Writing and recovery

Of course, this blog could be titled "recovery from being a writer".

I think I'm finally recovered from the insanity that was RT (Romantic Times Booklovers Convention).  The leftover swag (mine) has been packed away, the stuff from others has been sorted, and my free books await me on my TBR pile.

And my writing brain almost completely shut down.

It's back now, I think. Hopefully. At least the demons that come along with writing (or any painfully creative endeavor I would think) have settled down or at least wondered off and are bugging someone else for a bit. But wow, did they take me for a ride.

RT was my first public signing- just me and about 600 other published authors, and a few thousand readers. Just a bit crazy mind you. I did well, sold out of almost all the books I brought, gave away tons of swag, met some amazing folks.

And my brain still shut down when I came back.

I'm editing book two- The Obsidian Chimera, and starting book three.  Editing can be a delicate time, you're having to go through and be really harsh with those amazing words you threw down on earlier drafts. You are questioning yourself.

Being at any event where you are out there as a Published Writer, also makes you question yourself. Combine the two and you have a maelstrom of woe and self-pity just looking for some brainspace to take over.

So things sorta shut down.

I spent last weekend really working through it, and having some long hard talks with that mess in my head. Turns out, the mess was just helping me try to process this all (so it says) and in the long run will make me a stronger, happier writer. We can rebuild me *cue six million dollar man music here*.

I reminded myself that I love to write. And if being a writer in today's world means all the other stuff that goes with it (aka not just writing in a nice,safe vacuum) then I need to learn how to cope- or stop playing in the writer sandbox.

So this week I'm still editing, but with more faith than before. Still wobbling about, but I think I'll get through this. And come out stronger.

Confessions of a swag whore...

First off, yes, this blog post is a few days late.  Sorry, but on Wednesday I was busy with the Romantic Times Booklovers convention.

I had a crazy idea before I left for the con, that I would be perfectly ready and able to do a blog on Wednesday like I normally do.

As you see, it is now Sunday.

I fought the con and the con won ;).

I had a great time (in recovery seclusion in my hotel room as I type this ;)).  My first signing went really well--talked to lots of amazing folks, and sold the majority of the books I brought (which was a happy shock to me!).

But, why I called you all here today was to talk about my swag addition. Not the "I need to pick up other folks' swag", but the "I need to bring more of my own swag"!

Now, don't get me wrong-- my swag did it's job and got my name and book out there. It also filled up one 45 pound suitcase, and most of a second one.

I know I have a problem. Yet all during the con, when I'd see other really cool swag, I'd be thinking, "OOOOO!  I want to do THAT next year!"

Now granted, RT is in Vegas and I can drive next year- but still.  I don't need more swag!

But....but...there is so much coooooool stuff out there!!  Yeah...I wonder how much I can fit in a rental van?

IWSG: My first SIGNING!! #RT2015

Welcome all, to another round of "what the heck am I doing?" AKA- the Insecure Writers Support Group.  This is the one day a month where writers from across the globe scream out our terrors, fears, and just basic wibbly-wobbly knees.

Want to join us?  Please do!
 http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

Today I am facing down the barrel of my first book signing. Now, technically, I did have one in the office I work in thanks to my supportive boss who set it up. It was AWESOME!  Great set up, captive audience, surrounded by folks who kinda like me, and yummy food. It was a great first signing.

Sadly, it wasn't an accurate example of what it will be like for a "real world" one. (Former bookstore manager here- I've hosted book signings....sad....usually, very sad.). NEXT week, Saturday, May 16th to be exact, I will be in Dallas, Texas with a few hundred other authors at a MASSIVE book signing for Romantic Times Booklovers Convention.

I've been to this convention before, and it's a hoot. Lots of fun and usually a wide variety of excellent panels. Attendees all love books and range from librarians and booksellers, to readers/fans, to published authors of all levels.

But this is my first time as a published author. And I'm going a bit cray-cray. I have enough swag to supply an army-seriously, one giant suitcase is full (and just under allowed check in weight) another is waiting to be found so it can be filled. Probably need to fit some clothes in that one too.  I already mailed a box of swag for an event (200 hundred pieces there) plus sent a huge box to an awesome friend of a friend who lives in Dallas.

It is like I'm setting up elaborate troop movements under the cover of darkness!

Add to this, a lots of stress and freaking out about the entire thing- and an insane urge to practice my friendly yet "no, really, it's okay if you just take some swag and don't even pick up my book let alone buy it" smile. And you have what I'm going through. While working my full time day job. ARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!

So, long story short (too late, I know) I am looking forward to and terrified by my first signing. If any of you live near the Dallas area-come on by and say hi! (I promise to offer you swag :)).

And so it begins...

Welcome all!

Today I started work on The Emerald Dragon, the final book in The Lost Ancients' trilogy!

*confetti flies everywhere*

I have to say it's a really weird feeling. I am excited at starting a new book (is there anything better than those first couple of pages? SQUEEE!). I am also terrified at wrapping everything up. And, lastly, a bit sad that this will end this trilogy. (Note: I said trilogy....doesn't mean this world or characters are over-ya never know what may happen down the line ;))

But hitting on those first words, the ones that more than likely will be changed, felt amazing. Starting a brand new book. The feeling of "I can go anywhere!" a bit contained since this is a third book and it seriously has some 'splaining to do (and all sorts of shenanigans).

But all of a sudden, I'm back in the world. I have no idea what's around the corner when Taryn strolls down to The Shimmering Dewdrop this fine morning (why I love being a pantser- I get to find out what happens as it does! (yes, I hear the plotters whimpering in the corner ;))). Nor why Crusty Bucket has found a new song to sing.  But I know it's happening.

This book publishing journey is a wild ride, especially with going Indie. But getting back to WHY we do this, the wonderful fun of writing, that's where true happiness is (all of you, remind me of this statement a feww weeks from now when things go sideways ;)).

So go out and do something great today!

Six Things I’ve Learned About Self-Publishing.

Happy Wednesday! Today I’m talking about a few things I’ve learned along the way of self-pubbing my first book, The Glass Gargoyle. Six things…more or less, kinda sorta ;).  Please add your own!

   1) Research and planning is necessary.  Back in March 2014 I decided I wanted to have more control over my work, so I decided I was going to self-publish. In a year. Yes, you can slap anything up on Amazon in less than 20 minutes. But DON’T do it. Your building a career here- take your time do it right.  I hunted down lots of sources of info during my year, I also found editors, artists and started the second book, The Obsidian Chimera. Favorite book is Write.Publish.Repeat. Awesome- go buy it!

    2) Set deadlines. I told myself  ONE YEAR. Now, I barely made it, the book came out March 25, 2015. But I did make it ;). Having a deadline was huge and kept me running for it.

    3) Plan for way more time than you think things will take. EVERYTHING takes longer than you think. Plan your time and double it. Seriously.

     4) Be prepared for some folks to sneer.  Self-publishing is moving forward, but there are still snarky folks out there. Smile, move on, and get them the heck out of your life as much as possible.

     5) DO IT RIGHT. Hire editors, even if you have a Ph. D in English- find great editors to work with! Line up some awesome beta readers too- they are worth their weight in gold. Learn how to work with edits and critiques to keep your voice, but strengthen the book. Hire artists too. Yes, judging a book by its’ cover is “bad” but people do. I do. You do. Your readers do. Find the best artist you can afford.

     6) Accept shit will go wrong. Lots of it. Constantly. Like all the time. You will be putting out fires on a lot of fronts. Some you can fix, some you can’t. Know when you have done your best to present a professional book and move on. If having a few typos, etc is good enough for the big NY publishers, it’s good enough for us. Besides, you will always find one more problem. Fix them as you can, then start playing  “Let It Go!” from Frozen on repeat.

This experience has been life changing-seriously. I think about everything differently now.  And I wouldn't change it.

The sometimes squishy middle

I’m closing in on something I’ve only down once before—finishing the middle book of a trilogy. (And the one I did will most likely be gutted due to massive planned changes in book one, but that’s a tale for another blog a year or two down the line ;)).

Thing is, I am writing the dreaded “squishy middle book”. Sort of like the middle movie in a beloved trilogy, you’re excited for it, but you’re afraid maybe it will just be space filer until the action of the third installment.

Let’s face it, the middle segments in a series are their own special pain in the ass. And it’s not really their fault, they’re surrounded by heavy hitters. The excitement of book one—a new world, new characters, new everything!  It builds a rising tension that while partially resolved at its end, also leaves some big dangling threads for readers to wonder about and stew over while waiting for book two.

On the other side the poor middle book  has the final book of the trilogy. Usually more massive in scope, with battles, confrontations, and story endings.

Those are two pretty serious siblings the poor middle child has to deal with! The middle has to try and develop some of the plot points from book one, work in new ones, give lots of good juicy bits for its own sake, but also build in some new trails for book three.

And it needs to not sag.

I will say I am really enjoying book two, it’s probably about 96% done at this point in a linear book fashion, but I already know where I will be going back in and weaving stronger sub-plots of its very own.  I am a pantser—aka make stuff up as I go along with a final goal for that book in my head.  But since I also had the trilogy goal in my head, I may have gone a bit light on the sub-plots.

But it is difficult balancing what happened in book one and what will happen in book two. Walking that fine line of keeping things exciting, but not letting too many secrets out of the bag ;).

How do you feel about the middle book children? As a reader, what are your favs? As a writer, any tips? ;).

Damn characters are laughing at me

As a writer, I spend my time thinking up fun filled problems for my characters.  Okay, they may be fun for me and hopefully readers, but probably not so much for the characters.

I sort of think of it like me rolling barrels at my characters’ feet while they are just trying to go on about their normal lives. Hop, run, JUMP!  That sort of thing.

Well, as of late I’ve begun to think my characters have been paying off the Universe to give me some payback for the mayhem and shenanigans I inflict upon them.

It seems like every time I turn around, something involved with the book has had a hiccup.  Some are minor ones, tiny little mini beer kegs rolling about that I am annoyed about, but can jump over fairly easily.  Then there are the super-sized barrels of problems that are waist high and coming for my poor legs at 50 mph.

The most recent example is why this blog is late.  My less-than-a-year-old computer went crazy and wouldn't let me connect to the internet for love or money the past few days. By itself, it’s annoying.  Added to delayed orders, formatting problems, and other assorted issues, and it starts to get to you.

Don’t get me wrong, I am still very excited about getting my stories out to the masses, and I LOVE writing.  It’s all the things associated with it that just makes me feel like I’m being punked by someone-like there is someone behind the scenes rolling these barrels at me just to see if I can keep my feet.

And sometimes I swear I hear laughter from a bunch of tiny, maniacal, drunken faeries.