Success at Growing Seeds

It's that time of year again here in Virginia where I start my seeds for this year's harvest. When I first began growing vegetables from seed, I didn't realize that there is a certain art to growing seedlings. That without proper care and soil, they can get diseased and die off (called damping-off) before they even grow their second set of leaves. Sometimes the fungus can be contracted in the soil, especially if the soil is not sterile. I went to the store and purchased a fresh soil mixture just for seeds. I used jiffy pots made of peat moss. I made sure the containers I worked with were clean. And once the seeds sprout, I only water the seedlings in the AM so the top surface of the soil dries out, preventing the fungus from developing. The seedlings are also put under a plant light until the second set of leaves appear, then they are repotted into fresh soil and pots. All careful beginnings of what I hope to be a healthy bounty of fresh broccoli or head of bib lettuce around May.

What an interesting metaphor for our writing. As our projects begin, they are the mere seeds of an idea. But as seeds, they need good soil to grow, adequate light and warmth, tender care, and careful nursing to prevent disease from robbing them of their final fruit. Just jotting down words isn't enough. Just as sprinkling seeds in dry soil do little. The seeds of our writing also need light (God's anointing), good potting mixture ( good themes that readers can relate to and good writing that sells in an competitive market), water (getting your work into the right hands once its polished). All are necessary to seeing your book grow and land a contract to be read and enjoyed by many.

GUEST Bloggers coming up! I am pleased to announce that Lisa Harris will be joining me as my guest blogger for March along with some wonderful giveaways! If you have not subscribed yet to this blog, please do (see the upper right-hand column) so you don't miss out on these wonderful giveaways and guests with important messages for writers in all stages of their career. In the coming months Blissful Writing Thoughts will also feature such Christian authors as Vickie McDonough, Martha Rogers, Loree Lough, Laurie ALice Eakes, among others.

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Much to be Thankful For....

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful time of year to gather together with family and friends and give thanks to God for His abundant blessings. Even if the blessing at times have seemed few and far, there is always reason to give thanks, especially that God sent His Son Jesus so we might have fellowship with Him forever! I am also thankful for my family, the books He has enabled me to write, the journey along the Appalachian Trail He helped me attain, the many blessings of items here in the house and plenty of food. The list goes on. It's so easy at times to forget to be thankful, especially when trials and tribulations are mounting. But that is the best time TO give thanks to the One strong enough to carry our deepest and heaviest burdens. And to keep being thankful every day, no matter what happens. His love is forever.

Cornucopia of a Fiction Proposal

I was decorating for the fall season today and set up a display of cornucopia - the traditional horn of plenty overflowing with fruit and vegetables of the season. It got me thinking today about the fruit and veggies that I put into a fiction proposal to ready it for an agent or an editor.

So what do I put in this type of "horn of plenty?" For starters, it's important to have a good first line to grab an editor or agent's attention. The hook, if you will. I begin with a two or three sentence "hook" that describes my proposed book. Something that will catch their attention and make them want to read more. I then go into a short synopsis or blurb of the intended book. Writing a synopsis of any length takes practice. It is no easy task to condense a 300 page novel into a few paragraphs. But writing a succinct synopsis that shows the plot and theme of your book gives the editors and agents not only an idea as to the book's content, but shows off your skill as a writer. It makes for a good impression which is needed to lift your work above the others massing in an editor's computer Inbox.

I then will add in a listing of published and contracted books. Even if you don't have much to say, try to put in anything you have accomplished that is writing related. You can also add in if you maintain a blog and / or web site. When I first began, I was even adding the letters I had written to the editor of my local newspaper that were published. I then add in a short bio about myself and any other credentials that might prove helpful.

Next comes the chapter by chapter synopsis. Again, this can take quite a bit of effort to do and do well, especially if your book is not yet finished. But even with this, I have found that constructing a synopsis that includes three to four sentences describing the main action of the chapter, helps me write the book when the time comes. Again, succinctness is important.

Finally comes the all important three sample chapters. Make them shine. Whatever it takes. I heard from a few editors at the last conference that if the first chapter doesn't grab them, they won't even bother looking at the rest of the proposal. So make sure you are giving them a shiny red apple they cannot refuse. And make certain the rest of the chapters are equally as good. Check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Nothing turns off editors more than these simple mistakes.

It's beneficial as well to have others critique your proposal for any mistakes. Then once you have it ready, send it off with much prayer that God will open the door at the right time for your project. And surely the editor will enjoy feasting on your wonderful words.

Expanding Your Profile

Well, it's time to wander off the deep end into unknown territory. As most of you know, I have leaped from being a fiction author for over twelve years into the newest realm of non fiction writing. I certainly don't know everything, even after attending a writer's conference, but I am trying to get my feet wet.

I am pleased to share that an outdoor magazine just recently accepted a small piece of my work for inclusion in their September magazine. It was an incident that happened on our hike a few years back for their CLOSE CALLS section. Click here for the article and scroll down until you come to Mountaintop Madness. When this came out, I was able to add it to my biography list I was compiling for my main event - my big non fiction book on our hiking experience.

I am also entering a writer's contest of sorts - that is, I am writing an article for a possible book compilation by Dr. Gary Chapman on the extraordinary things people do for love. Again I am taking an incident from our time on the trail last year when my husband performed a miraculous feat so he could see my son and I. This type of writing helps me practice in the area of non fiction while giving me the opportunity to sell. All in the name of building my resume for the important book I desire to have published.

If you have the desire to write non fiction or fiction, begin by writing. Look for opportunities to practice your craft, especially in the smaller areas like magazines and book compilations. Even writing contests. Go to a writer's conference and learn the techniques. Get involved in critique groups and other writing organizations. And then get your work on the editor's desk as soon as it's ready.

The Winding Trail to Publishing...

The trail to publishing can be long, twisting, full of rocks, or smooth and leading to a perfect view. Such as this photo I took last year along my hike of the Appalachian Trail. For several months now I have been wondering what God has in store for my writing. Since my return from the trail, I really did not know what would happen. I worked hard at first to put out new ideas and proposals, hoping something would happen. But the weeks went by and nothing.

I then thought perhaps I should look for different employment since my son is now out of school, I had some time on my hands, and the writing part did not seem to be taking off. I applied for a part time library position. There was only one other candidate, I knew the head librarian, so I thought I had an excellent shot at it. When I arrived home from the interview that very day, in my e-mail was an acceptance for a Christmas novella. This project initially came along because my agent / author asked if I wanted to be on the team after their fourth author was unable to participate. Of course whenever opportunity comes knocking, I try to answer to the best of my ability. And I did, coming up with a storyline for the collection in a few days. Well, it was accepted and on the very day I interviewed for the other job.

The next week I was off to the Philly Writer's Conference which poured needed rain down on this dry walk in my writing. I felt energized by positive contacts with editors and authors. I felt renewed in my call to write. And so now I am back at the keyboard, working hard, looking for more open doors as well as writing a new novella.

As for the library position - the other candidate got the job.... :)