Stacy Jensen Guest Post - Petite ReviMo March, Day 1

Tuesday, March 11, 2014



Say YES and Write

By Stacy S. Jensen

Recently, I've seen several writers question if it's worth writing a story, when there may be a similar title already published or in the process of being published.

I always vote for write first and think later. Why? Well, publishing is a subjective business. Plus, we get told NO by agents, editors, and our fellow writers enough. We should at least tell ourselves yes and write.




My reality right now —come in close— everything I write may never get published. I don't have an agent. I don't have a manuscript under contract. I write, revise, repeat, and squeeze submit into that process.

By the time, my toddler graduates from high school, I may have a glorified baby book in the form of picture books detailing the antics of bears training to be park rangers and a boy who locks his mother out of the house.

I write a lot of vomit drafts. I work to turn drafts into polished manuscripts with the hopes of publication one day.

A lot of this process is out of my control. So, I focus on what I can control, my story — how I birth it, nurture it, and change it. I can't control a hot-new trend of zombie tooth fairy books, an agent's unspoken wish (or hate) list, or the five books already in the publishing pipeline with a similar storyline.

I wrote about my no rules writing method in 2012. I still do this.

While I'm guilty of mentioning rules, from time to time during critiques, I cling to advice that just tells me to write. Here are a few examples:

•I whip out Romelle Broas' interview with debut author Sherri Dusky Rinker, author of Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site when I need a reminder. Ringer sent a rhyming, bedtime picture book, unagented, and unsolicited to a major publishing house. She became a New York Times bestseller.

•Rob Sanders, author of Cowboy Christmas, wrote about his first book — a cowboy book with three adult main characters and set at Christmas.

•Deborah Underwood, author of The Quiet Book during ReviMo: "If I'd been trying to write only what I thought would be publishable, I might never have developed those ideas." She also offers a great tip at Julie Hedlund's blog: "Write to please yourself, not the market."

•In Darshana's interview with Salina Yoon, author and illustrator of Penguin and Pinecone, Yoon gave this advice to beginning authors and illustrators: "Make it your goal to CREATE, write, and grow, . . . and not to publish. Keep your eye on the ball … and that ball is to write or illustrate, … and publishing will follow!"

I believe there's no reason to kill a story based on this subjective business of market trends, agent preferences, and rules. Maybe there are no new stories, but it's fun trying to write one.

Let others tell you no, but say yes to yourself and write.


Thank you Stacy! 




 
 
Stacy S. Jensen is as writer and is accustomed to being told no, especially after becoming a mom. She's trying to control the things she can and say YES to story ideas she loves. Connect with her at www.stacysjensen.com.

44 comments :

Cheryl Secomb said...

Great post! Thank you for the encouraging words, Stacy! Thanks, Meg! :-)

Angela Turner said...

I love this advice. I have several nonfiction things I am working on. I sometimes think that maybe these topics are not marketable. But I cannot leave them. I just feel I really need to write about them. Hopefully, the stories will come through and maybe they will be something a publisher likes and maybe they won't. Either way, I will get something from the process of doing it. Thanks for your post.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Thanks Ladies. My links failed to make the post, so I've sent Meg a message about them. Ready to revise in a few hours. Trying to clear out a few items, so I can ReviMo in MarchMo.

Darshana said...

Lovely post Stacy! I have been taking Salina's words to heart lately. It is helping to keep my internal editor from intruding.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

The links to the post didn't come through, but that's hopefully a revision Meg can handle. I just realized I have Sherri Rinker's name is misspelled too. I'm on a ReviMo roll...

Lori Mozdzierz said...

Thanks, Stacy! I needed to hear this. :D

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

I totally agree, Stacy! Write what you want to write! Just because there may be a similar story line out there, or what you're writing isn't considered "trendy" (a useless term because it changes all the time) doesn't mean it's going to come out the same as what's already been written, and doesn't mean it won't be brilliant. But if you don't write it, how will you ever know? I love your examples!

Iza Trapani said...

Great post, Stacy- and so true! Write because you need to and love to and forget about market trends or that your idea is not original. Ideas are universal, but writing is unique and similar themes will be told in different ways. I love what Deborah Underwood said to write to please yourself. I've heard feedback from agents and editors that they don't want anything "quiet." Well, Deborah sure proved them wrong with her QUIET BOOK!

Cathy Mealey said...

So many of the examples that you have cited are ones that I have bookmarked over the last several years. Such valuable and comforting advice to have at hand! Wonderful post Stacy for all of us diving into le petit ReviMo.

Teresa Robeson said...

Excellent reminder, Stacy! It's kind of like that adage, "do what you love and the money will follow"...though it may take a while for money to follow. ;)

Jane Heitman Healy said...

Thank you, Stacy! This advice is so refreshing!

dkshumaker said...

Love this. It's perfect, because I've been in a major "doubt" phase yet again, but can't deny the pleasure that writing gives me. So that should be reason enough.

Rene` Diane Aube said...

Thanks Stacy! It is so much fun to write what you love...even if others think you are nuts! Now, must get busy on the Petite ReViMo.

Juliana Lee said...

The advice is so refreshing! YES! YES! YES! Focus on what you can control!

Lauri Meyers said...

Thank you Stacy! Just what I needed to read at the moment.

Dawn Young said...

Thanks Stacy - your post read like a much needed, reassuring, go-get 'em hug!

Charlotte Dixon said...

Thank you, Stacy. It is good to see you giving sound, positive advice to help us get motivated-don't give up!

Vivian Kirkfield said...

Hip hip hooray! Thank you for empowering us to write what we love, Stacy! I think we need to hear this more often...it is easy to get caught up in the to-market-to-market philosophy. Those examples you gave are a great incentive for us to follow our heart when writing...you made my day, that's for sure.:)
Thanks, Meg, for providing this wonderful platform for revision. :)

Joanne Roberts said...

Thanks for the great reminders, Stacy. And thanks for inviting her, Meg. I've done some needed revising today and am feeling elated!! 'Hope you do too.

Julie Rowan-Zoch said...

Woo-hoo, Stacy! Great confidence building post! Let's get 'em!

Marcie Colleen said...

Thanks for this wonderful post, Stacy! I am about to embark on a Revimo from 10,000 feet. I will strive to write to please myself. :)

Margaret Greanias said...

Wonderful post, Stacy! Love it! Now to write...

Denise M. Bruce said...

Thanks Stacy! It helps me to get going for sure :)

Joanne Sher said...

Love this, Stacy! Totally needed this reminder today. Saying yes!

Damon Dean said...

Best inspiration, Stacey. You touched the center of my writing life there--write for why kids read and write for why you write.

MegMillerWrites said...

So welcome Joanne! Much needed affirmation and inspiration for me as well. :D

MegMillerWrites said...

Any time my friend! Hope you got some revisions in today Cheryl! :D

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Thanks for sharing that Damon. I love the center of your writing life!

Stacy S. Jensen said...

You summed that post up in just a few words Julianna Lee! Thank you.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Oh, we all have doubt. I don't believe that ever goes away. Read posts from authors with multiple books ... it doesn't necessarily get easier ... it's just different at different levels of the publishing world.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Ah, very true Teresa!

Stacy S. Jensen said...

We think alike Cathy!

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Deborah certainly did and we read the quiet book frequently at our house.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Thanks Susanna. No we will never know if we don't write.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

I hope everyone had a great first day of Petite ReviMo. I appreciate all the encouraging comments.

Stacy S. Jensen said...

Oh, and Thanks Again Meg for having me. (Geez, I've done more revisions in the comments than I did on my manuscript ... hee hee. Nope that's a joke. I really revised today. Thanks again for the push to put revision work on our calendars and revise!)

Kirsti Call said...

Love this post, Stacy! I heartily agree that we should write without worrying about the market!

Wendy Greenley said...

Let's keep pushing ourselves, Stacy! You know I've got my eye on you and vice versa. LOL.

saputnam said...

Sorry for posting this so late. First. I want
thank you for doing this, Meg. It really helps me keep my BIC and my nose to
the grindstone. With the snowstorm yesterday, revising was hit and miss to say the least.



Great post, Stacy! I totally
agree that we should not worry about the marketplace and its current trends. I
also agree with what you said in your 12 x 12 article about disregarding the
rules when we write. I have never been one for obeying the rules…guess it’s the
60s war horse in me coming out : )

saputnam said...

Sorry for posting this so late. First, I want
thank you for doing this, Meg. It really helps me keep my BIC and my nose to
the grindstone. With the snowstorm yesterday, revising was hit and miss to say the least.



Great post, Stacy! I totally
agree that we should not worry about the marketplace and its current trends. I
also agree with what you said in your 12 x 12 article about disregarding the
rules when we write. I have never been one for obeying the rules…guess it’s the
60s war horse in me coming out : )

saputnam said...

Sorry for posting this so late. First, I want to
thank you for doing this, Meg. It really helps keep my BIC and my nose to
the grindstone. With the snowstorm yesterday, revising was hit and miss to say the least.



Great post, Stacy! I totally
agree that we should not worry about the marketplace and its current trends. I
also agree with what you said in your 12 x 12 article about disregarding the
rules when we write. I have never been one for obeying the rules…guess it’s the
60s war horse in me coming out : )

Sue Frye said...

Awesome post, Stacy! I always love to learn more about writing and writers!

Lisa Willard said...

Stacy, Thanks for your encouragement and great examples! I followed the link to your no rules post. Yes! Write and save the rules for revisions. :)

pennyklostermann said...

Great post, Stacy! So much truth and wisdom!