Got Humor? Many times, I've said, "It's either laugh or cry." Ever feel that way? I thought so. It's past my bedtime, and I'm not finished with most of the items on my writer's to-do list. There's a suitcase in the corner of the room that I should be packing for an upcoming trip. My clothes are still in the dryer and won't be folded tonight.
Put some humor into your day.
Here are some humorous books. David Sedaris is one of my favorite humorists. This week during the commute, I'm listening to his latest book, Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls.
After you check out the list, be sure to enter my giveaway in the Rafflecopter below. One winner will receive a $10 Amazon or B & N gift card. The widget will select the winner at midnight at the end of the month. Legal guidelines can be found in the widget as well. Thanks for visiting!
Have a funny book, show, or movie to recommend?  Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger.
Bloggers are in the first week of the A to Z Challenge. I'm posting quotes for every letter of the alphabet. Today, we address the letter "C". It's also the Insecure Writer's Support Group Day.  Click this badge to visit more blogs | Too Cautious "There are many talented people who haven't fulfilled their dreams because they over thought it, or they were too cautious, and were unwilling to make the leap of faith."
James Cameron, Director
| | | Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger. | I'm usually too cautious. Fear of failure and making the wrong decision can be paralyzing. I'm inspired by James Cameron's quote and by stories of successful authors. I've recently read several books by Jennifer Armentrout. This author has successful books and an agent. She wrote a book in the New Adult category and could not find a publisher who would bite on it. She decided to take a risk and do something she'd never done-- self-publish. Her novel, Wait for You, debuted on USA TODAY Bestseller’s list at #61 and on New York Times’ at #25. You can read the story of this publication at http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/new-york-times/ . Later, Jennifer L. Armentrout signed a six-figure, three-book deal With HarperCollins for Wait for You. You can read that story at this link.
A Teen Asked Me for Writing Advice  I had the chance to talk to some high school classes in January. Several students asked questions after the class ended. I gave the students my email address in case I didn't get to answer their questions.
One student emailed me asking for advice. I sent an email with lots of blog links and online resources. This student writes science fiction/fantasy. Here is the first response I sent:
DEAR (omitting his name),
It sounds like you have a good grasp of your genre. First, let me commend you for wanting to learn more about how this works. It's what I wish I had done many years ago instead of blindly sending a manuscript out to agents.
If I am not giving you the answers you're looking for in this email, feel free to ask specific questions. It might be good to know several things. I'm going to list some online resources:
- I love the resources at Writers Digest and this page of links is for the sci-fi/fantasy author http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-articles/by-writing-genre/science-fiction-fantasy
- I realize your story isn't children's fiction, but this is a website with worksheets and advice that is fantastic: http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/ . There is a specific plotting worksheet that I've used many times to see if I am on track: http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/03/plotting-made-easy-complications.html I also like this one about concept: http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2012/09/concept-begins-from-line-one-or-whats.html
- Also, do you use Microsoft Word? Most publishers and agents require a document formatted a certain way according to guidelines they will post on their websites.
- This guy named Nathan Bransford used to be an agent. I got rejected by him. :( Nevertheless, I think he is awesome. His blog has lots of good information: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/
- So, the last thing is to submit to a publisher or agent. This website is free and has listings: http://www.querytracker.net/ . You want to find a publisher who publishes what you write. You might look at some authors you admire, find his/her book on Amazon, and see who the publisher is for that author.
This young man emailed me again to thank me for the links. Then, he asked, "Is there anything you can personally advise?"
I must admit that I sat there for a minute, scratching my head. Hmm....what exactly should I say? You'll want to quit but don't. This is harder than it looks. There will be days when you want to throw the manuscript in the trash and go back to watching television and hanging out with friends and doing nothing.
I didn't want to say all those things.
Instead, my second email response advised him to join a writing and/or critique group. I told him that family, friends, and teachers may be supportive, but other writers are the best support system you can have for this journey. I offered to help him find one. Maybe I'll get to do that. I hope so.
I'd like to give a special shout-out to all the writers who have helped me along the way. I appreciate you all.
 Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger.
Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger. You can inspire and support all the writers by visiting them from the linky list HERE.  I had my second booksigning experience. If you've been following my blog, you read a post HERE about my first one in December of 2012.The December booksigning was in my hometown. I thought that my friends would come out to support me. And they did. I didn't worry as much about people showing up to the second one. It wasn't because I thought readers would line up for it. I'm not delusional. The second signing occurred at a special bookstore, That Bookstore in Blytheville (TBIB).
 Grant Hill and Cheryl Johnson The bookstore is a small, independent one that is known statewide for its support of authors. John Grisham was an unknown author with his first novel when TBIB hosted a signing for him. Other authors they've hosted include: John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Pat Conroy, President Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton.
Grant Hill, a new owner, was everything you want from a bookstore owner. He was friendly, funny, and warm. He's the type you feel you'd like to call your friend. For crying out loud, the man keeps his rescued dog, Jazz, inside the store. He told funny stories and made me feel welcome. He said he needed a picture with me for the day when I hit the bestseller lists. <3
Cheryl Johnson is the YA book guru. I met her a couple of years ago in the store and knew I liked her. She loves YA, so I get her. I enjoyed hearing about her favorites. I also commend her for getting local teens interested in young adult fiction. She arranged my two school visits and accompanied me for the afternoon. Kudos to Cheryl.
 TBIB has a tradition of having the visiting author autograph one of their wooden chairs. I boldly signed my name beside Charlaine Harris (author of the Sookie Stackhouse books on which True Blood is based). It's also the same chair that John Grisham signed.
So, now you are wondering why I've posted this event under the Support Group heading. I know all that stuff above makes me sound so lucky. Why would I need your support?
I worry about being as good as the authors I read. The self-doubt creeps in and WHAM...I wonder if I'm pretending I can do this. I think it's too hard and too risky and too subjective.
Of course, I also used to worry that I'd never get published.
So, today I'm here to encourage you. Focus on your accomplishments. Know you are taking the same baby steps that someone else had to take. Keep the faith.
 Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger. You can inspire and support all the writers by visiting them from the linky list HERE
 Hello 2013. Here's to another year of making plans, deadlines, and resolutions. STOP!I don't want to greet December 2013 with a list of unfinished items. I'm joining Christa Desir's campaign to start the year right. It's called the Jan Plan. It helps to start with one month of completing a project that's been pushed to the back burner.
" So I conceived of the idea of the JanPlan. This is the month for all of us to take a project and finish it. It can be anything...book, cleaning out the garage, knitting a sweater...it doesn't matter. Just whatever you have been putting off, it is time to finish. The holidays are over, it is the perfect time to start fresh and get focused." ~ Christa Desir
My JanPlan goal is to complete the Empowering Characters' Emotions packet from Margie Lawson's Writer's Academy. That's it. I have other things I am working on this month, but that self-study packet is important to me. I keep putting it off. I'm looking forward to 2013 and like the thought of baby steps toward accomplishing a lot. Have you ever seen the movie, What About Bob? I love this one. Yeah. Baby steps.
 My sister and niece I stress.It's true. I try to hide it. Act calm. Carry on. Etcetera. I've been lucky in the past 30 days. Things have gone well. So, I think I'll take a deep breath and be thankful for all the goodness in my personal and professional life. If you've been with me here, you know that I've had a lot going on in the last month. I've done two television interviews without succumbing to Tourette's (a disorder I don't have but fear I'll exhibit while in a public forum). I've hosted my niece's wedding. I planned a book signing with 10 authors for the short story anthology, Wild at Heart, which is dedicated to charity. On Saturday, I had my first signing for The Waiting Booth at a local bookstore. The Waiting Booth is my debut YA book that recently released in print. So for all you worriers like me, know this. Sometimes it all comes together. It was a sold-out event.My sister deserves a lot of the marketing credit. She messaged all her friends on Facebook and asked them to share the book signing announcement on their walls. She also made her famous cupcakes for the event. Most important, she kept me positive. Writers are an insecure bunch. We truly are. I had a vision of no one approaching the book signing table. Or worse, a customer would approach and ask for another book in the store. My plan was to seek solace in the cupcakes. In addition to my sister's request to our friends, readers also shared on their Facebook walls. If you doubt the power of social media, here is my testimony that it worked for this event. I noticed a bump in online sales over the weekend as well. Readers asked me if there would be more in stock before Christmas. It's enough to make an author dream of snow and sugarplums....and bestsellers. I am grateful for wonderful family, friends, and readers who support me. Last week's winner of November Reader Appreciation Month is Sherry Isaac, who blogs at Psychological Sizzle. Sherry will receive an Amazon or Starbucks $5 gift card. I have more surprises for December!
 Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger. You can inspire and support all the writers by visiting them from the linky list HERE.
Sometimes I need a boost for my writing attitude as well as other areas of my life. Here's some people on Twitter who have shared their motivational wisdom. Hope you have a motivated day!  Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger. This month, there are over 300 bloggers you can support by visiting them from the linky list HERE.
I'm afraid of dropping the ball.
 This week's task list: - judge a pitch contest
- host a guest on the blog
- respond to comments on my guest post at Gloria Richard's (see above)
- arrange a conference for day job
- figure out how out to get rid of the one tiny character in the footer line (Â) on the new website I made for my day job
- go over last planning details for a book signing in November for Wild at Heart
- send winner a gift card after Banned Books giveaway ends on Saturday. You still have time to enter.
- plan a book tour to celebrate print release of The Waiting Booth (released in print last Friday)
- write a book review.
- switch from FeedReader to MailChimp for blog subscriptions
- WRITE, REVISE, QUERY,..
 Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger. What's going on in your world? Are you still juggling everything?
 Some rights reserved by SweetOnVeg (click image to go to Flickr.com) Believe in hard work.
Believe in learning.
Believe in your talent.
Believe in luck.
Believe in friends.
Believe in YOURSELF.
 Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger. I'm also at Gloria Richard's blog with a guest post called Instant Gratification with Instagram. Click HERE to read about this fun and addictive social media. If you are participating in Deanna Barnhart's brilliant blogfest called GUTGAA, click HERE to read my Meet & Greet post.
 If you are looking to win some books, my last post is the Summer Giveaway Hop. You could win 3 books. Don't forget to enter. Today's post is a regular one that you see the first Wednesday of each month. It's part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group founded by Alex Cavanaugh. If you'd like to find out more about joining, click HERE to visit Alex's blog. He's the author of Cassa Star and Cassa Fire as well as being a super-nice blogger. Fear of Blog RejectionSomeone unsubscribed from my blog the other day. It's not the first "unsubscribe" notification and certainly won't be the last. As bloggers, we write in anticipation of being read by the masses. We want to know that our words are meaningful or entertaining in the very least. We love comments that validate engagement with the content. When someone unsubscribes, it's like a tiny spear of an email that pierces my delicate writer's heart. I try to tell myself that I know my blog isn't for everyone. Or maybe the unsubscriber needed to thin the email inbox because he is overwhelmed with the barrage of messages. When I really try to cheer myself up, I pretend that Mr./Ms. Unsubscriber preferred to read it in the RSS reader instead of by email. I might even have a cookie at that point. After finishing that peanut butter cookie with a chaser of milk, I ultimately concede that the reader probably didn't like my blog. It's okay. I don't care for the works of every singer, artist, baker, cake decorator, or hip hop dancer out there. And not everyone is going to like me as a writer/blogger. I get that. I'm over you Mr./Ms. Unsubscriber.
|
RSS Feed
