How My “Big Mouth” Helped Me Achieve A Lifelong Dream by Rhonda Starnes

I’ve known that I wanted to be an author ever since I was in middle school, and over the years I’ve shared that dream with a lot of people. However, I didn’t start writing and actively seeking publication until seven years ago, after my children were grown and life had settled down a bit.

Even though I’d always been vocal about my dream, I only told a handful of people when I submitted my first manuscript to an editor. After all, if the editor hated my writing, I didn’t want everyone to know I failed. My husband, Mountain Man, wasn’t as hesitant to share, and he told several people that I was going to be published. I tried to tell him that getting a book published wasn’t as easy as he tried to make it sound, but that didn’t stop him from believing in my ability to write a book an editor would love. Mountain Man’s confidence spurred me on and soon I was telling everyone that I’d written a book. I was even sharing the information with my 7th and 8th grade students. Of course, telling them I’d written a book was a lot easier than having to tell them when I received the rejection. The editor liked my characters and said I did a good job conveying the emotion but my writing needed “a bit more work on structure and pacing.” All in all, it was a very kind rejection letter.

A year later, I participated in a pitch opportunity titled The Search for a Killer Voice that was hosted by Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Like the previous time, I wasn’t planning to tell anyone. I had learned my lesson. There was no way I wanted anyone to know if I failed, again. Only, this ‘contest’ was being conducted in four rounds, and after I made it to the second round, I could not contain my excitement. So, I opened my big mouth and soon everyone knew I was writing another book. My students cheered me on and were almost as excited as I was when I made it all the way to the final round. Then I received a revision request, followed by another and eventually a rejection. For the next four years, I found myself in a similar cycle. I’d enter a contest, sharing that information with my students, only to eventually end up with a rejection.

You may be wondering why I would continue to share my writing journey with so many people, especially my students. That’s really very simple. After I had shared the first time, there was no taking it back. Whenever I saw a former student (whether it be at the grocery store or if they stopped by my classroom) they would always ask me if I had sold a book, yet. I knew that my response to these rejections would teach my current and former students how to handle their own setbacks in life. If I wanted them to work hard to achieve their dreams, I had to be willing to work hard, too, even if there were times that I really wanted to give up.

Honestly, knowing that they were watching to see if I would stick it out long enough to become published was a pretty good motivator for not giving up. And, it’s a good thing, too, because this past September (six years and four manuscripts later) I received the call I’d been waiting on. Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line wanted to publish my book.

My debut novel, Rocky Mountain Revenge, released this month.

Honestly, knowing that they were watching to see if I would stick it out long enough to become published was a pretty good motivator for not giving up.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVENGE 

To survive her deadly homecoming, she’ll need to trust a man from her past… Temporarily home to help at her family’s vet clinic, Grace Porter has no intentions of staying—but someone’s determined she won’t live long enough to leave. With both Grace and her sister in the crosshairs, her ex-boyfriend, Police Chief Evan Bradshaw, must protect them. But can the single dad lawman uncover the truth about why a killer’s out for vengeance before time runs out?

Buy Links:

Amazon - https://amzn.to/2Zgb4h7

Barnes & Nobel - https://bit.ly/3eLAyti

Walmart - https://bit.ly/3dK9skW

Target - https://bit.ly/3eGFTSH

Kobo - https://bit.ly/2VG39c9

Google - https://bit.ly/2BWWQd4

Apple - https://apple.co/2VFOVrA

Rhonda Starnes is a middle school language arts teacher who has dreamed of being a published author since she was in seventh grade. She lives in North Alabama with her husband, who she lovingly refers to as Mountain Man. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Rhonda writes romantic suspense with rugged heroes and feisty heroines.

www.rhondastarnes.com

https://www.facebook.com/RhondaStarnesAuthor/

https://www.instagram.com/rhonda_starnes/

https://twitter.com/Rhonda_Starnes

Beliefs—Actions—Results

As Christians, most of us strive to hold onto the truth that God is in control. Right? And as Christian writers, we believe that includes God knowing the right time and place for different phases of our careers. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have to do our part.

We also need to have a dream, a plan, and some motivation.

Where there is no vision, the people parish. ~Proverbs 29:18

 I recently read something to this effect: Our beliefs affect our actions, and our actions affect our results. 

Besides trusting that God has a handle on things, we also need to believe in ourselves—and hold onto the fact that God believes in us. After all, he gave us the desire and talent to write in the first place.

It takes belief in ourselves to write when:

• We’re weary from the day job or taking care of our family.
• We rise at 5:00 a.m. to write before tackling other responsibilities.
• After receiving a rejection, we dive back in.
• Years have passed without a contract.
• Reviews or contest evaluations are hurtful.

Just as we need belief to have the motivation to act, we need to act to have any results. Stories aren’t going to be written during the night while we sleep. No one will see them if they aren’t submitted. And no contracts will be awarded if they’re never read.

To be successful writers we need to:

• Believe in ourselves and in God’s plan for our writing careers.
• Act on those beliefs and put in the hard work necessary.
• Trust that by acting on our beliefs, we will produce results.

When I have doubts and trouble believing in myself, I check in with my team here. Annette, Ocieanna, and Angie are only an e-mail or a phone call away. We don’t just host a blog together. We encourage, support, and pray for each other in our writing and personal lives. It sure helps to hear that we believe in each other!

Are there days when you have trouble believing in yourself? What helps you get out of that funk?

~ Dawn

Sit Down and Write!

Hey everyone, Annette here. Welcome to the second post in our New Commitments Series this Net's Notations Tuesdays.

You’ve heard this before BIC (behind in chair). The only way to get your writing accomplished is to sit down and do it. Wave at me if you know that’s true.

There are a million reasons we procrastinate. I procrastinate because: 1) I don’t know what to write next (SOTPers unite!), 2) I’m afraid it won’t be good enough, 3) I’m afraid it will be good enough, 4) I’m afraid of the unknown.

What stops you?

Now let’s talk about what motivates us. Deadlines motivate. Even if you don’t have a contract pushing you toward finishing that manuscript, you can still give yourself a deadline.

This month, lots of our writing pals are participating in the NaNoWriMo—National Novel Writing Month. The goal is prescribed for you: 50,000 words in one month. If you’ve participated, you probably know it’s a sizable challenge, but if you succeed it’s a fantastic tool, plus you’re surrounded by others with the same goal so you have support and accountability.

Same’s true of ACFW’s Novel Track: Writing. I’ve participated every quarter since its inception this year. The difference between this program and NaNoWriMo is that you set your own goal. There is accountability with the others on the e-loop. Daily, you click over to the website, enter your total words for the day and see where your words affect the group’s total. Together, we penned over 1.2 million words in October. Every time I participate, I’m pushed to accomplish my goal. Very motivating.

What motivates you?

Sometimes I’m motivated by the sheer need to write. It’s a feeling that rises up inside me—a desire to create deep characters who hook readers emotionally with their growth stories. Ideally, anyway. Little things in life inspire me. Then, I have to apply BIC. Sit down and start writing.

Meeting writing goals requires:

1) A new commitment to do just that.
2) Self-discipline (BIC no matter what).
3) Prioritizing.

I began a new job in August, but I didn’t let the fact that I now had a(nother) time consumer in my daily schedule keep me from writing. I can’t. Plus, we have McCrit to prep for (right ladies??), and Mondays roll around every single week. *grin*

So, commit afresh to getting those words onto the screen (or page) and don’t let excuses stop you. Set an atmosphere. Set a goal. Surround yourself with support and accountability. Enjoy! Write!