Why do you write?

/ hemmiemartin / Leave a comment

As I sat in my garden, surrounded by the winter frost, I was overwhelmed by an ache to have my work read. It’s the strangest feeling within me, and no amount of rejections will stop the urge and craving.

Reflecting on these thoughts, I discovered that I have a relentless need to create stories of a dark, twisted world, embroiled in psychological fear and destruction – people’s ability to destroy another. I like to challenge my own fears with characters and plot lines – what I fear, others may too – leading hopefully to a good read.

Writing is important to me as it keeps me sane – unless the words aren’t flowing – and it enables me to express emotions and thoughts that would be otherwise locked away – and some of them should be, considering the genre I write in. The pleasure I get  from developing characters and plot lines is immeasurable. Writing is a chance to experience other worlds, and is a consensual world between author and reader, to enter a world we’re not part of, but are curious and intrigued about, even if all for the wrong reasons.

I don’t write to become famous or rich, I write because I need and want to. Of course money would be a delightful bonus, but I don’t dream of that lifestyle.

Writing gives me a sense of purpose, other than being a wife, mother and homemaker. When I was a forensic nurse, I defined myself by that role in the world outside of the home. A sense of achievement and purpose was fulfilled by that role.

Being published would give me that sense of achievement, although I imagine I would keep wanting more of the same – just like I did when I was first published in a professional capacity. I still have the traditional notion of seeing my novels in print, bound by arty covers, but I perhaps need to consider the world of ebooks.

If I didn’t ache so much, I could have given up long ago. However, I have so many stories ricocheting around my brain, the impulse to invent stories is immense.

So why do you write? Is it the potential fame, glory, sense of self-worth and value, or is it something else?

Happy Word Flow One & All

What I would say…

/ hemmiemartin / Leave a comment

If I had an agent and a publishing deal, I would like to be featured as a debut novelist in a writing magazine. The article would read something like this:

Remember that the struggle was there at the beginning and it can rear its ugly head at anytime. Not only does one have to learn the craft of writing well, one also has to learn to write a synopsis and a query or cover letter. It is something every writer has to deal with – so deal with it the best you can.

Low moods and positive thoughts: everyone has a down day – that’s called being human – accept the lows and move on. Be aware of your mind set and don’t punish yourself if you can’t see the good in anything you do – it will pass and the positive vibes will come swimming back.

Thinking time: don’t think that thinking time is a waste of time – it’s a time to reflect on the WIP to think of new twists and plots and to listen to what the characters are saying to you. Agatha Christie would get new ideas whilst washing the dishes – I do enough of that to have ideas for the next fifty novels!

Read: don’t always criticise your own work when reading that of others – embrace the difference and challenge your perceptions about style and format.

Believe in yourself: if you can’t, why should anyone else – but don’t sound cocky – no one likes a bulbous head.

Perseverance: don’t let rejections bring your writing crashing to a halt. To embrace the concept of being a writer, one has to embrace the rejections. If you feel your plot line is off beam, study your mind map or take some thinking time to consider the options. Don’t give up a WIP if you feel stuck, work through it – embrace the challenge.

One day I hope to become a published novelist. I would always remember these days and I would hope to inspire and encourage other hopefuls. I am aware that all the above points would still be relevant even if published, but it doesn’t stop me desiring to write write write.

Welcome Rob, thanks for the follow.

Happy Word Flow One & All

How to cope with those moments of self-doubt.

/ hemmiemartin / 6 Comments

Let’s be honest, we are all plagued with moments of self-doubt and despair in our ability to become a published author; or in our ability to create the perfect writing to hook an agent or publisher. I understand that even agented and published authors continue to suffer such afflictions, hence I know I’ve chosen a path that will be littered with a plethora of self-destructive potholes.

When I am struck by the negativity beast, I have a few options that invariably help to ease the emotional pain. It goes without saying that chocolate should be added to each option – ranging from the milk variety to the decadent (and so when most needed) Green & Black and Lindt a touch of sea salt (serious stuff indeed).

1) I read uplifting and inspirational tweets, blogs or articles written by people such as @Fictionnotes, @jammer0501, @Clipso1, @johannaharness and @dirtywhitecandy – to name but a few people on Twitter that I follow – I also  follow many other fabulous people, too many to mention, so please don’t be offended if you aren’t personally mentioned – I appreciate you too.

2) I read a novel in my chosen genre which will either re-light my fire (thank you Take That) or, more detrimentally , will make me believe that my writing is so dire, no wonder I’m unagented.

3) Listen to some music through headphones so that I’m totally absorbed by the notes. I will play anything from classical to rock )Bach and Green Day feature heavily on my ipod).

4) Tweet a fellow writer, or the writing arena en general – i do like #amwriting, again on Twitter – as the collective will understand what I’m experiencing and will send words of comfort and encouragement.

5) Cook a sumptuous meal for my family (thank you Nigella).

6) Sometimes I find that a Moscow Mule helps the juices to flow, or at least partially numb my senses to the awareness of my lack of self-worth. However, this isn’t an option for early morning writer blues.

7) If all else fails, I put the demon thoughts to one side with my WIP and decide to leave any writing for the following day. Personally, I tend to wake up feeling positive and invigorated, and so I will find myself in the right frame of mind to allow the words to flow freely.

I know I’m not alone in experiencing such crushing writer lows – so come on folks – tell me what you do so I can add them to my list, so that the next time (oh yes, there will be a next time)  I will have other options to soothe my emotions.

Happy Word Flow One & All

After how many rejections do you give up?

/ hemmiemartin / Leave a comment

Before you worry, this isn’t a maudlin piece about feelings of failure and hopelessness, no, it’s more to do with understanding the process and reflecting on my lack of insight and knowledge when I first began flirting with the writing scene.

When I wrote my first novel, I sent it off to 4 agents and received 4 rejections – and there I stopped. I lost faith in the book and my writing, so I began a second novel. I eventually sent that one off to 4 agents and again, I received 4 rejections – although there was a little more interest after my query letter.
 I then decided to write in the genre that I love to read which made the process of writing even more intoxicating.

When I googled ‘how many rejections’ I was astonished to see that the number ranged from 40 to 85, with 65 being the average – therefore, i hadn’t even scratched the surface.

Kathryn Stockett spent 5yrs trying to get an agent for her debut novel ‘The Help’, and she accumulated 60 rejections. Finally she got an agent for her novel, which then spent 30 weeks on the New York Times’ best-seller list. he could have given up so easily – so her story is inspirational and a reminder not to be defeated too quickly.

On reflection, my first 2 novels weren’t all that good –  I didn’t execute the telling of the story as well as I do currently. I realise that with every novel I write and with every article, blog, book and novel that I read, my understanding of the art of writing is developing and maturing – like the proverbial fine wine.

The psychological thriller – Attic of the Mind – that I am currently seeking an agent for, is by far the best I have written so far. That being said, I am still learning all the time and trying to refine my work, as I don’t believe that one can ever know it all.

Hence, with Attic of the Mind, I’m not going to lose the faith after 4 rejections, I’m going to keep going as as quote I read on Twitter – ‘A published author is a persistent author’ – keeps popping into my head.

I would love to know what you feel about this topic – do you give up too soon or are you a persistent author?

Happy Word Flow One & All and welcome to the new followers – I appreciate the support.

Do you say you are a writer?

/ hemmiemartin / 4 Comments

We had friends over for a meal this weekend, and a little voice in me wanted to tell them that I’m writing my fourth novel, but a louder voice clamped down on that thought.
All my friends are aware of my professional publications, although they are barely interested as we all work in different fields.

The reason I don’t tell people is that I haven’t got an agent and so my chances of publication are pretty slim. As I periodically send out queries, I don’t want people continually asking me if I’ve been successful; it would heighten my feelings of failure that plague me periodically.

This reminds me of the latter stages of pregnancy, when well meaning people would phone up to ask me if I’d had the baby, which after a while became tiresome in itself, never mind carrying another person inside me.

One of the several reasons why I love Twitter is that I can speak freely about my writing as I don’t know anyone in real life. A teenage friend of my daughter is on Twitter, but as I’m in the wrong age bracket, I’m not famous and I’m not in a girl/boy band, I’m of no interest to her thankfully.

I’m so passionate about writing, and I feel the need to write and read about writing on a daily basis, that it saddens me that I have to keep it a secret. I long to scream, ‘I’m a writer,’ but until I achieve the next step, I have to whisper it to myself.

What do you do? Are you open about it? Do you tell a select few? I’d love to know to see whether I should have a different view point.

Welcome to Shannon and thanks for following me.

Happy Word Flow One & All

Remember your authentic emotions

/ hemmiemartin / 1 Comment

Whilst writing query letters, I became aware of the fine line between sounding positive and shouting “read me” without holding a metaphorical gun – to sounding conceited and suffering from an over-inflated ego.

i naturally have a quirky, but quiet personality, and I often use humour in conversation -sometimes unintentionally -hence I want to use it when I write. However, all the articles I have read about queries say that one is to sound professional, so I nudge humour out of the way.

I have read so many ways to write a query letter – ranging from keeping it short and succinct, to adding a paragraph about the novel, even if that is repeated in the synopsis – don’t forget, some agents don’t ask for a synopsis straight off so you need to give them a taste of what the story is about.
So, the latest query  i sent off I wrote straight from my mind, rather than planning it first.
MADNESS – I hear you cry –  but hey, I thought it was worth a shot – it will either succeed or I’ll be shot down in flames.

I am also aware of the vital need for positivity  in the aspiring author – to believe that one day the nurtured novel will be displayed on the shelves in book shops.
I would be lying if I said that I felt like this all of the time – that or I would be on a shed load of anti-depressants to give me the artificial high.
No – of course I have moments of doubt and despair – but it’s precisely at those times that I like to write dark scenes ad to manipulate twists in the story to hopefully blow the readers’ mind.

I hope that I have found my own voice for my queries, rather than a tutored patter that screams “restricted emotions” –  always remember your authentic emotions – they go someway to define who you are.

Happy Word Flow One & All