A Flake No More...Promise! Bluebirds, Goals & Git 'er Done!

Wow, from a fellow former ... ok, WIP ... flake, this from @KristenLambTX & #WANACon Mama, is spot on.

Yes, I'm working through that perpetual starter behavior and truly-in-a-meaningful-way-with-a-specific-goal finishing my novel, Bluebirds, in order to pitch it at the Chicago Writers Conference in September 2013. There, I've said it out loud!  It's right across the lake. Flights, hotels, finances won't stand in my way [sometimes they still do--when it's that or groceries*]. The only thing that could stand in my way is me. Afraid to fail, afraid to succeed, only my own personal brand of paralysis will keep me from achieving this goal, if I let it. And I won't.

With amazing mentors like Kristen and so many other authors & friends on Twitter, on Facebook, and in *real life* ... the cautiously optimistic among my posse ... with my wonderful business coach, Nancy Kaye, and my PR guide, AlissaSheftic.com, the lovely ladies in the daytime writers group at the Box Factory, with my monumentally hopeful and supportive husband, and with "Grampa Willie" making his feathery appearance from time to time, I cannot fail.

Like a breathing thing, Bluebirds has taken flight, and it simply must be. A starter no more. I'm growing up, and a finisher I will be.

Here's a back cover blurb about Bluebirds:

"Author Lynette Bower, six years into a battle with infertility, is wrestling with the idea of adoption versus continuing to fight her body to do what it's supposed to do. Her husband wants her to stop all infertility treatments and pursue adopting an Asian baby. We meet her preparing to receive her third and final in vitro procedure. A chance meeting with a NICU nurse, who appears (and just as quickly disappears) suspiciously old-fashioned, puts her on a path to meet a terminally ill little boy who will change the course of her life and the way she looks at it forever."


I hope that entices you to follow along!

Here's how you can:

Enemies of the Art Part 8 - Being a Starter Not a Finisher

My Wordpress blog site, which I will use as an about me author page (51%: Women and the Future of Politics is due out this spring!) and where I will reblog pertinent writing information can be found here.

Where it all began, and where I will provide occasional updates in the comments, my post about Gramps and the bluebirds:  bit.ly/WCSnOL

Kristen is very generously picking a winner a month to receive a critique from her of the first 20 pages of a novel, a query letter or synopsis, and I wish like heck that included a copy of her book, We Are Not Alone. It's definitely on my purchasing wish list!  And I definitely hope to win an opportunity for her to take a look at Bluebirds.

I wish you all happy writing, and especially, happy FINISHING!! 

With love,
Former Flake

[*UPDATE 09/25/13: I should be getting ready for the conference this weekend, but alas, finances have indeed prevented me from registering.  I'M NOT FLAKING OUT! I took a First Five Pages class with Kristen recently, am participating in writers groups at the Box Factory for the Arts in my new writers studio, and working diligently on completing and perfecting my story.  It'll be even readier next year!]