FROM THE BIRD'S NEST

Writers' Wellspring with Judy Bridges at The Clearing in Door County, Wisconsin

2012-05-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

The Friday night reading in the schoolhouse.

Writers' Wellspring Class - May 2012

YIPPIE it's an IPPY!

2012-05-03T21:03:00.002-07:00

Time to yell YIPPIE! Shut Up & Write! won a Bronze in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY). That's the 3rd national award. How many stickers can you put on the cover of a book? (How many angels on the head of a pin?) Thanks to all who taught me everything I know so I could write the book.

Rosebud Book Reviews: Very nice and well deserved. An excellent book. John Lehman

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Dave Blank: yippeeee!

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W.D. Gagliani: Congratulations, Judy!!

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Chris Krajniak: U still gold in our eyes Juju!

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Mary Casey Martin: Bravo, AGAIN!

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Pam Parker Mucho: congrats - that is awesome!!

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Denice Ryan Martin: Yippee for the IPPY! Congrats!:)

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Carol LaChapelle: Many, many congrats, Judy.

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Karla Huston: Great news, Judy!!

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Marjorie Pagel: Judy, this is wonderful news. Congratulations!

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Valerie J. Christell: FABULOUS! Congrats!

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Barbara Malcolm: Yahoo! That's wonderful, Judy. Congratulations!

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Debra Brenegan: Wowza -- Congrats!!

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Dennis Drobina: Congrats Judy! For your gift to so many!WOW

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Karen Hunt: Congratulations!

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Miha Avramut: Love it!!

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Mackenzie Harris: ‎...excellent...wonderful !

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Therese Guise: Awesome news! I'm not surprised. :)

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Carol Wobig: Congratulations! Go for four!

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Amy Lou Jenkins: Whoo hoo!

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Karen Dahlman: Congratulations! The honor is well deserved. Put ALL the stickers on the book!

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Debbie Verhyen: So happy for you Judy. Hats off to a job well done.

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Dianne Hofmann: It just keeps getting better and better! Your husband's global marketing plan must have helped ;) Congrats!

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Mary Wehner: YOU deserve all the stickers you can get. Hard work and intelligence and a generous attitude. We could all learn from you, Judy.

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Kim Suhr: Bravo!

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Tom Potisk: You are a great example for all of us!

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Allyce Lees: Congratulatons Judy!

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Bob Koshin Hanson: congrats teacher! U changed my life with this course (and book)! wow!

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Judy Redbird Bridges: Thank you all for the likes and congratulations. I'm feeling mighty good.

WRITING FAMILY STORIES

2012-04-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

Facilitated by Judy Bridges

Saturday, April 28, 2012, 10am - 2:30pm

In the Redbird-Redoak Classroom #205, Marian Center, Milwaukee

For twenty years, I've been living my passion to help people write and this is exactly the kind of workshop I like: an exciting day full of ideas, encouragement and practical skills

Whether you are a beginning writer or a pro, this workshop will help you mine the riches of the people, places and events in your life. Did you really get married on a motorcycle? What was it like to live through a dire illness, or visit Grandma, or dance on a cobblestone street? Would you like to write these stories for your family, to give as gifts, or use in a novel, essay, or memoir? Or maybe just get-it-down for yourself?

I'm working on stories of my own this year. For me, the writing takes all kinds of forms - short stories, personal essays, monologues and one act plays. Whatever form you choose, the important thing is to bring the story to life, to keep your readers engaged.

In this workshop, you will:

see samples of things others have done with their writing - gifts, family keepsakes, published collections and novels

recall unique experiences, funny stories and bits of wisdom that your family treasures

decide where to begin so it is lively and interesting

learn how to set yourself free - to write even if you're lousy at it

learn from the writing, yours' and others'

learn skills that are transferable to other types of writing

get a list of helpful resources

enjoy the company of others who like to write

Fee: $85.

Plan to bring your lunch.

Remember that Judy is allergic to fragrances.

Click here for information about Fragrance Free products

To register by check, click here for registration form

To register by credit card or PayPal, click the BUY NOW button below.

Aunt Claire's Peacocks

2012-04-13T19:39:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, we had two Tom turkeys and a bunch of hens in our front yard. The Toms were displaying – tail feathers fanned high, wide and handsome – as they chased each other away from the hens. I thought, "peacocks!"

Aunt Claire called them peacocks. This was her home, her chair by the big front windows until she was in her 90s. During the years she was housebound we talked on the phone nearly every day, and she would tell me what was going on in the yard. "Oh, the peacocks are here!" I would roll my eyes. Peacocks. Sure. Lots of wild peacocks in mid-Wisconsin.

After I inherited the house, a neighbor mentioned the peacocks that used to be here. He thought maybe they were runaways from someone's private collection.

So maybe they really were peacocks?

Doesn't matter – from now on, turkeys will always be "Aunt Claire's Peacocks" to me.

It Takes a Village

2012-04-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

In mid-March, Carol Wobig's collection of short stories, Poached is Not an Option , debuted on Amazon Kindle. The first download registered within minutes, and by the end of the day, twenty "copies" nestled in the Kindles of excited readers, Facebook was a-buzz, and emails were flying.

Carol has been smiling since then. And so have I, because I know the back story – how hard she worked, and how many people it took to make this happen.

Carol tells part of the story on her website, ( www.carolwobig.com ) where she posted a copy of a poem she wrote as a schoolgirl. A teacher’s note appears at the bottom of the poem. It says, “See me.” Next to the poem, Carol writes:

Several years ago, after my mother died, I was going through her scrapbooks and found this poem that she’d saved. I saved it, too, and remembered what my teacher said to me when I responded to her “See me” comment.

“You should think about being a writer,” Sister Rose said. (I can’t remember her real name, of course.)

It took me a few years, but here is the book, Sister Rose. Hope you like it, and thank you to everyone else who encouraged me along the way:

To Judy “Redbird” Bridges, my friend and mentor, and my friend, Dave Blank. He did the cover and formatting. To Kim Suhr for keeping it all going. Thanks to Jeannee, Robert, Pam, Maura, and Marjorie, my readers, and all of the Redbird-Redoak writers who have listened to my stories over and over again and given me great feedback time after time. And thanks to Pam for helping me with the website.

Thanks to my family: Jim and Linda, and my dad. He’s 95 and failing, and can’t understand what an ebook is. But when I told him the book was up on Kindle, he seemed happy for me and asked what the first print was. I told him 10,000! May as well be optimistic.

Every author reading this knows the path that’s behind it: the bits of encouragement from teachers and family, the years of ignoring that encouragement, of writing in private, of whipping up the courage to take a class or join a group, of sharing your work, getting feedback, rewriting, editing, getting published, of the people who ask, “How’s it going?” and the ones who contribute their talents at every turn.

The acknowledgements page in a book can seem like long list of nothing to those who never tried to write a book. But those of us who have know how important each person is to a writer’s success, how much more they did than can be noted, and how many more names belong on the list.

It’s a long road from the first “See me,” to the first, “I love your book,” and no one walks the road alone.

It really does take a village.

What if Judy Hired Vincent van Gogh to Design the Shut Up & Write! Book Cover...

2012-04-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

Shut Up Vincent!

What If Judy Hired a Pirate to Edit Shut Up & Write!

2012-04-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

Preface to Shut Up & Write!

I ne'er aim'd t' be a teacher, probably on accoun' o' I be such a lousy student that I couldna magine meself standin' a fore a class an actin' as if I knew anythin' a tall. All through elementree an' high school, I sat in th' aft row wi' th' Wagners an' th' Wentzels an' wrote notes t' me heartys. When Lassie Beatrix, th' principal o' th' first o' three high schools I attended, called me dad into th' lass' office t' discuss me behavior, I did what any sensible teenager would do: I denied 't. Lassie Beatrix picked up a shoebox, keel hauled o'er t' me, an' dumped a couple bucketfull o' folded paper triangles o'er me hade. Th' only thin' I reckon between that moment an' th' time I be grounded fer th' remainder o' freshman voyage be hearin' th' lass' say, “She’s obviously goin' t' be a writer.”

The Shut Up & Write! (virtual) Worldwide Tour

2012-03-29T12:45:00.001-07:00

Shut Up Beatrix Potter!

(click picture to view slideshow)

My genius husband created the Shut Up & Write! Worldwide Advertising Tour, with SU&W banners emblazoned on important sites from Times Square to Queen Elizabeth's hat. I especially liked seeing the book featured at the Moulin Rouge and on a Highland cow in Scotland.

By the end of the tour, I too was forgetting that it was virtual, and was getting jealous of myself going to all those exciting places.

If you missed it, or would like to re-view it, click here for a video of the highlights: http://www.redbirdstudio.com/tour-video.html

You can check the website, or "friend" me on Facebook, to see future creations, such as, "What if…" as in, "What if we hired Van Gogh to design the book cover?" and "What if SU&W was written by a pirate?" and the latest " SU&W Intergalactic Book Tour".

Judy Redbird Bridges Merit Scholarship for Young Writers

2012-03-04T14:15:00.001-08:00

Know a young writer who would love a week in the fabulous RedOak summer creative writing program? There's a Judy Redbird Bridges Merit Scholarship awaiting one deserving high school student.
http://redoakyoungwriters.info/?page_id=489

Sometimes, the Magic Works

2012-02-28T17:04:00.005-08:00

Barry Wightman invited me to speak at the Elm Grove library. When I asked about topics, he said, "Talk about yourself -- how you came to write the book and found Redbird Studio." I never did that before.

The title: "What Was I Thinking?"

The blurb I sent to Barry:

I'd really like to think I'm sane, and competent, and very nice. But the truth is, I do half of what I do without thinking it through. The year I turned 53, I finished my master's degree, eloped to Scotland, and started a new career. No thoughtful person would cram all that in one year, at that age. And yet, the master's turned out to be useful, the husband is sterling, and the "new career" turned into the most rewarding 20 years of my life.

His introduction, read by Jill Varick, the President of Friends of Elm Grove Library:

Judy Bridges is a Milwaukee cultural institution. Anybody looking to learn anything about writing around here will inevitably run across her name… Judy Bridges, Judy Bridges All searches lead to Judy, and her vast legions of past and present students shout her name from the rooftops. With good reason. The Redbird Studio Writing center in Milwaukee, founded in 1993, has mentored over 6,000 kids and adults to write better than they did before. With her trademark warmth and insight, Judy coaches writers with a combination of tough-love and humor that inspires as it instructs. Not surprisingly, her recent book is titled, Shut Up & Write!

While she doesn't like to admit it, she has a bachelor's degree in writing (fiction and nonfiction), a master's in adult education, and over a decade of professional writing experience. Redbird was named "Best of" area writing centers by Milwaukee Magazine, and Judy was honored as a "Woman Who Put Her Stamp on Milwaukee."

The Friends of Elm Grove Library are thrilled to have her here tonight. Please welcome, Judy Bridges.

Highlights of the evening (for me):

• The room. The Community room was occupied, so we met in the Courtroom. A real courtroom, with plaintiff-defendant tables and all. This was the first time I'd ever been in a courtroom on pleasant business.
• A full house. Every seat filled with a nice, interesting person.
• A woman who said she was there to get my book and take notes for her grand-daughter, who couldn't make it.
• Two writers who were in the first classes I taught, nearly 20 years ago. One said she published every piece she started in that class.

• A little boy who sat in the front row, bouncing his big boots out in front of him, but not complaining a bit.
• A mom who came especially to say thanks for getting her son excited about writing when he came to the studio with a group from Elm Grove Middle School. He's 33 now, and still writing!
• A man who jotted a long list of ideas for things he'd like to write, and said he's now excited to get started.
• A writer who was in one of my retreats at The Clearing last year and is coming back again this year.

Thanks to Barry and Jill and the audience. I might just do this again.

Good news from another brilliant writer. I always knew this guy would make it.

2012-02-05T17:56:00.000-08:00

Judy,

I'm excited (as hell, I may add!) to tell you that Richard Mathews from the Tampa Review just phoned me at home to congratulate me on winning 1st place for the Danahy Award (University of Tampa) for my story Scar. An earlier draft was a finalist for the Narrative Winter contest 2010. I thought nothing would ever happen with it! He said it'll be in print within the year and pays $1,000 smackers.

What a great start to a new year! I come in contact with a fantastic agent and win my first writing award. What else is this year going to bring???????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your friend,
Mark Krieger

Recommended by the Peevish Pen

2012-01-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

Look what Virginia blogger Becky Mushko published on her blog, Peevish Pen - a review and her recommended writing books.

http://peevishpen.blogspot.com/2012/01/shut-up-write.html

2012-01-13T19:36:00.000-08:00

Patty McKenzie sent this photo of the "bubble" plot she's creating for her story. That's Sophie, admiring her work. Patty says, "I have six dogs and two cats... they all like bubble diagrams because mom is happier now that she's using them."

A week later, Patty sent a follow-up...

"Yay Sophie! You're famous! :)
"I actually was going to send you another picture yesterday, but I was afraid my enthusiasm might be pesty. Oh well, tough luck for you. Here it is. ;) It's my whole novel (as it stands now) in bubble diagram.

"Honestly, working through this process has been a life-saver. My novel is one that requires quite extensive world building, and I was getting so lost in all its moving parts. I started with the large bubbles on my board - bubbles for chunks of the story (like in the Sophie picture), then when I would sort a particular section out, I would transfer those bubbles to index cards that I stuck up with magnets in their proper order. Now I can easily see where I am missing key story points, and it's given me loads of insight about pacing, flow, plotline, etc, etc. My partner has been calling it Extreme Bubbling, Bubbling Gone Wild, and Girl in a Plastic Whiteboard Bubble.

"When I'm done, I'm going to take the cards and attach them together with an individual ring-binder clip so I can flip through my scenes as I need to refer to them. That way I can use my clean whiteboard for... oh, I don't know... character wheels? ;)

"Thanks again, Judy. Truly."

2012-01-13T19:09:00.000-08:00

This first, forecasted major winter storm of the season has been a long time coming. We all, of course, have different attitudes towards the snow - you might see it as a nuisance, or you might be like Lake Effect essayist Judy Bridges, for whom the snow is not only welcome, but has effects beyond mere meteorology. Bridges is the founder of Redbird Studio writing center in Milwaukee. Semi-retired from everyday teaching, she is writing a collection of family stories, and enjoying the success of her book, Shut Up & Write!

Writers, feeling at home

2012-01-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

The Shut Up & Write workshop in the Redbird-Redoak classroom
Jan 7-8, 2012

AN E-GIFT

2012-01-03T10:51:00.001-08:00

Niece Katie visited her dear friends Renée and Heinz in Graz, Austria, and sent this photo essay. And now, thanks to Renée, and Heinz, and Katie, and my web wizard husband, David, we can share the story with friends on the Redbird website, and blog, and Facebook.
Heinz will be famous.

I was in Graz, as you know, and of course, had an amazing time. I took some pictures for you while I was there.

Last year, "Shut Up & Write" was a hit gift for Renée....

However, it was Heinz who carried it around with him everywhere - it followed him everywhere from ski trips to the kitchen table. And otherwise stayed at his bedside table.

He loved it, except for it made him a bit depressed, because he had already completed the manuscript of his second book -Tödliches Nickerchen am Mondsee [translation: A Deadly Snooze at Mondsee]...and realized all the things he had done wrong.

But, in the little book on top, you can see his latest notes - he is already prepping his characters for his third book!

SNOW, SNOW. BEAUTIFUL SNOW.

2011-12-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

Top of the line fun for the day. My personal essay, "Snow, Snow. Beautiful Snow." was published in KitchenParade.com. Two weeks ago, it appeared in DearReader.com. Given the wide following of these sites, I'm thoroughly thrilled.

"SNOW, SNOW. BEAUTIFUL SNOW."

My mother stands at the window, smiling out at the flaky stuff. I am
four years old and already I've acquired the habit from her. Our
sing-song voices share the joy, and it's years before I give it any
thought.

This small moment in my life got bigger a few years ago, when Mom
died and I was going through her papers. I'd given her a three ring
binder to make notes of things she remembered or would want me to
know. The pages were filled with penciled memories of pressing her
brothers' pants for a penny, of dressing up in her big sister's
flapper clothes, and helping out the fancy lady who lived next door.
And on one page, an entry about her dad standing at the window,
singing, "Snow, snow. Beautiful snow."

Until I read that, I didn't know our snow love was a generational
thing. If I got it from my mother, and she got it from her dad, did
he get it from his mother or dad? And did they get it from their
parents? For how many generations have my ancestors been welcoming
snow?

On other pages, Mom remembered sharing bowls of potato soup during
the Depression, getting a job at the shoe factory, going to dances
with her friends, and marching with the Gray Ladies on the Fourth of
July. She told about the good looking guy who bought her a wedding
dress, how he celebrated when I was born, and what it was like when
he left. In her written memories, I found my younger mother, the one
I was too little to understand.

It would not have been easy for my mother to write her memories. She
was an avid reader, but having to quit school at thirteen left her
self-conscious about her grammar and spelling. Words like
'ridiculous' turned into 'redicalus', and 'arthritis' into
'arthuritis.' On top of that, her hands weakened in those last days
so that it was hard for her to hold a pencil. And yet she filled
page after page with things she wanted me to know.

I think of Mom when I get tired of writing, when the words won't
come and my fingers ache. I worry about grammar, vividness, point of
view, accuracy, and grace, when I should be taking a tip from her
and just getting the words on paper. I should write what I think,
say what I want to say and fix it later--or not. Absolutely no one
is going to die if the only thing I write today is a really awful
first draft.

The heart of writing, the only thing that really matters, is that we
communicate. For some things--a published work, for instance, we
need to polish to perfection. But for the written gift, the messages
written for children and spouses and friends, all we need is
ourselves--our imperfect, word-scrambling, ordinary selves
remembering a man looking out a window on a winter morning, singing,
"Snow, snow. Beautiful snow!"

Judy's Guest Blog on DearReader.com

2011-12-12T12:31:00.000-08:00

Things a writer gets to do if she's lucky:

2011-09-03T13:12:00.000-07:00

Read a great review of her book written by Elfrieda Abbe, publisher of The Writer magazine. Abbe calls Shut Up & Write! "... a combination of tough-love coaching and humor that inspires and shows you how to become the writer you want to be." (September issue. Top half of page 18 and 19.)
Put gold winner stickers on the upper right corner of her books: "First Generation Indie Book Awards."
Find out that her book is in the top 10% in its sub-category on Amazon.
Get a message from Susan Pittelman: "I was talking with my hairdresser about your book (she has already bought three copies!!) and she told me that your book was in the top ten sellers at Next Chapter!"
Find a note with a Pay Pal order: "Please send the book asap. I'm not returning the one I borrowed from the library until I get my own, and the fine is building up."
Hear from a neighbor that her daughter's friend's mom, (did you follow that?) was talking to her therapist about writing. The therapist went to her bookshelf, removed a snappy looking red, white and blue book, and handed it to her.
Read an email from Michaela Ross, who is now serving with the Peace Corps in Nicaragua. She's writing daily, and guess what book she took along with her.

If I have any sense I'll save this list to read in my dotage. (For fun, I just looked up "dotage" and found the usual dreary definitions, plus this one: "The first syllable in dotage rhymes with go: "DOE-tage." The verb dote means "to be silly" and also "to be infatuated," both of which can at times describe those in their dotage, including a renewed interest in romance that many may not have experienced since they were giddy teenagers, in love for the first time.")

Another something to look forward to.

Where is She Now?

This is a new list on my website that tells where I'm hanging out these days. Here are some of the highlights. (Details follow. This is just in case you don't read that far.)

I'll be introducing author Karen McQuestion at Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee on September 8th, leading the Women's Writing Retreat at The Clearing in Door County Sept 11-17, speaking about how to "Write Well and Get Happily Published" at the Wisconsin Regional Writers Conference in Stevens Point on Sept 24th, and teaching a Sunday afternoon workshop to benefit the Waupaca Community Arts Center on October 23.

In November, I'm teaching full-day session of one of my favorite classes, "Writing Family Stories," at Redbird-Redoak Writing Center in Milwaukee. Register with Redbird-Redoak http://redbirdredoak.com/?page_id=1296

I'm sleeping through the entire month of December, and then, in January, I'll teach a full weekend class of Shut Up & Write! This is the first time I've been able to get that on the calendar since last April, and I'm thrilled about it.

Another Room of My Own

When I gave up the beautifully painted (thanks to niece, Kristin) studio #205, I reserved another room at the Marian Center in case I really needed it. You'd think it would be enough to have an office at home in Milwaukee and an entire writers' hideaway in the country near Waupaca, but it turns out I also need a city space for private consults. So, I'm now in the little studio at the end of the hall on the main floor, the one with oversized windows, and cute bookcases outside the door. Look for me in room #211.

Lost Messages

I replaced old Blackie with a new Mac Air and misplaced a bunch of email messages in the process. It also seems that some messages I send, perhaps from my Iphone, are not arriving. If you don't hear from me and think you should have, rattle my cage and I'll do my best to connect.

Cartwheels!

2011-08-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

Do you think it's possible to get everyone in the universe to pick up the September issue of The Writer magazine? I mean, if they did, then everyone could read the really neat review the publisher, Elfrieda Abbe, wrote of Shut Up & Write! It runs across the top of pages 18-19, complete with a graphic of the book and the character wheel.

This character is turning cartwheels!

Spreading Wings

2011-07-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

(Click to view photos)

There's a moment before a bird takes flight that she settles down and becomes very still, then she lifts her wings and off she goes. I'm in that settle-down moment now, quietly feeling the twenty years that have led to today, and getting ready for the future. I think my friend Felicity Librie is in the same place... tons to do, wings to spread, but for this moment, we are still.

Last week we had a little party at the studio. We spread the word as best we could without making it public, and oh so appreciated seeing those who were able to attend. See photos here.

Felicity will be in Racine for a few more weeks before moving to Palo Alto, CA, where her husband, Chris, accepted a new position. Felicity will miss us -- not as much as we'll miss her -- but she's looking forward to the opportunity, and the abundance of fresh vegetables. When she moved to London, Doug and Janie Jacobson, and David and I, made the trip there to visit her. What do you want to bet many more of her Redbird friends visit in California?

I will be re-settling Redbird Studio here at home in Milwaukee, and at The Bird's Nest in the country. Plans include writing, book appearances, teaching at Redbird-Redoak (which is moving into the former Redbird Studio), and leading workshops at The Clearing and elsewhere. Later this week, David will post a schedule on the website so you'll know where to find me.

Thanks to all who joined us to celebrate our new adventures, and to those who sent notes and assured us that we will, indeed, be seeing you.

With love,

Mailing Address:
PO Box 07234
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Phone (same as before) 414-481-3195
jb@redbirdstudio.com
www.redbirdstudio.com

The Chronicle Cat: Reading My Way Through Retirement

2011-07-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Click to view The Chronicle Cat

RESCUING REGINA

2011-07-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

Get a load of the book buying line at Sister Josephe Flynn's Book launch at Mount Mary College. I didn't count, but I think there were about 200 guests. We enjoyed a brilliant program of thank you stories, comments by Josephe and the Bakalas, a short reading and singing.

Dan Goldin from Boswell Books handled the book sales of RESCUING REGINA: THE BATTLE TO SAVE A FRIEND FROM DEPORATION AND DEATH.

I started reading my copy right away that night and had to fight myself to turn off the light and go to sleep.

Photos from the Writers' Wellspring Class at The Clearing

2011-06-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

David Blank wound them together into a nice slideshow. Makes me smile to remember the week with such nice people.
View the slideshow here...

Today is DOUG JACOBSON DAY!

2011-06-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

He'll be interviewed on WUWM-FM (89.7) "Lake Effect" at 10am and 11pm, (also on podcast), and at 7pm, he will read and sign copies of The Katyn Order at Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Avenue, Milwaukee.

Before you go, read his post, "Get Published... Really!" at Shine

This is Doug's second WWII thriller. Read more about The Katyn Order and Night of Flames at his website

Get Published . . . Really!

(reprinted by permission of the author)

You can do it . . . really. That's the good news. The bad news is . . . it's a lot of work. But let's start at the beginning.

You have a story to tell. If you don't, then go out and play golf, or fish, or something until you do. You must have a story you want to tell, the one story down deep that's aching to get out. I said one story, and that's important. You can't write a second book until you've written the first, so don't let your mind wander off in too many directions. Stay focused. the reader will know immediately if you're not.

Night of Flames was a story I wanted to tell. I can go into all kinds of reasons, but that's not the mission here (remember the part about staying focused). I had the story and so, I started to write. I would like to stress that at this point in my life I had never written one piece of fiction, not even a short story. I wrote the entire first draft of Night of Flames (140,000 words) on my own without showing it to a soul (not a good idea, as it turned out). Only then did I give some thought to getting it published. The next thing that happened to me is the single most important piece of advice I ever share with would-be writers. Get help!

I got help. Quite by happenstance I learned about an organization in my home town of Milwaukee called Redbird Writers Studio. I contacted the founder of the studio, Judy Bridges, and paid her to read the first eight chapters. That part is important, the paying for it part. Having your spouse, or your friend, or your minister, read something you wrote and expecting solid feed-back is a waste of their time, and yours. You get what you pay for. What I needed (and so do you) is professional, un-biased feed-back. So, what did Ms. Bridges say? I'll never forget it. "Well, Doug, you've certainly done your homework. This is very interesting stuff. But, if you want anyone else to read it that you don't have to pay, and you're willing to spend another year or two, I might be able to help you."

I was crestfallen. But, in retrospect, those were the most important words of advice I've ever received. I signed up for Judy's six-week course called, Shut-Up and Write! Then I enrolled in a writers round-table where you meet in a group of 8-12 people, read what you've written then sit back and hear what they think. It's at first completely intimidating, then it becomes stimulating and eventually you begin to learn the craft. After five years, I still participate in the same round-table.

I'm an engineer, all left brain organization and detail (or is that right brain?) but I found out I could learn something new. I learned how to create a scene, I learned about POV, I learned how to create dialog that actually sounds like people talking. And I re-wrote, and re-wrote, and -re-wrote, until I had a story that other people would actually read.

Getting it published? Believe me, that part is equally tough, but don't even think about it until the first part - the writing - is as good as you can make it. In my case, I did an extensive search on Writer's Market, sent out dozens of query letters to literary agents, and filed all the rejection postcards. I never did succeed in getting an agent. So, I started focusing on mid-size publishers who would accept un-agented queries. And, I got lucky. McBooks Press, in Ithaca NY, is a mid-range publisher specializing in action-oriented historical fiction. At the time they were looking for stories with a strong female character. I said in my query letter that I thought I had just what they're looking for, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Final thoughts: First of all, the query letter and the synopsis of the story are harder to write than the book. Write them in the present tense, keep them short and tight, and focus on the characters. It's these brief documents that will determine whether you get a chance or not, so take your time, review them with your writer's group and re-write, re-write, re-write. Second, and most important, do NOT get discouraged. This is a tough business. File the rejections and keep going. You'll get there, and you WILL be published.