Since our last play date…
I revised my query letter one last time. Seriously. This is the last one. (Stop laughing.) After my last post, a talented, experienced author offered to read my letter. She gave me advice that made my inner tuning fork hum. I felt the rightness of it, updated my letter, and sent it to an agent that makes me starry eyed and hopeful. I thought this: It takes a village to write a good query letter.
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I attended a creative workshop hosted by singer/songwriter/creative coach Juliana Finch. In it, she talked about “creative detours.” A creative detour is when you sit down to do one thing, and find your creative self hijacked by a different piece of work. I tend to fight that impulse, but she was saying that sometimes, in letting go, in working on the other thing, you find your imagination expands, your creative flow builds up some steam. Often, it’s easier to come back to the original project. I like the idea of that. I like the name, “creative detour.” I think some interesting stuff can be found off road.
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In that funny way that the universe has of making sure you get its message, I came across this post about saying YES to, well… your soul. I think creative detours and this philosophy of YES are related. And beautiful. And inspiring.
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I wrote a (very) short story that I’m really proud of. You can read it here. (I hope you do.)
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Your turn. Tell me about your creative detours, or what you’re saying yes to, or what you’re insanely proud of right now.
xo
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JUDY CLEMENT WALL is a freelance writer and Course Presenter for the Fear of Writing Online Course. She’s just finished her first novel, Beautiful Lives, and here at FoW is chronicling her quest to find a publisher. You can read more of her series here. Judy blogs about life, love, writing and cheesecake at Zebra Sounds.
Twitter: Tricia_Sutton
I’ve always been the type to fly with the wind rather than against it, when it comes to writing. To deny myself a distraction will only make me dwell on it. Like that last piece of cake, best just eat it and move on.
I’m always doing that thing where you try to push past the block or the shitty words to find gold. Sometimes it’s better to just shift your focus. I know that, but it’s a lesson I have to learn over and over again.
Twitter: millivrstravels
j ~ Bravo for all the help you’ve opened to receive that kept nudging you to revise your query letter. Having one that makes your inner tuning fork hum is a big milestone on your journey.
Loved the Painted Path blog where you saw the Simply Say Yes! post.
I’ve been getting lots of internal bleeps that I need to focus. So that’s what I’ve been doing, and it’s been wonderful. However, I see focus as my ability to know what my primary passion is and devote myself to that, instead of letting it get hijacked by the to-do list. The smaller creative detours that come my way throughout the day can now be embraced with that guilt-free cake-eating abandon Tricia spoke of: no sense in resisting! 😀
Can’t wait to read your short story. xo
I absolutely love “guilt-free cake-eating abandon.” YES!
What a deep and touching story. I love the images. I love the daughter Rose who is so strong for her grieving mother. I love this story and can’t get it out of my mind. Bravo!!