After Storymakers

Have you ever attended an event so wonderful that the crash of reality leaves you longing? Yeah? Me too.

I’ve attended the LDStorymakers conference the past few years and this year’s conference was the best. When I say the best, I mean it was better by a grand margin. The other conferences didn’t even come close. Okay, I’m sure I’m exaggerating—but it was a great conference. In fact, I’m getting all tingly just writing about it.

The classes were fabulous. I found myself undecided at times as to which course to take, because there were so many good ones, and was always pleased with the information given. It was as if the speakers had prepared topics that I needed to hear and learn from right now—like they knew what I was looking for. And they delivered. Again, fabulous.

One highlight from this year was the writer’s boot camp. I’m been focusing lately on getting back to basics, working on the craft of great storytelling, and signed up for the boot camp to get fresh perspective. I am so glad that I did. It was a wonderful experience and opened my eyes to a few things I’m missing in my writing.

Then there was Anne Perry. (Excuse me for a moment while I sigh with elation.) Anne Perry. I didn’t know who she was before the conference, but now I’m a fan. She was fantastic. I’ve never learned so much from a writer before. She is a master. Her words opened my eyes to concepts I never dreamed could be applied to the art of storytelling. Listening to her speak was worth ten times the cost of the conference to me and the highlight was hearing her read from her own works. I feel like I’m a better writer just for being there. Yeah, she’s that awesome.

So the conference was great, and the people I met were amazing, and the experience was one that I’ll cherish forever. Now I’m here, back on earth, working and living and surviving the inevitable crash that comes after such a wonderful event. I’m going to write, and write, and write some more, and do my best to meet the standards of excellence set into my mind from Storymakers.

~ Jamie

10 Things NOT to do at Storymakers

Next week is Storymakers! I know, I know, this is my second post about it in a week. I’m excited. Can you tell?

I’ve been preparing for the conference by painting my car windows and ironing my socks and such. Just kidding. I'm a procrastinator. I still haven’t printed my pages for bootcamp. I have, however, been thinking about all the good times in store. I love going to writers conferences and can't wait to interact with everyone.

In honor of the event, I thought I’d throw a little bit of fun your direction. It's strange and goofy and off the wall, but it's me. Here are ten things not to do at Storymakers:

1. Wear a cape and a mask and dart from corner to corner.
2. Put windshield repair flyers on all the cars in the parking lot.
3. Introduce yourself using an opera voice.
4. Wear a pair of puppy hand puppets and have conversations back and forth.
5. Yell “Amen! I believe.” after every speaker.
6. Randomly pick a person and loudly announce to the conference that it’s their birthday.
7. Whistle the Andy Griffith theme song nonstop between classes.
8. Spray Lysol everywhere without an explanation.
9. Constantly laugh like that little guy in Jabba’s palace.
10. Raise your hand to answer a question, then share a story from your mission.

I promise: I will not do any of these at Storymakers! See you there.

Two Weeks to Go

This has been an active spring. Between work, school plays, sports, family time, writing, preparation for vacation, music lessons and concerts, hiding from the weather, my church calling, and a new commitment to regular exercise, I rarely get a moment to just relax.

Wait. Here’s a quick moment. Deep breath. Sigh. Okay, the moment is over. That was nice, though.

I get to go to a writers conference in two weeks. It’s the only writers conference I regularly attend and, honestly, my only opportunity to take an extended break from reality for a day or two. Yeah, it’s LDStorymakers and I can’t wait.

For me, going to an event like this is energizing. It’s a chance to renew my passion for writing while absorbing information from authors, editors, and publishers. I have a ton to learn and there’s always more than enough great information. In fact, the hardest part is choosing from so many great classes. I also love the interaction with other authors because it’s the only chance I get for 365 days.

I’m especially excited this year because I have a new project under my belt. I signed up for the boot camp and can’t wait for the feedback on the first chapter—even though my table might chase me away and tell me I’m crazy after they read it. Shh. Don’t tell them. It’s about a zombie in high school. I had a great time at boot camp two years ago and fully expect an equally fantastic experience this year.

So if you’re going to Storymakers13, don’t be a stranger. Say hi, tweet me zany messages during class, and tell me all about your soon-to-be bestseller! See you there.

~ Jamie

Pure Energy

To quote myself: "That was freakin' awesome!"

Yeah, that's the kind of week I had. Didn't get much writing done, but I'm not bothered by that. It was a week to recharge my batteries and add true inspiration to this endeavor. It was the kind of week that can't be categorized, so I'm calling it "Pure Energy."

First, work was a good time. Most people don't/won't say that, but I will. I enjoy what I do for a living and especially like the times when special projects come my way. I also LOVE that I can write while working. My boss totally supports me, which helps. I haven't told you what I do and where I work because it's too ubercool to share in this forum.

Second, I spent Friday at LDStorymakers in Provo, Utah. Pure, fanatical, geek loving joy. I couldn't imagine a better day of writing energy. I reconnected with a lot of writerly friends and met a bunch of new ones. It was fun to mingle with "famous" writers and a couple editors who I've met before. Since I have self-published, there wasn't any pressure to try to "sell" my book to anyone, which made a big difference in my attitude. Filled with phenomenal classes, StoryMakers is a set date on my schedule every year.

Third, my 12 year old son participated in a harp festival at BYU. This kid blows my mind. He's only been playing for a couple months and he's getting really good. Since I'm not musically inclined, I'm always impressed at the talent of my children. Great music.

Fourth, and this wasn't even the best part, I met some friends from StoryMakers and saw the Avengers in IMAX 3D. "Freakin' Awesome!" Go see it. Go see it. Go see it!

Fifth, I took a nap on Sunday afternoon to recover from my late night at the movies. (No, the nap isn't the best part.) When I woke, however, I had an amazing new book idea pop into my mind. It's so amazing that I don't feel qualified to write it. Really. I need to study some things and develop some new skills to write it. It's not anything that I read or know about, but the book idea sounds groundbreaking. I bounced the idea off my wife and children and luckily they agreed, which means additional support for yet another project. This last point is a big deal to me because I've always felt that taking a break or stepping away is the best way to inspire creativity. After more than three years invested in the Stone Portals series, and knowing that there's another few years before I finish it, the weight of it all is bearing down on me. Sunday's inspiration reminded me why I started this adventure.

Yeah, it's been that kind of week.

I held a giveaway about a week and a half ago. Since there were only two entries (inserts sad face), I decided to award a signed copy of ON FALLEN WINGS to both participants. Angela and Esther, congratulations! Send me the address you'd like your book sent to and I'll mail it right away. onfallenwings @ gmail . com

I also decided to join Pinterest. It's a great place for me to visually explain who I am. I've created a board specifically for ON FALLEN WINGS, so if you'd like another peek inside my mind, check it out. I'll add more photos as I find them. Jamie McHenry on Pinterest.

Have a great week. Happy reading!

~ Jamie

This Week

I've waited a year for this.

• This is the week when I escape my writing cave. I'll shield my eyes from the brightness of the sun and then walk into a room filled with hundreds of strangers.
• This is the week that replenishes my creative spirit. I'll listen to stories of inspiration and hear the tales of success and publication.
• This is the week that reminds me that I'm not alone in this writing endeavor. So many others take the same path; I just never see them, as the rest of the year I'm locked away in my fortress.
• This is the week that confirms I'm a little bit crazy for all the work I do. With success and failure abound, I'll be surrounded by more writing degrees than Publishers Weekly. It's intimidating to think that my work will be compared against theirs. 
• This is the week that tells me it's worth it. I learned last year that my writing strikes a chord with people; that its lyrical flow and sensual prose encourages curious investigation.

This week, I'll learn new skills. This week, I'll make new friends. This week, I'll discover new books. This week is LDStorymakers. See you there!

How a Critique of 15 Pages Improved My Novel

The relationship an author has with their novel is truly unique:

·    The novel is a part of them. After hundreds—or even thousands—of painful hours of effort and craft, a novel represents the emotional journey needed to create their masterpiece. There’s tears on some pages, blood dripping from the cover, and sweat in the binding.

·    While complete, the novel has delicate flaws that never seem to disappear. Sometimes a word, a particular description, or even a name constantly vexes the author, begging for another revision.

·    The novel is a business. There’s a process to writing a book that can’t be accomplished on a long weekend, or during a week of vacation. Whether an author plans in detail or writes solely from inspiration, the dedication to apply the rules of writing into a novel length manuscript is a business skill. Nothing short of hard work and dedication are required.

·    The novel is a talisman of hope. Most authors have livelihoods that restrict them from pure creativity. Jobs, families, and social responsibilities occupy so much of their time that the moments spared to write incite dreams of a new future. If they could sell this one fantastic novel, then writing could become their number one priority.

·    The novel is a delicate creation. Authors protect their works at all costs. Backup files and hard copies keep the writing safe, while careful selection of beta readers shields the story from exploitation.

Taking all of the above with me, I spent an afternoon at a writing boot camp. There, five of us shared the first fifteen pages of our novels and offered various critiques and observations. We had a published author to lead our group, who shared her experiences with publishing while offering additional insight. The best part of the group was how different all of us were. These weren’t friends I had known for years; they were strangers with different personalities, tastes, and motivations. All wrote YA, but all had unique writing styles and points of view. I dared myself to trust them.

At the end of my fifteen pages, the advice they gave was priceless. It gave me a new insight about my writing and helped me understand my reader—them. Some of the best questions challenged my character’s motivations and forced me to take another a hard look at some specific details within those pages. After the boot camp, I applied the lessons learned and reviewed my entire novel. It’s AMAZING what happened. There were tiny holes everywhere—they were so subtle that I had never noticed them before. I wrote down every hole and began fixing them. That led me to the final scene in my book; I didn’t like it. The scene was well written, but it could be so much better. After everything I put the reader through, I owed them more.

I rewrote my ending for On Fallen Wings. Can I tell you I love it? It’s so different that I’ll need to rework a couple things, but that doesn’t matter. Thanks to a critique of fifteen pages, my novel will be the best that I can give you. That’s what matters.

5 Things I didn't Know...and a few More

I attended the LDStorymakers Writers Conference in Salt Lake City last week. This morning, I woke up wiser because of it. I’ll call it my epiphany at the Sheraton.

Step back in time to 1992. A couple friends and I took a spring break trip to Moab, Utah. If you haven’t been there, then I suggest you go now—there’s no place in the world like it. One morning, we decided to drive down to Lake Powell and take a leisurely hike along the steep cliffs and desert rocks at its edge. Since we had planned on a short hike, we left our food in the car. None of us had a watch; the blaring sun overhead was our only indicator of time. The hike was fascinating. The more we walked, the further we had to go—the mystery of what could be hidden over the next set of stones was alluring. As the sun dipped lower in the western sky, we realized two things: we had no idea where we were and we were hungry. Solving each problem meant one thing: we had to find my car. It was obvious at that moment that if we backtracked along the lake shoreline, it would be well after dark before we arrived back at the location where we had started. Quickly, we ruled that out. Instead, in our teenage wisdom, we decided to wander east across the desert. Somehow, someway, we would meet either a road or a marker that would lead us to the car.

So, we hiked east. The hike was exhausting. If you’ve ever seen a movie and some actor is stumbling in a desert, not sure of where to go or how long until he dies, then you can picture us in your mind. We were pathetic idiots climbing the desert rocks without food or water, searching for my car. I don’t know how it happened, but just as the sun dipped out of sight, we mounted a hill and discovered my car—right in front of us. Never in history has anyone been so excited to see a brown 1985 Nissan Sentra! Fate, it seemed, didn’t intend for us to die that day. I’m grateful for that. We ate everything from my small cooler and quickly jumped into the car and drove north. (Incidentally, the ride home was noisy because we had broken out one of the back passenger windows. The day before, I had lost my car keys at Arches National Park; we had to break into the car and hot-wire it to drive.That's another story.)

When we reached civilization, a.k.a. Moab, we stuffed ourselves at a fast food place and then returned to the campground. One of the very cool things about that campground was its fabulous shower facilities. I say that now, but I actually don’t remember how fabulous it really was. I was hot, filthy, and exhausted, but I still had my pride; I took a long cold shower to wash away the day. Stepping out of the shower and rubbing my hair dry with my towel, I glanced into the mirror to see how badly my face had burned. What met my gaze shocked me. The sun had bleached my hair completely blonde. Not a little. Not highlights. I was as blonde as blonde could possibly be. I had started the day with dark brown hair.

How does this possibly relate to the conference? I’m not sure. I wanted to tell that story for some reason.

Here’s what I know: I told myself there would be 5 things I would discover this week. I discovered all of them, and a lot more. Allow me to answer my own questions now.

Do I have what it takes to be an author? YES!

What are authors like in person? They are wonderful, helpful, creative people, working as hard as they can to promote writing and books of all sorts. They love readers and they love other writers.

What are agents and editors like? They are the hardest working people in the business, in my opinion. Think about it—they work AFTER HOURS reading thousands of author submissions hoping for the chance to find the next gem to fall in love with. They do this at no charge. We, as authors, aren’t paying them. They aren’t making a dime to do that. They accept our queries and our typewritten hopes and dreams because they love readers and writers as much as we do. Yes, the agents and editors I met impressed me.

What is my writing missing? Fantastic sparkle and a little more love. The writer’s bootcamp allowed me to see a few things in my story that really matter to the reader. I was thrilled at the feedback and grateful for my group.

On Friday, I had a wonderful experience. A panel of agents and editors listened as a moderator read the first page of submitted samples. Live and in person, they indicated where they would stop reading and what they thought of the story or the writing, offering honest critiques. My sample was the first one chosen. I have NEVER been as frightened in my life. When the moderator read the title, “On Fallen Wings,” I felt my chair try to tip over. First? Mine was first? I was dead! I tried to ignore the pounding in my ears as the moderator began reading. Then I noticed silence. No one else even whispered a word. My written words filled the conference room until page one was done. An editor spoke next. His words:  “The writing felt sensual.” Wow. I had never imagined that response. I was tempted to read my own story after that. Then he said the writing was lyrical. An agent nodded their agreement. There was some feedback—excellent, by the way—and at the end, a unanimous opinion: I would read more. That’s all that mattered. Nobody jumped up and said, “Send me pages, now!” In fact, no one was interested; it wasn’t their type of story. That didn’t matter to me. I watched the faces of editors and agents as they experienced my work for the first time. That was a moment I’ll treasure for the rest of my existence. If you get the opportunity to sign up for an event like that, DO IT! Sending my submission for that session was one of only a few smart choices I’ve made this year.

What can I offer to everyone? A great, well-written story.

For the past few years, I’ve been wandering in the desert, curious to discover what’s next. Attending this writers conference was like finding my car again—grateful that I wasn’t lost. The feeling I had when I woke up this morning was much like the surprise that I experienced after drying my hair. I’m different. I’m very different. People who might have known me before I started writing wouldn’t recognize the type of person I am today. That’s a good thing. I’m wiser in so many ways.

My Epiphany: We’re not alone at what we do. Yes, we sit in quiet corners, sheltered from the world as we escape into our own imaginations. We seek to write what hasn’t been done and if it has, we try to do it better. We hide our works and protect them like our children. We constantly battle rejection and doubt. Our nights are often lonely and filled with the clatter of keystrokes rather than the chatter of friends. Still, we’re not alone. All around us there are writers, agents, editors, and fans cheering us toward future success.

I am writing for you. I have a fantastic story to tell and will do everything possible to give you nothing but the best. I PROMISE.

Five Things I'll Learn This Week

Despite how spontaneous I’d like to feel, I am a planner. My motto for many years has been to have a plan, a backup plan, and a “just in case” plan. I’d love to wake up one morning and do “whatever” or go someplace “just because I felt like it”; sadly, if I tried, I would soon start planning the rest of my day. Deep inside, I’m hard wired for that type of thinking. Call it a curse—much like the full moon thing.

When it comes to writing, I’m no different. I create my stories ahead of time, and write outlines for them long before penning the first words. I analyze the plots, the characters, the subplots, the locations, descriptions, key words of dialog, and potential chapter end hooks. Everything except names goes into various stages of planning before I write. The closer I get to writing a piece, the more detailed the outlines become. Currently, I have outlines for 6 novels that are not my work in progress, allowing me years of revision before, and if, I write them.

This week, I’ll attend the LDStorymakers Conference in Salt Lake City. It’s my first writers conference and I’m going with a plan. Here are 5 things I want to discover.

1.                  Do I have what it takes to be an author? This isn’t a question about talent. It’s an objective query into whether or not my efforts can translate into a successful enterprise. It’s a validation of my process. I have to answer this and I intend to by Saturday.

2.                  What are authors like in person? I’ve never met a published author and can’t wait to absorb their amazing awesomeness simply by association. Okay, I embellish. I’ll be a sponge and take in all the advice they offer.

3.                  What are agents and editors like in person? All I know about agents and editors is from Twitter, websites, and stories. My only contact has been from brief responses to query letters and emails. I don’t want to base an opinion from those responses.

4.                  What is my writing missing? At the conference, I’ll step forward and welcome critiques. A writer’s boot camp on Thursday will expose my writing flesh, and then a Simulating the Slush Pile Panel will tear apart what it needs to. Like the wait for a roller coaster, I’m scared to death, but am certain I’ll live through the experience. (If you happen to be there and notice someone screaming and flailing their arms as they run from the conference room, ignore them—there’s nothing to see.)

5.                  What can I offer to everyone? I’m on the outside of the industry, pressing my face flat against its window while absorbing the delicious smells and views of the successes within. This week, I get to step inside. Whether or not I’ll be accepted or feel comfortable will depend on what I can offer those already there. Finding that unknown will please me the most.

With every plan, there is an anticipated outcome. I have an idea how this week will end, but it’s only speculation. Next week, I’ll share the results. In the meantime, what advice do you have for authors attending a writers conference? Any stories?

Fear and Anticipation

I signed up for my first Writers Conference and I’m scared to death.

Certainly, the experience will be fantastic. I’ll spend three days immersed in the craft that I’ve chosen to pursue, surrounded by authors, agents, and editors. There will be well-planned courses, a boot camp to review my first chapter, and a chance to talk face to face with the people who work in publishing. I am grateful just to have the chance to attend such an event. Still, I’m afraid.

Until recently, I had been hiding in the shadows of the writing world, silently tapping my keyboard.

When I wasn’t adding to my word count, I was researching everything I could about the craft, silently absorbing all the information available to find. I Googled, I read, I looked up every blog I could find. If someone mentioned writing online in the past several years, chances are, I examined what they posted. Because I was new to the experience, I wanted to know everything. Hidden, I completed two novels. I’ve mentioned before—I didn’t tell anyone, except my wife, kids, and a few friends.

So, here I am, a writer—still unknown, and still dancing in and out of the shadows that have been kind to me for several years. On May 5th, I’ll walk into a brilliant hotel lobby in Salt Lake City and introduce myself to real people who have been doing this for a long time. That’s the moment I fear—the gasping breath before I discover if the air is safe.

If you are there, I look forward to meeting you.