Sometimes we get an idea. It's just a small, fleeting thing, really, but then it starts to grow. We writers, being the geniuses we are, recognize this idea for it's greatness, and jot it down in a little note, using scratch paper, a napkin, anything we have on hand. That idea, that note, starts out small, but eventually it becomes a world of it's own, filled with characters we love, and villains we might never have the nerve to face in real life, and ultimately it become a book. From Note, to Shelf. :)
Being that this is my first entry on this blog, I think some introductions are in order.(Be warned, it's a bit long!)
My name is Sammi, and I'm a 21 year old (in 6 days, that is) college student, an employee at the Barnes & Noble (somewhere in south San Bernadino County,CA), a devourer of books, and a writer.
As for being (almost) 21, it doesn't matter much to me, because alcohol taste gross (eeew), I much prefer chocolate milk (stop looking at me funny!). In college I'm majoring in Creative Photography, not only because I enjoy it, but because if I had majored in English I would have had to write essays. When I say I'm a writer, it is not of essays. Because essays bore me. A 6 page research paper=Bleck , 6 pages of my book=Fun.
I began working at B&N 2.25 years ago, originally in the cafe. Not because I like coffee (which is a taste I've only recently sort-of acquired... a little bit maybe), but because it was the only position available. After two long, sticky, chocolaty, "hey, you smell like a latte!" years, I managed to get myself moved to the bookfloor, trading the smell of espresso for the smell of new, lovely, wonderful books.
And I thought I spent a lot of $ on books before.
I learned very fast that it is unhealthy for my wallet, me being a bookseller surrounded by my passion 5 days a week. Now not only do I buy books that have been recommended to me, or that I've already researched, but I find new books I never knew about. I find them when I'm shelving new books, I find them when I'm shelving customer's books (Please, clean up after yourself/your children =D), I find them when I'm dusting, and straightening shelves, or working on projects. I pretty much find new books I want to read every day.
I should probably just start accepting my pay in the form of books. But alas, I have rent to pay, and so this can not be (did I mention my birthday is coming up?)
Today I bought "The Last Unicorn" as highly recomended by S.J.Maas on her blog (http://sjmaas.livejournal.com/), and "Howl's Moving Castle" because it's been on my list to buy for a while. Yes, I know, rent is due in 3 days.
And then there's my writing. For many years I was an avid writer of FanFiction, a humble beginning. And although I will never tell you my FF.net user name, I will admit that I wrote some awful, and some wonderful Inuyasha and Rurouni Kenshin fics. When I look back at them, I find myself thinking "I wrote THAT?", this can be taken as both good, and bad.
Eventually Fanficiton.net resulted in my finding FictionPress.net, where I stumbled upon S.J.Maas' (http://www.fictionpress.com/u/67875/S_J_Maas) "Queen of Glass". To say the least, it became my world, much in the way that some become engrossed in World of Warcraft, I spent my hours devouring QOG. I only ever made it 2/3 or the way through (chapter 52, I think). I had to stop, because my mother didn't like my eyes glued to the computer screen for hours on end. After all, I did need go to school.
Early this year, I went back to finally finish QOG, and found that it had been taken down. Sarah had an agent! I was thrilled, because I always knew QOG should be published. Soon after, QOG was purchased by Bloomsbury, due to debut in late 2011. I will have the first copy at my B&N, and hopefully I'll get it signed some day. :)
Anyways, the point of my telling you all of this is inspiration. I've wanted to write books long before I ever discovered QOG, but never took the steps to do so. Since seeing Sarah's Success, and seeing how it CAN be done, I've taken the leap, and am now (finally) writing my first book. I've got the concepts, I've got the motivation, I've even got the crit partners (well, almost, there's still one person I'm trying to work up the nerve to ask, lol!).
I'm just barely 2,000 words in (I'm already editing it to death), but it's started, and it'll be finished, and who knows, maybe I'll get to go to work one day and shelve my own book. :)
Oh man, you are going to LOVE The Last Unicorn! So jealous--it's one of those books I wish I could reread for the first time.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty blog! :) Congratulations on getting into your first book... there is so much to say about that step, but rather than rant forever and ever, I will just say this: have fun!
And no, I don't mean that sarcastically. Well. Maybe only a tiny, tiny bit... ;)
I'm, more a less, inspired by Sarah too. And I've just started writing my first novel too! Love the flower photo, did you take it?
ReplyDeleteSometimes we need an idea. It's just a half-assed thing, really, but at least it never becomes more than that. We writers, being the geniuses we are, recognize this idea can be our ticket to paying for rent this month, and we run with it; even if we need to disregard how ridiculous it is. That idea, that note, starts out small, but eventually people mistaken your inspiration on a napkin as gold, and ultimately it become a book deal. From Note, to Marginal Success.
ReplyDeleteBeing that this is my first comment on this blog, I think some introductions are in order. (I am a horrible person to do this.)
My name is Tomo, and I'm a 22 year old unemployed freelance writer, a volunteer newswriter (working out of San Francisco), a theif of books, and a horned troll.
As for being 22, it doesn't matter much to me, because alcoholism is now legal for me. I host cocktail parties. In college I minored in expository writing, not only because I am a pain loving masochist, but because if I had majored in English I would have been fed even more BS that would ultimately never serve me. I instead majored in Communication, I know how to get my pizzas ordered down to the last detail.
Though I say I'm a writer, I don't really write much. This is because I'm often too tired to sit and write. A 6 page research paper=a grand concept, sitting down to write it=not so much. I wish I had a scribe behind me at my beck and call.
I began working at a newspaper 5 years ago as an intern. Not because I like unpaid abuse (my masochism came later), but because it was the only way to get my foot in the door. After five long, sweaty, underpaid, "good job, here's some more work" years, I managed to get laid off, trading the bullets I sweat to meet deadline with bullets to pay bills.
And I thought I was tight on cash before.
I quickly learned that money does not appear through wishful thinking. Now not only do I have to pay money to commute, but sometimes pay my own way to research what I'm writing, and paying even more to shop out articles to be put into consideration. I spend more money than I received, and the best advice I get is to start paddling in the leaky boat.
I should probably just start accepting my pay in the form of books. But alas, publisher copies aren't up for resale (I will sell them off as collectors items though).
I've read "Howl's Moving Castle" I hear it's good. It's much better than rent, which is a horrible musical.
PART 2
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's my writing. For many years I was an avid writer of Adult FanFiction, a humble beginning. And although I will tell you all you want about it, I will assure you that you will not want to ask me. When I look back at them, I find myself thinking "Penises don't work like that," this can be taken as both good, and bad.
Eventually Fanficiton resulted in my finding Playboy, where I stumbled upon Ray Bradbury (http://www.amazon.com/Playboy-Science-Fiction-Alice-Turner/dp/0061073423) "Martian Chronicles." To say the least, I wanted to be the next Ray Bradbury, and I became engrossed in achieving commercial success while being a total letch. I had to stop though, because it wasn't legal for me to buy Playboy yet. After all, I was 16.
Early this year, I went back to subscribe to Playboy, and found that I could get it for 80% off the cover price, should I send in a check today (and I'd get a free erotic DVD as well + shipping and handling). I was thrilled, because I always knew I wouldn't pay any more for it. Soon after, I got a beautiful interview with Mike Savage, an AM radio talk show host who's insane bickering made headlines. Hopefully I'll get to join those pages one day.
Anyways, the point of my telling you all of this is satire. I've wanted to write troll comments long before I ever read this post, but cared to do so. Since seeing This Post, and seeing how it CAN be done (with a seed of inspiration from reading it), I've taken the leap, and am now (finally) commenting on this post. I've got the wry sense of humor, I've got the motivation, I've even got the audience (well, unless people glaze over it, lol!).
I'm just barely 700 words in (that's how long this post is), but it's started, and it'll never end, and who knows, maybe I'll get to go to work one day and get paid to troll.
Also, I'll read your stuff any day. Just remember I'm exceptionally hard if you are aiming for pro publication. I'm like Simon on American Idol, just less well known, and just simply sarcastic.
So it did publish
Good to see your new blog! I look forward to reading all your posts. Lovely background, by the way! :D
ReplyDelete