The Story Behind the Song
"I'm no stranger to the pain
Of dusting off and trying again . . ."
222nd Wind by Kasey Jones
After you read this, do yourself a favor. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on 222nd Wind. Listen carefully to the lyrics. You'll soon discover why it's my favorite "keep your chin up" song. If you're a writer, I know you've poured your heart and soul into a manuscript, pressed a button and sent it into cyberspace with a mind-bending mixture of hope and anxiety, only to experience the pain of rejection. But, trust me on this: if you don't give up, one day you'll be holding a book with your name on it.
My website was launched in 2008. I wanted to include a song, one that would resonate with writers, both published and unpublished. When I heard Kasey's song, I knew it was the right one. I used the contact form on her website, asking permission to use it. Her return email shocked me. She said, "Here's my number. Call me." Wow! Really? Call her? Feeling a bit tongue-tied, I dialed her number. I needn't have worried. Her warm, gracious manner put me at ease and we chatted like old friends. Having been a victim of pirating, she thanked me for asking permission.
Here's the story behind the song. She and her husband had just completed building the house of their dreams when he decided he didn't want to be married anymore. Kasey was alone in a big, empty house. So, what did she do? In her words, "I sat myself down on the floor and wrote, "222nd Wind."
Yes, rejection comes in many forms. What we do with it is up to us. Keep on writing and keep your chin up!
"Now I'm . . .
Standing tall, rock steady,
Watch out, I'm ready.
Breathing out, breathing in
Getting my 222nd wind."
Return to top of page
So You Want to Write a Book
I've had the following conversation countless times at bookstores, parties... even when I'm out walking the dog.
Would-be writer: "So, you're a writer?"
Me: "Yes."
WBW: Published?"
Me: "Yes."
WBW, wistful expression appearing on face: "I've always wanted to write a book."
Me: "What's stopping you?"
WBW: "Don't have the time."
Me: "If you write one page a day, you'll have a book in a year."
WBW, flashing a sheepish grin: "It might not be good."
Me: trying not to rant: "Doesn't matter. It's a start. Writing is a skill that gets better with practice."
The conversation usually ends with the would-be-writer slinking away, even though I have plenty more to say. The words are familiar because I repeat them to myself when I sit down to write.
- Who do you think you are? Moses chiseling the Ten Commandments onto a humongous rock? If it's not perfect, that's okay. Remember the "delete" button?
- You cannot edit a blank screen. Write something. Write anything. Every day. Somewhere in that giant slag heap of coal, you will find a diamond in the rough, ready to be polished.
- Do not give in to fear. Fear of criticism, fear of failure, fear that you'll never get another brilliant idea for the rest of your natural life. Fear is paralyzing. It steals away your creative energy and most certainly causes what is euphemistically known as writers' block. How does one defeat fear? Follow steps 1 and 2. Repeat as necessary.
Here's what beloved young adult author Judy Blume has to say about writing: "I received nothing but rejections for two years. I would go to sleep at night feeling that I'd never be published. But I'd wake up in the morning convinced that I would be. Each time I sent a book or story off to a publisher, I would sit down and start something new. I was learning more with each effort. I was determined. Determination and hard work are as important as talent."
So, here's my advice if you really, truly want to write a book: Stop making excuses and just do it.
Return to top of page
Find Your Voice
Adapted from Marilee's post on the GotYA blog
I wasted a lot of good years writing depressing poetry about life's gloomiest and/or wackiest topics. Teenagers meandering down the highway of life searching for answers. My fear of spiders. Lonely old women who drink too much beer. Seriously. Some of it even got published. When I started my first book, a historical romance, I learned something important about myself and, in the process, found my true, authentic voice.
In the beginning, Castle Ladyslipper (my first book) had the most dreadful, dark and dreary plot one could imagine. Sir Garrick of Hawkwood, my hero, was emotionally damaged, thanks to all the conniving women in his life, starting with his mother. (Why is it always the mother who screws up the son?) The opening scene was an epic downer. As my heroine, Emma, scurried across the bailey, she heard William, her brother, calling to her from an upstairs window. She looked up to see the poor lad plunge to his death, a victim of over-enthusiastic waving. Is it any wonder I could barely drag myself to the computer each day?
When my output dwindled to nada, I finally realized I was fighting my nature and consequently hated what I was doing. I ditched the first scene and came up with a new recipe. Step 1. A dash of magic in the form of a crystal, a curse and a ghost. Step 2. A castle full of strong, opinionated woman. Step 3. A hunky, chauvinistic knight who believed women were basically large children and should be treated as such. Step 4. Mix thoroughly and see what rises to the top. I started to have fun, found my voice and completed my first book.
What does this have to do with young adult (YA) fiction? Only everything. Kids can spot a phony faster than the time it took William to go splat after his plunge from castle window to cobblestone. I try to remind myself of that fact each time I sit down at the computer. As writers, as human beings, we all have to be true to our natures. When we aren't, we're fighting a losing battle that manifests itself in stress-related illness and depression as well as incredibly bad writing.
Shakespeare said it best...
"This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow as the day the night,
Thou canst not be false to any man."
Return to top of page
For writers, the word rejection has the power to bring us to our knees. If you're like me, your book is your baby and you really really love your baby. You spend months laboring over your little beauty, writing, re-writing and polishing until it springs to life, shiny and new and ready to impress the publishing industry. After sending out queries by the dozens, rejection letters begin to appear in your mailbox followed by--oh joy--three requests for a partial. Much throwing of confetti! Happy dance around the living room, taking care not to stomp on the dog's tail. The months drag by and you wait. Two rejections arrive one after the other. Fingers crossed, you wait for the third. In an effort to temper hope with reality, you tell yourself the maker of your fate is an editorial assistant half your age. The envelope arrives. You rip it open and the words, "Unfortunately your submission does not meet our needs at the present time," jump off the page and stab you in the heart.
Most websites for writers insist it's a huge mistake to take rejection personally. Oh really? We're human. We have emotions and we've just been told our baby is ugly. How can you not take it personally? I say go ahead and kick the chair. Scream. Sob into your pillow. Tell your significant other the publishing industry sucks and they wouldn't recognize a best seller if it bit them in the butt. Then... get over it. What you don't do is quit. Look at it this way: every writer who quits makes room for another who pursues his/her dream with dogged determination. Rejection doesn't keep us from publication. Quitting does.
There was a time when the mere sight of a self-addressed envelope made me sick to my stomach. Then I received a rejection that changed the course of my writing life. I'd met Hillary Sares, a Kensington editor, at a conference and she'd requested the book that would become The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam. Six months later, I received a rejection letter, but this one was different. Hillary took the time to write a personal message. In part, it said, "You have a natural voice for Young Adult fiction. Give it a try." Her encouragement sent me down a new path, one I'd never before considered. It resulted in Moonstone, the first in the Unbidden Magic series and a five-book contract with Bell Bridge.
The mindset of many unpublished writers is this: First, I'll get an agent. Then, I'll get published. Since many agents now accept queries only by email, you send dozens or even hundreds of queries into cyber space. Approximately half will get no response. Of the remaining batch, some will trigger an instant form rejection. "Sorry, not for us." With a little luck, you may be asked to send a partial. Your heart leaps with joy. You make sure your first three chapters and synopsis shine like the queen's jewels and send them off. You wait. And wait. Months go by. Finally, you get the news. "You write well, but I don't think I can sell it in today's market." Sound familiar?
Unfortunately, many excellent writers become discouraged at this point and simply give up. If there's a bigger downer than constant, unrelenting rejection, I can't think of one. Self doubt sets in. "Gee, if I can't get a literary agent, maybe my book's not good enough to be published." This is a crucial moment in your life, the moment that separates the wannabee from the real deal.
What if I told you I didn't sell a book until I fired my agent? It's true. Granted, I made the mistake of signing with an unknown agent who did absolutely nothing to further my career. The statement, "A bad agent is worse than none at all," was one hundred percent true in my case. It's also true that most of the big publishing houses will not accept unagented submissions. So, if that is your dream, go for it. But, guess what? There are a multitude of wonderful small presses who are eager to look at your submissions. And, with the burgeoning e-book industry, e-publishers are absolutely devouring new material. As always, it requires due diligence. There are dozens of online websites like www.absolutewrite.com with forums that discuss the pros and cons of small pubs in great detail. Check them out. Consider it your homework. Then, make an informed decision.
Would I like to get a good agent? Absolutely. Would a good agent help me crack one of the big markets? Possibly. But, since no one is knocking at my door, begging to represent me, I'll continue writing my books and keeping 100 percent of my advances and royalty checks. That's a choice I can live with!
