Writing Wisdom - Persistence

The difference between a published writer and an unpublished one ---- one didn't give up.
[sgchris 5/2011]

Fabulous

Joseph Papa, why yes, the one with the fabulous hair, the same, who also happens to be a publicist for a major New York publisher, gave a fabulous talk at the lovely Library of Virginia the other night, on book he has out that he has written [so yes I guess he does know what it's like to walk in our writer shoes, even if he doesn't know what it's like to have ordinary hair], on Elizabeth Taylor.

•Elizabeth Taylor: A Passion for Life by Joseph Papa

And why yes, you can get it at the Library of Virginia - I watched him sign extra books for them. [they had to run out and bring in extra!]

And also at Richmond's own Fountain Bookstore.

Fabulous!

It really was a fabulously interesting talk.

[and yes, his hair really was fabulous - I believe the fabulous Ellen Brown got a snapshot]

[and since this post is about fabulous, check out Ellen's book on Gone With the Wind.

Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind: A Bestseller's Odyssey from Atlanta to Hollywood

What an extraordinary woman she was. Elizabeth Taylor. [Ellen Brown is also ...which obviously I must post about sometime....after I get book writing done I think since she's always giving me that stern eye about getting to it, instead of ...well, probably this. But I will get back to them Ellen, after I finish this!]

Elizabeth Taylor was an extraordinary woman.

In more ways than one. Like she not Only had violet eyes, she had a double set of eyelashes. How's that for extraordinary.

Such interesting things about a woman that was extraordinary. And especially for her ability to survive.

You'll just have to pick up Joseph's book to find out more.

It will be even better to go hear him talk when you pick up the book so you can hear all the interesting things he knows that didn't make it to the book. [Yes, Fabulous things.]

Course you can't have a conversation about the fabulous Liz without mentioning her fabulous jewels.

Which are to be auctioned off.

I like this quote attributed to her here -

"Good Morning America" took a look at Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry collection, reportedly valued at $150 million.

The icon once talked to Barbara Walters about her love for all-things-bling, explaining, "The beauty, the perfection, God's workmanship. They're all from the ground." Her affinity for gemstones began as a child and continued as she counted husbands. Walters asked her if it was awkward for her new men to see their predecessor's presents. "So I've been told," Liz remarked. What did she do about it? "Encourage them to give me more." Naturally.

I like that so much.

Except I have one husband....and there hasn't been a predecessor for a very long time.... hmmmm, wonder how the fabulous Liz would have worked that with jewelry?

Or just worked that one husband thing.....

Is fabulous what we make it? And that was her real extraordinary gift?

• 
  

Another Reason to Support Your Indie Bookstore

Be sure to check out the wonderful blog post by Richmond's own Treasure and independent bookstore and bookstore owner, Fountain Bookstore's Kelly Justice.

And of course I'm sure she, and her great staff, will appreciate you strolling in and buying a book or two from them.

I'm sure they won't object if you even buy more than one or two from them either. Just sayin' .....

Yay!!!

Yay for the James River Writers Conference coming in October!!!

This in yesterday's Publishers Lunch :

• Tayari Jones Tops June 2011 Indie Next List

Delicious Writing

Isn't that what we all want? It's what Tayari Jones says that's what she wants her writing to be in a great article on her in current, May / June 2011, Poets & Writers magazine.

So pick up the issue and check it out.

You can also check about about Writing Contests and the 10 Tips for Successful Entries. What writer doesn't want that info', right?

And if you are like most of us, by the time you get the Poets & Writers magazine, and get the Tayari Jones piece read, it will be time to go over and sign up for the James River Writers Conference so you can meet, and talk to her in person! Since she is going to be here. In Richmond. At the James River Writers Conference in October!!!!
Seriously Cool, right?



Hey, if you missed the Writing Show the other night, with Daniel José Custódio, Susan Greenbaum, Luisa Igloria, with Nathan Richardson moderating,
you missed poetry, in several different forms, including sung. So you need to read some delicious writing, as well as write it yourself.


While you are over on the James River Writers site go ahead and make note of the James River Writers fundraiser - where we raise our monies to bring you such great things such as the Conference and all the Writing Shows. To make you aware of delicious writing and how to make your own writing so delicious it's drip worthy. [and maybe even panty worthy for the Book Lady! hmmmm? We can all hope!] So do at least put the date down and seriously think about it. It might be delicious itself........ ;)

JRW's annual literary fundraiser
Saturday, June 4, 2011
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
On the river at Dominion’s Tredegar Complex
120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, VA 23219


So here are some great ways to help yourself. And don't forget to give back and help James River Writers. Don't we all want to be thought of as Delicious?

Conquering Fears. And Perseverance.

That’s Conquering your fears as a writer. As well as your paralyzing need to have your writing perfect. Sound familiar? Keep reading.

And as the agents that come to the James River Writers Conference [in October if you are interested. ;)], Perseverance is often the difference between the published writer and the one not published because they gave up.

To get some great advice that will help your writing. And hit you where your writer sits, check out this great post.

For those that don’t want to take time to click on it, here’s some of what jumped out to me. Or jumped on me. Really. I’m trying to fight it off. It’s sticking Way too close.

While this seems to be talking about writing with a message, it hit me just as with writing....

“......Not your “perfect” writing.

And if you’re preventing yourself from letting people see your writing because you’re stressing over the perfection of it… well, your message never makes it out there to the people you want it to reach.

So give yourself permission to write what you need to write in the way you want to write it. Stop stressing over what people will think of your work. That’s not important. Start getting excited about sharing your message instead – and making sure that the people who need to hear it actually do. ....”

and it goes Really well along with ....

# 5: Blast Perfectionism and Thrive

Linda Formichelli, author of The Renegade Writer, a blog about “living and loving the freelance life,” recommends:

“I teach and mentor writers, and a huge sticking point I always hear from them is that they’re afraid to put their work out there if it’s not perfect. So they wait and wait, and get caught in analysis-paralysis — and of course, they have no success.

I don’t know about you, but nothing I do is perfect. That includes the way I parent my toddler, my cooking skills, and — you got it — my writing. And yet, I’ve been published in more than 130 magazines, from Woman’s Day to Health to Redbook.

Let me assure you: There is no such thing as perfect. Editors (and readers) are all individuals so what one loves, another will hate. You can’t predict it. All you can do is do your best and get your ideas and your queries and your letters of introduction out there. The mediocre idea you send out has an infinitely better chance of being accepted than the one that you never send to an editor because it’s not “perfect.” ......

Which leads into the Perseverance part....

#6: Understand the Importance of Perseverance

Therese Walsh of Writer Unboxed, a blog about “the craft and business of fiction,” recommends:

“I’m not sure who said that the difference between an unpublished and published writer is perseverance, but I believe it. ........

And continues on with a lot of other great and thought provoking, or at least mulling worthy thoughts and advice from other writers.

Come on admit it, we have great advice and inspiration. It’s even that much greater when it’s generously shared.

Since a lot of this has come to sit way too close to me I thought I should share with you. So you can have the same kind of ‘company.’ I’m so generous. ;->

I'm Tired Already...

Just Reading this blog of the Real realities of writing, the writing life. And being a good, and successful writer.

Makes me tired.

Or more tired.

Course Spring allergies might have too much to do with that as well. yay spring.

But in a few blog posts ago here there was semi discussion / blathering about why we read. Or since this is my blog, why I read.

I realized from a comment posted of why a friend reads that the why's and wherefores of my reading has changed over the years. I've read to escape pain, mental, emotional and physical pain. Read to alleviate boredom and waiting. Read just for the enjoyment and joy of it.

And as I've moved into the fringes of the writing world, I've also noticed my reading has changed. I still do read for the enjoyment. But sometimes that is few and far between.

I find myself reading more to study and compare what I am writing to see how my writing stacks up, which also lets me get a study of what my competition is and how well they are doing. Also, what they seem to be doing right with marketing that I need to keep an eye on.

As I am reading for my 'business' I hopefully find the enjoyment of reading can coincide with it. But even if it doesn't, I still learn a lot. And that's never a bad thing.

I was going to do a blog entry, someday soon I am sure, and wonderfully brilliant of course, on why I read.

But as I said I'm tired, and this is a great post that says it well -- on writing. But if look at it as a reader, why I read. Why I probably really read.

And in case you are as tired, or more tired, I'll post the part that sums up why to read, why to write. But do go read the whole post. It is Really good.

"The truth is, the joy of writing isn’t the writing itself. It’s seeing your ideas spread. It’s seeing them touch other people. It’s seeing them take root within the minds of those people, where they continue to grow into something more wonderful than you could have ever imagined. ....."

".....Words aren’t just words, you see. They’re the medium through which writers accomplish change.

Great writers don’t just inform you. They don’t just entertain you. They don’t just persuade you. They change you, leaving you a slightly different person than you were before you read their work. "

Here's to being different.