Port Townsend for July 4th

Hello World!

I just returned yesterday from a recuperative four-day weekend in Port Townsend. (Ahhh.) While there, tucked above a bookstore, I came across an informative, petite shop on Water Street, "The Writers' Workshoppe." In my many trips to P. T., I'd never seen it before. My conversation with the owner, Anna Quinn, was full of interesting information.

For those close enough to benefit, she and guest speakers offer regular workshops for writers at various stages in the process. Check her website at http://www.writersworkshoppe.com/. I am seriously considering one in late summer or fall, as Anna and her guest speakers offer fascinating topics of study. If I go, I'll let you know about my insights.

One thing Anna told me stands out above the others. Most people never finish their books. Only a fraction of those who do finish continue into the labyrinth of submission for publication. Consequently, only about 1% of writers get to the point where they receive those tedious piles of rejection notices that we all dread. (At least the piles are fine fire starters for cold feet in the winter, I hear.)

For some reason, my heart feels lighter knowing this. Can I make it into the 1%? Certainly. I have no doubt. From there, with so much of the competition already fallen by the wayside, I feel I will have a better chance than I'd feared I might. I shall enter the Labyrinth.

Anna also complimented me for taking on the difficult job of carefully rewriting each scene. I'm making certain that character development, drama, and tension occur in each scene and goals, changes and themes are clearly mapped, as suggested by Martha Alderson (see previous blog). From Anna's comment, I feel reassured that I am still journeying along the right path, slow and rocky though it may be.

I have enrolled in a two-day writing class here in town led by two successful writers. It concerns marketing your work. For awhile, I put on blinders so I wouldn't become discouraged by what I heard about publishing and marketing. Now, I'm finally ready to hear about what I imagine will be the toughest steps. After my classes, I'll share a few high points with you.

Meanwhile, I hope I'll find some of you traveling through the labyrinth when I arrive. Wouldn't it be fun to journey together? If we combine our piles of rejection slips, we can keep our feet warmer than if we travel alone.