The Before and After Pictures and A Question for You

Update: STELLAR CLOUD is now available in print as well as for the Kindle.

Are you addicted to food? 

I am.

You may recall that Hubby and I spent the summer trying to lose weight. We are both proud of what we accomplished, but are finding that coming off the program presents a few problems. Adding in the carbs again brings back all those old cravings. For me, the biggest trigger was actually adding dairy.

A big cold glass of milk is so good...

With a piece of chocolate cake, or cookies, or waffles drowned in syrup. You get the picture? When we were on program I was fine not having the sweet stuff because I couldn't have the glass of milk with it. Now it's a constant mental battle.

What I need is some kind of motivation to keep me from settling back into old habits and gaining that 20 lbs all over again. Public humiliation might work. I'm going to post my before and after pictures.



As you can see, they had me stand different in order to make me look better, BUT you can see the difference in my face. Every thing is smaller, but it's hard to tell just by looking. At least it is for me. Maybe I have deeper self-image issues that don't allow me to see? I do know that my clothes got too big and I had to get new ones.

The most important lesson that I've learned the last two weeks since adding in the old foods? What you eat really does affect how you FEEL. When I was getting enough protein and all the fresh veggies my body needed I had more energy and felt lighter. Now that I've had some homemade mac and cheese with smoked Gruyere (heavenly!), and a cookie or two (or several batches along with homemade cinnamon rolls and that above mentioned chocolate cake), I feel heavier, sluggish and like I want to crawl back into bed and stay there.

The plan?

I'm cutting out the stuff we've added to our meals. This will make the kids sad, but I just don't like the way I feel cooking the foods they like. My guess is they will continue to complain, but they will feel better too. I just wish we could all admit fresh foods make us happier.

October IWSG 2013 Getting a Better Perspective

I'm afraid I double booked today. If you are looking for Cami Checketts' Blog This post, you can find it HERE.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. I'm currently #165.

WARNING: This might be a long post. :)

And because of that, I'll post my October post schedule first.

Topics to rehash from LDStorymakers Convention:

1. Pros and cons of writing in 1st person
2. How to weave romantic elements through any genre
3. Suspense!
4. Working with series, sequels and spin-offs
5. Research for your novel, and just in time for NANOWRIMO...
6. Plotting!

Personal topics:

1. My first school visit
2. Blogfest Time
3. Some excerpts from Fade Into Me and Search For Knowledge (yep, it's back on!)

Book Reviews:

1. Deep Cover by Traci Hunter Abramson
2. Bloodborne by Gregg Luke

Now to recap one of the BEST keynote speaker addresses I've ever heard. Seriously, I wish I had it on video so you could just watch it. What I like best is that you can apply this thought process to every aspect of your life. 

It all started with one question. 

Am I good?

And ended with a different question.

Does it matter?

Regina Sirois (2012 Winner of ABNA for YA for her book On Little Wings), told us about 3 men who climbed Mount Everest. I won't go into all of that, but the point was this--we all have our summits (goals) and that's great. However, we cheat, and that's where we get into trouble.

For instance, my Mt. Everest summit was to see my name on a book in the library. That was the one thing I wanted, and I thought it would make me happy. This goal translated to "get a book published" then you will be happy.

I did that. But I wasn't happy. I reached my summit and saw another peak in the distance and thought, "What did I know? That peak over there is what I really wanted. This one isn't enough. I want to have 1000 positive reviews, make tons of money and write 20 more books that everyone will be waiting anxiously for."

And then I'll be happy.

Unless I can get a movie deal. THAT would really make me happy.

Are you starting to see the problem? We fall into traps that take away our air--I have to sell these books, I have to make people proud, etc.

When people climb Everest they are told that if they summit they should take a moment to savor the view. Take a picture and then get the heck down! You can't set up camp at the summit because you will DIE!

Our writing summits are the same. If you reach your goal, enjoy it, then come back down. Remember who you are and find your inner peace again. Don't give the goal/summit the power to make you happy or sad. Instead, learn to enjoy writing for the sake of writing. Regardless of who will read it and what they'll think.

Do you stop loving your stories if they don't become NY bestsellers?

Well, look at it this way. If our books are our children...
"I had kids. They aren't rich and famous. No one has ever heard of them. What a waste of time!"

You'd never say that about your flesh and blood children, so don't allow doubt to make you say it about your words. At one time you loved them enough to put them on screen/paper/napkin and it didn't matter what anyone else thought of them.

So ask yourself...

Am I good?

Does it matter?

From Goodreads:

This is a story of the countless ways we get love wrong. And why, despite every disappointment, we keep fighting to get it right.

Jennifer must do the impossible – bring her mother home. When a family is torn apart by death, two sisters take violently divergent paths and the story of their family appears to end terribly and abruptly. Two decades later Jennifer never dreams that the photo she finds stuck between the pages of a neglected book will tear open a gaping wound to her mother’s secret past. Abandoning her comfortable life with her parents and best friend in the wheat fields of Nebraska, Jennifer’s quest for a hidden aunt leads her to the untamed coast of Maine where she struggles to understand why her mother lied to her for sixteen years.

Across the grey, rocky cove she meets Nathan Moore, the young, reluctant genius surrounded by women who need him to be brother, father, friend, provider, protector and now, first love. The stories, varied, hilarious, and heartbreaking, unfold to paint a striking mural of the shattered past. As Jennifer seeks to piece together her mother’s story, she inadvertently writes one for herself.

P is for Perseverance

Perseverance. It's a big word that we all need a lot of. As humans and especially as writers don't you think? I like the way Merriam-Webster defines it: continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition.

Talia had to keep working toward a solution even though she wasn't making much progress. What was her other choice? Give up and wait to die? I don't think so.

But you know what? I don't really want to talk about The Magic Wakes today. Nope, I want to talk about the ways we persevere as writers. So many of us are on this journey, all in different spots and often on different paths entirely, but all with the same end goal. We want to share our stories with others. So, whether its a dirt path, cobblestone, asphalt or zipway, we have to find ways to keep moving forward.

I wrote an article for Savvy Authors on this very topic the day my novel was released into the world--Finding the Strength to Journey On. In that post I cover 5 things that I feel are important in my journey, the things that I must always remember in order to keep from giving up.

• Remember why you write
• Be willing to learn
• It's all subjective
• Prepare for the reality of being a published writer
• Focus on the positive

Check it out if you'd like to read more.

How/where do you find the strength to keep writing in spite of the obstacles in your way?

Great Review and the Happiest Win!

First the bad news. I'm not writing as much as I planned this month. There are lots of "excuses" but I think the real reason is I'm letting my head hold onto the pressure. All my friends keep asking, "So when will the next book be available?" My mom, "You've got to write the next one faster so I can read it." And so on.

The good  news? I know what I need to do to fix my head problem.

LOL, no, but really. I need to forget that anyone ever read the first book. Forget that some of them are anxiously awaiting another book. Forget the things I found "lacking" in that first book as well as the fact that something important got edited out of the ending. My 15 year old pointed it out when she finished reading. The conversation went like this.

15--"Mom, I loved the book, but it was a bit confusing at the end. You never said what they were going to do. You hinted they were going to do something, but then you just dropped it."
Me--"Maybe you missed it. They're going to Jaron's planet, it's there right before they return to Joharadin for the coronation."
15--"No, you just say," flipping through the book to find the page, "blah, blah blah...."
Me--*head to the wall* I can't believe I missed that!

Now one of the reviews makes perfect sense.

Wait, wait! Okay, I was going to say how I'm going to get my writing groove back on.

1. Concentrate on the positive
There have been some wonderful reviews. I'm taking Carrie Butler's advice from Alex Cavanaugh's Friday post and starting an ADF (Anti Depression Folder) where I keep all the great reviews. Ones like I'm going to post at the bottom.

2. Forget You
Not you the blog or my lovely followers. But forget that other people are going to read this book. It's keeping me from writing that crappy first draft. I need to write it for me in all it's wordy, passive, detailed and often full of backstory glory. Then I can come back and make it readable for other people.

*sigh* I feel better already.

Now, for the WIN moment of last week. 

My 13 year old came home from school, walked into the kitchen giddy.
13--"Mom, I finished your book today! It was SO good. Surprisingly so."
Me--"You did? What was your favorite part?"
13--"I don't know."
Several hours later...it's 10 PM and I'm walking into her room to tell her to turn off her light and go to sleep. She's snuggled up in bed with my book.
Me--"What are you doing?"
13--"Just re-reading my favorite parts."
Me--"Oh? You figured out what it was? What was it?"
13--"When they're on the tram, and then the cave, and when they're running from the Dragumon, and ...."
Me--"So basically the last half of the book?"
13--"Yep."
Me--"And you just re-read the last half of the book?"
Big grins from 13--"Yep"
Me, now dumbfounded and giddy, walks away with nothing else to say.

How awesome is that??

And finally. Here's the kind of review I want to write for now on. It's specific about what she liked.


I am not a science fiction fan.  I am not a fantasy fan.  But I am a fan of this book. This book is the perfect blend of sci-fi-fantasy-romance.  The story is captivating and the characters are engaging.  You want to root for them to find happiness and to save the world from the first meeting.  There are several things about this book that I want to address as I review it.

- Strong Female Character:  Bless you Charity for creating a strong, smart, independent female lead for this book.  Seriously.  The world owes you a favor.  The world needs more Talia Zaryn and less Bella Swan.  She had deep loss early in her life but instead of wallowing in that, she set off to make the world a better place.  And the best part of all… She did it by getting an education and becoming a scholar.  Awesome!  That you for this example for my daughters to read.  Not kidding… Don’t get me wrong, I love a good love story where the soulmates complete each other. Too many times the characters in a love story come to each other and rescue each other in ways that are not healthy.  I loved the pair in this book.  Both of them came to the relationship with 100% and because of that, they were able to create amazing things and be even better.

- Nature:  I don’t read a lot of fantasy books (see above), so forgive me for these thoughts.  I loved the role that the woods and the sun played in the book.  I don’t want to give too much away about the story but I experience my own recharging when I am in the sun and the trees.  When I am outside and in nature, I feel a grounding to my life that I don’t feel any other place.  Nature is healing to me.  I loved that theme in the book.

- Spiritual Themes:  Throughout the book is a common thread of a common spirit and a divine influence.  (It is very Jungian- collective consciousness.)  There is a place in the beginning of the book where a character wrestles in his mind with a demon.  The description of this internal battle was so beautifully written.  I think that everyone can relate to a struggle with a demon in the mind.  We all have things that we struggle with.  I loved how the demon was fed from the emotions of the host.  Isn’t that the way it is for us too?  Our strongest emotions overpower our will at times and we do things in those impulses that we regret.  Anger and Sadness and Fatigue overcome our will to do right or to achieve our potential.  The amazing part of this concept comes in how it is overcome.  I believe that our will is the greatest gift we have been given from the divine.  We sacrifice our will in His name.  How amazing is it that it is the use of will is used to tame the demon in ones mind and gives us strength in trial and difficulty?  I loved the spiritual tones of this book and I am excited to see where the sequels go in realizing the role of the divine.

- Emotional Growth Themes:  Last one… I promise.  There is a part at the end of the book where a character takes on too much responsibility and becomes weak and broken.  How many times do we do this?  I do.  Sometimes the act of ‘saving the world’ in our families and communities becomes a burden that breaks us.  I know that I do this all the time.  I take on the act of doing everything myself to spare someone else the burden.  And then I become weak.  When I am giving all and someone else in my life is taking all, I get to a point where I am curled up in a ball in my mind and don’t want to come out.  I TOTALLY understood this.  I love that this was a point made in the book.

Now for the disclaimer– The author is one of my best friends in this world. I know her well and we have discussed a lot of things over lunch and heart to heart.  She is talented and I was amazed to see so much of her in the pages of this book. It oozes with her ideas and soul. Even though she is one of my best friends, I say this with as little bias as possible… This is a great book.  It is original and exciting and a great read.

Go get it and read it.

Motivational thought for Labor Day

I'm off playing with my family, but I wanted to leave you some words that struck me as profound yesterday. They're from a song for the young women of our church, but this phrase is for every writer out there.

Don't settle for the story the world would have you write.

Stay true to yourself and the story only YOU can write.

I'll announce who gets the magnets on Wednesday. See you then!

My First Goosebump Moment as an Author

Last Sunday night brought me a moment I will never forget. Several women and teen girls had gathered at church for our Super Duper One Time Only Mandatory Camp Meeting.  (Yeah, the name started out as a joke, but it kind of stuck.) Anyways, everyone was going around to their stations getting all the information they would need to help camp run smoothly this year, and I was manning the refreshments in the kitchen.

Now, here's what you have to know about my church to picture this event. We love meetings. We call each other Brother and Sister.

Evidently there was another meeting in progress on the other side of the building when we started. When that meeting finished, a dear sister came and found me in the kitchen.

The first thing she said was, "I'm so excited to read your book!" She gave me a huge hug and then continued, "You're such an inspiration. When I saw your post about your book, it gave me the courage to write the children's books I've always wanted to write."

I got goosebumps and almost cried. It still makes me tear up. Why? I didn't set out to be an inspiration, but I'm realizing there are a lot of women at church who have put their dreams on hold just like I did. By reaching out to grab my own dreams and sharing them through online media, I've given others permission to chase their dreams.

I think that's kind of cool.

Who inspired you to chase after your dreams?

Random Acts of Kindness BLITZ

A smile. An encouraging word. A thoughtful gesture. Each day people interact with us, help, and make our day a bit brighter and full. This is especially true in the Writing Community.

Take a second to think about writers you know, like the critique partner who works with you to improve your manuscript. The writing friend who listens, supports and keeps you strong when times are tough. The author who generously offers council, advice and inspiration when asked.

So many people take the time to make us feel special, don't they? They comment on our blogs, re-tweet our posts, chat with us on forums and wish us Happy Birthday on Facebook.

Kindness ROCKS!

To commemorate the release of their book The Emotion Thesaurus, Becca and Angela at The Bookshelf Muse are hosting a TITANIC Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ. And because I think KINDNESS is contagious, I'm participating too!

There have been so many people that have helped me reach my goals. In writing and in life. How do I pick just one? I want to mention several and then I'll tell you the top dog I want to recognize today.

There are so many people who suffered through early versions of Talia’s story and still encouraged me to never give up on my writing dream. Thank you Kathy, Brian, Becky, Mia Hayson, Edith, Elizabeth Arroyo, Elizabeth Arundel, Elizabeth Poole, and Jen McConnel. I also want to thank Aimee Salter and Janice Hardy for their honest critiques and encouraging words afterward. And Michael Offutt for making me laugh when I needed to as well as kicking me back into motion when I needed it.

A special thanks goes to Carol Coffelt for sticking with me through several revisions. It’s been a pleasure swapping stories with you and working together on Unicorn Bell.

Thank you to my dear husband and children for being patient with me and for forgiving me when the imaginary people in my head take over.

For my Random Act of Kindness, I'm highlighting my best friend Laura. She's always willing to listen to me whine and complain. She has made me run when I didn't want to, watch my calories when I wanted to drown in ice cream, and always supported me through every up and down. 

Laura, I couldn’t have survived without you. It may not be much, but I'm taking you to lunch at the Melting Pot on the first day of school this fall. Can you wait until August? I want to celebrate our friendship and our new freedom as our youngest start school. Now there will be time for both of us to chase our dreams.

Intimidating my Monday

It worked for Mal.

I feel like I'm forgetting something important. Because of that, I'm keeping my goals simple this week. 

Goals for this week:

Work on Faerie Wings

Finish the short story Instinct

Patience

I really need it right now.

And some peace and quiet so I can get these scenes out of my head and onto paper.

Science Fiction or Fantasy? RL cool stuff

I don't have a Birth of a Novel Report for you this week. The file was opened several times, and then I would get distracted by other things. I did finish the short story and have had three people critique it for me. The plan is final polish this week (today or tomorrow) and then enjoy the holidays.

In fact, I'll have at least 14 hours in the van over the next few days and I won't be driving. Maybe I can finish that novel I've been avoiding? Until then, here are some of the things that distracted me.

Why can't my life be this cool?

And here are a few other "neat" things that have caught my attention in the last month. I blame them for the lack of progress on my #wip.

Heck, my space ship was ready a long time ago! This is what it looks like. My very own, one man space ship.

How about this? (Confession: I couldn't finish the new Tron movie. It just didn't pull me in, but the bike is cool.)

And finally, because Sendek is always orbiting in the back of my mind...

Don't forget to come back tomorrow and find out who won my Giveaway. Three prizes, three winners!

Need a little inspiration?

I saw this video earlier this week on Zoey's blog and knew I had to share it with you.

Now, Zoey needs some followers. See the kind of stuff you're missing if you don't go check out her blog?

The things that touched me the most, at this moment in my life were the following:

"Write the story for yourself...Let the audience that's meant to find it, find it." Wally Lamb

"No book is written. Every book is rewritten." Ridley Pearson

How liberating. These tidbits will help me/you free ourselves from the boxes we stuff ourselves. 

"Trust yourself. You're not an idiot by that point, you know some stuff." Lee Child

"If all else fails, keep trying."Graeme Base

Guest Blogger: Jen McConnel on Staying Positive

Staying Positive

As writers, waiting is something we better get used to.

Sometimes, we have to wait for inspiration to strike. Then comes the waiting for the words to flow onto the page, the waiting for the head space to begin revisions, and finally, the waiting once your book is as good as you can make it and you begin sending it out into the world.

For me, that’s the hardest part of waiting. When my actions feel largely within my control, I can make lists, set goals, and prioritize. But once I release a manuscript into the slush pile, I start to panic. I’m no longer the one pulling the reins, and I find myself buried with “what ifs”.

This is the darkest part of the writing process for many of us. We’ve crafted a story that we believe in, deep within our hearts and souls, and now we have to trust that the time is right for us to realize our dreams. It can be hard to put your trust in complete strangers, but isn’t that what writing is about? If you are working towards publication (or already published) you are trusting that people who have never met you before will want to read your book. This goes beyond agents and editors: your readers will likely not know you from Adam, and that’s ok.  Your words must weave a spell, bringing complete strangers close within the web of your story.

Perhaps it is this component of anonymous trust that is most frightening about waiting: your blood, guts, and tears are in that book, and now you have to do what? But for anyone who wants to follow the traditional path to publishing, someday you will have to put your trust in the universe and release your book into the world.

It may take awhile. Some people have fabulous success stories that feel like they happened overnight, but if you scratch the surface, you will find that even the “instant” sensations spent years honing their craft and submitting their words, just like you are doing now.

So what is the key to handling the waiting period? Stay positive. I know, it’s easier said than done. I’ve found that the best way to stay positive is to apply for a mind wipe. If I can focus my energy fully on something that is not related to my precious story child, I tend to stay saner and happier while waiting for the right agent to read my book at the right moment. This month, NaNoWriMo provides an excellent distraction: we should all be so busy pounding out our 50,000 words that we forget everything else, including the dozen submissions loitering in agent’s in boxes.

Owl cupcakes from Charity to Huntress

Creature comforts and indulgences can help, too. Get a frothy cup of coffee, go for a massage, or treat yourself to that dress you’ve been eyeing for months. When we celebrate ourselves, we cultivate a mindset that is receptive to joy. Like attracts like, and you’re more likely to attract happiness when you find happiness in your daily life.

It’s challenging. Believe me, I know. I struggle with this whenever I submit a piece of writing. But if you find ways to keep yourself smiling, the trust you place in strangers will eventually pay off. So write your 1,667 words today, go to the spa, and do your best to forget about the thing you are waiting for. It’ll happen in its own time, and if you are relaxed and relatively happy, think how much sweeter your success will taste.

Jen McConnel

Blogging at: Carolina Yankee
Follow me @Twitter @YankeeWriter

Birth of a Novel Blog Chain

As of December 1st, this is now a Monday posting. If you want to join, let us know and we will add you to the side-bar. 

 

Introducing
The Birth of a Novel Blog Chain

Elizabeth Poole wrote a thought provoking post last week. Actually, why don't you pause and go read it HERE.

We ended up in an email conversation and the Birth of a Novel Blog Chain idea was born.

Every Tuesday in November, members will post a progress report and maybe a teaser from their Nano novel. Then they can visit other participants and encourage them to keep working toward their November goals.

This was designed with Nano in mind, but you don’t have to play Nano to participate. Everyone is welcome to grab a button and join the blog chain. (The buttons don't link anywhere, they just say, "Hey, I'm part of this Blog Chain.")

If you are interested email me at charity.bradford@gmail.com or Elizabeth at writer.elizabethpoole@gmail.com to get your name on the list. We will email you a list of the links in the chain to include at the bottom of each Birth of a Novel post. We will also keep a list in the sidebar on our blogs.

On Tuesday, November 1st, post your first Birth of a Novel post. Tell us your personal goals for November. Feel free to post a blurb introducing your story idea, or keep it all a secret. Then report on your progress each Tuesday in November.

The Writer's Rush

Holly, I promise to get to posts about writing craft soon. ;)

Today I'm going to answer Caroline Bridge's question. She blogs at Untitlement, and you should really check out the book covers she's made. They are all To. Die. For. I loved what she wrote with her question, so I'm putting all of it here for you to see.

Does that insane rush of first love ever return in your writing career? When I first started writing fiction, I felt like I'd discovered superpowers, a link to a fantastic new world, the candy room in Willy Wonka's factory. I still enjoy it, but there isn't that all-consuming fire anymore.

Oh, how I love that feeling she's describing. You know, when that spark of an idea takes root deep in your heart and you can't help but think about it day and night. *sigh* It really is the best feeling in the world.

I've been writing off and on for the last eight years--"playing" for most of it, but serious for the last three. And I have to say, I don't always feel that rush, the impulse that I have to write immediately or I'll go crazy. Sometimes I have to make myself sit down for "writing time". I don't think there's anything wrong with that, and I've never worried about it.

Why?

Over the last three years, I've learned that writing is a lot of work. And I'm good with that.
But I stick with it because shiny new ideas still make me giddy. Finger itchy, impatient to get quiet computer time, ready to explore a new world, giddy.

If you're not feeling that rush of first love you might need a short break. Or just a different idea. Or maybe a new slant on an idea you like, but it just isn't doing it all for you, if you know what I mean?

What do the rest of you do when you need to feel that writing rush? Where do you turn for ideas?

I think I'm just a naturally patient person (most of the time), and so when a few months go by without the rush I don't worry. There is always a new crazy dream floating around waiting to catch my attention.

Sometimes the rush only lasts a few hours or days. Those ideas get sketched and filed away. The ones that haunt me are the ones I keep coming back to. Talia. Ryanne, Elyzbeth, Elina. Some of their stories have been in my head since I was a teen. I still feel a rush when I read through what I've written. One of these days they will be polished enough that they'll make their way into the world. I don't think I could keep working and taking rejection if I didn't feel that love for their stories.

Funny, but I still don't think of them as MY stories. There's a secret hope inside me that tells me this is good. Who am I? No one. But these girls are amazing! I just have to find all the right words and string them together in the right order.

Caroline, you've made me excited for writing time today. Thanks!

This post brought to you by the supportive spouse.

Yes, my wonderful husband deserves this...

Supportive Spouse Award--Husband Edition

I had a wonderful weekend. It involved a lot of driving, around six hundred miles round trip, but it was well worth it. The reason hubby gets the award is because he let me do it, even though he didn't understand why it was important to me. 

Here's the day's timeline:
5am--wake, dress, eat, get girl's out of bed.
6am--leave for Columbia, SC with girls, hubby, and youth from out church for an activity.
10:30am--eat early lunch at Wendy's with large group of people. Survive straw fight and stray flying tomato.
11:30am--hubby heads home with friends, I fill our car up with gas and head for Woodstock, GA for Janice Hardy's early release party for Darkfall with my two daughters and one of their friends. Turn the radio up loud and sing for all we're worth.
1:00pm--stop at rest area for bathroom break. Wait twenty minutes for girls to decide what they want from the vending machines. Chase pigeons around the parking lot. Never did catch one.
Drive like crazy trying to get back on schedule. Shave off 8 minutes after driving another 100 miles. Listen to girls play the Alphabet game.
2:30pm--hit the first construction area on the edge of Atlanta. Take half an hour to travel 2 miles. Start to get frustrated. Girls start playing Sweet or Sour. (The waved at people in the cars around us. Those that waved back were sweet. Those that didn't were sour. I bet you wave the next time a stranger waves at you!)
3:00pm--Get up to 40mph, think we can make up some time.
3:15pm--move from lane 6 on far left to lane 4 in preparation for the next exit in eleven miles. While doing it watch the crazy lady behind me and chant, "stay in your lane, stay in your lane."
3:16pm--successfully switch lanes without incident.
3:16:30pm--hear a loud POP, look in rear view mirror and see the crazy lady had crashed into a car behind us. Think OMGosh! That could have been us. Thirty seconds earlier and it would have been us. Say lots of thankful prayers. Feel bad that I didn't stop to help, but scared of adding to the wreckage.
3:30pm--hit second construction zone. Feel like pulling my hair out and starting to hope that Janice is still at the bookstore by the time we get there. Think, "what if I drove all the way over here and traffic makes me so late I miss the whole thing?"
4:10ish pm--see the bookstore but can't figure out how to get there because of signs that say "no left turn" and it's on the left. Drive in circles a bit and finally get there. Look in the mirror and cringe at how I look and then realize I don't care.
4:15pm--walk in and see Janice and try not to act like a crazy stalker. You know how you feel like acting one way-A, know you should give people their space so you try to act another way-B, but come off looking completely-C...razy? Yeah, I think it might have been a bit like that.
4:20pm--pay for book and get it signed (plus to showing up late--no line?) Try not to bombard Janice with "do you remember me from your blog?", "you critiqued my story this morning", "I have such a blogger crush on you", "tell me all your deepest darkest secrets..."

Wander the bookstore, talk to some super nice people, talk to Janice some more, she agrees to do an interview for this blog (!), talk to some other friends of Janice's, buy 6 books total, win a prize basket!!! Yeah, how cool is that?
5:15pm--realize I have to leave, even though I'd like to stay all day. Drive, eat, sing to Adele, Kelly Clarkson, and Daughtry at the top of my lungs with the girls to stay awake.
11:00pm--get home in one piece, happy, content, and glad I did what I wanted to do for a change. Even if it was probably crazy.

What did I get out of this? I want to be as cool as Janice and find cute places for book signings and parties. I want to be this relaxed and approachable. The fact that I got to share it with my girls made it even better. They are now reading The Shifter (first book in the series), and as soon as I'm done here, I'm reading my signed copy of Darkfall.

Don't worry, you can pick up a copy next week!

Coming Up:

• I'll continue with the Rejection vlog series on Wednesday.
• More questions from you, my wonderful followers on Friday.
• Review of Darkfall/Interview with Janice on Monday (If she has time, she's got to be busy right now.)
• Final rejection vlog next Wednesday.
• Last questions on next Friday 
• Pre-Nanowrimo posts after that. Yep, it's already that time of year again. Can you believe it?

Are you doing Nano this year?

What Inspires Your Writing?

This week I'll be answering some of the questions you posted for me last week after THIS POST. If you didn't get a chance to ask a question, feel free to head over and leave me a comment. As I answer the question, I'm going to highlight the reader who asked it just a bit. This will give you an opportunity to meet new bloggers, and who knows, maybe find new besties.

Kiru Taye writes passionate romance novels about sexy heroes and sassy heroines in hot exotic Africa. Her (first?) book titled His Treasure, comes out December 2, 2011.

She asked, "What inspires your writing?"

There are so many things that spark ideas for me. A lot of my story ideas come from crazy dreams that I have. In fact, the Draguman from Sendek hunted me down in a dream when I was nineteen. They were a bit more like the Egyptian god Anubis, but I wrote the dream down, sketched the creatures and filed it away. Years later I pulled it out and started building a story around them. It took on a life of its own, but you know how that goes.

I also love people watching. Sitting at the playground, in the mall, in restaurants, you name it. People do so many lovely, brilliant, and stupid things. For instance, I don't drink but last week I watched people get totally sloshed on the cruise. It was the funniest thing I've ever watched. Now I can write about something I haven't personally experienced with a little more realism.

Anytime I feel strong emotions I write down how it affects my body. Trying to find the words is hard, and I don't think I've gotten it quite right, but it is a good exercise.

Music inspires me. I often wonder about the story behind the lyrics. What situation pulled that string of words from the writer? Sometimes entire stories grow from my wonderings.

Pictures, landscapes, etc. Here is a website that I like to visit and look at art. Cool Vibe

I like sci fi/ fantasy, but I'm sure you can find other places for pictures to match your preferred genre.

Now it's your turn, what inspires your writing?

Ways to get Motivated

Ok, don't forget that I have THREE prizes I'm giving away to celebrate 400+ followers. Go here to read about it and leave a comment in order to be entered in the drawing. Right now your chances are VERY good to win something in next Friday's drawing.

So, I've been struggling the last month. It's been almost a year since I tested the query waters and I need to jump back in. It wasn't all that bad the first time.

Yeah, I didn't find the right agent, but I learned a lot from the rejections I received. I found some new crit partners and worked really hard on Sendek.

So why am I scared like its the first time again?

Could it be that I'm even more invested in the story? Could it be that although I know I can handle the rejection, I really feel like my time is close?

What if it's not?

What if I never find that agent and get published traditionally?

That's still my dream, but as time marches forward the publishing industry is changing and small publishers look better and better. Even indie publishing is losing the bad rep it's had in the past.

Whatever comes, I need to get motivated and do SOMETHING! Want to see how my newest method of motivation took form?



This is my free proof copy from Createspace. When you win Nanowrimo you get one of these. I didn't do it last year, but this year I needed a boost. I needed to see my story in book form with a pretty cover and my name on it.

Part of me thought, "This might be it. The only way it will ever happen."

So I did it. Part of me thought it would be enough, you know? Then I could move on with my life.

Be normal again.

Concentrate on being a better mom, wife and friend.

It came in the mail yesterday and I carried it around with me everywhere.

• I flipped to my favorite scenes and read.
• I circled mistakes and verb tense changes that popped out at me.
• I drew squiggly lines to move phrases around.
• I marked out other words I didn't need.
• I showed it to anyone that stopped by my house.

My poor kids screamed and were so excited when they saw it. "It was published?!"

How can I let them down and give up now? They might not believe me when it really happens, but how can I not keep trying?

Yesterday I started researching agents again. I've pulled out my query letter and synopsis.

It's time to get serious again.


What do you do to pick yourself up and get motivated again? What lengths are you willing to go to?

Potential

First, a reminder that Unicorn Bell is up and running. Today Carol is talking about loglines, so check it out.

Second, how often do you think about your potential? I mean, really think about it. We have so much potential in so many different areas of our lives, that I'm willing to bet we miss a lot about ourselves.

For instance, last night my two daughters performed in a dance concert at their school. Dance is offered as an elective. One daughter chose this elective, the other was put there. Because of this and the fact that the one daughter grew really fast (she's 5'6" and not yet 14), I went into the school with a certain expectation of what I would see.

I was wrong.

So wrong that I was in tears.

Let me give some background. K (who wrote this guest post) is my oldest. She suffers from generalized anxiety, but social interactions give her an especially hard time. Over the last two years she has slowly closed herself off so as not to feel pain or disappointment, but this means she's not happy very often either. 

In fact, if you think of Violet from the Incredibles you will know exactly how my daughter functions in society. K doesn't wear black, but she never wears shorts, always wears a sweater (even in summer), and never pulls her hair back.

She performed in the first dance and did a good job. Some of the awkwardness was apparent but it was alright. She came out for the second dance and I was struck by how beautiful she is. She had pulled her hair back in a half ponytail, the rest hanging long down her back.

She walked with confidence to the center of the stage with her group.

And she lost herself in the music (embedding disabled) and the dance. It was AMAZING.

She looked like a dancer.

She was a dancer.

For that moment I could see the potential that has been buried beneath her anxiety and anger. I wept because as a mother you ache for your children to be happy and fulfilled in whatever they choose to do. K is at the jumping off point and I want her to see the beauty within herself. To have the confidence to follow her heart.

For that moment she opened herself up to feel something and I felt blessed to witness it.

As writers we do the same things. We let our anxiety or anger with how things work in this business hold us back. Maybe we try to fit ourselves into a mold we think the publishing world wants in order to reach our goals.

We need to stop. We need to listen to our hearts and let the stories flow from that place deep within us that we keep hidden out of fear.

Revision will still be necessary, but think of the lives we can touch when we are willing to bare our souls. I know I hold a lot back out of fear of being judged.

Do you hold back the best parts of yourself when you write?

Its All Subjective--Critiques

Finally! Blogger is back up and I can post today's post.

Beta readers--they are invaluable, sometimes hard to come by, and often their feedback causes a lot of confusion for the author.

One reader may return a section covered in comments and questions. They hate it, or simply don't get it and you despair. Then a second reader returns the same section with lots of comments on how brilliant you are and this is "OMGosh the best scene EVER!"

What the heck?

As the writer what do you do with this kind of information?

Do you add or change a line or two to clarify for the first reader? Will this mess it up for the second reader who already "gets" it? How do you really weigh the comments?

My initial response is, "who knows?" Here's the good news, all those comments can still trigger an epiphany for your story. The trick is not dipping too far into the despair when someone doesn't get it. (Truism: Not everyone will get your story.)

The bottom line:

What is YOUR vision for the story? Who is your audience?

As the author you get to pick and choose what comments are helpful in reaching the goal you've set for yourself.

We will never be everything to everyone.

But we can write to the best of our ability, free the stories in our mind, bring them to life and share them with everyone we can. So, stop worrying about the world in general and focus on your vision, your intended audience.

How do I find my audience to pick Beta Readers? Well, I just might be able to help with that.

Introducing....

Unicorn Bell!

Carol (you might know her as Huntress) is starting a new critique blog. She has asked Marcy and I to help out. Our goal is to help writers get some feedback on their writing through critique sessions and partner mash ups while providing a fun, safe and informative environment. Think Miss Snark's First Victim on a smaller scale mashed up with Rachael Harrie's Crusader idea.

Our official first week will be Monday, 23 May 2011. But head over today and fill out the questionnaire about what you want out of the critique sessions. It will help us meet your needs easier.

I'm so excited!

It's all subjective.

I knew this, but it didn't really sink in until this weekend. We always here that when it comes to hooking an agent you are really looking for the right person. The one that "gets" your book and makes a strong enough connection with it that they want to help you on your journey to publication.

When I sent out those first twenty queries, I searched for agents that said they like science fiction and fantasy. But you know what? There are all kinds of styles within those two genres. When querying within that umbrella, you have to find the agent that likes your style. And that's hard because it's so subjective.

sub·jec·tive
adjective

1. existing in the mind; belonging to the thinking subject rather than to the object of thought (opposed to objective).

2. pertaining to or characteristic of an individual; personal; individual: a subjective evaluation.

3. placing excessive emphasis on one's own moods, attitudes, opinions, etc.; unduly egocentric.

This finally became real this weekend. I put the top 15 short stories (from the High School Contest I helped judge) in order from my favorite to least favorite. First of all, that was REALLY hard! All the stories were really good and I felt bad putting anyone last. But it had to be done. 

Anyway, I put them in order and sent my list to the other two judges. The next day one of the other judges sent her list. My top two choices were her bottom two choices. 

Now, you have to understand our only judging criteria was pick what we liked. We didn't look at plot, characterization, setting, or anything else. Granted those affected the overall feel of the story, but we didn't break down the parts and pick the best writing. We were told to put them in order of the stories we liked the best. I picked the ones I kept thinking about. 

Subjective. 

I loved what the other judge said when she compared our lists. 
"I suspect you're watching Law and Order while I'm watching Arrested Development."

And she was right! I've never met her but she could pick that out based on how I ordered the stories. I think she must be brilliant. 

Anyway, the whole point is this:

Rejection should never send you into a depression because it's all subjective. It simply means you haven't found the right agent yet. 

One caveat--The above is true if you've done everything in your power to present agents with a polished MS. One that has gone through several rounds of critique and editing.  

So, how has this concept become real in your life? Does it still bother you?