One hot day last summer I went outside to our two hunting dogs.  They're getting old and the Kansas heat is really hard on them.  Unlike usual, however, they would not come when I called.  Upon investigation I found that they had a baby opossum pinned to the ground.  I thought they had killed it so I tried to pick it up by the tail, but it hissed and bared its teeth.  Naturally I dropped it. 

This gave my dogs the opportunity they needed and Maggie snatched it up in her teeth and took off, Sugar at her heels.  I couldn't let them hurt it, so I got a couple of broken branches, made Maggie "drop it" and covered the poor thing up.  Using a shorter stick I tried to pick him up, but he had a death grip on the grass and wouldn't let go.

In the mean time, I had one dog pinned between my knees and the other kept doing the dart and dive dance, trying to get the little guy.  Who knew I was so agile?

While I was trying to wrangle the dogs the little guy grabbed the small branch, so I held his little bottom up with the other branch, not that he had any intentions of letting go, and put him up on top of the wood pile.  He didn't take the opportunity to scurry away; instead he laid on top of the pile, small branch clutched in one paw, face down, playing opossum.  His mother taught him well.

The dogs were pacing in front of the logs contemplating their next move when I tempted them with the open back door.  Our spoiled hunting dogs decided air conditioning was much more interesting than a baby opossum.

There are lessons to be learned in nature.  Just like the baby opossum, we writers have to grab onto what we want and not let go.  We have to try not to let anyone know who scared we are and remember what our mothers taught us to survive. To survive in the writing business we have to be as tenacious as botht he opossum and the hunting dog.  Never let go and never give up.  There are times to run, times to hiss or bear our teeth, and times to wait and see what will happen next.

And like the spoiled hunting dogs, when it's time to cool off and give yourself a treat, do it.  (A Toffee Nut Latte with a new book is my favorite way.) You've found the prize, you've shown the master (or agent or editor) what you've done, and now it's time to rest.  But just for a moment, because the prey drive is strong and you need to get busy looking for the next big game.


BD

There is no shortage of information these days.  The problem is finding it and trusting that it is accurate.  Over the past few years I’ve put together quite a collection of links to web sites, writer organizations, magazines, and resources that have been valuable to me on my writing journey.

Let me first say, there is no better resource to the writer than the company of other writers.  Only a writer understands the struggle and joy that is involved in the craft.  Our friends and family may sympathize with our disappointments or help us celebrate our triumphs, but they don’t know what it takes for us to get there and to keep going.

There are several local and regional organizations that have helped me improve my writing skills, and brought me great friends.  KWA (Kansas Writers Association, http://www.kwawriters.com/ ), KAC (Kansas Authors Club, http://skyways.lib.ks.us/orgs/kac/ ) and OWFI (Oklahoma Writer Federation Inc., http://www.owfi.org/ ) are three of my favorites.  We also have active Romance, Children’s, and Mystery Writers groups locally as well.  I’ve also been a member of IWWG (International Women Writers Guild, http://www.iwwg.com/ ) and NAWW (National Assoc. of Women Writers, http://www.naww.org/ ) for several years.  All of these organizations have workshops, web sites with valuable information, and links to other writing resources.

I’ve subscribed to several very good publications and highly recommend By-Line (http://www.bylinemag.com/ ), The Writer (www.writermag.com ), Writers Digest (www.writersdigest.com/ ), and Poets & Writers (http://www.pw.org/ ).  Periodically I pick up a Writers Journal, too.  These publications provide timely articles on the craft, reviews with new and established authors, information about contests, conferences, publishing, editors and agents.  By-Line showcases new authors and poets, and publishes contest-winning work, and provides numerous publishing opportunities through monthly contests.  I generally alternate one or two subscriptions each year, so I don’t spend all my spare time reading instead of writing.  

If you are searching for markets, agents, and publishers I suggest you check out Writers Market (http://writersmarket.com).  The web version is kept more up to date, but the print version has great articles and interviews.  For the past year I’ve subscribed to Publishers Marketplace (http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/), which has timely information about the publishing industry, new deals (book, foreign rights, film), and job listings.

A good way to investigate writer conferences is Shaw Guides (http://www.shawguides.com/ ).  My first experience using this tool was a writer’s retreat in New Mexico which set my course as a writer.  Universities and writer organizations in the region sponsor some great workshops.  I’ve attended several sponsored by Newman University and WSU, as well as OWFI and KWA.  Check them out, save your pennies, and go to at least one per year.  I’m told that agents, editors, and publishers find most of their new authors at writer conferences these days, so invest in your future.  

A writers group is a great place to share ideas, critique, celebrate, and console.  KWA sponsors several groups that meet at different times to accommodate most schedules.  If there isn’t one that works for you, find like-minded writers who share your love for the craft or a genre and start your own.  You will see improvements in your writing as well as the added social benefit.  Writing may be a solitary endeavor, but we need “input” to stimulate our creativity.  Some of my best ideas have developed from an overheard conversation in a restaurant, a brainstorming session, a photograph, and free writing exercises.  You just never know where the muse will strike.

Some of the books that have guided me on my writing path include:  Bird by Bird (Anne Lamott), The Right to Write (Julia Cameron), On Writing (Stephen King), Writing Down the Bones (Natalie Goldberg), On Becoming a Novelist (John Gardner), The Writer’s Book of Hope (Ralph Keyes), and The Artists Way (Julia Cameron).  There are many more good books out there, but these were among my favorites, and have left a lasting impression.

I used to hear “write what you know” a lot when I first started out.  Frankly, I don’t know everything, so I believe you need to write what you feel and find out about those things you don’t know.  An insatiable curiosity provides good fodder to the writer, but I truly subscribe to this notion  - “When your heart speaks, take good notes” (Susan Borkin).

Much good luck to you all on your writing journey I hope these resources will help you along, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride.

BD

Happy New Year Everyone!

One of my writing buddies was cleaning off her bookshelves.  The books that she'd already read and shared with family and friends were being prepared for donation to her local library. 

We all know that our libraries (especially small town libraries) are poorly funded, and even if the books we donate don't make it to the shelves they are sold to eager readers and the money is used to stock library shelves.  A winning situation for everyone.

To generate some additional activity on her web site she included a book mark about her books and web address in each book donated.  What a clever idea!  The more we get the word out about our books, stories, and articles - the more readers will come to known and love our work.  And we can always use another bookmark.

I'd say kudo's for a wonderfully simple marketing idea.
Write on!

BD