An Encouraging Rejection is an Anomaly

Agent Jessica Faust, in a recent post on the Bookends Literary Agency blog says, “No matter what you do or how you proceed, remember that personalized rejections deserve a pat on the back. Congratulations for making it that far.” Somehow, knowing the definition of the word ‘rejection’, her comment seems like an anomaly.   I

Communication Challenges

Trying to describe what a story is about when the book is not your own can be risky.  I don’t mean reviewing a book, but actually trying to re-tell the basics of its story. I recently read the blog of someone who did this and I was disappointed at the disjointed account. It did not

Today’s the Day!

Today’s the day! Registration opens at noon today for the Surrey International Writers Conference   October 24-26, 2008. I plan to be among the early ones on their doorstep to ensure my choices for Agent/Editor interviews and Blue Pencil Cafe appointments will be available.   This will be my third conference. Since 2004 I’ve been attending every

Creepy Crawlies

 A proficient gardener I’m not, but I love to putter around in the yard. I meander through the flower beds on a regular basis, hauling the hose along to water needy plants, discovering what’s new, deadheading depleted blossoms and, yes, (shudder) occasionally encountering miniature wildlife.   I’m not a big fan of bugs, but I accept

Purple Prose

I was re-reading my previous post and it hit me that in trying to convey the serenity of the moment, I probably bordered on “purple prose”. Not that the whole description was necessarily over the top, but that word ‘somniferous’, while precisely describing the feeling I had, was a bit much.   Wikipedia suggests “purple

Sound versus Silence

I suspect many of us who write are convinced that publication validates our efforts. Mystery/Suspense author Sandra Parshall said, “A writer needs readers to make the last link in the creative circle. A story that is never read by anyone other than its author is incomplete. It’s a bird singing in an empty forest.”  

Morning Madness

I don’t know how typical I am of most writers, but mornings just aren’t my time to function. I recently read an interview* that Jessica Morrell did with author Diana Gabaldon, and Diana said, “I get up around 9 and get a Diet coke and stagger around bumping into things and send e-mails to get

Becoming Visible

. Visibility can be a good thing (or not) depending on the circumstances. For the large Northern Flicker on the fir tree outside my window seclusion seems to be a priority. He hovers there, checking out conditions at the suet feeder before homing in for breakfast, but whenever I step close to the window he