I Don't Need No Stinking Myth by Pamela Tracy

So, here at the Heartwarming authors' site, we've been talking myths.

I have one.

It's the myth that publishing gets easier.

No, it doesn't.  At least it didn't for me, and my publishing career has been fairly constant.

Right now I'm looking at my goal list for 2010.

I titled it  TEN in '10.

My goals then are pretty much what they are today - nothing's gotten easier, but a few things have changed.

1.  Write three, three chapter proposals (this is a goal every single year!)
2. Write shorter chapters (this is new because if I write longer chapters and the book gets rejected then it's harder to get three, three chapter proposals done!)
3.  Improve how I put together a synopsis (I'm a pantser, no my synopsis is all over the place.)
4. Start a 'big' book.  (Now that I think about it, maybe I wanted to use heavy paper)
5. Go back to writing 3 pages a day (really, that's my goal, and by doing that I can write 3 books a year).
6. Learn to grab moments writing on my iPad instead in front of the computer. (At one time, I used my Dana a lot more)
7. Enter contests.
8. Submit a Bible study proposal (Did this and found out that only famous people get to do this now <sigh>.  I don't have the right platform)
9. Write the first few pages of a new devotional.
10.  Thank God for the ability to not just write, but to think about writing, too.

By the way, the above are all short-term goals.  I mean to do them this year.

My long-term goals

FIVE to keep ALIVE (until they happen!)
1.  Sell a big book (need a strong editor for all that heavy paper)
2.  Win a RITA (come on, we all have that goal!)
3.  Earn a five figure advance (sigh, I really really really really want this one)
4. Make the New York Times Bestseller List (And not by cutting and pasting my name over Nora Roberts)
5. Speaker at an RWA or ACFW National Conference (This one just might happen someday)

So, now you know... the myth is that it gets easier.
Nope, but since you have your feet on the pathway, go ahead and stomp ahead.  Don't mind the twist and turns, there's always a good friend like Roz or Cathy McDavid to nudge you in the right direct.  Then, too,  their are wonderful editors like Adrienne and Victoria to smooth out the way.

Have fun and go write three pages!  

Comments

  1. You nailed that myth, Pamela. :) Thanks for sharing.

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    1. LOL, and you live it, too, right Kim?
      Ladies, Kim is one of the Love Inspired authors. Did you just finish your new book? Or are you near the end?

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  2. "Have fun" - that's the key to it all.

    And I've heard it gets harder after you're published because being unpubbed the only deadlines you have are the ones you make yourself and if you miss one - no big deal. But once you're pubbed meeting deadlines is a must.

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    1. Marcie,
      You're right! I should have added have fun.
      And yes, Writer's Block is a myth if you have a deadline that's 24 hours away.

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  3. Thanks for sharing your experiences, Pam. Your wisdom is always appreciated! Now I have to go update my goals for this year.

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  4. I also, Libby, need to add to my list Never Get Sick on Critique Group day!
    Good to see you here. Thanks for stopping by
    Ladies, Libby's read the book coming out in August as she's one of my critique partners and has been for a decade!

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  5. Your goals were great, Pam! And I have so much faith that you will make all of them!! I'm so excited to join you in this wonderful line and to watch you meet and even exceed those goals :)When you win a RITA, I will be hooting and hollering and on my feet. When you speak at RWA, I will be sitting in the front row with a GO PAM sign. When you get that six figure advance, I will be thrilled and buy every movie ticket because every story you want to tell I want to read and watch in a cinema someday!

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    1. Okay, okay, I put you on my Christmas list. You're very good.

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  6. Pam, I am so impressed that you take the time to make goals every year because I'm so bad at advance planning. I like to order my life for a week at a time, but much farther out and I fall into a black hole. I think I once had Rita aspirations, but the last couple of years I haven't entered. This year I did enter an American in a couple of regional contests because readers have liked the book and RT placed it as one of their top 4 American books for the year. I know all three other writers in the mix and know they are fantastic writers. You have the energy and talent to succeed at all of your goals I know. And since it's only January of 2013 we'll all expect to see some of your goals come true.

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    1. LOL, these were my 2010 goals. Ummm, I keep using them because I really want them to happen. And, it hasn't gotten easier. I need to dig that American out of my pile and read it. I know I have it.

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  7. Pam - Okay, I'm inspired anew. So far in 2013, my goals have been health-related (writing does keep me healthy and sane.) It's good t have a plan. I no longer have the RITA dream either, but I do have visions of Amy Adams reading one of my books and thinking, "Somebody should make a movie of this! I'l star in it!" I wish you fulfillment of every dream/goal you have and I'll be right there beside Karen when they happen for you!

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    1. So, Muriel, of all your books, which would would have made into a movie if you got to pick? I really want to know.

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  8. Pam - Probably A CAROL CHRISTMAS because it has a used-up baseball player, a grieving heroine, orphans, nuns, Christmas - everything that should make good drama. But I know what translates to drama in film, isn't always what works in a book. But I loved writing it - my mother died suddenly while I was in the middle of it, I flew home to Massachusetts - then came home and wrote and sobbed like a maniac and met my deadline. I think I had all my own grief to pour into it and there's nothing like the real thing. That's the only book in my entire career that had no revisions.

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    1. Wow, no revisions. And, that's not one of yours that I've read. I'll go look for it.

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  9. Writing down your goals is the key, I think. I remember I had some goals a week or two ago...now what were they? Something about collecting at least 4 more rejections. And I resonated with your goal of improving your synopsis. Knowing me as you do, are you surprised that I'm a pants-er too? (Had to write it that way, or my correction thingy on the computer changes it to "panther") I've been studying story structure techniques again. Hope to improve that and save on the massive revisions.

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    1. Studying story structure techniques is on my to-do list and it's way near the top. Thanks for stopping by Dana.
      And, I'm not surprise your a pantser... great minds think alike.

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  10. Had to check out your blog once I got your email--glad I did, though I sure wish you hadn't debunked that myth! I was excited to see you take the Carol at ACFW a few years back and have no doubt you'll get that RITA. I'd make room for it on your shelf just to be ready. It's on its way.:-)
    Miss ya!

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    1. Jen,
      So good to hear from you! Did you get the email that Steve Laube is speaking to our group this Saturday?

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  11. That is my job! The nudger. And I'm good at it :)

    Cathy McDavid

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  12. I loved your thanking God for the ability to write and the ability to think about writing. That comes in so handy waiting in the carpool lane, etc., etc., etc.

    Love you, sweetie!

    Ann Lee Miller

    [My son is coming over tonight to show me how to get my Google account back from one of my characters who absconded with it. :) Silly character. Google accounts are for people!]

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    1. LOL, you are so funny. Do you think your son could help me figure out what blogger will no longer let me upload pictures and now I have to go through Picasa?

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  13. Wow, that sounds annoying. When I pre-load blogs to post at a later date, they don't post. So, now I just don't post. Problem solved. Want me to come fix your issue???

    I think my son rescued my account. I'll see for sure when I post this comment. I'll tell him to put it on his resume. Ha!

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    1. Your comment came through just fine.
      At first I thought it was an aol issue, but now I think blogger just wants more control.

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  14. His resume is in serious trouble! Ha ha ha ha.... Still laughing.

    Ann Lee Miller

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  15. Pamela, this is a great post! And it inspires me to get thinking about goals. Thanks for being transparent enough to share yours!

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    1. Goals are a great thing. Someday we'll need to post about how we met our husbands. LOL, mine truly was a goal.

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  16. Great list of goals--both short and long term! I realize that publishing doesn't get easier but just for the record, I like the myth better--you know, the one where I wake up in my cabin in the woods every day, write a couple of hours and spend the rest of the day riding horses, while my publisher accepts every manuscript I write as golden.... (a girl can dream).

    Keep on keepin' on!

    BK Jackson

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  17. LOL, and I think I know somebody like that. So, it can happen. Thanks for stopping by.

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