So, I took my brave pills and jumped into a car with three other women, two whom I had never met.
I was at ground zero in my commitment to bring writing to the front burner of a stovetop that never cools. I was also looking forward to some time to myself that was void of cows, tractors, pooh or any other farmish qualities, just for a day or so.
Looking back over my notes, here’s the nutshell edition of my knowledge gathered.
1. I have a better chance of having my toilet seats in the down position than I do in ever hitting the big time in publishing. I will be published. I will not be denied, but, will my name be in the same sentence as Karen Kingsbury? It’s doubtful, yet I continue. I have four sons, one husband and six wigglies (grandkids) of the six four are male. Quite frequently the only thing in the down position is me, in the middle of the night when I was too tired to check before I sit.
2. You must no, oops! I mean know your grammar. Do I use lie or lay, affect or effect, their, there or they’re? Is it i before e except after c? Where in the heck do I put commas? I can talk myself into and out of a comma faster than a fat lady can down a doughnut.
3. I heard about POV for the first time. I thought it had something to do with PV piping we use on the farm. Perhaps it was a new version of the vinyl pipes that we hadn’t discovered yet. Nope. Point of view must be kept constant which is going to be hard for me, the random rambler that I am.
4. Don’t rush your work to be published. This is spoken to me, the rambler who has had toilet paper stuck to my shoe as I’m yanking my coat out of the locked door to my house. I am trying to slow down and be more deliberate. Miracles still happen.
5. Having someone critique your work is very important. You need some other eyes to look at your writing. Bingo! I’ve hit the jackpot. I live with Farmer, and he’s got the most critical eye of this generation. He will find a problem where there is no problem, which creates a problem, which fulfills his purpose.
6. Write what you know. I am constantly given material to blog about which will easily be translated into articles, stories and perhaps a book. A good example, I left home today to write. So far in the forty five minutes I’ve escaped them I’ve had three phone calls. I need to bring home eight gallons of canola oil. I need to please pick up hamburger buns and lettuce. If I do this son #3 promises to stay home – his home for dinner. The third call was to inform me there is a great Christmas gift waiting for me to buy at Costco, just in case I am interested.
7. Don’t judge a writer by their skin. I was amazed at all the different people and the genre they are writing. I thought more than once, “you don’t look like a children’s writer.” But then again, do I look like a rambling hanging by one nerve writer? I want to look like a best seller who has it all together and never has a mistake from her first proof. Editors are in line asking if they could have the honor to read anything, just a paragraph would do.
8. Lastly, I learned that now is the time. God put into me some things that he wants written. He has been prodding and poking and I’ve been caretaking and cuddling. I believe I need to move forward now or God will take what he gave me and give it to someone else who will take the time to share.
I am looking forward to joining the Faith Writers’ family. I know they will welcome me with open arms as they did at the conference. I hope they think of me as the crazy cousin that brings really good desserts.
