Back in the groove of writing/reading

Normally toward the ending of July is when I get my writing/reading momentum back in full swing so to speak and also its the time as well in which new ideas tap my muse on the shoulders, and is firmly told to get back in line, it has been a rocky year dealing with plenty of self actualization which normally tended to be beating up on myself, I find I return back on track when I seek the advice of good friends and get their perspective on certain experiences I endured and the theme that I continue to struggle with which is not caring what people think of ME. Wow that is huge and relates so much to writing and the journey towards publishing because a major part of the journey is what people think of writers projects and it's never personal but for a beginner writer pursuing to acquire an agent/published at times it can seem so. The goal then is for me to achieve the goal of thickening my skin a bit more so that when I resume querying I won't let the expected rejections to bring me down and also within my personal life it's darn tooting okay that some people won't appreciate me because they are missing out and also sometimes people not liking me has nothing to do with me and likely more about themselves. Change can only occur when mistakes are not repeated. Keisha Martin

Update and random thoughts.

Its hot in Toronto, but I am not complaining (okay I did) because few months prior I was looking out my window to heavy snow fall, wind, ice, and praying for heat, I use this theme in my books often there is never any middle ground humans in general are never really happy, and even if one attains to equalizing that middle ground I don't think its ever achievable because things always come up. I have been struggling with that theme trying to find equilibrium in my life being a mom, having a great career (off for summer woo hoo) and striving toward firstly acquiring a literary agent and then published. But until that happens I am still revising ECLIPSE almost done I cannot wait for the whole manuscript to be finished and then tackle synopsis (gah) and then the query and hopefully have another novel to query with the first its all easier said than done and will take time so until then my middle ground will be to take my time and enjoy the solace of writing. Keisha Martin

Update

Not really much to update aside from the fact I am a horrible blog writer, been so busy I haven't had the time to get in a consistent routine with my blog writing, also its almost summer break for my kids and me too because I work in the Toronto District School Board and also I have been revising like crazy the last four chapters of my first book a YA paranormal romance yes it has vamps, Greek Gods and Goddess and a snarky, wicked antagonist, endings are super hard, and I am so fortunate my editor Lynnette Labelle is so tough and won't let me settle for a crap ending indeed it was and she caught me I wanted the easy way out and came up with a plot idea that didn't work and really if I was honest with myself I put my self in a corner and to get myself out I came up with a silly plot premise. So that's it a brief update what I have been up to well another big news I will start university in Fall so that will be another thing I have to juggle with writing, although I have a ton of book ideas but the six I have written I will focus on editing them throughout the years and hold onto the challenging but possible dream I will be signed to an agent and published one day. Happy writing.



 

When bleep happens

The easy part of being a writer is having fun making my characters go through various bleep situations and eventually achieve their obstacles but real life doesn't go like that because I have come to realize I cannot control people in reality the same way sometimes I cannot control my characters when they demand the arc of the story to progress a different route. I have decided that I want to be published and in order to get there I have to train myself to focus which coincides with my previous post gaining discipline. So I hope to have established a better regime and get on track with writing and also not letting stress of other people affect my productivity. Keisha Martin

Discipline when writing

Discipline, the theme word for me for this new week, I have been losing my writing routine due to various stress, and have made a decision to get my bleep back in gear and discipline myself back into a suitable writing routine and also editing. I would like to have the first revision done on my adult erotic romance novel and then read through it one more time make revisions and then pass it to my editor (I have to ask if she does edit steamy adult romance) my first novel a paranormal romance is going well I have been keeping on top of my edits but I want to do better a better means a faster turn-around when my editor sends me back comments/edits. So that is my mini update Keisha Martin

Pay it forward/Editor Cassandra Marshall

It took me a while, to realize many things in regards to avoiding a pile up of rejections one of which was finding a great editor to help me polish my novel(s) I am lucky I was referred to my editor Lynnette Labelle from the lovely National best-selling romance author Roni Loren. My first YA is progressing nicely and the cost of the edits works well with my budget(aspiring writers never quit your day job) Today while going back and forth from twitter and rewriting couple chapters Cassandra Marshall sent out a tweet regarding ways to promote her editorial services I sent a few ideas, she expressed her goal which is for writers to hire her which makes sense, so to pay it forward I have attached the links to her websites, check out her info if it works for you make the decision to get serious about your manuscript and put it into the hands of someone that will help you rip it apart and sculpt it back again and hopefully better your chances with an agent/publisher. LINKS LINK II Keisha Martin

Love/Hate random poetry

Today March first its significant because four more months until I am on summer break, but since that is a long ways away I will revel in the fact I will go on a much needed vacation without kids and spouse to regenerate a healthy mental healthy and hopeful gain some solid perspective, since my mood has been weird today one minute sad, then calm my muse encouraged me to write this short poem. The love I feel today how distant it feels tomorrow. When the days seemed longer, the warm breeze caress my skin and then the gusty cold wind dances on my face. Love hate what differentiates such powerful feelings? Is it the sunrise that makes me weep or the sunset that frightens me because darkness hovers nearby.