Chapter Two and Counting.....

In my last post I talked about being "let go" from a part-time job. End of chapter one. Emotionally, I'm over it. And still having friends that work there with news, good and bad, has helped immensely as I move on, or turn the next page.

Although one less job means one less source of income--I guess you could say that was my empty page-- I've been able to handle more assignments from Ocala's Good Life magazine. I love having a column and being a regular contributor, and now I'm free to devote more time doing what gives me the most pleasure and personal satisfaction, writing.

This is very exciting for me because though I knew in my heart that I was indeed a writer, I lacked the self confidence to admit it to myself or say it out loud. But the process of elimination has accomplished what I could not, and now from three, I'm down to one job, as a Writer.

What's more, the perks of the job are certainly the best. I get to meet and interview interesting people for feature spreads and profiles, and I've had the opportunity to ride in an Amphicar, and more recently, a helicopter.  Just click on the magazine cover to the right of this post and read "Come Fly With Me" pages 36-41.

Even quiet, unassuming people who otherwise would live their lives unnoticed, get their 15 minutes of fame, so to speak, like in "A Walk in the Park" on pages 28-30. Then of course, there's my column, "Just My Type" on page 34.

My editor was also kind enough to recognize some of my accomplishments in a few paragraphs on page 10. I have to admit after years of writing about others, It was strange to see something written about me.

So now I'm in my next chapter. I hope all of them are long and many as I grow as a writer, and work towards representation by a literary agent, adding "Novelist" to my list of occupations.

When Life Hands You an Empty Page, Begin a New Chapter

In my last post, I talked about how I was moonlighting, and had three jobs. I explained why I voluntarily gave up one, but was still moonlighting with the remaining two. I also may have whined about the weekend job that paid the bills while I worked at writing for Ocala's Good Life magazine. Well, life has a way of giving you what you want, even when you're not exactly sure what that is yourself.

Just before the holidays, I was "let go" from the weekend job. The company had been floundering for some time with enough managerial changes, resignations, terminations and lay-offs to make anyone question their job security. So I should have seen it coming, right? But I didn't. I was completely blind-sided. I admit it stung for a while, but I've gotten over the trauma and am now spending more time writing and trying to get representation for my romance novel.

The moral of the story: When life hands you an empty page, begin a new chapter.

Check back soon for "Chapter Two."

Moonlighting Again

Judging from my own experience and from what I read on social media, most writers are "moonlighters" at the onset of their careers--a rather old-fashioned term for someone who works a day and night job. I'm proud to say I fall into that category. But with three part-time jobs to keep my head above water, or fingers on the keyboard, I'm more of a "24/7er" so to speak.

But even the most determined and dedicated individual can burn the candle at both ends for so long, and the flame must be turned down to a more manageable level. So I gave up one of my jobs in sales.

The opportunity was there as well as the potential earnings. My plan was to build a client list and eventually quit my weekend job. But after several months of calls, emails, and knocking on doors, the return never did match the amount of time I put in. To make matters worse, instead of eliminating a job, I added one more to my work load, which adversely affected the quality of my writing.

I'm a regular moonlighter again. And although the money didn't exactly pour in, I gained valuable experience and confidence that will help me on book tours and signings when my novel is published.

I can dream, can't I?

Research Can Be Fun

I was not a very good student. I hated studying, reading, and most of all; research. Now that I'm a writer, it's hard to believe that although studying may still be at the bottom of that list, reading and research give me the most pleasure.

Whether it be for a novel or magazine story, I tend to get "lost" online when confirming a fact, or reading to learn more about a particular subject to make a profile or story more interesting and accurate. The Internet makes this former arduous task easier and more enjoyable than spending hours in a library. Believe me, I'm no academic. I'm just taking advantage of modern technology.

The past comes alive, one website at a time, revealing bits of trivia about actual historical occurrences that were little known, to me anyway, that can be used in a novel. Each mouse click leads to another and before you know it, an hour or more had passed. It's fun, but can be counterproductive at the same time.

So now, I have to restrain my desire to know more about anything. Because eventually, I have to get back to work and write the story.

I've Never Been So Busy Before in My Life

I've never been so busy before in my life, even when I worked full-time. Although technically, I work three part-time jobs. So what does that mean? I work full-full time? Silly, I know, but it sure does feel that way. And as I write this post, I announce that I was asked to have my blog featured @TheOcalaApp on Twitter, another way for one Ocalan to help promote another. Or is Ocalian? Whatever. No matter where you come from, please stop by and tweet.

Of particular interest to readers might be my latest column, "Just My Type" in Ocala's Good Life magazine. "On the Phone Again" is a parody of Willie Nelson's hit song, "On the Road Again." Willie is one of my favorite artists, and I mean no disrespect, just sharing a humorous take on cell phones and how they're used. Just click on the magazine cover and flip to page 36 to read it.

I've also made my modeling debut in the March and June 2014 issues of Southern Living magazine. It was a two day shoot that involved shopping, birding, hiking and horseback riding in beautiful Ocala and surrounding areas in Marion County, Florida. More ads may pop up online and in other publications. I'll post updates when and if I find more.

The Road To Publication Is Paved With Opportunities

How's that for a title? Border-line cliche, I know, but still true.

Since I began writing my novel, followed by the usual laborious manuscript revisions, I now have my own column, "Just My Type" in Ocala's Good Life magazine, and get regular assignments from the editor like the cover story in the May/June issue. (to read, click on cover photo) I've been published in Florida Gardener magazine, and most recently, been asked to be a corespondent on a new TV show, "My Ocala TV," that airs on Florida's WCJB TV20 on Saturday mornings following "Good Morning America." Wow!

Of course getting my book published is still my ultimate goal, but what happens in the meantime can be just as exciting, and maybe even help you reach your final destination of publication.

"Just my Type." A New Column and Columnist Emerges.

If you've read my new column, "Just my Type," in Ocala's Good Life magazine, thanks for stopping by. The Nov/Dec 2013 issue marks my column's debut, and hopefully, it will be a long run with plenty of opportunities for me to share my thoughts and experiences with readers in print, and online. What's more, being a columnist, (I still can't believe that's true) has given me another plank to affix to my writer's platform, preparing the way to publishing my novel.

None of this happened overnight. It took years to write my novel, and in the meantime I pitched, begged and cajoled editors and publishers to read my work. Lucky for me, I found a home, so to speak, in Ocala's Good Life magazine. As a free-lance writer, that doesn't mean I can't continue to pitch to national magazines. It just means that I found an editor that is easy to work with, is receptive to my suggestions, listens to my concerns and most importantly, likes my writing. My first published piece appeared in Ocala's Good Life in the April 2011 issue. Now, the opportunity to have my own column is another first, as the magazine continues to grow entering it's fourth year of publication.

So tell your friends, and write to the editor if you like my column. I promise to do my best to keep you entertained and provide a little mental R & R as you enjoy what I've written that's "Just my Type."

maryellen@ocalasgoodlife.com
@writer_mebarchi

A Little Self-Promoting Never Hurt Anybody

May I have your attention please. This blog is being interrupted for some shameless self-promoting.

Besides blogging and posting on Twitter, I've been free-lancing to gain writing credits in an effort to build my platform and establish my brand. That has included contributing to Ocala's Good Life magazine on a regular basis for over a year now. And just recently I've been published in Florida Gardening magazine.

In the June/July issue you'll find "The Reluctant Gardener" on pages 22 through 24, a been there done that story about gardening in the sunshine state. Using humor, I share my success and failures with a bit of helpful hints thrown in. I also received photographer's credit for six of my photos inserted throughout the piece.

I am beyond happy with this accomplishment that spurs me on giving me hope that my novel will also be published with much more gushing and celebrating planned in the future.

So read it if you get a chance. The magazine can be purchased on-line at: floridagardening.com, at a local book store if available in your area or perused at the library. I hope you enjoy it.

This blog will now be returned to it's regularly scheduled posts.

Writing Isn't Really Work, Right?

Physical work is obvious: sweat, bulging muscles, dirt under your fingernails etc... But writing while sitting in a chair isn't really work, Right? 

To some, unless you're expending some kind of energy you're not actually working. Little do they know that writing is exhausting. Muscles tense up in frustration as you struggle with a scene transition. Your vision blurs from staring at the computer screen as you rack your brain for just the right word. When you finished working your "shift" your body feels like you've run a marathon...twice.

But is it actually work? You bet it is and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Just because you can do your job while still in your pajamas doesn't make writing any less tiring. And just because you work from home doesn't make it any easier to accomplish the task undisturbed.

So the next time someone tells you how easy being a writer must be tell them; yeah, but the boss is a tyrant, the benefits stink and I can never take a vacation. Writing is work all right and the best job I've ever had.

I'm A Social Media Newbie

Judging by the popularity and length of time the world has been captivated by social media sites, I'm a relatively late arrival. Not intending to be fashionably late I was just apprehensive and lacked the self-confidence to put myself "out there." But a few months ago I finally dipped my French pedicured big toe into the virtual cyber-waters and am now the proud owner of a Twitter account.

As a self proclaimed social media newbie, Twitter appealed to me for one very important reason; posts are short. That forces one to be brief and I found that I was more likely to post something every day, sometime several times a day, on Twitter rather than on other sites offering more ways to communicate and demanding more of my time. Another reason is the interaction with followers. In succinct sentences one can comment, retweet, favorite, converse, share accomplishments and tell followers about your business or book. All this in 140 characters or less. A time-challenged writer's dream come true.

Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not  bad-mouthing any other social media site. In fact, I can appreciate their value. I'm just not ready to jump on board right now. But when I do, I'll be sure to dedicate enough time to use the sites effectively to interact with friends and take advantage of them as platforms to further my writing career.

You can follow me on Twitter at: @writer_mebarchi.

A Rose By Any Other Name

Writing is freedom. Freedom to share your thoughts, make up situations, places, entire worlds. I even enjoy research, but it's too easy to get carried away with that online and I have to rein myself in often and get back to the job at hand, writing my novel. But what really gives me the chance to have fun with my work is naming my characters.

Sometimes I borrow the name of a family member if they have similar characteristics to help me determine how they will speak and act throughout my story. Sometimes it's those traits that inspire a name. For example; I might give a character the name "Gabby" if she talks a lot or "Malefemina" (Italian for bad woman) if she's the villain or Walter because of a shy manner and imaginary anal retentive personality. And there are times in a very personal way that I use the name of a loved one who has passed making them live again in my mind and honor their memory.

It's sort of like playing a game alone with no established rules but the ones you make up on the fly. The best part is that whatever reason or method you use to name your characters, if it works your story will be enhanced by memorable personalities that shine and you've done your job as a writer.

Writers Always Win...Eventually

I don't know about you, but I'm one of those people with brain-lag who can never think of a smart come-back when needed until it's too late. "Oh yeah?" worked when I was six, and "your mother wears army boots" is no longer relevant and actually something to be proud of now with so many women serving in the military.

I've accepted the fact that I'm witticism challenged. But as I writer I have the ability to live vicariously through the characters in my novel supplying them the witty retorts I'd never be able to hurl at adversaries in real life.

It still takes time though, but eventually I can create a scene with banter that reads like it just came off the top of my head in seconds. Somewhat satisfying to me and cheaper than therapy.

It's good to be a writer.

Some of the benefits of becoming a writer are personal satisfaction, receiving the recognition of your peers and hopefully financial gain. But only just recently I've discovered another unexpected benefit of writing. I have finally overcome my life-long fear of speaking in public.

Ever since my first oral report in grade school, I've had an irrational fear of standing in front of a group of people and having to talk. It didn't matter if it was a book report, reading a few pages from a textbook or reciting the pledge of allegiance. Any situation requiring me to open my mouth, alone, elicited a rapid heartbeat, perspiration, trembling voice and shaking hands similar to a drug user in withdrawal.

I can't pinpoint this condition to a traumatic experience in childhood. In fact, I remember thinking I was a tap dancer when I was about five years old and fearlessly performing a dance routine for my audience of relatives who dutifully clapped and cheered when it was over or maybe they clapped because it was over. Either way, as an adult, I could never explain the reason for this phobia.Then I began writing and joined a writer's group. Problem was, If I wanted a critique of my work, I had to read a few pages out loud.

Flashback to fifth grade. My heart raced and my voice shook every time it was my turn to read. I tried taking deep breaths. I slowed my rate of speech. No, I never imagined everyone naked. I had enough problems holding my self together without that mental image. But no matter how hard I tried, I trembled. Then I decided to give a presentation on writing and a remarkable thing occurred when I stood at the podium with eager faces watching, waiting for me to begin.

What happened could only be compared to running over hot coals. Once you start you can't stop and I plowed through my presentation, concentrating on my topic, speaking for about an hour. And instead of hating the experience, I actually enjoyed it. I can't explain how, but somewhere between my first oral book report and my opening statements that day, my fear of public speaking had magically disappeared. Of course there was no magic involved. Just determination and a willingness to face what I feared the most in pursuit of a writing and a speaking career.

Oh well. Time to add another layer to that thick skin all writers need. One of my full manuscript requests was rejected.

About three weeks after sending the submission, I received a very professional and compassionate note from the agent I met at a writer's conference. I have to give her and any agent a lot of credit because it can't be easy telling a writer that for one reason or another, you don't feel the same passion for their story. And although disappointing to the writer, it's the right thing to do.

Imagine you're a realtor contracted to sell a home, but you really don't care for the style, floor plan or paint colors. Even worse, what if it's in desperate need of re-modeling? Could you in all honesty be fully committed to selling this home? That's what I imagine it must be like for a literary agent. An enormous amount of time and effort goes into pitching a book to publishers who spend even more time and money producing and marketing it and if an agent can't put 100% into selling that book, it's not getting the justice and chance it deserves.

During my agent query and submission process, not feeling strongly for my story has been the primary reason for passing on my book. I feel a little--and I do mean a little--heartened that it wasn't because of poor writing, plotting or characterization. They just didn't share my passion to sell it effectively. Using the realtor or house hunting analogy again, it's like shopping for a new home. The agent is like a buyer rejecting house after house. But when they walk into that special house, they know it's the one for them.

So believe in your book. There is an agent out there who feels as strongly as you do about your baby and eventually, you'll find each other.

It's been far too long since I've posted on my blog. I'm not lazy--honest--just busy. You see I took my own advice from a previous post and polished my manuscript as best I could. And when I attended the FWA (Florida Writers Association) conference this past October in Orlando, I was ready.

It was my first conference experience and I found the classes, workshops and networking opportunities invaluable. Best of all were the sessions I reserved with two literary agents to pitch my paranormal romance novel. Well worth the extra expense, these ten minute sessions gave me the chance to pitch my story face-to-face to a living and breathing agent. Granted, for most a well crafted query letter is the only option, but one-dimensional words on a page can't show the enthusiasm or passion one feels for their book.

With the timer counting down the minutes, I opened with the "hook" then introduced the characters, the conflict and expanded on the plot. After five minutes I stopped talking and the agent asked a few questions. Then to my utter surprise she requested the full manuscript! A repeat performance during my next session the following day garnered the same favorable result.

Now I realize this does not guarantee representation. But it's a big step in the right direction and I remain cautiously optimistic as I wait for "the call."

Getting Started: The First Step...or it Should Be

Of course having a completed manuscript edited, revised and revised again is essential when beginning your search for a literary agent. You might feel that with the time it takes to get representation, that you'll get a jump on all the other writers and query agents before your book is nipped, tucked and neatly polished. Wrong! Agents read hundred of query letters a week and if yours is as good as you think it is, you could get a request for a partial or full before you prose is ready for the discriminating and often jaded eye of an agent. And being unprepared or sending in shoddy work when you get "the call" does not bode well for a professional relationship. "What do you mean wait? It took five years of my life to write this thing!" you cry outraged. "I want to see it in print and enjoy the rewards while I can still travel to book signings without a walker." We all feel that way, but don't rush things. Besides, you're going to need time to develop a writers' thick skin in preparation for the inevitable rejections you'll receive. Hopefully, their numbers will be few.

Once upon a Time I Searched for an Agent

Up until now, my posts have been about writing in general. Now I'd like to include another subject; my search for a literary agent. Oh man, I thought writing a novel was the hardest thing I ever did in my life. But if querying agents could be likened to a fairy tale princess kissing a lot of frogs before finding her prince charming, right about now I'd be covered in warts.

Everyone who's written a novel or memoir wants to see their work in print. Indie publishing is one alternative, but if you choose to go the traditional route, you'll soon discover that there are few, if any, publishers accepting unsolicited manuscripts. You must have an agent to represent you.

So check back for posts where I'll share my experience, frustration and hopefully eventual success at securing a literary agent.

Some time, some time. My kingdom for some time!

Please excuse my cheesy Shakespearean reference, but like Richard III, I feel as if I'm fighting a losing battle when trying to find the time to write. We've been led to believe that modern technology frees us from daily mundane tasks and to some extent that's true. But I believe the same technology that's supposed to free us actually requires more of our attention. In reality, the only ones with more time are the companies that no longer perform the services we now do ourselves online or by phone. So where does that leave us? In order to get any work done we must be determined, persistent and yes, sometimes unavailable to family, friends, our spouse or significant other.Writing is our job so close that door, turn off the TV, ignore your email and turn off your cell phone if you dare. It may be difficult. It may even seem rude, but you'll emerge hours later feeling satisfied and content with pages and pages of prose.Your family will be happier too. Remember: "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

The Red Herring

 I laughed the first time I heard the term, red herring. It just sounded silly. I also, as a much younger person, laughed at the word, moot, for the same reason. And while I learned a valuable vocabulary lesson when I  discovered the meaning of a moot point those many years ago, I only recently discovered how important a red herring is to a novel.

There is no actual fish species as a red herring and there are several variations of the origin of the term. One source on the Internet explains that the distinctive smell of the cured herring (the curing process turns it red) was used to confuse hunting dogs or test their ability to stay on a scent. But in the literary sense a red herring is as essential to your plot as a protagonist and antagonist. It's a decoy. A false clue. And if used correctly to mislead, you can build suspense and create a puzzling mystery that will keep readers guessing until the clever detective reveals the murderer or villain at the end of your story.

As my own story developed, I sensed that I was giving too much away much too soon. It seemed so obvious who was behind the chaos I had created and I knew I had to do something. So I re-wrote several scenes to distract the reader from one character to another and threw in a couple more secondary characters to lead the reader in another direction discovering quite by accident that I had created a very necessary piece to the puzzle of the plot, a red herring.

So have fun with it. It's your world and like an omnipotent ruler you have power over the subjects in your novel. Make them work for you to create an unforgettable story and use the red herring to send your readers on the proverbial wild goose chase. And in the end you can smile with satisfaction as you imagine them saying, "Wow. I never thought he was the one."

Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

"I could write a book" is a phrase usually uttered after a traumatic or memorable event. "I can't believe this is happening to me," is another cry of disbelief. And although frustration prompts the average person to slap their forehead with their hand, from a writer's point of view they've just discovered an idea for a story.

Where do you get your ideas for your books? That’s the question I’m asked most often and the simple answer is everywhere. Novels, in my opinion, are based on actual events, historical or your own, or just typical human behavior. And as you write you may recognize your own quirks and ticks, a neighbor, a family member, someone from your past. The news is great fodder for new story ideas too.

So pay attention to what goes on around you. Listen to what people say. Observe what they're wearing and how they behave. Even buildings and everyday objects can spark an idea. I guess what I’m trying to say is that writers instinctively know this. We notice the unusual as well as the mundane and where others muddle through, we can’t help but create.