Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Writer Wednesday: Tell Me What You Want



Did the title of this post make anyone else break out into a Spice Girls' song? No? Just me? Okay, then. Moving on… I've been thinking about goals a lot lately. I've mentioned that I really want to be a NYT Best Seller, but there are a lot of other things I want too. Things that will most likely happen first. 

So here's my list:
  • To sell foreign rights for one of my books
  • To have one of my books optioned for film
  • To sign with a big name publisher
  • To get an advance that makes me so blown away I cry and start planning a vacation
Okay, so that's my dream list, but do you know what? There will always be something that comes before all of those. Something that will mean more to me than all of them combined, even hitting the NYT list. And that's hearing from someone who loved my books. Nothing makes me happier than getting a letter from a fan telling me how much my story touched them or how they couldn't put it down. I read because I want to become immersed in another world and feel what the characters feel. I'm so thankful to all the authors who have allowed me to do that, and hearing that I did that for a reader is the best feeling ever.

So, yes, I want to be a NYT Best Selling Author. I do, but I want to connect with readers more.

What about you? Tell me what you want, what you really, really want. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

29 comments:

  1. I want you to have all of those things too! But, most important to me is that you keep writing these wonderful books of yours. :)

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    1. Ed, it's people like you who make me love my job. :)

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  2. I hope everything on your list comes true. You're such a kind person, as well as talented. Comments from readers are the best. I bet you get plenty of those.

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    1. Aw, thank you, Beverly. I feel the same way about you. :)

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  3. What I want most is to write, to keep writing and only writing. It's probably one of the biggest reasons why I can't finish a novel. There's always something coming up that is priority and then by the time I get back in the mind frame, I draw a blank!

    I hope all your wants come true, Kelly. You deserve them all! :)

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    1. It definitely helps when writing is your day job. I don't know how you or anyone handles having a full-time job on top of writing. I couldn't do it.

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  4. I wanna, I wanna... Sorry, I couldn't resist either.

    I want to be able to survive from writing alone. And I agree, a message, letter, or whatever from a reader who was touched by our work is the best.

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    1. lol I'm glad it's not just me. ;)

      Same here. My husband supports the family and I keep making more each year from my writing, but it would be nice to make what I used to when I worked full-time.

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  5. A good list of wants, Kelly!

    Now I'm going to have to find a way to purge that song from my brain....

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  6. Kelly, we're definitely from the same era. Your Spice Girls reference is right on the money :-)

    I know I'm in the slim minority, but sometimes I think a whole new set of problems gets dumped in your lap the farther up the 'success chain' an author climbs. A lot of authors cringe at the way their books are made into films. Others can't repeat the success after having one NYT bestseller. I think sometimes it seems like the grass is always greener when it's really not.

    That's just my two cents. If your readers connect with your writing, that's what it's all about. You've already succeeded as far as I'm concerned. :-)

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    1. That's very true. There's always something that makes us hope for more no matter where we are in our careers. But like you said, if readers reach out because they love our work, then we've already achieved success. :)

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  7. I'm with Angel. I want a financial comfort from my writing so I can concentrate more on the writing and worry less about the gas bill. In the end resonating with readers inspires me most.

    I know you'll achieve your dreams. You're that awesome.

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    1. Thanks, Kai! I think you're awesome too. You've already published a number of books and I know there's more to come. :)

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  8. I want an agent who gets me and my books. I want to be traditionally published. I want the chance to write all of the ideas I have for novels (that's at least 3 trilogies for starters). I would love to see my books turned into films. It would be wonderful to earn a salary that makes a difference to my family's lifestyle too. I want to be writing until I die. Thanks for asking.

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    1. I want to write my entire life too, Fi. Add that to my list. ;)

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  9. Oh, Kelly! I do hope some, if not, all of your dreams come true=)
    Fan letters are the BEST! I received over 20 letters from children at an elementary school I donated my books to. My eyes swelled up in tears because of their gratitude and appreciation.
    As far as my dreams go... I'm continuing to live in one of them as I pursue my children's book work. But as far as my novel goes, I do imagine it becoming a movie someday=) I even picked out the actors who would play my characters!

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    1. I would love to see The Monster Within as a movie because I think it really lends itself to that format. That would be amazing.

      I hope your dreams come true, too, Gina!

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  10. I'll take your list... any one of the things on it.
    And Kelly- that fan letter is just around the corner...

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    1. Fan letters are my favorite. That will never change. Hearing from readers is the absolute best.

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  11. What I really really want right now is to get an agent! I dream about it all the time. But I try and remind myself that what's meant to be will be, and you can only do your best and work your hardest- while remembering to try and have fun too! Oh, and I did I mention that I reallyreallyreally want an agent? Lol!

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    1. Leandra, I can't tell you how many tears I cried both times I was searching for an agent. I totally understand. I'm sure you'll find one. I think when you get to the point where you cry over it, it means you're close. That's how it happened for me and another of my writer friends. She cried to me about it, and I said, "Just wait. It's going to happen very soon." Within a week, she got an offer for representation. :)

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  12. Lol, that Spice Girls song. I hope you reach all your goals, Kelly. Reader feedback is glorious. I have this secret wish that maybe one day Studio Ghibli will pick up my works, or that one of the writers I admire to the sky would write me and said they've enjoyed my work. But what I really want (and actually, already have) is to hear how readers, young or old, felt something stirring in them when they read my stories. I'm already very grateful for this ...

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    1. I hope you achieve those goals, Claudine, but in the meantime, treasure that reader feedback. :)

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  13. I want you on the NYT list too so I can tell all the people I tell about your books "I told you so!"

    As for me, I want a note from a child asking me if my book was about him or her. Someday . . . .

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    1. Aw, thank you, Sherry!

      I hope you get that note from a child. I can totally see it happening.

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  14. And Now that's in my head. :-)

    I really want to finish a full length novel and then get an agent. I love being published and I love my small publisher, but I'd love to actually make money from writing which will allow me to write more. Baby steps. I'd actually be super happy to get a full length published and see a few more people love my writing. Once i get through those goals I'll start admitting to my bigger dreams.

    I'll go see the movie when you sign :-)

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    1. I will cry huge, ugly tears of joy if that happened. ;)

      I know you'll finish a full-length novel and get it published, Michelle. I have faith in you.

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  15. Yes, I want all of those things, too. I think almost every writer does. And you have a leg up on me because also on my list is to get an agent who will understand and root for me, and also to have many books in print. I have a feeling you'll get many of those things on your dream list, Kelly. :D

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