Stuck?

 Question: What happens when your storyline flows, but your prose doesn't?

Answer: I close my eyes and type.

If I get bogged down with word choice, it is easier to visualize the scene with my eyes closed. I picture my character and what he/she sees, put my fingers on the home keys, and type. This way the typos, word choice, and the way that the sentences look on the page do not get stop my train of thought. Or rather, my character's train of thought.

The world around us can distract us from our imagination, but our imagination will lead to better realization of the world around us.

In short, just write. None of it may be usuable in your manuscript, but then again, you may find yourself comparing the fostercare system to ungathered seed pods.

My Voice or His

Author George Lasher once told me that I’d be a successful writer when I finally found my voice. Obviously, he wasn’t referring to my volume- which could deafen penguins in Antarctica- or my opinions- which are definitive, endless, and always unsolicited. Not understanding what he meant, I carried on…writing and writing.

                Somewhere along the way, writing transformed from a hobby into something that I felt was achievable. I have explored picture books, chapter books, and comedy. And still, he was right, my dabbling missed something. I began to pray that I would be inspired and that I would improve. I finished writing an adult comedy (my first completed novel) and set out on my second. Eighty pages into that work my perspective changed on life. I stopped asking God for specific things that I wanted and needed. Instead, each day, I simply said, “Let me know your will.”

             As I sat down to write on my story- which I was very much attached to- I distinctly felt that I should cast it aside for this new world that began taking shape in my mind.  And, as my very first act of following His plan for me, I did. Ironically, that is the theme of the book: Having faith to follow God’s plan for you.  Five months later, I am completely finished. I read the final chapter to my writing group last night.

              I look back on what I’ve written. Desiree’s conflicting impulse to push people away and her desire for a forever family. Zach’s determinations to help Gretchen, even if it means defying a god. And, the principles my characters learned along the way, they were mine. As my characters learned eternal truths, so did I. Yes, I look back on this story and see my voice. That foster child who struggled for love but fought it at every turn. The one whose past could never stay buried. That teenager who was taught the truth, but refused to act on their knowledge. The one that took the long road to find the light. These are my stories embedded within the pages of a science-fiction, young adult novel. Within it is my voice. But, more importantly, there’s His voice, too.

             I’d ask you to wish me luck in finding an agent, but then I remember.

Houston Writers Guild

       Writing -for me- is like having an endless cheesecake with blueberry topping sitting inside my head.  Constantly craving  it, but as you eat, the cheesecake doesn't disappear (or add pounds) ...it just creates this salivation for more cheesecake.
       Just when I thought I couldn't crave the cheesecake anymore...I joined a critique group...and now I just may end up in an AA meeting for cheesecake someday!

(left to right: George, "Book," Jolene, Jeremiah, Araceli, Enos)

         The picture shows only a handful of people that attend one of the three critique groups.  Over 60 people regularly attend these critique groups... and the guild itself has ALOT more members.

         A little about my buddies in the picture who have made me feel so welcomed:

* George- "I call him "the voice"- his commercial tone and storytelling skills make the phone book sound like an interesting story-- why most people choose him to read their material!

* "Book"- most opinionated and doesn't sugar-coat it: which is hard to take when you are hearing it, but you really appreciate it later

* Jeremiah- Good-natured, quirky Science Fiction Writer; the gentle critic- highlights the good points of writing and then surprises me with a very specific suggestion for the piece.

* Araceli- Quiet and reserved, whose comments are generally verbal; she writes young adult

* Enos- his grumpy act isn't fooling me- I'll grow on you eventually!  Focuses on the big concepts in your work that are missing

Our president, Rodger Paulding, the quiet observer who edits your complex sentences for better read-ability.