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Noodler of the Month:
Janice Lynn
Q. Tell us a little about your writing journey so far.
A. I started writing around the time of Sept. 11, 2001. From
the time I was no bigger than knee-high to a grasshopper, I'd said I
was going to write a book when I grew up. Although it's arguable
that I'm grown up despite being in my thirties, I realized that
somewhere along that "growing up" passage, I'd lost sight of my
dreams. So, I sat down and wrote. I didn't have a clue as to what I
was doing, had never read a how-to book or done any kind of research
on writing, I just wrote.
After I finished it, I started hanging out at eHarlequin.com because
they offer a lot of support to a wannabe author and discovered I
could pay to have my book critiqued by an editor. So, I chucked up
money I didn't have to spend and got a critique. Fortunately, I
started another book while waiting because the editor wasn't overly
impressed as I'd broken "all the rules," but she did make quite a
few comments about my writing voice and how strong it was. I
finished the second book and scrimped and saved and sent it to the
critique service. Voila! I had arrived. This time the editor loved
it and praised my work, so of course it only stood to reason that a
sale was just around the corner...NOT.
While hanging at eHarlequin, I kept hearing the abbreviation RWA
tossed about and immediately joined so I, too, could go to a
conference where there would be real-life editors and agents
(because up to this point I was pretty sure they were just myths)
with whom I could meet. I took off to Denver, not knowing a single
soul but determined to meet an editor and get a request for my book.
I did and I did, but what I learned at that conference far
outweighed what I thought I'd gone for. I joined an online RWA
chapter (From the Heart Romance Writers), got involved with their
critique group, and KEPT WRITING. I entered contests and got shot
down, but I kept going. In late October, I started a book and
decided to enter it in the prestigious Golden Heart. I gave up sleep
and finished the book during November and moved on to the next book.
At that point, I'd never finaled in a contest. Shortly thereafter, I
was notified of a final, then another, then another, and WHAM! - my
manuscript that I wrote in a month's time finaled in the Golden
Heart. So now I just had to be sold, right? However, soon
thereafter, I got a rejection from the editor who had my manuscript.
That night, I sat up and printed out six contest entries and mailed
them the next morning. That day's mail brought a letter from THE
SAME EDITOR who'd rejected me the day before. She'd read my Golden
Heart entry and wanted to pass the manuscript up to the senior
editor with the recommendation to buy and wanted me to call her
ASAP. A Golden Heart final and an editor wanting me to call. It was
time to break out the champagne, a sale had to be right around the
corner for sure.
I won't go into all the details of the next few years, but a sale
didn't happen. I got close time and again but never actually crossed
that finish line. Not until I finaled in and won RT BOOKclub
Magazine and Dorchester Publishing's American Title Contest. The
prize: a publishing contract. All I can say is the journey made
crossing that finish line mighty sweet, but then again, once you
cross that line, you start a whole new journey.
Q. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received from
another author?
A. Dory from Finding Nemo. Just keep writing. Just
keep writing. Just keep writing.
What? That's not what she said? Well, you'll never convince me of
that. I know what I heard. And she's not really an author, but if
she could remember how, I'm sure she would be.
Q. If you could spend an hour picking the brain of anyone,
who would it be?
A. That's alive? Jennifer Crusie. That's gone on, Jesus
Christ. Uhm, they share the same initials...coincidence?
Q. What do you feel is your best strength as a writer?
A. My stubbornness and willingness to just keep writing no
matter how many rejections come.
Q. Is there a type of book you'd love to write that you
haven't?
A. I'd always written contemporaries until this year. I took
time out to write a light paranormal that I'd always wanted to write
but wasn't sure I had the talent to pull off. I love that story and
am very proud of it, whether it's ever published or not.
Q. What, in your opinion, are the three writing books that no
writer should be without?
A. Deb Dixon's GMC: Goal, Motivation, & Conflict;
Stephen King's On Writing; and Snoopy's Guide to the
Writing Life
Okay, so these are actually the only three writing books I have, so
that's why I listed them. Two of them were gifts, but I bought the
Deb Dixon one and think it was money well spent.
Q. What is your writing process like?
A. The big bang theory. Wait! That might be taken the wrong
way in the romance industry. Uhm, I'm a pantser, meaning I just fly
by the seat of my pants. I sit down to write and just write. I'll
have a spark of an idea, and I just run with it and work the details
out as I go. I like to find out what happens next, and this seems to
work for me.
Q. Other than writing and reading, what other activities do
you enjoy?
A. By profession I'm a nurse, and I love that and find it
fulfilling work. I enjoy scrapbooking with my kids, and I spend a
lot of happy time cheering my children at sports events.
Q. What is your dream vacation?
A. Australia and New Zealand, an Alaskan cruise, Ireland -
preferably not all in the same week.
Janice's Book List:
Jane Millionaire
Dorchester Lovespell
December 2005
ISBN# 0-505-52664-6
US $5.99
Order a Copy on Amazon.com
I'm still working on those future release dates.
To read last
month's Noodler of the Month article, click
here.
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