Are you ready for a Writing Career??

I AM A WRITER.

Some people have written their entire lives, I only started writing in 2001.  Oh, I would write sporadically in my younger days, but I took almost 20+ years off before I started writing again (horses, ya know).  And no, I'm definitely not one of those overachiever writers who claimed they were born with a pencil in their tiny fist. 

I started writing romance and it took me until 2007 to realize that I suck at romance writing.  I LOVE to read romances, but I'm simply not able to delve (2nd time in two blogs that I've used this word.  Must be my 'word of the week' word) into the emotional psyche of the hero and heroine.  I like external motivation.  Now, this isn't to say that my writing lacks internal motivation for the character.  It's there, just not the conflict between the hero and heroine. 

So were all those years of writing wasted when I switched to writing middle grade?

NO.  I learned writing craft.  And if I have to say so myself--I'm a damn slow learner! 

With every book a writer writes, their ability to craft word pictures improves. 

I have to say that I was just as impatient as the next writer to see my name on the cover of a book.  I queried books that weren't ready--and probably never would be ready for prime time.  I didn't believe in 'practice' books. (Yes, y'all can laugh at me now, AND I'll even join you as I snicker over my naivete)  I had to write many books and receive HUNDREDS of rejections before I realized I wasn't ready to publish.  

I believe I'm ready now, BUT I can wait. :-) I've become patience personified.

WHY?

Because this is my CAREER.  Getting my name on a book isn't good enough any longer. 
--I've always wanted to suck a reader into my make-believe world. 
--I want the reader to have a fun/scary/sad adventure. 
--I want the reader to LIVE the story through my characters. 
--I want my readers to fall asleep dreaming of Kyte (my 11-year old heroine), or Piper (the hot pink faerie), Rory Leafhopper (gnome extraordinaire) or Taffy and Toffee (the Sugar Plum Fairy's brownie helpers), or Zinzara (the dragon). 
--I want it ALL.

So many writers are so anxious to get published, they sign the first contract they see (Granted, if I EVER got a contract, I'd probably be the same way--but as I haven't been offered one, then it's a moot point, isn't it?) without thinking about the big picture of their career.  

Would signing a contract for a small erotic e-publisher help your career if you have no intention of writing erotic stories?  Maybe, but it could also stop your budding career like a hard freeze, nipping it off at the bud.  

Something to think about. 

A couple of years ago on one of the RWA loops, writers started using the the term 'pre-published'.  I HATE that term.  It's right up there with 'paying your dues'.  I worked night shift (11-7) in a hospital for NINE years 'paying my dues' when some other yahoo would immediately get on days. Or, how about, "dieting is a 'lifestyle change'".

THOSE TERMS SERIOUSLY BITE!

Pre-pubbed sounds like a little kid trying to walk in her mother's high heels.  It's immature and unprofessional.  Grow up and decide how you visualize your career.  A career isn't one book with your name on it.  A career is long term and using the term pre-pubbed denigrates your career.

HI!  I'M MARGARET AND I'M A WRITER . . . albeit a non-contracted one.

Peace out!