Three Cups of Tea

If you haven't read this book yet, stop whatever you're doing, call your library and get on the wait list for it. Or better yet, just buy it.

Fantastic, is one word to describe it. Inspirational, fascinating, compelling, humbling, are a few other words that work as well. I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but this is one of the most amazing true stories I've ever read or heard of. I don't want to spoil the whole book, so I won't, but I think Greg Mortensen's wife must be absolutely amazing to support his tireless efforts to improve the lives of so many people in such a dangerous part of the world.

Greg Mortensen unequivocally demonstrates the value of humanitarian efforts in the Islamic world, despite the backlash from some small-minded Americans who don't think people in those countries are worth our attention at all. If you'd like to discover how good works have changed the hearts, minds, and future of a people, read this book. If more of us could love and help others despite religious, political, and cultural differences, the pain and suffering of this world would be greatly diminished and perhaps the ugliness of war would become a mere memory.

However, it's not a book to read when you're tired. David Oliver Renin writes beautiful, but complex sentences that slip through tired brains without leaving their meaning behind until the second try. It's a great read though - absolutely worth every minute of reading time - unless you're already sleepy. If so, you're better off sleeping and picking it up to read when you're fresh.

Kite Runner

I just finished reading Kite Runner. Wow. I haven't read something that compelling in a while. Lately, I've just read for entertainment. But I think I've shortchanged myself. I truly love a literary work that is uplifting in a cathartic kind of way, where some thread of nobility or selfless sacrifice surfaces in a flawed character who rises to greatness in the end. Maybe that's why one of my favorite books of all time is A Tale of Two Cities. As for Kite Runner, I had a hard time with the first seventy five pages. Ick. The narrator was a selfish, spoiled, unkind brat - the type of character (and person) for whom I have little patience. I wanted to yell quit whining, start thinking of others and find ways to help them, and then be grateful for what you have you little snot. If I hadn't had the sense that the story was about to change, I would've stopped reading. I'm glad I didn't. And as the story narrator said, it's the ending that matters. This ending was wonderful. However, just so you know, the story is set against the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan and has some really dark, gritty elements that jangled my sensibilities of human decency and respect. Those acts were not glorified in any way, but I abhor violence and cringe at descriptions of the truly evil things some people do. So I skipped a few paragraphs here and there. Most people are good people who make mistakes, but for the most part, live decent lives. Then there are the animals - the depraved sociopaths who use power to subdue, hurt, and destroy others. This story has both, as well as the rarer person with a pure heart who rises above it all.

The Query Queen

I was struggling with my query letter and added a comment to an author blog. Surprise, surprise, the author responded and gave me some tips. Yes, Joelle Anthony rocks. I was awed that she received partial or full manuscript requests almost every time she submitted. Wow, I found the query queen. She's also very nice. After she critiqued my query, I revised, sent her my revision, and voila! I have a polished query letter. YES! Now, I just need a polished story to go with it, but one thing at a time. I don't know many people in this industry yet, but the writers I have met are so cool. Another cool gal is the writer who reads my first drafts. Serious talent there, but I don't think she'd want her name mentioned, so thanks Rita Bunch! If I ever get anything published, it's because I found such great friends to guide my writing efforts.

Setting a hook

My husband is great at setting hooks - in trout. I've always preferred reading to fishing, but I've realized that landing an agent is just like fishing. Bait the hook, cast, set the hook, reel them in. So now I'm learn to fish for literary agents. Like most beginners, my first attempts have been clumsy, but I'm getting better.

I read a great post on Joelle Anthony's blog last week. She wrote about how long it took her to perfect the art of writing a hook and emphasized how important the hook really is. I knew this already, but am still transitioning from theory to practice. It was really nice to read that I'm not the only one who stumbles through this process. I thought my query letters were just fine. Brief and cleanly wordsmithed, I thought they would get at least one or two partial requests. Nope. Obviously, I need better hooks. So, I'm taking notes. What I've noticed so far is that successful letters aren't formal, they're quirky and often fun. They're also a lot longer than I was told query letters should be. So maybe I'll beef mine up for the next round. The hardest thing is not to just write, READ MY STORY, YOU'LL LOVE IT. But deep down, I think that's what every writer wants to say so they can just skip the courting and rejection phase of endless querying. But just because I love my stories, doesn't mean anyone else will. I have to convince them. So query letters are really just persuasive essays with a tightly focused objective. So how well do I fish? Hmmm...don't know yet. I guess I'll find out.

Why Write?

Why do I write? Because I have to. That's it, plain and simple. I wish my writing was brilliant, it's not. But it makes me happy. I love taking a blank computer screen and creating characters to tell their stories, my stories, but theirs as well. Once established in my mind, they have their own voices and aren't afraid to use them. Transferring those voices to the page is the tough part. I've jumped out of bed in the middle of the night to jot notes down in my notebook. I sit on the floor of my walk-in closet and write instead of walking downstairs to turn on the computer. If I could go without sleep, I would. But alas, I don't function very well without at least six hours. Ah well, I have a lifetime to write. I only hope that someday I'll get my stories published.

I thought the word rhapsody described how I envision my blog - an expression of feeling or enthusiasm, an irregular piece of prose, and a miscellaneous jumble.