I am in the process of writing a non-fiction book on real estate. I am a realtor. I also have an idea on writing a mystery. I also want to get into freelance. Sandra

Hey Sandra, stick around, there are several freelancers in here. If you start communicating by e-mail we share good writing sites and other information about freelancing later in life.

Glad you're here.

Your real estate book sounds interesting. Tell us more. IS it a how-to book or what?

Glad to see your post Dotsie. Maybe the boomer writers on here can help me out too.

You see, I wrote a lot as a young person and published pretty much everything I submitted. At thirty something I decided to pursue a graduate degree. I started out for an MBA and was so bored that I changed to Creative Writing.

I got the degree, but in the thesis process I pretty much lost all confidence. My thesis was a play that got a financial backer from a preview and was performed to packed houses around the Southwest and was on radio and local TV, but the professors tore it, and me, apart.

I've written quite a bit since then, but can't seem to submit anything that has not been commissioned or somehow requested first. I can't seem to stop editing (Even my posts on here are almost always edited at least once and that's after repeated edits before posting)

Several years ago I wrote a novel about a divorced middle aged woman who becomes involved with a much younger man. He turns out to be an addict, but they travel cross country together in a classic red Jaguar convertible encountering adventures and developing a relationship along the way. It's kind of funny and also pretty sad and sometimes frightening, but it ends with hope. I call it a mid life coming of age story.

Anyway, I can't seem to send it off. I try, but I just keep editing and it never goes anywhere. Maybe it's just now ready.

How do you stop editing and risk rejection?

HELP!

smile

Janiskan,
I think you need to quit thinking in terms of rejections being a bad thing. Every writer gets them. Heck, I've even gotten one. But the thing is, they can be constructive. If you get one, look to see what you might have missed in your work, something the editor may point out, or use the rejection itself as fuel to move forward.

The REAL trick is to experience life in ALL matters, in everything it has to offer...not dream about what COULD have been.

Submit your work. If it comes back, submit it again...and again...and again...

p.s. On the editing thing. If you can afford to, hire an editor to do the work for you...then TRUST this person to do a thorough job and also teach yourself that this is no longer your sole responsibility.

If you can't afforad to hire one, then ask your friends or family members if there is someone they know who might swap out time or some other kind of effort for editing services.

I'm sorry for the short answers, but I am on a laptop while my REAL grown up computer is in the hospital, forgive...

Hi again: My book is about getting into real estate. The what you have to do and what comes after you get past the real estate exam. I like being a realtor but it's not easy. If you have any questions about buying or selling a house, maybe I can help. Sandra

Thanks Jawjaw. I've had the book edited, but did some rewriting and may need it again. Probably what I really need is send it out as is and let some publisher tell me what to do. Or maybe I need an agent. Or all of the above. Just frozen by dread or something here.

I'm working on it though.

Good luck spoiled. How far along on either of the books are you?

[ December 19, 2003, 12:18 PM: Message edited by: smilinize ]

Smilin, editing is good. Just depends on your perpective about it. If you think of it as work and correcting mistakes, it stinks! But, if you think of it as being creative and making your work better, it's inspiring.

Writing is all about rewriting.

There are times I look at things I wrote weeks ago and think, what the heck is that? Did I write that?

Every time we sit with our words we come with more; more thoughts, life experiences, insight, wisdom, etc. That's why I think rewriting makes our work perfect.

I agree with Jawjaw about having others read our work. It's surprising what another mind can do with our words. Often others help you to see what needs to be clearer, more precise, funnier, less preachy, shorter, more descriptive, etc.

I have a friend who has written a novel and has been shopping publishers for two years. During that time she has taken writing classes and had others critique her book. She has gladly made many changes because they have revealed facets of her book that she wasn't aware needed changing.

And about the rejection thing...can't take it too personally. Hear what they have to say, see how it pertains to your reflections, make changes(or not), and move on.

Please read the November contest posts in the forums. I posted them because I wanted everyone to read them and see that they may very well have chosen a different winner. In many cases it's not about poor writing. It's ALL about how the writing CLICKS with the agent, editor, or publisher. So when we submit we must be sure we are giving them exactly what they are looking for.

I've received some awesome stories for my book, (written by published authors) but they just don't fit in a chapter, or they read like sermons, or are very similar to ones I've already accepted, so I have to reject them.

I've also accepted a couple that were great stories, but perhaps not written as well. That's why there are editors. If writers are willing to work with editors, it makes getting published easier. Some writers aren't willing to change much and that's why they don't get published. I guess that's where self-publishing comes in.

If we are freelancing and submitting to magazines and anthologies we have to be willing to work with others because sometimes there is part of the story that's perfect but may need a different ending in order to be a perfect article for a chapter or magazine.

I've rambled! I know I'll read this in a couple weeks and thikn...what the heck?

For the record...I don't edit these posts. I just write and rarely rewrite.

Thank you dotsie for the excellent advice. I am a member of a writing group and I really think that is helpful. We get together almost weekly to read our material aloud for critique and suggestions.

I may have taken too many suggestions by now though. I keep making changes and I'm not sure they are all good. My daughter read it and said the stuff I wrote in the beginning unedited was the best. I'm simply confused. I no longer know what is good and what is bad.

I started out with something to say (pretty much that the adventures aren't over at middle age) and it just said itself. Then I began to edit. The story line hasn't changed. Just the language and the timing. Seems like every time I go to a writing workshop I come home and rewrite it again. Maybe I just need to go on to something else.

Gee, it's so frustrating. Why do we do it? I begin to think about it and just get overloaded with ideas and give up.

Thanks for the encouragement.

smile

From the woman who edits EVERYTHING: it's possible to edit so much, you bleed the writing dry. Maybe the way to get over your "publishing phobia" is to first send out excerpts to be published, like part of a chapter.

Wise words Meredith. I have said I feel as if I am writing the music out of it. As a poet, you are probably well aware of that tendency.

I'm working on this.

smile

For several years in college, I made my living as a technical writer/ editor/ ghost writer/ whatever. Once you're a technical writer, you're always a technical writer: I can spot a spelling mistake from 200 yards off, and sometimes I have to force myself to use less formal grammar.

It's a great skill to have, but it's not poetry. Editing is easy; poetry, much less so. Technically perfect writing is to creativity what coloring inside the lines is to great art.

About 100 posts ago in here, I made a typo and was devastated for the entire week.

I shouldinta sed that. Now every-1 will be looking 4 tipoze and Miss Spellings.

Meredith, I totally agree about the technical writing except I think in some ways it fuels my creativity. I wrote legislation and regulations for the government for a while then I wrote tons of grants and later I developed and ran a military contracting firm that required extensive proposal writing. There is nothing more bland than writing for government. You have do tons of research and fill up a lot of pages without commiting yourself or the government to a darned thing. But when i did a lot of it, the creative stuff was my outlet and I could hardly wait to get to it. I was prolific. Now I put it off.

Actually I may be whining about my sending off phobia on the wrong post since I just noticed this is titled non-fiction. My novel is fiction. I loved writing it and I guess even if I never get it sent off or published, I got more joy out of doing it than I could ever buy even if it became a best-seller.

That's the approach I use with my plays and musicals too. It is such a trip sitting in the audience with the people all around laughing and singing along and sniffling at the sad parts.

And when I attend the play, I get treated like a celibrity. People ask for my autograph on the programs and CD's and I feel like Julia Roberts or someody.

When I act, I get a little insane before each performance, but it kind of energized the role and that's a whole different trip, but...

Gee, makes me want to get busy an WRITE. Thanks to you and the other boomers for the encouragement.

smile

Smilin, tell us mroe about these plays you write! How divine to be in the audience when people are watching your creation. Do they introduce you as the writer? Tell us more!

Thank you for asking about my plays. I love doing them. I usually get commissioned mostly by towns or sometimes churches to write a musical to celebrate a centennial or something. I copywright the play and music and license them to use it. I enjoy the outdoor productions the most. There's just something special about being in a theater lit by stars and designed by God.

Mounting a brand new musical is very difficult and expensive. It's a very collaborative effort and it's always stressful wondering what you will turn out with. But when it's on stage, it's kind of like Christmas morning. All the worries and stresses are forgotten and there's a brand new light.

They do introduce me when I attend the productions. Usually they call me on stage and give me a big bouquet of roses in the spotlight.

During the performance, it seems like every had clapping is just for me and I feel like a huge star. Backstage I'm treated like royalty. The cast all want autographs and photos and eagerly ask if their portrayal is what I envisioned.

After the performance, the audience comes by for autographs and they usually sell a cast recording so I autograph those too.

It is such a trip. Everyone should do it.

smile

P.S. I'm being considered for writing a huge outdoor musical. It's very political and the producer's brother is a script writer, but the asked me to submit so.... Another problem is, they wanted to buy the entire play outright which I would never allow because of the songs, but I would love to write it and license it to them. It's a great story. So send any good thoughts you have my way.

[ December 22, 2003, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: smilinize ]