Wednesday, June 11, 2008

You're Kidding...You Want ME to Write??? Part II

Soon after joining the writers' group, I heard about a small, local writers' conference. I hemmed and hawed, but my husband convinced me it would do wonders for my confidence.

The workshops and meetings with editors were pivotal to my future as a writer. One editor liked my writing sample and offered me an assignment in her ezine. We often chuckle about that day. She said I looked like a deer staring into the headlights of a car. Like many newbie writers, I couldn't fathom producing a devotional or article if it didn't spontaneously spring up from some inspirational moment. The devotional was the first of many short articles I did for this publication.

I eventually attended the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers' Conference. The contacts with editors resulted in several other writing credits, including 7 devotionals for Devotions Magazine. One of my stories appeared in an anthology called, His Forever.

As a teen, I'd often read the Sunday School take-home paper, LIVE. I dreamed of someday writing an article for them. You can imagine my excitement when they accepted a short, true story.

For the last 3 years, my novel about a Christian family in the year 2025 has been my pet project, my passion, my frustration, and the focus of my writing life. I can't count the number of times I came home from a writers' conference or a workshop and re-wrote entire chapters because of some new technique I'd learned. After being told at one conference that I had a good first draft, discouragement threatened to tank the whole effort. Instead, I did a major re-write.

With many edits behind me, I've decided to seek agent representation at this year's Philadelphia Conference. My writing journey is a long road with many miles still ahead. I'll keep you posted.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Susan! It's so good to read your blogs & remember why I've always liked you so much! Yes, I'm loving you!
I'd like you to post a surprise middle chapter of the book you are
writing & re-writing (I was told that
writing is just a series of drafts).
I love to write too & my school history closely follows yours. I could always makeup a story but I'm
terrible with run on sentences...
your Diana in CT

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Diana -

Wow! Long time no hear. Thanks for your kind words. I hardly know what to say. The Lord is good. I'm grateful and humbled that He's placed this gift within me to bless others.

I didn't know you liked to write. I'd love to see your work.

Talk to you soon,
Susan

Annie said...

I'm so glad you are sharing this with us. It's so hard to write sometimes and other times it seems to just flow. Such is the life of a writer!

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Annie -

I'm glad you're finding the posts an encouragement. Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,
Susan