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DOUBT by Angela Scott
(Written on 3/17/2011 but boy am I feeling it today. Thought I'd re-share.) Doubt tiptoes its way inside. Subtle. Sneaky. Before I know it, Doubt blindsides me, Takes me down, Pins me to the ground And flops its big hairy behind On top of my chest. I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I spit in doubts eye—my only defense-- But doubt only grins through its pock-marked face, And green-tinged smile, and swipes the spittle away. He’s experienced worse. Doubt’s got me And he knows it too. My gnat-like strength is waning. My belief is gone. I shift a little, Make adjustments to carry Doubt’s weight. He’s not going anywhere. That’s perfectly clear. So I may as well get comfortable.
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 Every writer writes with an intended audience in mind (or at least they should). By knowing your audience, you can write to their likes, their sensitivities, their passions, and give them what they're craving for. "I want to write for EVERYONE! I want you and you and you to love me! The world is my oyster!" some writers might say. To that I respond with a hearty, "Good freakin' luck!" It's impossible. How can a writer even do that? How can anyone do that? That's why it's easier to narrow it in on a certain group. If you can please them, then fantastic. You did a good job. If by some miracle others outside that group like what you've accomplished, all the better. For me, when anyone outside my teen girl/fun woman audience picks up one of my books to read, especially the zombie western, I get nervous. I write with women and girls in mind. Not men. Women are emotional (that's what makes us awesome, not crazy. Okay... maybe a little crazy, but would you really want us any different?). Women love romance and love and connection and relationships. My zombie books especially are all about that. Big time. Men are visual. Men are tough. Men are an ARRGGGGHHH kind of a thing. Not that they don't love relationships and love as well, but when it comes to zombie books directed to a more male audience there seems to be a pattern of "Kill that freakin' zombie! Toss him in the wood chipper! Where's my bazooka! Looky there! Fred's a zombie! Get him! Arrrgggghhh!" (Disclaimer: Not all men behave like that. Mostly it's just men from the south. Disclaimer Disclaimer: Not all men from the south behave like this. Disclaimer Disclaimer Disclaimer: I'm being funny. Not serious. No need for pitchforks and torches). Men and women are well...different. Both good and wonderful, but different none-the-less. We all know this. So whenever a man picks up my zombie western I always preface it with one of two things: "Tap into your teenage girl side before reading" or "Be forewarned: There's a lot of gross stuff in this book like decapitations, brain munching, and kissing." But the thing that has surprised me is that men (so far anyway) seem to dig my zombie book. Which is pretty dang awesome.There has been a HUGE shift in the kinds of emails, facebook messages, and tweets I've received lately. They have all been coming from men. Yeah, men. And it's super cool and something I would've never expected. To know I've written something that can appeal to both sexes feels pretty good. Don't get me wrong, there's been a couple of men who want more terror, more brains, and less romance. But to those fellas I say, "Sorry, I write for girls. And...I'm not sure I'd know how to write for men anyway."  Now, the only audience left to tap into is toddlers. If I can get babies and toddlers to hop on board the zombie train, I'd be golden. But so far, no go :)
Seriously though, a writer has to pick its audience and write for them and them only. Otherwise it would just get too crazy and upset the balance of the world. Okay maybe it wouldn't upset the balance of the world, but you get my drift. Stop worrying about trying to please everyone and just write for the one group you really hope will like your book. If others outside your intended audience enjoy what you've written, then that's just sprinkles on the cupcake.  I really hate pictures of myself, but I wanted to show you my can of PURPLE STUFF Yep, I'm here once again at my local grocery store to get some much needed writing in before my deadline whooshes by (deep breathes).
A grocery store, you may ask? Well, yes. But this grocery store isn't like your typical grocery store. This is one has gourmet food and a posh loft area with comfy couches, tables, and even a fireplace (though it is summer and it's not on). This place has become one of my favorite places to come and get either writing or editing done (well, besides my favorite-favorite place which is sitting on my bed in my PJ's--you can't beat that). AND when I grow hungry or thirsty I can just pop downstairs and pick up a sandwich or a frothy beverage. Today's choice of drink: PURPLE STUFF. If you look close it says on the can that it will calm you down, relax the body, and focus the mind. Looking at the ingredients, I don't see how, but heck, it's worth a shot. I'm lacking in all those areas at the moment (deadlines, deadlines, deadlines....heart attack). Also another perk for writing at a grocery store, when I'm finished I can pick up a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread before heading home. Win-win. So where's your favorite place to write? How do you tune out the world and get to work? AND have any of you drank PURPLE STUFF before? Does it work, really?  As an author of a zombie series, it's always good to know my zombie "stuff". I was actually looking up how to spell hillbillies for another post HERE when this lovely piece of goodness popped up---> Kinda fun and totally free for your zombie/hillbilly pleasure (finish reading this post to be given the link). But did you know that if you type in Google search: zombie vs.... you get a SLEW of things zombies are up against. We all know about this list: Zombies vs Humans Zombies vs Unicorns Zombies vs Plants Zombies vs Vampires But did you know there is crazy stuff like this: 
And this: 
And this: 
And this: 
The list of things zombies fight are endless and often times ridiculous (see above): Zombies vs Cheerleaders (My vote is on zombies) Zombies vs Hillbillies (Hillbillies have this one. No doubt) Zombies vs Aliens (My vote is on Aliens... I've seen alien movies and they're crazy) Zombies vs Strippers (Seriously? A stripper has a dance pole and some tassels, she's in a heap of trouble) Zombies vs Robots (Robots all the way. They don't have brains for eating so the this is an unfair fight) Zombies vs Hippies (Ahh...zombies. Do I need say more?) Zombies vs Worms (What?? Umm...zombies) Zombies vs Werewolves (This could be tossup) Zombies vs Cowboys (Cowboys all the way...see the game below). 
Bought this for my husband and I'll tell ya, this is one fun game. Highly recommend.
Anyway, there's some crazy zombie stuff out there. People fascinate me with their strange zombie creativity. (Just check out NETFLIX for some odd zombie titles). And now, here is your link to ZOMBIE TRAILER PARK. Have fun! It's highly addictive, so be warned. *WARNING: Shameless plug * Also, if you're into zombies and cowboys, check out WANTED: Dead or Undead. Right now it's only 99 cents but that won't last long. My publisher is itching to raise the price. AND, if zombies just aren't your thing, then maybe check out my non-zombie book DESERT RICE. Join in the giveaway. Goodreads Book Giveaway Desert Riceby Angela ScottGiveaway ends September 01, 2012. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.  I couldn't sleep last night, and so a little after midnight I sat in my front room, and with my arms resting on the windowsill, I just stared out the open window and watched the twinkling lights of the sleepy valley below. So peaceful. So lovely. Just me and my thoughts.
Then BAM! Out of no where something big, black, with wings, flew RIGHT into the screen of my window. Oh yeah it did! Thanks goodness for window screens or that sucker would have smacked me right in my face and I would have died. Died from sheer terror. X's over my eyes and everything. It happened so fast, and then the big, black, winged thing took off. Not even fazed. But me? I sat there on the verge of peeing my pants. My window is slightly big, but it's attached to a house! A house! Didn't the big, black, winged thing see the HOUSE? AND there is (let me count real quick) seven windows on that side of the house. Seven. And yet, the weird, crazy creature chose to fly at the window where my face was? So of course, my mind (which is capable of rational and intelligent thought when it's really late at night or way early in the morning) INSTANTLY thought, "My vampire boyfriend." Because there was no way that sucker was a swallow or a bird. No way. It was late and it's a well-known fact that birds sleep at night (I have no idea if this is true or not, but that wasn't a bird). AND we have lots of bats here in Utah. Oh yes we do. Lots. And since we have bats, and I'm pretty dang sure that big, black, flying thing WAS a bat, wouldn't it make sense that the bat flying at my face was a vampire bat? Yes, it totally does. Why else would that thing fly straight into my window? Think about it!!! Okay, look ... Bella Swan had a vampire that came in her room every night and watched her sleep. You wanna know why? Because he loved her? NOOOO! Because she didn't have a screen on her bedroom window. No screen = vampire in the room. Look at that one chick from that show called Vampire Diaries ... vampire in the room because of no screen on the window. Sookie Stackhouse ... again, no screens, which is odd since she lives down south and you'd think you'd want a screen on your window to keep out stuff like alligators and hillbillies. So dang it! No vampire boyfriend for me, which could've been interesting, you know, me being married and all, how that would've worked out. But I have screens on my windows. I will never know. Seriously though, I'm grateful for that thin piece of netted barrier because I WOULD BE DEAD. Heart attack. Wet pants. It scared the beejeebies out of me. No joke. If it was my vampire boyfriend, then he needs manners and needs to learn to ring the bell.  I'm a sleep talker. I can ramble and chit-chat the night away, ask anyone who has ever slept with me...wait, that sounds bad...I mean, who has ever slept in the same room as me (much better).
As a kid, I never had to share a room, so I didn't know just how bad my sleeping talking was. I knew I did it because whenever we went to visit my grandparents in another state, I shared a room with my grandma and she'd tell me about all my talking. But I thought maybe it just had something to do with being in a different state, in a different bed. I didn't think much of it. It wasn't until I went off to college, lived in a dorm, and had a roommate that I found out just how bad it was. One morning I woke up to find all my roommates stuffed animals on my bed--like a dozen of them. I was like, "What the heck?" Karen had chucked her stuffed animals at me all night, trying to get me to shut-up. Now I'm married, happily so for 18 years, and my dear husband puts up with my sleep talking, and my occasional sleep "getting up from bed and doing weird stuff" stuff. Yep, every once in awhile I can get part way down my hall before the realization that what is happening isn't really happening at all. Or I'll just stand next to the bed, which creeps him out, or I'll insist something is happening (which isn't) and force him to take part in it--look for a spider, help me search for a missing person, kill a snake. None of my siblings do this. Neither of my parents do this, though my dad has been known to talk a little bit while sleeping, but not often. Not to the extent like I do. I also have very weird dreams (very weird) which usually sparks the talking and the weirdness. So what the heck is this all about? I don't know if I'll ever find out, but I'd like to believe it has something to do with being a creative kind of a person, a writer. Maybe it's my brain's way of keeping me from missing out on anything, just in case I could use it in a story--which I have, many many times. Do any of you creative types do anything like this? Just curious to see if anyone else experiences brain overload and failure to shut down like I do. I'd love to hear about it, so I can feel less like a weirdo :)  LOOKING FOR THE RAFFLECOPTER/GIVEAWAY? CLICK HERE
Thank you to Karen Pokras Toz for tagging me in Week 7 of The Next Big Thing. The Next Big Thing is a weekly post where tagged authors answer questions about one of their WIPs. Here is my short interview about my WIP: What is the working title of your book? Survivor Roundup, book #2 in the Zombie West Series Where did the idea come from for the book? The whole concept for The Zombie West Series started as a writing exercise a couple years back. My critique buddies thought it would be great if we each stepped outside our comfort zone and did a writing exercise, writing the first chapter of a story in a genre we don't write in. I was given zombie western. I had such fun with it that the one chapter turned into a novel and has since progressed into a series. What genre does your book fall under? It's Young Adult with elements of action and adventure and a whole lot of love and romance. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? I actually wrote a blog quite awhile ago about this. Check it out HERE. These are the main characters in The Zombie West Series. There are a few more characters introduced in Survivor Roundup and I'll have to think on those ones :) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Red must face the madman who nearly destroyed her and find a way to stop him before he destroys everything and everyone she loves. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? It is published through Evolved Publishing. You can check out their site HERE How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? Man, I'm still working on the first draft. I started writing it last November. It's close to being done. Real close. Then the real work begins. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Hmmm...I would guess (this is always scary to do) that Forrest of Hands and Teeth would be a good comparison. If you like zombies and a strong female protagonist, then my book fits right in there. Who or What inspired you to write this book? That would have to be Diana, a great friend and a wonderful critique partner. She's the one who pushed me to write this series. It's all her fault :) Anf I love her for it. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Just to be warned, there's a lot of gross stuff in this book--decapitations, lobbing off limbs, blood, and kissing. So be prepared. Tag you’re it! You're week number 9 (post next week) Jay Taylor Frog and Esther Jones Brad Sewell Nanette Pitts Megan Harris Rules: ***Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (Work In Progress) *** Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them. It’s that simple. Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing: What is the working title of your book? Where did the idea come from for the book? What genre does your book fall under? Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Who or What inspired you to write this book? What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? Next week on the 15th is the official release of DESERT RICE (click here to learn more) and I'd love to get some reviews up and running by then. As an author, it's only by reading reviews that we know and learn if what we've written produced the results we'd hoped for. Every new review is like an unwrapped Christmas present under the tree--totally exciting!
So all you have to do is read and review DESERT RICE by the 18th and then come and enter the raffle. Super easy. Please make sure to leave all links for verification in the comment section below. Any unverified entries will be deleted. (Give the Rafflecopter a second to load--it's being slow). Here is a quick list to leave reviews: Amazon Barnes and Noble Goodreads  You've all heard the saying, "If you don't read books then you shouldn't be writing them," right? I mean, it makes perfect sense. It's one of the top pieces of advice out there for writers, and it's actually advice I've passed on myself to those who have asked me, "I want to be a writer, what advice can you give me?"
#1: Write. Write something everyday and continually strive to write better than the day before and #2 Read. Read everything you can get your hands on, especially in the genre you prefer to write. It's sound advice, and I still stick by it, but here is my problem...I don't think I've read anything, and I mean anything, in a very long time. How can I possibly give out this advice when I'm not even following it...ahhh, such the hypocrite. All my life I've been known to have my nose in a book. I used to sneak books into class and hide them behind my text books so I could read them. I went to the library ALL of the time. And I've been known to put life on hold just to finish a book (just ask my husband and kids). I could finish a book in a matter of hours--HOURS. This is true. So what the heck is going on now? Is it simply a matter of finding a good book to read? Possibly. But really I think it is a matter of shutting down my internal editor so I can gloss over mistakes and get into the story. I've been in editing mode off and on for the past year or more and so that's where my head is. So every time I pick up a book all I can see are the problems--every single book has them. They do. No book is without fault. Does that mean the story is bad? No. I'm sure most of the books are great, I just can't get past some of the "weirdness" for lack of a better word. In the past several weeks I've probably started and stopped reading a dozen books or more. I'm a member of two book clubs and I haven't finished reading an assigned book in months. I get part way, lose interest or get frustrated, and give up. It's horrible. I want to find my passion for reading again. I need to. But I'm not sure how. Maybe when I'm out of the editing phase (will I ever be out of the editing phase? It seems when I finish editing one book I'm quickly tossed into editing another). Help. I want to enjoy reading again. I think I need a book with a fast pace, with interesting characters, and a super plot with twists and turns. Any suggestions? How do I get my love for reading back? How do I look past the "weirdness" and simply enjoy the story like I used to do? Advice is welcomed and appreciated. Evolved Publishing (my publisher) is hosting a Summer Giveaway Extraordinaire and I thought I'd help spread the word because it's AWESOME! There are lots of chances to win, just check out their Rafflecopter below (give it a second to load). The more points you get, the better your odds of winning. There's a little something for everyone --Young Adult Paranormal/Fantasy, Thriller, Children's Books, Memoir, Literary Fiction, Romance, AND both my books WANTED: Dead or Undead (Book #1, The Zombie West Series) and Desert Rice are up for grabs, too. Have fun and good luck!
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