Muddling Through Monday

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Today is a muddled kind of Monday. Celebration aftereffects have co-mingled with reality and the burgeoning independence of my newly minted graduate to create a mental morass that makes it hard to focus on a topic, let alone write about one.

Then I remember. Writers don't need to be constrained by anything as mundane and inconvenient as reality. If today is too confusing, too upsetting, too overwhelming, I merely need to leave it behind and enter the world of my characters. Doing so is hard work, and the on-ramp to this world is often uphill, but writing is also a vacation of sorts; it's a way to leave behind the puzzling pieces of the real world and weave a world of my own choosing where I am the master of what occurs. At least until my characters step in to voice their opinions.

Speaking of which, my characters will be doing the talking right here, beginning this Wednesday as I kick off a new feature where I interview some of the players from Casting the First Stone and Chasing a Second Chance. I've spoken with a few of them already (yes, I know how that sounds), so I have a few interviews ready to go, but I'm also happy to take requests, as I'm subjecting all of them to the same interview process.

Also, if you're looking for some fun summer reads, I hope you'll visit The Beach Reads Bonanza, a Facebook party which kicks off tomorrow at noon CST (1 PM ET). I'm up first, hosting from 1-1:30 or so, and will be followed by a flood of authors chatting and sharing book information. There will be games, prizes and great titles to add to your summer wish list, so I hope you'll stop by :-) The Beach Reads Bonanza runs through Monday, June 13.

And now, back to reality...or not. I hear it's overrated.

Photo: Pippalou via Morguefile

Friday Feature: How to be a Writer

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Last week, J. K. Rowling had Twitter, along with most news outlets, all abuzz when she shared two rejection letters she'd received to queries she'd sent out under her pen name, Robert Galbraith. That's after Harry Potter fame, folks. And yes, some of the same people rejected her. Twice.

Authors are amazingly generous, sharing everything from rejection letters to markets to support. About a week before this, I'd read a great article by Warren Adler, author of The War of the Roses, called How to be a Writer at Any Age. Not only do I agree with all of his points, but I also aspire to be the oldest working writer people know :-)

How about you? Have you ever wanted to write? If so, take a look at Adler's tips. They're uplifting and practical, shared freely by a working writer. Or maybe you want to read Rowling's tweets and her rejection letters, also shared freely by a working writer -- one who knows what she's talking about.

Free advice that's worth much more. How can you pass it up?