Category Archives: Emotions

Author, Book, Dream Big, Emotions, Jasper, Publication

Dream Big

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This is a chorus from the song “ Dream Big”

And when you dream, dream big
As big as the ocean blue
‘Cause when you dream it might come true
When you dream, dream big

This is a phrase we hear a lot. When I first heard the song by Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband I immediately fell in love with it. So seeing this plaque while I was shopping with my mom I knew it was coming home with me.

My mom on seeing the plaque said to me, “Sharon, do you dream big?”  Looking at her I nodded and replied I did.

As we continued our way around the store what she had asked me still was in my head. Do I dream big? I have been a dreamer for most of my life. My imagination has always been without borders as I wondered, plotted and tried to figure out how to accomplish what was going on between my two ears.

My first dream big was to go to a four year school of higher learning. I would be the first in my family and I was determined to not fail. Even when I changed my major in my Junior year I still graduated on time at the top of my department, Chemistry and Physics.

But when that day came what was left? Finding work and getting married seemed to be what we did at least in the time frame I was at. When my future mother law had said ,” Sharon don’t make me a grandmother before a mother in law,” I told her my only goal at that moment was to graduate.

Getting married and having a child was another dream, one that came and went pretty quickly.  My life started to have a routine about it. There is nothing wrong with routine. It keeps me stable and focused. Yet when my mom asked me that questioned I wondered when was the last time I dreamt big and the first answer that came to my mind was my writing.

I started writing Jasper:Amazon Parrot in the Fall of 2009. I completed it in a few months and have done so many revisions and edits if one saw the first draft to where it is at now you would recognize the name Jasper and that is about it.  Prior to that time I had never thought of myself as a writer in any form. A good friend Debbie told me that my husband had told her he felt I wrote well. When she told me that the wheels started to turn in my head. That summer is when the thoughts and words came of how to start this book. I am not sure what was the umph that made me get started but I did and have not turned back.

This is my dream big project and it has been with me for a few years now. I don’t think of the business as being hard, which we know it is. I don’t think of the many people who have told me this can’t be done. I don’t think of all the negatives that can come in one’s way when one tries to get a book published.

My sole thought is why the hell not? Seriously what do I have to lose? My back up thought had always been if worse come to worse I can make it into a book and read it to my grandchildren the series that I have in mind of writing. So with that I am pushing forward with this book and others that have been written since the late months of 2009. This is my dream big. It has been a rocky ride but I am up to the task. I don’t have a back up dream big plan at the moment, I am too busy trying to make this one a reality. ‘Cause when you dream it might just come true.

Author, Bird, Books, Characters, children's book, Creating Real Life Characters, Creative Writing, Emotions, Jasper, Manuscript, Publishers

The Rewrite

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Recently I blogged about my awesome rejection letter. In the email the publisher pointed out why they were not going with my MS. He listed the reasons. When I asked if I could resubmit once revising he said yes he would check the book out again.

My initial reaction was days of glee and happiness. Okay it is still with me. But the days after I found out there is a cloud higher than nine and I was on it. After that came oh my gosh how the hell am I going to fix this the way it’s suppose to be? With that dread inside I contacted a few people for thoughts and suggestions on what to do. Once they responded I was ready to start.

Only problem is it took a few weeks before I had the guts to sit down and actually attempt this very important rewrite. The emotions that flooded me ranged from despair to frustration. I stopped dead.

Instead of getting started I stalled.

As the days flew by people asked me how much had I gotten done and sadly would have to reply that nothing had been accomplished. I mentally berated myself up for taking so long to get going on this. I repeatedly went back over the points that I had to fix, each time it screamed at me, “ You can’t do this, give up.”

Now that I have actually started, I believe this was all part of the plan. I needed to step away for a few weeks to gather my thoughts, get myself in check and when the time came it would happen. And it did.

This past week I redid the ending to the book. I went further and did a total rewrite of my first chapter. The only thing that remained the same was three paragraphs. I was on a roll. In that rewrite a new chapter emerged that I had not planned on. I kept going. Last night I wrote another chapter that brings conflict and internal tension to my main character. Something that was missing from my book. What I have left is two chapters to go. That means rereading it and making sure the holes have been filled.

The last week all that has been in my mind all that I could concentrate on was sitting down and revising this book. It has blossomed not just in word count but in strength. When I am finish it will go through the process like before. My editor Nancy will go over it and tighten it up. Will it be enough I am not sure. Every publisher has in mind what they are looking for and what works for their company.

Personally I am loving the changes. If when all is said and done this publishing house does not accept it, at least I know I have a better book now, then I did a few weeks ago. For that I thank the publisher for making me gut out my story, for making me toss things that did not work, for eliminating words regardless of word count, and for evaluating my story in a way that all writers should.

Thank you Mike.

Advice, Author, Book, children's book, Critique, Emotions, Manuscript, Publishing House, Rejection letter

My Awesome Rejection Letter

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What an awesome rejection letter, I thought as the email was read. Words I never thought I would utter in the same sentence: awesome rejection letter.

In February of this year I attended a free writers conference. There I came across a publisher from NC. Soon after I got home I submitted a query letter to him. Within two weeks he requested the first three chapters. Doing so he asked for the entire MS. I was told it would take 4-6 weeks. It took longer. My poor friend Lisa saw how the waiting was making me nuts. I finally sent him a nudge letter after conferring with some people if it was okay to do so. He recently wrote me back.

He wrote thanking me for submitting the MS to his staff. He continued by saying that declining to continue with this MS was a very difficult call for him.

Mike then said there were a number of excellent quality about the text that the staff found appealing. My characters were clearly drawn out and the action was very vivid. He said a few other nice things.  But he stated why they were turning me down at this point. He listed them.

After all was said and done the last paragraph I felt was really cool. He said if we have not completely offended you they hoped I would consider their publishing house in the future with other manuscripts I might have. Our judgment is that you have real potential as a children’s author.

Pretty freaken cool right?

I wrote him the email below.

First of all thank you for taking the time to read my MS. Instead of getting a regular rejection letter you gave me a well thought out letter. That means a lot to me. I am let down, yes, but am not offended. What I am is grateful for you gave me the points on where I can improve my MS. That is invaluable and again I thank you. I will go back to the drawing board and work on the points you laid out below and strengthen my story. Once I accomplish that will submit to publishers in hopes someone will take a chance on it.

It is nice to be encouraged to submit other projects to you. Can I be so bold and ask if it be possible for me to resubmit this MS once I work on it some more?

Thank you for the compliment at the end and the time and consideration you gave me.

He wrote they would be very glad to review Jasper again once I work on the suggestions.  Again pretty freaken cool right?

Out of the three points, two I feel I can incorporate into my story. The last one I am not to sure have to think on it.

This has been a process.

1-First the book was written

2-It was submitted to my writers groups, book reviewers, a day care and my editor

3-Worked on my synopsis and query letter

4-Started to submit to various publishers in Feb. of this year.

5- I have received a variety of letters. Some have been form letter while others were not accepting submissions at this time. Some were overwhelmed with manuscripts.

6-The next step was a publisher saying I had potential. It came from a major publishing house.

7-This rejection letter was next saying I had potential and points on how to fix my MS

8-The step I am at now, working on the points.

All projects are being pushed to the side as I work on this.

Even if it goes no further with this publisher I am still stoked.

Can you tell?