Writing...writing...writing...

It started one afternoon in April. Sitting down at my computer, I realized the last of my children would soon be leaving for college and I would feel the effects of the empty nest syndrome. So I decided to write. I have written journals since my early twenties, have had a love of the English language, and have enjoyed entering a new world for myself that has kept me beyond busy when I made the choice to write a novel. This novel has turned into a trilogy and is being written as you read.
I have spent a fortune in learning the aspects of the business of writing, of the publishing world, and of the literary agent process. Modern technology has made the process much easier than it would have been decades ago. I've kept up with famous literary agents like Nathan Bransford, Miriam Goderich, Jane Dystal, and many others. There are so many others who offer such helpful information like Phil Davis, Randy Ingermanson (The Snowflake Method).
With the help of books like "Write In Style" by Bobbie Christmas; "Gotham Writers' Workshop Writing Fiction The Practical Guide From New York's Acclaimed Creative Writing School" by the Faculty; "First Draft in 30 Days" by Karen S. Wiesner; "Make a Scene Crafting a Powerful Story one Scene at a Time" by Jordan E. Rosenfeld (great book); "Writing Fiction For Dummies" by Randy Ingermanson and Peter Economy; "Get Known before the Book Deal" by Christina Katz; "The First Five Pages" by Noah Lukeman; "Thanks But This Isn't For Us" by Jessica Page Morrell; "2010 Guide To Literary Agents" which gave me a year's subscription to "Writer's Market.com." There are more, but these were the best that I have read, and have offered a great deal of help and guidance through the masterful world of literary madness.
During the time I have been studying, I have also been writing. After completing my first novel, I have done a minimum of 5 rewrites so far, which by the way, I don't mind at all, because it only gets better. The writing part is the fun part. The rest is tough and not for the weak at heart.
I have received a lot of great input from TWITTERING, BLOGGING, FACEBOOK AND MYSPACE. I must say, I'm not the best at keeping up with the Facebook and Myspace. I'm still learning to blog, and I want to teach myself how to set up a great Website, which I found a free site called WIX. It is an excellent site for learning. Then I have had great help from people like Beth Barany on Twitter. She has offered me some great advice. Phil Davis teaches about blogging.
With all of these things, I am learning and moving along. I am not quite as advanced as a lot of the writers, established authors, agents, editors and publishers, but I am certainly gaining a great deal of knowledge which is why I am starting a daily journal of my progress over the past year up until the present and beyond.
Once you have written your first novel, you will have great respect for all of those who have gone before us. I tip my hat to all of those involved in bringing a manuscript to fruition. When I walk into a book store or a library, I am overwhelmed with the knowlegde that is displayed on the shelves. I've noticed the books that stand out the most because of the great illustrations, and the ones that just blend in and get lost in the shuffle, even though it may be a wonderful book sitting there waiting to be discovered, opened and read.
So if you plan to write, plan to work hard, to write daily at least five hours minimum, five days a week. Plan to write, and rewrite until it is perfected. Well, I have the time now to follow my dreams and I wish all of you the best and enjoy the journey, for it's your life. This is the moment, so live it to the fullest and you will succeed.
Good luck and good night.