Southern Fried Chicas

So… I wrote this article for my chapter newsletter this month–but seeing how my kids crashed (and is as of yet unrecoverable) their computer this weekend it, I thought it prudent to post…

Okay, now that I have you attention, when was the last time you backed up your work? If you have to stop and think that was *way* too long ago and you’re taking a huge chance with something you more than likely hold dear. Trust me, I know. A few years ago—I will admit I am not the most tech savvy person, but I did have a 32MB flash drive and CD/RW, but I seldom used either—I lost my computer. The hard drive crashed and locked away everything. I did have a few 3 ½ floppy disc but half of them were so old the work was not complete and the one—I stress the word ONE—CD I had w/ my work turned out to be corrupt (i.e. it made a shiny coaster and nothing more). I didn’t have hard copies of anything—I was trying to save paper. Oh how I cried, and cried. I got to start from scratch on many a project. I wished I had listened to those who warned me and backed up my work.

What do I mean by back up? (you’d be surprised that some folks don’t think about this much) Some place other than your computer that you store any and everything you want to keep in the event your computer has a melt down.

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I’m going to post something here that I stumbled across while cleaning stuff off my poor, beleaguered hard drive. It’s part of an interview given online by a rather new, more idealistic than wise writer, almost five long years ago.
But I’m sure she’s learned to be more discreet since then.

When asked whether she had any peeves about publishing, she launched into the following rant about a contest she’d entered:

“…I know another editor who sponsored a national contest. (I entered). There were about 20 semi-finalists. (I was one of ‘em). After delay after delay, several weeks beyond when the winners were supposed to be announced, this editor finally posted the three winning contestants. She then proceeded to give a mass, public, on-line rejection to the other seventeen, which amounted to, “sorry, not interested—and no time for personal remarks, I’m busy, have a good day,” even though each semi-finalist was promised commentary on their manuscript. Need I say more?”

Well no, that was quite enough, lol. But the point stands.

Writing contests have probably been popular since people began sketching bison on the walls of caves. They probably always will be.
I’ve entered a few. I’ve found some of them to be positive in certain ways. But personally, I can’t say I’ve found them to be very professionally productive.

They’re all, naturally, subjective. Some of them amount to little more than popularity contests. And there are the ones with tokens for prizes, titles, small amounts of cash, opportunities to be read by those in important positions (if they follow through).

I suppose it all depends on what you’re looking for going in. Some are great for putting your presence and voice out there, or getting valuable feedback, or yes, possibly even being “discovered”.

But in the end, are they all pretty much a waste of time? Have you ever judged them? Why? Would you recommend them for writers just starting out? Have you had any positive or negative experiences with them yourself?

This week is the same as the last, except there’s more snow and my very talented/prolific CP Roslyn Carrington (AKA Simona Taylor) is having a book giveaway. All you’ve got to do is email her and you’re in.  The deadline is Valentine’s Day.  Here’s the best part:  You get to pick the book!  And there are a lot to choose from. 

So go to her website, see which of her books interest you then drop her an email. Two lucky people will win.

Now on to business.  Below I’ve got 9 topics. Skip what you don’t like, respond to whatever moves you.

1. WHAT WE’RE WRITING

Agent Nathan Bransford received a bunch of query letters last week which he broke into 18 categories. I’ll save the bad news for the end.

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Writers have an overactive imagination. It’s probably a reason they became a writer. So, in dealing with a writer, being precise is important. You shouldn’t leave a question hanging open because we can fill in the details—actually probably 42 scenarios within moments of it being left just hanging there. “Do you like…” it could be anything from how we look, to a meal we just cooked to your BFF. With a vague—or god forbid no—answer said writer can assume the worst ten times over. You may be lucky and the writer will create something to your benefit, but I doubt it.

Other things that we may do—as evident by Raine’s post on Friday—we will murder your stinking ass—in writing. You piss us off and you will die a gruesome horrible death, and if it’s really necessary, twice.

Don’t assume our minds aren’t always on—now I can’t speak for any other writer, but personally my writer’s brain is *always* collecting. ALWAYS. One gaffe and it’s book fodder. Writers can think of the various and devious ways someone else might think so then the gaffe turns to why it happened, what was the intent behind it and will you be the next chalk outline. Then I have to remind myself that other people don’t think like me—most are probably normal. My kids can attest to the fact that I can jump to a conclusion and then some. And then some. “Why are you in a bad mood? Did you…” Fill-in-the-blank time. Bullies, drugs, school, girls (none of the above, all of the above)… when in fact it may be as simple as the poor kiddo was just tired.

Other fill-in-the-blank moments come at odd times. You may create a world when no one is the wiser (I once thought I was the only one who did this, but I have recently heard from other writers who). When standing in line or seeing folks on the highway a writer can create a fill-in-the-blank why they are there too story—right then and there. Unfortunately, I *always* start w/ worst case scenario then feel bad and do a happy story—but I do this everywhere I go. (keeps me from being bored)

Worse yet is the personal application: One time I came home and—don’t ask me why I noticed so soon, but—all the caller IDs on the phones had been wiped blank. See… I am the only one who ever clears it so it struck me as odd. I started off questioning the dh with what he’d been up to and it ended up turning into a “You better tell me or else…” Color me embarrassed when it turned out he’d spoken to my BFF to plan a birthday thing for me. She’d had to call him back once she got things squared away. [Note: Had he a) only deleted her number, I wouldn’t have known at all  b) not messed with it I wouldn’t have questioned why she’d called—I’d have assumed it was to talk to me]  Being the writer, I’d have thought *all* the way through to possible outcomes before I touched the caller ID. Him being a mere mortal… just deleted it all with no thought to after.

It is an occupational hazard but truth be told, like I said, it keeps things entertaining and *so* not boring. I sometimes wonder about it, but it is the chick/egg question. Did I become a writer because my imagination has a broken button or did my button get broken when I became a writer? Who knows? It doesn’t really matter when it comes down to. But I will forever be filling in blanks.

So what’s the worse fill-in-the-blank moment? Or heck, do you even have them?

I had another post written but then I watched this video from Elizabeth Gilbert. I didn’t read Eat. Pry. Love. but when I get the money I’m definitely picking it up now. She talked about people approaching her and asking “Aren’t you scared you’ll never write anything as succssful?” and how she dealt with those fears. It made me think of how I dealt with my own big huge failure as an author.

I didn’t prepare myself for the reality of publishing.

I was told that a new author needed to build a readership. I believed I did that with maintaining a blog, a website, visiting those yahoo loops, guest blog posts, having friends chat me up on their blog, visiting/commenting on other people’s blogs, joining forums. Networking, networking NETWORKING! Getting my name out there, because people can’t buy your book if people don’t know you exist. I rationalized my low sales on my first book had everythig to do with not doing enough. I did more and when my second book came around I figured I had done above and beyond enough with the means I had to spend and the time I gave to promote.

I didn’t prepare myself for the heartbreak.

I was told repeatly by people that book is not baby, but being a single parent I have little else to compare my publishing experience with. Trust me when you are pregnant women love to tell you about the hours of labor and describe the pain. (Pushing a watermelon through your nose. Yes, that’s how it was described to me once.) Doesn’t matter if the women has never been pregnant she’ll tell you about her sister/mother/cousin. And people told me that this business can break you. But just like labor you can’t understand it until you’ve lived it. (Oh, and apparently anyone who has had to pass a kidney stone.) Of course I read and heard the stories of never getting published, getting published and getting dropped, low sales, you name it. I told myself I could stand strong against it all, but I secretly hoped it’ll be different for me. (Hey, I was 22.)

Even though in all those respects I’m an utter failure as an author, I can’t say my mouth is full of bitter ash. Yes, there are times when I feel like that all this work is for nothing. I’m not bitter. I’ve succeeded in writing stories I’m damn proud of. I’ve succeeded in making relationships. Those big huge failrues start to pale in comparison to all those little successes.

So wht in the hell do I have to be bitter about?

Tell me how your failures pale in comparison? And if right now you can’t that’s ok too.