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Daily Prompt – Capable.
Capable brings about so many things to think about. Am I a capable parent? Writer? Person? Student even?
What is capable actually? It goes with that word, perfect I think. The bar we set ourselves that is way too high and way off to somewhere we can’t see. Am I capable? Well I am capable of a lot of things I think.
Capable is one of those monsters that comes along with my writing. It is a little shit that sits on my shoulder and whispers nasty things to me. It’s is laden with self-doubt, self-beatings and anything negative that it wants to devour and spew out at me. It rears its head so many times, especially when I have just finished a book. That’s one of its favourite times.
It asks, are you really a writer capable of entertaining people? Capable of writing well. Of weaving such a great plot that people want to read. It picks holes in things and makes me start to doubt myself.
I have just finished the first draft of Seraph; capable and perfect are two little creatures sitting on my desk right now, jeering their nasty little words at me.
Do you really want to publish that story?
Do you think it is good enough?
What if everyone hates it?
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Whole 30 – First week
Whole 30 – First week
So, if you read my post here This Whole 30 Malarkey, you know that I had decided to do the whole30 challenge for January. What I didn’t expect was the many people who said they wanted to too and we ended up with a little group of us doing it. It’s been so great. Just having this little box where we share recipes, moans, ideas and even queries with each other. I guess it is more than an accountability group. 
We share pictures of our foods, inspire each other (I hope) and cheer each other along. SO far, it has been great.
It has been great for me because my mind kicked in. My head decided to ask me many times, why am I doing this? Why am I depriving myself of chocolate, sugar, cookies etc. Not things I would normally eat, but things I suddenly decide I want. But then I don’t really want them, just more of my mind saying, what for? Just eat a damn piece of cheese on toast if you want to.
I don’t, though. Because I would have to tell my little group that I did it.
Saying that, the week hasn’t been hard. My sugar headache actually started on the afternoon of day one. I was shocked really. I didn’t think I consumed enough sugar to get one, but clearly, I did. I think I am doing okay now and even though it is only day five, the first difference I am noticing is that afternoon lull. Usually around 2pm I would start to get tired. It has been known for me to lean on my desk and fall asleep during writing or studying. I haven’t done that in the last couple of days. I can only assume it is this whole 30.
People say that their skin improves. Maybe that is a woman thing. I find I have sudde3nly gone back to my teenage years and woken up with a break out … it isn’t very attractive. I am hoping this phase passes. God knows what that is. 
I have struggled with snacking. Not that I snacked on anything bad, but I needed to snack and the point of this is that you eat enough that you don’t need to. I think mine is habit. I am an ex-smoker and so my mouth still gets bored and I chew on stuff. I can’t now. Today was my first real snack free day.
I did defeat the snack monster yesterday, until the evening, then it reared is ugly head and yelled in my face. But today, I kicked its arse.
The other problem I faced was drinks. Usually in the evening I’ll have a beer, some fruit water and a hot chocolate (not together of course) but with this, I was limited to coffee and plain water. Damn I was needing something. Then one of my little croup suggested water infusion, and OMG I have been saved. Thank you, Yvette. Now I have sparkling water and fruits and one happy hydration going.
So on to week two 🙂
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Writers and Taking Time off
Take time off
I know … I know. This is totally contradictory of what I have been saying … write, write, and write, but I mean after you have done the writing thing. 
I find I must be strict with myself. I even have an alert on my phone that says, time off … that means stop working. Many times, I ignore this, of course. I find I easily work on my writing from 9 am until I feel guilty that I have left my other half alone, again, for the full day. But the problem is, I feel, terribly guilty. It’s like well, I have an hour. I could play some Warcraft or my PlayStation. The little geek inside me gets all excited but it is soon quashed by the writer, the one who says, well you could, but that’s another hour you could write. Like bloody Jiminy Cricket on my shoulder, the writer lays guilt and shame on my shoulders until I retreat to my office and write some more.
Time off is good, though. Do you ever realise that you get the best ideas when you’re in
the shower or doing the dishes … i.e., when you’re not writing? Suddenly that little thing you were stuck on springs alive and you have a solution. This is the importance of time off. Because those chores are time off your writing. So, if you take time off that is pleasurable, unless you are one of those sadistic types who enjoys housework, do something fun. Your brain will still be percolating over your stories.
If you must … if you’re like me. Book time off with yourself. Honour it. Pretend that time off is like letting down a friend.
Stick to it.
So, this is me … end of my working day … prying my damn fingers from the keys. Ack!!!
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Do you read while you write?
Do you read while you write?
I always found this a funny question. It dropped into my inbox today from one of the writing things that I subscribe to. It got me thinking about this. I hear it all the time. The other day I was listening to a pod cast from Seth Godin, who says he does not. But then if you follow Stephen King, he reads every day and maybe gets through a couple of books a week. In fact, the quote from him that goes around is that if you do not have the time to read, you don’t have the time or skills to write.
I remember when I started to work on my first novel, many years ago, and someone said you can’t read and write at the same time. This was before Facebook so I was reading 2-3 books a week, and the prospect of not reading had my little inner nerd bending down and crying with an almighty tantrum. What do you mean I can’t read if I am writing? That’s like choosing between breathing and my heart beating. I need both.
So, I carried on reading and writing and what I found was that, yes, the others authors voices filtered into mine. The emotions of their charters made my characters feel, certain ways too. But this wasn’t bad. I wasn’t copying story, no, I was feeding my must with all this stuff.
For me, I have decided, how can you learn if you do not fuel yourself with everything around you? Reading for me helps me to write. Reading for me is something that stimulates my brain. It helps me observe pace, structure, character development, plots and so much more. It stops me becoming stale. I can see new things that work and I might never have thought of.
For me, reading while writing is a great thing.
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The Dreaded Opinion … I mean review.
I think one of the best pieces of advice I can give to a new writer, well newly published that is, is don’t read your reviews. I remember in the days of my first book out and I would check Amazon daily … hourly in some instances. Smiling at each 5-star reviewing, scowling at the odd 4 star. Then horror, I got my first one star review. 
It made me so mad and upset. I wanted to get hold of the reviewer and explain why they were wrong.
Of course, that was not my last 1-star reviews. I even had someone on Goodreads rate all my books 1-star. I wanted to ask, if you don’t like the first book, why buy, and read the rest? Still weird to me that one.
Now we all know that reviews are needed to help authors sell more books. But I have concluded that reading them, does not help the author in anyway shape or form.
For one, if an author tried to tailor each book to the words of past reviewers, the author would in fact lose their mind. It would be an impossible feat. Most low reviews do not offer anything constructive. In fact, many of them are downright rude and need a lesson or two about manners. 
I say this with absolute conviction. Never, ever, ever read your reviews.
They slaughter you, gut you. They send you to the corner wailing like a banshee. And for what? Someone wanted to post their opinion on Amazon? That’s all it is. Someone’s opinion. But I tell you something, you might think you can handle it, but you can’t … don’t even try to talk yourself into it. It doesn’t work. It feels very personal. They can make you hate your work, doubt yourself and ruin something good you have going.
If you love writing, have fans who love reading your writing, leave it there.
Do not go into the light … I mean review section.
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Write Every Day.
I have read so many times that a writer, must write every day, no matter what. It doesn’t matter if they’re in the mood for it, they have to write.
Yet, so many would be writers wait until they are inspired or in the mood for it. This isn’t sex … this my friends, is something called fear.
Fear likes to find excuses for us not to do things.
To write, you must show up at the page every single day. Turn up when you’re sick, when you’re tired, even when you are dead.
You must write.
All writers have bad days with their work. Shit, you can have bad weeks and months where you write nothing but shit and all you want to do is delete it. You might even delete it all the very next day. Who cares? You write, and that is the point.
Not writing is fear. It is self-doubt and it is an asshole that comes along and steals the writer’s soul. Write daily to break it. To say to fear and resistance that you’re not going to stand for it. That is can piss off.
There is a quote and forgive me, I don’t remember who said it, but they quite rightly say, you cannot edit a blank page.
Plus, I also believe that writing, especially the crap stuff, it clears out the rubbish from our minds. Like emptying out the debris so we can refill.
If you want to be a writer, you must write. It is that simple.
A surgeon always operates, if they don’t, they hget behind with their skills. Even hairdressers should work almost daily so that they can keep their skills fresh.
But imagine a heart specialist
“Sorry, sir. We’ll do your triple bypass after I have done the laundry, fed the cat, oh and washed the curtains. I’m just not in the mood today.”
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Tribe – If you build it, he will come.
Do you ever see those adverts on the television or hear them on the radio? You know the ones from your phone company or television provider? They’re always doing deals for new customers. Have you have called them and said, what deal can you do for me? I’ve been with you ten years. Shouldn’t there be something for the loyal customers?
It really annoys me that new customers can get a package for half price and I get nothing. I mean I get that they want to chase new customers, but really? Look after the ones you have.
I see this in the writing world. Haha see, I had a point and I wasn’t talking television 😉
I see a lot of authors doing takeovers and conventions where they offer deals for new fans and readers. Where they are chasing the new blood. I try not to do that. I have a team who help me. I have a little family of readers, fans, friends. They fit into all categories. To me they are that tribe thing. I try to give them offers on merchandise. I try to share things with them. Reward them. Just a month back I threw a party in honour of my team. My way of saying thank you.
I think this should be taken into account. Don’t chase the new readers all the time. Yeah, it’ll make your fan base grow, but so will keeping your tribe warm by the fire with camp side stories. If you build a little family, people will come.
Your tribe will shout from the rooftops how fantastic you are and people will want to join.
Isn’t it better to have the friends who’ll drop in constantly, rather than ignoring them and chasing the ones that might give you a quick hello?
Not that I am saying chasing new readers is bad, just like these media providers, don’t forget to look after your tribe. After all, they’re the ones who come and find you when you get lost in the woods.
This is why I have my little wolf club. You’re welcome to join us. 
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Author Takeovers
Takeovers
I remember when I was first introduced to takeovers. My lovely wonderful … most awesome PA would sign me up for them, or try to and I would be eekkkk!!! Run a mile. I am not a talker, the thought of them had me running for the hills. I knew I would be a laughing stock, or … no one would come. I really didn’t want to do them.
Then … someone I know had had another author drop out, last minute. So, I agreed to help … like the good friend that I am. She told me it didn’t matter if I didn’t stay. Or if I did badly, just post some stuff … well. It was one of the best things I did.
Now, when I do takeovers, I am lucky if I don’t get a Facebook ban for being so chatty. God forbid, you be social on social media … I mean come on!!! What are you thinking? Social media is for complaining and sharing pictures of cats and what you ate for dinner.
Anyway. I am not bragging here, but I have never had a bad takeover. Except when I got banned, but that was for being too loud as it were. They do go down a treat, though.
I see takeovers like I would if I was appearing at a party and for an hour I was to be a host. As in a real life, face-to-face par – tay. You wouldn’t stand in the corner and just hand out leaflets and posters for your books, would you? I wouldn’t. But I see in takeovers that is what so many authors do. It is bam, bam, bam with books ads.
When I go in, I always introduce myself. This is what I would do in a real-life event. I then then talk. Usually I say ask me anything, or ask how they are doing. The people there come to chat to me, they don’t come to be bombarded. I tend to sit in this thread the entire evening. Sort of like I would stand at a place in a party and people would come and chat to me.
Of course, I share promo posts and snippets and contests, but they come second to what I am doing. I go there with the intentions of meeting new people, making friends and having some fun. I am not saying my way of doing takeovers is perfect., but it has never done me wrong.
I also give away a free book. Always the same book, but for people who have never seen me before, don’t know my books, then I know they may be a little standoffish to purchase my books. So, I give them one. Usually I hand out my Rise of the Phoenix book. It is the first in my series, but it is also a novella. But this gives people a taste of my world, my writing and me.
Tips for takeovers –
- Interaction is your number one priority.
- Post at a good frequency
- Follow up if you hold a contest
- Give away something of yours for them to read.
- Do not bombard with adverts
- Friend people and show an interest in them.
- Treat it like you are at a real-life party.
- Have fun.
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Opening Scenes
Opening Scenes
When you are choosing your next book to read, how do you do it? For me, I am drawn first by the cover … bollocks to that ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ bullshit. I do. That’s what draws me in and if it wasn’t an issue, then why do we bother with covers? Beat that one, Oh, ole’ weird quote maker person.
But the other thing I do is open the book and read the first line, first paragraph and if you still have me by the end of the first page, chances are, I’ll buy the book.
Now … as someone who edits/reads for people, I come across books where the beginning is quite frankly, boring. And I don’t mean to sound mean with that ( I do, but shush) but I hate books that start with an information dump. I don’t want to know when swords were first invented, who owned it before the current owner, or that it was passed down through generations. The first page needs to be, Protagonist cut blah blah’s head off and reeled back with laughter … kind of thing. You get my meaning?
Don’t give me a history lesson. Smack me in the damn face with action.
If it is important to tell me the history, tell it to me in bits so I don’t notice. Now, I actually took history at school, as a choice, but shit, it was still hard when I wanted to learn it. Now, reading books … you’re gonna have to sneak it in. You know mash my carrots into my potato kind of thing so I don’t see it?
I think when a book starts with history, it is a sure sign of a new writer. Someone who is finding their feet and their voice.
I did this once. Believe me I so did. When I first wrote cade and Gemma, it started with them having coffee. It started with them talking about the bloody coffee … really, it was that crap. They even joked about said coffee, while, me, the author, filled in their history between that coffee chat. It was years later, someone said to me, take out the chapters till the action starts. Does it miss anything?
This meant taking out ten chapters. That was almost 20,000 words. I swear, I cried. I hugged those damn words like they were my children. But slowly, as I picked myself up and peaked at what was left, I realised that I had cut the fat from my overweight first opening and now had one fantastic toned and trimmed beginning.
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Author Mason Sabre 