By Jan Fishler

In the book, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, Don Miguel Ruiz states four simple agreements that, when applied, can change anyone’s life. Although these agreements weren’t written specifically to apply to writers and their clients, it occurred to me that contracts, work agreements, and the resulting work could be enhanced exponentially if everyone concerned followed these simple yet powerful rules.

1.      Be impeccable with your word.

As writers, this should be a given. Words are powerful tools, so it’s important and necessary to be as flawless in the use of them as you can be. When applied to the craft of writing, it means writing clear, concise, and relevant content and proofing and editing your work. If you’re not good at editing, consider working with someone who can do it for you. This is especially true when it comes to proposals and work agreements. Taking care to specify the details such as timelines, deliverables, fees, and payment schedules before you begin working can eliminate problems and keep the project on target. When it comes to words, the goal should always be perfection.

2.      Don’t take anything personally.

If your client is in a bad mood, the idea is to understand that if you’ve been impeccable with your words, it probably has nothing to do with you. Thinking that you are the cause of someone’s bad (undisciplined, unkind, thoughtless, etc.) behavior is counterproductive and a waste of energy. We’ve all heard the expression, “Let it go.” If you happen to end up working with a difficult client, the message is to get the work done as expeditiously as possible and move on. That doesn’t mean you have to continue your professional relationship with this person, but it helps to realize that it’s not about you or your work.

3.      Don’t make assumptions.

How many times have you tried to guess why someone did or didn’t do something, only to discover in the end that you were completely off base? Although some of us are better than others in reading body language and picking up behavioral clues from an individual’s tone and inflection, we are not mind-readers. When we’re unclear about some aspect of the project we’re working on, or we inadvertently stumble upon a new methodology we think our client might like, it’s always best to ask. Remember the Chinese Proverb, “He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.”

4.      Do your best.

A freelance writer I know says that the faster she writes the more money she makes. I can’t help but wonder if following the dollar is doing her clients a disservice. There are times when writing simply flows and our best work just pours out in record time, but this is the exception. Most writing, even when we’re familiar with the topic, requires diligence, fortitude, and perseverance — characteristics that are well worth the time they take to cultivate. If we decide to always do our best, even if there is a slight negative impact on our bottom line, we’ll never have to apologize for the content we deliver.

Do nothing — absolutely nothing — on your novel in terms of actual writing until your plotting (along with your characters and their roles in the drama) is complete and down on paper.
Do not fall victim to that old author line: “I just start out with a basic idea and a couple of characters. I never know where I’m going. I let the characters tell the story for me.” That may work for brilliant and experienced novelists, but most of us need a clear road map if we aren’t going to get ourselves and our readers hopelessly lost.

Creating a Writing Road Map

 After waking up from a restless night filled with bizarre dreams that included a police raid and a chase scene,I can’t help but wonder what that nighttime drama was about. I’m not one of those people who generally wakes up remembering their dreams, so when I do, I feel like there’s a message or lesson in them. The most obvious analysis is that I’m trying to get away from something. From cleaning the garage to painting the kitchen—any number of tasks come to mind, but one thing I’m not avoiding is this hourly morning ritual.

Am I ready to write yet? I believe my characters are well defined. Because my story is based on the lives of real people, rather than completely fictional characters, I understand their motivation and their roles in the story. As for plot, I have the big picture of where my story is going, but although I’m not necessarily a brilliant novelist—at least not yet anyway, I do have enough experience to know that I need to leave enough room for my characters to breathe.

For example, in writing yesterday’s scene, which could be the final scene in the novel, I knew I wanted to depict Jane as someone who would appear to move forward with no remorse. Until I started writing, I didn’t know whether I would end the book with her going home and telling her mother that the baby died or whether I’d have her count steps and head for the bar.  Of course, it’s not over until it’s over and by Day 100, she might have discovered a completely different option, but I let her take the lead. This is her story after all.

In preparation for writing, I’ve been doing a little review. Tools of the Writer’s Craft by Sands Hall is filled with tips, suggestions, essays, and exercises on all aspects of writing. I took a writing workshop from Sands a few years ago where we went through several of the exercises,  and I find that I often go back to the book for clarification. The other book I’ve been referring to is The Creative Writer’s Style Guide by Christopher T. Leland, which contains rules and advice for writing fiction and creative nonfiction. It was published by Writer’s Digest Books in 2002 and well worth the cover price, but you can probably get it used on Amazon.

The other thing I’ve been doing is researching Ojibwe/Chippewa legends and culture as well as life during World War II.  I’ve also hung a map of Cleveland, Ohio on the wall above my desk so that I can see where the characters live, and I’ve been looking for some history of Cleveland from that time period.  While I’m thinking about it, I also need to figure out what inventions William will be working on, and, what the women were wearing.

If I didn’t have other projects and things going on in my life like police raids and chase scenes, I could completely immerse myself in this world and its characters.

A Rough Outline & The Final Scene

Prepare a rough outline of the story’s action from Chapter One through to the end.
Novelist Katherine Anne Porter put it this way, “If I didn’t know the ending of a story, I wouldn’t begin.”
Write down the last paragraph of your novel and put it in the drawer. At the end of a hundred days, lets see how close you came to following your imagination.

I wrote a synopsis of my story on Day 6, but looking at it now, I see that I’ve already moved some events around. At that time, I thought I’d begin the story in 1949 with Jane giving birth to a baby girl and deciding suddenly to give the baby up.  It seems to me, now, that this would be a better ending to the story with all the other events leading up to it. On Day 7, I followed the Hero’s Journey and came up with story line I think I’ll be able to stick with…more or less. As of now, a rough outline of my story would look like this:

1. It’s 1940. Jane is fourteen, living at home with her parents, Bill and Viola, who argue about everything.
2. Bill is upset by the War. Viola is seeking a life outside the confines of her home.
3. Jane can’t wait to move out of the house—out of the small Cleveland neighborhood where everyone knows your business.
4. When her parents argue she leaves.
5. She spends time with her best friend, Virginia or her grandmother, Anna.
6. News about the war and the effects of the war permeates everyone’s life.
7. Jane and Virginia spend time at the Navy Pier, watching ships, flirting with sailors.
8. Jane and Virginia meet Ernie and his brother. Romance ensues.
9. Jane’s parents decide to divorce.
10. Ernie asks Jane to marry him.
11. Bill gives them money so Ernie can start his own business—a gas station.
12. Ernie becomes a workaholic. Jane is home alone, bored.
13. Jane gets pregnant and has 3 boys within 2 years, first Ernie Junior, followed by twins.
14. Jane thinks having children and being a mother will solve all of her problems, but she becomes dissatisfied and restless.
15. She meets Frank, the butcher, who is closer to her age. She lies and tells Frank that her husband died fighting in Europe.
16. Frank falls in love with Jane and gives her an engagement ring.
17. Ernie comes home early from work and sees the ring on Jane’s finger. They argue.
18. Jane asks for a divorce. They get a quick one in Las Vegas.
19. Jane and Frank get married. A few weeks into the marriage, Jane tells Frank the truth. He’s disappointed and has the marriage annulled.
20. Jane finds out she is pregnant. Not sure who the father is, she tries to keep the pregnancy a secret.
21. Jane gives the baby up for adoption.
22. She should be older and wiser, but she is not.

In the final scene, Jane is leaving the hospital after giving birth to and giving up a baby girl.

Jane stood under the awning that shaded the entrance to Glenville Hospital. It was almost dinner time, but the humidity was so stifling, it made Jane woozy and faint. Tiny beads of sweat formed on her forehead and upper lip as she looked for a place to sit down and rest. She should have stayed overnight—the nurse practically insisted, but once she decided to leave the baby behind, Jane couldn’t stand being in the nursery. She pulled a hankie out of her handbag and wiped her brow.

“Do you want to hold the baby, nurse her a little?” the pretty young nurse asked.

No, she didn’t want to see the baby or hold it. The only thing she wanted was assurance the baby would go to a good home, a better home than she could provide, and to get out of the hospital. “I want to leave as soon as possible.” Jane was exhausted and on the verge of crying, but she wasn’t about to show her feelings to the pretty young woman in the starched white uniform who had been there with her throughout the ordeal. “My mother will be worried about me and my boys need their mother.” It had been an easy delivery, easier than the others, and Jane was certain she felt good enough to get dressed and walk down the corridor.  “Don’t worry, I’ll call a cab. I only live a few blocks away.”

“We can’t keep you here against your will. If you want to leave, I can’t stop you, but I think you’re making a mistake.” While the nurse went off to take care of the paperwork, Jane heaved herself out of bed over to the cupboard where the nurse had hung the slip, chemise and sweater that had so cleverly disguised her condition.

Jane gave herself the once over in the mirror. She hadn’t gained much weight during her pregnancy, and if you didn’t know she’d just delivered a six pound baby, you’d think she was just a young secretary or sales clerk coming home from work, definitely not the mother of three little boys. Not someone who at ten forty-five that morning, gave birth to a baby girl.   A little lipstick and rouge, a comb through her hair, and the picture was complete.

When the nurse came back, Jane was ready to go. “A wheel chair? Is that really necessary?”

“Sorry, it’s hospital policy,” said the nurse, poised behind the chair.

Jane rolled her eyes and got in. “This is so silly. “

The nurse hummed as she pushed her down the corridor. “ Another thing. Someone has to meet you. I can’t let you leave unless you have a ride.  It’s hospital policy. I’ll stop at a phone and you can call someone.”

For a moment, a wave of panic moved through Jane. The last thing she wanted was to face Virginia or anyone else, but the nurse left her alone at the phone and when she returned Jane lied, saying Virginia was on her way. Jane spied an empty bench and sat down to think. This must be the hottest July ever. God, a nice, cold beer would taste good right now. The Sweet Spot was only two thousand, four hundred and sixty three steps away.  She knew because she’d counted them on her way to the hospital just this morning.

By Jan Fishler

If you think you can’t become an author, think again. Ebooks are the current trend in publishing and the fastest way to establish your expertise in a chosen field.

Let’s say you’ve owned your business for ten years and you’ve learned a few things along the way. In fact, you might say you’re at the top of your game. Why not share some of what you know? Writing your information and publishing it as an eBook is one of the best ways to boost your credibility and share important and valuable information — especially the information you repeat over and over again.

For example, a personal coach recently complained about having to repeat the same information every time she had a new client. It would take at least an hour to present this monologue, which often had to be reviewed again in future sessions. An eWorkbook was the perfect solution. By sending the eBook to new clients a few weeks before the first session, she ensured that they were already oriented when she met them, and they could immediately get to work.

When the personal coach complained that she didn’t have time to write, I suggested she record the information and have it transcribed. After reading the first draft, she was motivated to add additional content to the book. Currently, she’s working on a Kindle version that she intends to sell on Amazon. Because her process is unique and successful, it’s likely that the eBook will cause her popularity and reach to grow. Who knows, she might become the next Tony Robbins.

How to do anything is a great reason to write an eBook. Are you an accountant with tax advice that can save your clients a bundle? Write an eBook. Are you a health practitioner who has figured out a way to lower cholesterol levels without statin drugs? Write an eBook. Can you teach someone how to write or deliver a motivational speech? Do you know how to raise chickens and feed a family of four in your backyard? Are you a dog trainer who has figured out how to housebreak a puppy in a weekend? Write an eBook.

People are hungry for useful information. If you’ve got it, share it with your prospects, clients, and customers. Not only will it establish you as an expert, but it will also garner you points as someone who is generous and helpful. This builds trust, which is the foundation of any good business or professional relationship. It also lets people know that you can communicate, and — no surprise here — people want to do business with someone they can talk to.

There’s another benefit as well. Like articles, blogs, email, and other content, eBooks drive traffic — that’s prospective clients and customers — to your website, which is exactly where you want them to go.

By Jan Fishler

There are differences between articles written for Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and those targeted for a more general audience. Here are some helpful guidelines for writing effectively when the goal is driving traffic to your website.

1.    Write articles that are informative and instructional

Articles written to attract visitors to your website are slightly different than those written for a general audience. SEO articles will usually be informative and instructional, or compare various products and services, while articles not written with keywords in mind might be inspirational or present a variety of opinions. SEO articles might also contain lists of product features, the benefits of working with your company, or the definitions of industry-specific terms.

2.    Use the proper tone and style

The tone and style of the articles should be conversational, rather than informal and some humor can be effective. Unless the author is a subject matter expert or has useful, first-hand experience to share, the first person perspective is rarely used; second person is acceptable. It’s not uncommon to see phrases like, You’ll want to…, or Let’s move on to how you… Remember, the goal is to capture the readers’ attention and get them to take action.

3.    Pay attention to headlines and subheadings

Headlines and subheadings are a very important component of SEO articles. It is desirable to begin your headline with a keyword, or at least have a keyword in the title and also in the subhead. If, for example, your keyword is “SEO Articles,” you might want to change the title, “How to Write SEO Articles,” to “SEO Articles – Guidelines for Effective Writing.” The headline also needs to grab the reader’s attention with tools like lists, secrets, tips, and questions.

 4.    Help search engines do their job with summaries and anchor text

Search engines appear to like articles that have a one- or two-sentence summary. Summaries or teasers let the reader know what the article will be about and also provide an opportunity for keyword placement. Search engines also like anchor text, the hyperlinked words on a web page. These are the words you click on when you click a link. Anchor text can be used in links from other sites, links on your pages, navigation maps, and links on your main page.

5.    Include a resource box

At the bottom of the article, be sure to promote yourself, your website, and your product or service. Typically, the box is between three and six lines (although article directory guidelines do vary), and it contains all of the author details and website links. This resource box is the recommended place for promoting what you do.

Remember, the goal is to have people read what has been written. It needs to be relevant, current, and interesting — something your customers and prospects want to read.

By Jan Fishler

Search Engine Optimization experts say that there are no SEO secrets, just ranking and placement strategies that will put you ahead of your competition. Understanding the basics of article marketing is critical to your success.

There are several ways to improve your page rankings. Here are five of the most popular tips:

1.    Conduct research to see where your page ranks

You want to be number one. Take note of your page ranking and who is above you. Go to their websites and see what they are offering or what they have that you don’t. Keep in mind, there’s always room for improvement and there are many strategies you can implement to improve your page ranking. Use Google Keyword Tool and Google Trends to identify keywords. You might also want to use Google Analytics to track and analyze data to see how people are getting to your site and what pages are performing best.

2.    Evaluate your competition

By researching what others are doing, you’ll be able to see what higher-ranking web pages have on them, and what you can do to improve your own. In addition to Google Trends, there are two sites that can help you in your quest to discover what your competitors are doing online. SpyFu is a resource for determining the keywords and Adwords your competitors are buying. Google Alerts can help you see what your competitors are doing.

 3.    Revise your content

Few people like change, but if your website isn’t built around how people search, you’ll need to revise it. Yes, that’s going to cost some money and/or effort, but having a site that is persuasive, branded, easy to navigate, and socially active is key to success in today’s competitive market. A good starting point is determining what you want your site to do. Are you directly selling goods or services? Are you using your site to generate leads? Maybe you’re only providing contact information. The point is to be clear so that your customers and prospects know what you want them to do.

 4.    Develop a list of keywords and phrases

This is the list you’ll hand to the freelance writer who is providing you with an ongoing supply of fresh and relevant content. When it comes to articles, relevance is critical. If your content is full of useful and current information that delivers what people are actually searching for, then your prospective customers will be more likely to stay on your site and respond to your call to action.

 5.    List your business

Be sure your website is listed with Google, Yahoo, and Bing. You can hire a company to do this for you, or you can check out www.selfpromotion.com and use Robert Woodhead’s submission tool for free (actually, he would prefer receiving a reasonable donation). You can also create a free listing for your local business on Google Places for Business, Yahoo! Local, and Bing Local Listing Center. That way your business can show up on a map when people do a local search.

More on Character Development

Keep asking the question, “why?” As you reach the end of the second week of defining characters, you will have a stack of 5×7 character cards that spell out intimate details about the personal life of each and every character in your story, down to their waist measurement and favorite color. The novelist Vladimir Nabokov composed all of his novels on index cards.

This 5 X 7 character cards doesn’t really work for me, but writing about my characters has been working. I feel like I understand them—what they look like, where they came from, their motivation, what they are capable of doing and getting. Asking who, what, when, where and why is a great way to proceed. I’ve been doing this all along. For now, I have the sense that this particular prompt isn’t that useful. This morning, I’m going to revisit and continue the scene I wrote on Day 11.

Jane’s parents are fighting and she’s …dabbed on the forbidden Scarlet Night lipstick and tiptoed down the back stairs. Careful to avoid the two squeaky steps at the bottom, Jane crosses the formal dining room like a cat, and inches her way toward the heavy front door.

The sweet smell of lilac permeates the air. After a long, cold, snowy winter, spring has filled the air with a hungry cheerfulness. A cardinal, red as a rose, takes off from the branch of the Elm. A cluster of robins, peck for worms on the front lawn. The neighbor’s big, yellow cat, which has made itself comfortable on the porch swing, licks a paw and yawns. The clatter of another dish landing on the linoleum, disrupts the tranquility, and sends Jane down the ten front steps and onto the fifteen cobbles that lead to the sidewalk that parallels Grant Street. Jane pauses for a moment, then takes a right toward Virginia’s house whose front door was exactly one thousand five hundred and forty-two steps from hers.

Virginia had been Jane’s best friend since they met at Harris Elementary School in the first grade. Both girls were only children, and the need to connect drew them together until now, as freshmen in high school, they were called the bookends. They were the exact same height, had the same dark brown pageboy-style hair, and wore the same size dresses. Even their shoe size was the same. Although Virginia was a better student, Jane was the more social of the two, the one who insisted they join the glee club and work on the school newspaper, the one who could think on her feet.

“Hey there Janie. Where you going all gussied up this morning?” Rebecca Schuerger pushed an empty shopping cart as her three year old daughter trotted along beside her. The Schuergers, Rebecca’s parents, had been Jane’s neighbors for as long as she could remember. After she got married, Rebecca moved out, but when her husband joined the army, she and her daughter moved back into the family home.

Jane shrugged. “Nowhere special. Just felt like getting dressed up. Thought maybe Virginia and I could go to the five and dime for a soda later on.” Rumor had it that Rebecca’s husband Wendell was missing, possibly captured by German soldiers or worse. “So where are you two heading this morning?” Jane asked just to be polite, not really caring. That was the problem with growing up in the same neighborhood. Most of the people who lived there had parents or grandparents who had emigrated from Austria, Germany, like her parents, or Czechoslovakia.  Everyone knew you, knew your business, and if they weren’t sure, they’d just make something up. Jane wondered if her parent’s argument had wafted to the Schuerger’s house, but she wasn’t about to ask.

“We’re going down to Boehm’s Market to get some yarn to make sox to send … you know… ” Before she could finish the sentence, huge tears tumbled down Rebecca’s cheeks.

“I heard about Wendell.” Jane said in her most sympathetic voice. The last thing Jane wanted to do was listen to the details so before Rebecca could finish the sentence, Jane changed the subject. “Well then, say hello to Mr. Boehm for me.” With that, Jane gave Rebecca another sympathetic smile and continued on her way. Jane didn’t want to be rude, but she didn’t really have anything to say to this young married mother who had managed to get herself out of her parent’s house just long enough to get married, have one child, and lose her husband to the war. Now, she was back where she started. The unfairness of the situation made Jane shutter. How could God let something like this happen?  It was one of those questions that crossed Jane’s mind, especially when something bad occurred, like the war, which was all anyone ever talked about.

By Jan Fishler

Of course, writing great copy, delivering on time, and staying within budget are important qualities to look for when hiring a freelance writer, but there are other traits worth considering.

I started freelancing when I decided that full-time work in the corporate world wasn’t for me. That was over twenty years ago. Don’t get me wrong — I loved the work, but as a creative person, I needed a schedule with more flexibility. That’s when I decided to step outside the box and become a freelance writer. At the time, I assumed that the only skills I needed were an ability to write anything and everything my clients required — from articles and brochures to training manuals and corporate training videos.

Competition was fierce, and I quickly discovered that I had to set myself apart from other freelance writers — especially those who had been in the business for a long time. This meant I had to look into my skill set and see what unique traits I had that would make me stand out. In other words, I had to offer more than my ability to write clear, concise copy, an impressive list of clients, and an elegant portfolio. If I was going to have a steady flow of freelance work, I needed my Excalibur.

It was then that I sought the advice of a business coach who asked me to state the three traits that made me unique. It took some conversation to uncover these qualities, but passion, desire, and integrity have kept me working over the years when others have been less fortunate.

If you are in the market for a freelance writer to help you grow your business through strengthening your online presence, then look for someone who has the following skills.

1.    A passion for work and for life.

People who are passionate about what they do will bring their enthusiasm to the table, be fun to work with, and energize your staff. People who have passion tend to be sincere in their efforts and bring out the best in others. These are people who you will want to work with again and again.

2.    A desire to do their best.

Writers with a strong desire to do their best will work relentlessly to exceed your expectations. They’ll go the extra mile just to prove their value and worth. They are only happy when you, the client, are happy. They are interested in creating a win-win relationship and look forward to receiving additional assignments from you.

3.    Personal integrity.

People with integrity are honest. They’ll tell you the truth about whether they can adhere to your schedule and meet your deadline.  They will be forthright about expressing concerns about the project should there be any, show up when they are supposed to, and be truthful about their skills and what they bring to the project.

The next time you’re in the market for a freelance writer, consider hiring someone who brings passion, desire, and integrity into the mix.

ARTICLES & MORE

Driving Traffic to your website with original, relevant content

 Articles *   Brochures * Blogs * eBooks * Newsletters

 Press Releases * Web Content

 Fully Search Engine Optimized

Relevant key words ~ Keyword density ~ Anchor text

Submission services

• The specific needs, interests, and characteristics of your audience are taken into account.
• Information is accurate and reliable.
• Language is clear, grammatically correct, and appropriate for your audience.
• All information is presented in logical, appropriate order.
• Text and pages are designed and formatted to enhance clarity, readability, and the overall effectiveness of the message.
• On time delivery is guaranteed.

Jan Fishler M.A.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Writer
530.277.9173
janfishler@gmail.net

Playing God – Choosing Which Characters Live and Which Ones Must Die – How To Write a Novel in 100 Days or Less: Day 18

Figure out who you need in the story and what they do together or to one another, and the story does to them. Are they all pulling together in one direction? Are they pulling in six different directions? Ask yourself the critical question: Which would be most interesting to the reader? That’s the real litmus test of character development and plotting. Will the reader be interested? Will the reader care?
To be successful in character and plot development, you need to make hard choices. You need to be ruthless with your characters and your story. Who’s in, who’s out? What’s in, what’s out?
Frankly, here is where a lot of first-time novelists stop dead. They can’t bring themselves to choose. They become fascinated or paralyzed by the possibilities.
Don’t you dare do that. Be brutal. Try different choices, of course, but move the story forward event by event, bringing each character along with you. As each event unfolds, each character must react to it. Just as they would in real life.
If a child is hit and killed by a car, the driver’s life is changed forever, the parents’ lives, the lives of the brothers and sisters, friends, even the crossing guard and bystanders. You have to decide what the changes are. You must decide. This is your chance to play God — and if you’re going to write you must play that role. God is in the details, and God decides the course of the novel.

It’s the first day of a new year and the prompt is giving me a chance to play God. WWII is the event that occurs to change the life of my characters. The war touches everyone in some way. For Jane’s father, the war affects him because it brings up the secret of his Jewish heritage, something that troubled him when he first learned about it, and something that troubles him now. He wants to be sympathetic and help the Jews, but he doesn’t know how to do it. He’s afraid to show his sympathy, because his brothers, who are unaware of their heritage, take the stance of uninvolvement.  They are in America, too old to fight, and what Germany is doing is none of their concern.  William attempts to bury himself in his work, but his frustration spews like a volcanic ash.

The war is good for Viola. With men off at war, women are working outside of the home. This gives her a chance to get out of the house, earn her own money, learn how to drive, and become an emancipated woman. She lies to William about the amount of money she is making and puts a portion away. When the war ends she has enough to leave her marriage and begin her own life—one that doesn’t contain conflicts and confrontations with men like her husband.

With young men going off to war, Jane and other girls are rushing off to get married. They want a man they can write to and wait for. For Jane, war is glamorous. She swoons for a man in uniform and there are plenty of sailors in port who notice her.  After school, Jane and Virginia, who know how to look older than their tender years, often head for the pier to flirt with soldiers who are home on leave.  They let the young sailors buy them beers and make promises.

Anna.  (I need to do some research about the Chippewa and their feelings about war). Anna is going to knit scarves and sox to send to men who are fighting. She encourages Jane to do the same. If not knit, do something that will help the war effort, besides drinking with sailors down at the pier—maybe volunteer at the Red Cross, go to nursing school, something productive.

Ernie is relieved when he goes to enlist and discovers that his flat feet prevent him from becoming a soldier. As popular as the war is, he didn’t want to go fight in Europe, he wanted to work on the family farm—for now, shoot grouse on weekends with his brother, and settle down and get married. God knows with all the young men off fighting, there were plenty of women to choose from.  He’s looking for one with money, at least enough money to get him off the farm and into something he can call his own. Ernie doesn’t mind getting dirty or working hard, he just doesn’t like being poor.

Frank was a student during the war, headed for college when the war ended. A family friend owned a butcher shop and Frank thought he’d go ahead and learn the trade. He doesn’t like chopping up dead cows, chickens and pigs, but he’s an affable young man who enjoys meeting the women who come in the store. His dark, wavy hair, green eyes, and trim body make him the object of many flirtations, but the day Jane comes in the store with three little boys in tow, he believes he’s found the girl of his dreams.

As an aside, over the weekend, I finished Radiance by Louis B. Jones, who happens to be a local author and an excellent writer.  His book takes place over the course of a weekend and involves five main characters:  one who died, four who are living, and another who is absent from the action, but who is mentioned often. The story is told through one character’s point of view. This book is a perfect example of the suggestion in today’s prompt to figure out…who you need in the story and what they do together or to one another, and the story does to them.

Before reading Radiance, I was thinking I needed to pull back and reveal more than Jane’s point of view, but seeing the world entirely through her eyes, just might be enough. Since I’m God, one day soon, I’m going to have to decide.

How to Create Memorable Characters

The reader has to believe that your characters exist or could exist — and they need to be distinctively drawn. And nothing better defines characters than their actions, their purpose in life. Their purpose may be good or evil. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that the reader sees their actions and purpose, believes them, and is continuously interested in them. Do not write a story peopled with a cast of thousands. Write a tale about one, two or three memorable characters, all of them filled with purpose

The instructional designer in me, wants to work this out in a table, something I can easily refer to so that I don’t lose sight of who my characters really are, what they want — whether they get it or not.

I have to say, this was a very useful exercise.  As I write various scenes, it will be helpful to keep this in mind. Time sure flies when you’re having a good time.  Now that I’m in the rhythm of writing each morning, I feel like I want to spend more than an hour, but this isn’t my only writing project, so for now, an hour in the morning will have to do it; although if I give up my evening glass of wine, I could probably stay awake an hour longer and write scenes.

 Character Development

Get a bunch of 5 by 7 cards and put each character’s name at the top. Next, think about the role each plays in your story, and what kind of person each is: age, education, place of birth, hot-headed, funny, fat, ugly. What are their quirks? Do they wash their hands 500 times a day? Do they hear voices? Are they kind to kids but love to torture cats? Put it down, put down so much that you finally come to know these characters intimately. Alfred Hitchcock would write down his scenes on index cards, one scene to a card. That way, as he said, by the time he was ready to shoot the film, he was already done.
Some characters will be major ones, around whom the story will pivot; others will play bit parts, but these will be critical too, as every player must have a reason for being in the story. If they don’t have a reason for being in your novel, they’ll slow down the story, and slowness bores readers.

I already started this process yesterday, not on 3X 5 cards, but on my post, which I print and put into a notebook so that I can review it and make notes. I’ve taken writing classes before where I’ve written pages about each character in an effort to really get to understand them.  Since these characters come from real life and stories I’ve heard, I already have a basis for them, but I don’t really know them.  Today, I’ll focus on adding to what I already have.

Viola Graham – Jane’s mother is the daughter of Anna Hart (Schlick, Metcalf, or Graham) and her first husband, but she was later adopted by Anna’s third husband, Victor Graham. Viola is a no nonsense, heavyset, rather plain looking woman who is yearning for more independence. She is embarrassed by her Cherokee heritage, which is a secret,  but is afraid that Jane has inherited her grandmother’s as well as her own free spirit.  She’s angry with her husband and they argue about everything. Most of the time Viola is stuck at home, raising Jane and keeping house, but now that Jane is 14, Viola longs for adventure. She wants to see the world, and has 100s of National Geographic magazines stashed about the house. Her husband, Bill, won’t even let her learn how to drive. They are on the brink of divorce when WWII breaks out. The war gives Viola opportunity. She gets work in a factory, earns her own money, buys a car, starts smoking a pipe, quits cooking, and leaves her husband. Viola is close to her mother in spite of the fact that her husband doesn’t like it. (Dies January 18, 1972.)

William (Bill) Streidl – Jane’s father is the son of John Streidl and Mary Antl, who both emigrated from Metzenseifen Austria. Bill is an overprotective father of his only child. He likes to gamble and on too many occasions drink whiskey. He’s close to most of his brothers and he gets together with them as often as possible, mostly at the bar. He is a tinkerer and inventor who has made and lost millions on more than one occasion. He is obsessed with news about the war and spends most of his time working on his latest invention. He’s fascinated with the circus and is developing arcade games he believes will make him rich (again). Viola thinks he’s a drunk and has no faith in him. Died July 6 1959

Virginia  – Jane’s best friend, lives around the corner. They go to the same school, have crushes on the same boys, read the same books and magazines, share clothes, sleep over at each other’s houses, and go almost everywhere together—especially the lake and nearby beach in summer. They ice skate in winter. They tell each other their deepest hopes and dreams. Virginia was raised as a devout Catholic and Jane, whose parents are also Catholic, but no longer go to church, often goes to church with her. Virginia’s home life is traditional, and relatively calm. Virginia lives vicariously through her best friend.

Anna Hart Schlick Metcalf Graham – Jane’s maternal grandmother, has been married and divorced three times. She sees a lot of Jane in herself and she keeps a watchful eye. She encourages Jane’s free spirit, but cautions her about being reckless.  Anna’s mother, Fredericka (Ricky) was a full blooded Cherokee Indian. Anna’s father, Charles, emigrated from Prussia (Northern Germany). Shortly after he got off the boat, he met and fell in love with Frederika who told him she was Canadian. When he found out that she was an Indian, he left her and moved East to start a new life. Viola was their only child.  As a child, Anna learned a lot of Indian lore and wisdom from her mother, which she shares with Jane.

Ernie Adamic – Jane’s first boyfriend, who becomes her first husband, (married 7/3/43; divorced 3/20/48), and is the father of her first three children. He is the son of immigrant farmers who came to Cleveland Ohio to create a better life for their children. He was supposed to be her salvation. He’s not the brightest or the nicest guy (he has a wandering eye and drinks too much), but he is a hard worker and earns the trust of Jane’s father. Ernie is six years older than Jane and is anxious to settle down and have a family. When the war breaks out, he wants to enlist, but he doesn’t pass the physical. He marries Jane in July 1943.

Frank Sesso – Jane and Ernie have been married for about 5 years when Jane meets Frank Sesso, a handsome butcher who takes an interest in her and her three little boys. Jane tells Frank that her husband died during the war and Frank falls in love with her. This lie is eventually resolved, and Frank and Jane marry on 5/19/48; petition for divorce 10/15/48; divorce by 5/20/49).

Jane – Born on November 16, 1926, Jane is 14 when the story begins in 1940. She is becoming an impetuous teenage girl, who is sick of living with her parents. Raised to be a good Catholic, Jane wants to do the right thing, but her reactions to her environment are leading her down a slippery slope. On more than one occasion, her mother has called her a wild Indian. Viola is embarrassed by her Cherokee heritage and is afraid that Jane is doomed to repeat the well-established maternal lineage of divorce.

Picking Characters

Pick your characters first, as they are harder to pick than a story.
When writing, the plot may or may not change, but the characters will develop and have a life of their own. As your characters develop, they’ll take on distinct personalities, and as with good friends, you’ll know in certain situations what they will or will not do.
Mystery writer Oakley Hall says that a writer must “listen to the demands of his characters, who, as they begin to come to life, may insist upon a different fate than the givens seem to require.

With Christmas behind me, I can get back on my writing schedule; although after a delicious dinner at a friend’s house last night where we sampled a few bottles of wine, I’m getting a late start. Who are the characters I’ll be writing about? We already know that Jane is the main character and I’ve written about her background some, so for now I’ll list the characters as if they were in a play, and then flesh them out. I’m sure others will appear as I create scenes. I’ll also be filling in background about them. In fact, I have a call into Bridget, my sister who has done a lot of genealogical research, to help me fill in names and dates.

Main Characters:

Jane – Born on November 16, 1926, Jane is 14 when the story begins in 1940. She is becoming an impetuous teenage girl, who is sick of living with her parents. Raised to be a good Catholic, Jane wants to do the right thing, but her reactions to her environment are leading her down a divergent path. On more than one occasion, her mother has called her a wild Indian.

Viola Graham – Jane’s mother is the daughter of Charles Graham and Fredericka Denizen. (Ricky Hardt) Viola is a no nonsense woman who is yearning for more independence. She’s angry with her husband and they argue about everything. Most of the time Viola is stuck at home, raising Jane and keeping house, but she longs for adventure. She wants to see the world, but her husband won’t even let her learn how to drive. Died January 18, 1972

William (Bill) Streidl – Jane’s father is the son of John Streidl and Mary Antl who emigrated from Metzenseifen Austria. Bill is an overprotective father who likes to gamble and on too many occasions drink whiskey. He’s close to most of his brothers and he gets together with them as often as possible. He is a tinkerer and inventor who has made and lost millions on more than one occasion. He is obsessed with news about the war. Died July 6 1959

Virginia  – Jane’s best friend, lives around the corner. They go almost everywhere together, and tell each other everything. She lives vicariously through her best friend, Jane.

Anna Hart Schlick Metcalf Graham – Jane’s maternal grandmother, has been married and divorced four times. She sees a lot of Jane in herself and she keeps a watchful eye. Anna’s  mother, Fredericka was a full blooded Cherokee Indian. Anna’s father, Charles, emigrated from Prussia (Northern Germany). Shortly after he got off the boat, he met and fell in love with Frederika whotold him she was Canadian. Their marriage didn’t last. Viola was their only child.

Ernie Adamic – Jane’s first boyfriend, her first husband (married 7/3/43; divorced 3/20/48) and father of her first three children. He is the son of immigrant farmers who came to Cleveland Ohio to create a better life for their children. He was supposed to be her salvation. He’s not the brightest or the nicest guy, but he is a hard worker.

Frank Sesso – Handsome, exotic, available, Frank falls in love with Jane who at some point breaks his heart. Married 5/19/48; petition for divorce 10/15/48; divorced 5/20/49).

Although there are no rules about story ideas, I would offer you one caution: think small. One of the worst mistakes most beginning novelists make is thinking big, trying to come up with an end-of-the-world story, in the belief that big is better. That’s not true. Keep your story idea small and focused.
Look into your creative soul and search for a little story but one that has real meaning to you. We are all part of the human family. If you create a story that has deep meaning to you, chances are it will have deep meaning for the rest of us.

I wasn’t planning on writing this morning, but my son, the magician, needed to catch an early train for a gig in Santa Cruz and I’ve been up since 4:45. I took a peak at the day 7 prompt and felt compelled to respond—probably because cleaning the house and grocery shopping are at the top of today’s to-do list and both can wait.

Thinking small is a great bit of advice. When I think of Jane’s story, I see it covering about 10 years of her life and only those portions of it that help explain her behavior, her motivation. I want the reader to know what her childhood, especially her early teen years were like, where she lived, the atmosphere around the house, how she was treated and what she needed versus what she got, who her friends were, her interests, how she did in school, how at 16 she met and married her first husband, Ernie. Why at 21, she chose to give up her 4^th child.

This is a story that could happen to any young woman who is left to her own devices.  Jane is definitely not a hero, so creating structure using the Hero’s Journey simply isn’t going to work. I thought it would be fun to follow The Eight-Point Arc (http://otac.info/TeachingTips/Language%20Arts/How%20to%20Structure%20a%20Story.pdf) by Nigel Watts, author of Writing a Novel (Teach Yourself Series) and Write a Novel and Get It Published: A Teach Yourself Guide.) Just so you know, I continue to be amazed by the abundance of writing resources that can be found on the Web!

1. Stasis. The everyday life in which the story is set. Jane is 14, living at home with her parents who argue about everything.
2. Trigger.  Something happens that’s beyond her control. Jane meets Ernie, an attractive older guy.
3. The quest. The trigger results in a quest. Ernie asks Jane to marry him.
4. Surprise.  This takes up the middle part of the story. Jane’s father likes Ernie and gives him money to start his own business. Ernie becomes a workaholic, marriage isn’t much fun for Jane who is having trouble getting pregnant and is bored at home. She reads, plays solitaire, tries to be a good homemaker, and complains to her best friend who is still in school.  Jane starts taking long walks…the beach…park…downtown…shopping. A year passes and Jane gets pregnant. She thinks the baby will solve all of her problems. Ernie isn’t there for her or the baby. Jane consults with a fortune teller to see what the future holds. Jane is twenty and delivers twins. She is now busy with babies, but missing the love and attention she was hoping to find with Ernie. As often as she can, Jane leaves the babies with her grandmother, Anna, and goes out alone. She pretends she is single and available. A lot of men home from the war are interested in her.
5. Critical Choice. Jane is with the boys when she enters a butcher shop where Frank is working. He’s very handsome and takes a liking to Jane.  Jane tells him her husband died in the war. Frank begins courting Jane, falls in love with her, asks her to marry him and gives her an engagement ring.
6. Climax. Ernie comes home early one day and sees the diamond ring on Jane’s finger. Jane tells Ernie she is divorcing him to marry Frank. They get a quick Las Vegas divorce, and Frank and Jane get married. On their “honeymoon,” Jane tells Frank the truth. He’s devastated. Frank has the marriage annulled.
7. Reversal. Jane finds out she is pregnant and doesn’t know who the father is. She tries to keep the pregnancy a secret as she does some soul searching. How is she going to survive alone with four children? Her grandmother offers to help, but the fortune teller only sees struggle and suffering in Jane’s future.
8. Resolution. Jane gives the baby up for adoption. Jane should be changed, wiser and enlightened, but she is not.

If you have any thoughts or comments and don’t want to post them on the blog, please email me: janfishler@gmail.com.

What kind of novel appeals to you? What really gets your juices flowing? Is it a good murder mystery, science fiction, a thriller, romance, general fiction?
Alice Munro is considered by many to be the best short-story writer in the English language. Her books sell about 30,000 copies a year. She is a writer other writers admire for her technical skills and the purity of her style. She is also known for the complex structure of her stories. A typical Alice Munro story might begin at a point that most writers would consider the end, then jump to a time ten years later, then back again. But what is most interesting about Alice Munro — who lives in a small town in southern Canada — is that her stories are about ordinary people: their secrets, their memories of acts of violence, their sexual longings.
Think of what to write from what is around you, from what you know and care about.

One of my favorite authors is Anne Lamott. I’ve heard her speak on several occasions and I’ve read everything she’s ever written. She’s funny and poignant. She weaves a good tale. She has great advice. She’s political without being obnoxious. She writes books I can’t put down. That being said, this past October, while I was traveling, I read Stieg Larsson’s first two books and was captivated by the story and the mystery. I like reading a good page-turner.

Several years ago, I videotaped the open sessions at the Community of Writers Conference in Squaw Valley (Packaged and distributed by Films for the Humanities and Sciences as The Path to Publication), and heard several writers talk about writing. Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander, another book I couldn’t put down, talked about the language of writing and the importance of description, simile, and metaphor. I appreciate any writer who creates a vivid scene using words that are heaped in visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, gustatory and tactile imagery. For example, Wordsworth’s poem Daffodils: tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

Fitch suggests carrying a notebook to write down innovative ways to say common things. My background in corporate scriptwriting and technical writing, where the use of adjectives and adverbs is discouraged, makes this a challenge for me, but I appreciate authors who appear to do this with ease. This is a writing muscle I need to cultivate.

Another writer I love to read is Louis B. Jones author of Ordinary Money and Particles and Luck. Right now I’m reading his newest novel, Radiance and I am in awe at his use of language. For example…the tray table latch stood at a careless slant or It was at that point—just as he’d come outside, into the city’s ancient cool kiss of anonymity…I’m in awe!

Yesterday, when I told my husband that I was going to write a book about Jane, he said he thought I was still trying to work out my adoption issues, but I don’t believe that’s the case. I think a woman who gives up not one but three children – all girls—makes an interesting character. What is her motivation? What is she looking for? What does she need that she isn’t getting? What is the best way to show her character to the reader? This woman was my birth mother, but even if she wasn’t, I’d find her actions interesting. That being said, I like to read books that have common, but complicated characters—people who might be your neighbor or your banker, who have secrets, who have experienced something that gives them a certain eccentricity. That’s why I enjoy reading is Anne Tyler. Her characters could be people you know, but they are quirky.

Generally, I enjoy reading novels that makes the New York Times Bestseller s list, books that have all the components of good fiction: well-drawn characters, a good plot, the use of strong verbs and enough detail to keep the story moving, believable dialogue, a memorable and unique story, and cohesive ideas. Will Jane’s story do this?

I’m looking forward to developing her character because she is a woman filled with many flaws, who is undoubtedly a victim of circumstances.

One issue I’ll have to resolve before I begin writing is point of view. It is her story, so it makes sense to write most of the book from her perspective, but I’m going to need distance as well. I want the reader to see how her behavior affects others, what they think about her, not just their reactions. I don’t really want to write the entire book from her POV.  I want to be able to observe and comment on her character too.

Her story will be set in Lakeview Ohio where she grew up and spent most of her time. I’ve been there and know the area.  In spite of her flaws I care about her, Jane, a woman I never me, who continues to have an enormous influence on my life.

If you have any thoughts or comments and don’t want to post them on the blog, please email me: janfishler@gmail.com.

Carve out specific time to write. This is important because over the course of writing a novel, you’ll get discouraged, bored, angry, or otherwise fed up, and when you start feeling that way, you’ll need clearly defined patterns to keep yourself working.
     On occasion you may have to shift your writing times to deal with other demands in your life, but fight to keep them as regular as you can.
     What do I mean by specific times?
     Two hours each morning and each evening, and one eight-hour day every weekend, for example. Decide how much time you will spend writing each week, and then do it. Many would-be novelists defeat themselves because they set a schedule but then don’t stick to it. Be realistic in the time you plan, and then live by it.

I’m a morning person. If I had it my way, the entire day would be one long morning. I have my routine…feed the cat, walk into the kitchen and boil water for tea and while it’s heating up, make coffee for my husband.  Lately, I’ve been drinking Numi Organic Breakfast Blend with a heaping teaspoon of local honey. This morning I added hazelnut milk.  Yum!  Tea in hand, I go to my office, which used to be a kid’s bedroom. I like the space. It’s not too big, and on cold morning’s it’s easy to heat. 

A few months ago I acquired a green loveseat, the perfect place for reading or meditation, not that I’ve been meditation much lately. I used to have a daily morning practice, but this past year, I’ve unintentionally let it go. Instead, I’ve been going to an 8:00 AM yoga class every Tuesday and Thursday. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I generally get to the gym by 8:00—weights first followed by Muscle and Funk, an aerobic dance class I just love.  Unless I get up and write by 6:00, my morning just disappears.

When I was writing my memoir, Searching for Jane, Finding Myself, I took a writing workshop from Sands Hall, a local author (Catching Heaven and Tools of the Writer’s Craft) who is also an excellent gwriting teacher and coach.  She said she writes in the morning and doesn’t give herself permission to open her email until she’s done. I’d do well to heed her advice.

In addition to exercising five mornings each week, I find I do my best learning and thinking in the morning. Last summer I took an online writing class from book marketing guru John Kremer and I found that the best time to listen (and retain what I was listening to) was in the morning. A few weeks ago I started a new class called INBOX EMPIRE, which is teaching me how to become an inbox magazine publisher and actually generate some income. I’ve finally accepted the fact that Searching for Jane probably isn’t going to become a “big book” or a bestseller; although I still think Oprah should have me on her show to talk about my search which would change EVERYTHING…but I’m working on letting that one go too.

My ideal morning schedule would look something like this:
30 minutes: Get up. Feed Cat. Make tea.
1.5 hours: Write.
2.0 hours: Exercise.
2:0 hours: Study.
1:0 Check and answer Email.

To do all of this in the morning, I’d have to get up at 5:00 AM and be somewhat flexible.  Of course, I could move some of my activities to the afternoon, but in the best of all worlds, I need a 6-8 hour morning!

Lately, I’ve been getting up by 6:00 to start writing; although I don’t always write either. Sometimes, I sit and panic about everything I should get done. For example, Sunday’s list looked like this, but the only thing I did was post a photo on Facebook for the 52-week photo challenge.

Sunday Dec. 10, 2011 To Do:

1. Tweet
2. Bookkeeping
3. INBOX – Mod 2 extras
4. 52 Week photo challenge
5. Clean bathrooms
6. Christmas cards to family
7. Christmas cards to friend

Beginning today, I’m going to follow the prompts and carve out a specific time to write—one hour minimum, starting at 6:00 AM or earlier, five days each week, with flexibility on the weekends. I can do this!

Note:  I’m currently on Day 5 of the writing process, following the process at http://www.peacecorpswriters.org/pages/depts/resources/resour_writers/100daysbook/bk100da.html. I’m only posting on Monday and Thursday.

If you have any thoughts or comments and don’t want to post them on the blog, please email me: janfishler@gmail.com.

What a difference a year can make. Last November, I was talking about my book and telling my adoption story. During the past year, I also wrote a one act play based on the book, which I am happy to say, will be performed in my home town on March 8, 2012 as part of Sandra Rockman’s theater group showcase.

Over the summer I took a comprehensive book marketing class from book marketing/PR gurus John Kremer and Imal Wagner, and I learned so much about book marketing that I’m overwhelmed with what direction to take in re-launching my marketing efforts. It was clearly a case of too much information. I know my story helps other adoptees, especially those who are about to search and that fact alone, motivates me to keep marketing. The trick is being consistent and persistent.  Now, if I could only follow my own advice!

Yesterday, I took a walk with a friend who likes to discuss philosophy and life as much as I do.  We were contemplating Byron Katie’s concept of story when my friend  asked,  “Who would you be without your story?”  I had to think. Being relinquished, being adopted, searching, finding siblings, writing, and talking about the experience and the feelings that have come with it has been so much of my life–and at times an excuse for where I’m at in my life–that  I wasn’t able to answer the question, at least not during our walk, but it’s worth contemplating.

The story Byran Katie is referring to is the one that keeps us stuck in old patterns and prevents us from having the lives we deserve.  For me, it was the story about the wounded child who didn’t feel deserving enough, who didn’t believe that she was entitled to the very the best, who kept up a brave front, but felt like a victim. Maybe without that story I would be a best-selling author or at least a guest on Oprah! Although I like to believe that therapy and writing my book healed all of those old, childhood abandonment issues, maybe pieces of that story are still lurking around.

Meanwhile, Searching for Jane, is a good read. It’s is not the story Byron Katie is talking about because it provides insight and motivates the reader. It motivated Angie to searching for and find her birth father’s family. It is motivating Charlotte to send away for her original birth certificate. It’s helped many parents, social workers and psychologists understand how their adopted child thinks. And, if I start employing just a few of the marketing techniques I leaned from John and Imal, it could help me become consistent and persistent.

When I was adopted, the lawyer, who arranged my relinquishment and subsequent adoption, told my adoptive parents to lie about the circumstances surrounding my birth. When, at the age of seven, curiosity got the best of me, my mother told me that my “real” mother died during childbirth. Forget that I spent the next several years believing I was a murderer and that God would punish me for this heinous crime. The real tragedy was that because my parents withheld information that could have made my life easier, I spent years wondering where I came from and who I was, eyeing strangers, hoping to find a sibling or parent.

Ironically, Ohio, where I was born, is one of the eight states where adoption records are open during certain years. In Ohio, adult adoptees born before 1964 can contact the Department of Vital Statistics, and for a small fee, obtain their original birth certificates. Although my parents were aware of this fact, they chose not to tell me that my original birth certificate was indeed available. When I was thirty I learned that the death of my birth mother was probably a lie, but I didn’t find out about the unsealed records until I was forty and finally decided to search.

Perhaps I should have questioned authority or have been a more diligent researcher, but I believed my parents. It never occurred to me that they would lie to me about something that mattered so much. Of course, the information about my family of origin was not withheld out of malice, but ultimately, these lies had a devastating impact. They prevented me from knowing: my given name, my birth order, my family’s heritage and religion, and my siblings. Worst of all, they prevented me from meeting my birth mother.

I understand why some adoptive parents lie to their adopted children. They are trying to protect them from information that they perceive as being unsavory or shameful in an effort to paint a more idealistic picture. It sounds innocent enough, but what lying does is undermine the parent-child relationship and ultimately create an atmosphere of distrust. If you are thinking about keeping information from, distorting the truth, or outright lying to your adopted child about their adoption, please reconsider. Believe me, your child can handle the whole truth and they’ll love you all the more for it.

For a similar blog on this topic see “Telling Adopted Children Their Adoption Stories” by Helen Polaski at: http://www.life123.com/parenting/adoption/adopted-children/telling-the-truth-to-adopted-children.shtml

I don’t blame anyone for anything. We all have our lessons to learn in this life and being relinquished by my birth mother and being adopted by people who couldn’t have children of their own was a blessing in many ways.  It forced me to take responsibility for the quality of my own experience, to create the life I want to live regardless of the circumstances.  I had a choice about being a victim of the system or taking control of my emotions.  Talking to a professional about my feelings and my life’s circumstances helped me. I did this off and on for years.  My drug of choice was relationships, and I had a track record in picking boys and later men who weren’t into making a commitment, so I relived being abandoned over and over again. By the time I reached my late thirties, I realized that I needed to do a better job of screening my prospects.  That’s when I began reading every self-help book I could get my hands on.  I also developed a regular spiritual practice. And I wrote in a journal. Writing my book was very therapeutic. I would set aside a few hours to write every day and  was amazed at the scenes and memories that came up and how many tears I shed. When I finished the book, I realized that it was a very personal account, but it provided an opportunity to share with others could benefit from my experiences. Writing the book as also an opportunity to complete my healing process.

Question 8: You were adopted in 1949. Has the system changed much since then?

Adoption records are still sealed in 35 states.  As a result, there are many people who haven’t been able get their original birth certificates. Until laws change, open adoption is currently the best option. Birth parents can be included in the child’s life, the medical history is shared, and questions that plagued me as a child – not knowing my ethnic background, my medical history, what religion I would have been — aren’t an issue. The internet and search organizations make it easier for families to reunite. I have a great story about a woman who is in her late 60’s now who recently found a son she relinquished 40+ years ago.  Her sister-in-law knew the birth mother’s name and found the boy on Face book.  They had a reunion and it was very healing for everyone.

Question 9: When you searched weren’t you concerned that your birth mother might reject you again?

I did wonder about that, but I took a very practical approach.  I decided that I was going to act like a detective and only ask for facts.  Like the song says, “When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose.”  Since I searched, I’ve done some research and learned that almost every birth parent wants to be found by the child they placed for adoption and that 98% of adoptive parents support reunion between their adopted child and members of the adoptee’s birth family. This is important because a lot of adoptees don’t search because they don’t want to hurt their adoptive parents.

Question 10: Did you find your birth mother, Jane?

I hate to spoil the story, but I’ll just say that I found a lot more than my birth mother.  And if listeners want the details, they can get the book on Amazon or from my web site http://www.searchingforjane.com where the first chapter is posted.

Check out a great blog: See Theo Run

Amazon’s Search Inside! the book feature has me completely baffled. I’ve tried uploading the required files three times and the content I submitted still hasn’t appeared. Another writer I know had no trouble with this process, and my second attempt was done with her help. She too was baffled.

Frustrated, yet determined, I tried contacting Amazon’s tech support only to learn that Search Inside! is managed by Seller Central’s Search Inside the Book Program and their idea of tech support is e-mail auto response.

I pretended I had never seen the first set of instructions and went through the process for the third time. This was last Friday, just before the holiday weekend. It appears that the upload was successful, but so far, nothing has posted. I’m giving it until Wednesday. Then…Well, I’ll have to think of something!

The Search Inside! feature is important for a couple of reasons. First there is the obvious–people can sample the content of the book, but even more important is the fact that the content helps the book show up on keyword searches, something that can help potential readers discover my book.

Fortunately, Amazon isn’t an author’s only option.

According to George Silverman, president of Market Navigation, Inc. and author of The Secrets of Word of Mouth Marketing (Amacom Press)“Word-of-mouth is far and away the dominant force in the marketplace. Yet it is also the most neglected,” says George Silverman, president of Market Navigation, Inc.

If you liked Searching for Jane, Finding Myself, tell a friend.

For the most part, my readers are either writers, self-publishers, members of the adoption triad, or friends who accept and love me regardless of what I have to say. One thing I can definitely do is share some interesting adoption stories. I can also write about the various ways I’m marketing my book. I can share links to other blogs I follow, post interesting adoption facts, and let my readers know more about the characters in my book. And if I’m really desperate for content, I can post my book, one page at a time.

The idea of sharing book marketing strategies is really an exciting one because, these days, even writers who are on the traditional publishing path have to get involved in public relations and marketing. While everyone hopes they’ve written a best seller, the truth is, even a great book will fail if no one knows about it. While there are 1001 Ways to Market Your Book (John Kremer, author), the trick is picking out the ways that will work with your schedule and personality. As much as I might want to do a national book tour, right now, blogging and talking to small groups in my community is a much better fit.

Equally exciting is sharing adoption stories other people have told me. One of the most uplifting was the one an adoptive mother shared at the Sierra Forever Families (SFF) donor luncheon. After having one child of their own, and unable to have any more biological children, this couple wanted to adopt a child who was close in age to their daughter. Hoping for an eight or nine year old, they contacted SFF. A few months later, a social worker called and said they had a child for them. Without getting any of the details the mother, who was ecstatic, called her husband at work with the good news. Later that day she found out that there were three children, not one: a newborn baby boy, a one-year-old girl who, due to neglect, was unable to sit up, and a three year old who was autistic and didn’t speak. Without hesitation, the parents said yes and adopted all three.

The mother and her four children were special guests at the luncheon. The autistic boy was now speaking and making eye-contact. The one-year-old who was unable to sit up was up on the stage blowing kisses to people in the audience, and the baby was playing hide-and-seek with the older sister who appeared to delight in her role as eldest sibling. Proof that sometimes love is all you need.

More than work, I want my blog to be a labor of love. Not just on Labor Day, but every day.

Tomorrow night I’m speaking a dinner meeting of the Business and Professional Women of Nevada County. The topic — Keys to success in self-publishing. I’ve come up with 10 keys that have worked for me, which I’ll post after tomorrow’s gathering. Having to walk the talk forced me to update my marketing plan and my friend, Lesley, is helping me create a schedule. The amount of ongoing work required to promote and sell a book is really astonishing.

My goal is to avoid overwhelm by creating a realistic “to do” list for August.

One thing on my list is to master Twitter and use it on a daily basis…to update this blog much more often… and to pay attention to key words like adoption, book sales, publication, publishing, book publishing and…

Have you ever been afraid of being alone? Are you afraid the people you love might leave you? Have these fears ever affected your sense of well being? Anyone will to blog about it? ]]> http://searchingforjane.com/2010/07/05/mission-accomplished/ Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:06:06 +0000 Jan Fishler http://searchingforjane.com/2010/07/05/mission-accomplished/ The book signing party in Toledo was a huge success. Not only did I sell books but I had an opportunity to reconnect with friends I hadn’t seen in YEARS. Unfortunately, I didn’t take enough pictures, but here’s a representative sampling…

Friends from left: Ellen, Libby, Becky, Nancy, and Rachel

Friends: Joan and Jill

Members of my family also came…

Family from left: Ron (my youngest brother, me, Ray(one of my older brothers) and Bridget (my youngest sister) and Bridget

My sister-in-law, Cathy and Bridgette

Ron and his girlfriend, Christine

My cousin Shani and her youngest son, Louis

What a great way to launch into publishing!