I see people apologizing for their genre, what they write, where or how they're published... Or, maybe apologizing isn't the right word. The right word is dismissing their accomplishments. STOP THIS. If you weren't comparing yourself to someone else, would you be using phrases like, "Oh, I just do (insert thing here)..." or "It's not … Continue reading STOP APOLOGIZING
writing
YAY! I made it! Oh, wait…
A frenzy of self-publishing followed Amazon's program to allow authors to publish their own works. A bit slowly at first, and then an explosion in 2011 and 2012, which is still exploding. And no, Amazon wasn't the only company, but they were, and still are, the largest. Some of the big names to come out … Continue reading YAY! I made it! Oh, wait…
Things We Forget
I remember a moment of time before I signed my first publication contract when I would hear published authors say - All of you newer writers, enjoy this time of no deadlines, where you are writing purely for the joy of writing. Where you can shut out the world, deadlines, editors, and critics and just … Continue reading Things We Forget
what the BL*RB to write next
You wanna write books that'll sell? Sell them to yourself first. The more years I spend writing, the more I see the benefits of having a workable pitch before I start writing, and the more I beg others to do the same. This helps keep the focus of the project as narrow as it … Continue reading what the BL*RB to write next
Identity Crisis
When I first began writing, I had no notions of writing YA. I was going to be the next Nora Roberts or Sophie Kinsella. I hadn't decided quite yet. And then I read Sarah Addison Allen, and I was terrified I'd never be able to write like that (I won't, and that's ok. We're different). … Continue reading Identity Crisis
Humilty & Ego
There's a place for both humility and ego in any creative project. Ego has its place in drafting, in creating, in crafting... Humility is needed for editing and yes, crafting goes here too. The one time I get the perfect balance of humility and ego is when I'm working on a project with another author. … Continue reading Humilty & Ego
On The Other Side of Fear
Yeah, I'm late to see THIS VIDEO. I don't care. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, the final thought was - "On the other side of your maximum fear, are the best things in life." And I've been thinking about how this pertains to writing. And how so many of us writers, … Continue reading On The Other Side of Fear
Wanna Know How/Where to Start Your Novel?
Wanna Know How/Where to Start Your Novel? Read a TON of first chapters. I'll talk about published ones today, and unpublished ones in another post. On my week of not-writing, one of the things I did was go to Amazon and read a TON of first chapters. (I may write up something on how important … Continue reading Wanna Know How/Where to Start Your Novel?
A Few Fav Blurb/Query Helps
This is a post I've meant to do for AGES. I'm sure I'll come back and edit this post as I find new ways to write blurbs, but these are my favs... for now. Helping someone else with their blurb or query is simple. Working one up for myself? Not as simple. There was a blissful … Continue reading A Few Fav Blurb/Query Helps
the HONEYMOON phase
If you're a writer, you probably know how this applies to writing - That delightful time when you've found a shiny new idea and the character is solid in your mind and the words are flowing, and it's MAGIC. And you really don't want to do anything else or work on anything else because, hello, … Continue reading the HONEYMOON phase
