Bricks.

This morning, I posted a new quote that I'd found on my Booke Moss FB page. It read:

"A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her.  ~David Brinkley"

And that led me to start thinking...I know, I know, nothing good ever comes out of MY thinking for very long, but regardless...I did. I was thinking about all of the bricks that have been thrown at me over the years. And believe me, there have been a lot. But that's what happens when you are a loudmouth like me. People get irritated, and when people get irritated, they say and do snarky things. That's just the natural progression of things. And when you run your mouth as much as I do, things will eventually be said about you. I can promise you that.

But, I digress...

Getting back to the bricks. So I have had some big old crusty bricks thrown at me, that I am now making into the foundation for my writing career. Some of them have been more painful than others to hear, but never the less, I've added them to my foundation, and I think I've got myself the makings of a pretty decent career here. I've got 4 books that people love, I've got another one in the works that is better than all the others, and has sparked interest (albeit brief and possibly only offered as a courtesy....a courtesy I am taking full advantage of. But no harm in that, right? I know other writers who've done it as well. You know who you are. ;P) in agents, a husband who has helped me set up a career plan, an office, a writing group, a gaggle of published authors monitoring my progress whether I like it or not...I've got my whole foundation laid.

So now, in an effort to inspire my peeps, and possibly make them laugh, I've decided to share some of those perverbial "bricks" that have been chucked at me. Some of them hit me and left bruises, but others just fell on the grass near me, and pissed me off. Either way, I have to thank you snarky people for throwing them. You've helped me to make one heck of a career...

1.) "Romance is basically porn in literary form"-- Tree Trunk Legs. Dude, you haven't got a clue what you're talking about. How can you critique a genre you've never read?

2.) "Why do you have a Brooke Moss page when you're not even published?" The person who said this  really hurt me. First, it wasn't even coming from a curious place, it was coming from a 'lets make fun of Brooke because she is an idiot' place, and I hate that. The key: She is a writer, too, but her hubby doesn't like it when she writes romance, so she stopped. Now I am writing romance, and my husband is wonderfully supportive, and I am making my career happen, regardless of whether or not I succeed. Oh, and P.S. all writers should establish a following nowadays, that way, when you're pushing a book to agents, they can get an idea of your personality and style and fan base (the people who aren't family) before they sign you. Duh.

3.) "Sure, your stories are good, but they are too long and too intricate." This brick inspired me to go farther and push harder. Without this brick, I would still be peddling my second book, without even trying the Write The Damn Book challenge, which would mean Autumn and Henry wouldn't exist. I can't imagine life without them!

4.) "...Ok, it's good, but I hate the ending. This is what you should change..." Okay, this brick is an easy brick to throw and to get hit by in writing. You meet a writer friend, then you start exchanging work, then you start getting immersed in their stories, then you start sharing your blunt opinions...and then you forget who is writing what, and you overstep your boundaries. Always remember: Only write YOUR books. If you're writing someone elses book, then maybe being an editor is what you should look into. But if it's someone elses book....just read and offer feeback. Don't take over. Nobody likes that.

5.) "Art is great and all, but it doesn't pay the bills" Okay, so I've changed this one to "writing", instead of art, but the mindset is the same. Writing is a fun hobby, but since it doesn't pay the bills, I should get a real job in the meantime. So here's the dealio: If an artist is trying to succeed, he/she has to continually create more product, in order to have something to sell. If he/she has no product, he/she will not have anything to sell someday. This is not good. I tell people that I can't go somewhere because I have to "work". No, I'm not getting paid (yet), but I do have to work. And no, it's not a joke. If I am going to succeed, I have to think of this as a career, whether or not it pays the bills.

6.) "Who wants to read a romance novel written by a mormon wife and mom to four kids. Yawn." This brick hurt. It hurt bad. And to that, I have to say: The proof is in the pudding. Yes, I am religious, but like I've said before: I'm not your average mormon. Religion and my career are two different things, and one doesn't cross into the other's territory. I have certain limitations that I hold true because of my standards, but that doesn't and has never cut back on the heat in my books. For further information, look through my archives to my "Pen Name" post. And in the meantime, don't ever doubt my capabilities. Because I will blow your azz out of the water, simply out of principal.

7.) "Oh, you're a writer, are you? What is your book about, hot vampires and werewolves?" (Said in a snippy, condescending voice) Okay, so everyone who knows me knows that I loved the Twilight books and love the movies, as well. Well, here...I am going to let you in on a little secret: Stephenie Meyer isn't the end all of writers. Nope. Not even close. Here is what she DID do...she broke new ground and tapped into a market that was, at the time, untapped. A chaste, unscary, ridiculously gorgeous vampire who walks among the living without sleeping in a coffin? Come on. And thus, she sucked us all in. Is she the writer of our genration? No. Is she a decent writer? Yes. Did she come up with a story that rocked women's worlds? YES. Plus, she introduced me to my boyfriend, Robert Pattinson, so we all owe her a big thank you. But, that aside, do I write so that I can become like Stephenie Meyer? Um, no. completely different genre, completely different style. The only way she's inspired me is by being a writer who wrote a book that rocked readers, all while being a wife and a mommy at the same time. Totally inspiring. But do I want to create another Edward Cullen? No. Impossible.

8.) "You write romance? Wow, does that mean you and your husband get your freak on all the time?" Okay, I've covered this subject more than a time or two, and yet, I get this comment at LEAST three times a week. No, really. It's annoying. The answer is no. I do not spend all of my spare time humping my husband. Though I do enjoy his company. ;) The truth is: I write. Usually I write romantic scenes that are my ultimate romantic fantasy. And when you have 4 kids, a dog, a mortgage, a tired husband, and umpteen million chores that need to be done around the house....sex is not as exciting as one would think. It usually consists of stuff like this: "Shhhh, are they up? Quick, hurry! I think they're coming! The cartoon is over!" and stuff like this: "Okay, we can do it, but I'm not taking my shirt off, and Top Chef is on in twenty minutes, so you'd better hurry!". Don't get me wrong, occasionally we have an exciting time, but my romantic life with my husband is more realistic than my books. But that's the point. Romance is escapism at it's best. That's why it's written, for petes sake! It is written to take housewives, like myself, to someplace else, so that when they're hubby comes home, they are able to serve up that casserole with a smile on their face, and a twinkle in their eye. In my opinion, Romance Novels like mine are meant to enhance a woman's relationship. But is it Art Imitating Life? Um....no. I wish. It's art imitating how life could be, and how it occasionally is.

9.) "You know that something like 75% of the books that are written will never be published." Wow. Okay. That's discouraging. Really discouraging. And in response to this, I say: SUCK IT, HATERS! Because even if I leave this earth, and all I've left behind for my children is an office filled with unpublished romance novels then this is the legacy I will be leaving for my children: for the love of GOD, never, EVER stop chasing your dreams!!!! Do I want to be published someday? More than I want almost anything else. Will I ever stop trying? No, I would rather die. But if I never wind up being published, will I consider this time wasted? Never, ever, ever, ever, ever!!! My time with my characters is the only thing that has kept me hanging on from time to time. In case you don't know me very well, my family has been going through some rough spots over the past few months. I've really had to weed out the good friends from the bad, and I've had to really take stock of what is important in my life. And this writing, whether profitable or not, is my ONE thing that is completley, 100% for me. I don't want to be famous. I have no desire to walk red carpets or be recognized in Fred Meyer for petes sake....but I do want to make a living doing it. I want to sign books for women (like me) who love escaping into a fun book. Period. I will not consider this time wasted, so long as I keep envisioning that first book signing. THAT is what keeps me going.

10.) "Maybe writing should go on the back burner for a while, and your family should come first." Can anybody else tell that I've heard this a few times lately? Grrrrrrr. This brick doesn't hurt, it just plain pisses me off. So here's the deal: I want every mom who reads my blog (hopefully there actually are some...ha ha.) to take whatever they do for fun. Think of it, and decided what one hobby you have that you want to focus on. Soap making, scrapbooking, working out, soccer, tai bo, marathons (b*tches... :P), card making, painting, dancing, singing, etc etc etc etc.....now, pretend that someone came to you and said, "Pack it up, and forget it. It's time for your family to come first." Yeah. I know. It SUCKS, doesn't it? When I write, I am a better wife and mother. Period. It's the truth! When I write, it feeds my soul (to quote one of my writing partners, the great Jess Macallan!) When I don't write, I feel trapped and stifled by my life as just a wife and mom. I feel like I am drowning in a sea of diapers, wipes, socks, laundry, casseroles, church, dusting, scrubbing, baths, bubbles, kids books, homework, fundraisers, dog food, and appointments appointments appointments!! If I am writing, then every day there is time for something that is just for me. Not for the benefit of anyone but me. I realize how selfish that sounds, but so help me...it's the truth. It's all mine. ALL MINE. Can you even imagine. Now that I've put it into perspective for my fellow mom friends, will you please stop telling me to put my family first?? If I weren't putting my family first, I wouldn't have woken up at 7:30 am to do my youngest son's brush and joint compression therapy. I wouldn't have worked with my daughter studying for her science test this morning. I wouldn't have fixed my oldest son's hair like the 1980's for him to go to Decades Day at middle school. I wouldn't have just sent my husband a text telling him how much I love and appreciate him. If it weren't for my busy, noisy family, I wouldn't have a reason to write! Like I said, Romance Novels are escapism at it's best. If I don't write, I'm no longer the best "me" I can be for my FAMILY. Now back the **** up!

So those are a few examples of the bricks being thrown at me, which are ultimately adding to my foundation. This careeer I've chosen is my ultimate. When people ask me, "If you weren't doing what you're already doing, what would you want to do? What is your ultimate dream job?" How many full time wives and mothers can honestly say that they're already doing it? Well, I can. And I know that my writing partners can. That is a bold, bold statement.

Can you say it?

Think about it, and then decide whether or not you are going to chase your dreams. And if so, start building that foundation. Take every brick of doubt that someone has hucked at you, and start stackin'. With any luck, you'll be where I am within a few months. I have a career. Albeit, a non paying career, but it's there. And I'm doing it. Every day, 7 days a week, I am doing it. Poop on those bricks. Keep throwing them! In fact, make them rougher and more jagged and more cruel....I can take it.

Brooke Moss.