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Writing a Self-PortraitBy Roberta C.M. DeCaprio Some say a person is born with a certain calling; others have the notion that circumstances in life mold one’s career choice. I believe it is a combination of both, and in my own pursuit of happiness I have learned that desire alone is not the key. One must first possess talent for a given craft. Talent enables a person to be disciplined and diligent in a profession, which then fosters the desire to achieve and excel at a goal. Despite a walking disability at birth, I desired to be a ballerina. My own struggles to take a step using the aid of two canes left me yearning for the graceful and flowing moves of the ballet. I was mesmerized at the ease in which the dancer lifted a leg, stood upon the tips of her toes, and leaped through the air on the notes of the beautiful symphony that accompanied her. Though my desire was pure, the ability was sorely lacking. I was profoundly disappointed, downcast and certain that if I couldn’t float across a stage wearing a pink tutu and tights, my life was truly unfulfilled. That realization came at a time when my younger sister and constant companion found her own desire and turned away from our traditional Barbie Doll playtime for bike riding and roller skating. As I watched my sibling enjoying herself with the other neighborhood children from the enclosed front porch of our bungalow, summer vacation seemed very long and lonely. On many of those solitary days, after my coloring book and box of 64 Crayola crayons no longer held my interest, my grandmother would visit and tell stories of the times when she was a girl. Her world was so different from mine — coming from Italy to a new country and learning the language, living without television or cars — that my interest was instantly piqued. As she wove her tales, I imagined how she looked, her home and clothes, the friends she made. My creativity was sparked and inspired. My grandmother never made it past the sixth grade but had a wisdom that far surpassed knowledge learned from school studies. She taught me the importance of making lemonade — not the kind one makes from fresh lemons, water and sugar, but the recipe for taking a negative situation and turning it into a positive result. The first batch of lemonade I made was the discovery of books. Nancy Drew and the Cherry Ames Student Nurse Series, as well as “Little Women,” became the catalyst for adventure. The authors of these books took me far from the quiet and lonesome front porch, opening up a new perspective, another way of life. My mind soared, as I had wished my legs could, and a writer’s life began. I remember opening my coloring book to a page with a picture of a young girl sitting beneath a large tree holding a puppy. Her hair fell in curls past her shoulders, her feet were bare and she wore a T-shirt underneath farmer’s overalls. The puppy was licking her face, and the young girl was smiling, thoroughly pleased by the small dog’s expression of affection. In the background stood a barn encircled by a corral fence. A horse peeked over the fence at the young girl and the puppy. Flowers dotted the lawn, clouds floated in the sky, and the day looked perfect in every way. After coloring the picture — the girl’s hair yellow, her T-shirt pink, her overalls blue, etc. — I wrote along the margin of the page a character outline. Example: This is Carol; she’s eight years old and lives on a farm with her mother and father. Her puppy’s name is Molly and her horse’s name is Gypsy. Carol likes to swim, sing, eats chocolate cake and grows roses in her garden. Once my character was established, I had to put her into a story. On another sheet of paper I wrote about Carol’s wish to win first prize at the fair for growing the best rose in the county. Every story has to have a dark moment. Carol’s had come when her puppy got loose and ran away the night before the contest entry. The love she had for the little dog was more important than winning a contest. All the next day Carol spent searching for Molly instead of entering the flower and lost out on winning first prize. But her efforts paid off in the end because Molly was found, and that was all Carol cared about. I was proud of my story, and upon completion shared it with friends and family. My sister’s playmates enjoyed it so much they begged me to write more about Carol and Molly. It was then I realized that if I left the children hanging, they’d want to come back for more the next day … and the next … and so forth. Amazingly, that’s just what happened. The bikes were cast upon their sides across the lawn, and the riders gathered around the front steps, listening intently to the adventures of Carol and Molly. Without knowing it, I had created the most essential part of a story: the hook. My writing efforts blossomed with the idea of turning the story into a play. Friends again gathered to help make paper doll puppets, and I wrote the lines for each character on separate sheets of tablet paper, handing them out to the prospective cast. Everyone had a part and a puppet, and I was no longer sitting alone on the front porch. Looking back, I believe my love for the Walt Disney animated films such as Peter Pan, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White were instrumental in fueling my desire to create the historical/fantasy romance genre I write today. Castles, beautiful flowing gowns, Prince Charming on his white steed and the love that sprang eternal between hero and heroine captured my heart. My imagination sought the happily ever after that fighting against all odds and love conquering all entails. True love is the springboard for hope, and mankind will always need hope. A writer’s life isn’t easy. I could wallpaper a room with the rejection slips I’ve received over the years. Finally, out of desperation and frustration, I stepped back and looked at the entire picture of writing and publishing and drew up a five-year business plan. In every corporation a person must start at the entry level before becoming the CEO. Building a resume is the key to being acknowledged. Education and the support of other writers are essential for learning the business. The first step in my plan was to join a few writers groups. Surrounding yourself with people who believe and share your dreams is like no other elixir for ensuring fulfillment in meeting the challenges of being a writer. It’s unbelievably nourishing to keep company with people who understand you and who are willing to teach you how to embark on a relentlessly competitive career. I chose the International Women’s Writing Guild and Romance Writers of America. I attended the monthly meetings, workshops and annual conferences; I networked with editors, agents and published authors. I learned what each was looking for, what genres were selling, how to create dynamic heroes and heroines, plots and subplots … and unforgettable villains. Next, I subscribed to magazines and bought how-to books on writing that explained the dynamics of plot. I learned about goal, motivation and conflict. I listened to instructional tapes, read books of all genres, and visited online sources and Web sites of other authors. Because the learning process is constantly ongoing, these resources are still in my writer’s tool bag and used over and over again. Writers can never learn too much about their craft, and the ones who think they know it all will stop growing. Lastly, I stopped sending my manuscripts to the large publishing houses and worked the angle of the smaller press. The royalties aren’t as lucrative and the author takes up the entire slack for publicity, but it is a way of getting your name out there and building a resume. I also had a personal Web site constructed (www.robertadecaprio.com) whereby visitors could read excerpts from my novels, poems, articles and short stories, sign my guest book and send me e-mail. Blogs help splash my name and endeavors across the waves of cyberspace. My first paranormal (fantasy) romantic suspense novel, titled “Coma Coast,” was released in October 2006; the sequel, “The Vanity,” will debut in August 2007. Both books are published by Wings Press. My romantic adult fantasy “A River Of Orange” has just been accepted by The Wild Rose Press, release date pending. And the first book of a four-part historical series I’ve created, titled “The Golden Lady,” is currently being considered by a large publisher. I’m also the creator of “The Word Merchants Society,” an online support site for writers. These accomplishments built a resume that helped me to land a job as an assistant editor for the newspaper Independence Today. The five-year business plan was working. I still love watching the ballet, enchanted by the way the dancer glides effortlessly across the stage, but in truth, at my age I would have long ago hung up my dancing slippers. As a writer I am just hoisting my sails, swept into a wonderful career by a wind I can navigate until my last breath. And that’s exactly what I intend to do. ****************************** Roberta C.M. DeCaprio, is an author of several books, and an editor for this publication. She lives in upstate New York with her husband. |
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