April 26, 2008
In it for the Long Haul
Written by Jaunty Guest in Jaunty GuestsI’m so thrilled to visit with you today. I appreciate Cindy inviting me!
My first book, a Steeple Hill Love Inspired titled Her Unlikely Family, just came out in February, and two things about this journey recently occurred to me:
1. I started writing when my middle child was nursing—holding him in one arm while typing with the other hand. He’s now 13.
2. When I used to need writing time, I would bribe my three children by telling them if they would let Mommy write, then I would use money from my first advance to buy them a swing set. Hmmm. My oldest is about to graduate from high school, and my youngest is now 11. She’s almost as tall as I am, and her feet would drag the ground on an old-fashioned swing set.
Obviously, it took much longer than expected.
When I started on the road to publication, I never, ever would have imagined waiting this long. In fact, when I sat down and first started to act as a professional and wrote down goals, my number one goal was to be published in 5 years.
Okay, you can quit laughing now. I realize how silly that was, not because it can’t be done in 5 years, but because it’s not something I can control. And yes, I was very naïve, then.
This business isn’t for the faint of heart. And it isn’t for those who give up easily. Stubbornness can be an asset (and luckily, I have those stubborn genes). I’ve also been blessed with lots of writing friends in my local RWA chapter and also online writing groups. They’ve kept me going through the years. As well as my children who kept cheering me on, hoping for that swing set. And my husband, who wondered when I would ever quit spending his paycheck on books, conferences, and contests and actually make some money.
But maybe taking this long wasn’t such a bad thing after all. For one, I believe it happened in God’s perfect timing. But, also, my children are now old enough to really enjoy the thrill with me. When that wonderful box came from Harlequin in December, after everyone cheered for me, my 13-year-old, a reader like me, grabbed one out of the box and took off to his room to devour it. He also grabbed one for his lit teacher. My oldest took one to church to show it off. And my youngest picked up my Alpha-smart to continue writing her own story. And then in February, our whole family made a trip to Walmart to see it on the shelf and to celebrate. All well worth the wait!
So what’s your dream, and how long have you been pursuing it? (Not necessarily writing related.) If you’ll leave a comment with contact info, I’ll enter you in a drawing for a copy of Her Unlikely Family!
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Missy Tippens Says:
Good morning! I’m up early for a Saturday because I’m heading to a writing workshop. :zzz: The coffee is just about to kick in–I hope.
I’ll check in with you later this afternoon! :wave:
Missy (Boy, these smileys are fun. Blogspot doens’t have them.)
Laura Says:
Mine has been to be able to write full time. Been wanting that for a long time. Of course I suppose I could do that but it’s just that, well, I’ve gotten so used to having food and a roof over my head that I’d hate to give those up.
Margo Maguire Says:
Hi Missy :wave: - Thanks for blogging with us today. It’s funny how you can measure the milestones of your life with your writing, isn’t it? My first book came out when my kids were young teens. Now they’re in their 20s and starting their careers! Time flies.
Shana Says:
Hi Missy! So glad you’re here with us today. I love your cover, especially the cat. (We need a cat emoticon.)
My dream is also to write full time (again). Like you, I made those 5-year plans. I think they work great in corporate America, where hours and hours of work can pay off. But in writing, sometimes hours and hours of work are just hours and hours of work. Not being able to control when you sell, when the book comes out, etc. is one of the hardest things about this business.
Anyway, congrats on your sales!
ladydawgfan Says:
Being an architect has been more than a dream for me, it has been a calling - something that has been in my soul ever since I can remember. I truly can’t imagine spending my life doing something else.
RobynDeHart Says:
Thanks for joining us, Missy, and congrats on your debut! I’ve been writing full-time for about 3 years now and it’s certainly a dream come true and it took me 8 years to achieve. But the one I’ve been chasing the last 3 years that has been the true struggle of my life is to become a mom. Some things just aren’t as “easy” as you think they should be.
Virginia H. Says:
My dream is to have enough money to live comfortable the rest of my life and put my son through college. He is in college right now, but taking out loans to do so. I hate that. You do what you have too. To make those dreams come true.
Maureen Says:
Congratulations Missy on acheiving your dream. Right now I’m starting to learn to quilt and I would love to be able to make some of those beautiful quilts that you see in the county fairs.
limecello Says:
Hi Missy,
Thanks for visiting today! Wow - this was such a great post! Thanks for sharing it. Good for you for being persistent! I have a lot of goals, but I don’t know what will really happen… but one I’m currently working on is becoming a lawyer. In fact, finals have just begun, which make lawyer jokes really hard to take right now… Eventually I’d love to become a writer, but right now school has priority.
catslady Says:
I too wanted to comment on the cover - I really like it. It reminds me of times past. As far as dreams, they seem to change a lot. At the moment I’m too busy trying to help my two daughters with their dreams - one is looking for a good job being recently graduated from college and also getting married this summmer and hoping to move back to our hometown. My other daughter is leaving for college and wants a career in art.
Tina Says:
:bananadance:
Wow I will have to come here more often. Love the fun icons.
Missy, it is so cool the way your book was a family affair.
Missy Tippens Says:
Laura and Shana, writing fulltime is a great dream! But I had to laugh at Laura saying you do have to have a roof over your head and food!
I actually started writing when I was a stay-at-home mom. But now I croak when I think of all the time I wasted! Now that I’m teaching part-time, I hurry home as fast as I can to get right on my writing. I wish I had used my time better before I went back to work.
Thanks for posting!
Missy Tippens Says:
Margo, my oldest is going off to college in August (6 hours away.
), so I definitely know what you mean by time flying! They’ll be grown before I know it.
Missy
Missy Tippens Says:
LadyDawgFan, are you from Georgia by any chance? I live near Athens–home of the GA Bulldogs.
You’re so blessed to have found your calling! That’s how I feel about my writing (and my teaching). Even though it’s hard work, it’s pure joy.
Missy Tippens Says:
Robyn, thanks for the congrats! It’s been such a thrill.
I know what you mean about trying to become a mom. We had a terrible time having our second child–took years.
I hope that you get to realize that dream someday–however it happens.
Missy
Missy Tippens Says:
Virginia, the cost of college is breathing down our necks right now, too! I know your son must really appreciate that his education a priority for you. So often, parents aren’t supportive. It sounds like you’re a great mom!
Missy
Missy Tippens Says:
Maureen, my sister is really into quilting, and I’ve looked at all her magazines. Amazing work! Creating them must be so fun.
Keep at it! Maybe I’ll see one of yours in a magazine someday.
Missy Tippens Says:
limecello,
School has to be #1 while you’re doing it! Wow. I bet law school is so hard. Good for you for going for that dream!! :bananadance:
(That was me cheering for you.) LOL
Hope the finals go well.
Missy
Missy Tippens Says:
Catslady,
Congrats on the graduation, wedding and upcoming college! I bet you’ve been one stressed mom! LOL
It sounds like you’ll have all the time you need for your dreams before too long. So enjoy these precious times with your girls!
Also, thanks for the comments about my cover. I really liked it when I saw it. Shana said she likes the cat. Marketing actually had me add the cat to the story because books that have them on the cover (or dogs or kids) sell really well!
So I’m thankful to have gotten a kitty on my cover. 
Missy Tippens Says:
Tina,
It really has been a family effort. Not only has money from the family budget supported my “habit”, but also my hubby has read my books as I’ve written them. At one time, I would stay up late and write a chapter a night. He would get up before me and find the chapter waiting on the table for him to read with breakfast. We called it his personal soap opera. LOL
Missy
Missy Tippens Says:
I just had to comment on this emoticon:
:whip:
I love it!! I need that for my critique partner. And she needs to use it on me sometimes to keep me working! LOL
Rainy Says:
Wonderful post, Missy!
And I have to tell you that first thing, I noticed the cover and loved it. I went back for a second look. There’s something comforting and familiar about it.
I think at one time I had a three year time frame to get something written. I believe I did actually write something close to the set time, but then I became unraveled or whatever. Perhaps it was a lack of direction or perhaps it was laziness. But I have not given up on the dream.
A friend of mine sent this quote that I am using as my mantra and would like to share:
“Ability is what you’re capable of, motivation determines whatyou do, attitude determines how well you do it.”– Lou Holtz
So, I gotta get me some serious attitude!
Congratulations on accomplishing your dream!
Missy Tippens Says:
Hi, Rainy! Thanks for your comments on the cover. I really liked the homey feel. In the story, the hero loves the heroine’s house because he feels so at home. I think marketing picked up on that, even though it’s not something I thought to put on my art fact sheet.
Her Unlikely Family (which was called Michael’s Surrender as a manuscript)took about 3 years to write! I wrote it and re-wrote it and re-wrote it. But the more I learn about the best methods for me to use to plot, the quicker I work. The last manuscript took about 4 months on the first draft. Much better for me!
I love that quote, Rainy. Thanks for sharing!
Missy
Missy Tippens Says:
The winner of a copy of Her Unlikely Family is Ladydawgfan!
Please contact me with your mailing address, and I’ll send it out to you! You can contact me at missytippens [at] aol [dot] com.
Congrats! Thanks to everyone for visiting with me.
ladydawgfan Says:
Thank you sooo much, Missy!!! :bananadance: :bananadance: :bananadance: I have already sent off the e-mail with the requested info.
eap Says:
congralations! I can’t wait to read your book…