Here’s What I Know…

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Christian Fiction, Faith, Hope, Publishing, Writing, Writing Journey, Writing Life

I love books. I love story. I love creating stories. I love reading stories. I love sharing stories.

Apologies for my long absence here of late. Part of the reason for it is that I’ve been traveling. Hubby and I spent two weeks in Hawaii – a long awaited trip that was perfect in every way, even the misting rain that seemed to fall each day in certain areas of Maui. But that didn’t stop us from having a blast…

We did a lot of driving around and sitting around and flying…crazy flying…this entire trip took us on seven flights – Bermuda to Atlanta, Atlanta to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to Maui, Maui to Los Angeles, Los Angeles to San Fransisco, San Fransisco to Atlanta, Atlanta to Bermuda. For a chick that hates to fly, that’s a lot of nail biting. But God was good. On all those flights, there was hardly any turbulence. That’s my kind of plane ride, people.

So we did Hawaii, then ended in Monterey, California, to attend my agency retreat. If I haven’t said it before, I am so proud to be part of the Books & Such family. The abundance of knowledge, wisdom and encouragement flowing through this gathering was astounding. It’s always a blessing to spend time with my writer soul-mates and my fabulous agent, Rachelle Gardner, and this past weekend was no exception. I came away super-charged, refreshed, renewed and truly excited about the future of Christian publishing and my place in it.

Which brings me back to what I know.

Books aren’t going to go away. Great books will always be written. Great authors will be discovered. Story will not disappear. How could it? Because story is who we are. Why we exist. God himself is the greatest storyteller of all time. And He’s writing my story at this very moment. And yours. He is the master of the plot twist, the cliff hanger and yes, even the happily ever after. That’s what I know.

If you’ve been reading any of my ruminating over the past year or so, you know I haven’t exactly been in my happy place. I’ve had doubts. Questions. Lost hope. Held on to faith by a few thin strands and wondered why in the world I ever thought I could do this. Did I dare call myself a writer? An author? Well…yeah. I do. That’s my final answer. Because this is who I am. My desire to create story is not going away. I’ve discovered that. Accepted it. And so it became more a question of how I would use it. I wondered where the best place in publishing was for me. If you’ve shared my doubts, frustrations and dubiousness about the future of Christian publishing or just publishing in general, you know what I’m talking about.

You’ve heard “The Sky is Falling!” more times over the last few years than you care to think about. Me too. But guess what? The sky is not falling. It might be changing color, might be more gray than usual, but it’s not falling. And the sun is still there behind the clouds. Publishers are changing the game, some doors are closing, people are rushing to pound out books faster than CreateSpace can put them out…because surely this is the easier way…the press of a button and BAM! Instant fame and fortune. Okay, that’s kind of a joke. Maybe for some people it works that way. I don’t know for sure and I don’t really care. But here’s what I do know.

All that is not important. It doesn’t matter how you tell your story, whether you go Indie or traditional or simply print out the words and read them to your grandmother in her nursing home…

What matters is that you tell it. 

Write it. Feel it. Breathe it in. But please, please tell it. Share it.

Story matters. Your story matters. We’ve been given a gift here. It’s not about the contracts or the money or the fans that gush over every word we write. The true gift is this amazing ability to share our hearts. To bare our souls and let others take a walk in our shoes. Sharing story is a privilege. An honor. It’s been happening since the beginning of the world and it will continue until every last one of us on this planet is gone. And I like to think there might be libraries in heaven. 🙂

I know I’m going to keep writing. I know I’m called to it. I know I will write words I want to share. I know this because to deny it would be like cutting off my supply of oxygen. I live to do this and I will do it well. The world deserves good stories. Not mediocre drivel about subjects that make your hair stand on end. You know? The ones that kind of make you throw up in your mouth a little…and why are there so many of them out there?? But I digress.

Those of us who determine to make the world a better place through the words we write – we’re called out. We’ve heard the battle cry. It’s time to suit up, people. Time to prove that there are books worth reading. Books that make you laugh, and wonder and weep. Books that leave you wanting more. Books that only we can write. Tell your stories. Tell them well. And shine your light. There is much darkness, but in the midst of thick black night…there is hope.

This is what I know.

Game on.

New Ventures…

Tags

Catherine West Author, Hidden in the Heart, Marketing, Promotion, Publishing, Street Teams, Yesterday's Tomorrow

Wow. I don’t know where the time goes. If you’re still hanging out here with me, I thank you! I’m definitely not a reliable blogger, am I?
Well, things are getting busy in my neck of the woods. I’d like to share a little bit of that with you today.

This summer, I will be re-launching my two previously published books, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, and Hidden in the Heart.  They’ll have new covers, be available only on Amazon, but in e-format as well as hard copy for folks who like a physical book. 🙂

While I’m excited about the possibilities here, I also know the work involved in launching a book. So I’m starting to put together strategies that I hope will be successful in helping me make the most out of this new venture. I’d love to find a whole new market of readers who will enjoy my books and future books that may be published, as well as holding onto the faithful readers who’ve supported me in the past, because you guys rock!

I’m in the process of putting together a “Street Team” – which, if you aren’t familiar with the term, is basically a group of folks willing to invest time and effort to help promote and get the word out about a product –  in this case, that would be me and my books. 🙂  This might involve tweeting about the books, hosting me on your blog, sharing links on Facebook, doing a Pinterest exchange with me…all kinds of things, but the big idea is to act like you have a bull horn and tell the world about…me. Uh…yeah. Okay, I’ll pretend to not be blushing…

Of course you have to believe in what you’re promoting, so if you haven’t read my stuff or don’t know me from Adam, I don’t expect you to jump on board. But if you’re connected to me in other ways and feel like you could be an effective member of my street team, would you let me know?

I’ll be setting up a Facebook Group where I can connect with everyone and update as to how things are going and what to do when, so I’ll add you to that if you let me know that you want to get on board. And for those who may be asking, “What’s in it for me?” Well, aside from my undying love and affection, I dunno yet. But I’ll think of something. 🙂

You can contact me here, on FB, Google +, email through my website or send up a smoke signal…

So that’s what’s going on with me at the moment. Thanks for walking along the road with me – it’s an exciting journey, isn’t it?

(Okay, how about this? The first 25 Street Team members will receive a little token from Bermuda. 🙂 Sorry, can’t do a plane ticket, but I’ll find something fun!)

How Do You Know When It’s Good?

Tags

Agents, Catherine West, Publishing, Self Confidence, Writing Life

I’ve just finished my fourth full length novel. One that will be sent to my agent.

Soon.

I never have a problem writing the books. I always tend to go over my word count and need to do a fair amount of trimming. I’m getting better at this, and for this particular story, I managed to stay around the projected word count I had set for this project.

I never have a problem coming up with storylines, interesting characters or settings. And somehow it all seems to come together to make what I think is a good book.

But how do I know?

I am my own worst critic. I’m fortunate to have several people I rely on for opinions once I’ve finished a book, and I have some wonderful critique partners to help me along the way. But as we all know, this is a subjective business. We don’t always all agree on what works and what doesn’t. So it’s difficult, at this point, staring at a manuscript that says THE END, to know whether it truly is the end.

Do I go back in and search for scenes that could be stronger? Take out more extraneous words, tighten and tweak again and again, or do I simply trust myself?

This is where it gets tough. I don’t think I’m quite there yet. I don’t really know if what I’ve written is good enough. Just because I like it doesn’t mean my agent will. And, as I have learned, just because an agent likes it, doesn’t mean a publisher will.

And so it goes.

Have you reached this point in your career? Are you still plagued with self-doubt, finger hovering over the send button? Or do you know when what you’ve written is good enough to send out? If you do, how? What qualifies as ‘finished’ in your mind?

I’d love to know your thoughts. Meanwhile, maybe I’ll go look at that manuscript one more time.

When Your Agent/Editor Says The “R” Word, (And They Don’t Mean “Ready!”)

Tags

Catherine West, Publishing, Revisions, Writing

Before I was published, before I had an agent, I really didn’t know what to expect once I passed the first level of ‘wannabe writer’, and actually had someone far more knowledgeable than I was about all things publishing, looking at my work. I was more concerned about actually getting past that level. Didn’t much care what happened afterward! Boy, was I in for a surprise.

Having somebody who works in publishing (freelance editor, editor, agent) and knows their stuff rip your book apart go over your manuscript and kindly suggest ways to improve it, is an experience to look forward to. No. Really. Sure, I’d had numerous critique partners go over my manuscript, but only a few of them had gone on to be published and they were still getting their feet wet too. They lacked experience.

I’m very fortunate to have an agent that is more often than not, willing and able to invest a significant amount of time reading her clients manuscripts, making notes, looking for ways to improve the book in hand, and, in some cases, suggesting revisions. Before the manuscript even hits the desk of an editor.

Pretty special, I think. But okay. Let’s be honest. You’ve just spent the last ten years several long and painful months of your life writing this book. It’s pretty awesome if you do say so yourself. This is the one. You just know it.

And you never want to see it again until you’re holding it in your hands and it has a bright, shiny cover holding all those pages together.

Revisions.

Seriously? Dude.

The first time this happened to me, (yes, there have been other times. Several.), I kind of freaked out a little. Oh, fine, I freaked out a lot. I wasn’t quite sure what it meant. I knew it meant my agent didn’t hate the story or she wouldn’t bother trying to help me make it better. But what had I done wrong? I thought I was getting there, really. Thought this one was pretty good. I immediately ran to my library of all the how-to writing books in the world, read them over again, ordered more books, and a year later I was ready to tackle those revisions.

I’m kidding.

I do own how-to writing books, but honestly, I’m still trying to figure out the whole concept. No, what I really did was take my agent’s advice and breathe. I took a day or two, or however long I needed, to read her notes. Think. Ponder. Percolate. I kept telling myself that this was not, was not, was not, a rejection of the manuscript. My story was still alive, still breathing, it just needed a little CPR. In some cases we had to get out the paddles, but I digress.

Repeat after me:

Revisions are a good thing. (I have brown sandwich bags in the back if anybody needs one). And let’s face it, once your manuscript eventually catches the eye of an editor who likes it enough to take it to committee and they like it enough to take a chance on you, guess what? Yes, you’re right. They’re [more than likely] going to present you with a few pages of revision notes. Back to square one.

Remember how, when you first started out, first declared your burning passion to the world and hollered from the highest mountain top (or closest ant hill) “I am Writer, hear me roar!”, and a couple of your wiser writer friends took you aside, (after they finished laughing), patted you on the head and told you the first thing you needed to do was take one little orange pill a day and start growing that rhinoceros skin?

They weren’t joking.

As a writer, you will be faced with a myriad of disappointments. Rejections. Bad reviews. More rejections. Bankruptcy and eventual homelessness. This is not an easy road. Even though the thought of delving into your story again, looking at it with new eyes and a fresh perspective kind of makes you want to vomit, don’t. Celebrate. Go shopping. Have a glass of champagne or your beverage of choice and let yourself breathe.

Revisions are a good thing, remember? You can do this.

And so can I.

I asked several of my writer buddies at various stages in their careers to tell me how they feel when faced with  the “R” word:

“Bring it!” – Katie Ganshert – author of WIldflowers From Winter, Waterbrook Multnomah, May 2012.

“Hooray, she likes it! (I’ve had the R word – Rejection – more than the R word – Revision)” Sue Harrison – author of The Ivory Carver Trilogy and The StoryTeller Trilogy.

“I’m odd, but I tackle them right away, because I cannot bear to let them be!” Mavis Duke Hinton – author of I Am Dachshund, OakTara Publishing, June 2011.

“I always panic at the sight of them. Always. I wonder how on earth I’ll ever get them done. Usually I let them sit for a few days and then I take a breath and dive in. One change at a time…! Always, the story is better for it!” – Courtney Walsh – author of Scrapbooking Your Faith.

“Revisions are emotional. It’s not easy to take pieces of your writing apart. But once you realize you’ve pieced them back together, better than before, it’s delightful.” – Joanne Bischof – author.

“Yay! I’ve got a shot at this. Now to get busy and revise!” – Keli Gywn – author of A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, Barbour Publishing, July 2012.

“It does get easier with each book. I used to dread them, but now that I’ve just finished edits for my third book, I’ve had a change in outlook and attitude. I’m learning to embrace edits and revisions because, after all, they only make the book stronger.” – JoAnne Durgin – author of Awakening and Second Time Around.

So what about you? Wherever you are in your publishing journey, how do you feel about REVISIONS?

Have You Ever Waited For Something?

Tags

Authors, Publishing, Reading, Waiting, Writing

Of course you have! We all have something in our lives, perhaps daily, that we need to wait for.

Writing is all about playing the waiting game isn’t it? If you’d like to read about waiting and learn a bit more about me, please join me over at  The WordServe WaterCooler  today.

And now I’d like to do a bit of a roll call. Since this is a new blog, I’d love to know who’s stopping by. So introduce yourself and answer these questions if you would:

Reader or Writer or Both?

Favorite genre to read/write

Favorite author/s

Do you read exclusively in one market – ABA/CBA – or do you read from both.

If you’re a wrier, what are you working on right now?
And finally, what’s on your reading list a the moment?

A bit of housekeeping – on Fridays, as I stated, I’d love to feature our CBA authors. If you are an author and you’d like to be featured here on a Friday, please let me know!!

Happy Reading and Writing!

Check back on Friday for a visit with author Richard Mabry!