Press. He was on his own.
Now I had to go to Plan B. The problem . . . I didn't have a plan B.
Lesson learned . . . my two cents
Every writer who wants to be published must have a Plan B! And maybe a Plan C and a Plan D as well.
What more could a writer want? THEIR BOOK PUBLISHED!
The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost.
Gilbert K. Chesterton
A query letter was my next mountain to scale. Daunting and foreboding. I knew it must start with a "hook" like my story, something that will grab the readers attention. And it must be short!
Research . . . write, then rewrite. It took weeks before I had something solid in place. Something I was ready to read in class, if asked. And I was . . .
Why was reading aloud so terrifying? But I knew the answer . . . self-doubt!
May 1, 2010
Mr. Mick Silva, Editor
WaterBrook Press
Dear Mr. Silva,
“Why in the hell did you call 911 when I tried to commit suicide?”
Diary of a Vet's Wife, subtitled Loving and living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, my memoir at 96,000 words covers an eighteen year period in my life lifted from personal journals. This heartfelt love story took sixteen years to write and reads like a novel.
Divorced with three young children, I longed to find the love of my life. Eighteen months later we meet, oblivious to the perils waiting and all I would sacrifice for my dream. Laced with love and heartbreak, secrets and fear, my unique story shows the family dynamics of living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, a normal reaction to abnormal life threatening stress. I later learned I too had developed PTSD from living with my husband’s illness. The reader will slip into my world like a fly on the wall as I take them places most have never been, while bonding with others who know the terrain that only love dare travel.
In search of reason, I stumbled upon the peace that surpasses all understanding when I came to know God’s love as a born-again Christian, convinced He held my hand and walked with me through the valley of the shadow of death.
My expertise is that I survived to tell this story. I’m committed to get this book into the hands of as many people as possible, exposing them to a deadly epidemic infesting our nation and the world, drawing attention to the raw wounds of war destroying families. After all these years, suicide is still on the increase. Each suicide is a tragedy . . . .
Manuscript and Book Proposal are completed. May I submit my work for consideration?
Within weeks, I attended the Orange County Christian Writers Conference. Mick Silva, an acquisition editor with WaterBrook Press, was key speaker, later hosting a workshop. He announced he would accept any well-written book proposal. I only had my query letter, which he agreed to take a look at.
But it wasn't meant to be. By the time I returned from my family reunion in Ohio, he was no longer with WaterBrook Press. He was on his own.
Now I had to go to Plan B. The problem . . . I didn't have a plan B.
Lesson learned . . . my two cents
Every writer who wants to be published must have a Plan B! And maybe a Plan C and a Plan D as well.
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Write Your Heart Out . . .
The trick is keeping your heart open. Natalie Goldberg
May 5, 2011
It's a glorious Thursday morning, and the highway beacons, but instead of my enchanting trip to Santa Barbara, I'm here at my computer pounding on the keys. Work has taken over my writing time, and this week I had to skip school. Not only am I writing a blog, but I'm researching ways to market my book. The resources are endless, requiring the patience of Job.
First, I want to thank all for your words of encouragement. I know you're with me, even though I can't see you. This week I received a few comments that started me thinking . . .
* Write to the title
* I want to know more about your book
* Your date changes are confusing
This blog began as a tool to move me into publishing. Accountability for my time and actions was my purpose. Most entries have been lighthearted and chatty, other than the first. But the time has come when I must share more. And I'm uncomfortable. So please bear with me.
Write your heart out. Never be ashamed of your subject and your passion for your subject. Joyce Carol Oates
War has gone on since the beginning of man's creation. And will continue until the end of time. This necessary evil brings death and pain not only to its victims, but also to the warriors and their loved ones covering our small planet. It's not the way we'd like it to be . . . it is the way it is.
Brave men and women fight wars in hostile lands where life is valued differently. Armed with rifles, they're exposed to sights and sounds no human being should ever witness. And at times, they must engage in unthinkable acts to save their friends which riddles them with shame and guilt. Or they survive an ambush and the others don't.
Can you imagine the horror?
It's not a movie in the theater you pay to watch . . . it's real life! And it's happening this moment in remote parts of the world. How does a warrior return to a normal life with this running through their head?
It's called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder . . . a normal reaction to abnormal life threatening stress.
Those who know me know my story. They know what I wrote about, and why. And those who don't know me, other than through this blog, will one day share an experience . . . one that will be hard to forget.
My book? It's a love story. And shows how I met the love of my life and we were married. He was a Vietnam vet. I didn't know he had post traumatic stress disorder. I didn't know what post traumatic stress disorder was. Nor did I know I would develop PTSD from living with my husband's illness.
The ravages of war tainted our marriage eclipsing it into a nightmare. And by grace alone, my love gave me the strength and the courage to survive.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind . . . bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Excerpt from my book proposal . . .
Diary of a Vet's Wife shows the innocence of love unblemished with hope and promise, unaware of the imminent demons vowing destruction. And all too soon her impossible dream is shattered by nightmares her husband doesn't recall and hidden pain he refuses to share. Her love is unyielding, her journey is long. She retreats to a life of secrets in order to spare the children and her family from the truth, yet she has no place to turn.
The reader will slip into her world like a fly on the wall as she takes them places most have never been, while bonding with others who know the terrain that only love dare travel.
So there you have it . . .
Lesson learned . . . my two cents
Be open to your readers opinions . . . they're one of the reasons you write.
Show compassion to our brave men and women who have served and suffered for this nation, and our safety. You never know what a person is going through by looking at them. Would you lay down your life for your country? Please do me a favor. When you see someone in uniform, or meet someone who has served in our military, go up to them, shake their hand and say, "Thank you." It would mean so much to them. I know from experience . . .
May 5, 2011
It's a glorious Thursday morning, and the highway beacons, but instead of my enchanting trip to Santa Barbara, I'm here at my computer pounding on the keys. Work has taken over my writing time, and this week I had to skip school. Not only am I writing a blog, but I'm researching ways to market my book. The resources are endless, requiring the patience of Job.
First, I want to thank all for your words of encouragement. I know you're with me, even though I can't see you. This week I received a few comments that started me thinking . . .
* Write to the title
* I want to know more about your book
* Your date changes are confusing
This blog began as a tool to move me into publishing. Accountability for my time and actions was my purpose. Most entries have been lighthearted and chatty, other than the first. But the time has come when I must share more. And I'm uncomfortable. So please bear with me.
Write your heart out. Never be ashamed of your subject and your passion for your subject. Joyce Carol Oates
War has gone on since the beginning of man's creation. And will continue until the end of time. This necessary evil brings death and pain not only to its victims, but also to the warriors and their loved ones covering our small planet. It's not the way we'd like it to be . . . it is the way it is.
Brave men and women fight wars in hostile lands where life is valued differently. Armed with rifles, they're exposed to sights and sounds no human being should ever witness. And at times, they must engage in unthinkable acts to save their friends which riddles them with shame and guilt. Or they survive an ambush and the others don't.
Can you imagine the horror?
It's not a movie in the theater you pay to watch . . . it's real life! And it's happening this moment in remote parts of the world. How does a warrior return to a normal life with this running through their head?
It's called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder . . . a normal reaction to abnormal life threatening stress.
Those who know me know my story. They know what I wrote about, and why. And those who don't know me, other than through this blog, will one day share an experience . . . one that will be hard to forget.
My book? It's a love story. And shows how I met the love of my life and we were married. He was a Vietnam vet. I didn't know he had post traumatic stress disorder. I didn't know what post traumatic stress disorder was. Nor did I know I would develop PTSD from living with my husband's illness.
The ravages of war tainted our marriage eclipsing it into a nightmare. And by grace alone, my love gave me the strength and the courage to survive.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind . . . bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Excerpt from my book proposal . . .
Diary of a Vet's Wife shows the innocence of love unblemished with hope and promise, unaware of the imminent demons vowing destruction. And all too soon her impossible dream is shattered by nightmares her husband doesn't recall and hidden pain he refuses to share. Her love is unyielding, her journey is long. She retreats to a life of secrets in order to spare the children and her family from the truth, yet she has no place to turn.
The reader will slip into her world like a fly on the wall as she takes them places most have never been, while bonding with others who know the terrain that only love dare travel.
So there you have it . . .
Lesson learned . . . my two cents
Be open to your readers opinions . . . they're one of the reasons you write.
Show compassion to our brave men and women who have served and suffered for this nation, and our safety. You never know what a person is going through by looking at them. Would you lay down your life for your country? Please do me a favor. When you see someone in uniform, or meet someone who has served in our military, go up to them, shake their hand and say, "Thank you." It would mean so much to them. I know from experience . . .
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