The Chicken or the Egg?

Good grief, a whole month has gone by since I wrote! I guess I have a long way to go to become a "regular" blog poster.

Anyway, welcome back to Patti's Porch. It's been way too warm here these past few months for winter in Colorado. We finally got a storm a couple of weeks ago, but since it's about springtime, it didn't stay around long. Still, our thirsty ground is thankful for every drop of moisture it gets.

We've all heard the old conundrum, which came first, the chicken or the egg? I feel like I am revisiting that age old puzzle right now. Last month, I followed the on-line course "Writing the Unputdownable Book", which prompted me to spend more time looking at my WIP (Work in Progress). I evaluated the story thus far, polished, submitted to my crit partners, polished some more, and finally sent my first fifteen pages off to the Genesis contest.

However, while pursuing the points brought out in last month's course, I've been ignoring the topics covered in this month's on-line course, offered by Terry Burns. While the main topic of Terry's class is fear of public speaking, the underlying message addresses developing a presence.

Which comes first?

Do I establish a web presence so that when I do get published, my name will already be recognized, or do I get published so I can use my website to promote my work? Unlike the chicken and the egg puzzle, we as writers can fit pieces into both parts of our writing life concurrently. A blog can be used to give readers a taste of how the writer communicates, what motivates her heart, the audience he wishes to reach, and why the need to write is a driving force in her life.

Thanks for reading my blog!

The Writing Bug

This had been a busy week. I worked a couple of extra night shifts which wiped me out. The first day that I hadn't worked the night before, hubby and I went out of town in search of a new washer and dryer. Our washer konked out on us for good about two weeks ago, so I've been doing the laundry mat thing ever since.

I'm taking the on line course that is offered through ACFW this month. I usually just audit the courses, but I'm actually doing the assignments for this one. It is on writing the "unputdownable" novel. I've already learned a lot from our instructor and other classmates. The course and my critique groups have inspired me to get busy on my own WIP (Work In Progress) again, and I'm excited about that.

Another exciting thing is the approach of the CCWC (Colorado Chrfistian Writers Conference), held in Estes Park, Colorado, in May. I've been attending it since 2003 with the exception of 2005 when our son got married. I love this conference. Not only do I have an opportunity to link up with ACFW members I don't normally get to see, I also get a huge dose of writing inspiration. Listening to the success stories of other writers, absorbing the information the editors, agents, and published authors share, and participating in the worshp services make those three days some of the most meorable of my entire year.

Our lirbray had book marks that we gave out at summer reading a year or so ago. It had a picture of a ladybug and said "catch the reading bug". Well, I have caught the writing bug again. I love it when I get infected with its bite. My characters become so real for me that I view them as friends, even though some of them lived in a different century. The conversations I have, the things I see, the people I meet become assimilated into the fantasy world I'm creating in my story. It's a fun world tolive in.

So, if you see me or get an email from me and it seems like I'm "not quite there". I'm probably not. I'm walking around with make believe people and imaging make believe situations and trying to figure out how to make them come alive on paper.

Thanks for reading my blog!