Coming soon to podiobooks.com...

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...this intriguing, compelling novel called Dreaming of Deliverance!!

The whole reason I started this blog way back when was to motivate myself to finish the first draft and now there's an actual physical book that people can buy, Kindle people can download the Kindle version, and starting Monday, October 26, podcast novel listeners can download free audio episodes at podiobooks.com!

Wow!

I'm not very good at pausing and thinking about my goals once they've been achieved--I tend to focus more on whatever I need/want to do next--but today I am going to stop and reflect on all that's been accomplished since this blog began.

I'll say it again...

Wow!

Slacker be me

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So ungrammatic, but so true. (And if you were wondering, "ungrammatic" is apparently not grammatically correct either!)

Actually, to give myself a break, I'm not a slacker in general, just when it comes to updating this blog, because:

Now you can listen to Dreaming of Deliverance, the podcast novel version, episodes 1-4!

Check them out at:

REchambliss.com, click "Hear DOD" and you should find them. If not, let me know!

I'm having a lot of fun recording these. I hope you are enjoying listening to them!

Tranquility Has Been Achieved

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Well, maybe not complete tranquility, but I am much calmer today.

The triathlon was great! I swam, I biked, I ran! And I'm definitely doing it again next year.

As for the website podcast glitch, it appears to be resolved. I still need to figure out how to get the podcast on iTunes, but one thing at a time, right?

So if you want to listen to Episode 1 of Dreaming of Deliverance, the podcast version, click here. Then click on "Dreaming of Deliverance Episode 1 + Bonus", and you should be able to hear it. Let me know if you can't.

And let me know what you think! :o)

Where Renee Freaks Out Again

I'm freaking out! Again! Fitting, I suppose, since I haven't freaked out in awhile and that used to be the theme of this blog way back in the early days. I'd freak out, and blog about it. But then, I stopped freaking out as much and also got sick of writing about it, so that's why there aren't so many entries these days.

But today? Ick! The anxious adrenaline is flowing.

Why?

Two reasons. One is that I just can't get the web site to work as I'd like. The first podcast cuts out half-way through and I have no idea why. So I'm trying to figure that out because some wonderful supportive family members have been getting the word out about Dreaming of Deliverance's availability and I want newcomers to me and my web site to have a good experience, not a frustrating one where things don't work as they should.

The second reason? Tomorrow I'm doing my first triathlon. I just got back from the "1st Timer's Clinic" and now I'm a big nervous mess. It's going to be tough and I don't know how it's going to go.

And I just want the web site to work!

Bleck!

I'm going to give up in a minute and go home and rest up for tomorrow. So for anyone who is checking this blog out for the first time? Please bear with me! I've figured out quite a bit about this independent publishing thing so far, and I'm sure I can figure this out too! Come back in a couple of days when I'll probably be nice and calm again!

I'm out there and I'm LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT! (Not really, but I am out there.)

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I'm basically an introvert--not the type of person who likes to be the center of attention. But because I'm independently publishing Dreaming of Deliverance, I need to put myself out there. So I am. And it's a little uncomfortable, but it's also kind of exciting because now Dreaming of Deliverance is available on Amazon! And I have an author web site! And the free podcast version, and the Kindle version should be ready soon!

So feel free to check out my brand-spanking new author web site REChambliss.com. There you will find links where you can order a print copy of Dreaming of Deliverance. And it will also be the place to go to find out when the podcasts will begin--soon, I promise. The podcasts are my next priority now that the website is up and running.

Anyway, I'm out there! There's no getting around it. Tell me what you think. I'm winging a lot of this, so if you have any suggestions for how I could make the site better, let me know!

Return to Squaw

Sometimes it's not a good idea to return to the past.

For example, I probably shouldn't ever look like this again:



Okay, I never really looked like that. I've been playing with Yearbook Yourself 2009. Although, my sister has some pretty scary photos of me from the 80s, the era of big hair, that I'm hoping she burns soon. It wasn't a flattering decade.

Anyway, I'm back at the Community of Writers at Squaw Valley, and it's cool, but kind of weird too. I'm not doing the workshop this year and I like that I can attend the panel discussions, and craft talks without the pressure of giving feedback and the worry about my own writing being critiqued.

But at the same time, it's odd to be here, but not one of the participants. In some ways it's exactly the same as it was last year. I see all of the same kinds of people (including my type--horrifying as that is) but I'm looking at it from the outside, instead of experiencing it from within.

Okay, that sounds bizarre. And I don't think it was a mistake to come here, like a mullet and Crue t-shirt would be a mistake. But it is...strange.

I must think more on this!

The Cover!

Check out the cover to Dreaming of Deliverance! I'm so pleased with how it turned out!

We still have a ways to go before the book is available at Amazon, but seeing the cover design is making it seem all the more real. It's going to be an actual book! Very exciting!

Lots to say, little time to say it

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Quick update, you invisible friends of questionable reality.

The print version of Dreaming of Deliverance is underway and should be available in 3 short months!

I recorded a test episode of the podcast version and it went well enough that I'm ready to start recording the book for real. The podcasts should start around the time the print version is available.

There is SO much to learn about all of this. I'm taking it one step at a time, but it gets overwhelming. Next step is to write the back cover copy. Then I take on the intimidating, but oh-so-important task of setting up an author web site, which needs to be up and running once the book and podcasts "go live" (that's podiobook lingo, I think).

Meanwhile, I'm trying to work on my kids' book, I'm subbing an average of a couple of times a week, and doing all the house/kid/wife stuff.

Tired?

Yes.

Stressed?

Yes.

Trying to squeeze too much in?

Probably.

Things should get both easier and harder soon. School is out in less than a month, so no more subbing for a while. But that also means the kids will be home all day every day.

But now at least I can scratch "Update Blog" off my list!

Gotta like validation!

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Hey!

I came across this article this morning. It's more validation that going independent can be a viable option.

And both the podcast novel and the print version of Dreaming of Deliverance are getting closer to completion. I'll try to be better about keeping the blog updated on their progress.

Right now I'm working on the cover design and recording the first five episodes.

Exciting times!

More soon!

Janet Fitch

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One of the writers who was on staff last year at the Squaw Valley Fiction Writers Workshop, Janet Fitch, has a blog, which I've added to my links list.

Fitch is the author of White Oleander and Paint it Black, both of which are quite dark, but are also incredibly compelling stories and gorgeously written. They are definitely worth reading.

And she was great at the workshop last year. Her afternoon session on dialog was terrific and very helpful. I also loved that in person she didn't seem like someone who'd write dark books. She was friendly and down-to-earth and came across as very together--not tortured and angst-filled like so many of her characters.

Why would that appeal to me? Because I don't seem like someone who'd write dark books either! In fact, someone who knows me and just read my novel, was surprised at how dark and profanity-laden it was. ("I didn't know you had such a potty mouth!" were her precise words.)

That's something that non-writers don't seem to get about us story-tellers: we make things up.

Writing fiction gives me the freedom to be anyone, act like anyone, explore any issue, imagine what it'd feel like to be in any situation. I get to set aside my compulsion to be nice and do the right thing all the time. I can act like a jerk. I can experience terrible hurts and tragedies without really experiencing them.

It's great to pretend to be another person! It's a freedom that's probably limited to kids and actors and spies.

And fiction writers!

Anyway, I really liked Janet Fitch's blog. Check it out. Read her books. And she's going to be at Squaw again this year for anyone who wants to see first-hand that one doesn't have to seem like a dark person to write dark stories.

The Digital Age of Literature

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Have you, imaginary readers out there, seen this article from Time?

Books Gone Wild: The Digital Age Reshapes Literature

There are more options out there than there used to be. Sure times are rough in traditional publishing, but that's not the only way to get one's story out into the world.

More to come....

Developing Calluses

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I could learn a thing or two from this guy.

Talk about thick skin and perseverance and belief in one's writing!

Podcast Novels

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Have you ever heard of a "podcast novel"? I hadn't until recently, but now that I know, I'm very excited about the concept. Basically, it's an audio version of a novel that's distributed serially on the internet.

Podiobooks.com has lots to chose from. Most are read by the author. The quality seems to vary widely (although I've only checked out 3 or 4 so far). You can download them for free and make a donation to the author, if you'd like.

My favorite so far is Shadowmagic, by by John Lenahan. I've listened to the first two chapters already, and they are great! Lenahan is a fabulous reader, too, which I think really allows his engaging story to shine through. I am incredibly impressed and it has gotten me thinking....

Technology being what it is, there are many more ways to share a story today than there used to be. This is a route I'm definitely going to explore!

Queries--Fun, fun, fun!

Does anyone like doing queries? I can't imagine it, but I suppose there must be someone out there who enjoys the process.

I'm forcing myself to query, because of course, I'm unlikely to obtain representation otherwise.

Oh sure, there's always the possibility that an agent with interests that match my book, great connections, and an easy-to-get-along-with personality will happen to knock on my door one day. Maybe his or her car breaks down right in front of my house, say.

But I've decided that I can't count on something like that to happen. I must take the steps necessary to make these agents aware of me and my book. And that means querying.

Finding information on querying is a perfect example of how the internet can be helpful, while also making you crazy at the same time. There are SO many web sites out there with advice on the best way to approach agents. And while there are some universal guidelines to follow, there are also lots of conflicting opinions on the details of how to do a great query. It is possible to spend hours and hours sifting through it all--hours when one could be writing or mopping the floor.

And on each of these sites there are hordes of other writers throwing in their two cents on what to do, as well as relaying all of their struggles when it comes to trying to land an agent. It makes me realize how unoriginal all of my querying angst is. Us aspiring-to-find-an-agent types are everywhere!

So trying to do a query the right way and at the same time knowing that it has to stand out from among the piles and piles of other queries being produced, makes it tough for perfectionists like me. Basically, it stresses me out, big time! But I'm doing it. Yay me.

Hmm....That's pretty sarcastic and grim. I should probably end this blog entry on a positive note, so since I've mentioned that the internet can be helpful when it comes to querying, I'd like to post a link to an extremely helpful querying resource: QueryTracker.net.

QueryTracker.net lets you search for agents' contact information and web presence, plus you can use it to track who you've sent queries to, and what the response has been.

So check it out if you're querying! It's definitely helping me.

And try to ignore the depressing statistic posted on the front page that there are 10,000+ registered users and only 83 success stories.

Gee, guess I won't be ending positively!

Buy new books!

It's shopping time. And we all know the news about the economy isn't exactly good. I was reading an agent's blog the other day (and I don't know why I go to those sites, because they usually stress me out, and this time was no exception) and it was all about how bad the publishing industry was doing, and how that meant the publishing climate was tougher for writers than ever before, blah, blah, blah. And the agent ended by encouraging everyone to buy new books to help the industry.

It got me thinking. The holidays are coming up. I have lots of gifts to buy. Why not buy new books? I love books. It's fun to think of which books would be appealing to the various people on my list. It makes shopping easier because the potential gift possibilities are limited. I can't really see a downside.

So that's my plan. I probably won't only buy books as gifts, but it's going to be mostly what I give. And if I can do my small part to help out the publishing industry, why not? It's not exactly an original idea. I just checked Laurie R. King's blog and she's encouraging people to do something similar.

So join the movement! Buy new books!

What comes next?

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I don't know, and as I result I'm both stuck and procrastinating. This is for the story I'm currently working on, which is something my kids can read, since nothing I've written so far is appropriate for them.

But all of a sudden, I'm itching to get back to my big story--part 2 to the novel I've already written. I want to get the kid one done first, though.

So butt down in chair, hands on keyboard, push through the pain of not knowing what comes next.

I always find it eventually.

How'd I miss this?

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J.K. Rowling delivered the commencement address at Harvard this past June.

Here's a link.

The whole thing is fabulous, but I was especially struck by the following quote:

Imagination is not only the uniquely human capacity to envision that which is not, and therefore the fount of all invention and innovation. In its arguably most transformative and revelatory capacity, it is the power that enables us to empathise with humans whose experiences we have never shared.

Wow!

Story Builders

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I've started a writing workshop for the kids in my daughter's 4th/5th combination class. It's called "Story Builders". I go in once a week for an hour and meet with them in groups and we talk about stories and play creativity games. I'm also giving them writing prompts to use in their own writing.

Here are the ones they've seen so far:

- Mary's lamb was indestructible.

- Whatever you do, don't touch that!

- She said "Gus" was her plant's name.

These first three came to me pretty easily. (Weird things pop up in my head all the time!) But if you have any suggestions for future writing prompts, I'd love to hear them!

More thoughts on criticism and negativity...

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In thinking about yesterday's post I realized I have a tad bit more to say about the subject. So miracle of miracles, here's another post only one day later!

Sure negative comments can be helpful, but that doesn't mean I think we all should just let those negative comments fly without taking into consideration the writer's feelings.

Tact and delicacy, people!

There's always something positive that can be said about a piece and that's what you should start with when giving a critique. In my opinion, anyway.

Also, I believe it's important not to try to change a piece to the way you would do it if you were writing it. You're not. There are many styles and types of writing out there and no one is the only way. So when I read each of the Workshop 8 manuscripts I tried to figure out what the writer was trying to do and make my suggestions and comments based on that. I was probably wrong a bunch of the time (in one case I know I was WAY wrong!) but I thought that approach was more respectful to the writer than trying to rewrite what they'd done based on how I'd do it.

So, in summary: positive things can come from negativity, but try to be nice about it!

One Story

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I just subscribed to One Story.

Every three weeks I'll receive one short story in the mail. Historically, I've never been a big short story reader, but I want to read more of them and one at a time like this, sounds nice and manageable.

As for writing, I am about to start submitting my novel once again. The feedback at Squaw was encouraging, both from my workshop group and my one-on-one interview, and I've finished editing it so I suppose it need to start putting it out there.

Submitting is not my favorite part of being a writer, but if one wants to be read by more than just a handful of people, it's kind of necessary!