The Price of Creativity

Once Upon A Time there was a woman who discovered that she loved to write stories. It started out with one little story, then expanded so there were about three going on at the same time. It came to the point that the woman was typing for many hours a day, and when she was unable to sit at her keyboard, she became restless and irritable.

(Could also be because then she was forced to concentrate on her actual responsibilities: taking care of the house and everything/everyone in it)

One day, along came her beloved Prince Charming (her husband, in case you were wondering), who asked if he could read one of her stories.  (okay, okay. So the woman chased him around day and night, begging "Please, please read one of my stories!")

She was so happy. She gave him more and more to read. When he started asking questions about the story, she got excited, used his questions to improve her story, then started passing out her story to all her patient friends. Her friends obligingly opened the book, and to their surprise, enjoyed the story! They were somewhat surprised, in many cases, and encouraged the woman to write more.

So she did. She devoted hours, days, months, years to her new craft. It was a perfect life, spending her time with characters that she came to know intimately, like friends. She learned all she could about writing, she read, she tried new things - she worked hard.

Along the way, she learned that there are not only magazines who will print stories, but there are actual contests/competitions for writers. These contests sometimes even pay out cash prizes! Well, why not? She reads all the fine print, makes sure her manuscript is printed exactly how the organization wants it, writes up her entry fee cheque and sends it in.

And waits.

And hears nothing. But when she eventually goes on the contest's website, it has a neat little list of the top 3 or 4 stories. None of those stories are hers. Oh well, she thinks, and enters another one.

This goes on for awhile before the light goes on and she realizes that any money she might possibly win at these contests won't make up for the amount she's spent on entering them in the first place!

So with a sigh, she stops entering contests. She keeps on submitting to magazines, but no more Entry Fees - except for the one run by the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia. THAT one is great because for $25 they not only offer prizes, but they offer CRITIQUE OF AN ENTIRE NOVEL (or short story, poem or whatever). INPUT. FEEDBACK. You would think that would be the norm, right? But no. There are so many thousands of writers, just like our hypothetical friend here, that the readers can barely keep up, let alone send back a word or two.

She becomes a huge fan of online critique groups, like www.ReviewFuse.com, because they cost nothing, and they offer so much. In fact, she finds this website so absorbing that she dedicates far too much time to it, and has to step away occasionally, if only to get her head back on straight.

She also becomes an admirer of specific agents like Nathan Bransford http://blog.nathanbransford.com/ whose blog not only gives fantastic writing tips, but has spur-of-the-moment FREE contests which result in more fantastic writing tips, and commiserates with the life of a sensitive writer. She likes Nathan's style so much that she doesn't even mind that he rejected her manuscript. Instead of getting all angry/sensitive/defensive about it, she vows to create a work that he can't resist!

This is just a rant. This is not a complaint, per se, because a complaint suggests there's something that can be done about a problem (that's my definition, anyway). Competitions must have Entry Fees so that they can pay for Prizes and other things. Judges have no time to comment on submitted pieces of genius. And writers ... well, writers go on trying to balance the cheque book, deciding if they can scrape up the postage to send to this or that Literary Agent. (Thank goodness for email - thanks on SO many levels!) And then, from what I've heard, publishing (in most cases - think NOT Nora Roberts/Stephen King/James Patterson) doesn't usually pay well.

Somewhere along the line, the woman went from loving to write... to loving to write and wanting to share it with everyone she can find. She is learning to take money out of the equation and get back to what it's all about. And that's where she'll find her Happily Ever After. The End.

An Echo In The Bone - book review

Kidding.
I'm not telling you ANYthing.
...except that I'm loving it, as I knew I would.
...and that Jamie and Claire and Roger and Brianna are all in it
...and that once I'm finished reading it, I'm doing it again
...and that my hubby is kind of ticked off because I haven't waited to read it to him
...and that it was worth the wait, and every penny.

Go get yours. If you shop at Chapters it's 30% off now.

LOOK AT THAT COUNTDOWN!!! (right there, silly. On the right of this blog)

Having trouble typing ... breathe, Genevieve, breathe ... New genius work coming from Diana Gabaldon. If you have NOT read the Outlander series, you are missing a WORLD of greatness.

Dear ReviewFuse.com

I am writing to thank you for introducing me to the world of critique partners. Now that I've been in the "business" of writing for awhile, I wonder how many thousands of newbie writers started out as I did: writing to their heart's content, then staring at the pages and thinking "Am I crazy? What am I DOING with my time?"

It was with fear and trepidation that I submitted my first short story to you. And a great deal of suspicion. After all, what if my story was the next major work of literary fiction that the world had yet to enjoy? What if someone else thought "hmmm I like that. I think I'll make it mine."

But I was adrift, floating aimlessly over my keyboard, wondering if the hours/days/months/years spent here were really worth the time. So I double checked the spelling and punctuation, read it out loud and tweaked for the thousandth time ... clicked on "Upload Your Work", then, finger trembling, pressed "Extract text from my document."

*poof* There I was. "Published". Okay, not really. But I had taken the first step of leaving myself vulnerable, opening up my baby to criticism. Ready, set, go. Let's see what you have to say, world.

Except ... what? I have to do some work first? Hmm That would suggest that I neglected to read the "How To" section of your site. Not your fault. I'm famous for that. So ... I have to read other people's stories so they'll read mine? That sounds fair.

I click on the first one and am all of a sudden in a world of people like me, people who have taken a deep breath, felt that catch as they pressed "Upload", then dove into the pool of hopeful writers. Before long, I'm addicted to reviewing. I LOVE red ink! Who knew? Now I want to be an Editor! And you, ReviewFuse.com make it so easy - click on the tab, whether it be "Plot", "Dialog", "Setting" or whatever, give my thoughts (for whatever they're worth), mark them on a 1-10 scale, then Upload Review. The more time I seem to spend on a review, the higher the score. Now I want to beat my own score. This is cool!

Then Reviews on my own submission start coming in. They range from a 4 to a 9. How interesting that one person finds one item ridiculous, while another thinks the same item is brilliant. Every word the reviewer has typed has mattered to them, so it matters to me. Even if I don't take every bit of advice, I consider it and let it spark some creative internal arguments.

My writing has improved SO MUCH since I started submitting work on ReviewFuse.com. Now you have this contest, and if I blog about you, I can get Free Premium Access? Sweet. That means I will get more reviews, but won't have to do as many critiques - although I'm free to critique as many as I want.

If I were to suggest something to you, ReviewFuse.com, it would be to:
1) Email your writers occasionally if you haven't heard from us in awhile. Remind us that we've forgotten about you, because alas, I did for a few months. Now I'm back and realizing how much I was missing. You've added more contests, more lessons, more options since I left.

2) Is it possible to keep an Archives section (maybe you do, but I'm missing it - remember, I'm not a big "How To" reader)? I'd love to go back to some of my earlier reviews - the ones I've done and the ones I've received. I'm talking a year or so ago. At the time I didn't realize I could print them off.

3) And maybe ... just maybe ... for those of us who are competitively inclined, you might want to post the top 10 of every category every Friday. Maybe? Yes? No? I'd love to know. I'm getting higher and higher reviews these days and I'd love to know where I rate in the community.

I've invited lots of other writers to join you, and every one of them has thanked me. So now ... with my HUGE following (hahahahaha oh, my sides!), now you will be overwhelmed by new writers and submissions. I will also, because this is the kind of thorough person I am, Twitter this blog, thereby opening up (yet again) to thousands of strangers.

Thank you again for offering this option. Every time I've had a question, you have gotten back to me quickly and with a friendly attitude. You guys are great.

Sincerely,
WritingWildly
(Genevieve)  :)

Support your favourite (published!) author! They need you!

A few years ago, my imagination ignited by Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series, I went on a search for another similarly addictive series. There are many who have tried to emulate her style, but she has a gift, as well as an extremely impressive education, and I haven't found any other author who can replace her.

However, my goal was not to replace Diana. It was simply to find another author to entertain me while I waited for Diana's latest installment. My first stop is always the Library website. Libraries these days are as different from the old card-in-the-envelope style libraries as maps are to GPS systems. Look up a book and reserve it, they will email you when it's in. When you're done, the Library will recommend a similar book. So easy it's almost embarrassing not to use it.

That was where I discovered Sara Donati and her "Into The Wilderness" series. Not only did it look good, but Diana Gabaldon had actually been quoted on the cover.

It didn't take me long to fall in love with Sara's characters and stories. I read all five of the books twice, and am ready to start over again, in preparation for her sixth book in the series, called "The Endless Forest", which is coming out January 2010.

So ... I could go back to the library and request it.

But about a month ago, I got a note from another writer, which sent me to Sara's website (that's actually her pen name - her real name is Rosina Lippi). On it Sara/Rosina stated that because of the economic troubles ongoing in the world, she has stopped writing for the foreseeable future, and has returned to traditional employment.

Reality is reality, and I understand the need for actual income. And I understand that books are a luxury - and something that can be borrowed from libraries or friends. While both of those options are still a compliment to the writer, the fact remains that if an author cannot sell a book, she cannot eat.

I have cut back my spending to probably half of what we used to spend. I am, and will continue to be, a big fan of the Library.

But in January I'm going to buy "The Endless Forest". I need Sara/Rosina to get back to unpredictable paycheques so I can escape with her stories!

If you have a favourite author, consider buying one or more of their books if you can. Send them out as gifts, keep them in your bookshelves. Even show up at autograph signings with them, like I will be when Diana Gabaldon shows up in Halifax on Oct 13/09 with "Echo In The Bone". Because if they can't afford to write, what will we read?

GAMER - A Review

Gratuitous violence: Yes

Gratuitous sex and boobs?: Yes

Moral lesson?: Um, yes

Realistic Hero?: Yes. And a damn fine one to look at.

Good musical score?: I think so, yes. And who could have predicted I'd like Marilyn Manson?

I admit it. I went to GAMER because I'm a die-hard Gerard Butler fan. I wanted to see him flex and sweat and burn through the screen with those smoldering green eyes of his. I wanted to hear his Scottish brogue, too, but unfortunately he was Americano for this movie.

The theme is video games and our 21st century obsession with same. In GAMER, freakazoid overnight multi-billionaire game creator, Ken Castle, puts together two games. These games involve live human beings with computer receptors fed into their brains. The first game is "Society", in which people starved for income are paid to be controlled by those gamers who have bought the right to control them. The second game is "Slayers", in which death row inmates are set up to destroy each other in war games. The inmates are also controlled by gamers.

My pre-teen daughters create online characters daily on Webkinz and Pokemon and who-knows-what-else, mingling with other online characters. Kind of a soft, sweet version of GAMER's "Society" game.

In the other corner, my husband has tried to master "Tour of Duty", blasting WWII enemies, just like GAMER's "Slayers" game, except there's no pulse running through "Tour of Duty"'s graphic warriors. He failed in a serious way. Just can't shoot 'em up fast enough.

In both cases, the games suck the players in and take away any sentience about controlling or destroying another being. On GAMER, both viewers and manipulators see beyond the frequent blood spatters that hit the screen. They hardly notice the beheadings and severed limbs being swept aside by snowplows.

I got to see Gerry flex and sweat and flash those green eyes. But I also got to take home a few things to think about. How far away are we from a GAMER kind of world? When will someone figure out how to manipulate us?

Hey - wait. Isn't that already happening, with a little less gore, fewer bared breasts?

Big Brother's watching. And he wields a pretty big mouse.

True Love

How do I know my husband loves me?

Oh, there are so many ways. From the unexpected "thinking of you" phone calls, to the nights he says "let's just get pizza", to the ways he can look beyond my waistline, my husband makes me feel very loved.

Not all the time, mind you, but that would be unrealistic. I doubt very much that he feels like I'm gazing at him as if he was Prince Charming 100% of the time.

I have somewhat of an obsessive personality (which explains the shiny yellow stack of empty M&M peanut bags in the recycling bin and the plethora of Scottish Highlander novels that have painted our bookshelves an interesting mix of tartan). For the past few years, one of my foremost fascinations has been for Scottish actor Gerard Butler. I know every stupid bit of trivia about the poor man, I wrote a novel based on how I perceive his character to be in real life, I promote his films because I think the entire world needs to share my obsession, and I'm pretty positive that one day he will arrive in my small town, read my book, look in my eyes and beg me to leave my husband.

And my husband has said that he knows what would happen. That if Gerry were to show up, I'd probably head off to Scotland with him.

When I received a call this morning from hubby, I had a feeling it had something to do with paperwork and answered with a sense of foreboding.

And ... I was right in a way. It was paper.

It was a double pass to go to the premiere of Gerry's latest release, "Gamer". Oh my god. My husband is taking me not only on a rare date, but to a movie I've been boring him about for months, starring the unbelievable hunk god Gerard Butler, with whom he believes I will someday run away.

That's love.

And no, honey. I ain't goin' nowheres without you. Je t'aime. xo