“It’s like giving birth only people aren’t as nice about it.”
I’ve made the comparison before between giving birth and writing a book, (most recently in my guest blog post for Susan Heim), but this was a new take on it. And, I could relate, because, while UNTANGLING THE KNOT has so far been getting awesome reviews, I am sure that at some point someone won’t like it. With BETTING JESSICA, my first book, this was incredibly hard to hear, particularly as I was responsible for the entire project. Even given that it was my first book, I was disappointed when people found errors or found part of it lacking. Now, with my second book, I am more prepared. I know that not everyone will get my style of writing or my philosophies. They may want a book with more heat… or one with more poetic language. Hopefully they will be kind with their feedback (not everyone is… I was shocked by one of the reviews BETTING JESSICA received). But I also hope they will be honest. This, though, is not true of babies. No one ever says: “Wow, I really wanted to like this baby, but I found myself distracted by his big nose.” Or “This baby has a lot of problems and should have been worked on more before being put out.” I suppose it is because one project (writing) seems to be under the full control of the author while the other, a baby, does not. This, though, is not entirely fair or true. For one thing, just like a baby, writing is the result of the author’s own, personal characteristics. My books are not overly sexy because that is simply not me. They contain a deeper message because that is me. And, like a baby, writing is the coming together of many influences, not the least of which includes inspiration from a higher power. Creation, in any form, is a miracle as far as I am concerned. So, while I may not love every book I pick up and read (or write), it is always worth looking closely to see the unique beauty within.
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“I was feeling too much like a voyeur. They were on a first date.”
A kindred spirit had moved to sit near me and wanted to explain why she’d had to change seats. Of course she found a sympathetic ear in mine. Observation goes hand in hand with overhearing and together they can feel like being pulled somewhere I don’t always want to go. The best example I can use for non-observers out there is rubber-necking. We all know we should just drive by, that the reason the traffic is so bad is not from the accident itself but from all the people slowing down to look at it. And yet, there we are, cruising by with our neck craned. Once I was on an airplane and my step-brother had a panic attack. Since he had never had one before we didn’t know what it was, so everyone was treating it as a possible heart problem. The passengers were asked to stay seated and a call for a doctor was announced. Still, you would not believe how many people had to ‘go to the bathroom’ near us. All of them wanted to see what had caused the trouble. Maybe it is the fight or flight instinct in us that makes us stick our nose into what we are not sure we even want to smell. It could be that instinct tells us to make sure there isn’t something dangerous happening. Or, perhaps we all just like a good story. The drama of an accident. The heartbreak of public tears. The thrill of a first date. Being a voyeur could be a sign it is time to create more stories in our own daily lives. ******* Hey everyone.... did you check out my Free Story yet? I'd ove to know what you thought, so leave a comment here if you haven't already on the site: http://www.freereadsfromthegenre-istas.blogspot.com/2012/11/deannewilstedfreereadcynthia1.html And, if you haven't read it, go get it. It's a quick and funny read to lighten your holidays. Here's an excerpt: . . . “Oh my God! Nana, are you okay?” Cynthia realized she was the only one to have noticed her grandmother fall in the doorway. “Get away, you’ll ruin it,” Nana shouted as Cynthia leaned over to try to help her up. “I want the firemen to give me mouth to mouth.” Heat rose in Cynthia’s cheeks as she realized Jack had heard Nana’s excuse. What must he think of her crazy family? The glimmer in his eye gave away that it wasn’t what she’d expected. Go for it, he mouthed. . . . Read all of A FAMILY THANKSGIVING MENU at Free Reads from the Genre-istas |
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June 2020
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