Should I Keep Writing?

As writers, we have a goal--to get published or have our stories read by others. On the road to publication, bumps, potholes and sometimes--cliffs come out of nowhere. They jar us. Make us question our purpose, maybe even our worth. I'm delighted to host a dear author friend who has weathered the journey and preserved  Now, her very first YA novel is releasing this month!  Without further ado... Evangeline Denmark!

It’s a new year and I have cause for celebration. On January 5th my debut novel CURIO releases from Blink, Zondervan’s general market young adult fiction line. But I can remember so many New Year’s Days when I faced the crushing question, “Should I keep writing?”

Evangeline Denmark

In fact, one January I received a particularly devastating rejection. I’d hung my hopes on this one person’s opinion and things were looking good. . .until they were not. I cried. I canceled plans. My husband brought home wine and flowers and chocolate (not his first emergency rejection care package.) I may have taken non-medically necessary Benadryl and retired to my room like a Victorian woman overcome by vapors, unexpected emotion before tea time, or improperly polished silver.

After allowing me an appropriate amount of time to grieve, my husband gave me the most important piece of advice. I know you’ve already heard it. Someone has said it to you at a conference or in an industry blog. You’ve probably said it to yourself. And I’m sorry, but I’m gonna say it again. Here are the words Kory gave me when I was down in my hole of self-doubt and food-medicating:

 Write because you love to write. 

Can it really be that simple? Well, yes and also, no. Part of being an artist is wanting to share your creation with others—wanting to see the thoughts, feelings, and experiences you put out in the world returned to you with a resounding ping of “Me too.” The pursuit of publication is the natural outgrowth of our desire for connection.

Curio by Evangeline Denmark

But if you can’t write in the darkness for the pure love of burning words, then search for your flame in another art form.

 I’m not talking about taking breaks or taking time to grieve rejections or taking the time life demands of us. And I’m not saying you should call it quits when you face obstacles, rejections, and self-doubt. What I’m saying is, in those hard times curl into your creativity, let go of others’ opinions, and write fearlessly.

 I took my husband’s advice. I wrote CURIO in a place of reckless inspiration. I allowed no shoulder beings—angels or demons—any ear time. I used words without second-guessing. I scared myself with story, and I kept writing.

And it worked. CURIO ended up being the novel that caught an editor’s eye. My journey to publication took a lot longer than I expected—ten years in fact. And it’s not over. I haven’t arrived. There is no “arriving” in this industry. There is only the next step, the next word on the page, the next adventure.

On New Year’s Day I had the old goals and resolutions conversation with three of my closest writer friends—all of them traditionally published. Every single one of them mentioned a deep longing to return to the joy of writing regardless of where their professional journeys took them, and I was reminded once again that love of the craft is the lifeblood of storytelling.

This is the truth I come back to again and again and the comfort I take when I’m not sure why I’m still doing this—if not writing feels like death, then there isn’t really a choice, is there?

About Evangeline: 

Evangeline Denmark cannot sing. The tragic discovery of this truth led to bouts of angst-ridden poetry writing in her teens, several ill-advised relationships with literary characters, and the compulsive creation of her own fictional worlds. Having found her true voice, Evangeline now writes fiction with hints of whimsy, glimmers of fantasy, and strokes of the supernatural.

Her debut novel, Curio, a young adult steampunk fantasy, releases January 2016. She has also co-authored two children’s books, The Dragon and the Turtle and The Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari (Waterbrook Press). Find Evangeline online at http://www.evangelinedenmark.com

* * * * * 

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. After twenty-five years of marriage, she and her hunky hero husband have a full life with their children, a Maltese Menace, and a retired military working dog in Northern Virginia. She can be found at:

     www.roniekendig.com

     Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction)
     Twitter (@roniekendig)
     Goodreads (www.goodreads.com/RonieK)
     Instagram (@kendigronie)
     Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/roniek/)!

Reviewers call Ronie's newest release, EMBERS, "Simply amazing!" 

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A Chat with The Writer Whisperer, BARBARA SCOTT

Okay, I'm biased. But one of my most valuable business relationships occurred when a little publisher I didn’t know much about hired a new senior editor for their fiction line. When Barbara Scott accepted the job at Abingdon Press, I had no idea how profoundly my own life would change (both personally AND professionally, as it turned out).

Finding an editor who really “gets you” is that beautiful lightning-in-a-bottle miracle that every writer hopes to land. Since she bought my first single title novel for the Christian market (The Big 5-OH!), Barbara has established herself as an editor (and agent, for about a year) who truly loves writers and feels that it is her special calling from God to nurture and guide them through a sometimes-treacherous, often-confusing journey. I can tell you from firsthand experience that she is successful in following her commission. So I thought perhaps Novel Rocket readers might also benefit from getting to know her.

Barbara Scott has more than 35 years’ experience in newspaper, magazine, and book publishing, including adult, youth, and children's fiction. She also co-authored two bestselling novels for Thomas Nelson—Sedona Storm and Secrets of the Gathering Darkness—as well as numerous gift books and ghostwritten pieces. Barbara was responsible for acquiring and launching a new bestselling YA fiction line at Zondervan Publishing before taking on the adult fiction line at Abingdon Press.

About the authors with whom she’s worked, Barbara says: “Sandie, discovering you was like finding the Hope diamond. You make me laugh, and you make me cry. Not every author has the ability to move me emotionally. Through the years, I’ve also worked with unique stand-out authors such as Melody Carlson, Brandilyn Collins, Nancy Rue, and dozens of others. I don’t think I steered their careers, but as their editor, I hope I contributed to the success of their projects.”

@BarbaraScott01: Avoid writing your first scene about a character staring out the window, thinking about his emotions or what he's about to do. #writing

When Barbara recently returned to work as a freelance editor, she really dug into her desire to mentor and guide authors. One manifestation of that desire came when she began tweeting little nuggets of advice. The response, she says, has been overwhelming.

@BarbaraScott01: Don't switch point of view in the same scene unless you want your reader's brain to short out from confusion. #writing

About the tweets, Barbara says: “I realized I had years of experience in writing, editing, and agenting and could help new and experienced authors learn more about their craft and the Christian book publishing industry in general. I’ve gotten into a rhythm and post five or six nuggets of knowledge every day of the week. I also include encouraging quotes or Scripture, usually for my 6 a.m. post. Writers seem to enjoy and look forward to learning in a shorter format. I’ve almost decided to give up my blog because I’m more effective with the format on Facebook. I also have a Twitter following because my Facebook page posts connect to that site. It’s been fun receiving comments and answering questions. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I’ll do research and find out the answer for my readers.”

@BarbaraScott01: Your main characters should be complex and four-dimensional (physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual). #writing

On the role she feels she is meant to play in the writing journey, Barbara says:

“My gift as an editor is to encourage authors and edit their manuscripts so their voices are strong and their prose sings. They should be able to accept all of my changes, read through their manuscripts, and not be able to tell what I’ve done. Edits should blend seamlessly into an author’s work.”

@BarbaraScott01:  Don't overplay your description. Use bits of action, dialogue, and the five senses to show a character's reaction to pressure. #writing

On her blog, Barbara states: “This becomes a two-way conversation when you post a comment. Often I jump back on the blog during the day and will answer your questions or respond to your comments. I have both published and unpublished authors who read this blog, and we’d love to hear from you so that we can learn from your experience. Let’s talk!”

If you’d like to keep up with Barbara, here’s how you can find her on the net:

Twitter: @BarbaraScott01

Facebook

Her Blog

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For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles and, while writing in every spare moment, worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. Since then she has published 17 novels, including the popular Another Emma Rae Creation series that started with Always the Baker, Never the Bride.

The final book in the Emma Rae series hits bookstores this spring with Always the Baker, FINALLY the Bride, now available for pre-order at Amazon.

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