I did it!

Last week, I said I was going to get my major rewrite of my manuscript done.  I worked hard over this last week and one day late, I got it to the editor for recommendations.  I've rarely felt that satisfied as when I finished that.  Few things are quite as tedious as that kind of revision, switching from first to third person.  I know it still needs work.  I got further suggestions from another writer, some of which may match what I hear from an editor.  But I won't mess with any of it until I have it all sitting in front of me.  Then I'll use what works and get it submitted [again] for possible publication.  If this next publisher passes, I'm back and forth between independent publishing and a small publisher.  I don't mind the idea of going indie, though it would be nice to have the name recognition of a publisher for at least my first one.  

Meanwhile, I'm kind of at a loss as to what I should work on next when it comes to writing.  I'd love to just write, but I know that manuscript's sequel/spin-off needs work, too.  I've just been so single-minded for around two months that I haven't been into anything else for a while.  It does feel nice to know I have choices.  It's a good place to be.  

Teaching English

I've always wanted to teach writing.  I remember sitting in my third-grade class and thinking as I wrote something, "This.  This is what I want to do when I grow up.  I want to write third graders how to write."  Then as I passed from one grade to another, the age I wanted to teach grew up with me until I reached my master's program.  At the age of 26, I discovered what I wanted to do when I grew up, aside from becoming a writer, was teaching writing in college.  That hasn't changed.  2 1/2 years ago, I applied for such a job and didn't get it, but they kept my information on file.  A couple of months ago, I was finally offered the job teaching writing to college students.  It was quite literally  a gift from on high because I'd all but given up on that dream, at least until my kids get older and I get time to think about a doctorate.  It's been an awesome blessing in my life, and it's only just begun.

One of the assignments for the class is to write a love letter to something, not someone.  I thought it would be kind of fun to try it myself.  I could write a love letter to many things around me from my cats to my house, but since this is a blog on writing, it makes the most sense to write a love letter to writing.

Dear Writing, 

I have always loved you, Writing.  I was eager to learn how to read in first grade so I could meet you.  And I did.  I spent so much time with you.  You were my best friend.  I spent time with you and your cousin, Drawing, all through my childhood and youth.  Dear Writing, you showed up in the form of stories about cats in outer space and stories about fuzzy aliens and stories about superheroes and stories about dragons.  When I was in high school, you showed up in novel form.  At the time, you were cliched, poorly written, and that version of you will never see the light of day.  However, I felt good about you.  It was so much fun to spend every day with you.  Then I went to college and got to take classes about how to get to know you better.  You become more complicated and exciting.  

Sadly, there were times I had to spend some time with you I didn't always like because I had to not because I wanted to.  For a while after college, you weren't a big part of my life.  I'd come and visit you, sometimes edit you, but not really help you develop and grow.  I joined a club to try to motivate myself to spend more time with you.  It sometimes worked.  I'm sorry I turned my back on you like that.  

Then, finally, when my kids got older, I decided it was time to take our friendship seriously.  It was time to really immerse myself in our time together.  And finally, Writing, you have become one of my best friends again.  We spend quality, fun time together every day.  So many times, I think about how I'd rather be spending time with you than with whatever I'm doing at the time.  I'm so thankful we've grown so close, dear Writing, and I look forward to our time together in the future.  

Love, 

Tamara

And there you are, a fun little exercise to help me experience the assignment along with my students.  I am so richly blessed, between my four jammie jobs, jobs that I can do at home in my jammies: teaching online, writing my novels, being a mommy, and transcribing college classes [free education!]  I'm so thankful today.

An Audience

It’s kind of fun having fans.  Several of my beta readers for After the Dream have expressed excitement over my next book, Pigs Fly.  I’ll mention it in conversation, and they’ll tell me how much they’re looking forward to it, or they will bring it up and ask.  It’s not a big fan base, but it’s nice feeling appreciated.  It gives me hope that I will find a reasonably sized audience for it.

The same is true with my readers’ group who is helping me with my middle-grade children’s book series, Doomimals.  Multiple people have expressed excitement over the story and want to share these books with their kids.  But the best praise I’ve had so far is in my teenage niece’s delight in it.  She is not easily pleased, and she’s older than the target audience.  I know my kids have had a lot of fun helping me come up with ideas for chapter titles and story events and characters.  The harder part will be making sure these books are not just exciting but meaningful. 

For me, it’s not so much about being appreciated, admired, or even paid.  It’s about helping people.  It’s why I write.  It’s why I do what I want to do:  to touch lives.  I’m sure I will enjoy having strangers come up and tell me they had fun reading my book.  But the comments I’m looking forward to are the ones about how the story, its events, its spiritual content, etc. helped people. That’s the kind of commentary that will truly mean I’m fulfilling my calling in sharing the stories I’m here to share.  I don’t want my words to remain flat, black and white letters on the page.  I want them to help people feel understood, overcome hardship, and find healing.  Otherwise, I’m missing the point.