Quantity or Quality?

[This is one of my absolute favorite writing quotes.] Ray Bradbury once said: "I believe that eventually quantity will make up for quality. How so? Michelangelo's, da Vinci's, Tintoretto's billion sketches, the quantitative, prepared them for the qualitative, single sketches further down the line, single portraits, single landscapes of incredible control and beauty. Quantity gives experience. From experience alone can come quality."

Do you agree? Why or why not?

Also, be sure to check out my guest post over at Ali Cross's blog today and find out the five things you need to have a successful critique group!

Setbacks or Stepping Stones?

Two years ago, I submitted one of my novels to a small publishing house. They'd requested the manuscript after the first chapter won in a local contest. I REALLY, REALLY wanted them to publish it. That seemed like the best, the most important thing for my manuscript at the time. But in the end, they declined, and of course, I was heartbroken.

The other day I realized I'm now grateful for that rejection. I wouldn't have discovered what I really wanted to do with my writing and what industry I wanted to pursue if that publisher had agreed to take on my manuscript.

It brings to mind that quote about when God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window. Our struggles, rejections, and detours can ultimately bring us to achieve something greater than we might have imagined. As long as we keep working and believing and reaching.

What setbacks in your writing journey have become stepping stones?

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

In honor of Valentine's Day next week, I thought I'd post about kissing. I enjoy sharing kisses (with my DH, of course), reading about kisses, and watching kisses. But I am NOT a fan of writing kisses. And yes, this is ironic, given that I write historical romances.

I like writing the scene the kiss takes place in, but for some reason, I dread/stumble through penning the actual kiss itself. If only I could convey the emotion and sweet passion of my favorite of all fictional kisses from the BBC miniseries North and South, based on the book by Elizabeth Gaskell.

The hero and the heroine are very much opposed to each other throughout the story. Then, at the very end, they are reunited at a train station - he's just been to her old house and she's on her way to go see him about a business proposition. They sit down on a train bench and talk, while the hero stares tenderly at the heroine. Filled with equal tenderness, the heroine lifts his hand to her lips and kisses it. Then the hero leans in, cups her face between his hands, and hallelujah, they kiss at last.


So what's your favorite fictional kiss? What makes it good? Is it the emotion, the actual words, the characters or something else?

Honest Scrap

My friend and crit partner Ali Cross passed on this fun blog award:

It requires I share 10 things about myself.

1. I have this weird aversion to drive-throughs, if I'm driving, but the drive-through at the bank is just fine (and very essential when you're with kids).

2. I did some ballroom dancing and acting in high school and college, and some days I miss doing them (especially after watching Dancing With the Stars).

3. My husband and I love to quote movies in our conversations or to let the other person know how we're feeling. One of our favorite lines (from Remember the Titans) is "You're cookin' my grits, Yost."

4. Though I consider myself an organized person, the thought of planning out every hour of my day (or every detail of my book) makes me squirm. I like looser outlines (or to-do lists), with wiggle room.

5. I've never had a real positive horse-back riding experience, which is ironic, considering I married a man who loves horses and used to train them for racing. (Still need to put training race horses into a book).

6. I LOVE chocolate, but not citrus, cherry, or raspberry-chocolate combinations.

7. I have a fear of heights and sharks - so parasailing over shark-infested water would probably not be my thing. 
 
8. Despite the fear of heights, I rode in a hot air balloon as a kid, which was pretty cool. 
 
9. I get motion sick very easily (in cars, on planes, watching Mario Kart on the Wii). One time my DH and I were at a movie and I had to go sit on the floor at the side of the theater because I was so sick.
 
10. My great-grandfather, Leslie Turner White, was an author whose books were published in the 1950's and 60's. One of them, Lord Johnnie, I've read and quite enjoyed. And though he died before I was born, we share the same birthday.
 
And now to pass the award on to Jolene Perry. I'm fairly new to Jolene's blog, but I love the funny honest way she writes her posts.

Turning Points

Last night at book club we were discussing life-changing moments. I didn't voice a comment - mostly because I couldn't think of much to say - but I've been mulling over today what I might have answered.

I can think of a few obvious life-changing moments: college, marriage, the birth of my first child. Then there's others that are more personal, less obvious: losing a baby, supporting my husband as he started his own business, and writing my first book.

The turning point, the life-changing moment in my writing was that first book. I'd wanted to publish/write a book for a long time, but the year my oldest was born, my husband gave me some plotting software that I used to start writing my first book.

At that point, I'd never been to a writers conference. I knew very little about publishing and even about writing a novel. I read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel (which is actually a great book) and some other writing books and I learned as I went! I wrote the book and I finished it. I became a writer. That was one of my life-changing moments.

What moments in your writing journey have been turning points for you?

Those First Stories

Since I'm up to my eyes in revisions (with a deadline for next week), I thought I'd enlist the help of Child #2 for this week's blog post. He's always telling us these funny little stories, so a month or two ago, I decided to type a few of them up while he dictated them to me. This one is my favorite - it's ripe with conflict, action, characters, and an emotionally satisfying ending.

One day we were all in the forest. We saw a bear coming toward us, but it was nice. There was a tiger heading for the bear, but it was bad. It was coming really toward us, but we were not afraid. There was a guy chasing the tiger and he shot the tiger. And the tiger was dead. Then we were saved. But there was another animal—it was an elephant, but it was nice. It let us aboard and it took us back home.

Take a Chance

I discovered an inspirational romance author this year who I really like. Her humor, her writing, her stories make for great reading. On a whim, I decided to e-mail her and tell her how much I enjoy her books. Other than the unrealistic hope that she and I would become best friends, I didn't expect much to happen after I sent the e-mail. A few weeks later I was pleasantly surprised when she e-mailed back.

Her e-mail was gracious and kind--she thanked ME for taking the time to e-mail! Then she asked if I was going to the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference this month.

Of course the answer was no. I looked up the conference just for fun and found out it was in three weeks in Indianapolis. The next day I looked up flights - just for fun, remember. But I kept thinking about the conference and what an great opportunity it would be. When I talked to my DH about it, he said, "Go for it." (And yes, I thank my lucky stars he decided to marry me!)

So next week I'm flying to Indiana. I'm thrilled (a bunch of the editors and agents from the inspirational market will be there), but I'm also scared. I don't like flying or being forced out of my comfort zone to meet new people (did I mention I don't know a soul there?) or unfamiliar situations or having to talk about my books out loud. But I'm going!

If I hadn't taken the chance to e-mail that author, I wouldn't be going to this conference. That's taking another chance in itself. But even if the only thing I get out of it is learning to be more bold personally and professionally, I think it'll be worth it.