Tag: The Lone Writer

The Lone Writer

A World in Flames

I realize this is a writer’s blog. I like to think it’s more about a writer’s life then just about the act of writing itself. Otherwise, this would be a pretty boring place and OCC/RWA is never boring. As such I decided to take this opportunity to blog about something I am a little too close to: smoke and flames.

On Sunday night, my family and I left the Orange hills in search of Chinese food. As we were driving we saw big plumes of smoke in the distance and thought “Oh no! Something is on fire.” On our way back from dinner it was dark and we could no longer see smoke. But we did turn on the TV to see what was going on. Malibu fires, San Diego fires, Agua Dulce fires and (as if that wasn’t horrifying enough), Santiago Canyon fires. I stayed with my parents and watched the news as towns where old schoolmates once lived fought for survival. My parents’ house is on a hill on one side of a valley. On the other side we can see Santiago Canyon Road, and parts of the 241 freeway. There are mountains, some closer then others. At around 9pm my sister shouted “look out the window” The entire right hand side of the mountain nearest ours was aflame. I’m not talking about smoke, I’m talking about bright orange flame.

After some debate my years of education paid off and I won an argument against my mother!
Her logic? It’s pretty far away.
My logic? You are about to sleep for eight hours. That fire has 40 mile-an-hour winds behind it, there is NO WAY that fire is eight hours away.

My father, a doctor, headed to the hospital just in case he was needed on hand. The rest of us evacuated to my apartment further north. As we drove away, two cars full of people, papers and clothes I could only be grateful

It wasn’t until we reached safety that we started thinking about all the things we hadn’t packed. A portrait of my grandmother, childhood momentos, irreplacable things that we could have packed quickly if it had occurred to us.

A lucky shift in the wind saved my childhood home, and I am grateful. But if there is one thing I’ve learned, there are two kinds of pain. There is the pain of the physical loss of a loved one, and also the pain of the emotional loss of a cherished memory.

In the days ahead, many people will face challenges. I urge you, and your families to think of what you cannot live without. Make a list, take pictures, do whatever it takes, but don’t leave yourself vulnerable to a double loss. Your home can be replaced, you and your memories, cannot.

Be safe, be well, and be careful.

-Dana Belfry

Dana Belfry is an aspiring author and a proud member of the OCC/RWA. She happily lives near the beach, rollerblades as often as possible and constantly comes up with story ideas. She is currently working on a contemporary single-title. Visit Dana at her blog at http://www.danabelfry.com/blog/

Lucky Sevens- How to Become a Romance Yoda

Hi! I’m Dana! I’m a (relative) newbie to romace writing. The good thing about being in my position is that nice people in the industry, particularly in OCC, take pity on me and explain things. Unfortunately, it also means I’m unpublished and constantly have to justify to my friends and family 1) why I’m still unpublished, and 2) why I’m not best friends with Nora Roberts.

After months of answering questions, I finally streamlined a hierarchy of romance writing and my place in it so I could copy, paste and email it to people. It’s worked really well for me so I decided to share.

1. Have an idea. Step 1 is fun and easy. Anyone who has ever said, “Wouldn’t XX be a neat story?” has achieved step one.

2. Write your book. I know it sounds like a jump but it’s not. You either have a book…or you don’t. Scary but true.

3. Submit your book for rejection…I mean publication. A majority of first books are rejected but the key is getting to a place where you have something you can submit. Basically, you’re Anakin Skywalker chafing at your boundaries and wishing you could fly.

4. Once you’re rejected (odds are you will be) you submit a copy of your manuscript and proof of submission to your local RWA chapter for Pro status. A “PRO” designation means you get a pin and are considered one of the “in” crowd. You’re Luke Skywalker and someone handed you a lightsabre. You don’t know what to do with it but you feel cool and that’s all that matters right?

5. If you are published you get a PAN designation and your very own book! With your name on it!. “PAN” stands for Published Authors Network. That means not only are you a member of the “in” crowd you are one of the cool kids and other writers look to you for help. Yup, you’re a Jedi.

6. Multi-published? Then you’re a Jedi Master. People ask your advice and you (probably) secretly refer to yourself as Obi-Wan.

7. So what’s left? Hit the bigtime and the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Your books sell thousands of copies even if people don’t know what the plot is yet. You’re Yoda, who cares if you’re less than three feet tall? People stalk you in elevators at conference.

Wouldn’t that be a great biography? “The Inner Yoda: My Journey to Romance Superstardom.” If someone beats me to it I expect full credit for the title!

Dana Belfry is an aspiring author and a proud member of the OCC/RWA. She happily lives near the beach, rollerblades as often as possible and constantly comes up with story ideas. She is currently working on a contemporary single-title. Visit Dana at her blog at http://www.danabelfry.com/blog/