Showing posts with label back to writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label back to writing. Show all posts

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Writer's Rollercoaster: Maybe I'll write about it

Title: The Writer's Rollercoaster: A Comedic Odyssey


Ah, the glamorous life of a writer! 

Picture this: seventeen stories birthed from the depths of my imagination, each one like a child I sent out into the world—only to have them return, some with rejection letters, others with agents who mysteriously vanished like literary Houdinis on walkabouts.

Let’s start with the trio that agents loved so much they disappeared faster than my protagonist’s moral compass in a psychological thriller. I swear, their enthusiasm was like a shooting star—brief, dazzling, and then poof! Off they went into the literary cosmos, leaving me staring at my inbox like a jilted lover waiting for a text that never came.

Then there were the six small-town romances. 

Picture this: quaint settings, quirky characters, and enough heartwarming moments to make Hallmark wish they had my stories. But did they sell like hotcakes? Let’s just say they were more like lukewarm scones at a bake sale in a heatwave.

Ah, historical romance—I've come back to this one again and again. Emma and Charles want their story told. I also outlined the story of their parents for a prequel. PLUS! Some of their offspring make appearances in Juniper Valley.

And who can forget the seven young adult psychological thrillers? The plots were twistier then a pretzel in a tornado, and the suspense had me checking my own closet for secrets. If only I could write as fast as my characters ran from their demons, I’d have a Pulitzer by now.

Now, here I stand, dusting off my keyboard like an archaeologist unearthing ancient relics. Despite the rollercoaster of emotions and the occasional urge to run off and join a circus (they need writers, right?), I’ve come to realize that writing isn’t just about agents, genres, or even sales figures.

It’s about the journey—the absurd, unpredictable, and downright hilarious journey of crafting stories that speak to the human experience. So, as I dive back into the literary fray with renewed determination and maybe a slightly twisted sense of humor, I invite you to join me. Because let’s face it, if we can’t laugh at the absurdities of the writing life, we might as well be writing instruction manuals for assembling IKEA furniture.

And remember, whether your characters are solving crimes or falling in love (or both, because why not?), keep writing. After all, the world needs stories. And who knows? Maybe one day, one of mine will finally catch an agent who’s decided to stick around longer than a cup of coffee.


This humorous blog post takes a lighthearted look at the ups and downs of the writer's journey, poking fun at the quirks of different genres and the unpredictable nature of the publishing world. Also, AI helped me with this post. 


Thursday, July 11, 2024

Journey back to writing

Embracing the Pen (or keyboard) Again: A Writer's Journey


After an eventful hiatus filled with the highs and lows, I find myself once more at an all too familiar crossroads of creativity and gettin' 'er done. Some say writing is a journey rather than a destination—a sentiment that hasn't always resonated with me, but maybe now I can try.

It all began with one story--a coming of age YA story about twin brothers who had a crush on the same girl. High school sports and shenanigans, an out-of-season snow storm and a literal broken heart were all part of the plot. It felt good to get the words and story out of my head. 

I wrote another YA story about aliens, abductions and body takeovers titled Mother Ship. 

Seventeen stories later—I can honestly say each story was a labor of love and imagination and mad brain dumping moves. Three of them were good enough to catch the eye of literary agents. Excitement surged through me as I dared to envision my words finding a home in the hearts of readers and on bookshelves. But alas, the publishing industry, unpr
edictable as ever, had other plans. Agents who championed my work embarked on unforeseen sabbaticals (two went on literal 'walkabouts' in Australia), leaving my manuscripts in limbo.

Yet, as any writer will attest, setbacks are as much a part of the narrative as successes. From the ashes of dashed hopes rose a new determination—a resolve to delve deeper into the realms of storytelling. I shifted my focus, crafting six tales of small-town romance that celebrated the quiet complexities of everyday life. Each story spoke to the enduring power of love in its simplest and most profound forms.

Venturing further into the annals of history, I penned a solitary historical romance—a tribute to epochs past and the timeless allure of love against a backdrop of sweeping change of WWI in France.

But it was within the shadows of seven young adult psychological thrillers that I found my true voice echoing back at me—a voice that whispered secrets, spun webs of suspense, and dared readers to confront the darkest corners of the human psyche. Each thriller became a labyrinth of twists and turns, where protagonists grappled not only with external adversaries but with the complexities of their own minds.

And now, here I stand, ready to embark on the next chapter of my literary odyssey. The journey back to writing is not merely about picking up where I left off but about embracing the evolution that each story, each setback, has carved into my craft. It is about honoring the stories that have shaped me—the romances that taught me the intricacies of the heart, the historical tapestries that whispered of forgotten lives, and the psychological mazes that challenged the boundaries of perception.

As I dust off my keyboard and let my fingers dance across the keys once more, I am reminded that writing is not defined by acceptance alone but by the relentless pursuit of storytelling in all its forms. It is about weaving narratives that resonate, characters that linger, and emotions that transcend the page. 

I'm ready to enjoy the journey of writing. And I'm ready to move to the next part of my journey--PUBLISHING! BOYAH!