Successful Failures

If success is really achieved through a series of failures then I'm on my way to succeeding as a writer. I received my first rejection letter today!?!?!?!?!?! I entered a short story in a contest for Highlights. I can't say I'm surprised I didn't win. In fact, I was somewhat excited when I saw the letter. I already knew I hadn't won because I saw the list of winners on their web page. So I knew opening the letter that it would be a "Dear Author..." letter. The letter is a reminder that I have made progress in the two years that I've been doing creative writing even though I haven't written as much as I would like to lately.

I have been thinking a lot about Charlie even if my pen has been away from the paper for a few weeks. I feel like I need to get a few more key elements figured out before I can put my fingers to the keyboard and start putting the ideas in my head into prose. This brings me to a question that I have and would really appreciate feedback.

What elements do you find important and enjoy in a good mystery?

Charlie's story is a Young Adult mystery with twists, turns, surpises, secrets, and suspicions. However, it's still missing some major development areas that I feel are necessary for all good mysteries but I can't quite wrap my head around it. I'm going to take some time to read some good mysteries and take notes on writing techniques, plot development, character development, point of view, etc. I hope this sheds some light on my minor writer's block. I'll also continue utilizing my storyboard.

I redeveloped my storyboard into a timeline which helped me see some areas that need work and areas that need scenes I've yet to imagine. This point in plot development has in the past caused me to quit and move onto the next project. I'm not prepared to put Charlie aside, but I definitely feel that there is slack in my writing and several holes in the plot. I'm really glad that I've been patient with Charlie and have avoided any premature writing because I would be working on something new if I had even put down the first page of her story.

If I can see a rejection letter as success, I'm hoping that I can find a way to use this slow writing time to my advantage. I'll keep writing and working with Charlie. What is there to lose? If I don't keep writing then I've failed before really trying and frankly I don't have a personality that can accept that reality.

Keep Writing!

Potholes

I apologize for not posting last week, but I was rather distracted. I had a story within me that I had to get out. Not Charlie's story, but a short story dedicated to my mother and sisters. It was a week and a half before Mother's Day and I found myself wandering the Hallmark store for the perfect words to tell the wonderful mothers in my life how much they mean to me. Then it hit me. No commercial words could express what I wanted to say. So I set out to write something especially for them.


I sat alone on one of the white picket benches that surround the cascading waterfall in the center of the IDS Center's Crystal Court. The bench I chose was close enough to the fountain that every once and awhile I felt the light spray of the water. The light was shining perfectly through the prism of glass that makes up the ceiling. Needless to say, it was the perfect spot for me to dig deep within my thoughts for the right words to begin the short story.


The story that poured from my pen was that of Eve and how she inherited the blessing of motherhood and passed it down to her daughters. I don't expect many to understand the story or appreciate it for its content, but I poured my heart into each word as I watched the water crash upon the concrete fountain.


Throughout the week I continued the story though the craft of water colors. I laid out paper and sat for hours doodling upon the pages. Many images were ruined or incoherent, but there were several that pleased me enough to be set along side the words of my story to make a small book. In the end, it was a work full of heart and said everything I wished to convey without actually saying the words.

Unfortunately, all my writing time was spent creating this gift. I didn't even look at Charlie's story once in the last 10 days. I know this is not going to be the only time my goals take a backseat to other events of life. The summer has not even begun and I feel as though every minute is planned. I'm sure this is a feeling that many are starting to experience. Life can finally be lived now that the overly long winter has ended and everyone is emerging from their homes. But what of the lives we lived before camping, Wednesday night leagues, barbecues, ball games, etc?

I love all the events that bring people together throughout the year and I adore my friends and family. However, how do I balance work, writing and a social life especially during the summer months?


Although I didn't get any work done on my novel, I do feel like I exercised my craft and challenged the right side of my brain by experimenting with other creative mediums. Now I just need to get focused again on Charlie and move forward.

This week I will get back on schedule. My main goal is to redesign my storyboard so that it looks like a timeline of events. I also would like to go for an artist date this week. I'm not sure what I will do or where I'll go, but I need to continue to seek out inspiration like that I got from the fountain at the IDS Center.

I hope that you are able to discover clever ways to manage your time and if you do, please share them with me. Keep writing!