There's Hope Yet

After our Old Colorado City Writers Group meeting on Thursday evening at Agia Sophia (one of the best coffee shops in town!), I met with group founder and leader, Karen Linamen. I had met Karen several years ago at the American Christian Writers Conference and was instantly taken by her humor, so I signed up for all of her workshops and purchased several of her books (no, I'm not a stalker!). A few years later, I saw her again at the same conference, and this time her agent was a speaker as well.

After getting "rejected" by the first agent who asked for my proposal in September, the agent gave me several agents' names and suggested I query them. She also said I could tell them she recommended me, which is a good sign (see my previous entry). Knowing one of the agents is Karen's agent, I asked Karen if she could meet with me for an hour or so to review my proposal to see if there was anything I needed to change before I sent a query to her agent. She agreed to pencil me in, so we're getting together on Tuesday to review it and see what changes I need to make to improve my chances.

I have to say that writers are as interested in seeing other writers succeed as much as they are to see themselves succeed. The network of writers, the writers groups to which I belong, and the friends I've made are critical to me succeeding in the difficult world of publication (it's not what you know, it's who you know). Not only do writers "get" other writers, but they also help each other, willingly and without charge. Now don't get me wrong, there's a time and place for consultations and conferences, but when a published author takes time out of her busy schedule to help another aspiring author, that says a lot about her character, not to mention writers in general. For that, I am very grateful.

So, wish me luck on Tuesday, and send up a prayer or two that I'll be able to successfully query Karen's agent. And I'm hoping that because I've met him in person, sat with him at lunch at the conference, and am "Friends" with him on Facebook, that that will improve my chances of having him sign me on!

And who knows, maybe I will be the one taking time out of my schedule to help another aspiring writer achieve her dreams of becoming published!

Egads, Rejected!

Hi Folks,

This update is way overdue, not because the agent took long, but because I'm just getting around to posting her answer! Here it is:

Stephanie,

I’ve been thinking through whether or not I think I could successfully work with you and place your book with a publisher. I think you have an important story to tell and you write well. What I’m sensing is that I currently have hit my maximum number of projects for right now and I don’t think I would be able to take on your book and work with you in a way that you deserve with a lot of time and attention given to your book.

I understand that you need someone who could dedicate that kind of time to you and I’m just not able to right now.

I hope that you will continue to pursue your book idea and to be able to minister to thousands of people who need to hear your message.

So, even though it's not the answer I was hoping for, it was good on many levels:

1. She didn't send a "form rejection letter" with a rubber-stamped signature.

2. She said the reason she couldn't take me on is because she has the max number of clients, not because I have a lousy topic, my writing is awful, or that was the poorest excuse of a proposal she has ever seen.

3. She said I write well.

4. She encouraged me to pursue my book and later asked me to keep her updated on its progress.

Here's a later comment she wrote:

I do hope you continue to pursue your book and I’d love to hear about it along the way. It is a unique book and that will serve you well as others review it.

So, I am hopeful. She also gave me several agents' names to contact (also a rarity!) and said I could mention that she referred me (good sign!). All is not lost, and I have my fingers crossed, so please pray that I can get these queries written soon and out the door, and that someone will "sign me up!"

How about you? Do you have any advice for me? Feel free to leave it in the comments section.

Waiting in the Wings

Just an update.

I e-mailed the agent to whom I sent the proposal to let her know I mailed it (it went to a PO Box, so I'm not sure how often she picks up mail). She e-mailed right back, saying she's out of town, but said she'd respond as soon as she's had a chance to look it over. So, hopefully I'll hear from her before the week is out.

Ha! That's wishful thinking! LOL

Keep your fingers crossed that it's good news!

Starting Off the New Year on a Scary Foot

I did it!

Believe it or not, because I can't even believe it myself! I told my husband I'd rather have open heart surgery because it would be less painful, but...

I FINALLY FINISHED MY BOOK PROPOSAL!

Last week at our Writers Write meeting, my fellow writers asked if my proposal was done yet. I hemmed and hawed, made excuses, avoided the subject ... you know, the usual avoidance. Jon Horton looked me straight in the eye and said, "January 2nd."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"January 2nd is your deadline to get your proposal done."

I gulped. "Um...okay."

I was terrified, yet excited. I knew that that's what I needed: Someone else needed to give me a deadline or I'd drag it out forever. Even after another writer friend, Anita Romero, "paid" me to get my proposal done, I still put forth a half-hearted effort because no date was attached to it.

January 2nd loomed large. There was Christmas, New Year's, parties, my son in town, Christmas cards to write (a two-day affair!), a painting to finish. There was NO WAY I could get my proposal finished by then! I had too many other excuses!

But somehow, Jon's demand "worked." I finished the proposal on January 1st! Added the finishing touches and final edits on the 2nd, and mailed it today, January 3rd. Since I didn't have any "takers" to proofread/edit it, I took comfort in Jon's words, "Just send what you have. If she doesn't like it, she'll have you make changes until it's good enough to send to a publisher."

So, after a few more changes and a prayer, I sent it off today: cover letter, 1 page; proposal overview, 12 pages; chapter-by-chapter synopsis, 6 pages; and three sample chapters, 7 pages. And of course, a SASE was included!

Now I'm going to pass the time by working on my book, and praying that the agent (whose name I'm too scared to mention for fear of jinxing myself) is so "wowed" by the proposal that she snatches me up lickety split!

Hey, it doesn't hurt to dream, does it?

How long before she responds? Not that I'm anxious or anything ... or that I expect her to get back to me right away ... or that my taking 4 months to write it has no effect on how long she gets to reply ... I'm just curious.

So, this first step of the New Year was definitely scary, not the same kind of scary as driving up switchbacks on a steep mountain in a foot of snow in pitch-black darkness, but scary nonetheless. Even as I stare at the quote I wrote on my office wall, "Stop hiding from success because you're afraid you'll fail," I can't help but wonder what I'm so afraid of?

One of my goals for this year is to get back to writing at least 4 hours, preferably 6, every day. Which means I must, must, MUST limit the time I spend on Facebook!

I haven't decided on my other goals yet, other than lose weight.

Oh yeah, I met a really cool chick at Writers Write, who blogs under the pen name "jane doe" (lowercase intentional). She's also an artist, so we really hit it off. But I have to be deliberate about my writing and not meet with her too often, as we have WAAAAYYYYY too much in common and find ourselves talking instead of writing! But I'm looking forward to this new friendship!

Happy New Year!

And hopefully my next post will be GREAT news!

Refusing to Douse the Scribe Fire

Writing is my passion.


Over the last year, I have allowed painting to become an obstacle. Don't get me wrong, I got paid handsomely for completing a mural project and teaching some art classes, but writing is what I want to do first and foremost. I can't allow my artwork to get me so sidetracked that I fall off-course.


I started a memoir in 2002. While attending a writer's conference that year, I was chatting with a fellow writer and she asked me a question about my book. After sharing my emotional answer, she said, "Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think you're ready to write your book yet."


She was right.


I put my book on hold and pursued other interests. I continued to research my topic, read books on the subject, surf the Internet, journal my feelings, and attend writers conferences, but didn't work on my book. The time would come when I could get back to writing, and when it did, I would pursue it wholeheartedly.



In April of 2007, the issue surrounding my book got resolved, giving me the clear mind I needed to once again pick up the pencil . . . er . . . laptop, and get back to work.


In August 2007, I discovered YourHub (http://www.coloradosprings.yourhub.com/) sponsored by the Gazette in Colorado Springs. It was the perfect outlet--posting dozens of stories about my neighborhood, family, church, and friends caused the scribe fire inside me to burn even brighter, awakening me to a Truth I've been snuffing out for years: I am a writer.


Getting married in 2005 provided an extra income I've never enjoyed before. I had been a single mother of three kids for 18 years before I married my husband, and never had the luxury of staying home to write full time. Being the supportive, hardworking husband he is, Greg gave me his blessing to resign in November 2007 to pursue my dreams, so I jumped at this chance to stoke the fire!


We knew we'd have to forego vacations, cut back on our spending, and that money would be really tight, but I didn't think it would get this bad. With the economy taking a nosedive, gas and food prices skyrocketing, and his summer hours being cut by almost half, we're facing a lot of challenges that we didn't take into consideration, even foreclosure.


I remember several years ago after my sister got married, her husband was frequently out of work while she worked two and three jobs to support him. At the time, I thought he was a slacker and a lousy husband for forcing her to be the sole provider--did she agree to this before they said "I do"? Why couldn't he just get a job to tide them over until he got his big break? He refused. His stubbornness paid off--seven years later, he's very successful in his field, they bought a new house in an upscale neighborhood in Burbank, CA, and she's a stay-at-home mother of two. Now that the shoe is on my foot, I understand why he did what he did and admire him for staying true to his dreams. And I admire my sister for her faithfulness even though at the time I thought she was a fool for staying with him.


I have so much to learn about marriage.


So, do I release the white-knuckled stranglehold on my dream and get a "paying" job, knowing we could lose the house because of my stubbornness? Or do I relax my grip just a little, maybe get a part-time job to help out for a while, but continue to write in the evenings, knowing things might come up that will force me to let go forever? How much longer do I persevere before my "big break" comes? I wonder how often my brother-in-law asked himself the same questions.


If I'm going "back to work," it's gonna' be something I really enjoy doing! I applied for a cake decorator job and got it! It's part time, I have to work Sundays (what a drag!), and have to rearrange my entire writing schedule and possibly miss some meetings because of my new job (bigger drag!). Last night, knowing I was reporting at 9:30 a.m. this morning, I could not fall asleep. I had many unanswered questions, I saw my writing dream floating away, and I saturated my pillow with tears.


But like a good new employee, I got up and reported on time for my first day. When I was told my starting wages, I was crushed! If I was going to make this big of a sacrifice, I needed to be well-compensated and this amount was not going to cut it. Granted, I don't have retail experience and the cakes I've done have been out of my home, but this was not an income that would make me excited to get out of bed every morning instead of staying home to write.

My book loomed before me. "Are you sure you want to sell out for this?" it jeered.


I informed the manager that I'd have to turn down the offer. She understood. Next time I'll ask what my pay will be before I accept!


I did cartwheels in the parking lot back to my car . . . well . . . at least on the inside I did! I felt like I had sprouted wings and could fly! I headed back home to my husband, to my book, to my dream!



My husband was surprised to see me back so soon. I explained what happened and he got a big grin on his face. "I don't know why you applied for the job in the first place! We'll be okay, Honey! I'll even work for the temp agency during the weeks I'm home. Now get back to your proposal!"


When I mentioned I wanted to write on the back patio for a change of scenery, he set up the patio table, umbrella, and a tarp to protect me from the sun (I'm taking advantage of the 66-degree November weather!). He gathered my laptop and books out of my upstairs office, set up a side table, got me a Diet Coke, and asked if there was anything else I needed. Hmm . . . let me think about that . . . just a kiss from the most amazing man on the entire planet!


My book is going to be dedicated to Greg Johnson! No one else believes in me and supports me the way my husband does! (Anita Romero runs a close second!) I am SO BLESSED to have him, and I certainly don't take him for granted. If he believes in me this much, what do I think I'm doing piping icing?


As I sat at the table, I took a brief moment to check my e-mail. My inbox contained messages from Tim Bergsten, editor of YourHub, and the man who emceed the YourHub Second Anniversary Party. I asked him for his "script" from what he said about me so that I could include it in my YourHub scrapbook, and possibly in my book proposal.


Here's his e-mail:


I’m pretty sure this person is the most prolific writer on YourHub, her byline has appeared right at 200 times online and she keeps the YourHub east papers filled with colorful feature stories. And her words are popular, I know because my phone rings off the hook with callers praising her stories. When you work at a newspaper, calls of encouragement are sometimes few and far between.

This summer we met with this lady and told her we were interested in stories about how people might be feeling the pinch from a slumping economy and the price of gas and what sort of actions people might be taking to save a buck.

She went home, jumped on her bike, and vowed to be a bicycle commuter. After a couple of rides, she wrote this limerick to start a story titled Gas Boycott Update… on YourHub...

Twelve miles to and from church I rode my bike,
To boycott the outrageous gas price hikes.
I need better shocks
And firmer buttocks
For this to be a ride that I like!


I could go on and on about her and before the night’s over, I might do that. But I am proud to present the YourHub East Zone Citizen Journalist of the Year Hubcap to Stephanie Johnson.



I was blown away because I hadn't posted 200 stories! Looking back now, after adding my blog entries and the stories about my husband, that number sounds about right.


Drifting among the clouds while hugging my Hubcap, I half-tuned out what came next for overall winner:

This was a tough decision because there are several people whose contributions, whose opinions and suggestions, have made YourHub successful.

This person has grasped the idea behind YourHub. She understands that YourHub was created for citizens to write about their neighborhoods, their clubs, school, their church. We call it hyper-local, the news from your street, the news about the people and places close to you.

The Citizen Journalist of the Year has written a detailed series of articles about a remodeling overhaul at her church. She created and wrote two series titled Inspiring Women and Women of Courage, telling us about Colorado Springs residents who have survived destructive relationships, drug and alcohol abuse to live the life they had dreamed of, stories of people who are raising their grandkids, who against the odds earned a college degree and are making it happen for themselves.

She’s written movie reviews, stories about teaching art at the Bemis Art School, and stories about new businesses she has discovered.

She is an excellent writer, using her head to write information that is valuable, and her heart to write with passion.

I don’t think things happen by accident, and though we didn’t know it at the time, I think we created YourHub for Stephanie Johnson. And it is my honor to present her with the Hubcap for YourHub Citizen Journalist of the Year.


When Tim began the introduction for overall journalist, I was excited to hear who would win. I didn't figure out he was talking about me again until he mentioned my "Inspiring Women" series! After that, I missed most of what he said because I was holding my sobbing in check so as not to cause too much commotion. I simply can't describe the tsunami of emotions that swept over me at realizing I had won overall Journalist of the Year, too! Reading it even now in black and white is causing new tears to flow.


Tim also attached a picture that a photographer captured of me accepting my second award. As Tim's accolades sink in and I see the look on my face that says it all, I realize I made the right decision by turning down the job . . . that I AM A WRITER, and writers write, not decorate cakes. Sure, I'll paint once in a while and do a cake for a friend now and again, but first and foremost, I am a writer, so I will continue to do just that.


Even if it means becoming homeless.

YourHub Awards

This was an e-mail I just sent my friends about YourHub's Second Anniversary Party on 11/13/2008:

YourHub's Second Anniversary party on Thursday, November 13th, will forever be a night for me to remember--I'm still pinching myself! It ranks right up there with the births of my children and my wedding day! Yeah, it really was "that big" for me! I feel like my worth as a writer has been confirmed, that I'm on the right track, and that I need to keep doing what I'm doing.

Many of you already know that YourHub was the catalyst for me resigning from my full-time job last November to pursue writing my book full time and doing some painting. When the Gazette's YourHub editor, Tim Bergsten, "personally invited me" to the party, I told him I had already seen the ad in the paper and wouldn't dream of missing it. I fantasized about winning the East Hub's Journalist of the Year, but wasn't positive it was a real possibility--I sure didn't want to get my hopes up. But when he wrote, "DO NOT miss it," I thought I might have a pretty good chance.

Well, I'm THRILLED to report that I WON! I was presented with the "2008 Eastern Zone YourHub Citizen Journalist of the Year!" Yahoo! I was crying tears of joy, let me tell ya'! I was shaking with excitement as I went up to accept my "Silver Hubcap Award" (how clever!). Tim leaned over to shake my hand and said, "I'll be down later to give you a hug." How sweet! (Tim and I also attend drawing classes together at Cottonwood--he's an extremely talented artist and is currently taking oil painting classes.)

So, the night is wearing on and my fellow Hubbers, Dianne Perea (2007 Northern Zone Journalist of the Year recipient) and Earl Chang (who graciously attended Radiant's Grand Re-Opening Party in September to see my mural work), my husband (who just got home after 16 days on an oil rig in Rifle, just worked a 12-hour shift, and drove 7 hours from Rifle, to Grand Junction, then to Colorado Springs, should really have gone to bed instead of accompanying me! What a saint!), and I are munching on our crackers and cheese, and they start to announce the overall Photographer, Journalist, and Story of the Year.

I was only half-paying attention to hearing about the Journalist of the Year who had had "200 bylines" in the past year because I only have 98 stories so far (in 15 months), but when Tim began reading the limerick I wrote for my Gas Boycott story, I stopped mid-broccoli and began crying again! (Dianne snapped a few of me and Greg during this very emotional moment for me) Tim went on to mention my "Women of Courage Success Stories," "Inspiring Women Series," and even my "Radiant Church Makeover" stories.

Would you believe I won OVERALL Journalist of the Year as well??? I could barely walk up to the stage to receive my second Silver Hubcap Award because my eyes were overflowing with so many happy tears! This time Tim came down to give me a hug (When he said earlier that he would hug me later, I thought he was talking about after the awards part, not for my "second" award!)! I was totally blown away! What an incredible night!

Many people I've met "bash" YourHub because it's "citizen journalism": you don't get paid, your work isn't edited (except glaring mistakes, per Tim), nor does it "really count" (try telling that to anyone who's won an award or seen their stories in print!). But the euphoria I felt Thursday night was even greater than when my first article appeared in a magazine over ten years ago! I still get a rush every time I see one of my stories in the weekly insert--it will never get old for me. And I get "fan mail!" How cool is that? Many people came up to me afterwards and congratulated me, shook my hand, and asked me questions--I felt like a star! Who knows, my awards might look really good on a book proposal as well?

Writing for YourHub gives me good practice, I have a goal of posting at least one story per week on the Web site, and I'm honing my skills all at the same time (and the gift cards I won will pay for a new camera, so I guess I "got paid" after all!). So, if you haven't joined yet, I encourage you to do so: http://coloradosprings.yourhub.com/. If you have already registered, I encourage you to make it a goal to post stories on a regular basis. Not only do you get to write to your heart's content about anything and everything (YourHub even publishes my UNCENSORED stories about my faith), but you also get to meet other fantastic writers, network/barter, and attend parties!

Here's the link to the announcement on the Web site if you want to check it out: http://coloradosprings.yourhub.com/Powers/Stories/About-Town/Story~548289.aspx

So, I just wanted to toot my own horn for a bit. Thanks for indulging me (I hope I'm not coming across as vain!). I am so ecstatic, though, what a way to be validated as a writer! God is so good--I give Him all the glory!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Wow! Where on earth has all the time gone? I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to update my blog! Shame on me! So much has been going on, I don't know where to start.

As an aside, I'm embarrassed that I thought blog.com and blogger.com were the same sites. No wonder I couldn't find my "I Am a Writer" blog when I signed in! I can really be dense sometimes, but I'm still so new to all this blogging stuff, so don't laugh, okay? I decided to consolidate all my blogs into one spot, so I copied and pasted my old entries and started this new one here.

So . . . let's see . . . where did I leave off . . .?

I formed Clio's Club in March and held our first meeting in April at Panera Bread on Powers next to Best Buy, and two other writers showed up. We talked about the projects we're working on, what we were looking for in a writers' group, possible topics to discuss, etc.

For the second meeting in May, no one showed! Bummer. I figured the meeting hadn't gotten the same exposure as the first in the Gazette YourHub insert, so I made use of the time by working on my book.

By the third meeting in June, I was really wondering if people didn't like me, so I checked YourHub Events only to discover I hadn't made it a "recurring event." DOH! I think it turned out better that way because I was too busy with other stuff going on for me to start up yet another writer's meeting. I decided not to continue.

Also in April, I was asked by Radiant Church to paint some classroom murals in the Early Childhood Wing as part of their Extreme Makeover (see my "Stephanie Johnson Murals" blog), so several months flew by as I worked on that project. In the meantime, I was still attending Old Colorado City Writer's Group, Pikes Peak Writers, and Springs Writers meetings.

OCCWG started a new critique group in June and I'd been attending those meetings in addition to the general monthly writers' meeting. I have gotten a lot of positive feedback and constructive criticism on my manuscript, and have implemented many suggestions. One author, Jon Horton, highly recommended I work the book into a magazine article, as the topic is very "hot" and could land me a nice chunk-o-change. I'll have to research the possibilities on that one.

The Co-Organizer of OCCWG, David Esker, relinquished his title and duties while I was out of town but I didn't get the e-mail, so when I found out, I volunteered for the position. After all, I take all the minutes during our meetings anyway, so it wouldn't be a problem for me to pick this responsibility up as well, especially after Karen gave me her blessing to start up OCCWG as a group on Facebook.

When Greg accepted a new job in August in Rifle, we were gone for the entire month of September, living in a tent at Rifle Gap State Park, and by the time I came "home," the critique group had disbanded. Deb Buckingham and Anita Romero, members of OCCWG, have continued attending the Writers Write Tuesday meeting of OCCWG, so we all go to that meeting faithfully.

Disappointed with the direction OCCWG was headed, Deb decided to form her own meetup group and "borrowed" the name "Writers Write." (The name comes from Karen Linamen, who constantly reminds us that "writers write," and encourages us to do exactly that.) Deb took the liberty of adding OCCWG's Tuesday meeting to her group's calendar as well, so now the meeting has double exposure. Deb added me as the Co-Organizer to Writers Write, but so far she hasn't delegated any work for me to do. Anita is the Meeting Facilitator, and does a fantastic job of guiding the meeting discussion.

Moving right along . . . another group I attend is Springs Writers, founded by Scoti Domeij. I first heard about her group from Ted Weaver when I attended the American Christian Writers Conference where I first met Karen Linamen several years ago and have attended ever since. In March 2008, Springs Writers had Shana Schutte as a guest speaker. She talked about "writing juicy," "mind-mapping," overcoming writers block, and the different "hats" that writers wear: explorer's hat, artist beret, construction hardhat, combat helmet, etc. I took copius notes.

I would frequently see Shana at the Pikes Perk at Academy and Vickers where we met for Writers Write, so one day I finally got up enough nerve to tell Shana how much I enjoyed hearing her speak, even showing her her own business card that I had picked up after her talk. She commented that I must've met her somewhere previously since I prounounced her name correctly. I introduced Shana to my fellow writers, and over the weeks, she would pop in at our table to say hi and ask about our projects. I, for one, was star struck.

Weeks passed, and one day when I arrived late for a meeting, Deb shared with me that Shana had come over earlier and asked her if she had an agent (Deb writes "chick lit," and is working on a book titled "Out of the Box"). Deb told her no, so Shana asked her if she wanted one. Well, of course! (Was that a trick question?) I was so excited for Deb and the possibility that Shana might be able to hook her up with her own agent.

About a week or two later Deb, Anita, and I were busily typing away when Shana approached our table. To Deb's dismay, Shana announced that her agent didn't handle chick lit, but was looking for a writer with a "platform." I blurted, "I have a platform!" Shana asked me to send her an e-mail with details, and offered to send it along to her agent. I had had her e-mail from her business card, plus I had her Web site marked as a favorite, so I knew how to get in touch with her. I quickly sent off a paragraph or two about the memoir I was working on and waited for a response.

Weeks passed, and I was beginning to worry. I had seen Shana at Pikes Perk, but didn't want to harass her about my e-mail. She'd get back to me when she had an answer. Another week or two later, she let me know that her agent's grandmother had passed away and was out of town for the funeral, but as soon as she heard anything, she'd let me know.

In the meantime, I busied myself writing my memoir, finishing up the murals at the church, and doing the family thing with my kids who were visiting for the summer. I sort of of gave up hope that her agent would be interested, and put getting a response on the back burner as life got in the way.

One day, I checked my e-mail and saw a name I didn't recognize. The subject line read "Referral from Shana" and I immediately thought my daughter, Shaina, had somehow gotten into trouble at school (but the sender had misspelled her name)! That was ludicrous! Not my straight-A student. It was probably someone at the school needing a reference letter for a college scholarship program Shaina was applying for or something to that effect.

As I read the e-mail, I nearly peed my pants! It was Shana's agent and she asked me to send my book proposal and a sample chapter! OMG! All this time I could've been working on my proposal, but I convinced myself there was no way she'd be interested, so I simply didn't think about tackling it. Ohmygosh, did I, a WRITER, actually say that??

Where to begin???

"Book Proposals That Sell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success" by W. Terry Whalin was a good start. I immediately got busy. Would I be able to finish it in a reasonable time so as not to make "Agent B" think I wasn't interested?

Then several roadblocks came along. My husband accepted a job in Rifle and, being the supportive wife I am, went with him, thinking it would be a week. I would head to the library to write, take notes, do research, etc. Slowly but surely, the proposal was developing, but the book took on a life of its own, metamorphosing into a how-to book instead of a memoir as I considered what the book had to offer the reader.

One week in the campground became four, and we couldn't afford the gas for me to drop Greg off at work every morning, go back to the library or tent, then make the circuit a second time every evening. So I was stuck at the campground, writing everything in longhand, but at least I was working on it! I was becoming resentful of being holed up in this campground with no Internet, electricity, cell service, laptop. But that's another story.

After a month, I begged Greg to let me stay home to work on my proposal in the comfort of my office, and he relented even though he really needed my company. I was so happy to get back to Writers Write and see "my girls!" I showed my spiral notebook to Anita and Deb, filled with my rough draft proposal, bibliography, and notes. They were impressed, but I shared with them how overwhelming it was, especially since the proposal had created a new monster. I chided myself for not starting months ago, even before Shana offered to ask her agent about it.

The next week, Anita asked me if my proposal was done.

"No," I answered sheepishly. She didn't want to hear my excuses. When I shared how I was still trying to figure out how to do the synopsis now that the direction of the book had changed, she said, "I think you should keep it a memoir. And I think you're dragging your feet."

I hung my head in shame--she knew me well. I even have a quote written on my office wall: Stop hiding from success because you're afraid you'll fail." I wasn't living my quotes!

Anita suggested, "Keep it a memoir and pitch it as a three-book series."

"But I've written the proposal as a memoir/how-to combination, with my daughter's point of view as the companion book! I can't change it now!"

She insisted. I argued. I gave reasons. I justified the changes.

She expounded on the benefits of a three-book pitch. She reassured my by saying, "Pitch it as a memoir, how-to, and companion three-book series. If she likes your proposal but doesn't like the three books, she'll tell you and make you rewrite the proposal. Keep in mind that whatever you submit will get rewritten anyway, so it's better to send her something now before she loses interest."

Anita was right.

So that's where I am now. I am rewriting the proposal, hoping to WOW "Agent B" with my outline, but frustrated that I need to change everything!!!

I'm sure I'll be thanking Anita when the agent offers me a contract.

And I'll be sure to list Anita's name second in my Acknowledgments, after my agent, of course.