Introducing my Book's Premise..."

     Most would-be-authors are under the impression that their life's struggles deserve a book deal. Would people really be interested to read about their life? I would think not. Experiences in hard living are not sufficient to guarantee attention, and memoirs are difficult to market and sell, unless you are a "celebrity."

     I also fell for the memoir idea, "I surely have interesting material that people would like to read, right? That is when it hit me. Who truly cares to read my story? I concluded and opted to write a story that  included fictionalized experiences and characters of my life instead of a memoir.

     The thought of inserting life portions into a book was more alluring than giving a potentially dry account of my life history to people. "I will involve almost everyone I know!" (not really, but saying it made people feel good.)

     Anyways, my fiction project is titled, "Clinging To Deceit," and is about two Middle Eastern families that propose and plan the arranged marriage of their children, but the concept of happiness and the acquisition of a hefty dowry drives one family to deceit, violence, and murder.

     How could someone, originally from and raised in Lima, Peru, write about arranged marriages? Well, it almost happened to me. I was five years old when my parents, and future godparents, agreed on something dubious.

     I found out what this was as a sixteen year old girl in a conversation I was having with my mom, after returning home from spending the summer with my godparents and their son.

     Mom: "Did you enjoy the time spent at your godmother's home in La Planicie?" 

     Me: "Absolutely! They have an enormous house with maids and a pool in the best neighborhood in La Molina." 

     Mom: "Did you like their son, Jose Antonio?" 

     Me: "Oh yeah, he's fun, but very shy." 

     Mom: "Do you want to date him?"

     Me: "What..?"

     That was, what I like to call, "their machiavellic plan". Mom had more questions that frankly started to irritate my young girl sensibility. She was in fact, drilling me about what I did that summer, and curious about what had happened to me at their home. I got weary of being interrogated and she finally confessed. "You were  five when your godparents and us discussed a possible future for you and that boy." I was in total shock. She could have pinched me and I would have not felt it.

     Me: "This was planned eleven years ago?" I screamed, "There is no way I am dating their son, I don't even like him that way." Ending a bizarre story I never told anyone because I thought it was too weird...

For next Saturday's post please go to:  "CLINGING TO DECEIT"

"Creating Fiction from an Incredible Life Experience."

Comments? OnlyElenaMartina@aol.com

From Daily Blogging to Weekly...

Yes folks, just like the painting in my living room depicting a Matador in a Bullfight, a writer must grab the bull by the horns (their aspiring book) and get to work. Today, my manuscript came back to me from my editor. This post is to inform that blog posts will be written and posted weekly instead of daily.

 It took my wonderful editor/husband 3 1/2 months to go through the manuscript and deliver it to me. If anyone thinks this is a long time, you do not understand what it is like for editors and writers to work on a book. Hey, it took me ten long months to write it! So now, it is my duty to get my project ready for AuthorHouse and publishing. That process should take me several more weeks.

This blog will take second place to my book for now. It is highly important to me to get this project finished and published. This blog hiatus is welcome, and I should be back soon, unless of course I decide otherwise. Time will tell!

ElenaMartina 02.11.11

Happy Living: One Year at a Time.

I am dedicating this post to happiness. It is very important that we allow bliss in our lives and our writings. We are celebrating our wedding anniversary and started early; in fact, since last weekend we have gone horseback riding at Chaparral Ranch, enjoyed Indian food at Mezban Restaurant, and purchased a movie to watch. Throughout the week, we enjoyed chocolates, and my husband gave me a green light to buy what my heart desired: a Pandora bracelet with beads celebrating life.

Today, a colorful bouquet of flowers was delivered by ProFlowers, and tonight a reservation at Birk's Restaurant where gifts will be exchanged and wine will be served. Our years together have been unforgettable, and I am thrilled to say that the honeymoon is not over!

We chose not to travel because two weeks ago we came back from a five day road trip to eleven California Missions, so we are spacing our trips appropriately. As a freelancer writer, new topics come to me when traveling, and that is good for business and relaxation. My husband has been the main supporter of my writing career as he inspired me to write my first book. He has been very encouraging and agreed to edit my manuscript (writers should never edit their work by themselves).

Working as a freelance columnist and reporter who took a year off to write a book and move across country has been illuminating and edifying, while taking time editing, marketing, creating social networks, attending conferences, and continuing to write some more has been gratifying and part of staying happy.

So, cheers to happiness, and many more years sharing life together!

ElenaMartina, February 10, 2011

Never Give Up on a Dream!

Leave the shadow of your dream behind and start working toward making it happen. Failing to execute a plan or an idea is the single reason why writers keep telling others they are "aspiring authors."

If your goal is to write a book, then make it happen. Twelve months should be long enough time, right? Delays will happen, but do not allow ten years to pass, because the project may turn into a nightmare.

People face different circumstances in life, so anticipate the road ahead and plan for it. You are not inspiring anyone when your writing progress is constantly being sabotaged by you.

* Are you good with schedules? Plan a minimum number of words for every day or every week. If you are not great with schedules, find a way to push yourself through writing stagnation.
* Finishing a book in so many months gives you a deadline. Before printing, editing and reviewing will put off publication. Delays should not be due to your lack of enthusiasm.

Make a goal, make time for it, and keep on writing!

ElenaMartina 02.09.11

Friending People You Don't Know.

You know you do it: accept unknown people that request to be your friend on social sites. Who are these strangers anyway? They might be in your line of work, or have common friends, but you accept them and move on to the next friend request.

Writers know why they do it. It is for the number's sake. We are strongly advised by the literary world that a large following means big business to publishers and agents. It is good indeed to follow that advice if you have a book coming out. On Facebook it is easy to gather friends, but it is not so simple for blogs. You know your blog is being viewed everyday, but most people do not take the time to sign up as followers. So, enjoy it when someone in Texas or Malaysia has opened your blog and read what you had to say, or when people google you and land on your blog.  

The issue of privacy is a concern though, and personal data should be kept from strangers.

My advice is to open a public page or blog and to not mix personal information alongside your public persona. It is a bad idea to name your spouse or your children in a page you are sharing with strangers. Have a page or blog solely for your family, with no friends, no neighbors, and no co-workers. Be smart about this, post, or blog, about your business identity publicly, but not your entire personal background.

ElenaMartina 02.08.11

A Mile in these Shoes.

The saying goes, “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes." If you wear high heels like I do, most people trying to walk in our shoes will find it tough.

Much criticism comes from people who have never tried what you have completed, right? You wish they would criticize only after they have done it, but such is not your luck. The only time criticism should be respected is when their expertise is close to yours.

Anybody who is in the public limelight will find themselves being criticized by readers, competitors, and envious people. Do not make the mistake that all criticism is based in jealousy. People will attack what you say or write when they disagree with your point, perhaps because, they have experienced the situation differently.

But, many make the mistake of evaluating a writer through their experiences from years before, not realizing that the world has changed and their criticism has an aged skew to it. When you read what they say about you or your writings, take time to re-read their comment or opinion, and take more time in answering it. You will see quite a difference in your response.

Accept people's biased views about your writings. If they go as far as trashing you, then you know their acts are pure jealousy.  I then recommend that you laugh quietly at their expense and continue doing what feels right for you.

ElenaMartina 02.07.11

Conference is Sold Out!

     I will attend The 2011 San Francisco Writers Conference which is currently sold out.  It is my first writers conference event, and my first three day immersion in writing topics. The entire aspect of its schedule is a bit confusing. I reviewed the agenda and I have a few questions, but asking questions on their website does not result in timely answers. Last time I posted a question, it took somebody two weeks to respond, so I am opting not to try that venue again.

     This writers conference will probably be my first and only attendance. I can pretty much tell how the entire thing is going to develop when a somewhat complicated program starts this way. Not trying to bash anyone or the conference itself, but when people do not answer requests promptly, I get pretty disappointed early on. Wouldn't you? I am hoping that on February 18th I get to meet amicable program workers who are nice enough to help me out with questions, and of course, that I learn a thing or two while listening to selected speakers.

     This post is my "early take" on the upcoming conference. I am praying that when I get back from it, the outcome will be much better, so I am crossing my fingers!

     ElenaMartina 02.06.11

When a Writer Travels...

Walking Las Vegas!

As you travel for pleasure, for book signings, or for work, thoughts about your location can turn into a traveling article or a blog post, so always consider that your experiences could be shared with others.

Some write about restaurants, hotels, museums or entertainment destinations. I advertise my work as a traveling freelancer and my articles have been accepted in two internet media outlets as prerequisite for landing a writing position.

Take photos, look for unusual things and write your experiences. Everything you do could be turned into a successful article to share with the world. I have visited 18 California Missions since I moved to Santa Clara and will need trips to three more (there are 21 in total) to finish my mission traveling article.

If you enjoy traveling like I do, try to make sure that every time you sit down to eat a meal at a new restaurant, to take out your traveling notebook and pen, and start concocting a possible article to sell. That is exactly what I do!

ElenaMartina 02.05.11

Working the Book with your Editor.

(My editor and I during a walk at Ulistac Natural Area.) My wonderful editor is none other than my husband. He is my greatest cheerleader too.  He enjoys reading fiction and quite frankly he inspired me to start writing my first book in January 2010. I do not read fiction, but as a writer I wanted to find out how difficult it would be to write a fictional story.

It was very difficult, I reached my goal in ten months and my book is presently going through a second editorial review. My editor husband is doing a great job re-reading, editing, and leaving comments in each chapter.  I should have the manuscript back in a week with more revisions, and then it will be on me to work at it again. After a month or so, I plan to e-mail the document to my publishers, AuthorHouse.com for printing.

Prior to my husband joining my team, I hired a lady editor in North Carolina where I used to reside. Her advice was very good and she made me see my story in a different light. When I moved away, I had no editorial advice and started to rely on my husband's opinion, grammar, and syntax.

Your editors must be very supportive and helpful. If you can find someone interested in your topic, it will be a win-win situation. Do you have a good relationship with your editor? If the answer is yes, keep the arrangement working for you!

ElenaMartina 02.04.11

Finding your Writing Style.

While visiting a new friend in Salinas, California, she informed us that Nobel-prize winner author John Steinbeck (1902-1968), used to live in historic Old Town Salinas, her old neighborhood. She drove us to the area to see the house, but unfortunately, the residence turned museum was closed.

Steinbeck writings can be classified as social novels dealing with the economic problems of rural labor, "Of Mice and Men" (1937) "East of Eden" (1952) among others. The National Steinbeck Center  holds a free community day on February 27th celebrating Steinbeck's birthday and his legacy as a writer.

Learning about other authors rise to popularity helps new writers emulate their efforts. Perhaps you are not yet sure of your literary style, or audience. Some of us find we do not fit a standard genre and struggle trying to determine were our writings fit. My book is fiction, but the issue of arranged marriages and a dowry transaction affects a portion of people in foreign countries. Is my book a social problem book, or simply a story about difficult choices? I have met people who are fine with their arranged marriages. Not the tragedy I expected, after all.

If you find your writing style between genres, or are having problems pitching it to agents, you are not alone. Getting familiar with writers that write about what you are doing will help, so, if you have an opportunity to meet, or read about writers, you should not pass it up.

ElenaMartina 02.03.11

Writers on Surveillance.

Yes, our literary histories are being watched and evaluated.  Do we care what the critics say about our writings, and how we approach things?

In 1998, I was hired by The Fayetteville Observer-Times to write a weekly Bilingual column about Hispanic issues that eventually turned into a "Dear Elena" type of column as people began sending personal questions. I received much praise for tackling topics, but some criticism came my way as well.

Do you remember Elian Gonzalez? The little boy who arrived by boat from Cuba into Florida waters and the subsequent uproar when the authorities took him back to Cuba. I wrote an article where I sided with the U.S. Government in taking him back to his father. One of my readers, a Cuban woman, wrote an upsetting letter to me, asking why, as a Latina, I sided with the U.S.  One disagreeing letter from lots of supportive ones was not bad, but she was my first critic, so I learned that not every reader likes every writer, I was okay with not being liked.

As you know, the boy was returned to Cuba and I recently heard he is doing well. Be strong in your convictions and thank your critics for allowing you to see other sides of stories. Unless a reader provides you with constructive criticism, it is just an opinion, so don't take it to heart!

ElenaMartina 02.02.11