Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Normally when we post blogs we aim to focus on you, the writer, and your needs. Today, it’s all about me. I’m going to do a blog-post-selfie and tell you why I love being a literary agent.
1. The dual linchpins of my job are people and books. It doesn’t get much better than that, right?
2. Reading is part of my job description.
3. I get to hand choose the people I will work with. My clients are the créme de la créme.
4. Confession: I like giving advice. (Just ask my grown kids.)
5. One career was never enough for me. Now I get to be part of more than fifty different careers.
6. I am still fascinated by the industry in which we work– with all its twists and turns, changes and retrenchments.
7. I love a challenge and finding the perfect publisher for a book, especially in a formidable market, makes my day. Actually, makes my week.
8. I’ve always loved negotiating and finding that win-win solution. That’s exactly what this job is about.
9. My clients and colleagues are among the best-read people I’ve ever met. They are the very people I’d seek out in a crowded room.
10. Did I mention that copious reading is a required part of this job?
So there. All about me. But now it’s your turn to do a selfie. Give me at least three reasons why you love being a writer?
© Cacaroot | Dreamstime.com – I Love My Job Note And Notebook Photo
Draw my life as a Venn diagram, and the circles for prayer, relationships and healthcare quality advocate overlap in a passion for the well-being of souls. I write out of that overlapping space.
Shirlee, I’m not familiar with the term “Venn diagram,” but I can imagine it. How blessed you are to have found that “overlapping space” in the things you are passionate about. That’s so cool.
Beautifully put.
3? We only get THREE? Is that an algebra 3 or a real 3?
Oh wait, you said “at least three”..
Sits down and gets comfy…ponders suggesting people get enough food to last the length of time it takes to read my comments…
-I can take a deep seeded desire for justice, a drive to share a culture that is largely forgotten, and a love of history, and turn all that into a story.
-I can write what I want to read.
-I can make my characters say the things I can’t say to the real live people in my world who need a good kick in the…shin. And to the real people who made history a nightmare for those on the defeated side of events that shaped how lives are lived today.
-Bringing Jesus to people without smacking them over the head with rules and don’ts.
-living out adventures that don’t cost me a dime, or a broken leg, because I cannot ride a horse anymore.
-writing is better than housework
The best part of this writing adventure? I finally feel like I fit in, AND that I can actually write.
Just finished my popcorn. Tee hee! 🙂 You make others feel like they fit in. Thank you.
What Shelli said.
Your heart came out through your comment, Jennifer. Passionate and caring. 🙂 And yes, writing is WAY better than housework! 🙂
Yep. You definitely love your life as a writer.
Wendy, I love your reasoning for loving your job. And since you like giving advice … 🙂 If you wanted to write about a personal life event, would you write a memoir or craft the story into a novel? And why? 🙂
Why do I love writing?
~I want my experiences to glorify God.
~I want to take what the enemy would have loved to have destroyed me with and use it for ministry (I heard this from Beth Moore years back and now I claim it! 🙂 )
~I love hiding away at the computer because each work is a sweet walk with God that changes me.
Shelli, that’s a great question for Wendy. I’d like to know the answer, too.
Memoir takes a certain “voice.” The only way to tell is to try. I’d make a start at writing the story both ways– as a novel and a memoir and then get some professional feedback. There’s no way to know until you experiment.
Give yourself permission to be creative and to “fool around” with this. We can’t be rigid as we attempt something important to us. Our tendency is to be too serious about it– to have too much at stake.
And don’t forget, if it is an important life story, it might be best to save it for later when you are much more experienced and well-launched.
Thank you, Wendy! 🙂 Wonderful! I value everything you say.
I had to chuckle when I got to the “well-launched” part. If ever … 🙂
Shelli, I love your reasons for writing and I love your heart. You could pass for Beth Moore’s younger sister in so many good ways. ❀
I love that little skip of the heart when a phrase or sentence is so perfect I’m stunned. (Did that come from me?! Yes, God whispers.)
I love the two Rs: reading and research. Getting lost in stories. Gaining new insights. Learning, always learning.
I love the solitude and peacefulness of sitting at the kitchen table, staring out the window, being absorbed in the world I’m imagining.
I love glorifying God with the creative gift He gave me. And out of all the gifts in the world, I am so deeply thankful this is the one He chose for me.
And I love how you said this.
Beautifully said, Johnnie.
I’ve always wanted to write. Well, at least since I was thirteen or so. I love how God began to make this dream a reality in my life four years ago. Reasons I love being a writer:
~Written words can communicate messages in ways the spoken word sometimes misses. I love being able to pour out my heart in a blog or in a book or in a card to someone, with the hopes of leaving them encouraged
~I love seeing a story take shape as I write scenes. I get giddy when a scene takes an unexpected turn—even to me.
~The people I’ve met since stepping onto the writing path have been absolutely amazing. It’s a solitary endeavor. But not really.
~It forces me to depend on God for inspiration and guidance as each story takes form on the page
There are more reasons, but here’s a glimpse. 🙂 Loved this post, Wendy.
And I love how you acknowledge that a card or a blog is as important as a book– it certainly can be in someone’s life.
Jeanne, I can relate well to what you said about the written word speaking in ways the spoken ones may miss. Not many things surpass recieving books or letters in the mailbox. ❀
Being a natural speller would be nice too (receiving). 😉
Yes, Jeanne. The giddiness! I love that, too. It’s amazing what secrets our characters have hidden. I’ve been shocked, in one case absolutely jaw-dropping shocked, by what my characters have revealed. (I think one of my secondary characters killed someone. I’m still not sure. Since that novel has already been published, I may never know the truth.)
Which gives me another reason why I love to write. Other writers “get” that strange parenthetical note.
This is so true, Johnnie. I’ve been reading a galley of one of my own books and read something and said to myself, “I didn’t know that.” Crazy, huh? But our books take on a life of their own sometimes.
I love that, Johnnie! I don’t think I want to run into that character in a dark alley . . . just saying. 😉
Neither would I, Jeanne! This was such a strange thing–I expected this character to be a bit of a nonentity (his role was to be so minor), but he came on the page with such anger and bitterness…it was crazy. 🙂
Wendy, it’s the best of the best when the story takes on its own life. Like a runner’s high, I suppose.
Johnnie, I love the surprise element of writing too. It really is like a runner’s high. ❀
Wendy, I love your “blog-post-selfie”. Your passion shines through all ten reasons you love your job.
My 3 main reasons I love to write are:
1. Encourage – I love to encourage readers to seek, trust, and enjoy God.
2. Enlighten – I love to enlighten readers about personal and social issues so they will grow in understanding and empathy, and perhaps take steps towards recovery or restitution where it concerns them.
3. Entertain – I love to make others laugh, cry and bite their nails.
Thank you for inviting us to post our own selfies. (now I need to go work on NaNoWriMo…7,500 words left to go)
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac ❀
I’ve never understood why they put NaNoWriMo in November. How does one write a book and do Thanksgiving and Black Friday and family and. . .
A man started it. A woman would have invented NaJaWriMo, taking place during January.
In Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving in October before our fingers are too frozen to pluck turkeys. 😉
I agree with Rachael that January would be better. Then we’d have an excuse for not sending a thank you note for the ugly sweater we got for Christmas (not a true story).
Thanksgiving Blessings to all. ❀
You are a wonderful encourager, Wendy. 🙂
Thank you. As are you, Jenni. I read a testimony by a successful author who said that the e-mails she gets from readers who have been inspired to draw closer to God are what motivates her the most. ❀
Wendy! Way to go on your NaNo project! You’re so close!!
And I love your reasons for writing.
Thanks Jeanne. I haven’t raked my leaves up or made my bed for a month… but I’ve kept my family fed. 5,500 more words to go now. ❀
Go, Wendy, go! (I’m a big fan of Nano though I haven’t done it in a couple of years.)
Thank you, Johnnie. I crossed the finish line last night. ❀ Happy day!
Why do I love being a writer…let me count the ways.
1. I love stories. I love to read stories and live stories and soak in that warm glow of a story well written for a day or two after I finish reading a good book. When you are a writer, reading isn’t selfish, it’s research.
2. I love looking deeper at my favorite books and realizing why they work so well. I love pulling a story apart and seeing how it ticks. Sure, this often means finding the faults in a book, but when the story is just so compelling that you can’t sleep and you actually realize why, it is thrilling.
3. I love school. I’ve always loved learning and writers are constantly learning.
4. I love the hope that I might be able to transport that reader to another world as well, just like my favorite writers.
I love being a writer.
I’ll bet you also love paper and pencils and stationery stores and. . .
Me, too.
I used to give my mom stationery and cards … until I realized that “I’m” the one that loves those things … not her! 🙂 What? Not everyone loves them?! 🙂
Doesn’t your heart beat a little faster just going into a great stationery store?
Mine certainly does, Wendy! 🙂
I do love stationary stores…which is funny because I do not like writing letters. But I love the pretty paper, especially the cream linen or 100% cotton stationary paper. I was sad when agents stopped taking paper queries. Maybe that is why I keep making my own business cards, I need an excuse to go into the stationary store and smell all that pretty paper.
Good afternoon, family.
It’s with Wendy Lawton’s permission that I tell you all the following…
As some of you know, Andrew is not is good health. This past weekend, he experienced something called “pain amnesia”. In a nutshell, much of his memory is gone. He is recovering very slowly, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll fully recover all that he lost. I’ve spoken to Barbara, his wife, and to him. They would appreciate our prayers.
He may or may not see this, but please pray for he and Barbara. As Andrew said, “this has been distressing and frightening”.
Thank you.
Thank you, Jennifer for telling us. I’ve already prayed. And I’m praying that Andrew sees this and realizes how much he is loved and ends up saying, “that was a scary episode but I’m so glad there was no lasting damage.”
Prayers for Barbara as well.
Dear Lord, may our friend Andrew never forget how much you love him. And in your grace, let him know how much we all love him. We thank him and you, Lord, for the depth of his wisdom and encouragement. Restore his soul, we pray.
Jennifer, thank you for the update.
I noticed his absence, as I’m sure many others did.
The Lord is so near to he and Barbara. Praise Him!
So glad you shared this, Jennifer. I’m praying. Continually.
How terrible! I am praying for them. May the Lord reach down with His healing touch and be the strength they need in their moment of weakness.
Prayer sent up for Andrew, Barbara, and canine family members. ❀
Praying for him and his wife, too!
Oh, how very sad. Praying.
Thank you for sharing about Andrew, Jennifer. He and Barbara are in my prayers and praises. I saw this late tonight. Will add them to my Bible study prayers too.
Agreeing in prayer that Andrew not forget the Lord loves him. May God pour out mercy, grace, and His deep inner peace. With all my heart I will continue to intercede for healing.
Heart hugs to you too, Jennifer.
Like Johnnie, I love reading and research. I probably spent too much time researching.
I write would I like to read.
Through my characters I can live vicariously in another time and place.
And my characters can express things so much better than I can.
Isn’t it funny how we “use” our characters?
If I’m honest, I have to admit there are times when I don’t love being a writer at all. In fact, sometimes I hate it.
I love it when the words say what I wanted to say, and I hate it when they don’t.
I love it when I can schedule things around my writing, and I hate it when I can’t.
I love it when I connect with readers, and I hate it when I’ve just bored or confused them.
In the end, writing is an addiction. I can’t stop, can’t keep trying to improve, can’t make the stories go away without writing them down. Like life, I have to take the bad with the good because there’s really no other choice.
So true, Elissa. I’ve had many a conversation with one of my clients midway through the book telling me how much they hate writing and specifically how much they hate that particular book. “Why did I ever think I could write. . .”
There’s nothing easy about this calling but when the project is done and begins to touch lives, there’s nothing better.
Thank you, Wendy, for sharing some of yourself. What a great peek into your job!
I love being a writer because I love words. I love the way they roll around in my head and the way they look on paper.
I love being a writer because I love the power of words and of story. It’s a great responsibility we bear, and I want the words I use to affect people for good.
I love being a writer because it’s obedience to God. Whether I’m ever published or not, I know it’s His will for me.
I love being a writer because reading is part of the job description.
I love being a writer because it encourages my children to love reading and to learn to use language properly and effectively.
I love being a writer because I love the sound of tapping on a keyboard. I love the scratch of a pen on paper. I love pretty journals and colored pens.
A joyful act of obedience, indeed.
You have great reasons, Meghan, and what a great “self portrait” you’ve described. 🙂
I hear you, Meghan. Add my amen to all you said.
1) The summary on my LinkedIn profile says “Writes and edits documentation for out of this world.” It’s true and it blows my mind at times when I think about all the stuff I have been paid to write for my job. Even if I never publish a book, how many people can say that what they wrote about will hopefully benifit the world in years to come. See this link for more: http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/tech/2014/08/22/ns-nasa-iss-flame-pulse-fire-reid-wiseman.cnn.html I write about this experiment regularly along with another one and have at times written about others.
2) I get to hang around some amazing engineers and science type people. These amazing people even allow me to be part of the team that actually runs an experiment (yes the link above is the experiment that I am allowed to run and watching it in real time is cooler that watching a clip of it).
3) I’ve learned that creativity has so many meanings. My focus used to be so narrow and therefore so was my creativity. Now my focus has expanded and so has my creativity.
And not many people could do your job, Lori. That’s for sure.
#3. Be still my humbled heart.
-Living a dual timeline is exhilarating and somewhat startling. I want to discuss the events of my characters lives with my friends and family, but since they haven’t officially ‘met’ yet, I weigh what to divulge.
-Research, teach, repeat. As Willa Cather so eloquently states, “Let your fiction grow out of the land beneath your feet.” That’s what I strive to do as I write novels set in my home state.
-The experience of growing and commiserating with a community of individuals enamored with the written word is a delight.
I love this, Jenni. 🙂 It’s delightful to be connected with you. 🙂
Likewise, Jeanne.
#3– I believe with all my heart.
And yes, you know how much I love living in different eras through the pages of books.
Jenni, I can sense your excitement to share your story. And I can’t wait to read it. ❀
Story: I get to make the magic that has enthralled me since I first learned to read.
Research: I get to go on learning.
Faith: everything about this writing journey stretches it. That’s a good thing.
Result: You take us to places and times we’ve never explored and you make that world come alive. I’m so glad you are a writer.
Lori, your words about our faith being stretched by the journey blessed me. When it’s all been said and done, it’s our faith that is most valuable. ❀
Why do I write? There are three main reasons. My mother see to say (not as a compliment) “Oh, Janet, You have SUCH an imagination.” Well, I might as well use it, especially since I enjoy imagining things. I’ve been fascinated with language since I was a little kid and we moved to an area with a different dialect. Since I love language, I might as well use it to write. And I’ve gained so much pleasure, inspiration, knowledge, and practical help from the things I’ve read I might as well give some of it to others through my writing. I couldn’t not write, so I guess I might as well write.
And your readers will say (with appreciation) “Oh, Janet, You have SUCH an imagination.”
There are a lot of things that make being a writer so much fun.But I think I’m going to count backwards on this one.
3) You get to create people, places, even the bad guys. This is so much fun. I love to take something from history that we know a little about, and then make up the rest.
2) Writing combines my love of history, reading, imagining, and Jesus in a unique way.
1) But the thing I love most, is the amazing experience of writing with the Lord. It is unlike anything else when you can feel Him leading, whispering ideas to you, and giving you the inspiration you need to make a great story. When you realize that you’re writing with the greatest Author of all time, creating with The Creator…there’s just nothing like it.
Perfectly put, Amber. Yes, we have the best writing partner.
Me too, Wendy! Isn’t this just the most wonderful business! So blessed to live and work in it 🙂
Indeed!
The stories people tell me are so awesome, I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world when I get to write them down and show others what God has done for them.
I love the thinking part–trying to figure out exactly how to say what I want to convey. Sometimes the right word comes in a snap, sometimes you wrestle with it for days. But hen it does, voila! Ecstatic.
I love the feeling of satisfaction and pride when I finish a piece and I know it is good. Right. That God would be pleased. It is both humbling and joyful, sort of like I think God felt when he looked at the earth and smiled.
I sing and smile for days after.
I feel so blessed that I have writing skills. A reader emailed me and said she was going through a grieving process, her younger brother had died. She searched for a book that would make her laugh again. Something she didn’t visualize happening ever again. She contacted me because she thought I should know this.
I’m grateful to be a new member of this community. I thrill when I hear someone mention God and voice their thanks for his blessings.
So glad you’re here, Jeane!
It is refreshing to hear you speak of how you love what you do, Wendy. I have been told I have lots of words that simply have to get out. I believe that to be true. I write because when I was young I sought out mentors to help me grow and be the best I could be in every area of my life. Now in my sixth decade I find I am blessed to be the mentor to many. I can only sit down over a cup of tea with a few and talk wisdom and encouragement but I can touch the hearts and lives of multitudes through the pages of a book. And I write to leave a legacy for my family. I worked hard to change my family tree and I want to document the love and determination it took to give them the life I wanted for them. I write because it is my God given gift for which I am eternally grateful.
I love writing because:
1. I can write the kinds of books I want to read.
2. I can choose the endings that other authors missed.
3. I can’t not write.
The three reasons I love writing more than anything is being able to travel without leaving my home. I like being able to being a sense of enjoyment, education, and/or enlightenment to others. There is nothing else I’d rather be doing. Thanks for asking. I hate talking about myself.
Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! 🙂
Regards,
S.J. Francis
There are a lot of stories in my head. Until rather recently, those stories stayed there. I’m 56. I just starting putting those stories into print. It’s nice to share those stories with others. I write Christian fiction so it’s also a joy and challenge to write my stories in such a way as to share a little of His love with others while at the same time capturing their attention with an exciting plot and storyline.
Thanks for asking! I hope you have a joyous Thanksgiving!!