Question:
Thanks for your words of wisdom Grace… I will check in now and again to see how yours is doing with Publish America. (I would like to read your manuscript if you have it in a format that is ‘emailable’? if not too long of course… or do I need to wait and see whether or not it is to be released into the marketplace before it can be shown?) And don’t obsess about it… creativity is something that comes when it is ready.. you can’t force it and worrying will only delay it’s onset IMHO. You obviously have a talent so accept that fact and move on with it… you will succeed a second time – in it’s own time. You just have to believe that. I do! so you should! Hugs from Shelagh http://continue.to/lupus – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Grace Casselman" wrote in message > Thank you Shelagh: > I do so love compliments. 
> Thanks, re. my YA novel. A Hole in the Hedge. Yeah, it’s now listed for > sale on the major online bookstores, but it’s not shipping yet (May 1, > apparently). I’m very eager to actually see a copy myself! Yes, I do feel a > sense of accomplishment with that, but it’s all quite tied up with a > certain stress about not being far enough along with my next novel. (ie., > could I possibly be a "novelist" — or was this just a lucky one-off thing? > Or, have I "lost" creative ability with the onset of Lupus? Stuff like > that… I tend to obsess. ) >HMM. I tried to identify publishers of YA fiction, and then sent out query >letters/chapters, whatever, according to their specifications. I was >pleased to find Napoleon Publishing (at the time, anyhow), would take >emailed manuscripts, so that made it a whole lot easier. I don’t have any >agreement for future books with Napoleon, but I would (will!) certainly go >there first with my next novel, as we have a bit of a relationship now. >Well. Me too! That is, I wrote a book about: the Lupus attack that made >me essentially a quadriplegic.. that story, my faith journey, dealing with >chronic illness, etc… and have signed a contract with PublishAmerica. >They seem open to that sort of book… it might be worth checking out their >site. If you’re interested, check in with me now and then about how that’s >going… I feel like I’m just floating along, watching it unfold.
Response:
Shelagh wrote: > (. or do I need to wait and see > whether or not it is to be released into the marketplace before it can > be shown?)
Hee. Well, I’m anticipating that it may be out as soon as this summer (although still awaiting an official publication date); can you wait for that? If not… email me! Oddly, someone asked me recently if it was weird to have put something intensely personal out there — and I thought, HMM, not yet, because not many people have seen it. But now that I think about it, yeah, it may be weird! > And don’t obsess about it… > creativity is something that comes when it is ready..
Thank you. However, I’ve come to believe that writing is not so much about inspiration, whatever, as it is about JUST GETTING TO IT — doing the work. Likewise, writer’s block is just a fancy terms for procrastination — or, not doing the work. So, since I feel that way, I have to turn around and say to myself: "HEY. Get to work." Grace.
Response:
Yes. The "perspiration" part of the writing approach. I too am floundering, nowhere NEAR the pubishing stage, but am working with getting up in the morning, and writing on a consistant basis. To stop all that yacking about what I want to do, and do it. Hoping inspiration will catch up with me somewhere along the line (but I have the same fear that lupus has dulled my mind forever), I can’t let those thoughts stop me, or I will NEVER KNOW, will I? Mary "Grace Casselman" <gr…@casselman.net> wrote in message
news:3E74EE45.17461DDC@casselman.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Shelagh wrote: > > (. or do I need to wait and see > > whether or not it is to be released into the marketplace before it can > > be shown?) > Hee. Well, I’m anticipating that it may be out as soon as this summer > (although still awaiting an official publication date); can you wait for > that? If not… email me! > Oddly, someone asked me recently if it was weird to have put something > intensely personal out there — and I thought, HMM, not yet, because not > many people have seen it. But now that I think about it, yeah, it may be > weird! > > And don’t obsess about it… > > creativity is something that comes when it is ready.. > Thank you. However, I’ve come to believe that writing is not so much about > inspiration, whatever, as it is about JUST GETTING TO IT — doing the work. > Likewise, writer’s block is just a fancy terms for procrastination — or, > not doing the work. So, since I feel that way, I have to turn around and > say to myself: "HEY. Get to work." > Grace.
Response:
Mary: I believe many people here can attest to your creativity; Lupus or no! But thanks for your empathy on that point. Beyond that, Lupus does try to rob me of confidence on several fronts. "Oh, I’m not as FUN as I used to be"… I probably can’t do that, because I won’t have the energy…" I just don’t have the stamina to keep up to them…" etc., etc… Anyhow, I’m mostly getting beyond that. But I do think I emerged from really bad episode, not just humbled, but somewhat cowed… Grace. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Mary T. Rawle" wrote: > Yes. The "perspiration" part of the writing approach. > I too am floundering, nowhere NEAR the pubishing stage, but am working with > getting up in the morning, and writing on a consistant basis. To stop all > that yacking about what I want to do, and do it. > Hoping inspiration will catch up with me somewhere along the line (but I > have the same fear that lupus has dulled my mind forever), I can’t let those > thoughts stop me, or I will NEVER KNOW, will I? > Mary > "Grace Casselman" <gr…@casselman.net> wrote in message > news:3E74EE45.17461DDC@casselman.net… > > Shelagh wrote: > > > (. or do I need to wait and see > > > whether or not it is to be released into the marketplace before it can > > > be shown?) > > Hee. Well, I’m anticipating that it may be out as soon as this summer > > (although still awaiting an official publication date); can you wait for > > that? If not… email me! > > Oddly, someone asked me recently if it was weird to have put something > > intensely personal out there — and I thought, HMM, not yet, because not > > many people have seen it. But now that I think about it, yeah, it may be > > weird! > > > And don’t obsess about it… > > > creativity is something that comes when it is ready.. > > Thank you. However, I’ve come to believe that writing is not so much about > > inspiration, whatever, as it is about JUST GETTING TO IT — doing the > work. > > Likewise, writer’s block is just a fancy terms for procrastination — or, > > not doing the work. So, since I feel that way, I have to turn around > and > > say to myself: "HEY. Get to work." > > Grace.
Response:
Got it and thanks! You will be receiving my ‘reviews’ at a later date LOL! -seriously though, I will get back to you once read… — Hugs from Shelagh http://continue.to/lupus "Grace Casselman" <gr…@casselman.net> wrote in message
news:3E74EE45.17461DDC@casselman.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Shelagh wrote: > > (. or do I need to wait and see > > whether or not it is to be released into the marketplace before it can > > be shown?) > Hee. Well, I’m anticipating that it may be out as soon as this summer > (although still awaiting an official publication date); can you wait for > that? If not… email me! > Oddly, someone asked me recently if it was weird to have put something > intensely personal out there — and I thought, HMM, not yet, because not > many people have seen it. But now that I think about it, yeah, it may be > weird! > > And don’t obsess about it… > > creativity is something that comes when it is ready.. > Thank you. However, I’ve come to believe that writing is not so much about > inspiration, whatever, as it is about JUST GETTING TO IT — doing the work. > Likewise, writer’s block is just a fancy terms for procrastination — or, > not doing the work. So, since I feel that way, I have to turn around and > say to myself: "HEY. Get to work." > Grace.
Response:
I think you speak for us all on that Grace, whether or not we are creative spirits! Lupus has a way of changing ‘our perception’ on different levels, IMO. BUT, you can alter that once aware of it and that is the crux! — Hugs from Shelagh http://continue.to/lupus "Grace Casselman" <gr…@casselman.net> wrote in message
news:3E752CE0.5A49818A@casselman.net… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Mary: > I believe many people here can attest to your creativity; Lupus or no! But > thanks for your empathy on that point. > Beyond that, Lupus does try to rob me of confidence on several fronts. "Oh, I’m > not as FUN as I used to be"… I probably can’t do that, because I won’t have > the energy…" I just don’t have the stamina to keep up to them…" etc., etc… > Anyhow, I’m mostly getting beyond that. But I do think I emerged from really bad > episode, not just humbled, but somewhat cowed… > Grace.
Response:
Grace – I don’t know what you originally said or any of the references – but that last line: "I do think I emerged from > really bad episode, not just humbled, but somewhat cowed…" hit a nerve
with me Leslie "Shelagh" <tidering…@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:imnda.492017$Yo4.26479712@news1.calgary.shaw.ca… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I think you speak for us all on that Grace, > whether or not we are creative spirits! Lupus has a way of changing ‘our > perception’ on different levels, IMO. > BUT, you can alter that once aware of it and that is the crux! > — > Hugs from Shelagh > http://continue.to/lupus > "Grace Casselman" <gr…@casselman.net> wrote in message > news:3E752CE0.5A49818A@casselman.net… > > Mary: > > I believe many people here can attest to your creativity; Lupus or no! > But > > thanks for your empathy on that point. > > Beyond that, Lupus does try to rob me of confidence on several fronts. > "Oh, I’m > > not as FUN as I used to be"… I probably can’t do that, because I > won’t have > > the energy…" I just don’t have the stamina to keep up to them…" > etc., etc… > > Anyhow, I’m mostly getting beyond that. But I do think I emerged from > really bad > > episode, not just humbled, but somewhat cowed… > > Grace.
Response:
Hi Leslie: Hmm… yeah, I guess I mean I had to deal with various insecurities, as I lost so many things, at least for awhile, from the ability to stand up, to comb my own hair, to feed myself or bathe independently — plus with the whole thing of being institutionalized in the hospital — and no longer independent, contributing, etc… — that I wasn’t the same confident young woman, returning from that. Not only did I have physical-related fears — of being "bumped" in hallways and knocked down — but I also worried that through illness and drugs, maybe I’d lost more intangible things that made me "me" — intelligence, creativity…(and my appearance was definitely impacted!) Anyhow, I feel like I had to fight to regain things, on a lot broader level than merely the physical. Then again, I don’t believe it was all that apparent to those around me, but it’s certainly been an issue within myself… Grace. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Chaos Hill wrote: > Grace – I don’t know what you originally said or any of the references – but > that last line: "I do think I emerged from that > > really bad episode, not just humbled, but somewhat cowed…" hit a nerve > with me > Leslie
Response:
I see you posted on our map (great, thanks!) and I went to your site… read your 2 articles on cats vs. dogs and wedding woes… I do like your style! Really good IMHO and good for you! (specially the book being sold now!) Must make you feel so good having accomplished so much! Do you have a regular publisher and/or how do you go about getting to that stage once you have written a ‘book’ / article / manuscript or whatever? Just curious… I have written a bio of my travels with lupus and had alot of people tell me I should have it published for ‘lupus newbies’ to read, and I wouldn’t know where to start! …. not that I would for sure anyway… a bit shy about that kind of exposure.. but! should I get up the nerve it would be good to know just what the heck to do! TIA! — Hugs from Shelagh http://continue.to/lupus
Response:
Thank you Shelagh: I do so love compliments. Thanks, re. my YA novel. A Hole in the Hedge. Yeah, it’s now listed for sale on the major online bookstores, but it’s not shipping yet (May 1, apparently). I’m very eager to actually see a copy myself! Yes, I do feel a sense of accomplishment with that, but it’s all quite tied up with a certain stress about not being far enough along with my next novel. (ie., could I possibly be a "novelist" — or was this just a lucky one-off thing? Or, have I "lost" creative ability with the onset of Lupus? Stuff like that… I tend to obsess. ) Shelagh wrote: > Do you have a regular publisher and/or how do you go about getting to > that stage once you have written a ‘book’ / article / manuscript or > whatever?
HMM. I tried to identify publishers of YA fiction, and then sent out query letters/chapters, whatever, according to their specifications. I was pleased to find Napoleon Publishing (at the time, anyhow), would take emailed manuscripts, so that made it a whole lot easier. I don’t have any agreement for future books with Napoleon, but I would (will!) certainly go there first with my next novel, as we have a bit of a relationship now. > Just curious… I have written a bio of my travels with lupus and had > alot of people tell me I should have it published for ‘lupus newbies’ > to read, and I wouldn’t know where to start!
Well. Me too! That is, I wrote a book about: the Lupus attack that made me essentially a quadriplegic.. that story, my faith journey, dealing with chronic illness, etc… and have signed a contract with PublishAmerica. They seem open to that sort of book… it might be worth checking out their site. If you’re interested, check in with me now and then about how that’s going… I feel like I’m just floating along, watching it unfold. All the best, Grace. www.casselman.net
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.