Can I see a show of hands please? How many of you out there are writers waiting to be published? Quite a few, I see. If there is one thing that I have learned since I started blogging a little over a year ago it is that there are a lot of writers out there waiting or wanting to be published. I think that this both encourages and depresses me. It encourages me because it means that I “know” a lot of people who have a lot of talent and it is always good to know people who are talented and have possibilities. It also means that I am not alone in my quest to be a published author. It discourages me because it means I know a lot of people who have a lot of talent and they aren’t published yet for one reason or another so what makes me think I would have any chance of being published. That is the sort of self-defeating attitude that is one thing that keeps me from writing the great American novel. Or any novel.
When I was a little girl (stop me if I am repeating myself, because I have probably said it before on this blog and, you know, I am getting old and forgetful now), my Dad, after reading an essay that I wrote, said to me, “Shelli, you write so well. Someday, you will be a writer.” He always thought that I would grow up and be a journalist. Maybe I would have, but life happened instead.
When my Dad was sick and dying, I kept a website. I guess you could say it was my first blog but I don’t think that there really was such a thing as “blogs” back then. I kept the site to let family members keep up to date on what was going on. There was a guestbook and people would leave us encouraging messages and we would print them out and bring them up to Dad at the hospital and read them to him. As the cancer ate away his liver and it began to fail, he had increasing dementia because the toxins in his blood weren’t being filtered and they were being deposited on his brain. He would have moments of lucidity. In one of those moments, he said to me, “Shell, there is something about a website? Some sort of thing you put together? You are writing on it?” These questions were asked with difficulty and a lot of pauses in between. After I answered “yes” to all of them, he grabbed my hand and said, “That’s really nice. Good. Thank you.” It was all he knew of me ever being “an author”.
It was after he died that I was actually published. In a newspaper. Unfortunately he had to die in order for it to happen because it was his obituary that I wrote that was published. I was published again about 1 1/2 years after his death. It was for our area’s Relay for Life. They publish a literary magazine each year to sell at the relay and at businesses in the area to raise money for cancer research, education and support. The book is called Touched By Cancer and is a collection of short stories, poems and art work submitted by people and to inspire people whose lives have been in some way affected by cancer. You can read my published essay here.
I don’t want to let my Dad, or my Mom, for that matter, down. I don’t want those two things to be the only things that I have published. I know that my Dad would be proud of me anyway, but I think he would have wanted more from me. He would have at least wanted me to try. To try to get something substantial written. To try to get that work of substance published. How will I know if I can succeed if I don’t at least try? I am not getting younger. I need to get off my ass and get it done. Time’s a wasting!
It is the time of year for the Relay For Life events to be taking place. If you want to contribute or you want to walk go to the Relay For Life website and you can search for your local branch there. Or if you want, you can click on the link in my sidebar for Laurianne’s Hope.
It will happen sis, I know you will accomplish this. I have complete faith in you!
By the way, right now you are #2 at BlogMad.
How can you see a show of our hands? Do you have cameras in our houses?
I agree with Mr. Fabulous, you will write that novel. Even if you don’t get that novel published, you still have written many meaningful and important things. The tributes to your family and expressions of your feelings might not make you any money, but are every bit as important as any book.
oh shell
you’re a writer.
anyone who has read you, knows that.
maybe try a different avenue.
Kisses.
The Pup
If you write, you’re a writer. My writing is published every time I hit the “publish” button on my blog. Every author has to choose how to measure their own success and in that way I do consider myself a successful writer. By my own standards, you certainly are as well, and then some!
Write for yourself, no one else. Write because you want to, you have to. Don’t do it prove something to someone else. Those of us that love you are proud of you no matter what. xo
I agree with Uisce. You hit the publish button. You are a writer. And not only that, other people read it.
My Dad always tells me I am “such a good writer.” I don’t know if I ever will have a book, but I write. And thanks to blogging, I write almost every day.
:!: Oops! I forgot!
Thanks for the plug!!
I hope we can reach our goal.
We’re on the same page, here. As you know, I too, am trying to write a novel. I haven’t written in it for a couple of months, now. Getting the time to do so isn’t as easy as one might think. I have so many stories in my head, and they all want to be written down.
There’s a literary publication that the local college puts on every year called The Mirage. I think I will take some of my better articles I have written on my blog and submit them for possible publication. That would be so way cool.
There’s a mantra that I have that’s inspired by Dory from Finding Nemo. It goes like this: “Just keep writing, writing, writing. Just keep writing, writing, writing.” That’s really the only way to become a writer.
Hmmmm,,,,, I’ve never really been a writer Per-se…… never had a talent for it. Although, when you publish your first book I want an autographed copy, and I would like you to inscribe:
“To my dearest Dick, who made this all possible. You’re the greatest, and a true inspiration. This book would have never been completed without the love and support of friends like you.
Shelli”
If by published you mean writing books that are accepted by the major publishing houses, much of it is out of your hands and beyond your control. Even people who have already been published sometimes find themselves on the outside looking back in for various reasons, usually involving sales figures. If you have an idea for a book, just write it and worry about the publication part later. You’ll need an agent and that’s probably harder than finding a publisher.
It’s kind of funny. I have a certain flare for telling a good story. I heard once that a really good lie is 90% truth. Considering my retention of rediculous details, making up 10% is pretty easy. When I started blogging coming up on two years ago now, I felt like my writing talents were being wasted on On-line Forums. I figured that a few good blogs entries would get someone’s attention and that I’d get asked to write something to be published. Oh how nieve was I?
I have started two novels. The first one I didn’t think was very good. The second one I think was excellent. I let my wife read it, and she thought it was GREAT. I asked her for an honest opinion and she suggested that the world is not ready for this idea that I am throwing out there. I think she is correct. So I decided to hang onto that novel idea until later in my life, when I am more mature to handle the controversy that the idea is sure to stir.
In the past few months I have become friends with Schadeboy from Schadeblog and admire his desire to write a book. It has rekindled my own interest to write again. The boss at my second job is writing a book, and he is currently on a vacation in Russia doing research for his book. These things get me thinking, that even though the competition is rediculous, it might be worth a shot.
So yesterday I was reading a blog and a certain group of people were getting beat on, and I kept thinking, “How they totally misunderstand …It amazes me,” and then thought struck me how to start my next novel attempt. The ideas quickly flowed. I am keeping a notebook for my ideas and I will attempt to start the novel when I return from my vacation.
BlogMad hit! Write on, sis!
Don’t give up, you will get published when the time is right. Have faith
I read the tribute to your Dad, beautiful Shelli! Dont give up on your dream…..only you can fullfill it! God bless!
Happy Birthday to your brother. You are both so lucky to have one another.