ME AND MY IMAGINATION

Ek'abo Ebi! (Welcome Family!)

My earliest memory of writing was in second grade.  My teacher asked the class to write a short story about anything that came to mind during the weekend.  My adventurous story was about a girl who saw a car hanging off the side of the George Washington Bridge while she was on her way home from New Jersey.

 

(Go figure LOL!) Until now, I have no clue what I saw or heard that gave me such an idea, but sure enough I received a lifted eyebrow from my teacher and an amused but bewildered, “Really Sharon, where do you come up with such outrageous stories!” LOL! Needless to say, my next parent-teacher conference was quite interesting.

 

As long as I can remember, I’ve had a very vivid imagination.  A large part of what fed that imagination was books.  Not just books, but new books.  I always looked forward to receiving a new pamphlet from Weekly Reader (For those of you who are not familiar, the Weekly Reader is today’s Scholastic).

I was drawn to the new titles; the new covers; the new book smell. I loved fantasy based books and still do.  I would pull out those colorful pages at the end of the day and immediately show it to my parents.  “Mommy, Daddy, can I have a new book or two?” When I was little it was Green Eggs and Ham, when I was in elementary school it was Nancy Drew.  In junior high school, I learned a little about sex and scoliosis when I read Judy Blume’s Wifey (secretly LOL) and Deenie. 

In high school, my interest in Judy Blume continued when I read the books Forever and Tiger Eyes.   I read and discovered authors such as: Beverly Clearly, James Baldwin, and a bit of George Orwell. I wrote for the school newspaper, and wrote my way into college with the perfect (thanks to my favorite English teacher) entrance essay.  I went to college with thoughts of becoming a reporter, getting involved in some area of the media.  I pursued a Liberal Arts degree and after I received it, the world began to change.

I started to see the big picture.  There was no money in becoming a reporter in the 90’s (at least not at the beginning). And the path before me did not look inviting.  Imagine me a city girl in some small rural town, stumbling my way to recognition.  I did not want it enough; I did not want that career enough to walk down that road. So I changed direction and pursued a degree in the legal field.

When I look back at it now, I don’t regret it.  Everything that we do in life is meant in some way.  And even though, we sometimes wonder about the “what ifs”, we get where we are, when we are meant to.

So in 2003, eight years and two children later, I found myself back on the correct path.  Deciding that I wanted to write something for my children; realizing that I had a new story to tell.  Something just as vivid and bright as the creative, amusing, outrageous, elemental stories that that second grader wrote those many years ago.

I no longer worry about the “what ifs”. I’m thinking about “what can be”.  Do I have some pessimism?  Of course, who wouldn’t?  But I can’t let that be a deterrent.  All those characters, those thoughts, those ideas that have been looking for a way out, have found their place on paper.

Not all of us know from such a young age that this is what they were meant to do.  Life intervenes and alters our course.  But we always find our way back. Did life change your course?  Did it take a while before you found your way back to your true path? Becoming a writer? Have you already embraced your dream? Or are you working towards it?  If so, I invite you to share your story me.  How vivid is your imagination?  Did you write as a child?  I look forward to hearing about your journey!

Mari e laipe!

See you soon!

S-

*****

Thanks for visiting ‘Amachi is Hope.’ If you were inspired or felt a connection with today’s blog (or any of my previous entries) please leave a comment. J

OPENING THE DOOR TO CRITIQUING

Ek'abo Ebi! (Welcome Family!)

Finding the courage to write a book is one thing.  But it’s quite another to have your work critiqued by others.  You leave your work open to the opinions and thoughts of your peers and sometimes even strangers.  You hope that when you take this chance, that you will gain something worthwhile.  A new opportunity to hone your craft may present itself.  A new idea or suggestion might help your story flow better.

But what happens when that reader does not share an interest in your choice of genre?  Does it make sense for him/her to read your work?  If you have no interest in poetry, sci-fi or even romance why take the time to critique that person’s work? Sure if you’ve been writing for a long time, you may be able to help your peer sift out problems with technique, grammar or flow.  But I believe that you lose the pleasure of reading the work, if you find it dull or boring.  I am not a fan of books based on horror, so I would never read or offer my opinion regarding such literature. 

If you join a critique group, try to connect with those that share the same or similar interests as yourself.  I find that they will be more open to the story you have written, the characters you’ve created and even the scenes you’ve developed in your mind.

When I first allowed someone to read my work, it did not occur to me that fantasy was not their cup of tea.  The comments they made rubbed me the wrong way.  And then I realized, this person was not a reader of sci-fi or fantasy based books.  They never followed Star Trek, couldn’t name an Avenger if you paid them, and knew nothing of the Chronicles of Narnia! LOL!  Basically, they did not or could not understand where I was coming from. 

After that I knew, that if I wanted fair, knowledgeable, receptive critiques it should be read by someone who shares an interest in my choice of genre, who has an interest in writing or just someone who’s an avid reader.  Perhaps, one who’s open to all types of literature?  If you don’t approach it with an open mind you just might miss out on something truly exceptional.

Recently, I had the pleasure of receiving critiques (Note: Not all critiques are pleasurable LOL) from a number of individuals who enjoyed my work and gave me very useful ideas on how to enhance my story.  You can read your book a hundred times, and not see what another set of eyes can.  Those eyes can pluck out scenes that need more detail, or can tell you ways to make a simple sentence more powerful, or in my case the best ways to introduce foreign concepts to my readers without confusion.

Regardless, I still feel a bit of tension each time I present another part of my story.  No matter how you approach it, you expose your work and yourself (thoughts, feelings, ideals) to scrutiny.  But I believe that taking the step to having your work critiqued is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a writer.

Mari e laipe!

See you soon!

S-

*****

Thanks for visiting ‘Amachi is Hope.’ If you were inspired or felt a connection with today’s blog (or any of my previous entries) please leave a comment. J

WRITING’S NEVERENDING CHALLENGES

Ek'abo Ebi! (Welcome Family!) 

I’ve been told on more than one occasion, that when you write a book you should try to make it universal; something that most people can connect to in some way, shape or form.  A number of things can make that difficult.  If you are not a veteran writer, sometimes finding the right words to express a thought, portray a scene or even connect with a reader can prove problematic. 

This can also be the case when you write outside the norm.  As you are aware, my book Amachi’s Hope is influenced by West African culture.  Throughout my story, the reader will come across a number of names, terms, and deities that are not apart of the English language or American culture.  For that reason, I have included a glossary of terms at the end of the book.  But what if the reader is not the type who would be inclined to “flip to the back” and find out what a word means.  Where does that leave you? Do you go out of your way to make things easier for the reader?  Or do you say, “Forget that! I’ve put too much work into this to start again.” 

Another issue that has come up is my use of West African names for the characters in my book. As I mentioned before, this story is affected by West African culture (Yoruba in particular).  Someone told me that “the names are too much to remember.”  Why would I use everyday names for my characters?  My book is based in Africa, during a time past, when gods ruled and magic still existed.  The use of names like: Michael, Angela or Jordan, do not apply. J How often are authors approached about changing the names in a story because it has too many syllables or it doesn’t fit the status quo? Frustrating… 

I do not want to lose a reader/follower because they are confused or impatient when the definition of a word is not immediately available.  But does that mean that I change my story into something I don’t want?  Something I would not be proud to put my name on? 

One of my favorite authors, Colin Channer, of Waiting in Vain and other exceptional pieces of literature, is a Jamaican who writes from a Jamaican perspective.  He uses patois (a Jamaican dialect) in his books.  And he makes references to terms, foods and vernacular that only someone from the West Indies would appreciate and/or understand.  As someone who was raised in a West Indian household, I found that I could relate to the characters and I understood the terms used throughout the book.  But I also realized that regardless of the language used in the book, readers were still able to connect with the characters in the story and their experiences. Universal… I get it. 

Readers, like me, can be fickle.  There are times when we want light reading.  Something funny, sexy, or outrageous.  Then there are times when we want to read a book with punch; a book that sends a message or shares a moving experience.  There are books for adults, books for teenagers and books for young children.  There are hard covers, paperbacks and e-books.  There is so much to choose from that it is more important than ever to reach your audience and hold them. 

So I am faced with a new challenge.  How do you connect with your readers while holding on to your story’s objective?  How much are you willing to lose to get the attention of the right reader, agent or publisher?  These are definitely points to ponder. 

Mari e laipe!

See you soon!

S- 

*****

 

Thanks for visiting ‘Amachi is Hope.’ If you were inspired or felt a connection with today’s blog (or any of my previous entries) please leave a comment. J

STANDING IN YOUR WAY

Ek'abo Ebi! (Welcome Family!)

Meet Angela.

I remember the day clearly. It was bright and sunny out; sixty-four degrees and a week before my twenty-eighth birthday.  I was trying to decide if I felt like going to my co-worker’s baby shower.  The last thing I wanted to do was be around a bunch of “Oooing and Ahhing” females.  I spent more time with them at work than I did with my own family.  Don’t get me wrong, I love babies (and my co-workers are cool) but I’d rather be oooing and ahhing over my own.  My biological clock was ticking away and getting louder by the minute.  But that’s a discussion for another time.

Beres Hammond was belting out one of my favorite tunes from a mixed CD that was playing on the stereo.

“Ooh ooh he’s standing in my way.”

“Standing in my way hey yeah, yeah…”

Odd as it was, those two lines in the song seemed to mirror the words that my roommate was bellowing through my bathroom door.  Even with the faucet running on full blast (intentional on my part) I could still hear her loud and clear.

“Angela!  The only person who is standing in your way is you!” Michaela yelled.

It was 11:00 a.m. on a Saturday and I was suffering through another lecture from my sometimes irritating but well-intentioned roommate Michaela. Michaela was exactly where she wanted to be in her career and her life. Swiftly moving up the corporate ladder as a sport’s agent, she just received a major promotion at her firm.  Not to mention, she is engaged to an awesome guy.  (I shivered at the thought of having to hunt for a new roommate.  There were just too many crazies out there!)

As far as Michaela was concerned, the idea that one of her closest friends (she could count them on one hand, she says) is struggling in their career, in life, is just, “Well . . . troubling.”  And it was her duty to remedy it.  Dr. Michaela planned to find the cure. I know. I know.  I was being mean-spirited, but I was tired of hearing about what I already knew. 

“Angela’s stuck at life’s intersection!”

I literally felt like I was running in place. I had no clue whether I should move forward or backwards.

As a tenured professor at my university, I guess you could say I was also doing well in my career.  But whenever I stood in front of my students, I felt like I was missing something. I lacked the energy, the enthusiasm, an interest in what I was doing.  I realized that something was wrong.  And it forced me to question, “Did I make the wrong choice in my career?”

When I was in high school and college, I just knew that I was going to be an accomplished writer.  Full of ideas and vigor, I wrote for the school paper and I was a member of the Caribbean Writers of America organization at college. But then life stepped in and changed all that.  I was faced with the responsibility of caring for an ailing parent and I knew that writing was going to be a pipe dream.  As far as I was concerned, there was no real or immediate money in writing.  I had no choice but to stand back and watch my dreams for the future pass me by.

Now at almost twenty-eight, I was hiding out behind a closed bathroom door and a running faucet, trying to avoid having this discussion with Michaela. Again.

Ripping open the bathroom door, Angela stormed out.  “Enough already! I get it! I get it!” “Do you Angela?” Michaela asked.  “Since we were in college, you have been sitting on a manuscript that I believe would have led you to an incredible career.” Angela threw her a sour look. “I know. I know. Your mom was sick and you had to care for her.  I know that you needed income to do that.  But it hurts my heart when I think about what you lost!” Michaela shouted.  Grabbing Angela’s hand when she tried to move past, Michaela continued.  “Angela,” she whispered.  “Your mom has been gone for four years now. You have no children and you are only responsible for yourself. What’s holding you back?”

***

It has been a month since we had that conversation.  I’m sitting at my kitchen table looking down at a dusty copy of my manuscript.  It has been sitting in a box at the back of my closet for a long time.  I finally found the courage to take it out.  It’s a story about my mother’s childhood in Jamaica.  When I read it again, it brought back so many memories of my mother and all that she shared with me when I was creating the book.  It was painful but it also gave me closure.  And I realized that having this book published would bring her close to me once more. All of a sudden, I felt renewed.  I knew what I wanted to do.  A story had begun to materialize in my head.  I had to write.

Reaching out for her laptop, Angela pulled up a blank page, and started a new chapter in her life. She decided that it was time to stop standing in her own way.

***

What stops you from writing?  Are you blocking your own path? Too fearful to take that first step?  Or perhaps, you are just afraid to start again? Start a new chapter in your life.  Begin writing the book that you’ve always wanted to. There’s a Yoruba proverb that says:

“The man who waits for a perfect opportunity, will wait a life-time.”

This is your opportunity. Don’t waste it.

Mari e laipe!

See you soon!

S-

*****

Thanks for visiting ‘Amachi is Hope.’ If you were inspired or felt a connection with today’s blog (or any of my previous entries) please leave a comment. J

5 “W’s” OF WRITING

Ek'abo Ebi! (Welcome Family!)

Since I’ve begun writing, I’ve discovered what I believe are the five “W’s” of writing.  LOL! They are Will, Wisdom, Wit, Worry and Wishes.

WILL:

Do you have the will of fire?  A fire within that burns to create, develop and execute a book of literature?  Does the fire continue to burn even when you question (in the smallest part of your subconscious; the only place that you would ever admit it to yourself) if this is really what you want to do? Even when the “negatives” (you know those people, the ones that never have anything positive to say) imply that you may want to rethink your choices.  How do you keep your will of fire burning?

At the beginning of my journey, the will within me, my fire, burned bright.  There wasn’t anything that was going to stop me from reaching my goal.  I was full of energy and I believed that the end of the tunnel was just within my grasp.  As time progressed and the bigger picture began to materialize, my goal and expectations were a bit more realistic.  The more knowledge I gained about the writing process, the more I came to realize how much work (another W word LOL) and time it would take to reach the end of my tunnel. Sometimes reality throws a wrench in your plans and turns your inferno of will and energy into embers just struggling to survive.  But once I finished my book I could feel my embers revive once again.  I found myself following a new course. One that will lead me to publication and the will and determination to see it done.

WISDOM:

What wisdom have you gained during your writing journey?  As I mentioned above I soon realized how much work truly went into the creation of a book.  I’m not sure what your experiences were like when you were a new writer, but I must say that I had no idea that months would turn into years before my book was finally finished.  During that time I learned that writing the book was just the beginning.  There’s marketing (websites, blogs, word of mouth etc.).  There’s communication with editors, agents and publishers. The personal effect writing has on your person and those around you.  The list goes on and on.  And at this point of the game, I am still learning.  Wisdom especially in the world of publishing is never ending.

WIT:

As serious as the writing process can be, the last thing you want to do is lose your wit or lose the ability to create or see the amusement or pleasure you gain while writing your story. When writing becomes a task or a means to an end; when it loses its flavor, its joie de vivre, its zest, its enjoyment, you my friend have a problem.  You are now standing at a crossroads.  Do you step back from writing until the embers of your will have ignited once more?  Or do you admit to yourself that this may not be for you.  If you’ve been writing for years, that is a hell of a thing to admit to.  But writing should be something you enjoy.

I understand that the writing of some non-fiction stories require the telling of a serious tale.  And wit, amusement or comedy has no place in it.  For some, writing is like a purge, a writer’s therapy if you will.  But afterwards, you may once again discover writing for the joy of it.

WORRY:

You have finished your book, received your share of “don’t give up’s” and rejections and you are looking at three years since you wrote the last period at the end of the last paragraph of your book. Worry has now set in.  So much so, that you have yet to start writing your next book.  So much so, that doubt has returned in an attempt to douse the will of fire that you have worked so hard to cultivate.  So much so, that you are not sure which direction to turn at the crossroads.

Thankfully I have not reached such a point in my writing but there are those out there who have.  My suggestion to you . . . Start That New Book; even if it’s just brainstorming or developing an outline.  Get out of that rut that you’ve found yourself in.  Create those new characters, discover those faraway places, and re-discover the joy that you get from starting anew.  Shake off that doubt (easier said than done, I know) but do it anyway.  The doubt will only hinder you and stop you from moving forward.

WISHES:

You all know where I’m going with this.  I wish that publisher would call me.  If only that agent would reach out to me. If only I was on the New York Times bestseller list! I wish I could win the lottery so I can freely dedicate my time to writing! LOL!

The number of wishes we send out to the universe could fill millions of books.  But I believe that, the universe will not help you if you don’t help yourself. There are things that we have no control over and others that we do.  I believe that putting your best work forward will get you one step closer to “getting that call”.  Even with the rejections I’ve received so far, I still believe that. Sure there’s a possibility that an agent or publisher may ask you to make some changes to your story (to help you reach out to a certain audience or make your story even tighter) but isn’t that expected?  It’s hard to relinquish control of your “baby” to another.  But if your wish has come true, then the agent or publisher of your book, will share in your vision.

What are your 5 “W’s” of writing?  Drop me a line or two. I would love to hear about them! 

Mari e laipe!

See you soon!

 

S-

 

*****

 

Thanks for visiting ‘Amachi is Hope.’ If you were inspired or felt a connection with today’s blog (or any of my previous entries) please leave a comment. J

RESOLUTE IN 2014

Ek'abo Ebi! (Welcome Family!)

On Saturday night, I attended my firm’s Christmas party.  I went there with low expectations.  I believed I would be walking into a corporate cocktail party. You know those “wine and cheese” gatherings; all fake smiles and boring conversation. Sort of like what I’ve experienced in the past.  Imagine my surprise and pleasure when my hubby and I walked in on a jamming live band, great food and drinks.

You would think that in such a relaxed atmosphere, that more people would have been willing to dance. But no, out of the hundred or so people that attended only fifteen of us danced at one time or another.  Wallflowers verses the courageous ones LOL.  As I was dragged onto the dance floor for the umpteenth time, I looked around at the people on the outside looking in.  And it made me think about the journey I’ve been on in 2013.

At one time or another, I was just like the wallflowers at the party.  Either too scared to take a step forward or too concerned about how others would perceive me. I’m proud to say that I was a risk taker in 2013.  I took chances that I would never have taken in the past.  I put myself forward, reached out and introduced myself and Amachi to the masses.  I created this blog, I’ve done author interviews on other blogs, and I even entered a writing contest or two.

Yes, I also had some setbacks (publisher and agent rejections) but what writer hasn’t had setbacks?  It is well known that the path to publishing is a tumultuous one.  Only the truly lucky are able to avoid the twist and turns.

There are only a few days left in the year and there’s still time left for the unexpected to happen to you.  You might get that “email” or “phone call” that will be taking you down a new and exciting road in 2014. You may have “finally” caught the eye of an agent or publisher.  Your short story or article is going to be published.  An illustrator, who you could never afford, has offered to do the cover of your book.  You may have even found the perfect editor to help you get on the road to publishing perfection.

What have you done family?  What experiences have you had in 2013.  I’ve been sharing my experiences with you and I would love to hear about yours.  Have you been published?  Have you experienced disappointments?  Have you finally found the courage to write the book of your dreams? I would love hear your story!

I am resolute.  I am determined.  In 2014 I will bring myself that much closer to publishing Amachi’s Hope.  Will I be published?  Well only the cards and god’s will (depending on which you believe in) will decide.  But I will not just stand by and wait for something to be handed to me.  I will take it for myself.

It is said that the meek will not inherit the earth.  Don’t be an outsider looking in.  Don’t let the world pass you by.  Step up, take chances, and let 2014 be the year of your awakening!  I hope that you will reach out to me and share your experiences in the New Year! 

Mari e laipe!

See you soon! 

S-

*****

Thanks for visiting ‘Amachi is Hope.’ If you were inspired or felt a connection with today’s blog post (or any of my previous entries) please leave a comment. J

COLLEAGUE OR COMPETITOR

Ek'abo Ebi! (Welcome Family!)

Last Friday at 5:00 p.m., I was standing at the corner waiting for my bus to arrive.  Looking up, my eyes were drawn to the different names of companies that currently have offices in my vicinity.  Among them are law firms.  Most of these firms house attorneys that practice in the same or similar areas of the law.  Through my years in this field, I’ve noticed that attorneys tend to extend a certain level of professional courtesy when dealing with one another.  There are rules that are enforced by the court and some that are not.  But there are a few attorneys (though it’s not something you hear a lot about) who choose not to offer professional courtesy and decide that it would be easier to “step on a few toes” to get to the top.  This left me wondering: In the world of writing, are we colleagues or are we competitors?

I mean when you think about it, it’s impossible to know the actual number of authors in the world.  They are separated in so many different ways. Published, unpublished, fiction, non-fiction, romance, fantasy, you name it. Everyday someone new comes onto the scene, hoping to break through and become the next best thing.  They compete with authors who have been out there for a long time.  Some are famous, some are just waiting for the right opportunity, and some may not be discovered at all. (No negativity impliedJ)

In addition, they compete for the attention of publishers and literary agents hoping that their query will be the key to opening the door to a new career. Agents and publishers receive thousands of queries each year.  They sift through manuscripts written by individuals who are also interested in your genre of choice.  You may be competing with someone who’s more eloquent than you.  He/she may already have a foot hold with an agent they met at a recent writer’s conference. Let’s not even think about the person who has a literary agent reaching out to publishers on their behalf. Basically, whatever you write better be a cut above the rest.

With so many possible roadblocks out there, how can we be colleagues and not competitors?  With all the insanity going on, it is quite easy to forget our true purpose.  What is this purpose you ask?  When you look at the big picture, an author’s purpose is to entertain and/or educate a reader.  If you haven’t already figured it out, writers serve a great purpose in this world.

In the past, people who told stories were greatly respected. At a time when there was no such thing as television or radio, a minstrel, bard, griot, spinner of yarns, fabler, or even a troubadour shared or created (with embellishment and color) stories about our past. Generation to generation this skill was passed on (some even believed that this ability was inherited through the blood) until our ancestors began writing their stories on walls, or papyrus, using cuneiform, hieroglyphics or other forms of language to get their message across.

In the present, you have to wonder if the real purpose of writing has been lost.  Do we do it because we want to some how benefit the human race?  To amuse or teach a young child?  To help teenagers open a door to a new universe? To introduce a recluse to the world awaiting them outside their door? Or is it all about financial gain?

Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to be able to dedicate my time to writing and not the 9 to 5 that most of us face each day.  But would I lose something in the process? As colleagues, not competitors we want to be able to teach one another.  To give a helping hand to those of us who are struggling; to point each other in the right direction. The writing community is a big part of what makes us the writers we are or what we hope to become in the future. 

There is a lot of money to be made in literature.  But I hope that we (that being writers and the powers that be) don’t forget the true purpose of writing. Let’s work towards being colleagues on a higher level and competitors on a lesser level. J

Mari e laipe!

See you soon!

S-

*****

Thanks for visiting ‘Amachi is Hope.’ If you were inspired or felt a connection with today’s blog (or any of my previous entries) please leave a comment.J

COURAGE

Ek'abo Ebi! (Welcome Family!)

The Obamas met with Malala Yousafzai a few weeks ago.  Everything that she endured, the strength and heart that it took for her to walk that road to recovery, is the epitome of what it means to have courage.  It is obvious that the universe has a plan for her and I cannot wait to see what she will become.

When we witness such an emergence, such a will to endure, can we really sit by and say that we cannot write? I know it’s unfair to make such a comparison.  I mean this young lady was at death’s door and yet here she is.  The survivor within her forced her move forward.

In comparison to her experience, writing should be a piece of cake.  We should take our obstacles off the shelf, examine them, and then put them back. By doing so we will no longer give them the power to deter us from our goals.  We know that the obstacles will always be there, but we now have the courage to move pass them.

We all write for different reasons. There are those that write just for the fun of it. Those that write because they must. (God forbid you flunk your thesis). And those that write because it’s a passion, a calling, a yearning in their blood that cannot be ignored.

As I mentioned in one of my earlier blog entries, life can be a big deterrent when it comes to writing.  But it’s a poor excuse not to.  I have a friend that’s struggling right now.  And yet as bad as it is for her, there are some who have it worst. Homelessness, poverty, hunger, you name it.  Sometimes, I have to check myself when I get in one of my ‘shoulda, woulda, coulda’ moods.  You know the kind. It’s when you look at the direction your life has taken, wonder about the choices you've made and whether you should have done “something” differently in the past. 

Well if you have suffered or are suffering from the ‘Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda’ Syndrome; make your writing the key to pushing pass it.  Make writing a new stage in your life.  So when you look back at all that you have achieved, you will be proud to say that you had the courage to do it.  Be the person who had the courage to talk to that guy or girl. J Be the person who had the courage to start on a new career path.  Be the person who says “yes” instead of “no” all the time. Just be. Small steps are just as grand as big steps.

Even writing and maintain a blog takes courage.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve been doing it for years or you’ve just started.  You are sharing your opinions with people who may or may not care to hear it.

Perhaps you are at the end of your saga. You have no more revisions to be made, your query and synopsis have been finalized, and you’ve even created the perfect marketing tool to promote your book. You no longer have an excuse. Drop that package in the mail; email that agent or publisher.  If you’ve written something out of the ordinary, you may be just the person to clear the way for those that follow.  I hope that this post has given you something to chew on. J

Mari e laipe!

See you soon!  

S-

*****

Thanks for visiting ‘Amachi is Hope’. If you were inspired or felt a connection with today’s blog (or any of my previous entries) please leave a comment. J

INFLUENCE

Ek'abo Ebi! (Welcome Family!)

Some of my dear friends visited with me this weekend. My girlfriend is pursuing her degree and she is currently taking a course in World Religion. One of the religions that they’ve touched upon (interestingly enough) is the Yoruba religion.

When her professor mentioned the topic, her mind rocked back on the book I wrote, Amachi’s Hope.  And she remembered some of the deities I mentioned, and some of the terms I used, based on discussions we’ve had in the past. (I was absolutely tickled by this.J) Our discussion made me wonder: What is it like to influence someone in either a small or big way through your writing?

It was such a pleasure to know, that my words were heard.  That I have managed in some small way to educate my friend about a culture she knew nothing about; to know that I may have helped her to be ahead of the pack.

Writing carries with it a certain level of responsibility. It is quite possible to influence someone in a positive or negative way. There are so many different genres, so many different styles of writing.  If you are writing Adult Fiction you may not feel quite so much responsibility, because as an adult we are responsible for what we choose to read.  The author only writes the words.  The playing field changes when you are writing for children. (Whether it is for a pre-schooler or a young adult.) 

On top of the stress you face just from writing the book, you are now ever mindful of what you write, how you write it, the message you are trying to convey, “Is this topic too mature?”, “Are these illustrations appropriate?” Did you piss off a parent, or an educational community, because they feel that your topic is not age, religion, or gender appropriate? Phew! Who says writing is easy?? LOL!

Some of you may know that when I starting writing my book, it was originally meant to be a pre-school book for my boys.  By the time I was quarter way through, I knew that this book was no longer for a pre-schooler and that my boys would be reading it as teenagers.  Changing the reading age of my book will not deny me the opportunity to share a part of myself with my boys.  I hope that when they read my book, they too will become one of many who will be educated and influenced by what I have written. 

If writing your book has become a task or a job for you, perhaps you need to step back and look at it from afar.  Has something changed since you’ve started writing your book?  Is it still the book you’ve always wanted to write?  If your intention was to effect or influence another through your writing, do you think you are still able to do so?

Some of us may not want to admit it, but I believe it is in our deepest heart to not only see our name on the cover of a book but to also know that we will leave apart of ourselves, an imprint if you will, upon a reader once they are done; immortalizing ourselves for future generations to come.

My son showed me a book this weekend.  He said, “Mom, she has the same first name as you!” Smiling, I look at him and thought, “Now if only I could get my last name up there as well!”

Continue to be motivated fam!

Mari e laipe!

See you soon!

S-