by Jayna Gardner

“We’d officially like to aquire…”

When I first read those words, I was shocked. For years I’ve known I could write, wanted to write, wanted to be a published author.

How did it happen?

I originally wrote a story for a contest, small 300 word piece. I didn’t win in the contest but was encouraged to submit it to publishers. I was undecided and scared, what if they hated it and called me a no talent hack. What if no one wanted to publish it.

Then I thought, what if someone did.

With the help of a wonderful website and forum, all the friends, support and cyber love that I receive there I was encouraged and got the nerve up to submit.

And I was lucky, the first publisher I submitted it to liked it, but there was one problem.

They wanted it longer.

“Your voice is the style we would like to hear on Aphrodite Unlaced.

“Lusty Aphrodite” enjoyed your story [the name has changed since I originally submitted it]! So much so that we would like to consider acquiring it if you would agree to a few suggestions.”

No problem. I expanded it and resubmitted. They loved it. But another problem.

They still wanted it longer. So I expanded it again.

And it took a little longer with the tweaking and I got a friendly little email prod from the editor that wanted it.

“Just wanted to keep in touch and I am hoping to hear from you soon about your story! We haven’t forgotten your great storyteller’s *voice*”

So I sent it to my lovely CPs (Critique Partners) and fixed and fussed with it and then resubmitted it.

And I waited. And waited, and waited to hear. Impatiently patiently eagerly waiting.

Then I heard. And another revision request, this time minor touch ups.

It’s surprising. You write and write and edit and send it to your CPs, revise some more and try to get it close to perfect and then submit it to a publisher for consideration and they you basically start the write/edit/submit process over again.

We emailed back and forth. I was asked about cover suggestions and I gave three, still waiting to see what the cover’s going to look like but I have to get the contract first, look over it and sign it and send it back before we get to that stage.

Then I got another email. Would you consider changing the title?

What?!!!

Then I calmed down, thought about it and eagerly awaited the response to my email about keeping my title as it was. It had evolved from the original one to this one and I think this one suited the story, couple and plot better. And I know my editor was probably thinking, okay she agreed to the other suggestions and edits and has a problem with changing the title.

Now I don’t know what I would have done if they had wanted to go with the alternate title they suggested. Now mind you it was only one word difference but one word can make quite a difference.

Then I got another email – the response. Apprehensively, I opened it.

And…

“No problem! It’s refreshing to see an author have such a dedicated sense of their
*voice*.”

So I got to keep my title. Huge sigh, then I read further.

“So, a bit of a direct question…Derek and Trina…are they African American, Latino?”

Trina and Derek, the heroine and hero of my story are African American. I replied, waiting, wondering. Would that make a difference?

And finally I get **THE** email…

“Hi Danielle

We’d officially like to aquire Diary of a Love.

I’m sending you this edited version before we run it by one of our line editors for the final polish”

I went over the final edited version from them and my version, line by line, noting changes and differences. Thinking, “Why didn’t I think of that?” or “That does work better than the word I used” or “Hmm. Interesting.” There was only one problem, a line I and the editor both had fiddled with and finally reading their version, I figured out which would work better. A combination of the two versions.

And now I wait, for the final version from the line editors and then I will be able to happily announce that my story, “Diary of a Love” with me writing as Angeleque Santiago will be published by Aphrodite Unlaced.

And this whole process has taught me three things:

1. Your story is not your baby. It’s a work of fiction, a creative work that can be changed and most likely will be changed and revised by your editor.

2. You have to have a strong will and know what to fight for and what not to fight for.

3. Writing is a process and a business. I knew it was when I started writing seriously, but going through the process before I get the contract and got the final word that the publisher wanted to acquire my story, that it really drove that point home.

And the best thing of all, is one of my dreams will become a reality. All my life, I’ve wanted to be not just a writer, because writer’s write. But I wanted to be a published author. And this is the first step in the process.

P.S.

That wonderful website and forum with all the cyber-love, support and wonderful friends… http://www.romancedivas.com

Or, How to Make Room for All the People That Live In Your Head

By Jennifer Colgan

I’ve been asked a number of times in the past year where I come up with my plot ideas. Some people seem to ask out of a genuine curiosity or amazement, as though, like a miner, I excavate my ideas from some deep, dark hole. I often wonder if they picture me with a pickaxe slung over my shoulder and a tin bucket in hand, dragging chunks of useless wordage out of a subterranean tunnel in an effort to uncover hidden gems. ( I sort of like the analogy, in fact. )

On the other hand, some people ask with a sense of concern, as though the shapeshifters, werewolves and well-endowed aliens that populate my imaginary worlds might pop out of my head fully formed and swallow them up. Case in point, my own mother asked recently, in a slightly disconcerted voice, “How do you know so much about vampires, anyway?” ( Research, Mom. Bwahahahaha! )

The truth of the matter actually lies somewhere in between endless and sometimes fruitless toil in the idea mine, and the strange secret lives writers live that make our friends and family members back away slowly when we get that distant look in our eyes.

If you’re like me, sometimes the ideas are there, crowded into the little-used corners of my brain, feeding on useless facts like my high school locker combination and waiting for the right moment to pounce on a meatier thought. Other times they’re sitting on the bridge of my nose, like annoying pixies, blurring the spreadsheet on my computer screen or inserting typos into the letter my boss has asked me to type and making it impossible for me to concentrate on the real world. They manifest as snippets of juicy dialogue or sudden, overwhelming emotions that belong in the heart of my latest hero or heroine. (Sometimes they’re even blog articles.)

Needless to say, it makes life difficult now and then.

If you suffer from this affliction as well, you may often have asked, how do we deal with the flood of ideas when it threatens to overwhelm us? (And when the flood narrows to a trickle – are we better off, or worse? That’s a question for another article. )

I can only offer the most basic advice. When you can’t turn it off, go with it. The best way to get a character out of your head is to put him or her (or it) on paper – quick and dirty – in shorthand if you must, to keep the curious around you from realizing your mind is not really on the task at hand.

In short, the only cure for the cluttered head is writing. Seems like a conundrum, doesn’t it? On the upside, you can fill a notebook, a drawer, even a small closet, with your ideas and when someone asks, “Where do your plots come from?” you can point to your repository and say, “Right there. But I wouldn’t look inside if I were you. A werewolf might eat you.”

Chat with Dorcester Sr. Editor, Chris Keeslar on Sept. 15th 9PM EST

Don’t miss this chat. It’s sure to be a fun and informative time!

Free Workshop with Author Of The Month Candace Havens:

Candace Havens presents Fast Draft: How to write your first draft in two weeks. Really.

Week of September 18th, 2005

Fast Draft is way to get through the terror of the first draft in a fast and efficient manner. Why draw it out over several months, when you can have a first draft in just two weeks? Using creative techniques you’ll learn how to write more pages a day than you ever thought possible. This class works for new writers as well as seasoned professionals, and allows writers to flesh out a story fast to see if it will work.

Q & A with Deidre Knight:

During the week of Sept 18th, Super Agent Deidre Knight will be answering questions in a special section of the forum aptly titled, “Ask Deidre”. Don’t miss this opportunity to get those questions answer and get to know this fabulous woman!

See you online!

Much love,
Kristen