Why You Don’t Give Up

by | Apr 29, 2013 | writing | 15 comments

I’m still working under a deadline for THE EIGHTH DAY, so this is a pictorial essay on Why You Don’t Give Up.

In the 1960s, my story-telling was — let’s say — full of stereotypes, like dragons and damsels-in-distress.

Not much survived the 1970s. When I was in high school I threw my elementary and middle school work into the trash. This handwritten story, which won me a prize in eighth grade, is one of the only survivors.

The 1980s were filled with handwritten notebooks and stories typed on onion paper (with a typewriter.) Embarrassingly, I sent a couple of these to Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. The rejections were kind.

In the 1990s, I wrote a few MG novels (saved on computer disks) and one non-fiction. A couple queries almost panned out — but then didn’t. I also published some professional teacher lesson plans.

The 2000s started with several unfinished MG science fiction novels and ended with my self-published YA historical novel.

And then … the 2010s happened. And they are continuing to happen.

There is no excuse for giving up besides death. Got that?

Clarion/HMH is giving away 10 copies of THE CAGED GRAVES on Goodreads. You can find the giveaway here until May 2.

15 Comments

  1. Linda G.
    Linda G. on April 29, 2013 at 10:57 am

    A lovely testament to persistence, and a fun trip down memory lane! 🙂

  2. Natalie Aguirre
    Natalie Aguirre on April 29, 2013 at 11:10 am

    Awesome inspiration. You are inspiring me not to give up, though I admit sometimes I think about it and how much more time I’d have if I did.

  3. Christine Danek
    Christine Danek on April 29, 2013 at 11:37 am

    Love this, Dianne!! Very inspiring and a great reminder to look back and see how far you’ve come. Thanks.

  5. Stina Lindenblatt
    Stina Lindenblatt on April 29, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    Thanks, Dianne, for the inspiring picture essay. And good luck with the deadline. 😀

  6. Kristen Lippert-Martin
    Kristen Lippert-Martin on April 29, 2013 at 12:24 pm

    What a great post! And look at all those beautiful books with your name on them! I already entered the contest over at GR so I hope I win a copy.

    (BTW, I got more than a few of those diskettes myself, with long, long tomes on them.)

  7. Matthew MacNish
    Matthew MacNish on April 29, 2013 at 12:45 pm

    This is so awesome, Dianne! Thanks for sharing.

  9. SA Larsenッ
    SA Larsenッ on April 29, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    I heart u. You so inspire me. Thx!

  10. Sun Singer
    Sun Singer on April 29, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    That’s an exciting series of photographs. I know you’ll keep adding to it!

    Malcolm

  11. Melissa Sarno
    Melissa Sarno on April 29, 2013 at 3:06 pm

    So inspiring. Thank you : ) And I love your dragons and damsels in distress!

  12. Steven
    Steven on April 29, 2013 at 4:13 pm

    Dianne, sometimes I wonder if my fiction writing will really take off. It’s things like this post that lift my spirits. Thank you!

  13. Johanna Garth
    Johanna Garth on April 29, 2013 at 7:32 pm

    Nice! We all need that reminder sometimes.

  14. Theresa Milstein
    Theresa Milstein on April 29, 2013 at 10:13 pm

    The power of perseverance. Thanks for sharing.

  15. TerryLynnJohnson
    TerryLynnJohnson on May 12, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    noooooo. I missed the GR giveaway!!