I've never had two guys fight over me before.

​When I get on the train in the afternoon, I never know if it's going to be crowded or empty. Since I have a 40 minute ride, I hope I get a seat, but I don't expect one.

One afternoon, I got on the train, and it wasn't crowded, but all the seats were taken. I stood next to one of the hand rails and hoped maybe someone would get off at the next stop. Either I or the guy standing next to me could grab the empty seat.

The guy next to me was huge -- in a fit, muscular, intimidating way. So, if he wanted the seat. He could have it.

He had entirely different idea.

He turned to the young man sitting near us and said, "Do you see this lady here?"

He pointed to me, and I thought Oh no, what are we getting into today?

The young man didn't say anything, so the big man continued, "When there is a lady standing, you need to get up and give her your seat."

"I got here first," the young man said, "so it's my seat."

The big guy got angry and started lecturing the younger man on manners. The argument got really heated, and I was afraid they were actually going to fight.

I stepped in and told the big guy that I appreciated him sticking up for me, but it was OK if I stood. I told him that I'd be getting off soon anyway (and I prayed he got off before I did).

The guys calmed down, and they both got off in the next couple of stops. It was so bizarre to have two strangers passionately arguing over whether I sat down.

Oh well, it was just another fun day on the train....

I just read a post on an author community site that got me thinking. This individual had been a member of the site for over 7 years and was quitting because whenever he tried to help a new writer, they were rude and ungrateful.

​I recently experienced something similar with a loved one. When I gently pointed out her rudeness, she said she didn't know it was rude. I had spent my time completing a task for this individual, and all I wanted in return was a simple "thank you." Not getting one was disappointing and hearing that she hadn't considered her actions as rude made me really question how much I'd help her in the future.

​Do people understand that when we give our time and effort it is an act of love? It is a gift. Not because they are owed the knowledge or time we're sharing, but because we care enough to invest in them.

​I hope I show my gratitude to those who invest in me - whether it's time and effort, knowledge and wisdom, or simply love and support. If I haven't told you lately how grateful I am, allow me to now.

​THANK YOU! Thank you for reading my stories, for cheering me on and for giving me the motivation to continue when doubt creeps in. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

​And this is the end of my rant.

​When you decide to sell your manuscript to a traditional publishing house, your next step is to write a query letter and a synopsis. Entire books are devoted to each of these important documents. And for a creative writer, they can be especially hard because they require a different style of writing than your manuscript did.

But you can do it! You're a writer!

​In this post, I'll give you some basic tips and hints to get you started. To complete your query and synopsis, check out your prospective publisher's or agent's submission guidelines.

​Your query letter needs to be a business letter telling the publisher or agent who you are and a little bit about the work you're pitching to them. It is a LETTER and needs to be written as a letter with all the letter components -- even if the publisher or agent wants you to submit to them via webpage submission. Show your professionalism by giving them an actual query letter. Think of this letter as your author resume and include any professional organizations you belong to, as well as any contests or awards you've won. Show the publisher or agent that you are a professional that they can build a long-term relationship with -- not someone who one day wrote a book because it sounded fun and might be a one-hit wonder.

​Your synopsis is yet another challenge. It has to condense your 60 thousand, 100 thousand, or 300 thousand-word manuscript into 3 or 4 pages. But, it's not a book report. It has to capture your writing style, give them an idea of the tone of the book, AND tell them the ending. Excluding the ending or adding cute little phrases like "read the manuscript to see how it ends" automatically sends your work to the recycle bin. Think of it as a longer, more detailed book blurb. If I were writing a synopsis for my current WIP (work in progress) The Ugly Sister, it would be less of this:

Hailey Knowles is a wild child who decides she needs to get a boyfriend before her twin sister Bailey does.

And more of this:

Being the second-place twin is getting old for Hailey Knowles. Just once, she'd like to beat her sister Bailey in something, and when she sees the opportunity to get a boyfriend, she goes for it.

The first statement says basically the same thing as the second one, but the second one gives the publisher or agent a hint into my writing style and foreshadows that Hailey is the "bad" twin and that she is spontaneous and opportunistic.

Play around with your writing as you work on the synopsis. Take it seriously and spend the time needed to get it perfect.

I do recommend that you find articles and books on writing your query letter and synopsis. Check out the websites for the publishers and agents you're targeting and pay very close attention to any directions or suggestions they make. Don't rush through this important step. If you want your work to be read, a strong query letter and synopsis is crucial.

​And when you get that publisher or agent contract, post here so we can celebrate with you!

It's the beginning of February, and I've already broken not one, but two of my "resolutions" for the year. I started 2018 with big hopes and big goals, and, as usual, I set schedules and milestones that were simply too aggressive.

​So, now what? It's easy to look at the missed deadlines and get discouraged. It's what I've done in the past. This year, however, is going to be different. I'm going to achieve those goals!!! I may not do it as quickly as I wanted, but I AM going to do it.

​How? I don't know. I'll take things one step at a time (baby steps, if that's what it takes) and let go of the pressure to have things done by an arbitrary schedule.

​Recently, we were watching The Matrix, and the character Morpheus tells Neo not to believe, to know. So, that is my strategy, my game plan.

​I know I will succeed this year. I'll stop creating the aggressive timelines that ultimately fail, and I'll just keep working hard. I'll keep reminding myself that I know I'll achieve the goals.

​Without a doubt. I will be successful.