I attended the Chuckanut Writers Conference this weekend and pitched my book, The Parting Glass, to 3 different agents. All three expressed interest. Two requested a couple of sample chapters via email and one wanted a completed manuscript. So, now I have the challenge of actually finishing my book. I’ve been so focused on perfecting every last sentence I write, that progress has been slow (although I am about 25,000 words in). Some valuable advice I got was to set a minimum writing goal. Each day, for example, maybe I write 15 minutes at an absolute bare minimum or maybe 2 pages. I can perfect it later.
I know many hours of writing and self-promotion are in my future, but that’s okay. It will all be worth it when I see my book on the shelves of Village Books. It will be worth it when I can actually do what I love for a living. I’ve never wanted anything so badly in my entire life. And to think (as my friend Sherry pointed out), I almost took a political science class last fall instead of Laura Kalpakian’s Memory into Memoir class. Sometimes one decision can change the course of your entire life.
Jolene's Life in Focus 
Holy moly! Combining this many wonderful images with a perpetually scrolling blog theme is a dangerous thing! I had to force myself to browse on a time-limit or I never would have stopped looking through your photos! Awesome work, Ms. H!
🙂
Wow, thanks! After viewing your impressive work this morning, I take that as quite the compliment!
I went through your blog and notice the great photo with such awesome writing. My penmanship is horrible (I may have already written my sentences incorrectly :)) Well, good luck!
Thank you for visiting and for the wonderful compliments! 🙂
Nice, I was considering going to the conference when I first heard about it (likely from you, of course) but chose not to attend at this time. I’m glad to see that you went and had such a positive experience. Nice work. 🙂
Thanks, Rick. I actually got some handouts and jotted down some notes that I’ll share with you. I went to a session on creating characters, and the writers had some really interesting suggestions that you might find useful for fiction writing.
Oooh! I would love the sample chapters to be sent my way! Congrats! I know this has always been a passion of yours!
Hey, Claire! Maybe I will throw a couple of sample chapters your way. 🙂 It has been a dream for a long time – although through my 20’s I had forgotten all about writing. Glad I got back to it.
I really need to take one of these 🙂
Totally. Inspired.
Looking forward to hearing about your progress!
Having people interested in my work was inspiring – I even wrote 1,000 words yesterday afternoon, which I felt was huge for a Sunday. Thanks, Sherry!
I can only imagine what an amazing feeling it must have been to have such interest – so validating! Do you find the more your write – the more you’re able to write?
There’s certainly been an evolution to my writing. At first, I was trying to be too fancy and poetic, and it didn’t work at all. But, now I have found a rhythm and it seems to flow a lot more smoothly – and I can write more.
Congratulations on this latest development, Jolene! Beautiful photo, too. 🙂
Thanks, Caryn! I’m hoping I can use some of my photos from Ireland in the book too. That would be a great way to capture both of my passions. 🙂
You will definitly make it possible…I like your writing…its fresh n honest…
I appreciate the compliment, thank you! 🙂