I hardly ever “talk writing” in my blog (other than saying I got my book mailed off, etc)–for several reasons. I don’t want to bore readers who might be cruising by. I write all day; I don’t want to talk about it afterward. Once I get started, you can hardly stop me (this post being a fabu example). But hey, it’s the weekend and everyone is sleeping or at Wal-Mart, so I’ll just wax enthusiastica for a moment and no one will care. 😆 .
I’ll intersperse with some ridiculous photos from my office to break up the monotony–my bookshelf where I shelve one copy of every book I’ve had published with stacks on the side of foreign editions; an example of posters of my covers that hang on the wall of my office; the bookshelves in my office; and the mess on the floor of my office because I am a PIG.
I love writing. I love words. Words are like music to me. I love to put them together and weave them into a story. I love how they look on the screen, on the page. I love to type them. I LOVE WORDS. I love every story I’ve ever written, even the early published ones that I’m almost too embarrassed to give away (but somehow bring myself to anyway, LOL). I don’t love my stories because I think they’re perfect–I love them the way I love my children even when they misbehave.
I love my three unpublished completes that never saw the light of day extra cuz no one else did. Like the totally unmarketable book with a French professor and a vineyard owner. Another one was set at a small town newspaper. The third one was my one attempt at writing a cowboy/ranch story. I learned that wasn’t for me but I loved that story. I love all my unbought proposals, too (which are legion)–my faves are Secret Agent Man (a comedy/suspense blend that got wonderful rejections but no one knew what to do with it–there was a fun mafia thing going on), Hooked on a Feeling (really fun, had an Elvis impersonator!) and My Big Fat Fake Wedding (my sort of chick lit!). I love writing comedy (and did a bunch of them for Precious Gems), but my branding is too entrenched in dark romantic suspense/paranormal to veer off into romantic comedy right now–so I’ve set those proposals aside. I’ve learned to incorporate my need for comedy into black humor in my dark books. Another proposal I loved was I Want You to Want Me –a family/relationship story. Doesn’t fit my current career goals, but I loved that story even though every editor on the planet did NOT.
I have dozens and dozens of other unsold proposals on the shelf, and whenever I pick them up and flip through, it’s like visiting old friends and I’m pretty sure they found their happily ever afters without me. I’ve been rejected literally hundreds of times over the years. I was counting for awhile but when it got over 100 I stopped because it didn’t matter to me anyway. I can’t imagine another job. I’ve tried so many other things–I’ve worked at every crappy job you can from being a cashier at a diner to working a laundromat checkout to McDonald’s. I’ve had professional jobs, too–I’ve been a secretary, a reporter, and a teacher. I wouldn’t do one of those jobs again if you held a gun to my head. You would have to HOLD a gun to my head to get me to stop writing. It’s true what they say–find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s me.
My first book was published 12 years ago and I think I feel more passion today for writing even than I did then. When I write that beautiful sentence, the just-right hook at the end of a chapter, that resolution that makes me cry, or see that stack of finished pages that amazingly is a complete book, that is awesome. I love writing. And now you know why I get cut off when I’m giving workshops and why I never talk writing in my blog. You can’t get me to shut up. :yes:
Michelle says:
Well said! I’m so glad you mentioned loving those first books. I love mine too, rather like you would love an imperfect child. :thumbsup:
And this is just the greatest career EVER!! :bananadance:
On June 4, 2005 at 7:05 am
Margery Scott says:
You should teach writing. Your passion would show and inspire, and you’d never have to shut up
On June 4, 2005 at 7:24 am
Mary says:
Great post. Some of my feelings, too.
I love reading, too.
On June 4, 2005 at 9:48 am
Jill says:
Your shelves are neater than mine.
On June 4, 2005 at 9:55 am
Jan says:
Hey, I should post a *warning: you’re about to enter a disaster zone* on my office door! Your love for words shines brightly in your novels. :thumbsup:
On June 4, 2005 at 10:43 am
Marty K says:
I’m jealous, but in the good, motivating way :heart:
On June 4, 2005 at 11:14 am
Robyn says:
Wow, what an insight into your writing
career; informative.:wink:
On June 4, 2005 at 11:25 am
Carol says:
It’s so wonderful that you enjoy writing so much! :yes:
On June 4, 2005 at 11:35 am
mary beth says:
Yay Suzanne! I’m so glad you love writing because I love reading your books. You’re such an inspiration!!!!
:thumbsup:
On June 4, 2005 at 11:39 am
Kelly says:
Thanks for sharing this, Suzanne. Sometimes it’s hard to keep the passion within a writing journey or career. I’m glad you’ve kept yours and found what makes you happy.
On June 4, 2005 at 11:42 am
Tori says:
Awesome post, Suzanne!!! :bananadance:
On June 4, 2005 at 12:27 pm
Crystal* says:
I absolutely love this post. You nailed it.
It’s the words. And the feelings. And the whole damn thing wrapped up to wallow in. And every word you write is precious to you, even if no one else necessarily thinks so. And the worlds you create are everything your little self could have imagined.
It’s creative utopia.
I’ve never worked a day. :yes: And there’s nothing better.
Grins*
On June 4, 2005 at 1:23 pm
kacey says:
well, I’m glad you did a writing life post! It was cool to read.
And I just love to put words on paper too. Sigh. What a cool career! :thumbsup:
On June 4, 2005 at 2:05 pm
Lis says:
Great post! Love the pictures of your office 🙂
On June 4, 2005 at 3:33 pm
Mechele Armstrong says:
You nailed the way I feel about writing. I love to write, much happier when I am than not. And your shelves are way neater than mine *sigh*. Great post.
On June 4, 2005 at 7:16 pm
Steph T. says:
I love this post, Suzanne. Hearing you talk writing fires me up too. I love hearing other writers tell their stories like this.:thumbsup:
But, as Jill said, why are your shelves so much neater than mine? Not fair…
On June 4, 2005 at 8:06 pm
Teresa says:
Great post Suzanne! I loved reading it.
On June 4, 2005 at 8:14 pm
Amy K. says:
Who gave you the key to my office to show off my floor? Oh wait, couldn’t be mine because I haven’t had any books published! :hyper: Glad we got that straight.
Great post! And like Steph said, now I’m enthused and I’m actually going to GO WRITE. :guitar:
On June 4, 2005 at 11:37 pm
ruby55 says:
Hey, I love words too but don’t ask me to write anything creative. I can take facts and put them into a good essay, but stories…uh-uh. My mother always had to give me ideas when I was in school because I just couldn’t come up with anything myself. I love reading about how creative writers go about their business. It’s so different from anything I can do. So just keep it up.
And your rejected stories–you put your heart into them and they were…more or less orphaned. No wonder you love them so much. But now what about “The Beast Within”? Does the 4+ Top Pick overshadow everything else?
On June 5, 2005 at 10:28 pm
Lynn says:
Thanks so much for this post, Suzanne. Especially the part about the unpublished mss you still love. Most writers, when they mention their unpublished work, usually follow it with “and it shouldn’t have been published” or “it’ll never come out from under the bed” or “I can’t believe I had the nerve to actually submit it.” It’s heartening to see there’s somebody out there who still loves the things they’ve written, whether the stories made it to the shelves of a bookstore or not.
On June 6, 2005 at 1:56 am
Suzanne says:
**But now what about “The Beast Within”? Does the 4+ Top Pick overshadow everything else?**
I definitely love the review more, LOL! I think it’s as hard to say you love one book more than another as it would be to say you love one child more than another. My PAX books are really special to me, but don’t tell the other children!!
On June 6, 2005 at 6:01 am
Suzanne says:
Lynn, I love all my unsold work! I don’t know why they haven’t been bought! They should have been! LOL!
On June 6, 2005 at 6:03 am
Danica says:
I love it!! And hey, I know that stack of books on the floor! I have a couple just like it!
On June 6, 2005 at 9:18 pm
Laurentine says:
Hey! Great post. Makes me wonder though, I’m working on my first full length wip; how many more will I have to write before I can say I am a writer for real?:wall: Oh well, I love my story and it’s good to know that I can still love it if it’s not received well by editors. Thanks for the enthusiasm. Love your books!:thumbsup:
On June 7, 2005 at 12:38 am
Suzanne says:
Laurentine, you’re a real writer now! 🙂
On June 7, 2005 at 6:52 pm