For the Love of Blogging

Is it a dying phenomenon?  This blogging.

Borrowed from a blog who borrowed it from someone else's blog is this:

Mostly blogs ebb and flow with the life rhythms of their creator. Graduate students with blogs get deep into their dissertations, or finish a dissertation, and decide to put aside a blog. Babies arrive, or people get seriously ill. Work makes new demands, and takes energies away from a blog.
However, I think there’s also something about the form itself that poses a problem, and that the problem has gotten more acute as blogging has evolved as a practice. A self-aware blog writer eventually starts to recognize static or repetitive patterns in their posting that threaten to devolve into schtick. Readers may not object: in fact, the larger and more stable a community of readers a blogger has, the more they may in fact come to rely on the blogger to merely convene or spark a rolling conversation among commenters, to be the rhetorical equivalent of comfort food.

After more research, I learned that 11% of blogs die after one year.  Those who remain open may fizzle, but surprisingly, most remain alive, changing and evolving with time.

Interesting.

And I'm still stuck on the concept of blogging "comfort food".  Like blogging that makes you fat?  Ha ha.

It's true that there isn't always this amazing something to share.  Or life is just too personal to put it out there for the whole world to see.

Or we just run out of something new to say.

Or we're sure you're falling asleep hearing the only thing we can think of to say.

Unlike books, life isn't always suspenseful, exciting and living on the edge.  But what we read should be.  That's why we read.  Even blogs.  We like to know what goes on in other people's heads.  Their genius and their idiosyncrasies.  We like good news, sometimes bad news, and we love to learn something new.  

I recently read a blog about trying to lose weight followed up by some good old fast food.  And I laughed.  Mostly because it was real.  Then I looked at pictures on a blog showing us her monthly weight loss- and it was inspiring, because it was real.

I sound like I'm obsessed with weight.  Actually, I am researching another book idea.  Fiction, of course.  Which I have no business doing because I'm in middle of writing something else, and I really should edit another manuscript before I even think about writing another book.

But it's still interesting to me.  

What's your thoughts on the blogging world?

Still ...

Last night my 7-yr. old daughter asked me when my new book cover was coming out. "Well, didn't you say you've written some more books?" she asked.

Yes, I have. But I'm still looking for a home for them. How do you explain that to a girl who has seen a new book for as long as she can remember? Isn't it that time of year again when I have a new book come out?

It does make me wistful. It even makes me almost willing to throw a book at a small press just to see a book cover. And I may still do that, eventually.

But right now, it's not time. Right now, writing has taken over. I need to finish what I started. Who knows if I'll sell this new one either, but I will get it done.

And whether it's this story, or three more stories from now, I am absolutely going to get where I plan to be.

Sometimes plans can take their own road, that's for sure.

On a different note, the LDStorymakers Conference is coming up in TWO WEEKS!!! Whew. I can hardly believe it. No. Seriously. I remember how busy I was last year, and I had a genius author helping me out and doing most of the work. This year I know is going to be just as busy, if not a touch more.

I love this conference. It's amazing. Hands down my favorite writers conference. If you're going, I can't wait to see you, or meet you for the first time. My goal is to make new friends, and keep the old.

If you're not there this year, and you're a writer, you should consider going next year. It's worth it.

Shooting for the Stars

I'm finally feeling a little caught up. I'm sure it's a temporary thing, but at I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

I've been helping organize a small part of the LDStorymakers Conference coming up May3-5. As I was working through some of the scheduling, I was given a small piece of perspective that I am every so grateful to have.

I'm not the only one.

I spend too much time beating myself up for not reaching my goals/dreams. It's not that I have ever stopped working towards them, but in the end, for my goals to be realized, someone else has to see my work and decide to take it on.

In other words, my goals are impossible for me to accomplish alone. Of course, this makes me wonder if my goals are realistic. And honestly, it doesn't even matter of they are because I can't change my dream. I even tried, but I can't.

And as I scheduled pitch sessions for over a hundred other writers, I saw over a hundred other writers in my same boat. A goal/dream that can not be realized without the help of someone else.

I'm not sure why this felt like such a comfort to me, but it did. I know a lot of these people and I can tell you first-hand that they are talented writers. So, if there are tons of talented writers out there still shooting for their star even if there is no promise they'll hit it, I guess it's okay for me to be one of them.

It makes me wonder if they beat themselves up like I do. At the end of the day, do they ever feel like their value can be measured in rejections? I know I shouldn't, but it's hard not to wonder if I'll ever be good enough to get to where I can't stop wanting to be.

And even if I'm not there yet, I sort of count on the fact that since I can't quit, I'm only going to get better with time. If I never stop writing, one of these days I'm going to write that book that gets that contract.

Then again, should I never reach that star, I can honestly say that I have still learned a lot in the process of trying to get there. Experience is an education.

To all of you still shooting for your star, don't give up. Somehow it will all be worth it in the end.

My to-do list

Hmmm. Yep, it's official. I have nothing amazing to say today.

So, I thought I'd share a random thing that has nothing to do writing.

You know, in case someone else's boring life is more exciting than your own.

Lately I've been researching...

*How to pour a concrete sidewalk.

Guess what step one is. Planning and tools. You would think this would be obvious, but there is something to be said about starting a project with all the stuff you need.

Beyond that, and within the text of the process it states, "Caution: do not lose an eye." Well said.

I could lose an eye putting in a sidewalk???

People, this is why I need some help from a man who figures things out. And is strong. Good thing I'm married to one.

Now all I need to do is find him about two days worth of free time. Ha ha ha aha ha ha... oh, that was a good one.

Which is why I'm actually reading the "How to pour a concrete sidewalk" article. And I still think I couldn't do this thing alone. Very well. Cement is heavy.

Hmmm. The mud path leading to my front door will have to wait until it stops raining. After that, we'll see how desperate I am to fix it. If you see me outside with tools, you'll know.

St. Patrick's Day 2012

St. Patrick's Day was a whole lot of fun this year! We visited four elementary schools and loved the excitement and energy we received as we danced. What a fun Friday for us.

Some of our dancers had their first St. Patrick's Day experience dancing show after show. Saturdays were filled with lots of performances. Thanks to everyone for making it a rich experience. We had a unique appeal that included singing, violin, a drum and a guitar. And dancing. We must have the dancing.

It was a joy to be involved with. I look forward to many more shows from Shamrock Irish Dance.

Laughing in that...

It's-Not-Even-Funny sort of way.

I keep waiting to have something fabulous to share. Something funny, inspirational, educational, interesting or thought-provoking.

That explains why it's been a couple weeks. That, and I've been making Irish costumes like mad.

The season of Irish dance shows is coming up! Our first show of many is this Saturday. Shamrock Irish Dance is my new project. It's a long story, but at the end of it, I can tell you that I never really meant to have my own Irish studio, it's a ton of work, and I'm still waiting to see if it will ever get off the ground. But, at the end of the day, I have dancers who are steadily improving in this art. Isn't that the only reason I ever decided to teach dance?

Yes, it is. It does come down to that. In spite of everything else.

Switching gears completely now... here's the most intriguing rejection letter I've ever gotten. Read it. Is it just me, or does this sound like a yes with a no at the end? Like I said, I'm laughing in the it's-not-even-funny sort of way. What are you gonna do?

Dear Laura,

I am so proud of you. You’ve improved the work ten-fold. I never, ever expected you to get back to me as quickly as you did and when I heard back I was fairly certain the work would be so-so because that’s usually what happens. Writers work hard to “fix” and end up missing the mark. Instead, you’ve done well to hit on things I was most concerned about and I’m so impressed.

Here’s the kicker; as an agency we’ve made the decision to refrain from taking new clients because we’ve been so very blessed with the clients currently on board. It seems as though one sale has led to another and we’ve become all the more busy in an effort to ready ourselves for upcoming releases. Mind you…I’m not complaining, but it’s an amazing process!

More than anything I encourage you to continue shopping the work because I think it’s so good. I do believe you write well and you have a lovely future ahead of you.

Best wishes as you go – I want ARC’s!

Keep the Wheels Turning

The book industry is one of the slowest businesses I know. In fact, if you know a slower industry, please tell me what it is.

If you want to be a writer, one of these days you'll have to face the facts:

*it takes a long time to write a book
*it takes a lot of work and time to edit the book properly before you send it to professionals
*it takes a lot of time for agents/publishers to get to your query
*it could take a while to get a contract
*it takes even more time for a professional edit
*it takes time- usually a year or two- for your contracted book to become a book

If you're looking for a quick way to get rich, don't become a writer. In fact, if you are looking to get rich, keep your job and take a good look at your education.

If you want to be a writer, be prepared to dedicate years of your life to it. Even if you're a one-book-wonder, it's going to take years.

So why write? Because you love it. Because you have a story to tell. Because when you tell yourself you're going to give up, it follows you around, nagging you with it's story.

You write because it is part of who you are.

Whether your story is coming together slowly, or hitting the pages like fire, it's a story. Sometimes it feels like it's worth it, and now and then you may be passing time before a better story ticks into your head.

But there's one thing I can tell you for sure- there will be times when it all seems worth it. They may be fleeting moments, or monumental experiences, but sometimes you will come across validation that helps you know you are doing the right thing.

And if you're a writer at heart, no amount of rejection or waiting will ever stop you from shedding more words into a story.

Being a writer is a decision, but it's also part of who you are. Make goals. Work toward them. Write whether you can see the success happening yet or not.

The best thing a writer can do is write. So, taking a page from Nike, "just do it".