I Call It Success!!
(This may run long but amazing things
aren't summed up in a handful of words)
Twenty or so years ago I was 11 years old
when I began to read a series of books by Michelle Ashman Bell (An Unexpected
Love, An Enduring Love, and A Forever Love). It was the first full length novel
I read that wasn’t infused with larger than life words accompanied by pictures
(Illustrated Classics). I had to learn to read in spite of a case of dyslexia.
I started with the Illustrated Classics because I didn’t struggle with mixing
up the letters as much with the larger print. But I wanted to read something
more. I saw An Unexpected Love in the fiction section of my local library. I
don’t usually care what the cover itself looks like. I am more interested in
the book spine and the blurb (summary) on the back of a book (obviously the
spine is the first thing a person see’s of a book because it isn’t like blockbuster
or Hollywood video growing up where the front is displayed for customers.
I looked inside the book and though the
words were smaller print they weren’t tiny like some books I had seen before. I
decided to give it a go and I checked it out. I finished it in two days. I have
since reread that series multiple times and what once took me 2 days now takes
me 4 to 5 hours to read.
That was the beginning of a journey
that has led me to my life as it is now and yesterday’s achievement. I fell in
love with reading and found that LDS Fiction – Romance was what I wanted to
write.
My first step into a journey that
became one of my biggest dreams was my first manuscript. I started by writing
with pencil on 3 yellow legal pads. I found myself putting words to paper every
chance I got (I swear my notebook purchases kept Ben Franklins in Ephraim Utah
in business and post back to school sales were my favorite when I could get several
notebooks with pocket change). By the time I turned 14 I had at least five
notebooks with the beginnings of good stories (Not bragging or anything but
even my 'worst' writing was a good start for a manuscript - Shawn Bartlett will
be the first to tell you that I take so much pride in my achievements that I
tend to lose my humility momentarily)
My first manuscript...hmmm it was rough
and not at all what a publisher would want, it was definitely more a lump of
coal than a diamond. But it was a start and the plot was great, it was my
writing that sucked. But I kept writing anyway. Even if no one else ever saw
these words it didn't matter to me. I fell in love with writing and it was my
lifeline.
I wrote stories based on my own
experiences in life, on dreams I have had, and some from pure imagination. My
words were my outlet for my own version of teenage angst. Over the years my
writing journey has been more of a roller coaster ride than a train ride. There
have been spins, loops, highs, lows, and everything in between. I have had
years at a time where I didn't write a single word because I had no motivation
to do so.
I spent two years in the US Army, 95%
of which was spent in pain due to injuries that were being ignored by doctors
(believe me I tried to get them to listen), I was medically discharged back
into the civilian world and my writing became a new source for release. But I
was lost in a major haze of depression, I managed to survive the first
year. I followed that year with five more years completely at a loss for what
to do in my life. I was finally able to go back to work but found myself
disappointed and adrift in depression, anxiety, and panic because my physical
limits kept me from doing even the simplest jobs.
In those years I received my associates
degree in Business Administration, lost 14 different jobs, and survived an
abusive and failed marriage, I finally accepted the facts of life and realized
I had to make a decision.
When I was fired from my last job after
throwing out my back and hip in September I spent a week or two depressed and
feeling worthless. Then I had enough. I was not going to let this beat me. I
was stronger and I would do something!
I had tons of help
through old and new friends on Facebook and in the area when I began attending
book signings and other events with local authors. I finally figured out
what I would do after reading a book (yes I know, I read....A LOT) and
realizing that I could DO this! It helped that I also had a dream with an
awesome idea laced into it.
That morning I woke up with this idea
blazing in my mind and two days later I hit 20,000 words. Thats more than I remember
getting down for any story I'd written before and I had not even hit the climax where the hero and
his lady fall in love (I am not a patient person). I had found motivation.
I Ate A LOT of Chocolate Chip
Cookies and drank a good amount of Chocolate Almond Milk. Shawn Bartlett made a
lot of mac n cheese with hot dogs (Thanks Love!) and held up the household
while I stayed in my home office typing, always typing. I was up until 2, 3 and
4 AM some nights when I was really on fire with words.
The words just flowed and as they came
I kept having other thoughts pop up (they were my other characters begging me
to fit their story in - I call them my imaginary friends). By the time November
hit I had ideas and outlines for two more books, then a week later a 4th book and
last week a 5th book idea came. I joined a website NaNoWriMo (National Novel
Writing Month) that helps you track word count and many other things.
I decided I needed to look up
guidelines for publishing a novel and realized I would need at least 50,000
words but instead of letting this get me down (okay it did a little) I geared
myself up and with huge doses of support from Shawn Bartlett I set to work. Soon
20K became 30K then 40K. Between 40 and 50 I found out one of the publishers
(the one I would love to work with more than any other) requires 60,000 words.
Oh boy! This would be a tall order. It was a huge number but I took it in chunks taking breaks often. I pinned myself down and hit 50,000
words faster than expected. At 50K I suddenly hit a wall.
I couldn't figure out for the life of
me how I would fit in 10,000 more words. But instead of letting this drag me
down I did what I have come to learn helps me most. I focused on one of my other
manuscripts. That day I took the second book from a blank page to
13,000 words. If I could do that in one day I had to be able to get at least
the last 10,000 for my big book.
I buckled down and with a group of
other writers on Facebook ('Writing Sprints') I began to sprint, 20 minute of
writing with 10 minute breaks between for as long as I could go. 52k…55k…57k…so…..very…..close.
I could almost taste it, my success.
Then IT happened: At 3:15 PM on
November 22, 2019 I hit my 60,000th word in a single manuscript!!!
I was blown away! I had never felt
quite like this, ever. At first it was numbing then pure excitement, then
overwhelming joy which caused me to actually cry. 20+ years and I finally saw
the fruit of my labors. I had dreamed of this day for so many years. I was done
with the first draft. I figured out that I typed those 60K words in a combined
total of around 30 days or so!
I DID IT! Then I realized that A Dream Is Where It All Begins.
As a shy,
dyslexic 11 year old I had a dream blossom and begin to take shape all over
reading a three book series. I had figured out how to read despite my dyslexia
so writing a book would be my next step. I still struggle with dyslexia and
some days it is worse than others (I flopped a whole sentence the other day: I
told Shawn I realized that Yoda is dyslexic, this conclusion was based on the
fact that my line, which should have said: It’s possible that you will find in
that man everything you never thought you were looking for, had been so
scrambled in my brain). But I have pressed forward in spite of the obstacles I have
faced over the years and continue to face.
Thank you to all those who have
supported me in this journey!
Shawn Bartlett
Gary & Sue Taylor
Angel Iarochen
Jon Taylor
Arin Tantani
Sara Taylor
Ginny Morrill
Courtnee Taylor
Charlie Jackson
Karen Tuft
Michele Ashman Bell
Esther Bird Hatch
Sarah Eden
And EVERYONE else who I can't think of
at this moment. I want to thank all of you for helping me.
Between my first fans (my dad Gary, my
mom Sue and Siblings [you know who you are! lol]) and my first Author Idol
(Michelle Ashman Bell - Your Love Series was what started it all for me. I knew
my genre and wanted to write all because of you and these books) I have found
so much support and love in this endeavor.
But it is far from over. I still have 4 more books and those are just the ones that tie to my first book and don't include at least a few others that are currently on the back burner while I focus on my Ladies of Shearwater Lake Series.
Stay with me, Keep your eyes open and
your support on hand! We are in for an adventure and I can't wait to see what
comes next.
~*~ Adventure Like
There Is No Tomorrow! Family Is The Key To Happiness So Tell Them You Love
Them, Hug and Kiss Them, and Hold Your Kids A Little Closer!~*~
As Always,
The Bartlett’s
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