So I'm late with this contest.
Don't sue me.
Let me tell you a couple of lies, and then I'll tell you the truth.
We did finally hit the west coast for family fun.
I did drink the cocktail outlined in the previous post. And kept drinking.
Family drama, drama, drama.
Ay-und...
Total crisis of confidence in myself and my writing.
Okay, so none of those are lies. But the last was, and is, a very hard truth.
I suspect I'm not the only writer to suffer thusly (though you wouldn't know it from most of the blogs I read), but it's an exceedingly hard thing to talk about. As a pubbed author, you don't really want to risk others losing confidence in you just because you temporarily (or you hope it's temporary) lose confidence in yourself. You'd love to project an image of the unflappable professional, who doesn't just hit her word count goal, but bitch slaps it into the next year. Someone who has happily put the confidence issues behind her, along with those pesky queries letters and the whole happy submission process. You certainly don't want to give emotional fodder to any of the people who don't like you, your picture, your haircut, your writing, or your mother. So you stay silent and suffer in silence.
This. Is. Not. Helpful.
For any pre-pubbed authors out there, I hate to be the one to say it, but this shit doesn't get any easier. Hopefully, though, you learn the lessons you need to in order to navigate all that difficulty. (In my case, relearn it.* Duh.) And hopefully you have trustworthy friends you can confide in. (I do, but I was too embarrassed to tag half of them. {great rolling of eyes})
Anyway, this isn't a pity post. The whole Ordeal is still rather raw, and I doubt I'll be able to talk about it in any great detail until I'm well through with this draft, but you can bet I'm using my working journal to detail in great length what is happening, what I've done, and what I could do better. This is just an FYI as to the cause for the latest bout of radio silence. (The next bout will come because I'm up and running again, mind and fingers moving across the keyboard at full throttle, so I hope you'll excuse that as well.**)
Anyway, I'm back, though understandably feeling pensive, so if you're interested in winning a signed cover flat - another awesome depiction of Jo and the Zodiac world by Christian McGrath - then you're going to have to share with me as well. On the 'About the Books' section of my website, I explained what drew me to writing this series. One of the questions I wanted answered upon its conception was "What makes a person truly super human?" Of course my answer is camped up and dramatized and drawn out through my series, but the gist of it is this: Living up to your potential.
So what about you? Think of the people in your life, and this world, who make it such an extraordinary place (for the rest of us mere mortals {G}), and tell me who they are, and why you admire them. Oh, and I'm all for nominating yourself. I think too many people shortchange their own accomplishments while lauding others', but working hard, going after what you want, and persevering is worth applauding. Personally, I'm rather proud of coming out of the other side of some debilitating thought processes to be able to keep doing what I love. Thinking too much: my own personal Kryptonite. {wry grin}
Okay, of those who answer, the winner will be drawn and announced Saturday.
Le best to you,
Vic
*One thing I had to relearn, or at least remember: Every book was this hard. It just seems easy now that I never have to write them again.
Another biggie: I don't friggin' outline. Dammit.
Ay-und: Writing begets writing. The more you write, the more you write.
Can't forget: I have damned good friends.
Oh: And I love this shit.
(There are more, but my brain is still smoking.)
**This is one reason I hesitated to start a blog at all. I know people expect regular posts, but there are very few things I can promise to do with any sort of regularity. Even my hair-brushing is spotty at best. (Shoot, that reminds me... {g})
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Cover Flat contest
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29 comments:
Hi Vicki! So many people do great things. I was at my son's college graduation and a couple of people got awards. ONE I considered as Super-human. They went to college full-time, volunteered time, particpated in organized events in addition to volunteering, plus they accomplished other things I can't even remember them all.
HOW does someone find the time to do all these things. Amazing!
For me, it has to be my family and my co-workers. My husband is a work horse and a "Mr. Fix-it". It takes him a while to get to the "honey do list" but he gets it done. My kids are the best. I have often wondered if they were really mine. I was one of those teenagers that was into everything, mine are homebodies. My co-workers are like family. We share our problems, find solutions, laugh together, cry together and have lots of fun together. All this while dressed in colonial costumes!
Together my families embody perseverance, morality, love and acceptance. What more could I ask for!
Ok so Vic this is going to seem very odd but here goes. My encologist is the person who makes my life easier. Not olnly does he make jokes when I get teary about my present condition(he once asked if I wanted to go hat shopping after Chemo) but he tells me the truth with a soft hand. He cares and is compassionate not like most doctors who treat many of us as another numbered patient and not a fragile being. My doctor is so frickin awesome(sorry) that when he found out I was starting to write a book he bought me 3 moleskenes so I could write down ideas as they came. All the while telling me that I am amazing for working a full time job. He literally keeps mer going and also calls once a week just to check in.Who does that anymore? I am here because of him...he is a SUPERHERO...
synde
Oka, so I've got two people. My mom and myself, though I feel a little silly saying me.
First, my mom, because she was always there for all of us kids (3 of us from 3 different fathers), treated all of us equally, showed us all the same amount of love, which was an extraordinary amount, letting my older siblings move out as they needed, for whatever reason they had, but then always opening the house up to them when they came back, realizing that they had made a mistake and needed a place to stay, but was still firm with us, setting rules that were not outrageous or hard to follow, instilled good morals and ethics in us, taught us that we had to work for what we wanted and the value of a dollar.
As for myself, I survived my mom's death at a too young (in my mind {17, currently 22 [23 by the end of the month :D]}) age, and am still functioning. I'm trying to work to put myself through college with no parental help. I'm trying hard to not just let myself wallow in depression, curl up in a ball, and just die. I have a job that I love, infecting the world with good books to read (via a bookstore) and am working hard to be a productive member of society.
... uh, yea, I think that's enough for me.
Later
- Crash
Not a full on response or post...I need much more time for that, which I don't have tonight, but OMG. You guys are amazing. I'm in tears, and feeling like an ass for being so self-indulgent. You guys absolutely rock.
For me it has to be anyone who puts themselves out there as a rape, molestation, or abuse survivor. Our society looks at these people as damaged goods, as people who have something to hide, and to me that's just wrong.
Anyone who has the guts to put themselves out there and say "yeah, this happened to me, but I'm not going to lay down and die and I don't care if you think less of me for it" is a freaking hero in my book. When you're trying to get through it you just want to be able to look at someone who's been there and tell yourself, they made it, they're alright, I will be too. But what you get is society, some ignorant people with big mouths, and a lot of the media portraying each survivor as a victim, and showing them breaking down and unable to get back up and you wonder, is that what's going to happen to me.
So anyone who's survived and is making themselves an example of coming through it, of surviving instead of becoming a victim, is most definitely a hero in my book. I guess that means me a little too, as weird as that is to say.
I would have to say my wife is superhuman!!!
She just spent the last 3 years working full time, getting her masters degree and taking care of her mom who has breast cancer... and through it all was an awesome wife to me, and she graduated near the top of her class!!!! And she has been a great mom to our 3 boys!!!(our cats!!!)
Hi Vic,
My 'super-hero'is my daughter. Growing up, she was always a happy, thoughtful child. She often put others ahead of herself. By the time she was twelve, she was chubby child. With 0 confidence. And she wanted to play basketball. I encouraged her to try out. She refused, afraid the other (slimmer) girls would laugh at her. I challenged her.
"If you really want this, you can't let other people's opinions get in the way. You have to do it because you WANT TO."
With much apprehension, tears shimmering in her eyes, she lined up with the other girls at try out. She was the slowest, most awkwarde girl there. She kept looking at me, lower lip trapped in her teeth, almost begging me to give her a reason to come off that court. I sat up straighter and smiled the You Can Do It smile. She kept going.
She made the team. Over the next few months, she continued to work her be-hind off. She went from the being the slowest and weakest during drills to average. By the end of the season, she consistently out ran three other, slimmer girls. She rocked!
She was nominated Most Dedicated Player. She wasn't the fastest. She wasn't the tallest. She couldn't sink from the 3 point line. But what her coaches loved about her, and the reason they kept putting her on the floor against more skilful athletes was her Work Ethic. Her perserverance. Her persistence. Her refusal to quit.
She is still that girl. She is my Super Hero. :)
Deb A.
Here's a virtual hug and hairbrush for one of my favorite authors ever.
My husband. He overcame childhood abuse and years of alternating depression and anxiety diagnoses before being diagnosed and treated for bipolar disorder. He is now a high school teacher who really cares about his students and works hard to motivate them and prepare them for life. We've been married for 23 years and he is very supportive even though he's a runner and I've lost my girlish figure :P!
I've got two super-humans, I suppose... And, yeah, one of them is me. Whatev, I'm proud of myself :P
My sister is my biggest inspiration. She has managed to accomplish SO MUCH in her life, and still has a million opportunities open to her.
How to start? My sister has always been super active in school. She was president of French club in college, on the Dean's student advisory board, a member of several honor's organizations, and worked 20-30 hours a week, as well. A double major in French and history, she linked her two majors by studying the Nazi regime in France during WWII. She made a name for herself at our university with all her hard work: she studied abroad in Paris one summer, did a full French immersion program in Quebec the next, and the summer after that - the summer of her graduation - received a prestigious research grant to do research in the French national archives in Paris. She maintained an excellent GPA throughout and was accepted for a full-year teaching position in France AND into a very selective, fully funded Ph. D. program for genocide studies. She's always linked her two majors together, and earning these two post-graduate opportunities was an incredible privilege. She did her year in France, and returned to the United States this past summer. She's now in her second semester of her Ph. D. program and is kept constantly busy with her commitments to school - including her further study of not only German, but also Arabic, an incredibly hard language to learn. Despite the constant struggle to keep up with all the demands of her doctoral program, she still finds time to work and spend time with her boyfriend of five years. Considering the fact that she did all that while simultaneously helping my recently-disabled mother... Well, it's a super-human feat in my eyes.
For me... I think I might be just as long winded here, too, I'm afraid. :P
Fall semester of my sophomore year of high school I began to get migraines with increasing regularity. They were painful and completely debilitating: I couldn't get out of bed without throwing up or nearly passing out. They increased in frequency until they came nearly every day. By spring semester, it was so bad that my doctor's performed three surguries in attempts to fix the problem. They didn't work, and I continued to miss more and more school. Eventually I was switched to a home-based schooling, which meant I taught myself and one of my teachers came once a week to test me. I was in all honor's classes at the time and it was INCREDIBLY hard to teach myself without help.
Fall of my junior year I was determined to try again: medication had my migraines mostly under control, and I insisted on returning to regular schooling. I enrolled in my honor's and AP classes, and did well for most of the semester; I had more absences than most, but I kept up, all the same. Winter and spring hit, and suddenly my sinus infections - which were always linked to my migraines - were ten times worse. Migraines and infections had me on home-bound schooling again. It was everything I could do to just pass the tests the teachers were bringing me. When my mother very suddenly became disabled and I had to cope not only with my own illnesses but hers as well, it became too much. I couldn't do it without her help. I disenrolled from school.
School terrified me: any time I showed up, people asked me questions nonstop and I felt like someone had shined a spotlight on all my biggest weaknesses. I spent the summer months struggling with my doctors to 'fix me'. The first half of 2004 was probably the worst time of my life. Somehow, though, I was able to drag myself out of the funk and re-enroll in school. It was absolutely terrifying to return, but I did. I joint-enrolled full time at a local university and enrolled in night classes, too, to make up for all the classes I'd missed. Between the two, I managed to graduate on time with my high school class. Today I'm just over a year away from graduating from college with a BS in Biology AND a BA in history. My illness with a difficult experience, but it helped me become the strong, intelligent, independent woman I am today, and I'll never stop being proud for carrying on.
anyone that has died ,even few seconds, or ,my fella, couple of mins, and still have the want to , to conitue fighting and upbeat about their heart had stopped
Vicki,
Hang in there! And, thanks for posting this. It may sound weird, but it's comforting to know that even the best of the best have the same roadblocks as I do.
Maybe you should go have dinner with a kick ass writer and hang out in a bookstore for 2 hours...you'd be amazed at what a confidence booster that is! (bg)
As far as MY superhero...that would be my Dad. At 24 years old, he was tied to a chair by my mother's uncles (my parents were going through a divorce); had a shotgun put to his head, and was told to give up his bid for custody of two little girls (4 and 2). He told them that they would have to shoot him because he refused to give us up. Thank God that his brother came over and the uncles ran off!! My father raised my sister and I by himself. He worked (building golf courses) all the time, but never made us feel that we were anything but the most important people in his life.
I'm 35 and my sister is 34 - we talk to our father at least 3 times a week and could not be closer. He is an amazing man.
Vicki, Hugs and hugs again. You should never feel embarrassed or something else, because we are all human and quite frankly the image of a published writer having confidence issues makes you look more brave than you think you are, because you continue and manage to share despite the fear, so it's appealing.
I can only nominate on person that has done it for me and made me feel that I can beat life. That would be my mother, who manges to survive no matter how hard life hits her. I sure will sound like an ass for saying this, but she is stuck in the worst marriage, which leaves her drained from her life, but she keeps going despite my unbearable father and manages to stay ever so beautiful, graceful and lively. I can only admire how she manages to be looking normal dealing with my father, her mother, who likes to control what happens in the house and the constant financial problems. She even believes in me that I can become a published author and that does it for me. She is amazing and I love her for being so human and affectionate, when she tries to shield me from the wight of the world for so long.
Every book was this hard. It just seems easy now that I never have to write them again.
I think every book is "this hard" too because we challenge ourselves. Which has nothing to do with your contest, huh LOL (but it's something we always need reminded of--gift books are few and far between)
Hi Vicki
I think the people i consider heroes in my life at the moment would be my sisters. My mother was very sick with dementia and strokes and i was 3000 miles away and they dealt with the situation like champs. I am very proud of the job they did during that time and during the time she passed to another place.
I think Rachel Vincent has secret powers. How else could she write so much, bake pretty gingerbread houses, give away stuff, and update her blog with interesting things on a nearly daily basis?
(Sorry. I can't manage to come up with a good answer to your question. Although I think it's pretty cool that some authors manage to meet deadlines and raise children. That seems super-human to me.)
My heros would have to be the military and their families. the way that they stick together through everything that is thrown at them whether or not it is a deployment or an extension of months of being sea still. It makes major courage to be both a military memeber and a military family.
Wow! You all are amazing. All of you who are your own heroes, you ROCK! I so admire people who recognize all the wonderful in themselves.
Vicki, a couple of things.
1. Reminder: you are human; and we love you more for it.
2. You are an awesome writer. I love your books and I'm not alone. You still get "pimped" nearly every day over at the Paranormal and UF book club. I know you know the story you want to tell. I know that your talent is there, not going anywhere, unless you count getting bigger and better. You also have future fans lined up ;). I hope you got the picture of my son and your book. He remains one of your biggest fans; just wait until her learns to read.
3. Hugs
Hang in there.
Heros: In addition to my mom and grandmothers, I think the therapists and teachers working with children with special needs are SUPEHEROES. They often have to deal with bureaucracy, paperwork, limited budgets and other BS. Yet they work tirelessly for their clients. They give their all to these children and their families. My son has grown so much because of these people; and I firmly believe they pulled my daughter back from the brink of autism. Everyday they give me hope; for my son, all children, and ultimately the world.
Be kind to yourself.
Krystn
Oh it is so hard to spill out raw emotions! My throat might close, I'll prob cry, but here goes.. My husband is, even with all his faults, absolutely the most awe inspiring, passionate, respectful human being I have ever come across. Too much? Wait till you hear this. We married 15 yrs. ago and had a child at the age of 15 and 16 yrs old. He worked so hard to support us and never relied on the help of others. He has been able to meet every goal he has set for himself and his family providing us, 2 more kids later with a comfortable lifestyle.He's always beleived in "us" when there were times I felt it was just easier to give up. He'd spend his last dollar on his children and tells me the stuff I've written is good and has faith in my writing.(i think i beleive him) He has vowed our parents will never see a nursing home (now, how brave is that to commit to life time care of a mother-in-law ?!) He goes to concerts only I enjoy, he tells me Im beautiful everyday (god bless 'em) He'll help a stranger, he doesnt discriminate and he'd crush someone if they hurt his family. In the end, this man, whom I've known since a boy has shown me so much strength, love and will and I just KNOW I'm the better for it.and I promise it's all true. I am not trying to nausiate anyone :)
I've never really thought about this a whole lot. I've gotten tons of 'who is your role model/hero?' type questions in class, but I've never put real thought into it. I believe that it would be someone who is constantly looking out for others, and puts his or her needs behind others. The people who spend their time and energy to help other people. A hero is also someone who has faced tremendous adversity, yet has the strength and the will to press onwards. This can cover such a broad range of people. There are so many students here at my school who have come from some really unhappy families, or have grown up with a heavy childhood.
And I swear I'm not sucking up by saying this, but I'd like to say that most authors are heroes. Books have meaning, and they can take us away from our present life to a world where our troubles and issues don't exist, or to a place where we can relate to the characters. Take the Harry Potter series for example. JK Rowling has created this amazing, detailed world and I have heard from many people how Harry Potter has helped them through unhappy times, and has brought them friendships that will last a lifetime. Your books, and those of other authors, are a whole new world that we can say exists in our minds. Magic, and good and evil, and amazing trials and triumphs. It's so wonderful, and you all deserve so many thank yous over and over.
Hello Vicki,
I admire my sons Jordan and Benjamin the most in life. They keep me going all of the time. Jordan is the oldest at 5 years old and a handful! Benjamin is 3 years and probably the most challenging as he is disabled.
He has what is called Central Hypotonia and had this since 10 months old. Basically what that means is he has low muscle tone connected to the central nervous system. His mind is equivalent to a 6 month old and his motor skils are improving, but delayed as ever.
We love both children, me and my husband Roy with all of our hearts. Thanks for letting me tell you my choices and have a nice day!
Lisa Wascher - Papillion,NE
My super-human that I personally know would have to be my grandmother. She was poor and uneducated but managed to farm the land that she and grandfather had and raise her 8 kids. She had 2 other children to die in infancy and then lost her husband and youngest son in an auto accident when my mom was a teenager. All the while taking care of herself and living on that farm until I was young one. She never remarried and to this day still wears her wedding band. I can still remember running wild on that farm and using the old outhouse when we were too busy having fun to go in! Now she lives in the city and has been the caregiver for my aunt who has MD, all while turning 86 this past year. I hope that I'm going that strong when I'm her age.
The person that invented alcohol. Now that is a hero. To make a drug that makes us happy, sexy, and to sort the fiends from the lost causes. Creation, that is the key. That or the first person to state, "Really, you should write that down, now I know that you don't know what an alphabet is, but I created one based on our vocal gruntings." That person was also a genius, otherwise we would all be republicans still grunting away and clubbing, ohh wait we just changed the definition of that one didn't we?
I have two heroes. The first one it the person(S) that created written speech, without them we would be thrust into a world where everyone would spout out views like vomit, true they still do this, but we can write notes books, and poems making fun of them.
The second is the person that made alchol. I thank them everytime that a smile crosses my lips and all of the injustice of the world slips away while my taste buds are intoxicated for a moment, and I am always able to feel like I am in love for the first time, again and again. Each drink takes away the sorrow. Each drink takes away the pain, and I can speak my mind freely, and those that know and loves me, can witmess my freedom, and rejoice in my anger, that quickly becomes humour. That is a hero.
Vicki! VickiVickiVicki! You seem to have forgotten the golden rule of writing: Thou shalt not crisis alone. One of the best things about this industry (as I see it) is the gushing support the community provides. You know exactly what the score is -- writers who seem perfect are hiding their flaws. No one is actually perfect. Everyone toils with their work and struggles with their inner demons. Never feel like you have to do those things alone. :)
Hi Vicki,
I would say anyone who volunteers in the community; especially volunteer firefighters.
These people give up their time to assist others and they are often in, what I would consider, truely terrifying situations or very challenging ones.
I believe they are unsung heros who quietly go about helping numerous people in our communities, often without receiving any thanks for their efforts.
They are unpaid, often work long hours and in my experience, always put in 110% to ensure the job is done.
Without these wonderful people I believe we would be in a very sad way.
They are truly super human.
~ Lilly
First, a big LOL to HEATHER for handing me a virtual hairbrush. Guess it’s time, huh? {G}
Second, reading about all these amazing people surrounded us, people we love and love us in return, is so inspiring, and an immediate moodlifter. An extra cyber-hug goes out to those of you recognizing heroism in yourselves…and how you are that person that makes life worth living for so many others. Thank you for opening up to me like this; it’s a gift to share in such personal, positive experiences.
"I suspect I'm not the only writer to suffer thusly..."
Hell no you're not. Just remember, Vic, you rock as a writer *and* as a person. SO glad to have met you.
-Jeaniene (a.k.a., Lita Lite ;)
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