Never Judge a Book by it's Cover

     Earlier this week, I went to the track to do my normal 2 mile run. As I push my 4 month old daughter along in the stroller, I notice two women with one stroller running. Both the women were not what I would think of when I think of "runners". They were a bit bigger and their legs weren't the finely toned ones I associate with that of an avid jogger, but they quickly surprised me with their speed.
   I should note that since the birth of my daughter, I have been attempting to get back in shape. This task has proven very challenging as the military schedule my husband has makes me feel like a single parent more days than not. However, I have been diligently going to the track, daughter in tote, and putting feet to pavement as I jog circles. (The track is ALOT smoother than pavement for the stroller. Take note other moms.)
     The day I am talking about was a day that me and these two women began our work out at relatively the same time. I stretched, locked the front wheel up on the stroller, set my IPhone to the Nike running app, and began. The women began a 100 meters in front of me. I thought I would catch up to them in NO TIME, but to my surprise, it was not until I was almost done the first mile that I passed them. Even when I got finished the second mile, I look back and to my surprise they were only 100 meters behind me.
   Then I got to thinking about how their outer appearance misled me to the conclusion that they would not keep up with me. Yes, I am a bit slower than I was pre-baby, but I do not classify myself as "slow" per say. To me, they looked like they would be slow, but I was dead wrong. This led me to a HUGE reminder NEVER to judge a book by it's cover with people AND with books.
    As a society, we make our first impression by how we look and act outwardly. While first impressions CAN be very much true and indicative of the human soul behind the face, it is not always the case. Yet, we judge them.
    It is the same with books. A lot of times in the publishing industry, a book cover can make or break you. As I lean more and more to the conclusion that I might have to become an indy author, I am faced with having to design my own cover. (Yes, I could pay someone, but I am going to be flat out honest and tell you I don't have the money. NOR do I think it is a good utilization of my resources at this point in time.)
    So I am left to my own whimsical and at times self judgmental perspective as to what I want the world to judge my book on... :( What do I want everyone's first impression to be? It is almost easier writing and intensely editing than to pick a cover because, like I realized the other day, I am just as much a slave to judging a book by it's cover as everyone else.
    Wish me luck. Maybe I will purchase an indy book this weekend who's cover I am not a fan of. It could surprise me just like these two awesome women did. (FYI ANYONE who works out and attempts to better themselves is awesome in my book! AND that book has no cover.)

Lots of love and wish me luck in Cover scheming for TOTEM!

E.M.Lathrop

Writing a Novel is like Training for a Marathon

    The other day, I was lacing up my shoes to go for a jog. As usual, my mind wonders to writing and that is when it hit me, writing a novel is a lot like training for a marathon.

    First, you get an idea in your head that just won't go away. It sparks a whole train of thoughts. You begin to think 'Yes I can write a Novel. My character's are awesome!' 'Yes I can run a marathon! Everyone should do it in their lifetime.'

     You research it. You look at the genre you want to write in. You look at the topics that your book will cover. You begin to look at different running shoes. You look at different training programs to prepare your for a marathon.

     You come up with a game plan. You sit down and outline your story. You find a running program. (I personally used Hal Higdon's and recommend it to any runner.)

     You begin. You sit down to your computer (or pin and paper) and begin writing. You lace up those new running shoes and set up your gps for a run.

    You realize your out of shape. Writing is tough. It takes jut as much practice and training as running. Speaking of which, your running is lacking.

     You push on. Stubbornness sometimes is a person's best friend. In my case, I am very stubborn so I write and I run through the pain.

     You get better. You go longer. You write more. Writing sessions begin to span over hours and not just minutes. You begin to get the equivalent of a "runner's high" but for writing as words spill out of your thoughts and onto paper as smoothly as if you said them out loud. Speaking of which, you are getting those for running! You are running longer and farther. You don't get out of breath as easily any more.

     You are at the end. You have one more chapter to write. You have spent hours equaling days and weeks pouring your thoughts onto paper creating a world and characters. Now you see the end. It's one week away from race day. You are skinnier than you have ever been because you have trained so much and put in those long distance runs on the weekend.

     Last, there comes the day you finish. You type the last paragraph in the book. You make one more exerted push of energy to that finish line in front of you. You're done! You finish. The race is over and you look back reflecting on the marathon. your book is done. You think about all the pages and pages you have written and you celebrate.

    Now here is the difference between the marathon and the novel. You can look for another race to run, but you are done this one. You can look back thinking about how you could have got a better time, but that is all. What has occurred is over and you put all your best into that one race.
      When you are finished your novel, you should absolutely take a break, but you are nowhere near done. You need to go back and edit. You need to read is again and again making it better. Then when you think you are done, you hand it to someone you trust. So they can read and edit for you. Then you take their edits and edit. Then give it to another friend. You continue until you think the story is the best it can be. Then you are done.
      Sure you can argue there are huge differences between the two, but I have done both. To me, the processes are very similar and it all sums up to one saying:

sweat + perseverance = success

You put in the time and energy. You continue to put in the time and energy until one day you succeed. It's as simple (and complicated) as that.

Lot of Love,
E.M.

Writing in the midst of chaos.

   

      It's a drastic title, but I find it to be slightly true. I could definitely use a good drink but ALAS I am a breastfeeding mom. FYI pump and dump isn't really a thing from my understanding. Your body naturally cycles the alcohol out of the breast milk, but I digress. Lately, I have been writing little by little every day, but my life is down right hectic. The baby needs attention. The two dogs need attention. My husband is gone doing military things. It is a busy, busy life right now. :)

 

   So with that said, here is my resolutions!

1) I resolve to blog at least once a week.

     I know that seems like FOREVER in the high paced world of the internet but it is doable and I can afford that time.

2) I will finish writing the second book before my trip back to where my heart lies. That said city is New Orleans.

What's the scuttle butt? Since my tiny absence from blogging my merely inconsequential life as I struggle to be a writer, this is what has happened:

1) Sent Queries to 2 agents about 2 weeks ago. Have I heard back from them yet? No. Do I fully intend to follow up with them? Yes. Do I expect them to be interested in signing me? All signs point to no. I expect this. I fully expect to have to tweak my Query and send it to another 30 agents and get rejected. That's ok. They get millions of queries a year. This leads to number 2.

2) I have been writing and I mean WRITING! I love Totem and all the characters in my lovely book. I love them so much that I have the 4 books in the series completely laid out with an added character Novella full of mini back stories about my lovely supporting characters. I just need to finish writing them. I believe in Totem. I believe in myself and my ability to tell a good story. At least that is what I keep telling myself when I look in the mirror. :)

3) I can run 2 miles again!!! My last blog was about pregnancy and what I experienced. Well, the sciatic nerve pain is nothing more than a dull tension in my left leg now. So I can run 2 miles. It isn't the 1/2 marathon I did 6 weeks pregnant, but it's a start!

4) Booked everything for New Orleans!! My beautiful friend is getting married and I am a bridesmaid! So fully be ready for some countdowns of New Orleans type things when I get back!

So what now?

You will have to see where I go. I might even drop a few chapters on my next blog. :) Who knows, maybe even the first chapter to TOTEM (will she dare? gasp!)

Either way, resolutions are in place and I am on it!


Lots of Love,
EM