Fantasy Author, Dora Z. Wolfe

Voice

2009-11-25T23:48:53Z

It's been a long time since I signed in. Much has happened, and nothing has happened, because I'm not published. To the tyrant within, that's all that matters. I have failed in my mission -- the mission to be published in fiction. And I know why.

1) I haven't submitted.
2) I haven't submitted because I've felt my stories weren't ready, weren't good enough, weren't excellent enough.

I'm tired of it.

Today, I vow to write for publication. And I'm scared to make that vow. because:

1) I'm not good enough.
2) My stories aren't good enough.
3) It all sucks.

What all sucks, I don't know. I don't care. All I care about it publishing.

Assume I am published. What would I have to do to get there? I do know.
1) Research my favorite authors' publisher's writers guidelines -- harpercollins children.
2) Done. They only take agented material but they also run authonomy.com and inkpop.com. The latter may be right for my YA fantasy.
3) Check out inkpop.com.
4) DONE. It's not that active. looked back at Authonomy.com. There's more going on there. The latter. including children's and fantasy writing.
5) Okay. Authonomy would be a good place to go. Gping to check it out. An experiment.

I'll keep you posted.

Dora out.

Force of Nature

2008-09-13T15:04:33Z

I am a force of nature. And all this time I've been striving to be such a powerful, amazing thing that others run from it or stare at in awe. I don't need to run anymore. I can stand still and feel the pulse of heat through my veins and whistle of wind through my ears. I am a force of nature and I write.

Creative Breakthrough: Write vs. Submit

2008-08-13T04:08:06Z

Write vs. submit: this doesn't need to be a conflict, but I've been feeling stymied. So, I had a great talk with a friend who's part of my support team, and saw that what matters the most is that I write. That I write for the pure joy of it. So, for the last hour, I've been working on Chapter 12. Not new content -- I'll get there -- but editing and actually fleshing out a scene I had only alluded to. I'm adding color and feeling to the relationship. H. is becoming, as Michael Hauge would say, more in her essence and leaving her identity behind.

Write On!

2008-08-08T18:10:10Z

I'm working on rewriting book 2, even though book 2 isn't finished. The rewrites are helping me see the story. I will finish. I need to finish it, because I want to submit book 1. Finishing book 2 will help me determine more details for book 1. I learn the story by writing it. That's my way, and I need to honor that.

I'm getting ready to submit again! Because I was at the RWA National conference in San Francisco, and picked up leads to an agent and an editor. I"ll keep you posted.

Forging Ahead

2008-07-22T03:05:42Z

I've forged ahead and edited Chapters 8 and 9 for my critique group. I'm surprised at what I've crafted, so many months ago. It's good to look at it fresh. I think I'm ready to keep editing forward and complete the first draft. That's a good feeling. I'm relieved, and also know I need to ground the when of writing more.

Right now, I will declare that I will complete the book soon. I will put my attention on it more often. I will. You'll see.

Writing is Rewriting and Editing

2008-07-09T04:42:46Z

Writing is Rewriting and Editing -- But you knew that, right? N'est-ce pas? (Isn't that so?) It's my blog so I will write in French if I want. I do speak and write the language. What I don't understand is how I can edit an almost 2000-word chapter, and still feel, well, not finished. Could it have something to do with the fact that I only edited Chapter 1 out of 20 so far written of the newly titled manuscript? Or could it be that I can't simply pat myself on the back for a job well-done? So, in front of you'all, my invisible audience, I will formally take action to tell myself, Job well done, Dora. You did it. You edited The D.S. (Title under wraps. I'm not ready to reveal it yet.)

Okay, now that that rant and hug combined is out of the way, I want to reflect on this writing process. A revelation came out of my conversation with P today. Many revelations come out of our weekly meetings; I love that. This revelation is stunning because it ties together my writing fiction with my other work, which I'm not ready to talk about yet. Suffice it to say that I write for my own personal odyssey. I write, edit and rewrite to grow as a person, to see what it is I am saying to myself. Do others do that? I don't know.

I mean, if I really worked hard at it, I could write fiction to please the masses first and me second, but that's not how I do it. I suspect many writers don't either. But the thing of it is, I don't care about the marketplace. Not really. I really do care about writing great fiction. But if I looked to the marketplace for a measure of what that was, I'd just get confused, yes, have been confused. Don't want to remain confused. But if I look deep into myself and see my characters there, and bring them out on the page as vividly, detailed and gritty as possible, then maybe, just maybe, I will be in love with the story. And just maybe others later will too.

So that's why I combed through Chapter 1 for over an hour, only 14 manuscript pages, and I stand corrected, over 3000 words. Whew! Girl, you did a lot! I added over 700 words. Yes, counting and tracking are important to me. Because clearly I downplay all my hard work. I work hard at my play. My play, my catharsis, my entertainment, my dream with eyes wide open -- fiction. Where I grow, learn, validate, and hopefully become closer to myself. Hopefully I come home.

100 Word Complaint Max, Promise

2008-07-05T22:55:50Z

Rejections come pouring in. I'm putting Henrietta, the Dragon Slayer to bed, and will pitch The Dracontias the next writer's conference. When an editor tells me that my writing isn't "detailed, vivid, or gritty" like the other YAs she's receiving, and that's her taste, part of me wants to say, "Forget it! I'm giving up!" But no -- I'm not giving up; I'm moving forward on The Dracontias. So there. Take what I learned in writing HDS to the next book. This next book is my fourth manuscript. Onward and forward!

Queries galore!

2008-06-11T22:56:46Z

It's query week or month. In came a email rejection this morning (turnaround = 2 days), and by the afternoon, I sent out another query. I'm fired up! And slogging through it. It's all about one foot in front of the other, people. That's all it is. Really. Sometimes my feet feel like they're stuck in mud, other times I feel as fleet-footed as a gazelle. (As much as I can imagine being a gazelle! And I can imagine it.)

Today's image comes is a reflection shot of the pencils and pens lined up on my window sill. This window sill is at ankle level. Floor to ceiling windows look out into my patio garden. The afternoon sunlight highlights the budding dahlias and sweet basil.
Copyright 2008 by Dora Wolfe

Writer's Block: Back in Time

2008-06-01T22:48:34Z

If you could travel in time, which era would you visit and why?

View 501 Answers

To hunt with the warrior-priestesses of the Sauromatians.

Why? To experience that world. Why else?

Why I Post Images AND Text

2008-06-01T21:38:44Z

Photograph c. 2008 Dora Wolfe All Rights Reserved

Why I Post Images AND Text

I'm inspired by images. They help me deepen into the living dream of fiction. This image makes me chuckle. Taken from inside a Ben and Jerry's Ice Creamery, I love the backwards letters and the Amtrak train passing in the background. Movement stilled. A moment in time to reflect on oneself. What do you see in it?

Today, I'm editing some more. I'm deep into the rearranging of the emotional flow of a scene and that takes time. I was working on that yesterday; now again today.

Onward and forward!

Resistance, my dear

2008-05-31T21:55:41Z

Resistance, My Dear

Reading Steven Pressfield's book yesterday, The War of Art, really fired me up. As it was meant to. Thank you to Soul mentor, Mythologist, Richard Stromer, PhD., for recommending it. I'm so fired up, I want to recommend this book to everyone I know who is writing, starting a business, or attempting to live an authentic life.

What this means for mean today is that no matter what i feel about my novel, I will input the edits from my critique group with a fair and impartial mind. Well, maybe not impartial, but with the filter that asks, "What is best for the story?" I can only answer tat question to the best of my ability right ow, and that's what I'll do. Any further procrastination or time spend on self-doubt will only feed the Resistance monster.

Off we go! Onward and upward!

Editing as Meditation

2008-05-21T19:50:12Z

Photo copyright by blog author c.2008

Sitting in the sun
Laptop on lap
Cats relaxed around me
Manuscript scrolled in front of me
Affirmation tape playing on my Mini iPod
I'm ready
I enter the dream of my novel
I dream awake
Focused
Intent on story

Finishing the D#$% Novel

2008-05-20T19:03:52Z

The UN flag at the UN Plaza, San Francisco, CA c. 2008 this blog author

Finishing the novel is not as easy as it sounds. So, what's a writer to do? Enter in through the backdoor. I'm editing the book, and thinking deeply about the story, the characters, the purpose of it all. And for all my frustration, I'm actually enjoying the process. That is, when I stop long enough to work on it.

That's it for now. I have an opportunity to write before my 1 o'clock meeting, and I'm seizing it. I have one precious hour. Go!

Rejection is the Spice of Being a Writer

2008-05-16T16:20:08Z

I received a very nicely worded rejection from Fine Print Literary Agency:

"Thank you for your query, which I read with interest. Unfortunately, I am not the right agent for your work. However, do not despair as I am sure another agent will feel quite differently.

Thank you for considering me. I wish you the best of luck with your writing."

OKAY -- it made me feel good reading it.

Well, as my heroine says, "Onward, forward!"

PS. I still haven't word back from Belle Books, who are considering my full. It's only been 10 days. I'll give them more time. Hey, some agents and editors have had my novel under consideration for almost two years; I have no idea what that means. ALl I cando and do do is keep writing. Onward, forward...

Decisions

2008-05-06T21:56:39Z

I need to make a decision about the D, its trajectory, evolution. What it's like. Is it a harbinger or a reflection of H's feelings? I want it somehow to be both, but I need to make a decision and I'm not sure by which criteria I should use.... Will think on it.

dorawolfe @ 2008-05-06T14:16:00

2008-05-06T21:29:13Z

Editing for the next writer's group. That's what this jumble of organic tomatoes is about. A pic I took at one of the San Francisco Ferry Building's little boutique markets. See, the words are like colorful, precious fruits looking for a good home in a proper meal. That's my job -- the writer's job -- to find the right meal for all these beautiful: words. And to know when the luscious words are right for this novel/meal.

I'm excited, and nervous. Excited because I feel I've learned a lot since I wrote the first book, and here I am working on my second in the series. Nervous because I just queried the first book, Henrietta, The Dragon Slayer, yesterday. And immediately received the request for the full manuscript. And I mean IMMEDIATELY. Whew! I hustled to input edits from my crit group and send it off.

Now diving in to Book II.

Maybe I shouldn't be so transparent. But I'm writing teacher/instructor. The creative process is important for me to understand, love and relate.

Enough said. To work!

[whisper] Nervous/excited!

Editing is a B*tch, but I Love it

2008-04-24T15:45:46Z

My critique partners, bless their souls, raked Chapters 3 to 5 of Henrietta's second book, over the coals. In the best possible way. That said, essentially, my CPs like the story: the action, the emotionality, the drama. Their comments were, as one said, mostly, granular. Thank god for granular!

And I even like how the story is shaping up. That's scary, and hopefully a good sign. I'm eager to dive in, input their feedback, and tease apart my sentences and my story to make it sing. Thing is I've been at the cafe for over an hour, futzing with those online surveys, hoping for some payoff, and I was also waiting to hear from the printer on another project. Now that that is done, no more excuses.

Just some questions: how am I going to make the magic D work in the overall scheme of things? What will Henrietta come to understand about herself and magic?

PS> The griffin will make an appearance in my story somehow. Not sure how yet.

Writer's Block: Back in Time

2008-04-16T16:47:31Z

If you could travel in time, which era would you visit and why?

View 501 Answers

The Middle Ages, to see the cathedrals being built.

The author log: 4/8 - 4/16/08

2008-04-16T16:42:37Z

4/8/08

I don't know what the relationship is between L and F. They're both from the same kingdom, but from two completely different classes, different trainings, missions, although ultimately they both care about Jaxter, the fate of the new kingdom of Oro and also they each in their own way care about Henrietta. Any conflict, attract or repel between them? They are also at least 8 years apart. She's a mature 13 year old, and he a mature 22 year old. Okay, after completing GMC charts for the to, I've come to a conclusion. Whew! You'll see it when you read it.

4/9/08

Another day. Another desire to get moving. And yet, and yet. Something feels like it's in the way. Is it the desire to be doing anything but this? No. It's that my mind wants to dive into a now word land, but I need my words. You know what? I'm just going to look at my words, and give myself no pressure about actually using any of them to tell the story I want to tell. I'll let the story tell me what it wants and needs.

BTW, while I've been diligently working on my fiction I haven't been journal writing. I'd like to give that to myself son, along with some calming meditation.

4/10/08

I couldn't sleep last night on account of the copious amounts of tea I consumed at the restaurant. I didn't check to see what kind of tea it as. Evidently, it was caffeinated. Hence, my inability to sleep last night. I think I finally fell asleep for real, not that fitful stuff, after E left for work. That was after 6:30am.Oi! So, here it is, 12:22pm, and I'm just getting started. This week I've given myself the luxury of working on my novel daily, and with pretty much an open-ended time frame. Ok, except for Monday, but that was different because I was writing just before a meeting. When I didn't have a meeting, yesterday and the day before I let myself write as much as I wanted to ,pretty much. Well, I want to do the same today, but I set in my calendar that In would do office admin, bills, and especially answering emails that I've let sit since Monday. Oi. Ok. Here's the deal. Let's blow up, figuratively ,in my head, that schedule. And let my self write as much as I want. I know I will do those other things. Including a walk, which I have not given myself, since starting at my writing first thing. Hmmm. I tell myself I have no time, because by the time I'm done writing, my brain wants to keep going and do other work. That's why walking first thing was so good; I got it out of the way, and gave myself time to slid gently into mental wakefulness. I don't know. I like getting to my writing first thing, after breakfast. It allows me to move forward at a much faster rate than if I squish writing my novel in beteen other activities. Ok, here's the deal. I need to take a gentle walk. So, why don't I put that intention out there and release it. It will come back tome, if it's meant to be. And for all of you out there, who think this is mumbo jumbo, not my problem. I do what works for me. You do the same. See you!

4/14/08
The writer is sad; and so are the other parts of me. I’m on BART, and I’m just sad. Sad that the story isn’t further along; sad that I haven’t sent off any submissions in who knows how long. I could check but that would take me away from what I’m doing; sad that I’m sad. Just sad. Can we go on/. Isn’t there anything else to talk about? Well, there’s the story that I’m working on. Yah, that. I want to turn it into something wonderful. Friendship, PS said, is my theme. Based on John Lescroart’s talk on Saturday where he talked about theme, among other things. In a wonderfully meandering way. I want go into my bio, he said. And then proceeded to do so. It was worth it. His hard-knock life shows us that perseverance is key. Hear that? Yah. So do the work and work on the theme. Which is?

4/16/08
Self-consciousness. Maybe I should read what I'm posting here. Nah! Dora Wolfe is talking. She's brash, rash, and itching with something to say. And what is that something? It's about passion, adventure, the pain of growth, the worse pain of doing nothing. Henrietta has got to succeed. Or else, right? I need to talk to her. So, after this post I'm diving into a short chat with her.

The sequel lives!

2008-04-07T05:43:03Z

Actually it's the second in a series called the Fate of the Five Kingdoms.

A recap: Book I is HENRIETTA THE DRAGON SLAYER. Book II is called THE DRACONTIAS.

I'm deep in second round edits of Book II. No, the book isn't done. It's two thirds done, okay? I'm reviewing, refreshing and renewing my oomph for this second book.

Jumping to a related topic, I'm toying with having Henrietta on for an interview. What do you guys think?

I probably lost what few fans I had because I haven't posted in year. I've been busy. Rather, my other personality has been busy building a business out there in the real world, while me, the writer self, has had to take a back seat. Well, we're no longer at war. That's good. I mean the business woman and the artist. They're joining forces right now, and just you wait. The effect will be colossal and wonderful.

dorawolfe @ 2007-04-13T23:19:00

2007-04-14T06:26:54Z

A junk because the beginning of the story takes place on a junk.

I was working on the sequel today, writing the synopsis. I've never written a synopsis before writing the actual story. So, this was new for me. And scary. But I was not unprepared. In December, I did a scene grid, listing as many scenes as I could and mapped out the whole book. When I got my eyeballs off my email and got over my inertia, I entered my story and its conflicts. I don't know why I thought I could write a whole synopsis in three hours. Okay, I didn't spend three hours, more like an hour and half. And I did cover almost the first half of the story. I feel pretty good about it. Next time I sit down to work on the synopsis, I'll progress that much more.

The Heat is On!

2007-03-04T22:22:36Z

Two one-page queries sent out last week. Two requests for more material. As I mentioned yesterday, one is for 30 pages, the other is for the full!

All I can say is the heat is on! WE do the best we can and then we let the manuscript go.

I'm diving into yet another editing pass. I'll come up for air to get the laundry, or vacuum. Moving my body stimulates thought.

Wish me luck.

Luck!

dorawolfe @ 2007-03-02T16:48:00

2007-03-03T00:48:18Z

Junks woodcut

Anxiety as a fact of the writing life

2007-03-03T00:43:54Z

You know, feel the fear and do it anyway. Just because I feel it, and feel it big, doesn't mean I shouldn't sit down to write. Or in this case, edit. yes, I'm still editing. So what if it takes a long time? So what? What race am I in? But, the writer who wants to "seen" and "known" rears her well-coifed head, and admonishes me. (We'll call her Cheri; I don't know why. That's just the name that popped into my head right this instant, so it sticks.)

CHERI: Hurry up and finish your editing. the agent who asked for thirty pages is waiting. And the editor next on your submission list, too. Hurry up! [whip crack]

DORA: Uh, no.

CHERI: I'm gonna...

DORA: What? hurt me?

CHERI: Yes! Feed you fear and anxiety from breakfast, lunch and dinner! Ha! Got you now.

DORA: Sorry, babe. I'm going to sit down and edit and you, you I will send you out to buy fertilizer for the garden. Got it?

CHERI: A job to do? Yes, chief, I'm right on it.

DORA: Good, finally...

And that is how I take care of my fear and anxiety monkey. Cheri means well, but she does get in the way. Good thing she loves to shop, for anything.

Ok, back to editing!

Editing as Writing

2007-02-08T23:09:30Z

It's scary, this editing, but I'm ready and willing to dive deep into the spiral of creation. Down and down we go, where we stop nobody knows. So I must trust my inner storyteller, and inner rhythm keeper. For editing is like making the story sing with the right pitch and rhythm, and making it pop off the page. I love this part of the writing process; I agonize over this part of the writing process. All I can be right now is in it. Deep in the muck, up to my knees and elbows in it. Is there any other way? I don't think so.