I think I've got it. So Lexi, the MC in my YA, has been languishing in jail for something like six weeks while I revised my MG and figured out what comes next in the YA. Then last night, I was doing something totally random when all of a sudden the movie started playing in my head and I saw just how she was going to get out and why. And it was pretty good too. The best part is that I actually remembered all of it so that it wasn't lost to the ether like other good ideas.
So, the next time you see me staring off into space, it's not that I'm just staring off into space - I'm writing. In my head.
On this date: In 1969 the Stonewall Riot in New York City began.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Selling Ourselves Short
Why do writers tend to sell themselves short? Mechanics, lawyers, doctors and plumbers all get paid a tidy hourly sum to perform their craft. Writers, on the other hand, tend to get paid a pittance for what we do and personally it's starting to get annoying. The biggest obstacle seems to be ourselves.
I freelance by writing blog articles through a writer's website. This site is great because they let you set your own prices for your work and the buyers can choose which rights to buy for the articles. I tend to calculate how long it is taking me to research and write say, a 500 word article and price it accordingly. Many writers on the site price their articles really low, say $5 to $10 for an article of the same length, making it hard to sell things for what they are actually worth. It drives me crazy to look at the recent article sales and see $4, $6 or $10 repeatedly. I refuse to lower my prices because that would mean lowering my standards and I charge what my work is worth. I know of other writer's websites where the prices are regularly under $10 per article, and the quality of the work reflects that fact.
Very few writers actually make a living doing what they do best. A kidlit writer only clears a few thousand dollars for a picture book, a few times that for an average young adult novel. Considering that you can only crank out one or two longer books per year, you'd better have a backup plan. Many writers make money by doing lectures and school visits, but again, some writers will do these for free, making it difficult for others to add to their income.
Sure, some people hit it big and are able to do nothing but write, but most of us have to look elsewhere for our income. It is so hard to do work that you don't love during the day for money and have to turn what you are destined to do into a "hobby" that just might bring in some extra cash. Maybe somewhere there is an alternate universe where the writers and teachers get paid $375 per hour and the lawyers have to scrape by on $10,000 a year. Hey, that might make a good story.
On this date: In 1922, the first Newbery is awarded to The Story of Mankind by Hendrick Willem van Loon
I freelance by writing blog articles through a writer's website. This site is great because they let you set your own prices for your work and the buyers can choose which rights to buy for the articles. I tend to calculate how long it is taking me to research and write say, a 500 word article and price it accordingly. Many writers on the site price their articles really low, say $5 to $10 for an article of the same length, making it hard to sell things for what they are actually worth. It drives me crazy to look at the recent article sales and see $4, $6 or $10 repeatedly. I refuse to lower my prices because that would mean lowering my standards and I charge what my work is worth. I know of other writer's websites where the prices are regularly under $10 per article, and the quality of the work reflects that fact.
Very few writers actually make a living doing what they do best. A kidlit writer only clears a few thousand dollars for a picture book, a few times that for an average young adult novel. Considering that you can only crank out one or two longer books per year, you'd better have a backup plan. Many writers make money by doing lectures and school visits, but again, some writers will do these for free, making it difficult for others to add to their income.
Sure, some people hit it big and are able to do nothing but write, but most of us have to look elsewhere for our income. It is so hard to do work that you don't love during the day for money and have to turn what you are destined to do into a "hobby" that just might bring in some extra cash. Maybe somewhere there is an alternate universe where the writers and teachers get paid $375 per hour and the lawyers have to scrape by on $10,000 a year. Hey, that might make a good story.
On this date: In 1922, the first Newbery is awarded to The Story of Mankind by Hendrick Willem van Loon
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Will Paint for Cash
Yay! I made $100 today. Okay, it was painting a friend's house and not through any writing endeavor, but still. Spending the day inhaling paint fumes wasn't so bad...I might take it up again as a way to make some dough if this writing thing doesn't work out.
One nice thing is that I was mostly working alone, so I had lots of time to think. Don't tell Agent E, but I haven't worked on my fiction in weeks. I have been selling a lot of website articles with my freelance gig, and right now, immediate payment is what counts since I don't have a lot of writing time during the summer. Even though I haven't technically been writing anything, I've been thinking a lot. I'm trying to get a better handle on my MC in the YA I'm working on and I think it's starting to come together. There's nothing like a little meditation on your WIP while you're lying on the floor painstakingly painting baseboards.
On this date: In 1945 the U.N. Charter is signed.
One nice thing is that I was mostly working alone, so I had lots of time to think. Don't tell Agent E, but I haven't worked on my fiction in weeks. I have been selling a lot of website articles with my freelance gig, and right now, immediate payment is what counts since I don't have a lot of writing time during the summer. Even though I haven't technically been writing anything, I've been thinking a lot. I'm trying to get a better handle on my MC in the YA I'm working on and I think it's starting to come together. There's nothing like a little meditation on your WIP while you're lying on the floor painstakingly painting baseboards.
On this date: In 1945 the U.N. Charter is signed.
Monday, June 25, 2007
A Forever Family
Thanks to Ellen and her two kids, it looks like Birdie and Bunnie are going to be able to grow up together. They came by to meet them this evening, of course fell in love with the both of them, and will hopefully be able to take them home by the end of the week. The shelter requires that both kitties be fixed before they can be adopted, but they should be able to get us in quickly, and they won't even have to go back to the shelter at all. They'll go straight from our house to their new home. There is a 5 year old girl waiting for them, so I see lots of doll clothes and stroller rides in their future.
On this date: In 1967, the Beatles record "All You Need Is Love."
On this date: In 1967, the Beatles record "All You Need Is Love."
Friday, June 22, 2007
My Meme
So I got tagged with a meme by LindaD. I'll spare you all the weirdest things about me, and just try to come up with 8 things that are true. These are the rules:
Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
The only thing is that just about every blogger I know has already been tagged, so I'll have to work on coming up with a few more.
Here goes:
1. I can ride a unicycle. But I can't juggle.
2. I can bake perfect chocolate chip cookies without using a recipe. Sadly, I actually do this about once a week.
3. I have a thing about dragonflies. I have images of dragonflies all over the house and I was never sure why until I found out that they represent change and luck. Then it sort of made sense.
4. My favorite food as a kid was liver and onions. My mom was forced to make it for every birthday dinner until I got old enough to make it for myself. For about ten years, that was the only meal I knew how to cook.
5. I always wanted to be a gymnast. Sadly, that dream died when I reached the lofty height of 5' 10" at the age of 12.
6. I have a tattoo and I used to have something pierced other than my ears.
7. I rode a Honda 650 cc motorcycle all over San Francisco for several years during my 20s. I never told my mom, so if you see her, don't say anything.
8. I hate tomatoes. Really hate them. Once we were at dinner at my boss' house and he served bruschetta with fresh tomatoes as a starter. Couldn't do it, not even to be polite.
Okay, that's me. Now...I tag Natalie and I'll have to dig for a few more people because it looks like I don't have any more bloggie friends who are tagless.
On this date: In 1969 Judy Garland died.
Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
The only thing is that just about every blogger I know has already been tagged, so I'll have to work on coming up with a few more.
Here goes:
1. I can ride a unicycle. But I can't juggle.
2. I can bake perfect chocolate chip cookies without using a recipe. Sadly, I actually do this about once a week.
3. I have a thing about dragonflies. I have images of dragonflies all over the house and I was never sure why until I found out that they represent change and luck. Then it sort of made sense.
4. My favorite food as a kid was liver and onions. My mom was forced to make it for every birthday dinner until I got old enough to make it for myself. For about ten years, that was the only meal I knew how to cook.
5. I always wanted to be a gymnast. Sadly, that dream died when I reached the lofty height of 5' 10" at the age of 12.
6. I have a tattoo and I used to have something pierced other than my ears.
7. I rode a Honda 650 cc motorcycle all over San Francisco for several years during my 20s. I never told my mom, so if you see her, don't say anything.
8. I hate tomatoes. Really hate them. Once we were at dinner at my boss' house and he served bruschetta with fresh tomatoes as a starter. Couldn't do it, not even to be polite.
Okay, that's me. Now...I tag Natalie and I'll have to dig for a few more people because it looks like I don't have any more bloggie friends who are tagless.
On this date: In 1969 Judy Garland died.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Milestones
Yesterday was a bit of a rough one for me because J turned 10. I'd been practicing saying it for weeks, so it didn't really bother me at first. Ten. Double digits. I was fine until I went to pick up the birthday cake at the store and had to buy not one, but TWO number candles to put on it - a 1 and a 0. Two candles. That's when it hit me - my baby is 10. Ack.
Ten going on 16. Lord help us all.
On this date: In 1788, the US Constitution was ratified.
Ten going on 16. Lord help us all.On this date: In 1788, the US Constitution was ratified.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Unlikeable
My crit group has gotten hold of my in -progress YA and discovered something I figured out a little while ago - none of us likes the MC. At least, not in the beginning. She does lighten up about 1/3 of the way into the book, but for the moment she is not in possession of a lot of redeeming qualities. This is a problem. I've been dancing around this manuscript for a few weeks now, but haven't actually opened up the file and typed anything for oh...longer than I care to admit. What's gotten in the way? Just few things like a revision on my MG, a quick trip to Santa Barbara, some freelance work and summer vacation. Today was the first real day of summer for the kids and it just confirmed my fears that I'm not going to get much done for the next 90 days or so. Sigh.
On this date: In 1942, Paul McCartney is born.
On this date: In 1942, Paul McCartney is born.
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