Author: Michelle's Site

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Write What You Know

What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Words I Never Said” – Lupe Fiasco
What I am reading now: “Look Again” – Lisa Scottoline

Since I’ve started this writing journey, the one piece of advice I get the most it “write what you know”.  What does that mean actually?  Is it referring to occupations?  If the writer is an attorney like John Grisham or Pamela Samuels-Young then  your character is also an attorney.  Or could it be as simple as a situation that your character faces?

In my novel, “Moment of Truth”, Adrienne has a three-year old son with sickle-cell anemia.  His disease requires doctor’s visits and one scary emergency room stay.  Now everyone has been to  the doctor’s office and the hospital and I thought I did a decent job of describing the scene and emotions.  That is until real life intervened.

One night my nephew was rushed to the emergency room.  He spent two weeks in ICU and even more time in a regular room.  During my frequent visits to the hospital, I found myself taking mental snapshots of sights and sounds.    I catalogued smells and noted the presence of machine and watched hospital personnel.  This was the type of thing I needed to enhance my own story.   My own personal experience could be used by my character.  But I must admit I felt guilty about it.  While I was focused on my nephew’s recovery and being a source of comfort to my sister, I was thinking about my book.

My former editor allowed me to unburden myself.  When I told her my dilemma she said, “You are a writer!  All of your experiences are fodder for your craft.  You should use all of your feelings and experiences to fuel  your manuscripts.”  Her words resonated with my artist self and confirmed something I knew all along.  In order to create these well-rounded characters and make believable worlds, the artist has to  use everything within them.

Write what you know is an adage to explore the world and embrace it to breathe life into a story.

Peace,

Michelle

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Embracing the Day Job

What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “It Kills Me” – Melanie Fiona
What I am reading now: “Obsessed” – Devon Scott

Ever since I started writing seriously I have complained about my day job getting in the way.  I longed for more the day I would be able to devote full-time hours to living in my head.  And then I started communicating with actual writers and learned a hard truth.  I shouldn’t be so eager to quit the day job.

It’s no secret that getting published is not an easy feat but getting a big advance is like hitting the lottery.  Most mid level authors don’t earn enough on their advances to support themselves let along afford health insurance.   My research shows that I shouldn’t be so quick to throw away my job.

So, I decided to change the way I look at my 9 to 5.  Here are the benefits to being a full-time employee:

  • Regular paycheck – This really comes in handy for those times you need to make a mortgage payment or say, need to buy groceries.
  • Health insurance – Everyone is going to need a check up at some point.
  • Professional development – You can actually become an expert on something besides writing.
  • Focus – Having to write at night and weekends keeps you on task to bang out that chapter before work.
  • Social Skills – Instead of being lost in your own universe with people who live in your head, you can actually have a conversation with a real live person.
  • And most importantly, Material – Working with people of various backgrounds, races, and perspectives gives you bountiful supply of situations to choose from.  People love to share their stories.  In the words of Seinfeld, “It’s Gold!”

Now I take comfort in the security of the day job.  Although it may not be my life’s calling, the job does allow me the opportunity to pursue my dream.

Peace,

Michelle

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Writers Reconsider the Bookstores Black Section – BV Black Spin

Writers Reconsider the Bookstores Black Section – BV Black Spin.

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Editor Blues

What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Lay Your Head on my Pillow” – Tony!Toni!Tone!
What I am reading now: “Fallen” – Karin Slaughter

I am in a writing slump.  Back in May I blogged about how I was revising my novel to change the point of view from first person to third person.  I felt the change would enhance the story and connect better with the reader.  And I was working diligently to make those changes happen.  What happened to make me lose focus you ask?  My editor disappeared.

I thought I had found the perfect editor for me.  It’s not often you feel a connection with someone as an artist but Camille and I hit it off from the start.  She “got” me and I was ecstatic to find a person to discuss my work.   She was there for me right up until the time she wasn’t.  Silence was followed by a brief claim of illness.  Several more weeks go by and my calls and emails went unanswered.

It wasn’t hard for me to get to the conclusion that maybe I had been duped.  It couldn’t have been a coincidence that Camille was suddenly unavailable after payment changed hands.  I terminated our agreement and a refund was initiated from her but it failed to make it through Paypal.

My first reaction was anger.  I went all the way to “I will not be ignored, Dan.” (Shout out to “Fatal Attraction”)  I became obsessed with tracking Camille down.  When I found myself knee-deep in cyber stalking, I realized that I had to dial it back.  My focus on Camille and over analyzing each conservation and email was not only unhealthy but it kept me from my work.  Who was I really hurting with my need for answers?  She stole my money.  I couldn’t let her steal my focus as well.

I am letting go.  Yes, Camille may have gotten over on me but I trust that God will deal with her in His own time.  My job is to take the lesson.  There are no friends in this business.  I will deal with people on a professional basis.  Remain friendly but keep my guard up and my money in my pocket.  Warn other writers not to do business with Camille Gray aka Pansy Wright of WritingRoom Writing Services.

What’s the biggest lesson that I learned throughout this ordeal?  Never let anyone detour you from your dream.  I’ve got to keep writing.  For me, it is as natural as breathing and just as essential for survival.

Peace,

Michelle

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>Shades of Grey

>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “In the Closet” – Micheal Jackson
What I am reading now: “Silver Sparrow” – Tayari Jones

So, I finally got around to watching the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy.  Overall good understated season ending.  (You can’t very well top a man shooting up the hospital.)  I’m not going to go in depth about the various story lines but one thing that stuck out to me is the issue of grey.  As in, there is right, wrong and the murky grey area in between.  I thought about my own morale code and I find that I live in the land of grey.   I totally got Meredith’s logic in tampering with the clinical trial to get the Chief’s wife the drug.  I failed to see the wisdom in her husband,  Derek,deciding that she doesn’t know right from wrong and leaving her.  Wait……..What?  Where they do that at? 

I get it.  Yes, it is wrong to kill.  Very black and white.  Killing is wrong so you don’t do it.  But if your life if threatened or the lives of your loved ones, killing is self defense and therefore, okay.  Very grey.

I would surmise that most things in life are grey.  Those people that choose to live in the black and white (right or wrong) hold themselves and others to an impossible standard. 

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>It’s Over for Now

>What’s Playing on the iPod right now:  “4Evermore”- Anthony David feat. Algebra (LOVE this song!)
What I am reading now:  “When the Thrill is Gone” – Walter Mosley

We knew it would end one day.  We just didn’t know it would end like this…………..

Swept by the Dallas Mavricks??!!!   It ain’t pretty getting old (Spurs gone, Celtics on the brink).  There will be a new NBA champion this year.  But the Lake Show will be back.

Peace.

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>TRUST

>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “My All” – Mariah Carey
What I am reading now:  “White Mocha” – Michele Grant

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of “trust” is the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.  Sounds simple enough.  You just believe that someone or something is exactly what they present themselves to be.  If only people were that reliable.

I’ll be the first to admit that I have trust issues.  A horrible middle school year made me leery of people’s motivations.  But once you get past that barrier, I go all in.  Loyal almost to a fault.  So, the betrayal when it comes (and it almost always comes) the hurt is that much deeper.  It doesn’t have to be a major deception either.  It can be something as simple as not keeping your word.  After that, I am looking at you side-eyed and questioning the reasons behind everything.

Mainly I question myself.  What signs did I overlook?  What comment did I ignore that spoke the truth of your intentions.  I hate that feeling.  So, I withdraw and look my feelings away where they can’t be hurt.

It is misery when you discover that you can’t even trust yourself.

Peace out.

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>Random Post

>What’s Playing on the iPod right now:  “Feel Good Inc.”- Gorillaz
What I am reading now: “The Good House” – Tanarivue Due

THIS TOTALLY ROCKS!!!!!  Enjoy.

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>Welcome to the New

>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “I Don’t Believe You” – P!nk
What I am reading now: “Blind Trust” – Leslie Esdaile Banks

Welcome to 2011 and the new plan.  I finally finished the novel I have been working on for a couple of years now.  Yes!!  Now all that is left is to edit the manuscript.  The new plan, research ebook publishing.  From everthing I’ve read, this may be the quickest way to get my work out there without waiting on a publishing company to deem it worthy.  I feel it is a good book and I want to see how it stands up against the competition.

I am currently working on a short story to submit for Zane’s anthology.  Due date is March 1st. 

Last note, I plan to update the blog more regularly.  No one’s reading now but I hold out hope that one day they will.

RIP Teena Marie

Peace.

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>Random

>What’s Playing on the iPod right now:  “Rebirth of Slick” – Digable Planets
What I am reading now:  “Substitute Me” – Lori L. Tharps

This is one of those songs I like but feel like I shouldn’t.  Enjoy.

Peace!