One of my favorite places, not that I've visited as many as I would like, is Spring Lake, New Jersey. It is the quintessential village by the sea, complete with gorgeous Victorian mansions. My paternal grandmother lived there when my oldest brother was a boy, but I never had the pleasure. I rediscovered it in college and go there whenever I can. It doesn't matter what the season is. They are all beautiful. I would live there in a heartbeat, but unfortunately the family income could not even purchase a shed in the town. Even the modest of homes comes with a price tag in the eight hundred thousands. My sons often tell me that when they get their NHL contracts, they will buy me a house there. I always smile and tell them to make sure it has a wrap-around porch.
When I sat down to write my first mystery ages ago, there was only one place it could be, Spring Lake. Mystery writer Mary Higgins Clark, who has a home there, and her daughter Carol have both written books set there. I was a little miffed when I first saw that, but then I had to admit I am not the only writer who has been inspired by the breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and the endless possibility of plot lines from the age-old homes. Just the sea alone inspires untold tales of the unknown.
This past Saturday as I participated in my first official Spring Lake Five Mile Run, I could not help but marvel at the amazing job the town's organizers had done. Every detail was picture perfect just like the scenery. It was no wonder that the race has been named one of the ten best by Runner's Magazine and has grown in leaps and bounds since it first started thirty-five years ago. As I made my way through the throng of over ten thousand runners, one thought, besides finishing in the top five thousand which was my goal, kept popping into my head. This race would make a really good mystery.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Rejection
A couple of months ago my oldest son tried out for his travel hockey team. He's been playing travel for the past three seasons. This one threw him a curve he wasn't expecting. Instead of making the"A" team that he wanted to, he made the "B" team. B is for better! Well, he wasn't buying it, especially since his buddy made the first team without him. Life lesson? Of course, but not necessarily one that he needed to learn a few weeks shy of his eleventh birthday.
As a parent, you want to shield you child and protect him from life disappointments, especially rejection.
My words of inspiration, "Work harder, have an awesome season and show that coach he made a huge mistake by not picking you!" Still not sure if he took those words to heart though I suppose time will tell.
Rejection is a part of life I told him, every facet, and you can't give up when you hit an obstacle. These words would come back to haunt me recently after a story that I worked long and hard on was passed over. I was lamenting to my husband about this when my son reminded me of what I had told him after try-outs. At least he was listening and I should have been as well.
Writing is a personal journey. In a way a novel or a story is a piece of yourself and it takes a great deal of courage to put it out there for people to read. However, when you do that, you need to prepare yourself for the inevitable criticism and rejection that comes along with it. In a way, I suppose it is like trying out for a team. You put your heart and soul into it and then someone tells you that it wasn't good enough. It's hard to take unless you put it in perspective.
About two years ago, I put away my pen, paper, and imagination. I'd grown tired of the rejection. Not sure where exactly along the road I had become a quitter. An uneasy feeling plagued me during that time and it took me awhile to realize what that was. Writing isn't just a career that I would like to have. It is a passion and one which is a vital part of my life. Maybe I will never have that thing you do moment of seeing my book on a store shelf or maybe I will. One thing I do know is that I will listen to the words I told my son as I dried his tears. They work whether you're shooting a puck or submitting a story.
As a parent, you want to shield you child and protect him from life disappointments, especially rejection.
My words of inspiration, "Work harder, have an awesome season and show that coach he made a huge mistake by not picking you!" Still not sure if he took those words to heart though I suppose time will tell.
Rejection is a part of life I told him, every facet, and you can't give up when you hit an obstacle. These words would come back to haunt me recently after a story that I worked long and hard on was passed over. I was lamenting to my husband about this when my son reminded me of what I had told him after try-outs. At least he was listening and I should have been as well.
Writing is a personal journey. In a way a novel or a story is a piece of yourself and it takes a great deal of courage to put it out there for people to read. However, when you do that, you need to prepare yourself for the inevitable criticism and rejection that comes along with it. In a way, I suppose it is like trying out for a team. You put your heart and soul into it and then someone tells you that it wasn't good enough. It's hard to take unless you put it in perspective.
About two years ago, I put away my pen, paper, and imagination. I'd grown tired of the rejection. Not sure where exactly along the road I had become a quitter. An uneasy feeling plagued me during that time and it took me awhile to realize what that was. Writing isn't just a career that I would like to have. It is a passion and one which is a vital part of my life. Maybe I will never have that thing you do moment of seeing my book on a store shelf or maybe I will. One thing I do know is that I will listen to the words I told my son as I dried his tears. They work whether you're shooting a puck or submitting a story.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Experience Necessary
When I graduated from college way back when eager for a teaching job, I continually ran into the age old problem-no experience. In order to get some, I took an incredibly low-paying job without insurance teaching pre-school only to find out when I was interviewing at public schools that that wasn't considered experience. You can't win. Where exactly can you get the experience if there isn't anyone out there who is willing to give you an opportunity.
Now eventually I was able to find the Superintendent who was willing to give me a chance. Never mind that it wasn't the most desirable area in the world and they were in the middle of a nasty strike, but it was an opportunity and I jumped at the chance even if the salary was small. At least I had health insurance and a job. Here I am years later with a boat load of experience as an educator, but none as a writer. So what is an inexperienced, hard-working, creative writer to do? I'll let you know when I find out.
Now eventually I was able to find the Superintendent who was willing to give me a chance. Never mind that it wasn't the most desirable area in the world and they were in the middle of a nasty strike, but it was an opportunity and I jumped at the chance even if the salary was small. At least I had health insurance and a job. Here I am years later with a boat load of experience as an educator, but none as a writer. So what is an inexperienced, hard-working, creative writer to do? I'll let you know when I find out.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
How Tech Savy Do I Need to Be?
I confess to being an old-fashioned girl. I definitely enjoy the simpler things in life. Yes, I actually run without headphones. The sound of the birds in the morning is refreshing and it also allows me to hear the newspaper delivery cars who seem to think the the rules of the road do not apply to them. If time permitted me, I would probably hand-write my stories first. Recently, my husband chastised me again for being unable to text and for not seeing the difference in the HD channels on the television. I admit it. Technology makes me nervous and I find it more than a little bit overwhelming.
However, as I look to move my fledgling writing career forward, I have to ask is it holding me back? After reviewing some blogger ads to which I am woefully unqualified for, thanks to not being able to describe myself as tech savy, I have to answer, yes.
So what is a simple girl to do? How does one become a technology dynamo? Well, for starters, I could learn how to text. It would make the husband happy even if he doesn't have the patience to teach me. The last time led to a big fight. After that I'm not sure. Is there an app available to the tech savy wannabe?
However, as I look to move my fledgling writing career forward, I have to ask is it holding me back? After reviewing some blogger ads to which I am woefully unqualified for, thanks to not being able to describe myself as tech savy, I have to answer, yes.
So what is a simple girl to do? How does one become a technology dynamo? Well, for starters, I could learn how to text. It would make the husband happy even if he doesn't have the patience to teach me. The last time led to a big fight. After that I'm not sure. Is there an app available to the tech savy wannabe?
Thursday, May 3, 2012
To Write or not to Write, That is the Question
When I first started college, I was an enthusiastic journalism student. I was so excited to take my first reporting class only to be taken down by a professor who took me aside half way through the semester and asked me if I was sure that being a journalist is what I really wanted to do. He told me that he didn't have any doubt that I could write, it was my shy demeanor which was a red flag. At the time, his words were a rude awakening, but after some soul searcher, I could hardly miss his point.
On the second day of class when the assignment was to go out and find a story and turn it in before the final bell, I was ready to hyperventilate. I didn't have a problem coming up with an idea. It was the talking part that was the problem. What did I do? I partnered up with a chatty classmate. She did the talking and I did the writing. Perfect partnership.
His words rang true and deep down I knew it which is why I switched to English and eventually found myself in the education program. A few years of teaching in a needs district would help me overcome the hurdle of shyness and all the while I kept writing. First children's stories since that was the area where I was working and finally into my first love, mysteries.
When I told my husband I wanted to write a novel, he smiled and said stick to what you know. So my first character became a second grade teacher who solved mysteries on her free time to the complete embarrassment of her husband who happened to be an assistant District Attorney(my hubby is a lawyer). After two novels and a couple of short stories, I moved on to a sentimental favorite, Russell Waverly. Russell was inspired by my oldest son's love for garbage trucks. He was four at the time. Russell's high school sweetheart had gotten pregnant before college forcing him to forgo the scholarship for a job with the Department of Public Works. The love of his love would die in childbirth, leaving him to raise his son with the help of family and friends. In his spare time, Russell solves a mystery or two. I love SECRETS, LIES, AND TRASH and hope to find a publisher for it as well as its Cape May sequel, WAVES OF DECEIT.
My newest character is probably nearest and dearest to my heart, Rainer Donovan. The girl I would have liked to be back in the day if I wasn't so shy. I just finished my first short story with her at the helm, HOLMES AND HANDCUFFS for First Line Magazine. I hope they like it as much as I do and publish it.
If not, I'll keep plugging because that is what writers do. We write, even if it's just to an audience of one.
On the second day of class when the assignment was to go out and find a story and turn it in before the final bell, I was ready to hyperventilate. I didn't have a problem coming up with an idea. It was the talking part that was the problem. What did I do? I partnered up with a chatty classmate. She did the talking and I did the writing. Perfect partnership.
His words rang true and deep down I knew it which is why I switched to English and eventually found myself in the education program. A few years of teaching in a needs district would help me overcome the hurdle of shyness and all the while I kept writing. First children's stories since that was the area where I was working and finally into my first love, mysteries.
When I told my husband I wanted to write a novel, he smiled and said stick to what you know. So my first character became a second grade teacher who solved mysteries on her free time to the complete embarrassment of her husband who happened to be an assistant District Attorney(my hubby is a lawyer). After two novels and a couple of short stories, I moved on to a sentimental favorite, Russell Waverly. Russell was inspired by my oldest son's love for garbage trucks. He was four at the time. Russell's high school sweetheart had gotten pregnant before college forcing him to forgo the scholarship for a job with the Department of Public Works. The love of his love would die in childbirth, leaving him to raise his son with the help of family and friends. In his spare time, Russell solves a mystery or two. I love SECRETS, LIES, AND TRASH and hope to find a publisher for it as well as its Cape May sequel, WAVES OF DECEIT.
My newest character is probably nearest and dearest to my heart, Rainer Donovan. The girl I would have liked to be back in the day if I wasn't so shy. I just finished my first short story with her at the helm, HOLMES AND HANDCUFFS for First Line Magazine. I hope they like it as much as I do and publish it.
If not, I'll keep plugging because that is what writers do. We write, even if it's just to an audience of one.
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