My Recent Comments

I have received a rejection from SSE. This one hurts, bad. Will I ever get romantic conflict? I don't understand what I'm doing wrong, esp. after revisions on the last one. This one was a flat out R. And there's not a whole lot written about romantic conflict. Could it be everyone else gets it but me. I'm trying real hard not to feel sorry for myself, but...

Cindy T.

Again, (((Michelle))) Then I hope this day gets over quick for you.

lol, Bosey. I like her way of thinking. Although I'm huge on discipline, I am guilty of being too hard on myself, enough so that it might stilt me now and then. So, thanks for the forwarded quote.

Cindy T.

(((Lauren))) for your latest. Keep chuggin' along, girly. You're inspiring us all.

(((Michelle))) you sound very sad. Tell us what the R says so we can make you feel better about it, see the upside. We all know how hard it is, but one of the reasons this place rocks is because we all understand and will support you through the tough turds (sorry, it just seems appropriate to use that word right now ).

I dont think I've said it yet, so you go, Kris!!

Cindy T.

Lisa, I feel you pain. I floundered from one method to another, all of which I hated as well, because I was a pantster. And I also considered myself a wee bit lazy because I didn't want to do the synopsis and other things. But now I don't see it as laziness, I see it as being overwhelmed with all the different methods, everyone telling me something differenent, and that it's the ONLY way to make your story work perfect. Now I see the limitations I put on my writer were all bogus. I needed to remember that what works for one person (and that is including my advice to you ) may not work for anyone else. You're not lazy you just don't know where to start, and the thought of working your way trough all the techniques until you find what clicks for you is daunting.

I wish I could tell you it was easy to know what method worked for me, but it wasn't. I happened on storyboarding long after I knew the benefits of a suckopsis. I hated them so much. Now it's still a love/hate relationship. But the storyboarding helped me visualize, which naturally helped me understand where the story was going. In other words, I fell into my method.

As for this story, do whatever feels right right now, even if that's to stop working on it altogther. You have to allow yourself time to get in tune with your writing process. For me, and I'm sure for most, it didn't happen overnight. But when it happens, you will see a definate improvement in your structure and in your progress from unpublished to publshed author. I say this now as an unpublished author knowing full well I will become published because I've found my method--not so much arrogant as determined beyond all measure.

Cindy T.

Bettty, I feel just as you do. I'd rather not sell until my skills have caught up with whatever talent God gave me so that after that first sale I can sell the next, and so on. I was just saying this to my husband a couple days ago. He asked what the reality of sustaining your sales once you've made the first sale, and I told him there are no guarantees, but my strategy is to really know what I'm doing before the first sale.

Then again, do we ever really truly know what we're doing?

Cindy T.

Lisa, I'm afraid I would agree with Jennifer, that maybe you should plot your story before throwing away a partial ms that sounds like it has great potential. It truly does sound as simple as figuring out first what their goals are and going from there.

There are many craft books that can give you ideas on how to go about realizing your story before writing (or continuing to write). Of course, the obvious way is to write a synopsis, but you could  also storyboard, use Debra Dixon's GMC method, etc. And the good thing is you can do one or all of these things, whatever you need to do to understand your story.

My method is to start with a synopsis, then as I go deep into the story, begin with the storyboard. I finish my synopsis, but don't always flesh out my stroyboard, simply because it is an aid to my synopsis and I don't need it filled out to know what scene needs to be next.

Without the synopsis, my biggest weaknesses shined through. They are conflict and motivation. Yours might only be conflict, but using a method to realize your stroy will help aliviate any problems you might have.

If you move onto another story now, you might find yourself in the same boat with the new one. It truly is better to stop writing and figure out what your writing process should be to be able to write the best book possible.

This is all my HO, but I hope I've been able to help you!

Cindy T.

Lisa, I forgot to also say don't worry about what line your ms fits. Your story will tell you where it fits. There are many authors who write for more than just line for the sole reason that their stories won't ever neatly fit into one series. I seem to ONLY be able to write SEs, and sometimes I wish that weren't the case, but when I first started, I wrote and didn't even think about the line until long after it was finished. I know you've got opportunities in different lines (can I say I envy you that?  ) but don't tie yourself down to making a decision before you've finished the book. That could also be a problem you're having--that you're trying to make it fit one line when it is suited better for another. And before you think there aren't that many differences between the lines, oh, there so are.

Best of luck to you. I know this is a sucky place to be, but with your tenacity you'll get through it in no time.

Cindy T.

Julie, have a blast at your launch party! Hope the books arrive with NO snags.

I know we've cirlced this subject lately, but I want to say, I'm glad Julie drew the line between thinking of yourself as an author and working hard at it, as in a job. The two really go hand in hand. If you're interested in writing being a hobby, that's one thing. But if you're submitting, the word Hobby doesn't suit you anymore. However, the words work and job do. Not in the sense of this being an 8 to 5, Monday-Friday, I get paid at the end of the week job (HA! right!) but in the sense you are working hard to achieve a goal (to become published). Along with the word "author" comes a responsibility to yourself to work as hard as you can, as regulaly as you can. Sure, many have full-time jobs, but I know so many published author/friends who find the time for their other job, their family and writing on a daily basis. That's the kind of dedication an author puts to her work. You are an author, regardless if your ms gets published or not.

On a personal note, I've begun another ms while waiting to hear from SSE (things are starting to stack up ). Synopsis and storyboard are done, as is the first chapter. Things are moving smoothly, which is a rarity in my life, so I'm sucking it up.

Hope everyon'e week is going well!

Cindy T.

(((Lauren))) But sounds like it was as good as an R can get. Voice is something you just can't "get" or improve on, so it's so much easier when an editor particularly likes yours. Best of luck on your next one, whether you take her up on her offer or send to another line.

Cindy T.

Michelle, I was so tired last night as I was typing I totally forgot to congratulate you on the nine sales!! It's such a pretty number. ;)   What a wonderful feat, and it's inspriational to us all. Thanks for sharing your success and your words of wisdom. I don't always respond when I read yours and otheres posts, but I'm are very grateful you invest your time in the people on this thread. Many congrats to you!!

Cindy T.