I feel like Lewis and Clarke right now. Exploring the wild yonder, venturing into unknown territory.  Why?  Because I have rough drafted a chapter book. Normally, I write early readers and picture books. So this is definitely a new direction for me.

The interesting thing is that it started out as a picture book and morphed. The more I wrote, the more the story needed and before long I had chapters. I now realize I need more details to fill it out, but they come at me fast and furious.  So, I scribble them down with whatever I have and stick them in a folder for the book. Then I work it into the appropriate sections.

Research is going to be key. Not for the subject matter, it’s fiction, so, it will be whatever I make it. But as far as how long it is supposed to be, how many chapters I need, how long should the chapters be? Since it’s for the 6-8 year old range, I am thinking about 2-3 pages per chapter.

Well, it looks like I have some reading to do, so I am off to my sons room to dig into the book shelves! Hard work, huh?

Really, it does. Sometimes, inspiration can just allow your creativity to pour out of you. I am property sitting this week while my boys are at home. Where am I property sitting? The NC coast. My friends own cottages and I am property sitting their little location of six.

Lucky gal? Yes, I am. I am even luckier, because every single time I visit here, I write a new book. Seriously. I don’t think it would work the same way if I lived here,  but I don’t know.  Could it be that I am away and not having to deal with day-to-day life? Laundry, cooking, cleaning, school, PTA, etc.? No clue. But I am betting that without worrying I am allowing myself to enter a state of Flow.

That is what my friends John and Scott would tell me. That I had entered a state of Flow and was letting pure thought, energy and creativity shine through. Guess it is time to take myself off to the bookstore to pick it up.

If I knew I could keep this level of work up, I would have thrown my hat into NaNoWriMo this year. But, at this point, I am not sure that it’s possible. There is a lot on my plate. I have this blog, that I neglect something fierce at times, my other blog A Daily Pinch, PR work for a non-profit that is starting in Richmond and work for a friends non-profit in Wilmington. To top it off, I had a reader ask me if I would do a budget Christmas newsletter for A Daily Pinch. So, after an email survey, I am also working on that!

At least I am writing. It may not all be picture books, but I am keeping myself sharp. That’s a good thing.

I did it. I bit the bullet. Today, I submitted my first picture book to a literary agency. I still can’t believe that I finally did it. I have at least a dozen picture books that are essentially written. They just need editing and adjustment.

Why so many? Well, I just leave them alone. They need time away from me. I need time away from them. From my characters. I have to let them stew, develop, and then rest. I need the rest. When it is something that is so close to you–after all, it comes from you–it needs a break. I let this book in particular rest on and off for nearly a year.

What was my reasoning? Simple. I let it pour out of me, like water from a jug. It was fast, pure, clean and simple. It scares me. After I finally admitted that I truly wanted to be a writer and not play at it, ideas just came. When I admitted my passion, I cried.  Then, I prayed. It was simple. If I do the work, please help me with my idea stream. As long as I am working, the ideas keep pouring out of me. God works wonders.

Am I expecting much? For a first submission? I would love for it to be accepted. However, I am also a realist. Maybe I will receive good feedback from the agents, even if my book is not a good “fit” for them.  Constructive criticism can never hurt, as long as you realize that it is constructive.

That being said, I am off to take a walk. Clear my head and work on a PR campaign for a new non-profit that I am on the Board of Directors for. More about that later.

That’s a good thing, right? It means that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, writing. Which is always soothing for the soul. I head over to my favorite jazz channel, start streaming and let the words flow. It’s peaceful. Soothing. It helps me…well, I don’t know how to describe it, but it works for me.

I think I am almost there. At that point when I have to say enough is enough and start shopping my book. I am terrified. It’s something that we all have to go through, but don’t you wish there was a magic wand that you could wave and say “abracadabra, kalamazoo, here is a book deal for you!”. That would take away the most important part of the writing process…actual producing a quality piece of work.

Well, I am off to open my file, print  and cut it into little pieces to make sure it’s “fits”.

The only thing I really wanted to say under this post was AARRRGGGHHHH!!!!!

I have been trying to get my writing schedule back on track. Not easy when you are receiving a million phone calls per day.  How many times have I heard “well, your just writing” or “it’s not like it’s that hard”.

How many times do we have these life interruptions as writers? The only people that do get it are other writers. If you tell them you are writing, I don’t care if they were just offered a six-figure advance after a bidding war, they aren’t going to disturb you and interrupt your groove.

I can’t turn my phones off due to my son being in school. But I think there is going to have to be an email sent out saying “I will be working during these times, please only call me if it’s a life or death emergency. Breaking a fingernail, needing to know a shoe repair person, or your highlights sucking do not qualify.”

Any ideas on how to handle this with grace and dignity with alienating everyone I know?

Have you ever just sat on it? No, I am not talking about your duff. Your manuscript? Mine was sitting for more than 7 months due to the insanity that has been 2009 to date. Now? Sitting again. Why? I need to edit it. For content, clarity, etc.

So, what am I doing right now? Sitting here, antsy as all get out. It’s driving me slightly mad. I feel like a Queen song. However, I know myself well enough that if I were to start editing now, I would take what I consider to be a really good project and change it into something I don’t recognize. I would also question myself in negative ways. “Why do I write? What did I do to convince myself that I am a writer?”

I am pumping myself up to start work on my new project, but it’s a little more complicated. It’s a series for Young Readers and right now, I am in outline mode.  Did I ever mention that I despise outlining? Whenever I wrote a paper for college, I actually had to write the paper and then go back and do things in the order assigned by my professors. I realize I don’t make things easy on myself!

Rambling again. This means it is time to stop for  now.

I love the Writer’s Market. If you aren’t a writer, you won’t understand. But there is something exciting about that box arriving knowing it contains a tome that is full of delicious goodies. I will make a pot of tea, break out my highlighter, sit down and find Nirvana…if only temporarily. 

This year I ordered the 2010 Writer’s Market and Children’s Market and anxiously await their arrival. The smell of fresh ink on paper. The heft of it’s weighty goodness. 

<sigh>

I am a writer…life is good.

Have you ever gotten to a point in a book when the only thing you have to do is tie a few loose ends together? That is where I am at right now. Loose ends. Frankly, they have been known to drive me nuts on many different levels…

I have a few loose ends I am tying up. It’s more like cohesion and flow. Story arc. All of those things that when they go together well, make your story come to life.  I am breathing life into my story.  

How do I feel knowing I am going to be at this point soon? That the ultimate decision comes soon? When I send it out. I have wondered if I need to sit on it.  However, this one particular one I have been sitting on for 7 months due to my previously mentioned family issues. It’s what caused a massive rewrite for me. 

This entire post is so scattered and not very cohesive, but I guess it’s because I have so much on my mind. When will I get that first letter. What will it say. How will they react? 

I don’t know…but I tell you one thing, no matter what they say, I will read them with joy. I jumped over my fear and sent a book out. It’s a good feeling to know that time is almost here.

A vacation can be a great thing. For me, it has been fantastic. My block is gone and I have essentially rewritten the last book I was working on over the last few days. I still have some changes here and there….but I am feeling so much better about myself, my writing and things in general.

Thank you for being there. Ya’ll know who you are.

This is a fab blog post on structure by Lady Glamis. I will delve into it later, but please enjoy.
http://theinnocentflower.blogspot.com/2009/06/string.html