One moment of courage…
One poem from long ago…
One entry to a writers’ contest…

Recently, I did something that required me to take a flying leap with the knowledge that I have a needle in a haystack’s chance of success. More like a needle in a stack of needles but hey, it’s still a possibility! With the same feverish precision Ralphie (movie: A Christmas Story) used to write his essay on a Red Ryder BB Gun, I prepared my entry to a popular international writing contest (name omitted for privacy reasons). 

Understanding that it’s high-profile, I anticipated a strict application process. If you haven’t entered something like this, here’s a way to frame it:

Say there’s an employment opportunity that you want. And why not? It’s the magical mystical unicorn full of sparkles and sunshine job of all jobs. To get the attention of the person at the top, you must be unique. So, when perfected, you throw your hat in the ring (trying to ignore all the other colorful hats competing against you). Applying for a job online, one must pay attention to all requirements…including the frequently overlooked tiny print. They’re like “Terms and Conditions” agreements. Only you can’t simply scroll through fast and check the acceptance box. You have to read every line and both agree with and adhere to everything before selecting “Accept.” Miss just one micro detail and your hat gets thrown out the window. Ouch.

Countless individuals submit their work to this particular contest each year hoping to win for a variety of reasons. Some do it for the prizes alone. Prize money is cool, but there's more to winning than that. Why’d I do it? The beneficial recognition and opportunities can come from contests such as these. And to prove to myself that I'm not afraid of taking chances.

Now is the time for patience. Win notifications are October/November 2022. :-)

It’s no secret. I love to write. It’s been a lifelong dream. Well...almost. I actually wanted to be a secret agent veterinarian when I was in the younger “grades” (that’s what I called my fellow elementary students). It was during the transition from elementary school to junior high that I began to flourish. Granted, there was no structure to my writing process. I was a kid. I didn’t know about that stuff yet. Instead, I practiced “free writing”. I had story ideas in mind and simply let the pen flow on the paper. Looking back, the grammar wasn’t the best and the plots were weak at best. However, the stories were creative and the characters were strong. I wrote with an unending passion as my imagination soared. 

I am an unpublished author. That means that I’m an author but haven’t published any of my works. Could I have published a book by now? Sure...if I wasn't so critical of myself and didn't discouraged because original ideas are difficult to come by. It seems as if every time I have a good idea, an author gets recognition on the Bestseller circuit for a parallel piece. Frustrating, right?

Do I give up on my dream to write and publish a masterpiece? 

No. 

If I didn’t have any passion for it, I’d find some other goal. This is what I want to do.

There are several ways to approach writing one’s first book. I’m in the initial phase that I refer to as “learning”. In my opinion, it’s important for writers to see how other writers approach the craft.  Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Unpublished or published, if you write, you’re a writer. Don’t let anyone bully you into thinking otherwise.

 

• New authors can be just as good as (if not better than) seasoned writers.

 

• A book is just a bunch of blah blah blah if there’s no passion involved. When I say “passion” I’m referring to the author’s ability to keep and hold interest. When the author lacks passion, it is reflected in his or her work. 

 

• A book's selling price does not equal its value. I’ve read free books that have better content than those on the Bestseller list. 

 

• Developing interesting characters and nailing the plot and plot twists is vital.

 

• In my opinion, killing of the main or most popular character(s) can be truly heartbreaking for readers. 

 

• MUST HAVE A CATCHY BEGINNING AND END. That should be a basic requirement. Many publishers and readers look for that as well. Books that aren’t interesting in the first five or so pages get returned to the library or deleted from my Kindle. Books with frustrating and/or poorly constructed endings are terrible and feel like a waste of time. To be effective, all it takes is more well-constructed pieces, time (because rushing isn't necessarily better) and an unending supply of passion and creativity.

 

• Vulgar language does not improve the quality of a book. If anything, it degrades it and shows a lack of creativity.

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• Investing in a quality editor prior to publication is key. A quality editor critiques more than spelling and grammar errors. He or she goes above and beyond to highlight areas that require tweaking. If an editor can propose ideas that strengthen the plot line, for example, wouldn’t you want that? I would.

 

• Unique cover art makes a difference. It doesn't have to be complicated, just enough to catch a reader's eye. Some readers choose books on first appearance rather than take time to see what's inside. It's sort of like dating. Unfortunately. 

So, what’s next after this research? Snippets. That’s a cute way of saying “Brainstorming”, but it serves the same purpose. I’m ready and very excited.