I'm so excited to have Harlequin Special Edition author, Helen Lacey, on the blog today! Welcome, Helen!
I’ve been writing most of my life and penned my first book
when I was seven years old. Finally, after twenty three years of submitting to
Harlequin, I sold my first book to Harlequin Special Edition last year. During
those years I purchased dozens of ‘How To’ books. I also attended many conferences
and road shows, and participated in countless workshops, both online and in
person - on subjects such as Creating Compelling Characters,
Goal/Motivation/Conflict, Maintaining Sexual Tension, Writing The Breakout
Novel, World Building etc. I listened to best selling authors, editors, agents
and publishers offer advice on the craft of writing, on the world of
publishing, and the commitment needed to have a successful writing career. I had
a dream of being an author and did whatever I needed to so I could break into
the ranks of the published.
But strangely, it wasn't at any of these events, or in any
of these books where I learned what would become the most important piece of
career advice I’d heard. And it’s something I remind myself of every morning
when I fire up my computer and sit down to write. Like most writers, during my
years trying to get published I had a ‘real’ job. I worked for a national
department store as a sales manager. While I was there I was fortunate enough
to be given the opportunity to participate in a half day session given by
Australian motivational speaker Paul
Hanna. Since every “How To’ book I read was about the craft of writing, I
had limited knowledge of who Mr Hanna was. But along with a conference room
full of my colleagues and staff, I listened to him speak for close to two
hours. And mid way through this session he said something that resonated so
strongly within me, I can barely remember anything else which was said. And
this one statement changed the trajectory of my career and my belief that I
could sell my books, and that I could fulfil my ambition to be a published
author.
“Think about what you do want .
. . . and not what you don’t want.”
Perhaps not exactly the most grammatically correct sentence
ever written. But as I sat in that crowded room, the message was loud and
clear. For all the years I’d been writing and submitting, I always had this impending
sense of doom once the manuscript was posted off. I was, I realized,
anticipating a rejection. Every time. I expected it because that’s what I’d
always received. Never did I think, “What I want from this submission is the
opportunity for revisions.” Or, “What I want is the editor to love this story.”
Instead, I’d have this internal monologue going on, insisting, “What I don’t
want is a rejection.” Or, “I don’t want to get that dreaded letter in the
mail.” In a way, I was pre-empting my fate.
Then I deliberately changed how I approached submitting. I
started entering contests and did it with a different mindset. Every time I
sent off a contest entry I wrote down what I wanted - which was to place in that
contest because the editor for the line I was targeting was the final judge.
And it worked. I got the editorial request and a within two years had sold my
first book.
I guess what it taught me is that I could learn all about
the craft of writing, I could go to conferences and workshops, I could invest
time and money in professional critique – but if didn’t know what I wanted, how could I possibly get
it? Suddenly, I was no longer in the dark – I had a plan and a purpose. So
definitely learn the craft, and attend conferences and network with other writers
– but know what you want. And it’ll find you.
Thank you Lacey for having me visit today – I have a
giveaway of my January release, Made For
Marriage from Harlequin Special Edition. I also have giveaways right across
my blog tour, and a grand prize of a $50.00 Amazon voucher and for those you
like a little bling, a fabulous silver Pandora Bracelet.
***
Equestrian Callie
Jones was used to difficult parents at her riding school. But Noah Preston took
the cake.
How dare he question
her teaching abilities, after his headstrong daughter paid no heed to rules—her
teacher's or her father's?
Single dad Noah was
ready to apologize for overreacting. But he wasn't sorry for the way the
stunning American riding instructor made him feel. And he soon learned that
there was more to Callie than her smarts, sass and fire: a shattered heart that
threatened to splinter even further. Could he make her see that he—and his
family—were for keeps?
Helen Lacey on the web:
Thanks so much for stopping by, Helen!
Hi all!
