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".

Readers' Choice 2011 Book Best Cover

Winner of the 2011 Readers' Choice Best Book Cover

as voted by LDS Publisher blog readers

is...

A big thanks to everyone who voted for my WINGS OF LIGHT cover! I can't tell you how surprised I was to win the genre vote... but now the overalls for 2011. Sweet.

Naturally, I owe my real thanks to the talented Cover Designer: Megan Whittier.

An interesting twist of fate here that most people don't know... Megan is the sister-in-law to one of my cloggers. Before Tonya adopted a gorgeous little girl, she danced at my studio. She was the one to tell me that her sister-in-law was working on my cover art for my next book to be released.

It was pretty cool knowing a connection to the one who created the face for my book.

People do judge a book by its cover. I hope you take the time to find out whether the inner beauty of this book matches the delicious outer.

Thanks again to all of you. It's like a hug and a handshake from hundreds of people. Thanks for taking the time to share that.

Happy Hearts

Congratulations to Pricilla- winner of a copy of WINGS OF LIGHT. This book won the cover contest for its genre and now is up for the 2011 Best Cover contest. Click here to vote!The day where all the little girls in elementary school want their hair a little extra special. The day when even the boys are donning their red shirts.

In fact, it might be the only holiday where kids intentionally reach out to every single person in their class.

And if you're all grown up, you know, say fourteen, there's the excitement of watching your friends get carnations, or getting heart Valentine's from friends.

As the years pass, married with kids- the magic never really stops. As long as you still want it, it's there for the taking.

Valentine's Day is a chance to reach out- just like you did in elementary school. A chance to say "Will you be my Valentine?" Sometimes that just means "friend".

And for your real sweetheart- don't let the day slip by without a smile, hug and kiss.

If there's one thing we need more of in this world today, it's happy hearts. Hoping you have a happy heart today, from the bottom of mine.

Vote for my cover!

It was nice to have something fun to share today. It's the first time this has happened to me, so I was pretty excited.

WINGS OF LIGHT made it to the finals for the YA Speculative Book Covers contest. This is a vote rated contest, so I need your help. It's easy.

Just click here and vote for Wings of Light.

And, since I'm having so much fun with this, if I win the contest, I'll give a book away.

Which means you need to leave a comment so I can draw a winner. The contest ends at midnight Feb. 10. If I win, then I'll draw a winner from the comments below.

And even if you don't want another copy of Wings of Light, go vote anyway.

Speaking of winning, I didn't tell you that I got 3rd place for the YA category for the Sharp Writ Book Awards. This is a world-wide contest, so even though I got 3rd, it was still pretty cool.




Alright everyone, go vote!

And if I'm going to see you this week at the LTUE- YAY!!!!

I'll be on panels... Thursday 1:00 Writing for the LDS market, Friday 3:00 Injecting Romance into Ghost Stories, 6:00 You've Written a Book, Now What? 8:00 Book Signing, Saturday 4:00 Contemporary Urban Fantasy

It's going to be a blast!

You've written a book, now what?

It's the topic of the last panel I will be discussing at the LTUE Feb. 10.

And it's a relevant topic for me, personally.

Only, if I were to revise that sentence to include all my writing situations right now, it would sound something like this...

You've written three books that aren't yet published, you've lost your agent, you've got a full manuscript out with an agent AND an editor.... now what?

Now what indeed.

What I'm actually doing is slowly writing another book. I say slowly because I've never gone at such a pathetic pace before. Instead of writing like wildfire ready to devour the forest, I'm sort of picking away at it one page at a time.

It may or may not end up being a great story. I'm not sure. I just know that in the middle of all this waiting, I just haven't had the same urge to write.

And I feel like I have the last book of the Alvor series looming over me. I want to write it, but I'm not entirely convinced my publisher will step up to the plate like I need them to. I know, for some of you that seems like a lame excuse. For others, you may not know what I'm talking about. Since this isn't my complain blog, I won't get into it. But it's the conflict that has kept me from writing that last book.

So now what? I'd say in terms of furthering my career, I've sort of done what I need to. Waiting is part of the book industry, after all. Probably the worst part.

If I could give myself advice, I'd say, "Keep writing, Laura. Sooner or later you'll either have an answer, or another book on your hands. And whether you land an agent this time, or secure a contract with a publisher and then land an agent, the best thing you can do today is write. It's the only thing you have control over."

Today. It really is the only thing we can do anything about.

I know I didn't answer the big question- You've written a book, now what?

The short answer to that is: edit like crazy, write a killer query letter, send it out to agents or publishers and then cross your fingers and hope. And wait. And while you're waiting, write something. It's a vicious cycle. Write-send it out- wait- write.

LTUE, baby

It's almost here. And I get to go this year. I Can't Wait!

The LTUE is one of my favorite writer conferences. Quick catch up for those who don't know...

Life, The Universe & Everything
The Marion K. "Doc" Smith Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy

February 9-12, 2012
Cost: $30 Students Free with Current ID

Utah Valley University

And here are some of the stars you'll get to meet...

James A. Owen

(“Starchild” and “Here There Be Dragons”)

Special Guests:

Writing Excuses Podcast Team:

Brandon Sanderson

Mary Robinette Kowal

Dan Wells

Howard Tayler

Chris Schoebinger

Acquisitions Editor for Shadow Mountain.

Featured Guests:

Larry Correia

James Dashner

David Farland (Saturday only)

Tracy & Laura Hickman (Saturday only)

L.E. Modesitt, Jr. (Saturday only)

Brandon Mull (Saturday only)

Are you starting to see why I love this conference? It's simply a blast. I guess that's really why it's one of my favorites. This is the conference where writers become friends. Authors have conversations. There's hardly any pressure (no pitches to national editors or agents) and it's just a bunch of great information from people who know the business.

I know I'm not the only one who knows this, but I'll let you in on the secret to this conference.... yes be good and go to classes- but also SKIP some classes too. I know. It sounds counter-intuitive, but it's the key. Plan on what classes will make you happy, and then plan on some blocks of time outside of the rooms. This is how you get to have conversations. Or think. Or write. But at the end of the conference, if you do this, you'll end up with new friends.

Friends that will be in the writing industry for a good long time, and if that's where you plan on being, it's good to have some friends there.

Go if you can. It's the cheapest conference, and there is so much to learn. The panels are awesome, and there are plenty of editors there to keep things real. Tons of authors too.

So excited.

"It's a mind game."

Here we are, in the middle of January. I thought for sure I'd have something amazing to say by now. Hmm. I guess not.

So here's a little twist to mix things up. I'm a dancer and a writer- what if those worlds collided?

From this month's issue of Dancespirit, I give you YOUR TOP 10 COMPETITION FEARS, Everything you worry about on Comp day- and how to deal. And geniusly changed to fit the world of a writer...

Fear #1- the nemesis move-

In dance, this is that one trick that makes your dance pop, but what if you miss it?
In writing, this is that one streak of pure perfectness in your story line that makes every reader in your target audience want your book.

The fix: "Now is the time to trust your training." If you don't hit it this time, you will next time. Keep breathing and practice, practice practice.

Fear # 2 -costume malfunction-

I think it's safe to skip this one in the writing world.

The fix: You know, just in case you're a dancer...uhm, dress rehearsal, body glue, sticky tape, and just leave your hat on the floor should it fall off. I'm guessing you really didn't want to hear all of that.

Fear #3- Forgetting to pack something

In dance, we're talking dance bag. There is nothing worse than arriving without an essential item.

In writing, this is each scene. Does it have enough in it to make it shocked with emotion and movement? Or do you have a dead chapter?

The fix: In dance, "make a list and check it a million times". In writing, read your chapters objectively and ask yourself why anyone else would want to read it.

Fear #4- Blanking Onstage (AKA Deer in the Headlights)

In dance- nuf said.

In writing, blanking on the story. The "I've got nothing" scenario.

The fix: "Any performance-related opportunity builds confidence and decreases the chances that you're going to freeze onstage." Actually, I believe this 100%. In writing, if you're really stuck, ask people leading questions. For example, last night I asked someone what could go wrong if you're riding a horse. The list I was handed was full of possibilities that I hadn't considered. Let the story simmer if you have to, but also get back to your computer and keep trying.

We're going to skip the next few...#5 losing a team member at the last minute, #6 dealing with unpredictable props, #7 Unpredictable stages, #8 the quick change and #9 Letting the team down

Having said that, I can personally tell you that these are all valid fears that my dancers face at shows and competitions on a regular basis. Sometimes it makes you feel better when you realize that you're not the only one. But I like this quote, "Don't be mean to the girl who messes up, because the next time it might be you."

That said, we come to...

Fear #10 Getting psyched out by your competition

The fix: Do it for yourself, not for them. "But if you do choose to check out the others, make the experience a positive one, not a scary one. Try to get inspired."