Wannabe Writer

 

It's unedited, by the way:


Writing is like knitting. When used You can use words, but I'm not sure you can 'use' knitting. Maybe a different word here?properly and when you learn the craft and skill, you can have hours of pleasure from using it. However, if you don’t take the time to learn properly and carefully, the needles (or pen), can be your downfall, stabbing away at your heart and making you angry and upset. It just depends on whether you’re patient and careful. I like the comparison, but you don't really need much inspiration for knitting or moody characters, though I suppose needles could be moody . . .

These words ran through Ruby McClure’s mind as she typed away at her old-fashioned typewriter that had been given to her by her grandmother. Rephrase: 'that her grandmother had given her'. She pulled the page out of the typewriter, quickly re-read what she had written, and scowling in frustration, ripped the page into pieces and tossed it into the garbage can, where they floated through the air and landed on the floor.


Ruby’s deceased grandmother’s words came back to her as if they were being whispered to her by her grandmother’s angel. Surely if they were her grandmother's words, they wouldn't sound like they were spoken by someone/thing else? They'd sound like her grandmother? If you like the angel bit then maybe rewrite this bit so it fits and mmakes sense as it doesn't at the moment. But if not, then I suggest cutting it. Writing took time to learn, and you have to practice to get it just right. But, Ruby thought in exasperation, I have practiced, and if my writing doesn’t get accepted, how will I pay the bills?This in bold needs to be in italics as they're her thoughts. This was true. Ruby, a slim woman of twenty-five, had always known that she was going to be a writer, and she had always thought about that as she graduated from college, but none of her novels had been accepted for publication. Ruby was sure she had taken time to learn the craft, but she couldn’t spend her life trying to convince herself that her novels were being rejected by numerous publishing houses because she hadn’t taken enough time to practice. Be patientitalics again as this is like a memory of what she would say., her grandmother would say.


Ruby rubbed her temple wearily and decided to take a break to go check the mail. She stood up, stretching her cramped legs, and opened the front door.I think you need more here as it's not really clear and a little bit redundant. Did she walk to the door or was she sat right by it? Develop and try describing 'how' rather than telling. Ruby walked down the driveway, the blazing summer greeting her but causing her eyes to ache from the bright light. She pulled open the mailbox and sorted through the envelopes, mostly magazines and junk mail, including one bill that Ruby opened with dread. She gasped when she read her heating and electricity bill. Hmmm, I've learned from experience that heating bills are basically nothing in the summer because you don't need it and that if she's on a typewriter all day then what electricity is she using? I like where you're going with this but it'd make more sense if it was winter. How can I ever pay this off? she thought. A knot grew in her stomach. . . . develop this. Try using some imagery or something?


There was one more letter, a letter in a fancy and neatMeh, if it's fancy then I'd expect it to be neat. envelope with curly cursive writing on the front that said:


Ruby McClure
13330 Beach View Lane
Brasewater, MS Italics?
The return address was the one of a publishing house in North Dakota.


Ruby opened the letter casually, knowing that this was just another rejection letter, and not even wanting to, even to see what suggestions the editor would have for her novel.


Inside, it said:
Dear Ms. McClure,
Your submission, Stealing the Resurrection, has been accepted for publication. Enclosed, you will find a publishing contract to sign and be returned by September 5. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Ms. Althea Wong
Editor This needs to be italics. Also, though I've never had a publication letter, I think they'd say a little more than just that it's been accepted -- sign this?

Ruby stared at the letter, not daring to believe it. She lowered her hand, and pulled out the enclosed contract that was also in the envelope. There it was, real, solid proof.


And her grandmother’s words came drifting back to her. Be patient.Italics Ruby smiled. Her grandmother had been right.