Writer-In-Progress

Do your fingers ever do bad things while you just watch?

 

I had a week like that last week. Finished proofing the anthology article (sent it off Friday) and thought I’d have a few days to catch my breath before starting the research for the next RWR article. Cracked open an issue of a writer’s ezine I’ve been reading for some time only to find a note that their internet resource columnist is moving on and the position is open. Before I could remind myself that I have far too many things I want to write myself, I’d whipped up a letter of interest and copy/pasted a sample article. (Reminds me of one of my favorite songs…John Mayer’s “My Stupid Mouth” except in this case it’s “My Stupid Fingers”) And sent it.

 

Oh, but that wasn’t enough. In the midst of reading another great ezine and saw they had–even better–an opening for a volunteer editor. Now–this zine is by far and away one I admire greatly. Since I consider myself qualified, I zipped off another note of interest, got the job specs and sent in my name for consideration.

 

It’s like the synaptic connection between my brain’s logical center and my fingers has either disconnected or taken on a Frankenstein-like connection where I”m just an innocent bystander. I just hope I have all the words (and stamina, but that’s greatly helped by caffeine) to keep up with what my fingers think I’m capable of.

 

Happy Writing…

Beth

No notes yet–haven’t had time. Finishing two articles requested for the anthology and wrapping up the proposal for the RWA conference next year in Dallas, but my friends Lori & Tony Karayianni (who write as Tori Carrington) posted some wonderful photos from the conference on their site (they’re just sooooooo fun!) and I wanna share.

 

Visit the photos in the blog on their site at: http://www.toricarrington.net/indexblog.htm

 

(I’m in the one titled “A shot of our conference table”. Third row, middle photo. That’s me in the Buckeye cardigan. (I’m insanely superstitious. And it worked. We beat Michigan State…)

 

Anyway..check out all the good-looking writers there.

 

More soon.

 

Back to writing….

 

Beth

….doing a (quick) happy dance…

 

Just got a reply from the RWR editor and she likes one of my (two) proposal ideas I sent along with the thank-you note after receiving the contract (You send those follow up ideas, right? Strike while the iron’s hot my friends…)

 

This time it’s for the April issue. I can make that, just hoping I can target the topic as she wants. Gonna email her and find out…will let you know….

 

Beth

Something mystical about the way writing conferences refill your creative well.

 

I don’t know if it’s the people, the topics, the invisible karma generated when a bunch of creative-types gather, but after returning from my writer’s group annual conference (Central Ohio Ficiton Writers) I’m full of the belief that I can–no—will! be back working on fiction (and simultaneously freelancing) in no time.

 

So many excellent speakers with such good advice and ideas….I took lots of notes and plan to post some of them here for those who don’t have the luxury of getting to a conference soon. Great advice from great authors (Jenny Crusie & Bob Mayer, Tori Carrington (aka Tony & Lori),) excellent agents and editors…I’m inspired.

 

So what am I doing here and not writing?!

 

Notes soon…

 

Beth

Is there a word for a second relapse of larger proportions than the first relapse? Because, if so–that’s me.

 

First fall off the freelancing wagon all I did was write a little fiction. Honest. A paragraph or two, a few first lines, a couple of character names and plot twists…easy enough to scoop myself up and get tough the next day, leaving my notebook in the dust.

 

But that little taste sparked a big idea that woke me at 4:30 am the next morning and had me not just writing a few notes but a damn short story. (it’s my blog, I can curse). Yeah, no lie. Started at 4:30, had it done by 6. About 1,000 words but the entire story came pourrrrrrrrrring out. Beginning, middle, end, structure, character, plot, details…wow. Almost in publishable form, too. Did some market research and have three places to submit. Hey, that’s bringing it full circle back to freelancing, right?…….

 

Beth

Ok, I admit it. I’d planned to keep it hush-hush but I might as well update the blog with the truth:

 

I wrote fiction.

 

Yeah, it’s true. Not a bunch–just about two pages of brainstorming for a story that’s been nagging from the back of my mind. Happened at that one weak moment of the day, right before bedtime when I was exhausted after a day of presenting a workshop and didn’t have the willpower to put down the notebook and fountain pen. Notebook is still on the floor as a reminder of my downfall.

 

Strangely, I don’t feel the need to overindulge myself (like with chocolate) or obsess over it (like with a query letter). I really feel relief. Like I got stuff out, my creative, fiction brain still works but isn’t on overdrive with the guilt that accompanies a fiction story I can’t finish fast enough for my own high standards. Just a nice, fiction-inspired peace.

 

Even more strange is that it inspired me to finish a proposal for RWA’s national conference next year and an anthology submission I’ve been dragging my feet on. As Stephen King so masterfully says: Writing begets writing..(no matter what kind it is).

 

Back to the story..erm…article….

 

Beth

Quick story to those of you who believe editors don’t reply to your submissions (fiction or freelance) out of spite or because they don’t like you personally

 

(you do know that’s an excuse on your part, right? Editors are wonderful–the reason we’re published).

 

My friend Katy–one of the Serious girls–received a rejection today for a submission she’d sent some time ago–January of 2002, to be exact.

 

You read that right. Coming close to five years and she just received a reply.

 

That’s an award-winner. Can anyone top that?

 

Here’s hoping my recent queries get accepted (or rejected, but we must think positively) by 2010….

 

Back to the writing….

Beth

Yay…it’s here!

 

Got my RWR in the mail Saturday. A little late because I didn’t (as I thought) update them with my new address (so no one to blame but me).

 

But–it looks fantastic. Kathleen (the editor) was right–I love the layout. Great graphic. It’s so cool when you see your articles put together with the layout and art the editor chooses (knock wood–I’ve always had good ones but like authors who cringe at their book covers, I’m sure there are less than perfect ones out there) and it mirrors what you’ve imagined.

 

Gives a little spark to the current articles and queries I’m working on, too. Now to get busy on those….

 

Happy Writing…

 

Beth