Writing/Writers

“That’s Just the Way It Is” – Now Available

/ Shirley Sorbello / 9 Comments

My first short story, “That’s Just the Way It Is,” has now been published on Amazon.com as a e-book. It should also be available in some countries other than the United States. This is a mini-milestone in my writing career, one that I’m pleased to have reached. Thanks so very much to all of you who have been supporting and encouraging me for the past 20 months, which is when this journey first began.

It is a 3800-word story of love, violence and clash of values with a spiritual twist. It begins:

“It comes to me now in flashes—pieces of memories from a past lifetime that creep into my consciousness. I see myself staring at a weathered barn through a kitchen window. Calico curtains blow wildly in the dry, dusty wind, dancing to the familiar hum of cows mooing in the distance. Warm air whips across my face, entering the house like a welcomed visitor on an unbearably hot Texas day in the 1870’s. I’m Becky, married with four children, to a man I both love and hate.”

I hope that many of you will enjoy it!

It’s Time to Publish!

/ Shirley Sorbello / 10 Comments

That's Just the Way It Is

Be sure to check out my first short story (I will remind you) on Amazon.com during the month of September. I am really excited to have reached the point where I am actively engaged in the process of structuring the final product.

“That’s Just the Way It Is” is a short story of love and drama in the Old West. The main characters are Rebecca and John Coulter who struggle to raise a family in the harsh and rugged environment of the Texas prairie in the late 1800’s.

This story begged to be written and for that reason is somewhat unconventional in its presentation, covering a number of scenes during a twenty-year period, rather than a single moment in time. It is narrated by Becky, who has a special connection to me as you will learn. I never would have expected that my first published work would be a “western,” but I’m discovering that stories often come to authors in unique ways.

Do any of you have any words to share about your first venture into the world of publication? I’d love to hear them…

The Journey

/ Shirley Sorbello / 10 Comments

Blogger

When I began my writing adventure over a year ago, I believed I had some idea of what I wanted to do and how to approach it. The research I did into writing skills that others said were important showed me how to tweak my very basic ones. I think I finally even got the “show, not tell” concept although it took a while. A friend asked, “Who are they that say all these things? Stop spending so much time reading about writing and just write.” To a large extent she was right, especially after I had devoured parts of numerous books about the craft of writing. I really did need to spend more time writing. I learned it’s important to find your own voice, write from your heart and that my writing would get better and better with practice.

Okay, I was ready…well, maybe not quite yet. I spent considerable time reading blogs such as Jane Friedman’s about the fast-changing publishing industry. Self-publishing seemed to be the better choice for me, as I am older and would like to live long enough to see a few of my books and short stories in print, not spend my time waiting for other publishers to get back to me. What was going on here with all this reading of articles and blogs and so little writing? Maybe I didn’t have as much to say as I thought? Not really. I learned that my annoying perfectionism was still being fed by my insecurities about doing something new and unfamiliar to me.

Self-publication can be intimidating…so many choices and options and so much to read about it all. Who should I listen to? How do I format my work? I realized it’s now time to take some of my own advice about going with the flow, speaking my truth and following my own bliss. I’m ready to take the plunge by publishing my first short story in the very near future. It’s written and ready to go as I venture forth inspired by the words of Henry David Thoreau: “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours.” I’ve learned I do have the guts to learn how to do it and look forward to seeing my first short story on Amazon.

As has been said probably too many times, it’s the journey, not the destination that’s important. So as I progress onward to my goal of self-publication, I continue to learn more about myself…my strengths, my weaknesses, my likes and dislikes. In addition, I’ve learned that this whole writing pathway is not only one of self-discovery, but also one that I’m meant to share with others whose lives I may touch and who reach out a hand to help me along with their words of encouragement. What I’m discovering may not be exactly what I expected, but something even better. I’ve learned that a blog is an amazing avenue of self-expression where I meet warm and wonderful people even if I never publish anything else.

Backward and Forward

/ Shirley Sorbello / 4 Comments

As my writer’s journey continues, I look back on the year that’s passed as well as at my goals for 2013.

Last year, I discovered that I enjoy writing fiction more than I ever imagined. It’s fun to see additional characters appear in my stories where none were intended and how they take on their own personalities. I also love seeing where the story line takes me. Who the heck is writing my work? At times, it doesn’t even seem like I’m in control.

I’ve found that my simple writing style which I often thought lacked descriptiveness fits better with the clear, crisp and concise writing styles that seem to be encouraged now. I keep reading that with today’s busy lifestyle, many people want simple, readable material that will not lose them in endless description. I assure you that my novels or short stories will not do that, but neither will my writing quality diminish in favor of quantity. That’s a promise!

I know now that I should write when my inner muse speaks to me, rather than on a set time schedule. I don’t want my creativity to seem like “work.” My writing flows when it is gently allowed to emerge and not forced. Putting myself in inspirational settings like nature, a quiet environment or even watching Oprah’s “Super Soul Sunday,” are some of the best ways for me to coax it out.

I’ve learned that it is difficult to attract the attention of a publisher even with a polished, marketable article without a resume of previous publications, despite my education. In particular, it is more difficult when you are writing about “touchy” subjects like cancer. For that reason, my blog will most likely benefit from articles or short pieces that I would have liked to publish in a magazine. At my age, I don’t have the time or the patience to play waiting games of silence. I want to spend my time writing.

So as we enter February (is it already?) and look at the year ahead, I see myself soon self-publishing my first short story, entitled “That’s Just the Way It Is.” This will be a new adventure for me into the mechanics of the self-publishing process. I am planning to use Smashwords which I hope to find user-friendly. After this, I will return full steam ahead to the first draft of my novel which is about three-quarters completed. I see several rewrites ahead of me particularly because I began the book three years ago. Since then, my writing skills have advanced and as often happens, the work has taken on a life of its own necessitating some changes in the earlier parts. I would be thrilled to have a polished final draft completed by the end of the year. Finally, I look forward to continuing my blog with articles and tidbits to entertain my current readers and entice new followers as well. As always, I thank you all for being there with me on my journey.

So, for those of you who are writers (and that includes bloggers), how has the past year influenced your writing goals for 2013?

This Writer’s Journey Takes an Alternate Route

/ Shirley Sorbello / 10 Comments

Sometimes life just gets in the way. Even the best laid plans have to be put aside occasionally to accommodate life’s demands. In this case, the sacrifice was the submission of my book proposal to Hay House due early in December. It’s just not going to happen this year. Since I went to the Hay House conference in June, I had worked steadily on my novel and had made considerable progress. The first draft is about 75% completed. Then in August, the housing market came to life, and I started getting more prospective buyers coming into look at my condo. I made the decision that this year was not the right time to finish the book and submit the proposal, but rather to focus all my energy on my goal of moving into a new home. A wave of relief washed over me when I released myself from one of my goals. I knew there was no way for me to accomplish both dreams before the end of 2012. My decision to delay the completion of the book was confirmed as the correct one when I received an offer on my condo in September. If all continues to go well, I’ll be moving on November 30th.

Sometimes, hard choices have to be made, don’t they? I had to remind myself to go with the flow…that life is meant to be enjoyed and that happiness is not found in stressing oneself to the point of exhaustion. When the universe tells you it’s the right time for something to occur, it’s hard to ignore. I will now enjoy moving into my new home that I’ve waited for so long. The time to complete my novel is right around the corner. I can feel it in the wind and see it in my dreams. I’ll be back on the writer’s path early next year.

So how about you?  Have you found that despite your best-laid plans, that life sometimes shifts you in a different direction than you had planned?  Do you fight it or do you surrender to the flow?

Why Do You Write?

/ Shirley Sorbello / 11 Comments

Madeira Beach, FL

It seems that the “why” of writing has a lot to do with how one presents their work to the world. I took a closer look at this recently because I was feeling frustrated over initial rejections of an article and short story I had written earlier this year. When I thought more about how I truly believe that my words will find their way to those who are meant to read them, it all became very simple. I am not writing to become a New York Times best-selling author. I am writing about things that are important to me and hoping that others will find value in my words. Any monetary reward is welcomed as a bonus.

Lately, I have been reading a lot of comments about the merits of self-publishing. Having more control over the whole process is a big factor. Not waiting months to hear “no,” or nothing, from an editor is a major one. Moving things along at your own pace sounds very attractive to me.

Every author’s situation has its own unique qualities. As an older person who has had full time commitments for most of my life, I am looking for a little “me” time. It doesn’t mean that I am not serious about my writing; it simply means that I am not looking for a full time career, nor do I have a lifetime of writing ahead of me. It’s writing on my own terms. That sounds to me like a self-published writer.

So, for those of you who are writers, what are your goals for your writing?  How does it fit in with your lifestyle?

A Writer’s Conference in the Mountains

/ Shirley Sorbello / 10 Comments

I have been a fan of many Hay House publications for a number of years. Writers such as Louise Hay and Wayne Dyer dot my bookshelves and have often inspired me to move out of my comfort zone and reach for my goals, such as with a writing career. This year, when the opportunity came to attend The Writer’s Workshop in Ashville, NC, sponsored by Hay House, I knew I had to attend.

I drove twelve hours down to Ashville early last month to attend this weekend workshop and spend two additional days driving around the Blue Ridge Parkway. The weather was a little stormy, but I still enjoyed the journey down and the time alone driving through the woods in the Park, catching a breath-taking glimpse of the mountains here and there among the clouds. It was a very inspirational setting for a writer!

One-hundred and seventy new and wannabe writers from various states congregated at the Crowne Plaza Resort for this event. More than anything else, this was an inspirational workshop. I came out of there actually believing I could write an excellent book even if Hay House couldn’t publish it. New York Times best-selling author, Cheryl Richardson spoke of her humble beginnings and her journey to successful publication.  She was, in many ways, just like those of us dreaming to publish a book—simply armed with a story to tell that drove her passion. Reid Tracy, President and CEO of Hay House, spoke at length about the publishing industry, writing a book proposal, and what it takes to get published during these fast-changing times in the industry. I was struck by the realization that they are both everyday-kind-of people who are doing extraordinary things. No pretense, no self-importance, just genuinely real people. Videos of Louise Hay, Doreen Virtue and, Wayne Dyer describing their early writing experiences and tips for success were also quite enjoyable and helpful for new writers.

Hay House generally publishes non-fiction, self-help, inspirational books. To be successful in getting published with this genre, I learned that you need to show a publisher that you already have a following and that you are willing to do (or already doing) workshops, lectures and anything else it takes to sell your book. Gone are the days when the publisher does all the marketing. With fiction, the platform is not as important, but it definitely helps to have one. Series fiction, such as a trilogy, is popular now and can lead to greater success as an author. In these workshops, Hay House offers the unique opportunity to attendees to submit a book proposal directly to them without going through an agent. The lucky winner will receive a $10,000 book advance. The proposal is due in December, 2012. Since Mr. Tracy said they will consider any genre for this competition, I am planning to finish my novel and submit a proposal to them. I figure the worst that can happen is that I will have a novel almost ready to submit to another publisher or to self-publish. To me, that seems to be a win-win situation.