For the Love of Publishing?

Two of my co-writers have posted wonderful blogs to the Writersvibe site giving me a much needed reminder that writing is my passion not publishing (or even editing).  Jules reminded me that the joys of life are phun and that we get to choose how our lives reflect the things which are most important to us.  In the words of Maya Angelou, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

In Traci's posting, she asked the profound question: why not publish making good arguments for leaving a book unpublished. 

I still plan on pursuing my goal but it is a nice reality check to know I not only have options but the power rests within me - it is my decision and my future.  Now I better get back to phun editing - OK, so simply calling something fun doesn't make it so.

Photographed Souls

Native Americans believed that images within a photo captured the person’s soul; thus, many tribes refused to be photographed.  Today we splatter images of ourselves everywhere.  It’s almost like you don’t exist unless you participate in Facebook, Twiter, or a blog.  Image is everything.

An increasing problem is occurring as people steal photos from personal sites and use them in unthinkable ways.  From billboard advertisements to pornographic sites, peoples personal images are showing up manipulated and captured without permission.

I’m not sure about the legal issues concerning this problem but I know that none of my photos are copyrighted.  And even if they were, what would stop someone from copy and pasting it onto their personal site?  With so many blogs and personal accounts, how could I even begin to keep track of my images?

Perhaps the American Indians had it correct.  Is a piece of my soul being captured not just in the images portraying me but also in the photographs I've created?  I for one, am very attached to the photos I've taken.  They're more than fixed images – they are a glimpse into how I view the world.

One of my fellow writers, Traci Robison, depicted another aspect of this dilemma in her second book.  In a brilliantly written scene, her protagonist is ordered to give his name to his captor.  It seems so innocent but when the captor refuses to release his own name to the protagonist, an underlining power struggle becomes obvious not just because one character tricked another but because of the importance of 'owning' one's name.  The author uses names as a metaphor for one’s soul.  As the novel progresses, this becomes more evident.

So what is the solution?  As in any relationship, when you put yourself out there, you risk getting burned.  Shakespeare said it best, “It is better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all.”  Life is to be lived, loved and shared.  As much as it bothers me that someone could capture one of my beloved images and use it in a perverted way – I am an open book and the joy I receive from sharing with those whom share my passion for creative upliftment outweighs my fear of losing my soul.  So as I move forward towards publication, I will continue to share pieces of myself in hopes that good will spread and flourish.  We can’t force others into making the right choice but we can show them the benefits that come from a life well lived.

A realistic Look

Publishing, it's the topic on my mind these days.  I posted a blog about the subject on the writer's vibe site. In that blog, I discussed the differences between literary agents but as I researched the topic, I began to wonder...what are the odds of producing a successful book?

If I think of all the people I know and calculate how many of them have or are writing a book, I begin to feel deflated.  But if I concentrate only on the ones who have actually completed a book, I start to feel better.  It takes a rare person to possess the tenacity needed to finish such a daunting task.  And an even more driven person is required to face the literary agencies firing squad. I am such a person.

Before I start to pat myself on the back, however, I stumbled across a staggering statistic in my quest for an agent which has left me weak and doubting my talent. A typical agency receives close to 500 queries a month from that pool they invite perhaps 50 of those proposals for review. Out of that fifty, one or sometimes two are delivered to publishers. For this reason alone, I can't stress the importance of a well written query letter.

But it gets worse.  Publishers offer top spots to already established writers.  Next, celebrities steal away valuable opportunities, and believe me, it seems they are all writing books these days, even Snoop Dogg is working on a series of children's books.  Publishers know their names alone sell books.  This leaves very little room for first time writers to break into the industry which may make the appeal of self-publishing brighter.

Who Am I - Life's a Journey

I fear I have created a misunderstanding when writing my profile.  It was the least of my intentions to sound conceded when I said, "I have journeyed my life rooted by knowing who I am".   But I have and I do.  Like all journeys, however, I have often strayed, even become lost upon several occasions, yet even in my darkest hours, deep within - my heart stayed true to the person I am.  This is not to say that I haven't participated in deeds I regret.  I am human and have many sides - I have lived many lives, with in this one - become many characters, which I now drawl upon to create my literary characters.  My journey continues and I still have much to learn but even as I waver my foundation is set.

Was there ever a time of your life when looking back, your personal memory seems more like a stranger's life - distant and dreamlike?  Were you bolder?  Selfish?  Wiser?  Create a scene exaggerating your experience.  Push beyond your comfort zone and transform yourself into a different character.  Think about how you felt.  How you related to the world around you?  Did you express logic?  What emotions controlled you?

Have fun and as always, feel free to post your discoveries.

I Finished!

It felt right.  I began my journey three years ago in November and this November I finished.  As I typed the final words to my second novel, joyful adrenalin coursed through my fingers and a very satisfying peace encompassed me.  Even knowing that months of editing face my future, I feel the novel is complete.

So why did this feeling elude me when I finished my first novel?  No joy, no satisfaction, no completion came from the final words.  Perhaps the answer is entwined with my emotions.  My first story is my life’s work.  Like a journey, when I finished the plot, I realized that I’d evolved into a better writer and because of my transformation the beginning of the story no longer fit the middle and the ending.  Since then, I’ve worked diligently trying to edit the manuscript into the masterpiece I desire but each time I fall short.  I feel that my journey has not yet giving me all the skills I need to complete my first novel.

In the spirit of persistence, I began my second novel.  Unlike my first love, my second novel is a quick read, filled with interesting characters whose strong personalities possessed me and drew me seamlessly through the plot.  It’s a fun story which can be read at face value, although I layered it with axioms and prose for those who enjoy more depth.  And even though I enjoyed reading and writing my second novel, I am not as emotionally attached to it as my first.

As I journey forwards, towards publication, I hope that my lack of emotional connection will prove to be a strength; allowing me to critically assess and edit the novel.

The Passing

Driving to work, a song I hadn't listened to in years began to play. It was a song my mother was fond of and images of our long car trips with mom singing at the top of her lungs joined me as I sang now in a similar fashion. When the song ended, I realized that I've never told my mom how much I like that song. It was more than a memory, it was a piece of her.

The next day I watched as my niece sang with all her heart to one of my favorite songs, and even though the words were in Swahili, she never missed a beat.

I began to wonder, like tribes of old passed stories and oral histories through their generations, do we pass music through ours?

Try writing a scene where one generation passes something to another. Is more passed then just the intended subject?

Writing as a Gift

With Christmas around the corner, I find myself once again faced with the annual challenge of finding 'that right gift'. To me, a gift should reach out and touch the heart of the receiver with special Christmas magic.  It's not something carefully marketed and picked from the overstocked store shelves of commercialism, but rather, the perfect gift should be an extension of me and represent my love for the receiver.

In past years I have enlisted my cooking skills by baking and canning goods, wrapping them in decorative cellophane clad baskets or mailing my tasty treats in form of a care package.  Cooking is a wonderful way to share a little piece of my love but once devoured, the cheer is gone.  So, I've switched to what I do best.

By combining my love of writing with my passion for photography, I create photo books. Years ago, I started using a website called Snapfish.  It is affordable and user friendly.  It offers hundreds of styles, templates and ideas so you can make your book as customized or simple as you desire. I have, however, stopped using Snapfish because a fellow photographer turned me on to Shutterfly.

Shutterfly is a bit more pricey than Snapfish but the quality is superior.  The images have a better resolution and the books are bound better.

This time of year both sites offer awesome discounts.  Snapfish has even offered buy one get two free; so if you're feeling thrifty, check out their deals.  If price is no object, I'd recommend, Shutterfly. If I'm going to go through all the hassle, then I want my book to last.

Christmas ornaments can also be made from both websites.  I've used both Shutterfly and Snapfish as well as another website.  I have been pleased with all of the creations and will continue to use which ever site offers the best price or convenience.  Making photo ornaments is a tradition I will continue.  We had so much fun decorating the tree with special moments captured from years past.

Photo books are the gift that keeps giving.  All too often I spy my love ones flipping through the books, caught with a smile as they relive the warmth and memories each page contains and I too am filled with happiness.