JM Madden
Contemporary, Everyday Splendor.....
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Paying it Forward
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A friend of mine, Donna McDonald, told me something the other day that really made sense to me. As writers we need to pay it forward. I've actually heard the sentiment several times recently, but it just sank in when she she mentioned it. Donna is forging into self-publishing land, and she keeps us updated on her progress. She said that she feels she needs to let others know what works and what doesn't because they supported her in the beginning. We really appreciate the info. There are so many options for today's writer it's hard to decide what path to take.
I think writers in general need to make an effort to pay it forward. Most of us started out wondering if we even were writers, or if there would be a market for our stuff. I remember walking into my first chapter meeting, and being in awe as I met women who I'd only read biographies of inside book covers. It was thrilling to me, and fascinating. Those women helped me very much, and I try to pass on that help as much as I can.
We have new people coming into our chapter, and I love being able to pay it forward for them. I love to critique new people, and see the realization go through them on how to make their story better. I love to fill in all the knowledge gaps on how the industry works, and show them there are so many paths they can take now.
But we need to make sure to pay it forward for everybody. I LOVE my covers, so every chance I get I forward people on to Dara England, the designer. My editors are miracle workers. I think I'm a good writer, but they make me great. They make me look at things with fresh eyes, and more scope, and bring out the depth to the characters I create. I can't imagine not having editors. I heard a couple things the other day about authors who deliberately didn't have them. Huh? Why would you shoot yourself in the foot that way? Their help can make you better. Period!
Bleh! Anyway...
Take the time today to single somebody out and give them props. It doesn't have to be anything big. Maybe a mention on Facebook or Twitter to check out their book or blog. Call your Mom if you can and tell her what a fantastic person she created. And, of course, make sure you support your family. Send hubby a positive text message for the hell of it, or sit down with your son while he plays video games and tell him how creative you think he is. My daughter, who is seven, brought me her first romance novel she wrote. It was only six pages long, but it hit all the important parts, "and the lovers walked into the sunset,"- her words, not mine. I love that, and told her she could write me a novel any time she wanted to.
Take the time to be a champion to somebody else. Maybe then they'll pay it forward.
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8 Comments
Thanks for joining too!
Jan Scarbrough, KYRW author, who critiqued with me back in the 1990s (maybe earlier) and taught me SO much about voice and POV and so many things. (And this was by snailmail, too!)
Rachel Lee/Sue Civil Brown, Silhouette author, back in the 1990s she encouraged me to write and told me I was a natural. (Okay, so I didn't believe her and didn't put my writing out there. But she still was a huge influence on me!)
Alicia Rasley's fabulous presentation at the KYRW 2009 annual workshop. I won her copy of Point of View, too, which is wonderful.
Kim Jacobs, who included me in an event in May 2010 with a community of writers she was gathering. Networking with them and being there for the launch of Turquoise Morning Press was so exciting and got me thinking more about e-books and changes in the publishing world!
This time around (since May 2011), I thank all the members of KYRW. Donna McDonald has been especially helpful in sharing her knowledge of the independent publishing world. She, in addition to some newspaper articles at a time when I was trying to decide which way to go, helped me decide to go indie. No regrets.
To you, J.M., for putting me in touch with Jeri Smith, my editor. Like you, I am learning so much about writing through my association with her and can't imagine any writer not having an editor.
To Linda Lynn, my cover artist, who makes my covers pop on the search engines and took so much care with them.
To all the people who stepped forward to hold my hand as I put Masters at Arms up for sale. OMG, I am so not technically oriented. Donna, Kim, Sondra Allen Carr, J.M. Madden, Sandy Sullivan, Eliza Gayle, Cherise Sinclair--the list goes on and on because the process just went on and on. Now I've finally manged to publish at Smashwords, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. And learned whom to hire to format for me in the future!
To those who critiqued or beta read Masters at Arms and who caught the most embarrassing things that I missed in editing. And the KYRW chapter members who helped me give Master Marc better motivation. I use a LOT of betas, usually with an expertise in different areas, to cover my bases.
And to all the people I left out because my brain is fadingtonight, thank you, too, and forgive me. I have a mind like a steel sieve.
Thanks for the great blog and reminder, J.M.!
I'm so glad you stopped by. Keep up the phenomenal work. And if you need a beta reader, I may know where one is...
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