I've Got The Blogging Blues...Bluck! *the word BLOG causes me to vomit a little in my mouth*10/14/2014
3) I'm not consistent. This is a huge factor, and I realize that. The more you blog the better the audience... so they say. But this also goes back to #1: I don't know what to blog about.
4) Blogging takes time and energy. The older I get, the less I seem to have of either of those things. *I like naps. I like them a lot* No, blogging isn't all that bad. It can actually be quite rewarding, and for many years, it was. I LOVED it. I loved the blogging community and received a ton of support. People commented on posts and found them either informative or entertaining (a combination of both is A+). I still receive over a 1000 hits a day on my blog, which is pretty dang awesome, but for the right here and the right now? I don't know. I guess I need an attitude adjustment. I think for starters, I need to start blogging about things I truly enjoy--audience or not. I love zombies. I love food. I love humor. I love reading. I love watching reality shows. I love my whack-a-doodle family (yeah, if you met my kids and husband, you'd have to agree they're nuts). So, I'm going to focus on those things and give blogging a second chance *swallows back the bile that rises in my throat at the very mention of blogging* Either people will like the change, or people will be like, "What does vegan meatloaf and hairy backs have to do with anything?" Either way, it's a start. Be prepared to read some weird crap. Apparently, Blogging Blues is a real thing. I'm not the only one to experience it. If you're here because you, too, also have the blogging blues, take a look at a couple of these websites. I did, and I plan to put some of their ideas and suggestions to use. Hopefully, you will find something to help you find your blogging self again. Got the Blogging Blues? Ready to give up? Here’s what to do! Beat the Blogging Blues. 15 Topics for Blogging Blues Curing the Bored Blogging Blues
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ZIA The Teenage Zombie & The Undead Diaries |
I was at a work luncheon yesterday afternoon, and I was telling several of my coworkers about my books, my new release in December, and my writing. The question came up, "How do you come up with your story ideas?" I couldn't answer. The question stumped me. It's like asking me how I make my heart beat or how I learned to breathe. My heart just does. My lungs just do. |
So here's the thing: I have a contract for my work in progress, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, with my publisher Evolved Publishing. This is awesome. I have an idea. I have a deadline. AND my publisher wants to publish it. All I did was pitch the idea and they said okay. It's great to be at that point in my writing career that my publisher trusts me to produce a well-written novel just by idea alone. I've proved myself, and my publisher is giving me free-reign to create this book. The contract is signed. My deadline is February 2015 to have it completed. Plenty of time. Totally Awesome. |
The problem is that even though I have an idea and a story concept, these characters aren't speaking to me quite yet. True, I'm only two chapters into the story and I haven't given it my full hearty-ho (Yeah, I have no idea what that word is either, but you get the gist, I hope). But when I'm being pulled in other directions by other characters in other works in progress, I know I'm in trouble.
Authors Publish posted this image on Facebook, and when I saw it pop up on my timeline I knew I just HAD to do this.
I'm pledging to do this. I am certain that a page a day is doable--even when I get home from a long day at work, I think I can kick out a page.
I have three projects tugging at my brain, so this should be easy, right? Let's hope so (nothing is always as easy as it seems).
But to take this goal on, will give me 30 new pages by the end of the month.
Sometimes, a person needs a goal to make the words and story come together. We need a nudge.
Here is my nudge.
If you need a nudge too, then join me. Make your pledge by clicking on the picture above and leaving a comment, or by leaving a comment here. Let's do this together.
Good luck.
Now get writing! :)
I'm pledging to do this. I am certain that a page a day is doable--even when I get home from a long day at work, I think I can kick out a page.
I have three projects tugging at my brain, so this should be easy, right? Let's hope so (nothing is always as easy as it seems).
But to take this goal on, will give me 30 new pages by the end of the month.
Sometimes, a person needs a goal to make the words and story come together. We need a nudge.
Here is my nudge.
If you need a nudge too, then join me. Make your pledge by clicking on the picture above and leaving a comment, or by leaving a comment here. Let's do this together.
Good luck.
Now get writing! :)
EDITOR REVISED AND IMPROVED:
The end of the world? That’s the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters and deep philosophical exercises in school. No need to sweat it. So when sixteen-year-old Tess’s doomsday-dad builds a bomb shelter in their suburban backyard, everyone thinks he’s gone crazy....
...Until fire rains down from the sky, sinking whole cities into colossal-sized craters and setting much of the world ablaze.
Tess’s dad gives her a few short minutes to gather her emergency bag and her freaked-out kitten, then leads her outside and into the underground shelter. Terrified, the last thing she expects is for him to leave her there all alone, but he has no choice—he must find her missing brother.
Before leaving, he makes Tess promise to keep the hatch door shut, not to open it for anyone but him, and to stay put until he returns.
But he forgot to tell her one thing: What is she supposed to do if he never comes back?
The end of the world? That’s the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters and deep philosophical exercises in school. No need to sweat it. So when sixteen-year-old Tess’s doomsday-dad builds a bomb shelter in their suburban backyard, everyone thinks he’s gone crazy....
...Until fire rains down from the sky, sinking whole cities into colossal-sized craters and setting much of the world ablaze.
Tess’s dad gives her a few short minutes to gather her emergency bag and her freaked-out kitten, then leads her outside and into the underground shelter. Terrified, the last thing she expects is for him to leave her there all alone, but he has no choice—he must find her missing brother.
Before leaving, he makes Tess promise to keep the hatch door shut, not to open it for anyone but him, and to stay put until he returns.
But he forgot to tell her one thing: What is she supposed to do if he never comes back?
Here it is! I'm excited about this cover for ANYONE? (Designed by the fabulous and super talented Mallory Rock). Help spread the word and enter the giveaway for a chance to win some awesome prizes! (SEE RAFFELCOPTER AND PRIZE PICS BELOW)
Genre: Young Adult, Apocalyptic
Coming DECEMBER 1, 2014
BLURB (in process):
Coming DECEMBER 1, 2014
BLURB (in process):
No one expects the end of the world to actually happen. Worse yet, few people prepare for the possibility. But when fire rains down from the sky, sinking whole cities into colossal-sized craters, sixteen-year-old Tess is more than grateful for her doomsday dad and the bomb shelter in their suburban backyard—however crazy it seemed at the time.
Tess’ dad gives her a few short minutes to gather her emergency bag and her freaked-out kitten before leading her outside and shoving her into the underground shelter. Terrified, the last thing she expects is for her dad to leave her there all alone, but he doesn’t have much of a choice; he has to find her missing brother.
Before leaving, he makes Tess promise to keep the hatch door shut, not to open it for anyone, and to stay put until he returns.
The one thing he forgot to tell her, the most important thing of all, is what she’s supposed to do if he never comes back.
NOW FOR THE PRIZES!!!!
Except for that one time a few months back where I tried my hand at working outside the home and ended up quitting after a day (you can read about that HERE), I haven't been a part of the work force for almost 17 years. Yep, 17 years.
Don't get me wrong, I've done "stuff" like running an eBay store for over two years on my own, and then of course, working on my writing career. Not to mention raising three kids--the most important job of all. So it isn't like I've been home watching TV and doing nothing (Okay, I've had those days too). But still.
I've been thinking of finding a part-time job to supplement my husband's income. We've got growing kids with growing needs, and now that they're a bit older, I feel like this is a perfect time to jump back into the work force. I don't need a job, per se, but extra play money would be great (my daughter is a cheerleader... do you know how expensive that can be? EXPENSIVE. And I will have two teenagers next year. Two. That's not cheap).
Well, I found the perfect part-time job. It's with my local school district in their main offices. It's only 16 hours a week, two days a week. The hourly pay is awesome, better than I had anticipated when deciding to get out there and test the working waters. AND to top it all off, it's like five minutes away from my house, if that. It's near my children's schools. I get to dress in business casual (had to go shopping since I tend to wear pj's all day). It's absolutely ideal. I couldn't have asked for better. Really. Nothing better. The pay is great. The working environment will be great. The hours are great.
Then why the heck am I so freaked out?
Don't get me wrong, I've done "stuff" like running an eBay store for over two years on my own, and then of course, working on my writing career. Not to mention raising three kids--the most important job of all. So it isn't like I've been home watching TV and doing nothing (Okay, I've had those days too). But still.
I've been thinking of finding a part-time job to supplement my husband's income. We've got growing kids with growing needs, and now that they're a bit older, I feel like this is a perfect time to jump back into the work force. I don't need a job, per se, but extra play money would be great (my daughter is a cheerleader... do you know how expensive that can be? EXPENSIVE. And I will have two teenagers next year. Two. That's not cheap).
Well, I found the perfect part-time job. It's with my local school district in their main offices. It's only 16 hours a week, two days a week. The hourly pay is awesome, better than I had anticipated when deciding to get out there and test the working waters. AND to top it all off, it's like five minutes away from my house, if that. It's near my children's schools. I get to dress in business casual (had to go shopping since I tend to wear pj's all day). It's absolutely ideal. I couldn't have asked for better. Really. Nothing better. The pay is great. The working environment will be great. The hours are great.
Then why the heck am I so freaked out?
Tuesday Writing Tip #5
(This will be a weekly feature. Check back next Tuesday for tip #6)
Missed tip #4? You can find it HERE
(This will be a weekly feature. Check back next Tuesday for tip #6)
Missed tip #4? You can find it HERE
Tuesday Writing Tip #4
(This will be a weekly feature. Check back next Tuesday for tip #5)
Missed tip #3? You can find it HERE
(This will be a weekly feature. Check back next Tuesday for tip #5)
Missed tip #3? You can find it HERE
Let's face it, finding the motivation to write can be tough some days. We run into mental blocks where we're not sure which direction to go or what the next scene should be or even if we want to be a writer at all. The story could go this way or that, so we sit stagnant and wait for that all elusive inspiration to strike.
Such a dangerous thing to do.
Such a dangerous thing to do.
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Write under a pen name? What are you hiding from?
The Jekyll and Hyde Aspect of Editing
What kinds of WEIRD stuff have you researched for your WIP?
Wow. Some book reviewers can be NASTY! Check it out
Do you view other writers as friends or foes? (Conquering the green-eyed monster)
3 reasons most writers give up & 3 reasons why YOU shouldn't
My Twitter Pet Peeves
How can I promote my book without ticking off the masses?
10 Ways to promote your book and get surefire results!