xxxThe following writer has been kind enough
to share her story with us.
xxxIf you would like
to contribute your story and photo to me, email them to:
xxxrob@easywaytowrite.com
xxxThank you.
xxxMiss Mae
Every
author has a different route taken to publication. I didn’t
know much about who/what/when/where before I entered
cyberspace. That was over three years ago. Through a
mutual online friend, he directed me to a site that gave
away free stationery. Once there, I saw they had a forum.
One morning I saw one of the posters claimed to be an
author. I went and checked out her site, so then I sent
her a message and told her I hoped to become a writer.
She graciously agreed to read something of mine. I
realize now that what I sent wasn’t good by any
stretch of the imagination, but she offered to set up a
small, personal critique group.
And I kept searching the Net. I discovered a writer’s
group not too far from my home. One of these people also
runs an editing service. I learned great tips on ‘showing
versus telling’ and how to use active verbs, etc.
Also, she directed anyone who was interested to a site
offering a free writing class. Through one of the lessons
meant to write about the five senses came my first few
paragraphs of the opening chapter of “See No Evil,
My Pretty Lady”. When one of the other students
commented, “Oh, my mind is reeling with questions.
Has the main character committed the murder? Who is the
man in the fog? Is it Jack the Ripper?”, I got to
wondering IF a possible plot and storyline could be
developed.
While also taking this writing course (put out by Writers
Village University http://www.wvu.org/moodle) , I saw someone showcasing the
romance book she’d written. I emailed her and asked
of her experience with the publisher. She gave high
praise, so then I went to their site, looked over their
submission guidelines, held my breath and submitted.
I’d also like to add that during the time while I
took the course at WVU, I sold several non-fiction
articles. That was a wonderful feeling, especially to get
the check in my hand!
Also, I subscribed to just about every free writers
ezines I could find, frequented writers forums,
corresponded with those who write in the same genre,
bought magazine subscriptions to Writer’s Digest,
read and wrote, and read and wrote some more.
I think figuring out exactly what it is you write and
then gearing your work toward that audience is a big
plus. If you write fiction, finding a good, reliable
critique partner is a must have, preferably with someone
who is already published because they have a bit of
experience to know the “ropes” of what editors
look for.
One day I’d love to be paid a fat royalty from a
famous New York publishing house and have multi-movie
deals in the wings, and be as well-known as Ernest
Hemingway. Big dreams? Yep, but the fact that I’ve
now gotten three manuscripts sold tells me that dreams
come true (with the help of Almighty God leading me in
the right direction). And hey, a woman at my town’s
supermarket recognized me from a brochure I’d left
in a vet’s office! So recognition might start from a
small seed, but so does a towering oak tree.
“See No Evil, My Pretty Lady” available now in
ebook form from The Wild Rose Press.
“Said the Spider to the Fly” available Feb. 4,
2009 from The Wild Rose Press.
“It’s Elementary, My Dear Winifred”
available April 2009 from Class Act Books.
