First Rejection Letter In

It arrived last Thursday along with everything I'd included in the proposal except the cover letter. Just a form letter with no comments or suggestions, but having it makes me feel official.

At the 2004 Writers Spa in Taos, Suzanne Falter-Barns told us to be proud of our rejections because they proved we were trying to be heard. When I told Jennifer Louden I was submitting book proposals, she said, "I am so excited for you--that you are moving ahead and getting out there in the world."

So I'm out there trying to share this message I've been given with women everywhere. Hopefully I'll find a publisher to help me spread the word: You ARE creative! We all are! And we must honor our creativity in whatever form it takes. Only then are we complete and alive and able to live our lives wholly.

Here's a mini project: Go get a piece of paper and pencil, pens, markers, or crayons. Now draw or write something! How you feel. What you think. What's bugging you or bringing you joy? Just let it pour out with no thoughts about neatness or grammar or logic. Just let it pour--and have FUN!

Creative Processing

I've been circling a class in the UCSD Extension's catalog for years—Creative Process I. Sounds intriguing doesn't it?! So I thought now was the time to actually do it.

While discussing the idea with my husband/cheerleader supreme, he said he didn't want anything to take my focus off of the book proposal I'd tried to put together for months. So I, full of confidence and commitment, said I'd finish the book proposal before the class started. (I think it's cool that he believes in my book so much!)

Well, those first three proposals went out a week after the class began, but I didn't divide my attention. I went to the first class, but I didn't begin working on the class project until the proposals were out!

The class is awesome—opening a whole new world and perspective to me that I barely knew existed! Our first project: to create something that represented our life line in any way using any materials we expressed what we wanted to say.

I worked in fabric, creating a sedimentary representation with fabrics gathered over the years. Tough times show up as stuffing coming out—that's what it felt like at the time. The fabric colors and patterns are significant—beginning with straight, sweet, flowery columns that gradually give way to more flow and fun. That solid section is the middle is stiff and plastic, just like my marriage of that time. And the top goes colorful and free—that's me now!

Consider whatyour life line might look like. Express and create it, if you want!

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing. ~George Bernard Shaw

Three Proposals on Their Way!

I did it! I did it! I did it! I sent Justifying Jackie book proposals out to three publishers last Thursday! What an enormous sense of accomplishment and gratitude to finally be able to breathe and think about something else!

Yes, I still have at least a dozen more to send, but those first few had to be the toughest. I had to create it all from nothing. Now that I have the bones of my proposal completed, I think sending to other potential publishers will go more smoothly.

I customized each packet according to that specific publisher's submission guidelines and publishing focus, but they all contained the same basic components—

• Cover letter
• Ten-page proposal, which included the next seven bullet items:
• Synopsis
• Comments on Justifying Jackie’s playing-card illustrations
• About the Author
• Market Analysis
• List of Experts and Mentors
• Audience Feedback
• Promotional Ideas
• SAS postcard for acknowledgement of receipt
• Three-page mock-up of Justifying Jackie
• Samples of my writing and photography
• An interview of me in Finding Our Way
• SASE

Now, after a few days of rest and recovery, I'm ready to forge ahead and get proposals ready for those other publishers!

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

George Bernard Shaw

Meeting My Coach

Finally! After a year and a half of weekly coaching phone calls, I met my inspiring and patiently prodding coach, Nancy Marmolejo, in person! What a trip! We live about 90 minutes from each other, so we each drove 45 minutes to San Juan Capistrano and met for breakfast at Sarducci's in the restored train depot.

Even though we'd never met in person, we were jabbering like long-lost buds in just a few minutes. It took us forever to get food ordered because we couldn't stop talking. We told stories, shared insights, had an impromptu and unexpected gift exchange, ate yummy food, then went shopping! Two long-time girlfriends on a girls' day out!

Before we left, we asked our waitress to take a picture...and here's the "normal" one (as normal as we get!) and the goofy one! (Nancy's on the left and I'm on the right.) We've resolved to make meeting in person a regular thing! Although it's amazing how comfortable we've gotten with each other after this past year and a half of on-the-phone coaching!


We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw

I'm Writing a Term Paper!

Honestly, writing a book proposal is like writing a term paper! No, it's like writing two term papers...or a term paper and a marketing plan and a sales letter and who knows what else!?! And it takes a LOT of time!

But I know that Justifying Jackie, my little "Golden Book for Women on the Grow!" has an important message that other baby boomer women want and need to hear. Here's my BIG discovery—After years of giving everyone in my life what I discerned they wanted from me (and I was GOOD at that!), I realized that I could instead discern what I wanted and go after it! (Sound familiar to anyone?) The realization ignited such a creative fire in me that now I MUST share it with as many women as possible! So, I persevere!

Today I reread comments from reviewers to incorporate into the proposal. Earlier in the day I studied my sample proposal so I won't leave out anything vital. And in between those two projects, I honed my list of potential publishers and made sure I had their most recent submission guidelines. My current list has 16 entries—that's a LOT of customized proposals!

Well, it's back to work for me! I’ve got to make this proposal shine so Justifying Jackie gets out there to motivate Women on the Grow to connect with their feisty, creative, little-girl selves!

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw

Linda Bannan's Got A Blog!

After months of encouragement and some adamant nagging from my coach, Nancy Marmolejo, I'm blogging! Of course, I should be putting the final touches on my Justifying Jackie book proposal but here I sit...speaking to the universe!

Over 17 months Justifying Jackie evolved from a hands-on creativity project at The Writers Spa to an inspirational "Golden Book for Grown-Up Women." Every woman who reads or hears the book relates and wants to share Jackie's message with the special women in her life.

Justifying Jackie traces a life path that nearly all women connect with on some level. Justifying Jackie is a call to action--a call to rediscover our creativity and the passions and dreams we put aside years ago. Justifying Jackie encourages women to connect with the feisty little girl spirit that dwells within each of us...To add creative play to our lives...To see the world around us and paint it or write about it or simply celebrate it!

By next Wednesday, proposals will be on their way to various potential publishers in search of the right place to come into the world at large. Justifying Jackie will help me fullfill

my creative mission:

To motivate women to connect with their feisty, creative, little-girl spirits.

Justifying Jackie will help me do that...so I'd better get crackin' on that proposal!

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw