SO Much More to a Writreat than Writing

Tags

brainstorming, friends, fun, revising, shenanigals, thoughts, unexpected joy, writers, writing, writreat

For the last few days I’ve been away. If you read my last post, you know where.

This was the first, but not the last meeting of the Shenanigals. A group of four writers who met on Twitter, then came face to face at a writers’ conference, and since then have become a source of support and love to each other.

Logo designed and drawn by Marjorie Brimer

I am lucky to be a part of this group. Seriously lucky.

Photo by a nice woman who was sitting by the pond…

So we spent a few days together, ready to write and chat and revel in general silliness.

I went with a manuscript that needs to be revised before I send it to a few critique partners. Others were thinking about notes from agents and editors. And one, dear Jamie, went through her entire book…again. A true rock star.

I didn’t know what exactly would happen. I didn’t really know what to expect, considering we had hung out at a writers’ conference, but never in this type of setting.

Writing did happen…

As did silliness…

Adoring a beautiful kitty…

Aw…Pepper! Photo by Jamie.

Watching a show called Botched…so much cringing…

Good food…

Deep discussions about, well, everything…

Much brainstorming about what we are all working on. The creativity was flowing freely…

Possibly a tattoo…

Okay, yes, a tattoo. Isn’t it wonderful? Go, Jamie! You handled that like a champ! You be the light in the world!

Yet, something happened that I wasn’t expecting. I went in with fear. Fear of these revisions. Fear of messing up this manuscript. Fear of failing.

As I sat around with these great people, my fear lessened. I started revising. And then I met chapter nine, learned that nothing happened in that chapter, faced that I had to rearrange things and fix it…panicked slightly…

But everyone gathered around and reminded me that I am pretty cool…and pretty talented…and to not be afraid.

So I did it. I faced chapter 9 and redid it. Let me tell you, it is so much better now. The words felt right as I wrote them.

Even though I still have to pick up the mess of restructuring the story, I am not afraid. I am ready. I am going to power through the rest of this story and get it sent to those fabulous readers, who are waiting.

All the memories. All the fun. All the learning about each other and building stronger bonds.

I carried fear in with me and left it there, dropped it and let it die. So no matter how much writing I did or didn’t get done, that is the best thing that could have happened for my words.

This is what’s best when writers unite. The bonds. The support. The willingness to chat about everything. The acceptance.

Shenanigals forever

And I might have a signed ARC of Rena’s new book WITH YOU ALWAYS…OUT IN A LITTLE OVER A MONTH! Okay…I DO HAVE ONE! You can be jealous.

 

Road Trip and Friendship

Tags

Adult book, ARC, candy wrappers, friends, pitch wars, reading, Rena Olsen, road trip, The Girl Before, thoughts, Thriller

Tomorrow I am driving 8 hours (or 9…or whatever) to spend the weekend with a dear friend to celebrate the fact that HER BOOK RELEASES ON AUGUST 9TH!

Yup. I’m driving all by myself. For the weekend.

Why?

Let me tell you a story…

About two (or was it three?) years ago…I mean, who cares, friendship isn’t measured in years…I entered Pitch Wars. That wonderful contest just began again…mentors are reading and trying to decide who they will choose to help and mentee hopefuls are chewing their fingernails off.

I’ve been there. Only it was candy wrappers.

I made a comment about eating chocolate and someone tweeted back that she stole and ate the wrappers. So I went with it. It became a thing. We indicated our nervousness by tweeting “*crinkle*” to each other. Others showed concern at the whole eating wrappers thing, but it helped diffuse the tension and did something much more important…it gave me a new friend. We bonded over eating candy wrappers.

Now neither one of us made it into the contest. And we were sad, for a second…then we forgot about that and looked forward, down the road to the next thing. We walked the journey together. It’s good to have a friend.

I watched her go from writing YA sci-fi to an adult, an OH MY GOODNESS WHAT AM I DOING WRITING THIS adult. A manuscript about human trafficking. And I said, “THIS IS IT! THE BOOK THAT WILL MAKE IT!”

And she scoffed at me.

Then she was getting offers from agents and stopped scoffing and started panic-excited-screaming. HOW WOULD SHE EVER CHOOSE! I told her to calm down and listen to her heart…and her gut. She signed with her agent from Dystel and Goderich.

Then revisions.

Then on submission.

THEN A BOOK DEAL!

AND NOW IT IS ALMOST HERE! HER DEBUT BOOK THE GIRL BEFORE IS GOING TO BE RELEASED INTO THE WILD I’M SO SORRY I’M SCREAMING BUT I AM VERY EXCITED!

I got to be a apart of the Love Tour. An ARC was mailed here, there, and everywhere. We read. We tweeted under #TheGirlBefore. We cried. We sent virtual hugs.

The ARC in MY hand on its way from Sarah to me to Jamie.

I was sad to see it go, but happy to have added my words full of love and support to my friend, who got it back not long ago and got to read everything we all wrote.

As much as I miss that book, I am ready to buy my very own copy on the 9th! I might stand in line jabbering to the cashier how I know the author and how FABUTASTIC the book is… I might. I might have book marks that I hand out to people.

Dude. I. Know. Her. RENA OLSEN. I KNOW HER. SHE IS MY FRIEND.

AND I KNEW HER WHEN, PEOPLE, I KNEW HER BEFORE SHE HAD AN AGENT AND A BOOK DEAL!

So I am going on a road trip. Because more than freaking people out with talk of eating candy wrappers. More than getting my heart broken by not getting chosen for Pitch Wars. More than anything…I made a terrific friend. One I have had the privilege of knowing, have gotten to tag along on her journey.

And it’s not over yet.

My dear Rena,

I am so proud of all you’ve accomplished.

I am proud to be one of the people you turn to when you are frustrated or have great news to share.

I am happy to stay by your side forever, to believe in you when you forget how, to excited-squeal with you when great things happen, and to be your roommate at any and all writer’s conferences. Because then I get to be cool by association.

I can’t wait for the weekend. We will have so much fun!

And me telling you how awesome you are at least 49957593720.8 times a day won’t get old, I promise.

 

Tales from #MWW16

Tags

#MWW16, connections, friends, fun, learning, Midwest Writers' Workshop, my experiences at the conference, thoughts, writers conferences

I have returned from Muncie, Indiana and the Midwest Writers Workshop.

My notebook, holding all the info you could want from class schedule, to notes from some of the sessions, to short bios of all the faculty, and maps of the place.

This year it was held in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center.

The building offered plenty of room for all the sessions and to relax and hang out with all the writers. There were lots of writers.

LOTS OF FABULOUS AWESOME WRITERS! I saw friends I had met before, came face to face with friends from the Internet I hadn’t met, and made connections with new people. I attended great sessions to help me improve my craft and listened as panels of agents, editors, and authors share their knowledge.

If you have never been to a writers conference, I highly recommend them. The first couple, you might not feel at ease, you might do a lot of sitting and watching instead of interacting. I did. This was my third time at MWW and I feel pretty happy there. Faces have become familiar, and people actually remember me. I know! I am constantly amazed by that.

Let me share. And I will link you to the Twitter accounts of some of the wonderful people I met and know. So you can follow them!

Kelsey Timmerman gave an inspiring opening speech on how we can use our writing to give voices to those who can’t tell their own tale. Through The Facing Project, writers are paired with people to learn what life is like for them and share it with the world through words.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting a (Book) Baby with Karma Brown…

With the release of my book lurking in the sometime future, I wanted to hear a few words of wisdom. The debut year is crazy. Marketing. Keeping on track with writing and not getting carried away in the insanity. Look for new ways to connect with readers. There’s so much. Must. Prepare. Now.

The Agent/Author Relationship panel…

Julie Murphy (Dumplin) and Natalie Parker (Beware the Wild) with their agent Molly Jaffa of Folio Literary Management

Amy Reichert (The Coincidence of Coconut Cake) with her agent Rachel Ekstrom of the Irene Goodman Literary Agency

Summer Heacock (next year debut of A Perfect Fit) with her agent team of Uwe Stender and Brent Taylor of Triada US Literary Agency

I don’t have an agent. I have no plans, right now, of querying them, but it’s always good to hear how they relate, of how they came together.

Voice/Dialogue with Julie Murphy and Natalie Parker…

They spoke of the differences between author voice vs. story voice, of finding the best POV for your character, of choosing the perfect words for your characters to give them a unique, memorable, and interesting voice. And dialogue, so important! How simple spoken words can mean so much and how it’s not just what they say but how they say it. I like these two so much, I went bought their books at the book store.

Friday night there was bowling and pizza and a photo booth…while I did not bowl, I did enjoy pizza and had a great time with friends in the photo booth.

I haven’t laughed so hard! So ends Friday…

Onto Saturday!

Buttonhole the Experts… the strangest sounding, but becoming one of my favorite things.

I’m sorry…Buttonwhat? Right?

They had 33 tables occupied with a faculty member, each with a sigh designating their topic for discussion. So many topics! You sit at a table with five others and ask questions based on their declared subject. After 20 minutes, a bell sounds and you find another table. Kinda stressful, but it always works.

I talked to Sarah J. Schmitt (It’s a Wonderful Death) about library and school visits, because I am interested in getting into that.

Agent Jim McCarthy of Dystel & Goderich Literary Management answered questions about the YA market. If I ever get a horror YA or MG written, he might just get it.

Natalie Parker spoke about to compete with your author friends and keep them as friends. She was even cooler talking to her this time. She liked my mermaid hair…

Panel: Critique Partners: Where to Find Them and How to Use Them with Amy Reichert, Jen Malone (Wanderlost), Dee Romito (The BFF Bucket List), and Summer Heacock

I have critique partners (actually I gained another while I was there!) so maybe the info was stuff I already knew, but these ladies are really fun to listen to.

Marketing Your Book Outside the Box with Jen Malone

With the fact that I will be published comes the fact that I will need to market, so any info here helps! Form connections. Focus on a couple things and not everything, and how to choose which events to choose. Find some unexpected way to get the word out about your book.

How to Edit a Bestseller with Liz Pelletier of Entangled Publishing

OMG…she packed so much info in that hour, people were taking pics of the power point presentation because there wasn’t enough time to write it all down. I’m not going to even try here.

Word by Word: What Your First Line Says About Your Book with Julie Murphy and Natalie Parker

(Yup. I got a little obsessed with these two. I hope they didn’t find my stalking creepy.) First lines are important, so much can be conveyed with a sentence of three carefully chosen words. World building. Character development. All in one line. People offered their first lines and we dissected them…well, not me. I am not brave.

The conference ended with a banquet and the keynote speaker Julie Murphy who spoke of finding herself mirrored in fiction and how happy that made her. That while the world has lost its mind, how people have forgotten how to be people, that we should be better and do better. That maybe our words will find that reader who will relate and smile because of it. She was spectacular. I will happily stalk her.

There were sessions on writing middle grade, taxes, NaNoWriMo, writing contemporary, writing inspiration, setting up speaking engagements, Scrivener, crime writing, and so much more.

Now I’m home, my brain spinning with all the ideas I gathered from the conference. I am prepared to rock the wording!

To:

Rena (The Girl Before…READ IT! IT COMES OUT AUGUST 9!)

Shelly

Marjorie

Thanks for sharing some laughs with me and being awesome conference buddies.

To:

Brett

Meeting you in person was a highlight. Can’t wait to watch you as you find your place in this world. It will be spectacular.

To:

Summer

Sarah

Gail

As always…so great to spend time with you! You always make me smile.

To:

Julie Murphy and Natalie Parker

To:

Karma Brown, for coming up to me and saying…”Kathy, you’re Kathy Palm! I know you on Twitter.” Dude. I nearly fell out of my chair.

Last to:

Jama Kehoe Bigger and the Midwest Writers

Thanks for all you do to bring all us crazy people together.

Until next year!

 

Nominated for a Thing

Tags

Food, friends, fun, make me smile, questions, spreading joy, Sunshine Blogger Award, thoughts

You know those days when there are many things to blog about and you just have no idea what to do? Or is it the my-head-is-full-of-fluff-and-I-have-no-original-ideas thing?

Yeah. It looks like staring at a blank computer screen, hoping to type words that make sense.

That.

Then I jumped over to Twitter, because TWITTER! And boom…an answer.

Solange Hommel (@SolHom…go follow her!) has nominated me for the…

The Sunshine Blogger Award is given to those who are inspiring and bring sunshine into the lives of their readers and fellow bloggers through their blogspace and/or their social media.

Dude. Spreading magical happiness is kinda my life goal, so for her to think of me made me spontaneously combust with glee. Have no fear, I have put myself back together…I am magic.

Go read her fabulous post here, where she reveals all her awesomeness and makes me seem much cooler than I am.

And now I shall attempt to answer her questions.

What do you snack on while you’re writing?

Well, that depends on the day. I had to stop buying Cinnamon Toast Crunch, because I couldn’t keep my hands out of the box. I do love semi-sweet chocolate chips. I have devoured a bag of Goldfish crackers. Ice cream is always a favorite. However, at all times, I have my water glass at my side and try to stay out of the kitchen where all the yummy things live.

What’s your favorite location for maximum creativity and productivity? How often are you able to visit this setting?

I sit on my couch. Is it my favorite location? Maybe. I do have a gazebo that I always imagined spending time with my computer, writing all the words, but I must be too lazy to walk out there. Maybe someday.
What is that one weird trick you can do? You know, the one you’d kind of like to forget, but your friends always bring up at parties after a couple of drinks?

I am a dark faerie and will never divulge my secrets.
Tell us about the project you’re most proud of completing.

My first manuscript. It’s called The Darkness of Magic and I’m pretty sure it is a pile of terribleness, but I am so proud of it! Because I did it. Without any knowledge of writing, without any idea what I was doing, without any outside guidance…I wrote a book. Someday I will go back and rewrite it, because I love those characters and that story.
Which clique did you hang out with in high school? If you could go back, would you hang out with the same crowd or choose different friends?

High school…high school…that was a very long time ago and I have shoved most of that time of my life in the void of I don’t want to remember. I didn’t have many friends. I wasn’t in any cliques…now you see why I was so shocked when my nominator Solange had me grouped with the cool kids on Twitter. I was a nerd. I will always be a nerd. Too bad I didn’t know back then that NERDS ARE SUPER AWESOME!

How have you improved the world during your lifetime?

I hope I have brought a little happiness to the few people I have encountered in my wanderings. I have been a volunteer for Big Brothers/ Big Sisters since 1997 and am on my second match with them. I was a Girl Scout leader for a year (that’s all I could handle). I help out at my kids’ school, chaperoning field trips and such. I have two super kids, who will go forth and do better than I have.

Improved the world? Meh. Improved the tiny corner of it where I exist? Maybe.
Teleportation. Would you do it? Why or why not?

YES. That is all.
What is your favorite stupid joke?

There is one thing that makes me giggle all the time. My daughter and I were watching The Hunger Games: Catching Fire…

Her: Mom!

Me: What?!?!

Her: Where’s Finnick?

Me: 

Her: *points to screen* Odair he is!

Me: *turns to TV* *turns back to her* 

Is that even a joke? Don’t know. But now every time I watch those movies I say it and giggle.
What charitable organization do you think more people should support?

I have a couple organizations I support. MS because my little sister was diagnosed about fourteen years ago and has had a couple pretty terrible attacks. Go read about the MS walk I did a couple months ago here. And Susan G. Koman because my other sister fought AND BEAT breast cancer almost four years ago…read my post remembering the Susan G. Koman 3 day walk here.

However, I have learned that everyone has their own causes. We all have things that affect our lives, things that matter to us. May everyone find their own!
What is one topic you would never be able to write about? Why?

These questions are getting harder and harder. I can’t say that there will be anything I will never be able to write about. I can’t predict what might pop into my brain and I think every topic is up for grabs and can be dealt with in a powerful and meaningful way. As a dark fantasy/horror writer, I like the bad stuff…it can show us the light.
Name three things that are always in your fridge.

Chocolate milk. If there isn’t any, bad things happen.

My yogurt. Dude, fat-free protein. Because muscles, I want them.

Ummm…eggs. Because shouldn’t you always have them? You know for emergency cake or cookie baking purposes.

Now I am supposed to nominate people and give them questions to answer. There might be a certain number, but rules schmules.

These are people who I think spread happy in incredible ways. Some of them have already been nominated, but whatever. Each one of these people adds to my life in a positive manner. Each one of these people are very important to me. THEY MAKE ME SMILE AND THAT IS ALL!

Rena Olsen

S.E. Carson

Jolene Haley (who is on a social media break) *waves*

Faith McKay

Brett Jonas (who I get to meet IN PERSON SOON!)

Rae Oestreich

Carina Brielle

Katie Sholty

Erica Davis Secor 

Judy Post… sorry…Judi Lynn now!

These all link to their Twitter profiles…go follow them!

Oh…questions for them. Right…

1. Kissing or no kissing?
2. Will you watch a horror movie with me?
3. Cake or pie?
4. Sunrise or sunset?
5. Winter, spring, summer, or fall?
6. What are you reading now?
7. What is your greatest talent?
8. What was your best day ever?
9. Roller coasters or merry-go-round?
10. Camping or hotel?
11. Will you be my friend forever?

And there ends the Sunshiny fun. Please go forth and make the world better…or at least your little corner of it. Our differences make us great, but it’s what makes us alike that we should never forget and should bring us together to accept each other, to love each other.

No Judgement Zone

Tags

being supportive, do your best, Fitbit, friends, goals, no judgements, steps

A while ago, I posted about my new friend Buffy…my Fitbit. You can read it here.

Together, Buffy and I aren’t out to conquer the world. We aren’t out to show people how awesome we are…cause we’re not, we’re just us.

And enough of speaking of my Fitbit and me as “We”.

I still love this gadget strapped to my wrist. I love how she lets me know my heart rate, my calorie burn, helps track my calorie intake (when I tell her what I ate…hehe).

And I have joined a few challenges, where groups see who can get the most steps during the workweek or the weekend.

Then I found my fabulous friend Jolene from The Midnight Society and, well…tweets happened.

1. What I’ve learned this week:

Don’t ever challenge @KathleenPalm to a step challenge. She will destroy you…and your soul. ❤️💀❤️ ~Jolene

2. Don’t worry I’m only TWENTY THOUSAND steps behind @KathleenPalm and it’s only Tuesday. I’m getting owned. ~Jolene

and…

3. I AM ALMOST 30,000 STEPS BEHIND @KathleenPalm LIKE WTF ~Jolene

And we laughed!

4. RIGHT LIKE I HAVE AS MANY AS IT TAKES TO GET TO PIZZA. NO MORE. ~Jolene

And I cheered her to do her best and not to worry I wouldn’t destroy her soul…not all of it.  

Then yesterday two more of my Twitter friends, Rena and Brett, were pulled into our Fitbit conversation.

5. @BookSquirt @KathleenPalm The Fitbit app. We have a challenge going and she is murdering me. ~Jolene

No murdering! *hides bloody knife* 

6. @JoleneHaley @KathleenPalm This is why I won’t add her as a friend on Fitbit. ~Rena

They hesitated to be my friends. Because of my steps. Because theirs weren’t as high… 

No.

BE MY FRIEND! This thing on our wrists does not make us enemies. It makes us each others’ cheerleaders. It helps us be the best us we can be. It’s not about the most steps, those are just numbers and numbers don’t get to rule our lives. Feeling good about ourselves does. Encouraging others, laughing, being together is what’s important.

And we are now ALL FRIENDS and learned that Brett’s grandma walks LIKE EVERYWHERE and is beating us all. I think we’re all smiling now. All happily linked through steppage and technology. I love seeing them as friends on my Fitbit, makes me feel like I am not alone as I go through my day.

All the Fitbit people out there UNITE! Find the way this little gizmo works for you and don’t worry about everyone else. Don’t overthink. Just have fun.

Here in Fitbit land, I have a no judgement policy. Because, I certainly don’t want to be judged.

Maybe let this way of thinking enter every aspect of our lives. We could be happier. It’s life. LIVE IT!

 

Brainstorm-nado!

Tags

brainstorming, CPs, friends, help, ideas, panic, reach out, thoughts, Twitter, writer's block, writing

I do not believe in writer’s block. It, a close cousin to fear, is something we authors create.

The words stop when we put too much pressure on ourselves to write, when we try to force the story instead of letting it flow, when we must have everything just so or it will be terrible!

In my last post, I wrote about how I had to write a story, but was having a bit of trouble. I had a few images in my mind, but nothing that fit together. I was trying to force a bajillion ideas into being a story. I thought about it all the time. I wanted to scream.

Now, stepping away, going for a walk, reading a book, doing anything BUT working on this story would have been a truly great idea except… I have a deadline! AND PANIC WAS SETTING IN! The absolute worst thing for writing.

So what to do? I took all the pages of notes (seriously I think there were five) and threw them away. With them went the rut that had ensnared my mind, all the ideas that lead back to the mess on those pieces of paper, the notes that weren’t helping.

AND BRAINSTORM! I love to get a notebook and my favorite pen and write all the things. I love the way this bit of dialogue and that strange image can suddenly link together. I love when all the blank spaces fill with fabulous with scenes and description that link all my initial thoughts together. I circle. I scribble. I draw arrows. I write sideways in the margins. And somehow it all makes sense.

I went back to the beginning. The story had to fit with a certain theme, out of my control. From that theme I latched onto the few images in my mind. I wrote them down… then stared at them.

Desperately resisting all the ideas that hadn’t worked the first few hundred times…

This usually works! Why isn’t this working!

And because Twitter is where you go when you need writing (and all other) support I tweeted…

And the fabulous Michelle Hoehn (@mah_hoehn go follow her, she’s fabulous!) tweeted back asking if maybe I needed a brainstorm buddy.

Rarely do I brainstorm with others. I have done it to help other people with their stories, but not so much for my own. However, this time I was stuck. And one thing I’ve learned form this crazy trip through the maze that is being a writer…

Writers should help each other and help is always good!

So YES! I said. YES! Let the DMing begin.

It is a miracle how explaining your idea to someone else, someone not locked in your brain, can shine a light on what the real story is. How a few questions you hadn’t thought to ask yourself set the ideas spinning.

And BEHOLD! I have a solid idea. One I don’t hate. One without glaring evidence of me forcing the plot. What I learned? That I was overthinking. (I know… shocker!) The pressure to make this story fabulous had me throwing too many ideas in the pot, when simple is better.

So, I have 1600 words of a story, I will finish the first draft today, then revise and send to CPs tomorrow. Maybe, this one will be pretty good. I have hope for it… if I can get everything woven together just right.

All writers everywhere… REMEMBER… YOU ARE NOT ALONE! So many of us are ready to help. Just reach out.

Reaching out, an idea to be applied to life.

Problems? ASK OUT FOR HELP!

Something not going right? TALK ABOUT IT!

We’re all in this thing called life together. And the world could use a bit more together, a bit more caring, a bit more understanding.

And the world definitely needs more stories.

Just Me… Pretending

Tags

faith, friends, heart, hope, pitchwars, pretending, Query Kombat, The Writers Voice, thoughts, Twitter contests, writing

Confession time…

I have no idea what I’m doing. Ever.

I am not cool.

I know nothing.

When everyone out there in the world learns this… well, I fear being wrapped in duct tape, tossed in a trunk, and abandoned in a dark, evil forest where demons and faeries lurk… wait, I might like that.

It’s time to accept the fact that I just don’t know. I will never have a clue. I shall drift among the strange thoughts that creep in my mind and exist. All the while I will pretend I know. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? Critiques? Reviews? Sure! I’m happy to offer my opinions, but feel terribly unqualified to do so.

Pretend. Live like you didn’t just trip over that non-existent obstacle. Continue on your merry way like you can see the path you’re on.

CAN ANYONE SEE THE PATH?

Anyone?

Sometimes I get glimpses. There are moments when I can almost view what waits in the future. But mostly I stumble around using the tools I have. My heart. My faith. My hope.

And I hold tight to the people who lift my spirits, to those who tell me nice things about me, to those people who make me smile. You know who you are. I am honored and pleased to be on this journey with you. Fear and anxiety are easier to face with awesomeness at your side. True friends make life better.

For all the writers out there… stumble forward with a smile. The Writer’s Voice… Query Kombat… and upcoming Pitchwars people, I applaud your bravery and never give up attitude, pushing through the nerves, terror, and in the end possible disappointment. Been there! Keep making friends. Keep putting yourself out there. Keep writing. I will forever cheer you on!

Possibly none of us know what we’re doing. But we’re DOING. And being together makes all the difference.

*puts all of you in my pocket FOREVER*

 

 

 

 

Wait… It’s Been a Year?

Tags

achievements, emotional, friends, life, thoughts, writing

I began blogging one year ago.

Wow. It’s been a year already?

And. What. A. Year.

When I posted that first blog on February 10th, 2014, I had no idea what I was doing. And in all honesty, I still don’t. But my blog became an outlet for me, for all my feelings, thoughts, ideas. Kinda like therapy. Just pour my heart out on a public site, perfectly normal.

I struggled last year. Self-doubt plagued me as I stood at the edge of a cliff, knowing something was coming, but what? I could feel my life beginning to travel a new path. Weird, but that’s what it seemed like. And then things started to happen. My words were getting out. On blogs. In a book. People asked me to read their words. I was invited to join a Skype critique group.

I had two offers to publish my manuscript. And signed with Reuts Publishing.

I learned so much last year. About the world of writing and publishing, about myself. I turned 42 in December and living in the land of forty-something is freeing. I care less about what people think, I care less about what I can’t do perfectly, and I care more about trying, taking chances, being present and living life.

Over the next year, I’ll write more, some good, some bad. I can’t wait to make all my relationships stronger and meet new people. I will hopefully do a lot more CPing, because I love it. In a year, I’ll be preparing for the release of my debut book. And whoa, the rush of feelings that attacked as I wrote that…

For someone who feels pretty darn happy alone, I have to say that the people in my life have made all the difference (and, yes, most of them live in my computer… I am not ashamed). My family, Mom and Dad, my sisters, my husband, and kids, who love me just the way I am… My dear Twitter friends, who are always there to share a smile or just be crazy… my writers’ group, who push me to be my best. I couldn’t have made it through last year without all of you.

So go forth into this big, wide world and spread the joy of you. I’m certainly going to continue to annoy everyone with my form of weird!

 

Hello, November, You Sassy Girl.

Tags

challenges, doubt, fear, friends, NaNoWriMo, ProjectREUTSway, WIPmo, writing

I’ll wave goodbye to October, but what a month. Contests, stories, scary fun. I let go of worries and fears and let myself be. I wrote a ton of little stories, which lead my writing into new places, places I’m hoping to explore further.

Horror manuscript? Possibly. But first there’s a story competition I must complete.

Some of my writer friends are participating in NaNoWriMo… National Novel Writing Month, where they will attempt to write 50,000 words this month. Good luck to all of you! I think you’re all crazy. I have never been tempted by that beast, never thought to join the insanity.

There’s another group forming called… WIPmo, for all those who have manuscripts and want to revise the living crud out of them. Good luck to them too! I don’t have a ms that is screaming to be revised. I just climbed out of that hole with DOORS. I don’t wanna go back in!

A different game has me enthralled. Last year I stumbled upon Reuts Publishers and their take on NaNo called ProjectREUTSWay, see details here. Each week in November they offered a challenge. By adding vampires, shapeshifters, demons, ghost, etc., write a 2,000-5,000 word story inspired by a fairy tale. So I did. I submitted four stories. Two of them won spots in their recently published anthology, see my previous post here. And one was posted on their blog as a runner-up. I am thrilled to have a book in my Nook with my stories sitting alongside so many other great pieces!Honestly, I don’t feel like I deserve to be there, but there I am.

This month the theme is mythology, not something I know a ton about. First up is Egyptian… I’m going with part of Ra’s story. I will start writing the words today and see how it goes. I am in fabulous company as many of us from last year have bonded together to cheer each other on. I love them! I love that they include me. The little girl inside me who never had any friends wants to cry happy tears.

This month, I will write four stories. I will help critique a friend’s manuscript. I will have a big decision to make, maybe… or at least something to announce, possibly. I will head to my sister’s house for Thanksgiving and spend time with my family. I will do my best not to panic or let my fear of failure send me spinning off into darkness. But if I do, I have friends to help me. You know who you are!

Mostly I hope to be content, to be willing to go where fate takes me and let go of all the things I can’t control.

May we all find a happy place. May we all conquer the new challenges, whether they be word related or not, and face the obstacles with as little self doubt as possible. However, when that demon rears its head, remember…

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Reach out to all of us, suffering from the same fears and doubts.

Together we can do anything.

 

Let’s Talk about Stress… Bay-bee

Tags

Believe, friends, hope, self doubt, stress, support, thoughts, writing

So… yesterday, I kinda freaked out.

No biggie, I do this every once in a while when life seems impossible, when what I want is an inch (or a million miles) too far out of reach, and I begin to doubt my ability to grab hold of it and make it more than a dream, but a reality.

This goes for everything, not just writing. Everyone has dreams. Everyone has self-doubt, whether a tiny speck or a mountain stretching into outer space. We all struggle. Some of us might explode in rage. Others will curl up in a dark corner and throw M&Ms at themselves (my chosen method of “dealing”). Tears will roll. We will attempt to comfort with food, or perhaps working out (I suppose those people do exist).

But what we should do is talk. Let it out into the world. Somehow, when all our worries and fears are set free into the universe they lose their power. So after I sobbed hysterically, draped over the arm of my couch, I turned to my friends on Twitter and FB. I tried not to unload all of my fears, keeping my pity party to a minimum, but got enough out there that I got responses. Really, when we say things out loud, we want someone to say something back, kind words of encouragement or an acknowledgement that we are not the only ones struggling.

Writers united yesterday to give me a bit of a pep talk. One I desperately needed. One I will need again, I am certain. My wonderful CP even sent me a love-filled e-mail (WHILE ON VACATION, so I felt special). Twitter. Facebook. A day with my writers’ group allowed me to have fun and not think about all the problems spinning in my head.

So, when I sat down to revise last night, I got through two chapters and the problem chapters lurking in the beginning of the manuscript, well, I had enough faith to know that I would get to those and do the best I could.

That’s the magic… believing, doing the best you can. It works every time. And when it’s too hard to believe in yourself, others will carry you for a moment, allowing you to drink of their faith, of their joy. I hope I add as much magic to the lives of others as they have given to mine.

Will my dream ever come true. I honestly don’t know, but I HOPE, and will always hope. Thanks to all my friends… my cheerleaders, without them I would still be tossing chocolate at myself, muttering incoherently, while curled up in a corner. I hope you know who you are. I shall bake you all a cake.

When stress hits, find your support. It’s out there. Always believe.