Wild Temptation

Seasons of Romance

The Purpose-Driven Life

In our busy schedules, it's often hard to find time to do what we love--write. Household chores, family and friends, our "day" job--all use up precious hours and exhaust us to the point where we are no longer motivated to write. What is the solution? 

COMMITMENT
First, you need to make a decision about your writing. The decision should be an honest one, not influenced by the expectations of others. Are you writing as a hobby or as a career? If you're writing as a career, then you need to treat your writing as a "real" job, as important as any other job. Lack of true commitment is a large obstacle that blocks motivation, creativity, and the ability to achieve your goal--publication. 

FINDING TIME
One of the biggest obstacles a writer faces is lack of time. Even if you think that you have virtually "no" time during the day, you can find at least a free 15 minutes--whether it's before you leave the house in the morning, on your break at work, during lunch, or right before bed. Do this EVERY day. Be creative in finding time to write. Search for those moments during the day when you're idle. If you're waiting in line for something, be sure you have a note pad and start writing. You'll be surprised at how good you feel, even if you only produce one page a day. It will motivate you to find even more time to write. 

INTERACTION
How many times have you tried to talk to non-writers about your craft, only to have their eyes glaze over? This can result in the "nobody understands me" obstacle, which stifles the desire to write. Take at least one day a month (more if possible) to interact with other writers in person. There's no better motivation than talking to people who understand the "fire" that lives inside a writer. Join a local writers group for support and to discuss techniques in writing; join a critique group to get feedback on your work--preferably one with writers who are at your level or above in their writing; join an online discussion list to talk about the business end of writing. These lists will often consist of a diverse group of people with varying backgrounds and experiences, and can be a good source of valuable information. 

READ, READ, READ
Read as many books as you can in the same line that you're targeting. It's a good way to compare your writing to what's being published. Do you still have a long way to go, or is your writing comparable to what you're reading? If your writing is at the level of what you're reading, then reading will keep you motivated while you continue to write and submit, knowing it's simply a matter of time before you sell. If your writing isn't at the level of what you're reading, then a good book can inspire you to overcome whatever obstacles are weakening your work. Study the book and learn from it. 

VOLUNTEER WORK
If you feel like you're not really as involved in the writing industry as you should be, then volunteer to judge in writing contests, or lead a discussion group, or some other activity. This can be a great motivation to achieve more in your writing by removing what feels like a "wall" between you and the business. However, don't volunteer for so many projects that you don't have time to write. How do you choose? Be sure that each project gives you something back in return--such as name recognition, establishing good contacts, or the possibility or more opportunities coming out of what you've done. 

Different things motivate different people. Find out what works for you and keep doing it. Remember, though, true motivation comes from the inside. We all get tired and discouraged, but in the quiet times, you know in your heart whether or not you're a true storyteller. If you are, then that's the greatest motivator of all--believing in yourself. 


Copyright © 2000, Ruth D. Kerce, All Rights Reserved
For sexy free reads, visit - http://www.RuthKerce.com
Writing multi-genre novels where the suspense sizzles!

Ruth is the author of WILD TEMPTATION - an award-winning, western historical, romantic suspense, published by NovelBooks, Inc. and the novella, "Naughty or Nice" - a Christmas contemporary and part of the SEASONS OF ROMANCE holiday anthology published by Awe-Struck/Earthling Press.

Words I Wish I Wrote: A Collection of Writings that Inspired My Ideals

Writer's Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life

The Observation Deck: A Tool for Writers

The Writer's Block: 786 Ideas to Jump-Start Your Imagination

It was a Wednesday in May. The first Wednesday after Memorial Day
for us in the USofA. On several email lists, many people were having one success after another. I even unsubscribed from a couple lists, and ignored the other lists. I couldn't stand to even think about writing.

Everyone was had a wonderful success stories. They kept saying things like, if it can happen to me, it can happen to you. Except...I knew a secret they didn't know. They could write. I was a hack. Yes, the truth was finally out. I was a hack and no one would ever want anything that I'd written or would ever write, so why bother?

This was backed up by 300 plus rejections over the years. So, on
that magical Wednesday after Memorial Day, I quit. Cold turkey. I
started making plans for my new life. What would/could I do with
the large chunk of time I now had that wouldn't be filled with writing, watching the markets, researching agents, etc. (Also, this wasn't the first time I quit. I really did expect to wake up the next morning with a new attitude, just like all those other times.)

I went to bed, a nonwriter. I woke up and for the first time since I picked up pen and paper back in the late 60s while in junior high, I had no desire to tinker with a word, review a paragraph, tweak this character, delete that character. I was still a nonwriter. If I said it felt horrible, I'd be lying to you. It felt wonderful. I didn't have all those writerly worries. My life was my life again.

Thursday afternoon, I downloaded my email. There were too many
messages, but one jumped out at me. The subject line was the
title of my latest project. I didn't know who this person was. I didn't want to open the email. I'd received rejections from everyone I'd ever sent it to. Why was this person teasing me? Why oh why? What an evil, wicked human to do this to me, especially since I'd quit.

I opened the email. It was short and to the point: Dear Jody, Are the film rights available? If so, I'd love to see the material. I've enclosed two files, one with my bio and one with the company bio.

My first thought...what a rotten scam. (Note: I had the rights listed at Publishers Marketplace, so I knew where she found me.) But I'd heard the horror stories about film companies...most are scams. I didn't hope. I didn't open her files, either. I did a google search. (Another note: I watch very little television, so her name and the name of the company meant nothing to me.)

The woman who contacted me was Beth Grossbard. The company was Craig Anderson Productions. If you don't know who they are, do a
google search. My eyes popped out, my jaw dropped to the floor. As I reassembled my facial features, replacing my eyes back into their sockets (actually, I was a little careless, I stuck my eyes in my nostrals and my jaw over my left ear, but at least they were in the right general area of the body), I realized this woman was legit. Someone who had money to back up their interest was interested in my work.

When I write, I NEVER write with a film version in mind. I write books. That's all I've ever wanted to write. But...I had a legit company interested. On that Thursday afternoon, I set a goal. My goal: use this interest to end up in the lap of a damned good agent. I had no delusions about a movie deal. But if I could interest agents with the film interest, I'd get my stuff read and if it truly was crap, they'd all run. If it had merit, I'd come away with an agent.

On Friday I called agencies and it was basically a failure. On Sunday I emailed agents. Sunday evening, I had requests for material. Monday I had agents returning my Friday phone calls. The requests were coming fast and furious. I was printing out copies of the full manuscript, partials, plus emailing copies of the full manuscript, plus emailing partials.

I'll have to say at this point, I felt great. I felt as if validation were only a few hours away. On Thursday, one week later, I received an email from the assistant of an agent who had requested the full manuscript via email. It was a form rejection. A lousy form rejection. What? Didn't they owe me more than a damned form rejection? I came to them not as a beggar, but with valid interest from a legit film company. I was crushed.

I was told by another writer that I'd probably made the agent mad since my one sentence summary made it sound light and in reality there was some serious stuff in the material. I was lead to believe that I'd probably receive more of the same type of responses if they even bothered to respond. I was crushed. For a week, I'd had hope. Not hopes of great fortunes, but hope of finally being validated and now I would be laughed out of NYC.

I forgot the most important thing we all must remember...this was only one agents opinion and the opinion of one writer. Tuesday of the next week, one of the agents who requested a partial via email, emailed wanting the whole thing. Whew! Maybe it wasn't such a bust. Even if she rejected it, a large agent at ICM wanted to see the completed manuscript, which was a major victory.

Then a week later, I get another email from another agent's assistant. She wanted to let me know she'd read it and loved it and the agent would read it within the week. Okay, he didn't read it within the week. It was about ten days later.

Four weeks to the day...almost to the exact hour that I quit, I had an email offering representation. Since he was my first choice agent, I accepted. I can't believe this, but I pulled my manuscript from ICM, plus a few other very top notch agents in very good agencies.

The message is: don't ever give up. If it can happen to me, it CAN happen to you.

The movie interest? As far as I can tell, it fizzled. But, I landed in the lap of a damned good literary agent. 

Don't give up and write the story of your heart. Yes, it will take time, but you will find an agent and/or editor who will love the story of your heart as much as you love that story.

Now, I get to face more rejections when it's sent out to publishers in September. From what I hear, editor rejections make agent rejections appear mild. Oye.

Jody Pryor (c) 2003

Jody Pryor lives, writes and whines in Alaska. The manuscript with her agent is titled LIFE AT THE FIREWEED BAR & GRILL. She is busy working on a follow up novel titled, DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS AT THE ALMOST BUSH ALASKA CAFE.

Please visit http://www.jodypryor.com to learn more about Jody, her work and Alaska. For the very brave, click on her weblog link, but be warned, it's not for the faint of heart and is meant to get people to think about various issues and topics, even if they completely disagree with her view point.

Best in Show

Hot Dog

The Where? On the second floor of my house, with big windows overlooking the back yard so I can watch the dogs when they're outside.

First thing we'd see? Well this is going to sound dumb, but the first thing you'd see is a wall filled with horse show ribbons. Even though I write about dog shows, I'm currently showing and racing horses.

Creative Enhancements? The only thing I can think of is that I have all my book covers framed and hanging on one wall.

Most helpful? Just my computer--I'm a very minimalist writer!

If the popular TV show Trading Spaces came in to redo your office what would you like to see done? Nothing. Absolutely nothing! I love it just the way it is. :)

Visit Laurien Berenson at: www.laurienberenson.com
Latest Release:
BEST IN SHOW, Coming September 2003

HOT DOG, paperback available August 2003