I’ve reached the point in the second book that I need to find a book cover for it and start planning for an actual release date. I know I will have editing but I am sure I will have it done and ready by the middle of April, even if I have to pull all nighters. And by “all nighters” I really just mean not watching tv in the evenings with my husband the whole two hours before we go to bed. LOL And that takes a lot of will power. By the time we make it out of dinner time and bedtime alive, we are both too tired to do much more than decide what we’re going to watch that night. I usually get Mondays and Tuesday choice and he gets Wednesdays and Thursdays and we watch something we both decide on together on Fridays. It’s a good system.
I started to feel a little like “Meh, what if I just didn’t write today” yesterday and I started to feel bad about it. Then I thought, heck no! I’ve been busting my butt lately on finishing projects that have been sitting on the back burner for years. I deserve a break. So I did. I went upstairs, read a little of my book and then came back down to write a page of two. I guess that’s all the break I needed. So now I have two books close to publishing and that is an awesome feeling. I can’t write too much today on here as I want to use as much time as I have available to work on the books, get them rolled out faster. I am well and truly on my way to completing a lot of my goals for this year before the first quarter is gone. Unrelated news, my new cardio machine just got set up in my working area, AKA the Livingroom. I hope to add that into my daily routine while the baby is awake. We shall see how that works out. 😬
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Anyone who tells you that writing isn’t a job, needs to be shot with a Nerf gun. Writing is like a sport, you probably wont get paid for what you do unless you’re one of the lucky ones and make it to the big leagues. Writing is a job. Even if the writer is freelance or writing a novel for ten plus years, If you write with the intention of others to read it, you’re a writer and that is a job. You have deadlines, even if they are self imposed. You have management, even if it’s self management. You get reviewed and criticized, just like you would a job or a sport. You either do/write better after a poor review or you get removed/demoted from whatever status you’ve accomplished.
My job lately has come with a lot of lessons to be learned the last couple weeks. You all have seen my lesson regarding the book cover and ad promotion for my book. Now I am trying to work with all of that and make sure everyone who reads it and the next book from here on out has nothing but a positive experience. Yes, I know I can’t please everyone, but if you use a work dynamic of customer service, you can have a good basis to work with. My resume is filled with customer service work experience. It’s really all I know, except filing and spread sheets. This time around I’ve hired a professional editor. I’m going to make sure, with their notes, that everything ties in, there aren’t any plot holes. I want people who read my stories to know what the hell is going on and not have to worry about unanswered stuff as they get to the conclusion. So I have a lot of editing to do on the second book. I might revise the first one at a much later date. And I am working on a book cover to tie in with the new one for the first book. I want everything to look a little more streamlined and uniform, if that makes sense. I am nearly done with The Hunt (YA book). It takes longer to write than a script does, so that’s why I keep saying ”I’m nearly done.” I actually decided to add a whole other scene in the book, but its for the better and I think it will make for an awesome story. I might actually have a bumped up release on that one, maybe May. And the third book in the Descending series will probably be June/July, like planned. Again, this is all job stuff. I’m a stay at home mom who chases little kids around all day, wipes butts/noses, feeds mouths and gets very little sleep. And between all of that, I carve out an hour or two, if I’m lucky, or writing time a day, when I could be having a nap or a break like the rest of the working world does. You all have a great Monday at WORK. Wherever that may be. At home managing the household, in the office, in the field, on the farm, in the classroom. WHEREVER! 😊 What I’ve learned about being a self-published author this week. Advertising is everything, but you must do it smartly. I thought I had a good schedule going for my most recent promotional event with Descending Into Darkness, but I have since learned a lesson or two.
The plan was to have the Promotional FREE period, 5 days, start the day after I got the new book cover uploaded. And the advertising for it, a separate event, was going to begin the day after the 5 day FREE period started. Here’s what happened instead, the new cover is STILL not updated pending approval by Amazon and I uploaded it on Tuesday/Wednesday. It says there is a 72 hour wait period for approval but it’s been more than that and I can’t OFFICIALLY complain about it to Amazon until tomorrow, because it could be a business day thing, which I doubt seeing as it’s Amazon. What I will do differently in the future. I will wait for any changes to be completed before I schedule anything, even though I thought I had the dates scheduled just right. Thinking about all of this, helps me plan for the next book. I will schedule an ad for a week before release for pre-orders. I need to figure out a way to get a group of Reviewers prior to release. Guess I will need a few BETA Readers. If you’re interested, please let me know. It will be my first time using Beta Readers, I’m not even sure I’m using the term properly. If you’re a previously published author and have any insight for me, I would really appreciate it. I am surrounded by rambunctious children right now, so that’s all I can squeeze in for today. Hope everyone has a fantastic day! Today I saw Supernatural for the first time. When it first started I was super scared that first scene when the mom dies really freaked me out. And then when I tried to go back and watch it again I was already too far behind And we didn’t have Netflix so I waited. Now, here I am watching it from the start. I have my big girl panties on this time around and know when to cover my eyes. I don’t know why, but that scene with the mom burning on the ceiling gave me major Hebbie Jeebies, which is kinda hard to do with a paranormal show, especially on the WB/CW.
I guess I can only aspire to writing something as great as Supernatural. Sometimes I feel all over the place with my writing. Before I picked up screenwriting, I would write for a couple weeks, get really close to something and then get bored and move on. And that doesn’t include the times that I start a new project while writing another, it’s how I deal with Writers Block. Most times I toggle between two or more projects at the same time, this way, I don’t actually get writers block I just change my focus. Editing when I’m not feeling like writing, business stuff when I don’t feel like doing either, which is probably just once a week, and sometimes I take just one day where I don’t do either. I call it my writers break. There is such a thing as doing too much writing. On those days I consider whatever I’m doing, most likely watching television or reading, research. Which it kinda is. If you’re a writer, of any sort really, television, movies and books are research. So I’m going to use the 14 seasons of Supernatural on Netflix for research. It’s going to take me a long time to get through it all, but that’s ok. Seasons of all my current shows are about to come to an end and I will have some time available. Not to mention my Arrow is ending next season, and with only 8 episodes. I will be very sad when it ends but I know they will do the show and fans proud. They are ending on their terms, not anyone else’s. They have plenty of time to close story lines, tie loose ends. Make scenes that fans have been dying to see over the last seven seasons. I know a lot of Olicity shippers are really happy this season. Will all of this, between both of these shows, my Writers Muse library should be well and truly stocked. Netflix seems to add something new and awesome nearly every week. The Order is really good, the first season was so awesomely done I couldn’t wait to watch it every evening. But I HAD TO WAIT because the husband was watching it with me. LOL What’s really great about the show is that it has mystery, backstabbing, consipracy, magic, horror, romance and all without unnecessary nudity, a small budget and there wasn’t any crazy gore. Blood when necessary, of course, but not buckets of it to make it seem even more unrealistic. Sometimes less is more, especially when it comes to blood. At full circle, I am going to follow this up by writing the best action sequence I possibly can. Happy Friday! Hey friends! The first book in the Descending series, Descending Into Darkness, is available for FREE on Amazon. Follow the link below: I am super excited to share it with even more people. If you do read it, please consider leaving a REVIEW or RATE IT, I would really appreciate it.
This is my very first published work and I know it’s not perfect but I can’t make it perfect unless people give reviews 😊 Also, you dont have to wait much longer for the second book. I hope to have it available to you all by mid April. Hope you enjoy! On Tuesday my husband got a vascetomy. He talked about having one since we found out about our first child. And not in a negative way, just talking about how we could get it done if we wanted to. We had two more children since and we love the three we have but know we can’t have any more. The last pregnancy was soooo difficult for me. Not only did I have severe morning sickness, I also had a cold virus from the very start until about eight months pregnant. And for some unexplainable reason, my heart rate would sky rocket suddenly when I was at rest. It made me feel really faint and this happened all the time and no one could figure out why. The baby had heart rate issues upon delivery, just like my son before did. Needless to say, I’m done having babies myself. We are still leaving fostering and adoption as an option though, just in case we decide to do it later one.
Now, just because we are done having kids, doesn’t mean we werent both a little sad that the baby we have now is our last. I got a little sad and had a small cry about a week ago while putting the baby down for bed. My husband said he, too, got a little sad that our now 9 month old baby would be our last. Frowning up, I always thought I would have 8 children and home school them. HAHAHAHA! I nearly lose my mind on snow days when the children are out of school and stuck inside to irritate not just each other, but me, too. I’m a little sad about it, still, but I am just trying to say goodbye to a chapter in my life. I’m finished with the making babies and now just need to focus on raising the ones we have. I still have plenty of firsts to experience with the babies I have and I am so ready for them. Adalyn, the baby, is close to clapping and walking and she just started waving. She’s adorable and seems to love her mommy and daddy equally, and loves to get cuddles from Grandma whenever she sees her. I’m thankful for my husband getting this done for us, and not me. My recovery would have been so much worse. Though he’s in some pain and discomfort now, I know it’s getting significantly better each day and that he’s able to help around the house a little as he heals. I would probably still be in bed, unable to nurse or dreading when I would have to sit up to pump. And we just discovered that Adalyn hates the formula we got her. Yay! 🙄 To everyone who knows what I’m talking about, or having a hard time making the decision, it’s definitely something that needs to be made together. My husband had made sure I was done, even gave me a last chance to try for a fourth baby, but I know we are done. As much as I am going to miss holding a new baby and nursing them, cuddling with them. I can’t do pregnancy again. If we decide to have another child later, there are plenty of children out in the world that need a loving home that we can give them. ❤️ I am doing a ton of business this morning. I am finishing proofreading at nap time but for now, while the babies are still awake, I am getting some business aspects of writing out of the way. I have finally added a poster/script cover art for Summons (temporary art until I get something better) and used the marketing tool that my Gold membership gives me at FilmFreeway.com to promote my script on their Script of the Week section in their email they send to filmmakers. I don’t know if anything will come of it, but if anything, maybe they will see my name and help for recognition later on for other projects. 😊 I have a new cover in the works for Descending into Darkness book and I just schedules a promotional FREE download for. Five day period later this week, after I have the new cover.
I’m really excited for all of this. I hope it helps boost the readers and reviews for the book as well as pumps people up for the second book that is coming out next month. Speaking of which, it is at the editor now. I’m nervous about that. Someone professional, even if I’m paying them, is reading it. Today is just a try and figure things out day. I have editing to do on Across the Veil but I think I want to set that aside for just another day or two and maybe think about the third and last book in the Descending series. I don’t want it to have to be another two years before readers get a conclusion. I hope to get it done by June if I can manage it. I have the major parts in my head but I don’t have any of the details figured out. I never outline, but I know with an ending to a book series, that has had so much build up, I may need to write a few things down. Right now, I just need to survive until nap time, eat lunch so I don’t pass out and chug this coffee. What are you all doing to help your writing business? Writing? Blogging? Querying? Networking? Let me know. 😃 Yesterday my husband and I were going to take our daughter, 7, to see Captain Marvel. At the last minute she decides she would rather stay home to play Legos. Legos are important to her. She doesn’t get as much time as she’d like to build with them during the school week, so she’d actually would rather stay inside most weekends so she can play with them. We gave her a few opportunities to change her mind, but she turned us down. My parents were already close by and set to watching the other two kids so they told us to just go and have fun.
Bless them! Watching all three kids, even if she’s older, makes for a handful, especially with the baby having a little cold. Flash forward to the movie theater. We live in a small town so I bought the tickets online but we had no issues finding a seat before it started. Now, without any spoilers, the movie was fantastic. I LITERALLY needed napkins for some wet eye action at the Marvel opening tribute to Stan Lee. You’ll see why when you watch it yourself. They did a good job at honoring his memory in this movie. I got seriously emotional in a couple particular scenes and I am NOT a crier in theaters. I would rather pluck my eyelashes out than let a stranger see me cry. Too dramatic? It feels true, lol. Anyways, you’ll probably see why later. This movie really was made for women, all kinds, all ages I feel. I was sad my daughter didn’t come with us but I’m still holding out hope that she will go with me to see it again another day. 🤞🏻 The end of credits’ scenes that Marvel is famous for did NOT disappoint. It made me clap a little and, as my husband says, I “Geeked Out.” LOL It really tied in some of the tiny lose ends, unexplained storylines and stuff for the other Avengers movies. It also makes me want to get an orange cat, again, and name it Goose. ❤️ 🐈 Waiting for the END of Credits scene, a group of men, grown men, sitting behind me, started chatting with each other and one said, “If Tony Stark could knock her down a little, I’d like her powers a little more.” I really don’t know what he meant by that, as I wasn’t a part of the conversation, but I didn’t miss the whole “knocking her down” a peg remark. I very nearly turned around to let the dude have it but I knew my husband would never forgive me. He’s a quiet feminist. He would really rather those sorts of battles be fought quietly/peacefully. He is an undercover introvert. I kept to myself, but I could tell they weren’t joking, the other guys mumbled agreement and I stopped listening. I was really upset though. How can you come into a movie like this, have watched it and seen what I just did and say something like that?! Even IF, lets say IF, it was a joke, it was NOT done so in a funny manner and I hope next time the dude talks quieter. I loved the movie though. So much so, that I know we will be seeing it at least one more time in the theater and buying it with it comes out on Digital. And now back to today. Daylight savings day. It sucks. It doesn’t normally doesn’t bother me, really. But this morning my son woke up at official time 4AM, 3AM to my body. And the baby had kept us up until 11:30PM the night before. Sooo, I’m tired. I ordered groceries and they are on their way now. As soon as they deliver, I am putting myself to bed and checking out. The husband will tag in and I will plug in my earplugs for a couple hours, hopefully. I am even going to close the door!!! (We usually have to keep it open for the cat.). Everyone have a great day today and hope you all get a nap, a shower/ bath, an hour with God if you need it, a snuggle with your babies or a good read from a new book/script. Enjoy it! I think at one point in my life I imagined a writer’s life as very fantastical. Travel to wherever you wanted to find a good scene to settle into and write your book, whatever it was about. Work on your own terms, be your own boss, make money, become famous and inspire people’s imaginations.
Yeaaaah, that’s not exactly how the writer life is like for me. Granted it MIGHT and I do me MIGHT be like that when I’m much older, retired age, and my books have a little more following, if I’m lucky, but for now, I’m living at the bottom of the writer’s barrel so to speak. I know there are tons out there, mostly those who are reading this blog actually, that are in the same position. I literally envision this picture in my head when I think about my status as a writer.... https://goo.gl/images/MhdKYy When you first start out, you’re a big fat nobody. You face rejection at every turn, even your own! We are the best bullies to ourselves. We even gang up on ourselves after receiving a rejection letter or bad review from one person. Or ten. And then we have to be like Miles in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse and get back up. EVERY DAMN TIME. Editing notes, though great, informative, helpful and a learning process, still beat at your confidence. Today I’m doing more proofreading before sending my manuscript to be professionally edited/critiqued. I got back my second set of editing notes for my script so as soon as I send off the manuscript, I have more notes to pour over and decipher. I need to lose 14 pages, which I knew was coming, and even more if I can manage it. Remove more scenes, add a tiny bit to a couple more. Whenever you have to add but you also need to remove such a large chunk, things get really dicey and your skill really gets tested. I’m happy I have time to work on it, since the competition’s final entry deadline isn’t until August, I believe. All of this isn’t traveling the world, meeting new people, using them as new characters in your stories. It’s not having people recognize your name as someone who wrote their favorite book. It’s staying above water, talking yourself down from beating yourself up about getting a bad review. And if you get more than a few, accepting them and changing your writing style and tactic. So off I go into my own Writers-Verse to do more editing and try to stay sane. I picked this gig and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I just wanted to make sure people knew what you’re getting into before you chose the status of Writer. Good luck everyone! Have a great Saturday! Today is International Women’s Day. I seriously did not know there was such a day and I’m a woman. 35 years old and I never had a clue there was a day to honor my sex/gender whatever you want to call it. I’m not interested in the facts, the why’s, the how longs or why it’s just one single day, I’m just happy to be in alive in a time that on this appreciating day a movie like Captain Marvel came out with the idea of representing women on their day.
I haven’t seen it, but I don’t need to in order to tell you that it’s a fantastic movie. Well done. Great story line, amazing actors/actresses. Simply from the reactions of others I know that this was a movie that came at the right time. Amongst all the movements right now, like Me Too and Times Up, this is the perfect addition to support those things. I am excited to see it myself. I have three children, as most of you know, and I am considering dragging my mother, who doesn’t normally “do” comic book movies (Although, she did have tons of questions for me when I took her to see Captain America: Civil War 😉 😉) and my oldest daughter (7 years) to go see it together. Three generations watching a movie that has us in mind. This is the movie to our “Fight Song” I believe. 😂 This is NOT what I had planned for today’s post but it’s what came to mind when I sat down to type it out. Maybe I will make another one later today, but for now, this is perfect. Guys, you see a woman on the streeet, smile! Don’t be weird about it! Just say “good morning” and smile. The simple gesture can make someone’s day sometimes. And women, when you pass each other on the street, give a high-five 🙌🏻! It’s not weird. It might feel awkward but celebrate yourselves today! Our fight to be equal is far from over, I don’t know if it ever will be, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the accomplishments we’ve made so far. The right to vote, the right to divorce (at least in the US), the right to own property, the right to join the military, I know there are more but I just can’t think of them right now. I’ve only have one cup of coffee, so forgive me. But those are pretty big ones so woot for the memory bank! Go out! Have a fantastic day and be kind to one another! P.S. No spoilers about Captain Marvel please! 😉 |
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