Turning off the negative switch.

So everyone has heard the buzz about Amanda Hocking and her rise to fame and to be honest I wish that was me then something happened I started thinking "If the traditional route doesn't work I could try her way." Reality hit me like a bag filled with bricks.

Each writer route whether it may seem like fate or whatever an individual will precieve it to be, the fact is what happened to Amanda Hocking was destined to be her route and is a special experience just for her,it doesn't mean I or you cannot use that option but the chance of that outcome happening the same way is slim to maybe none, so the solution is to gain knowledge know your goals from the get go in regards to how you are going to hone your writing, and what route your going to use to get there and believe the impossible that if you dedicate time and effort to hone your craft and never give up what do you have to lose? In addition, know that the biz is changing writers have many options to choose which route will work for them. My route is as follows:

*Polishing my novel with my editor extrodinaire Lynnette Labelle
*Reading everything I can on writing
*Refusing to think about negative views about other writers/authors route and appreciating their works in order for me to learn from them even if the books may not be my cup of tea
*Dedicating time to spending quality time with my family
*chilling out don't think too much about the biz it will still be there years from now, it may be modified to meet the demands of our changing world but I will still have a chance of executing my dream.

So what is your route? How do you plan to get there?

To be or not to be? The question for writers

I got inspired to write this blog after checking out Mandy Hubbard blog

What is Happiness? Best selling authors might be happy maybe because their investment with their publisher worked out well, dedicated fans support the author but another question crossed my mind everything in life is never a middle ground becoming a bestseller although I am nowhere close to knowing what that feels like I can only guess it comes with a lot of pressure.

As of late I am unagented but Mandy also made me think of that possibility if and when that happens I think it'll be just as hard and and I will have to be knowledgeable about many things in regards to the publishing biz so that I have a positive relationship with my agent. If I get published more thinking happens regarding my career, and then if the book that I loved for so long will it sell? But the main focus for me right now in my early stages of pursueing my publishing dream many things will be out of my control the only thing that is within my control right now is my willingness to learn and consistently working at honing my craft.

Exhale

October 26th 2010 I decided to go on a query hiatus to polish my novel, it was a gruelling decision I felt like I was giving up, I was defeated, but then I realized I had not enabled myself to learn, to hone the craft of writing a good enough novel.

I went to my local library and got all the books I could get on writing, then purchased a few books, the best book I got so far that has been giving me plenty of knowledge is WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL by Donald Maass. Funny story when I was querying every agent because I was so eager and was still in a fog that I knew what I was doing, I queried Donald I don't blame him for my swift rejection reading his book I know why now. In addition, to feeding my knowledge about writing I acquired a new editor and learned a horrible lesson research,is so important not just for agents/publishers but editors too,finding a editor that one: loves your story and is a good person that wants your success and not your money.

In addition I got critiqued by the amazing Roni Loren she enabled me to see my first five pages with fresh eyes so to speak and I was able to acknowledge I was not ready to query because my novel was not organized well, the plot had so many holes, the momentum lagged and other issues, I made the typical mistake beginner writers make querying too soon.

I also connected on twitter which is a blessing and a curse I get to meet talented authors, writers and agents but it is addicting so its another thing I have to balance or else I wouldn't get any writing done.

I also let myself take deep exhale and stop freaking out about getting an agent I do want that but however long it takes my first priority is polishing my manuscript, the journey is rough no doubt about it but I can't see myself not writing so if that is the glimmer of hope that keeps me going I will run with it and hope it leads me to my dream coming true, and all I can do as well is be myself no matter what happens.

Social Networking

It has been about a year and a half since I started on various social networks the major addiction though is twitter it really takes a lot of will power to get off the darn thing. However, it has come very useful meeting amazing agents, gaining knowledge about the literary business and connecting with other authors/writers which is amazing because whether a writer is a beginner, intermediate, published we as a community share the same emotions scared one minute about meeting deadlines or nervous about querying or disappointed about rejections. Being able to distract myself on Twitter makes the journey less stressful I don't feel so alone, the best tweets I read is when a writer that I follow let the world know he/she got an agent or getting published and sometimes that was made possible because another writer referred their agent to that writer or their blog, that has to make an aspiring writer like myself optimistic. The last point is that social networking has to be authentic don't follow other writers thinking you'll get a referral fake will be exposed and if another person feels that way then your positive networking will falter be genuine, be yourself.

ROCK GODS--KINGS OF LEON

What a night for a dance, you know I'm a dancing machine.
With a fire in my bones, and the sweet taste of kerosene,
I get lost in the light, so high I don't wanna come down,
To face the loss of the good thing that I had found.

(Woo hoo hoo, woo hoo hoo)

In the dark of the night, I can hear you callin' my name.
With the hardest of hearts, I still feel full of pain.
So I drink and I smoke, and I ask you if you're ever around,
Even though it was me who drove us right in the ground.
See, the time we shared, it was precious to me,
But all the while, I was dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)
Born to run, baby, run, like a stream down a mountainside.
With the wind at my back, I don't ever even bat an eye.
Just know it was you all along who had a hold on my heart,
But the demon and me were the best of friends from the start.
So, the time we shared, it was precious to me;
All the while, I was dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

And I told myself: "Boy, away you go..."
It rained so hard it felt like snow.
Everything came tumblin' down on me.
In the back of the woods,
In the dark of the night,
The paleness of the old moonlight,
Everything just felt so incomplete.

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Dreamin' of revelry...

(Woo ooo ooo ooo, woo ooo ooo ooo)

Inspiration

I went to a workshop today organized by my union the amazing PSSP and was blown away by Kelly Walker this is the bio from his website.

Kelly Walker is an author and speaker as well as an accomplished singer songwriter - recording artist. He addresses audiences across North America with his spirited message of hope and courage and humour, addressing such timely concerns as change, burnout, leadership, humour and grief.
http://www.kwalker.com/home.html


The week of 7-14 2011 had not been my greatest week I had difficulties with my clients and a disrespectful co-worker and although I confronted her appropriately in my quiet space I broke down and had a intense cry fest.

Today listening to Kelly, and his journeys through life decisions he made issues he confronted in his personal life it inspired me to accept that moments in which i feel I am in a hole, or darkness engulfs me its those moments that will enable me to come back stronger than ever. I really liked when he stated live, take care of me and give myself the opportunity
to groan and also to grow find the passion that will bring happiness, that made me realize no matter how long it takes I will continue to pursue my dream of getting published.

Progress Report

I was struggling today about what to blog about, I have not set a consistent day in which I blog because truthfully I need to think about what I want to blog about and just like writing it could take a while for the mind to get moving. Today's blog will be about updates. I am revising Ecliptic Dreams formerly known as Cove Awakening which I still have a soft spot for but since I decided to rewrite my novel changing the name sort of made it seem fresh again and I love titles in novels that reflect the seasons, universe etc i.e.TWILIGHT, NEW MOON, ECLIPSE etc. The revised title makes sense though with the story and the main character struggles so here is my WIP I am working on. ECLIPTIC DREAMS/YA Paranormal Romance: Professional editing/rewrites/revisions
Twilight SIREN/YA Fantasy Romance : First draft hope to be finished this by late spring RED DAWN YA/Dystopia Romance: First Draft aiming to finish in early spring
November Rain/YA Paranormal Romance ongoing maybe until early summer
Drum roll my first adult Erotica Mist of Moon(FYI I am terrified writing a naughty novel this is really a challenge if I can cope writing way out of my norm)
What was that significant moment in which you made a decision regarding your publication path?