Guess What I'm Doing Today?

Well . . . she posted it on her blog. So I can't really keep it a secret.

I am meeting up with Marcia Colette today. You may recall that Marcia dropped by on the blog to talk about visualization as an author. She writes urban fantasy . . . and I think, judging by what she's been saying on her blog, that her writing is growing darker by the day. Touches of horror? We'll have much to discuss. AND we're going out to my favorite French cafe.

Anyway, I'll post of our visit later or tomorrow . . . but I have to say that when I started this blog 936+ entries ago (which means I am definitely closing in on my THOUSANDTH in the next two months or so . . . MAJOR party), I thought I would write into this echoing canyon of nothingness. I thought I might sell a couple of books. I thought I might sort out my thoughts on process. Along the way, the blog got to be a bigger part of my life, and it also helped me not only sort out about process, but about writing with four children and the challenges of being a full-time writer. But I NEVER expected to make so many friends. And not even qualifying them as cyberspace friends. I have talked to quite a few on the phone. I've even been mailed a peach pie (my fave) by this chick.

I've met a couple of friends who feel like old friends. Not old as in hag-like but old as in we must have known each other in another life. I've learned the Genius is actually full of optimism if you hit him on the right day. And that guy who's taking a break has a heart of gold. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my hero. You may have noticed I was a little absent on Boot Camp Day 4. I eventually caught up with you all, but not before a not-so-fun trip to the ER for Crohn's disease and several shots of morphine, not to mention dehydration and a racing, thready pulse. As they hooked me up to oxygen because my body was getting enough, again, thanks to pain, I thought, "You know, someone should find a cure for this f*cking disease." Then I remembered people like Brian have tried to raise money to do just that and it's humbling--because Brian and I have only met online.

I could list a thousand people. Spy, who helped me with my new website. Well, heck . . . I could be here all day . . . I have friends who are moms who write. I even have a friend in Mexico. Heck, just look at my blog roll because I really need to be getting ready to meet someone in PERSON.

So this is a thanks. A hello. A hot Saturday in my neck of the woods (feels steamy already) . . . and a note that the blog is really a great place with people who are so generous with their wisdom and time. I am very excited to meet Marcia. How cool is that?

What are you doing today? And how do you feel about your cyber pals?

Visualizing Success: A Blog Guest

When I saw this yesterday on author Marcia Colette's blog, I knew I had to have her as a guest over here. Marcia writes paranormals, and she has been published by Parker Publishing. However, she has a goal of landing a dream agent. To that end, she has a wall in her office that she uses to visualize her goal. I love it! So I decided to ask her a few questions about visualization.

1. Marcia, I have to say I love your wall. Tell me about its purpose--what's up there? Why?

"In your face" is pretty much the purpose behind the wall. These are my dreams agents. They've been on my radar for years, existing only as a name on a spreadsheet. I needed to bring that spreadsheet to life. So, I clipped their bios and taped them to my wall as a constant reminder for me to keep my eye on the prize.

2. What does it "say" to you when you walk in the office?

It's not so much of what it says, but what it shows me. Among their list of fabulous authors, I see my name up there with a place holder for my book that says "Coming in 2010". It also reminds me to take one dream at a time and focus all of my attention/energy on that. When that one is fulfilled, I can focus on the next wall, which will be the publishing house of my dreams. The walls I have planned just get better from there.

3. Do you have moments when the wall sustains you?

Oh yeah. In fact, I had a sustaining moment only a few hours after I had put it up. A project I had submitted this past spring had received a rejection. The wall served as a reminder of why this particular story was important to me and not to give up on it. In fact, it made me sit down and put together a work schedule for the coming weeks. People can knock down dreams, but they can't knock down my wall. That's what I call sustaining.

4. Does it change? How? As dreams are realized, what could you see yourself adding to the wall?

The wall will grow bigger. While those are my top agents, they're the ones who allow e-mail/form submissions. The ones who only do snail mail queries will be added next. So, it'll increase as I put together the submission packages. Once I've crossed the agent hunt off my list, the wall will come down, but another will replace it. That one will be focused on publishers.

5. Why do you think visualization is so powerful? Have you used this technique for long?

Regular visualization doesn't work for me as much as the wall has. It's hard for my goal to be out of sight and out of mind if it's always in my face. Not only that, but I feel like those dozen or so eyes are always watching, reminding of my dream. Heck knows putting it up certainly can't hurt anything. Besides, I believe in my current project enough to give it every chance possible. If that means building a wall, then so be it.

I have to thank Marcia. This really inspired me. Lately, I have been in a funk. Tired. Demonized (regular blog readers and those who read this know why). All around my desk are pictures of my family and friends, candles, Buddha statues, plants, my lucky clock (long story), and taped-up quotes. My desk area is a happy place for me usually. But I don't do visualizations of dreams, of what comes next. Maybe a tiny part of me is afraid of being disappointed. No more!

Thoughts? Do you use any visualization techniques? Do you make it concrete like Marcia's wall? Share. And then go out and buy Marcia's book.