First I'd like to say congrats to Mariana on her book!  I'm certain this
didn't just fall in her lap, writing and getting published is no small feat.
She has no doubt devoted much of the past year or more into this endevour.
My hat's off to you Mariana.

Recently several people have given me a nice ego boost with their kind words
about my posts here, ie, my writing.  If you haven't already guessed, I do
write.  I consider myself  a writer.  I've had a few articles published and
of those I only got paid $100 for one. I have over 50,000 words down in a
90,000 story I'm currently working on.  I've also been experimenting with
short stories and essays.  I belonged to a critique group for well over a
year, get Writers Digest, and actively check all the resources for writers
available on line.  I have not actively pursued getting an agent, since I
have no completed novel length manuscript to present.  (Fiction work must be
completed in full before even approaching an agent if you are an "unknown"
author.)

I just wanted to say a few things about writing.  Something I've felt
compelled to do since the second grade, by the way, when I wrote my first
book.  Bobby Greer said, "Commercial book publishing is a pain and is very
tricky."

Here! Here!  Getting your work published is not for those who are
thin-skinned.  You must be ready to be rejected time and again.  If you are
easily discouraged, writing can be brutal.  This isn't for the faint of
heart, and it has to be more than a "hobby" or a way to make some quick cash.
 Writing is probably one of the slowest ways to make money, and you don't
make the "Big Bucks" you might expect.  Some places pay you one cent a word.
Even with articles in magazines.  You have to wait up to three months just to
get a form letter back saying they had too many submissions and didn't even
bother reading your work.  If they do decide to buy your work, you can wait
for another 6 months until they publish and you see a dime.

As to copyright, this is also tricky.  Often times I'll post something here,
and it sparks my brain to work something I've said into a short story I'm
developing.  If you want to be on the safe side, there is a web site for the
copyright forms.  I believe there is a $20 fee to have your work registered.
If you want to protect yourself, without going through the hassel, you might
do like I do.  Once I've completed a piece, before I try peddaling my wares,
I mail a copy to myself.  Along the back edge of the envelope I write,
"Copyright," and scotch tape it down.  Then when the story comes in the mail
box, I file it away, UNOPENED.  If push comes to shove and you end up in
court because someone has stolen your work, the postmark will help verify
when the work was created.  Writing can also be a very cut-throat business.
Again, as I've said, it is not for those easily discouraged or upset.

Kyle makes some VERY GOOD points about writing.  Especially when he says,
"You gotta take baby steps when writing, and don't be disouraged by rejection
slips.  I've got boxes of 'em."  Although I don't yet have "boxes" of
rejection slips, I do have a folder full.  On the wall above my computer desk
I have a picture of the first check I received, an article out of the paper
with something I've written, and I've also framed the nicest and most
encouraging of the "rejection" slips.  I call this my "Wall of Fame."  Silly,
I know, but I try to visualize all the checks I will be getting and cover
pages from stories I've written framed up there.  I'm in my infancy as a
writer, (about two years into it) and for now will have to be happy with the
hand-written comments from editors like "VERY Good, but I can't use it just
now."

As a self-proclaimed, card-carrying, egomaniac, you might not think I would
need to glance up and see these postive remarks, since I have the confidence
and ego of at least ten people :D.  However, no matter how good the work may
be, quality and talent only make-up a small part of the formula for success
in writing.  TIMING is probably the most important ingredient.  (Like almost
everything else in life.)  PERSERVERANCE is also a must.  DEDICATION and
FLEXIBILITY are also key to the formula.  Remember, if you finally make it to
an agent, who somehow manages to get your work to an editor at a publishing
house (I would guess less than 2% of publishing houses will even bother to
open an unagented, unsolicted manuscript)  The editor may chop your work to
bits.  You must willingly accept any "constructive" criticism.  You can't
think of your work for what it is, the blood and sweat of a year or longer
labor, your creative "baby."  Your work is nothing more than a saleable good.
 A cog to be marketed and sold.  Your talent, is just a tiny fraction of the
equation, and you have to remember that no matter how good you or all your
friends and family think you're writing is, there are hundreds, perhaps
thoushands of other people out there just as talented trying to get their
work published too.

Having said ALL that, you might get the impression I'm trying to discourage
people from trying to write and have their work published.  Horse Hockey!  I
say, "GO FOR IT!!"    In fact, no matter how bleak, how slim the possibility
of becoming a true published author (I don't count the Vanity Press-not my
personal idea of true success), I will keep trying as long as I have breath
in me.  Even if I end up with boxes of rejection slips, I'll keep churning
out work, because when you are a writer, nothing, absolutely nothing, can
keep you from putting your ideas down on paper and trying to share them.
It's almost a physical need.  Communicating your ideas in a creative written
way is as vital to your suvival as the intake of food.  At least it's that
way for me.

Even though I know the odds are horribly stacked against me, I don't care.  I
have an unwavering faith deep inside of me that I will become a famous
author.  I can't explain it, it's just always been there, and for that I am
thankful.  This faith fuels me to keep plunking down ideas, refining my
style, and joyfully framing the rejection slips which offer any positive
words on my work.  If you want it bad enough, I say go for it and don't let
anybody stop you!  - Take care and keep on writing!  - Denise.