A Writer's Thoughts

Announcing...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Wed, 21 May 2014 05:45:00 +0000

Hi everyone! I know I've been gone awhile but the last time I posted I had said I was working on some children's stories. Well, I am on the brink of getting them published but I needed a little help. My son's story the last 2 years has been challenging to say the least, but he is such a blessing and good things are coming! The books will deal with things such as Dyslexia, different abilities, and sign language. Please check out the following Kickstarter link, Apples and Alligators ... In the Backyard. Share it if you feel inspired, pledge to support it if you are able. Help make this project a reality! The deadline date to pledge is May 26, 2014 so check it out today! Apples and Alligators ... In the Backyard

Just wanted to share...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 03:30:00 +0000

I recently found this article and I wanted to share it. Check it out. I've completely changed projects and gone from writing women's fiction to writing children's picture books. My children inspired some funny, creative scenerios just by being themselves and I can't wait to share them with you! I am at a crossroads of do I pursue self-publishing or attempt traditional publishing? There are a lot of aspects about my books that I don't want to lose control of if I were to go with a traditional publisher, but do I have the time and stamina to attempt the entire publishing process on my own, financially, emotionally, physically. I've been doing tons of research, but I would love your feedback! Happy Friday everyone!

Life's Little Surprises

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 03:40:00 +0000

I’ve been absent from my blog for some time but for good reason. I had a baby who had some challenges. And I had a lot of family injuries too. All within about six months. And it became A LOT to deal with. I was lucky to get through the day some days with everyone bathed, including myself. But going through the fire helped put things into perspective. Life dishes out all sorts of things. Good and bad. Little surprises, some not so little I suppose. But with the right perspective, it was all manageable. I kept reminding myself of how my situation could have been worse. Because it could have been SO much worse. And then I was grateful that it wasn’t. And that thought alone would get me through the day. I relate it to a baby learning to walk. Moving from one end of the room seems unimaginable at first. But he takes one step, then another. Just like life’s surprises. At the time it may seem impossible to make it, but step by step, you succeed. You get through one day, then another, then another. And just when you are getting a stride, you get knocked down again. Just when that baby thinks he’s got this walking thing, he stumbles and falls. But he doesn’t give up. And you don’t give up. He gets up, you get up, brush it off, and take a new step. And another. And another. And you may fall again. He may stumble again. But he wants to get to the other side of the room. And you will get through the day, the week, the month or the year without a set back. And pretty soon, the baby is on the other side of the room, all by himself, without falling once, and then he is running through the yard, and those first few times, when he stumbled and fell are a distant memory the he doesn’t even remember. And looking back at all those setbacks I endured the past year are behind me. I often wonder how I made it, because it was a struggle, but we survived. And we are all healthy, happy and better for it. Life is about perspective. And I am so grateful for all that I have. Thanks for sticking with me and not giving up on me. It’s good to be back.

Everything happens for a reason...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 03:06:00 +0000

I've been absent for some time. Since I last posted I found out I was pregnant, moved, had a baby and well, there actually is no way I can explain all that has happened here. If you would like to read the whole story, check out this blog. Thanks for always being so supportive and encouraging.

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:24:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Live with intention, Walk to the edge, Listen hard, Practice wellness, Play with abandon, Laugh, Choose with no regret, Continue to learn, Appreciate your friends, Do what you love, Live as if this is all there is. ~Mary Anne Hershey

Its been four months since I blogged. Part of me feels guilty. Part of me feels vindicated. I have good reason.

Blogging had become a drain for me. A drain for my time. A drain for my words. And not because blogging is a bad thing, or a drain in and of itself, but the way I managed my blog was not very efficient. Therefore, the best thing I could do was quit cold turkey. At least for a little while.

So the last time I posted I had been rejuvenated in writing my book and I'm proud to say I finished it the middle of May. The 15th to be exact. May 15 became my last and final goal. I had set and reset the damn goal I don't know how many times, but I finally got to the point in the story I could see the end. I could feel it and the momentum grew. In fact, I wrote over 15,000 that last week alone.

So now its revision time. Edit and revise. Edit and revise.

And some other news, during that time I finished my book, I also received word that I'd been accepted into the Aspen Writer's Foundation Summer Words Program. I've never attended a conference or workshop of any sort and I had no idea what to expect.

I think I can safely say that my expectations were blown away. It was a fantastic opportunity and I brought home many treasures. I studied with best selling author Elinor Lipman and ten other fabulous fellow authors. Its always interesting what you learn during trips like that, away from home. I learned that I can pick up after myself quite well, and the messy house is not my fault. I learned that I like to get up early for a job I love. I learned that not everyone has the same opinion about my book or writing style that I do. But I also learned that there are still a lot of good and wonderful people in the world and I can't wait to meet more of them!

And I learned to never, ever give up. Although I knew that, but its always good to be reminded.

Persistence. Persistence. Persistence.

Happy Tuesday everyone. And I missed you.

Just Like Riding A Bike

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:42:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning. ~Louis L'Amour

Ever have one of those days when you finally woke up on the RIGHT side of the bed and the coffee is already made and you got an unexpected check in the mail for some unknown reason? What does that mean? That all the stars are aligned correctly and in your favor? Maybe you should go out and buy a lottery ticket?

I didn't have one of those days today, but I did have a revelation this week. My flow came back.

I have been blocked at a certain point in my WIP that I couldn't get past. So I gladly did the dishes, vacuumed the house, cleaned the bathroom and did ten loads of laundry because that all NEEDED to get done NOW, or so my non-creative brain told my creative brain. (because I have two you know)

I knew what was going to happen in the story, I just didn't know how to say it. And that fear stopped me. I didn't give up, necessarily, but I procrastinated. Like you do when you have to pay the bills and you don't want to. Its painful, heartbreaking and you have no idea how much good stuff you'll have in the end.

But guess what? I forced myself to sit and plunge through that scene, (which came out beautifully I must say) and what has flowed since then has knocked me off my feet. I can't stop now. I am itching at every possible second to sit down and continue my story. I feel like I've been given new life. Hee hee! Reborn!

I know. It sounds silly. But it has been so uplifting for me. And I knew it all along. The point is to Just. Do. It. Even when you don't think you have anything to say, just sit down and write.

Guess what else helped me to get through it?

I've written the last 3000 words by hand. In a special notebook I bought just to write in. So I can write ANYWHERE. ANYTIME. I always have my story with me to write 20 words or 2000. Its almost freeing. Like when you learned to ride a bike.

That's my good news story of the day. I hope you have a good news story today too!

BRRRRR....!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:09:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.

Its Valentine's Day. And I love celebrating love, but the holiday seems so over rated. I helped my kiddos get their valentines ready for their classmates and their teachers, and although I know that will not last forever, it does remind me of those days oh so long ago.

But I like to celebrate love every day. My love for my SO, my love for my children and my family. So, yes, we will celebrate today, along with the rest of the world, but in our own special way, just like always. And that's just my two cents. For whatever its worth. (Never expected that from a romance writer, huh?)

And on that note, I would like to put up an AWESOME IDEA to the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers blog, Chiseled In Rock, for the awesome post today. And I'm going to follow suit. Give me your best 25 or so words to describe the picture below. How creative can you be?

Help Save Your Own Life

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:22:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: If you have the choice between being loved or being right, choose to be loved.

I took a week off from the blogging world to help some friends. Two years ago, my friend Cindy's step-sister died of carbon monoxide poisoning. This is her story:

Lauren Johnson was a flame from which every person could light their own candle. She had a spark inside her and she shared it with the world. Lauren had dedicated her life at an early age to standing up for those that could not stand up for themselves and she believed passionately in fighting for justice. Caring, compassionate and ready to take on the world, Lauren had found her calling. At twenty four years old, she was working on a masters program in international human rights at the prestigious Joseph Korbel School of International Studies in Denver, Colorado. Lauren was a natural leader and was preparing to travel to Israel to lead a delegation of students at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. However, five days before she was to leave, on January 5, 2009, Lauren lost her life to carbon monoxide poisoning because a damaged furnace vent on the roof of her apartment building leaked the odorless, colorless, tasteless toxin through the wall and into her home. A carbon monoxide detector (COD) had not been installed in her apartment and she was unaware that she was breathing the lethal gas. When she developed a headache and felt drowsy, she laid down in her bed and never woke up. Lauren's flame had been extinguished and the world was worse off because of it.

Lauren's friends formed The LAUREN Project which has two separate focuses. To support international volunteer mission trips among young people (ages 21-35) and to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The LAUREN Project applied for a federal grant through FEMA's Fire Protection and Services Grant Program and I assisted them in preparing it. Given they just learned of the grant the middle of January, and the grant deadline was yesterday, February 4, 2011, we had only two weeks to put it together.

Please check out The LAUREN Project and pass it on. And please install a CO detector in your home if you don't have one already. After researching this issue the past two weeks, I am amazed at how many people still don't have the $25 device installed in their home that can save their life.

Now for the wait and see period. And on to the next project.

Have a fantastic week everyone!

Twitter? Tweet? Twisted? Twerp?

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 01:57:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.

I just finished reading Nathan Bransford's blog post on Tweeting and I'm a tad perplexed. I just got a handle on the blogging thing. I started my blog over a year ago and after not much interaction with it, I put it on hold for several months. Then I figured out you had to advertise it, so I did on facebook. To all my friends. And when I still didn't have much interaction with it, I started to check out other blogs to see what they were doing. And I commented on a few. And BOOM. People visited my blog, because, ya know, they now had a LINK. Hmmm. What a concept. Now, I don't believe I'm that technology or socially inept, but I have struggled with how to market myself and how to advertise. And I'm getting it. Really I am. You all are TERRIFIC teachers!

But then I read Nathan's blog and went CRAP! Now I have to TWEET!?

I get it. Its another form of social media that can get your name out there, that can advertise for you and work in your favor. It makes sense. It works, obviously. But wow. You've seen my hat list! Blogger and Tweeter would have to be added to that, because it would be one more thing to add to my already overflowing plate. I tell myself that I will look into the Twitter Epidemic when - I get my book written; or when I land an agent; or when I'm published. But then its too late, right? The sooner the better.

Frankly, though, for me, its one thing at a time. And right now, its blogging. If I miss the twitter boat, I guess I miss it.

How many of you tweet? And love it? How many hate it? Who out there finds it daunting and who can't live without it?

I AM

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:38:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. ~Robin Williams

The other day someone asked me what I did. Generally, when someone asks that question, you usually reply with what you do to generate income, right? Well, I could have numerous different answers. I make my income in several different ways, but I am so much more than that. I am more than a business owner or an employee. So I made a list. The I AM list.

A Christian, Period.
A Mother (of 2, which automatically adds titles including but not limited to: Chauffeur, Tutor, Secretary, Nurse, Advisor, Counselor, Warden, Coach, Maid, Cook, Event Planner, Bodyguard, Financial Advisor, Referee, Judge, Lawyer, Cheerleader)
A Significant Other (similar to that of Wife, without the paperwork and although I hate the title, it sounds better than girlfriend. When I say I'm his girlfriend, that seems so, I don't know, high school I suppose :))
An Ex-Wife (while minor children are involved, this title holds significance simply because it consumes portions of my week)
A Sister
A Daughter
A Friend
An Aunt
A Cousin
A Niece
A Business Owner
An Independent Employee
A Co-Organizer for NoCo Writer's Group
A Writer
A School Volunteer
A 4-H Leader
A Coach (well, I was for two years at least, and not because of experience, but because of necessity)

And then I let out a big sigh because just reading the list exhausts me. Oh, but otherwise life would be boring!

So tell me, what hats do you wear? When someone asks you what do you do, how do you answer?

Just a little something for your reading pleasure

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:57:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: EXCELLENCE is obtained if you...CARE more than others think is wise; RISK more than others think is safe; DREAM more than others think is practical; EXPECT more than others think is possible. ~Tom Peters, Author of Little Big Things

It's snowing like crazy today and my front yard looks like this blog page. It appears winter has finally decided to stay.

I just thought I'd post a little something I wrote some time ago. I was trying to see the world through my daughter's eyes, and remember those simpler times. Those things we used to do before everything was instant and digital and electronic. Before TV and Wii and cell phones. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and your Sunday and whatever else it is that makes you smile.

ADVICE FROM GRANDPA
by Lisa Blandford

CREATE a fort with chairs and blankets
GROW a garden
CATCH some frogs
ROAST marshmallows over a campfire
SLEEP under the stars, COUNT them and WISH on the ones that fall
SAY hello to the man in the moon
HEAR the crickets play a melody
CHASE the angels
DYE Easter eggs...then HIDE them
EAT chocolate
SHARE chocolate
PICK some wildflowers for Grandma
SMELL the rain
FIND all the colors in a rainbow
LEAVE a May Day basket for the neighbors
LISTEN to the birds sing
PLAY hide and seek
FEED the squirrels
SKIP rocks on a lake
BELIEVE in the tooth fairy
HUG Mom and TELL her she's the best mom ever
THROW a ball for the dog...and WALK him, too
CHURN home made ice cream
IMAGINE what floats among the clouds
HELP Dad clean the garage
DIG up worms
TAKE a Sunday morning walk with Grandpa
SEE the sun rise
GO fishing
WADE barefoot in a creek
DISCOVER a secret hideout
READ to your brother
RIDE your bike
MAKE a wish and blow out the candle on your cake
CELEBRATE with friends
POP old fashioned popcorn
CARVE pumpkins
LET your sister go first
WATCH the sun set
BUILD a snowman...and snow angels, too
WRITE a letter to Santa
SET a good example
ENJOY growing up

The Healing List

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 02:38:00 +0000

I just wanted to post the link to the Colorado Cultural Arts Society website that posted the winners to the 1st Annual Holiday Story Contest.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 04:12:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts. ~Charles Dickens

No word yet on when the story will be posted on the CCAS website, but as soon as its up I will let you all know. :)

So I thought I'd do an end of year blog update. I started this blog a little over a year ago and wanted to share a few fun stats:

Total number of pageviews to date: 1,001
Most hits in one day: 61 on December 26, 2010
Most hits in one month: 294 - November 2010 (although December 2010 is only 12 hits behind that as of today)
Number of hits per country:
United States: 842
Germany: 55
India: 24
Russia: 24
Peru: 12
United Kingdom: 8
Lithuania: 5
Canada: 4
France: 3
Poland: 3
Nigeria: 2
Morocco: 1
Netherlands: 1

Isn't that amazing?!

I also want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! I thought I'd share this fun poem a friend sent me. Thank you all for your support and encouragement this past year and lets bring 2011 in in style!

My Wish For You In 2011

May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debt.
May the pockets of your jeans be magnets for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips.
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address.
In simple terms, may 2011 be the best year of your life!
Happy New year!

BE SAFE EVERYONE!!

Speechless

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 23:50:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: The secret to success is to be ready when your opportunity comes. ~Benjamin Disraeli

I received this notice on Christmas Eve. Best gift I could receive this year. :)

Celebrate!!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 01:15:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY:Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards. ~Vernon Law

I am celebrating today.

Celebrating Christmas and the birth of Jesus.

Celebrating that I am healthy and so are my friends and family.

Celebrating all that I have and all that I've been blessed with in my life.

And I'm celebrating one additional thing. So far the BEST gift I could get this Christmas. But I can't tell you about it ... yet.

Merry Christmas everyone. Enjoy all that you have and all that you've been blessed with.

I'll keep you posted!!

Take A Break

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:07:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: The secret to success is to be ready when your opportunity comes. ~Benjamin Disraeli

I blogged before about my need to read to feed my creativity. I've been reading a lot lately. I've revisited Sidney Sheldon and Nicholas Sparks. I read THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER by Glenn Beck and was reminded of the true meaning of Christmas once again. What are you reading? Please give me some suggestions!

I belong to a writer's group (the best group in the world if you ask me), NoCo Writer's Group (I know, a little generic - name to change soon - leave suggestions if you have any!) and NoCo is sponsored by Colorado Cultural Arts Society, an non-profit organization that supports a variety of the arts. CCAS sponsored a Holiday Story Contest, and I took the leap! It was fun and challenging as the story could only be 1500 words long. Do you know how hard that is? To put together a full, detailed, engaging story in 1500 words or less?

It was a good exercise as it forced me to focus, edit and revise. I will keep you all posted as to how it does. The winners will be posted on CCAS and you can read all about them there!

I hope all your holiday preparations are going smoothly!

Give me just one more minute ...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:21:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: It isn't best that we all think alike; it is difference of opinion that makes horse races. ~Mark Twain

I missed my weekly blog post this past weekend. My days have all blurred together since last week and today I am feeling the pressure. Self-imposed pressure to get it all done. The struggle comes from what to do first. Time Management. Ugh. I get so stuck on the things I HAVE to do (i.e. wake up, go to work, take kids to karate or school or choir, do the laundry, WRITE, pay the bills, etc.) and the things I WANT to do (i.e. read, sleep, play with my kids, WRITE, have coffee with friends, etc.) that I lose my ability to prioritize. Throw in the fact that its DECEMBER and that adds an entire new list of things we HAVE to do and things we WANT to do, and its no wonder the woman in line at the grocery store goes postal on the clerk. Why do we put such added pressure on ourselves?

I love Christmas. I love celebrating with my children and watching the wonder in their eyes as they decorate the tree, or help bake cookies, or put money in the can by the guy ringing the bell. But I also breath a sigh of relief when the holidays are over and we can pack everything up and move on with the new year. One day, I want it not to be that way. I want to feel like a kid again, sad that Christmas is over and I have to go back to school.

So tell me, how do you handle the stress of the holidays? How do you manage your time and not go insane?

PLEASE leave your comments! I would love to hear from you! I also found this great site that measures your Time Management abilities. Wow. I won't tell you how I scored. :)

Happy Mananging everyone!

Please. Let me explain ...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:30:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: If you would hit the mark, you must aim a little above it. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

WORD COUNT: 12,750 new; 29,114 total

So I made a major revelation Thursday. As I sat around the table with my family, eating good food and appreciating all that I have in my life, it hit me that I am also grateful for my new found love. Writing. And I've missed it.

What? Haven't I been writing like mad this month? The answer is yes. Too much in fact. I got so caught up in the idea of writing like crazy to reach my goal and finish my book, that the true passion disappeared. I had removed supposed time wasters like reading and movies from my schedule for the month. I love to write. But I need other stories to keep my imagination running.

I learned that the fuel that helps me do it had been eliminated. The ability to get sucked into a good story is exactly what I need to get my own mind churning. My brain had run dry and until I replenished it, I became unable to write like I know I can.

So, I am now announcing the book will not be done by November 30. I will not be hitting 50,000 words this month. That's just a fact. It will not work with my current life schedule. I do not want to write a story just to write it. I need to feel it. To see it. To nurture it.

Its all about balance, you know? I have almost doubled the number of words. And that's saying something. The beginning of November, I started with 16,354 words that had taken me three months to write. Since November 1, I've written 12,750 words. I've almost doubled what I started with. So, that's more my pace I think. I can do that. If I could focus for 6 hours straight, 5 days a week, I'd be able to complete it, but that's not a reality for me and my life. I've accepted that.

So, not only am I thankful for my family and friends, for finding my true passion in writing and creating stories, but I am thankful that I set a goal for myself, and I'm thankful that I can recognize when I'm not going to hit it and still like myself.

I just need to set a new goal.

Happy week everyone. Don't go too crazy with all the holiday madness. Be careful out there ...

Gobble ... Gobble!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 04:17:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity. ~Lou Holtz

WORD COUNT UPDATE: Coming soon

A cute Thanksgiving poem that was emailed to me. I did not write it and I have no idea who did, but boy do I love it! Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Cherish those you love.

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

10 Easy Steps to Publication

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:36:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Fear not that your life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it never has a beginning. ~John Henry Cardinal Newton (Apparently I liked the quote from last week so much that I posted it two weeks in a row. Sorry about that!)

WORD COUNT: 10,620 new. Total Word Count: 26,974
So, I'm just a little behind the goal. However, I have almost doubled in three weeks what it took me three months to write before. That's something right? I know, excuses, excuses. But it is only the 21st of the month. I still have 9 days. A lot can happen in 9 days.

A friend asked me the other day what the process is for fiction writing for the purpose of publication. Well, I'm no expert, by all means. But this is the process that I've stumbled across.

1. After completing your novel (which took you 6 months to write - Woo! Hoo! - completed before your self-imposed deadline!), you put it aside and forget about it for 2 months. Then you pick it up again and for 6 months, make 10-15 revisions to it.

2. When you think you've made all the revisions you can possible make and keep it the original story you wanted to tell, you take it to your local writer's group for critique.

3. Return from the critique group and make another 10-15 different revisions.

4. Finally you determine all you are doing is rearranging words and its time to let the baby go, so you research agents.

5. After determining which agent will accept the genre you write, you learn that some accept a query letter only (i.e. a jacket flap, two paragraph blub stating what your book is about and a one sentence paragraph detailing the writing credential you don't have. Because if you did, you probably don't need to be querying agents), some accept a query letter and a 5 page synopsis, some accept a query letter and your first ten pages, while still others accept a query letter and a 1-2 page synopsis (which has to be written completely different from the 5 page synopsis).

6. You send out your query letters to 50 different agents, tailoring each letter to the agent you are querying, cutting and pasting your text because the agent website states you will be blacklisted if you send an attachment. Unfortunately, you notice too late that the last agent you send to, after rewriting your synopsis a third time to be no longer than their 3000 words requirement, states in the fine print that they accept exclusive submissions only. That means that they want to be the only agent you send your query letter to. And they will get back to you in 4-6 weeks if they decide to request a partial (first 50 pages) of your manuscript.

7. Most agents will say "Thank you for your submission, but you work is not really for us." But some agents will ask for a partial and some may actually ask for a full. Each partial or full will take the agent 3-6 months to review. And then they could still say no.

8. When you get the magic phone call from an agent stating they want to sign you, you do a happy dance and toast to yourself with your lukewarm coffee because for once you have the house to yourself and no one is around to help you celebrate, and your coffee cup is the closest drinking dish you could find.

9. After 3 more hefty revisions, your agent submits your book to publishers. After two agonizing months, one publisher bites, but wants additional revisions. And you comply. Again.

10. After 3 years from when you wrote the first word of the first chapter, your book is accepted for publication. But who knows when it will end up on the shelf at Barnes & Noble. That date has yet to be determined. You receive a miniature check resembling an advance for your book, and you may receive royalties if your book sells what the publisher says it should sell. And you learn all about e-books and royalty statements and Agent Paychecks. (Yes, now that your agent helped find a publisher for you, you have to pay her)

But you can now call yourself a published author. And you smile from ear to ear because you achieved your goal.

And it was worth it.

And you boot up your computer and write the first word of the first chapter of your second novel...

To Facebook or not to Facebook ...

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 04:12:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor people perfected without trials. Chinese Proverb

WORD COUNT: 7,228 (Its been a slow week for writing and an insane week for reality!)

Facebook is what you make it.

I know a lot of people out there that have apposed Facebook from the beginning. If you are one of those that did (or still does), you are not alone.

But here's my spiel you lucky ducks.

Facebook is what you make it. You don't have to login everyday. You don't have to post pictures of everything in your house, including your children, pets, dirt, spiders and trash. You don't have to post every time you go to the bathroom, step on a thorn or floss your teeth. Unless you want to. If you want to, the freedom is yours. That's the beauty of Facebook. It is what you want it to be.

I started my Facebook account almost two years ago and I still love it to this day. I began by finding and connecting with old friends. Of which I have found SO many and am SO grateful! How successful are high school reunions now because of it? Oh, sure, there are plenty of people I would choose NOT to get back in touch with, so I don't. You can ignore friend requests you know. *cheesy grin*

My Facebook account then turned into an avenue I could use to advertise my passion. And has also turned into an amazing support group for me.

I like tuning into the lives of my family and friends, seeing what their kids look like, reading their witty comments, learning about what they believe in. It offers me an amazing connection to others that I wouldn't normally have in today's hectic, crazy world.

But to be honest, I don't talk to a lot of my Facebook friends, outside of Facebook. And I'm friends with many people who aren't even on Facebook. In fact, most of my closest friends I never chat with via Facebook.

So, if you are one of those that “hates Facebook”, that's okay. You can. But I love it. And that's okay too. We'll just not be Facebook friends. Of course, then I don't have to worry about you unfriending me. :)

A Good Find

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 03:38:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor people perfected without trials. ~Chinese Proverb

WORD COUNT FOR NaNoWriMo writing contest: 5,920 words (748 short of the average daily goal, but the day isn't over yet!!)

Today's post has nothing to do with writing or contests or goal setting. I wanted to let you know about a fun blog I found through my friend, Joel. I know Joel from what seems a past life, when I was young and knew it all, and 4-H was my world.

Joel's wife, Anju Coleman-Nakai's blog, A Worthy Splurge, features products and services she feels are worthy of your dollar, your energy and/or your time. She researches the products/services and only features them if they fit her criteria.

I think checking out her blog is A Worthy Splurge in itself. Click on her blurb below, to link to her site. Make sure to leave her a comment if you see something you like! Enjoy!

"Let's face it. It's fun to splurge. Just saying the word makes you feel kind of giddy. But one too many frivolous purchases and there you are with a bad case of buyer's remorse. You're in the doldrums. "What to do?" you think, biting your nails.

"Make worthy splurges. Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Happily, it's not..."

A Goal is a Goal

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:52:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Some goals are so worthy that it is glorious even to fail.

Wow, does that ever hit home. I've gone and done it. I set a goal, and for me, a goal doesn't really cement until I tell someone else about it. And I told ALL OF YOU!

The goal is 50,000 words in 30 days. That's 5 with four zeroes. I know you know that but that puts it into a whole different perspective for me. That's 1,666.66666667 words per day. And what do I get if I attain such a lofty and crazy goal? Well, sore fingers, annoyed family, and ... a completed first draft. Worth it? Definitely.

Now, I just have to get over the fear of starting. The goal seems unattainable right now. It seem like an enormous mountain impossible to climb. But I take each step, one at a time. Day by day. And before I know it, I will be more than halfway. And then belief and momentum increase, and I know I will start to believe the goal wasn't so unattainable after all, it was just my negative voices telling me that so I would be too afraid to start.

Okay, so you all hear those voices too, right? It's not just me? Please tell me it's not just me. :)

So, I am starting with my current word count, and I will update the blog periodically as I post as to what my word count has grown to. You all will help me stay on track. And I thank you!

Happy Monday! Happy November! Happy writing or whatever else it is that you do that you love.

CURRENT WORD COUNT: 16,354

Dream BIG!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:27:00 +0000

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Talent develops in quiet, alone; character is sharpened in the torrent of the world. - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Every November the writing world buzzes with a contest, well, more of a challenge, called NaNoWriMo. It stands for National Novel Writing Month. The challenge is to write a novel in 30 days. Here is the link to their website. And here is a link to another online writer buddy, Lia Mack, who blogs about NaNoWriMo, too.

A 50,000 word novel.

From scratch.

In 30 days.

And while I would love to take on this challenge, my current situation doesn't fit the criteria. I am already working on a novel, and am 15,000 words into it. I don't want to stop that creative flow to get another one going for the challenge. So why don't I take the challenge and just add 50,000 to my current work in progress? Well, that's what I said. But the NaNoWriMo rules state this is not acceptable. The piece you submit must not be started prior to November 1. So I am challenging myself to NaNoCoMo. National Novel Completion Month. I will add 50,000 words to my current novel by November 30. Eek. Did I just say that?

I am excited to get started, scared that I won't complete it and terrified that I just might. Could I actually have the first draft of my new novel completed before Christmas? ABSOLUTELY!

So, there you have it. You've all heard the challenge first. Although I am not able to be a part of the official contest, I am challenging myself to my own kind of contest.

I figure even if I don't succeed, I'm closer to the goal than I would have been otherwise. And that is a positive thing. Always set your goals. And then buckle down and get focused!

I'll keep you posted on the word count!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Get Focused!

noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Stenzel) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 14:45:00 +0000

Quote for the day: In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: hit the line hard. - Theodore Roosevelt

How fitting a quote is that for Football Sunday, eh?

So, my critique groupie pal, Tim is a runner. He writes non-fiction and is currently writing pieces about running. He is an avid runner, bordering on obsessed and addicted if you ask me (just kidding Tim!) but it's what he does, what he teaches and who he is: he is dedicated and passionate about it.

The work he brings to the group for critique is inspirational, uplifting and motivating. To the point that the non-runners of the group (i.e. the rest of us) almost feel like getting up and running laps around the room. I said ALMOST.

Tim writes about the focus it takes to stay dedicated and determined on your goal. And as I read his words, I realize I can apply them to all aspects of life. To writing, raising children or household chores. His words apply to life. Yours, his, mine.

Here are links to Tim's blogs:

Teenedge-cation
Tim Catalano's Uncommon Sense
Run the Edge

So tell me, how do you stay focused? What keeps you dedicated or motivated to complete the task at hand? Please leave comments! I would love to hear from you!