Feb
Stalking 101
When the student is ready, the teacher appears.
~Tao saying
I’ve been down the writing path for over ten years now. At the beginning, I took classes at a local MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) program. Not wanting to spend $50,000 on an advanced degree, I started searching for cheaper alternatives. I quickly learned that published authors don’t have a lot of time to answer questions when the conversation starts like this: “Hi, I’m Lynn. I’m a wannabe writer. Can I pick your brain?”
Moving sixteen hundred miles cross-country and living an hour away from the day job didn’t help me build new relationships. Add in a year of fighting breast cancer and, well, my world shrank even more. If I didn’t meet you at work, the hospital, or the weekly visit to the grocery store, I didn’t know you. That is until I started blogging.
My blog was read religiously by two people–my sister and my friend from back home in Idaho. And then, one day, I had a comment. A St. Louis author had found her books mentioned on my daily ramble. We shared war stories from the cancer treatment. I had made personal contact with a real writer. I was hooked.
Then fate reached out. I was a faithful reader of the now defunct Good Girls Kill For Money blog. I won a contest. Rather than mail me my prize, Elizabeth offered to meet me for lunch, knowing I lived in the St. Louis area. I bless the day she took a chance that I wasn’t a crazed stalker and made the invitation. There was a point in our first lunch that I swear she started to slide just a little closer to the door…
When we met, I had five manuscripts started, none finished past the fourth chapter. Each time the writing got hard, I would take off chasing another bright shiny idea. Over a year later, my friend/mentor has walked me through finishing my second book. Besides learning how to get to THE END, I’ve been able to watch her in the many stages of being a published author; writing, editing, publishing, marketing, and launching. Elizabeth has been generous with her time, knowledge, and encouragement.
Now that she’s moved away, our monthly lunch meetings have turned into goal setting phone calls.
So what’s a wannabe to do when their mentor moves? Join a writer’s organization! I went to my first meeting of MORWA (Missouri Romance Writers of America) last month as a full member. Now I have contact with a group of people committed to improving their writing–at all stages of success. I’m excited to be a part of such a dynamic group.
And I don’t look like a stalker when I ask–Can I pick your brain?
So now the question for the day is this: Have you had a time when you reached out to learn something new and your teacher has appeared?
~Lynn
Lynn Cahoon’s work has appeared in Grit, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and True Romance. She is currently polishing two romance novels, working on a cozy mystery, and waiting for a call on one of her submissions to the slush pile. She now lives in the St. Louis area with her husband, three dogs, and acat whose secret name is Mary.
February 11th, 2010 at 7:25 am
What a great post – I too was a ultra-green newbie just a few years ago. Oh, the mistakes I made, I cringe! I think I asked for a blurb before I’d gotten an agent. Yes, green! Miss Snark was a great teacher. And the ChickLit group now called Fiction That Sells. The agent blogs are life savers too. Congrats on your success, Lynn. Here’s to a big sale soon! Kim
February 11th, 2010 at 9:16 am
It’s great to put a face with a name. Hi Lynn! Good luck with your submission.
I’ve been lucky that when I needed questions answered and have asked, my questions were answered; this goes for my career and my hobbies.
Most recently I was working on a quilt project and I had a question and when I contacted an author who writes quilting cozy mysteries with my question, she responded with what I needed to finish my project and now when I come across that situation, I know what to do.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:29 am
Hi Lynn.
I can totally relate to your story. The first time I walked into a chapter meeting I was met with warm regards. I’ve had many teachers, some who turned into best friends. There is one thing to be said about writers…we stick together through ups and downs, regardless of how jealous we are of one another. LOL
At this point in my career, my teachers can’t escape. I have them on direct dial, IM, email, and I have their address. Muhahahaha…
They are always there when I need them and I’m grateful for that because I need them often.
You are a welcome addition to MORWA and we are so happy to have you with us.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:56 am
…whispering….. I’m at the day job so if I don’t pop in often today it’s not because I don’t want to….too bad today wasn’t a snow day like Tuesday…
Hi Kim S! Thanks for stopping in. How are the girls?
Dru – I’m so not happy with the picture but Elizabeth says it’s fine. I’m sure the camera added more than ten pounds. At least that’s my story.
Hi Kimberly!! I was so blown away by the knowledge in the critique room at CORE. I’m very happy to have a new home for my writing craving…And thanks for stopping in.
Lynn….slipping back into day job mode….
February 11th, 2010 at 10:26 am
I have to say, I’ve been blown away by Lynn’s determination. SO MANY people say they want to write, say they want to finish a book…but don’t. She made up her mind and then did it! Twice!
And just to make sure people aren’t seeing this as a one-sided thing…by taking “a chance” on Lynn I ended up making a good friend in return. Total win-win!
February 11th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Lynn, Your determination is impressive. Congratulations on persevering, finding that teacher and following through. Finishing a ms is tough; doing it twice is way cool. When MORWA started our Mentor Program last year, I thought, what would I ask? Where would I START? lol Since then, I’ve been very lucky to have mentors assigned that had the knowledge I lack: One is a specialist in online community involvement and I pick her brain the most.
You lucked into a nice person with Elizabeth, as well as a knowledgable writer. Must have been Karma.
February 11th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Thank you, Megan!
February 11th, 2010 at 10:59 am
This is why MoRWA is a strong organization: It attracts people like you. Writers with tenacity, talent, humor and soul.
I love your Tao saying. With me, it operated in reverse. The teacher appeared and told the student, “You’re ready.”
I hadn’t seriously thought about writing until I met the instructor of my college Detective Fiction class. She’s the one who said, “Forget the paper. Write me a short story.” And then she pointed me toward the university’s creative writing program, and pushed me toward another instructor, who is an exceptional writer, mentor, and a dear friend.
In every department, I played fast and loose with the rules, turning assignments into creative writing exercises. The instructors could have shut me down. Told me to go back and do it the way MLA and SIU intended.
Instead, they encouraged me.
You know what makes a wonderful post, Lynn? When you’re reading about another person’s experience, and you discover something about yourself. Something that makes you grateful.
This is a wonderful post.
February 11th, 2010 at 11:26 am
Great to hear you are making progress in your writing. This is a great post. I’ve missed your other blog, and it is nice to see you’re headed in the right direction. Make sure you keep me in the loop of where things go from here.
February 11th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
WOW! I’m impressed with the article, Lynn. Glad to hear everythings looking up for you. Let us know when the book is published. Keep up the good work!
Roxnne
February 11th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Hi, Lynn! Very inspirational article! Glad to hear things worked out and you made a writer friend through blogging. I fell into a wonderful writing group by joining RWA, then their Hearts Through History Chapter and answered a question in one of the posts about what period in history I write. Now, I belong to a great group of writers called The Scandalous Victorians, who live all over the country and Canada. We keep in touch through email and have a group blog. I don’t know how much I would’ve accomplished without this inspirational group, but know I’ve come a long way, writing-wise and made some great friends.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
I have to echo what Susan said above. It’s amazing how many wonderful friends can come from writing groups. And I mean good friends. When I did my walk for MS a few years ago I raised $2,600 and the VAST majority of that came from my writing buddies–people I knew through my old blog, people I’ve met at conferences, etc. It’s really very neat.
February 11th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Hey Lynn,
I wish you the best of luck with pursuing your dreams – your true calling is just around the corner! Your leadership in our Open Doors column is very impressive and irreplaceable. As soon as I think I’ve written a masterpiece, you always have suggestions to “lighten the mood” in my articles. I have been known to use big words and you have always helped me write much more reader-friendly pieces. It is a great pleasure working with you. Thank you!
Neil
***going back to day job mode as well***
February 11th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Megan, Thanks for stopping by. I’m a total Karma geek so I agree with your comment.
Joe, either you’re making me laugh so hard I’m spitting coffee on my keyboard or make me tear up like today…Thanks…
Janet, you came! I’m thinking about starting my blog back up, maybe not weekly but I’ll let you know. Glad to hear from you.
Roxann, my buddy, my friend. Thanks for stopping by.
Susan, I’m just starting to realize how much writing friends can help mold and support.
and Neil…Get back to work…. (grin…)
February 11th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Lynn,
It has been a pleasure getting to know both you and yourhusband. i wish you the best in your writing career and hope that someday i can tell my future kids I knew you when.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Lynn,
It has been a pleasure getting to know both you and your husband. i wish you the best in your writing career and hope that someday i can tell my future kids I knew you when.
February 11th, 2010 at 9:51 pm
Hey Lynn. Or guess I should say aunt Lynn! You should keep your blog going. I was reading it too. Nice post on here! Keep in touch. Will you be back at grandmas anytime soon? Were planning a trip this summer sometime
February 12th, 2010 at 2:08 am
Lynn,
Very nice write up. I know that writing has been a long time passion of yours. It is nice to see your work out there. And yes, I think that is your tag line. “Can I pick your brain?” I have heard you say it for years.
As you know I am in school now and have been for years. To answer your question, Yes I have been extremely lucky to have some Professors that have taken extra time to explain to me and show me things that needed to know and or wanted to know.
And something you might not know is, I have learned a lot from you and Jim. In our shared hobbies, friendship, perseverance, attaining goals and life in general.
So tell Master Yo Duh! Thank you for me. And a big Thank you to you too. You can pick my brain anytime there Princess.
February 12th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Great post. I agree with Stef that you should keep up your blog. We will be at Mom’s in mid-Sept. Missed you at Christmas!