I published by book--by hand. A handmade book takes hours to put together, and it isn't cheap. I love making them though. I made three, but I can't make any more. I can't afford it because who is going to pay that kind of money for a book by an unknown writer when they don't …
Continue reading My Book-shaped Heart Wants to Live in a Publishing House.
The music is posted because it captures the mood of the story I'm working on... But for the novel I've finished (sort of finished), an agent asked to see the first 155 pages. Well, I proofread those pages again and fussed with the formatting. On page 155 I looked for the place to stop, and …
Sometimes I have destructive impulses. You? Often when I share my writing with others, I want to yank the work from their hands screaming a loud melodramatic No! I take it back. This is silly, but knowing it is silly doesn't make my stomach settle. And still, I offer to share. Here's the idea. Come …
About seven years ago, I submitted an essay to an anthology. The editor accepted it! My first acceptance! I told everyone. When I checked the publications website, my essay wasn't there. I sent the editor and email, and she apologize profusely. The postings were still in progress. Of course it would be there. She assured …
Continue reading neurotic writer encouraged to new neurotic heights
I've been staring at a mountain of words. Maybe it is a pit of words. No. An ocean of words. Everyone says to just start. Pick up a story and start the rewrites, the editing, the polishing, the reconstructing. Yes. I know. Take baby steps. Take a deep breath. Dive in. I feel a bit …
A pain expands in my chest when I read or hear great writing I wish I had written. This is not a metaphorical pain. And like wishing for money to solve financial problems or for a pill to vanquish food poisoning, I wish to have written something brilliant. Why does it matter?
Today, I got see a few of my Saudi students without their veils. The women had a private party--no men allowed. Windows were covered, doors blocked off, signs of no admittance posted. They wore pretty dresses, make-up, jewelry, and they prepared special food and they danced. I missed the dancing, but I got to see …
I have finished my rough draft of this year's NaNoWriMo novel, and I started with the first three chapters and notes my mother wrote before she died. The story is about a relationship she had. A couple years ago I made contact with this man from her past and he wrote me a letter about …
So, I'm participating in NaNoWriMo again--to write a novel and to see writing friends. But mostly to write a novel. And this novel is the one my mother started before she passed away. The novel is autobiographical, and to continue the story, I've read her letters and spent time thinking about a particular time in …
Continue reading Is it only time travel if you go with your body?
When I was 18 years old, my mother wrote me this. Something you said really struck me, and I wanted to reply to that. It was when you said you knew you'd been a lot of trouble. Well, yes, you've been a lot of trouble...a lot of pain and sorrow and just plain ain-in-the-ass. Point …
Marta Bacon 