Tuesday, July 13, 2010

WE DO THE HOKEY POKEY

I'm cheating. I posted this last year, but I've been super busy and it still applies. Plus, just like me, some of you are currently riding the roller coaster of writer self-doubt. This might help. (Or at least inspire you to dance.)


THE HOKEY: aka Why I AM Cut Out To Be A Writer:

MY IMAGINATION
I had one heck of an imagination as a kid. Back then, my parents called it lying, and punished me for it…a lot. However, if I just put a disclaimer that “this is fiction” before my tall tales, it becomes a story instead of a lie. And nobody punishes me (except myself when I think it’s not good).

MY PEOPLE WATCHING SKILLS
…are Olympic league status. If they’d make people watching an Olympic sport, I’d win a gold medal. Because of my PW skills, I notice stuff. Then I make that stuff part of my characters' personalities. I create stories from the stupid, quirky, and fascinating things people do.

MY GRAMMAR
…ain’t that bad. I’m no English professor, but I’m pretty sure I grasp the general concept and rules behind sentence structure. I could definitely improve my skills. There is always room for improvement. Or at least that’s what the cliché Gods tell me.

MY COMMON SENSE
I could never be one of those aspiring authors that gets a rejection letter and writes the agent back telling them they’re missing out on the next Harry Potter. I would never be so stubborn as to think my MS is perfect and not take suggestions or critique on how to make it stronger. What’s that cliché Gods? Oh yes, it is worth repeating; there is always room for improvement. Which brings me to…

MY HUMILITY
I know I’m no Stephen King. I know I haven’t written the next Twilight. I know that even if my book ever does get published, some people will hate it. BUT, some people might love it. And through all the hokey and pokey, that’s what it’s all about.

Now with all that being said,

THE POKEY: aka Why I AM NOT Cut Out To Be A Writer.

MY IMAGINATION
Do I really have anything to say that hasn’t been said 100 times before in every way possible? My imagination is good, but can it compete with the other millions of writers out there?

MY PEOPLE WATCHING SKILLS
I hear and read the stories and struggles of all the writers around me. I've met people at conferences who have been writing for decades without ever being published. I’ve heard the horror stories. I’ve read the statistics. I’ve seen with my own eyes that it’s next to impossible.

MY GRAMMAR
…ain’t that good. My writing is nowhere near perfect. A friend told me “It doesn’t have to be perfect. That’s what editors are for!” But she’s wrong. The writing has to be phenomenal--especially in this market. Use too many adverbs, say “was” too much, misuse commas and colons and you’ve signed your own form rejection letter. Fact is, there’s just too much talent out there, and many aspiring writer’s DO have perfect manuscripts.

MY COMMON SENSE
Fewer deals are being made. Agents are taking on fewer clients. Due to the recession more people than ever are trying to write a book and get it published. The odds of getting an agent are slim. The odds of getting published? I might as well take up a career in getting struck by lightening. I know my odds. They are against me.

MY HUMILITY
There’s always been that voice inside of me that doubts myself. Me? Become a best selling author? Have a following of fans that wait on the edge of their seats for my next book to come out? Readers will line up to ask for my autograph? Yeah, right.

So, which is it? Hokey or Pokey?
Am I a writer or aren’t I?


Truth is; it’s not a question. It’s not a decision I made. It just sort of happened. I don’t have a say in the matter. My stories have been written. Another new one is churning through my mind, fighting to become black words on my white computer screen. So I have to keep writing. If for no one else, then for my characters. I can’t just leave their lives unfinished in a make believe world I created. How cruel would that be?

Some days there will be rejections, tears, and harsh criticism. Other days there will be a critique partner who says “This is a perfectly perfect paragraph,” or another reader tells me they loved Nathan more than Edward (True! I swear!) Those are the days that keep me writing. The moments when I stare at my crazy fantastical stories and smile.

Maybe my stories won’t ever get published, but maybe they will. Cliché Gods assure me that “Only time will tell.” Until then--however far THEN may be--I'll keep trying to be a better writer (self-doubts and all). Because what if, one day, an agent does love my story? And then a publisher loves my story. Maybe one day all of this work will result in a letter from a fan that says, “Thank you for writing this.”

THEN, all of this hokey pokey will turn itself around.

31 comments:

  1. Glad you reposted this, Karen! I missed it the first time around. It's clever and very tweet-worthy! :-)

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  2. HA! Perfect and SO true. Thanks for the re-post.

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  3. I too missed it the first time around. Excellent post!! Very relevant for me right now.

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  4. Aw, I'm glad you reposted this! So well-said and clever.

    That's what it's all about.

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  5. CHEATER!!! Just kidding, I think it's well played that you re-used a post, I thikn it's nice to know you can fall back on something.

    I loved this, I'm glad you re-posted since I'd never seen it :)

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  6. What a great post! Thanks for sharing Karen.

    I do think sometimes it is all about a decision - the decision to never give up! To stick with the Hokey and scoff at the Pokey.

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  7. I'm glad you reposted this too! I'm beginning to wonder if self-doubt gets carried by the wind, because when I'm in a funk, it seems like other people are too. That's why I really appreciate writers who are honest and authentic about their process and struggles. It makes me feel less alone. - G

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  8. This is a really fun post. And I laughed a bunch at the image/saying. Thanks for the smile and good advice :)

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  9. I remember this post, but I enjoyed just as much this time around.

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  10. OOo Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater! Hehe wonderful post.

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  11. I love dancing the hokey pokey with you. ;)

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  12. Yeah, there is always a little bit of doubt. But you are awesome Karen. Really. The publishing thing IS going to happen for you, it's just a question of when. (We certainly have learned a bit about patience though, huh?!)

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  13. Karen, I love this post. But as someone who's read your work? You're definitely the hokey. Okay that sounds weird out of context, but you 100% have what it takes to make it.

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  14. I looooove this! It's such a great way of looking at things. You just ARE a writer, whether you're ever published or not. That's priceless.

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  15. And if you're not quite sure which part of the Hokey Pokey you're all about, just put your whole self in and then shake it all about ;-)

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  16. Where's the part with the martinis? Did I miss something here? I was pretty sure being a writer and drinking martinis were synonymous. Maybe that's just me.

    Love that badge, btw.

    Also, as you know, I work in lightning protection. Seriously, if you need help with that getting struck bit, I can tell you where to go. But I prefer you didn't do that. Because there's still a couple martinis on the table. ;)

    Brilliant post, m'dear. (I'm serious about that part.) Keep writing. I'm pretty sure you were born to do it.

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  17. Love this. And thanks for reposting this work of sheer brilliance. I didn't get to see it the first time. And I love it. We are writers. Thats what we are NO matter what! ;)

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  18. Hi Karen! This post was exactly what I needed to hear, well, read. :)

    Thanks for writing it!

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  19. It may be a re-post to you, but it's new to me and I loved it! You are exactly right, Karen, that it isn't about a question. It just IS. Love it! :-)

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  20. I was (umm) good at fiction when I was a kid too. But not great at it. I know this because I ALWAYS got caught in my fiction. :)

    Nice repost!

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  21. So well said. 'bout sums it all up.

    Now what do I need to sacrifice to these writing gods in order to get them in my favor?

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  22. Good morning, Karen! I have an award for you at my blog today! :-)

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  23. I have an award for you at my blog.
    http://frommysomewhatseriousmind.blogspot.com/2010/07/blogger-with-substance-award.html

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  24. Aw, I'm glad you reposted too, because I missed it the last time around. And as someone who is majorly battling self doubt lately, it was so refreshing to read. Seriously, why don't you live closer so we can sip wine and whine together. (and yes, the whine/wine thing was intentional. Clever right? Or is it lame? It's lame isn't it? Gah--my self doubt is even making me doubt my comments!!!!) :)

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  25. I look at it this way...if I don't write, what else am I gonna do? I love doing it too much to ever quit...even if I don't get published.

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  26. I do the same thing when life gets too busy and I'm so tired. I repost.

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  27. And that letter from a fan will be just the neatest thing :)

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  28. Well said. I thk yo gramma' n writin' es gud dough.

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  29. this is good stuff--put your backside in~ ;p

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  30. Thanks for reposting this! I always eat up inspiration like this - another writer that doubts herself, and says what the heck, I love to write. I'll just keep doing it.

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  31. A relevant post indeed! I think I will give it a try. And I love the humor in your blog BTW.

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