The death of Venice

Image by sminky_pinky100 (Busy In & Out) via Flickr

I've been to Venice, Italy. It's a lovely place with its island cemetery, St. Mark's Square, and its quiet, hidden canals. Or maybe it's the buildings, which Venice vehemently protects with stringent city codes. The charm of such an old--and once powerful--city casts a sort of magic spell around those who visit it on a quiet evening.

But if you ask the Venetians, they want the tourists to go away.

Once boasting of a population of more than 200,000 people on this tiny, waterlogged island, the population has now dwindled to just below 60,000 residents...and it continues to fall. To mark this sad occasion, this Saturday, Venice will host a funeral for its own city. Plagued by daytrippers, Venice is having a difficult time attracting visitors who want to stay longer than a few hours. And that means the hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that thrive on tourism are struggling.

Wealthy people are also plaguing Venice. It sounds like an awesome problem to have, right? Not when they buy up all of the property in the city, causing the prices of homes to skyrocket--making it nearly impossible for everyday citizens to buy a home. And even worse? Venice's wealthy occupants are usually only part-time residents, staying for no more than a few months out of the year.

Honestly, I think it's unfair for Venice to blame its current problems on the wealthy or on daytrippers. Venice has always been--and always will be--a tourist city. Venetians are a hearty bunch, and they need to figure out another way to thrive. Their rich history of mercantilism and ingenuity is proof of that. Increasing prices solely for tourists is not the way to win friends and influence people. Add to this Venice's slow descent beneath the sea, and you have a city with some serious problems on its hands.

Do I know what the solution is? Of course not. But do I think this is a city worth saving? Absolutely. While I don't see myself visiting again in the future, I feel blessed to have spent four magical days in this city...getting to know its secrets and its allure.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Tourists in Venice urged to drink the water (gadling.com)
• Venice plots ban on daytrippers to stop overcrowding (telegraph.co.uk)
• Sinking Venice Drowning in Tourists (abcnews.go.com)
• Venice on a budget: European city breaks for under £250 (telegraph.co.uk)

Moments

I have what I like to call "moments" on a frequent basis. They're snippets of time where I have a particularly strong feeling about something--when God is trying to tell me if I only I listen harder or more carefully. Writing is one area of my life where I try to pay more attention. Sometimes, when I'm especially doubtful of my capabilities, my story, or my dream, it's as if God whispers in my ear, "You can do this. Don't give up. This is your gift."

So it's encouraging when I read about another author getting THE CALL from an agent. You know. THE CALL. The one offering representation!

I follow many literary agents, editors, and writers on Twitter. It's one reason I use Twitter; I can use it strategically to network and learn from others in the industry. This week, one of the agents I follow, Rachelle Gardner, discussed the importance of making sure your query or submission ALWAYS has a phone number on it. She wanted to make a call to an author offering representation...but she couldn't find a phone number. Today, Rachelle revealed who the author was, and I couldn't help grinning from ear to ear as I read her blog post.

Katie Ganshert's excitement, relief, wonder, exhilaration, and acceptance is completely palpable in her post. And there isn't a writer alive who hasn't experienced that. All of her doubts were crushed in one fell swoop.

We all dream of this particular moment. Congratulations, Katie. I hope to follow in your footsteps soon.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Guy gets sitcom deal from tweets on his dad's 'words of wisdom' (timesunion.com)
• How to Break Up With an Agent (mediabistro.com)
• Are You Determined To Get Published? (terrywhalin.blogspot.com)
• Ask the editor: The top 5 secrets to getting a book deal (alanrinzler.com)

NaNoWriMo

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is in full swing, and I am not participating.

While I feel it's a perfectly worthwhile cause and a great way to jump start the writing of people who wouldn't normally devote any time to it, I'm not a binge and purge sort of writer. You see, the goal of NaNoWriMo is for writers to complete a novel of 50,000 words in one month. It begins on November 1st and ends on November 30th.

I operate much better when I'm writing an hour or two at a time and--on rare occasions--several hours at a time on a weekend. It gives me time to reflect upon what I intend to say, and I don't feel pressured. I feel enough pressure as it is trying to adhere to a personal deadline.

So, readers, there you have it. That's why you won't see word counts from me when it comes to NaNoWriMo. I've been asked several times why I am not participating, and there you have it.

Related articles by Zemanta

• And Now For A Little NaNoWriMo Inspiration (anneonlife.com)
• 676,900,000 Words in 9 Days (mediabistro.com)
• Wordless Weekend - NaNoWriMo Write-In (toddrjordan.com)
• National Novel Writing Month (takepart.com)
• NaNoWriMo: unleash the writer within! (en.onsoftware.com)
• Toolkit for NaNoWriMo Writers (mediabistro.com)

Daydreamers

Daydreamers are often ridiculed for their tendency to "check out" of conversations or just life in general. I'm guilty of this. I'm convinced it has to do with my ability to imagine and create new worlds on paper. And the single most effective way to send me into one of these trances? An awesomely reflective song.

Because I'm knee-deep in writing a romance set in Regency England, it doesn't take much other than the sweet lyrics of David Archuleta's "Crush" or Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher" to send me into my own private fantasy world, where the people I've created become so real that I can hear their voices ringing in my head...a full-blown conversation taking place. These characters want me to know them--want me to tell their story. And nothing inspires me more than a romantic, soulful song with a sweet voice behind the lyrics.

Related articles by Zemanta

• David Archuleta's Parents Splitting Up (perezhilton.com)

The Stolen Lady: Update

Cover via Amazon

I'm at a little over 61,000 words on my novel, The Stolen Lady. I'm reading a book called Good in a Room. How do these two things relate to one another?

I intend to pitch the novel next summer at RWA's national conference here in Nashville. Good in a Room is intended to help me learn how to make a sales pitch. Written by Stephanie Palmer--the woman who pitched Legally Blonde--Good in a Room's purpose is to teach those who aren't necessarily good at selling how to sell even when it still isn't comfortable.

As a writer, I tend to be an introvert. As such, the idea of walking into an elevator or room with an editor or agent is a daunting prospect. But according to Ms. Palmer, with some coaching, it doesn't have to be hard. My overall goal? Building confidence. It's something I lack when it comes to telling others about the story. And if I can't convey confidence in my own idea, why would someone else buy it even if I know it to be a good idea?

I would highly recommend picking up the book even if you only need to sell an idea in a meeting at work. I'm only a couple of chapters in, and I can tell this is a worthy read. And it isn't boring!

Related articles by Zemanta

• How to prepare for that big pitch (myventurepad.com)