31 December 2008 at 08:15 (philosophy)
Tags: accomplishments, habits, resolutions
That time of year again. Do you wonder why we always set a clean slate on the first day of the new year? Often we make such resolutions and fail at them within the first month or two, which contributes to feelings of failure and more reasons for us to be harder on ourselves than we always are.
It’s one reason I like to start new projects at all times of year. I think one reason we fail to reach our resolutions is because we try to do too many things at once. We take that 1st of January date and say, “Today everything changes!”
Take time to reflect. Think about goals and what is possible to accomplish within the next year. I like to stagger start points to make the changes only a little at a time. Remember that doing something every day for 30 days makes a new habit. New habits are a lot easier to handle one at a time.
Good luck to all!
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30 December 2008 at 08:06 (Writing)
Tags: creative writing, graduate school, manuscript, Publishing, submission
I wonder what it takes to go to graduate school for an MFA. I hear about people doing it, but while I looked into it, it’s difficult to know if I have what it takes.
I check out the question on the application. I did my undergrad in engineering, which means I haven’t studied much literature or writing in a college setting. Does that mean others have an edge? Possibly. I do know the program has admitted engineers and doctors before.
Friends who know others in the program say the most important part is the manuscript. I suppose that’s for the best, since it’s also the part that I feel most comfortable with. I know how to write. I know I have a lot to learn, which is why I’d like to try grad school.
A friend of mine once said his trouble submitting things wasn’t whether he was good or not. He knew he was good. He just wasn’t sure if he was good enough. Good enough meaning to not be ridiculed with his submission to editors who read far too many pieces to be kind when someone can’t follow rules. I prefer to think of it that way, rather than that some of the writings from others are so awful as to be only fodder for jokes. (But in my head I know both are probably the case.)
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29 December 2008 at 12:55 (Books, Writing)
Tags: Angeline Jellybean, Blog Tour, Books
The Angeline Jellybean tour continues at Vivian’s blog today.
Participating in the tour, I’ve been thinking ahead to my own book. I will have a blog tour near its release date. I wonder who to include, how to get the word out, and where to get the niche audience who really wants my book. Finding all of that isn’t easy, but it also isn’t impossible.
(It better not be impossible, because I’m going to do it anyway!)
I’ve been reading up on things and figuring out how to do that. One resource to find blogs by category or country or on a global scale. This blog is ranked there! … I’m ranked below 19 million others, literally. I’m taking heart that I’ve only been blogging here for a few months and only very consistently this month as a reason to keep coming back.
One day I’d love to be able to connect the niche audiences to books they’d love but haven’t heard of yet. I love even more to write them, but reading a story is so much faster.
Check out your favorite blogs for their ranking and audiences at Alexa.
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28 December 2008 at 07:00 (Books, Children)
Tags: 4RV Publishing LLC, Angeline Jellybean, Blog Tour, Crystalee Calderwood, jellybeans, picture book, Stephen MacQuignon
Everyone loves jellybeans, but probably none of them as much as Angeline. All she eats is jellybeans!
You’ll find out more during this tour about the author, Crystalee Calderwood, the illustrator, Stephen Macquignon; and the book, Angeline Jellybean! I have the feeling this book has given all of us jellybean fever – so watch out. It might not be contagious…
A little information about jellybeans:
- Jellybeans emerged around 1900 with other shaped candies.
- Former President Ronald Reagan’s favorite candy was the jellybean, which marked a resurgence in popularity and also brought a lot of gourmet or designer flavors.
- Some manufacturers make formed shapes for holidays like Easter, Halloween, and Christmas.
- Mostly, they’re part of Easter traditions and about 15 billion jellybeans are sold during the season.
Angeline Jellybean, the book: Publisher Site
As a picture book geared toward children 2 and up for listening and 1st to 3rd grade for reading, Angeline is going to get them thinking. It’s filled with beautiful pictures and a fun story to keep them entertained, as well. I received my copy earlier this month and am extremely happy with it.
Crystalee Calderwood: Website Blog
Favorite jellybean flavor? Cherry
Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving
Favorite age of children to read to? Babies and Toddlers – the lap-cuddling age.
Favorite age of children to write for? 3-5 years, but I like to write for all ages.
What’s your next challenge? Revising and expanding my first YA novel and hopefully getting it published. I’m also working on a new website where kids can ask me questions about my writing, books, and send in their own work.
Stephen Macquignon:
Favorite jellybean flavor? If I had to choose one, it would be the black liquorish.
Favorite holiday? Halloween is my favorite. I used to love putting on costumes and going Trick or Treating with my friends.
Favorite age of children to illustrate for? I don’t have one. I enjoy working in all age groups. “Angeline Jellybean” is for children ages 2 and up, “Colors” that has just been published and is written by Danna Warren is for children no older than 7 years.
What’s your next challenge? “Would a Kangaraffee Make you Laffe” and I have two more books in production “If Fish Could Drive” and “The Marshmallow Man” coming out in October 2009.
Make sure you check out the entire tour! Click for schedule.
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27 December 2008 at 08:18 (Writing, music)
Tags: Another Piece of Me, lyrics, Michelle Tuesday, songwriting
I finally released the lyrics to Michelle Tuesday, after we chatted about them a couple hours and I tweaked what I really wanted to say. She’s very helpful to understand how to make it come through once I had a draft down.
She played it for me live, over the computer, and then recorded it.You can find it on YouTube: Another Piece of Me. I’m delighted with how it turned out; while I could tell words could be set to music it doesn’t really play in my head.
I’m looking forward to trying this collaboration again with Michelle. We’re definitely having fun!
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26 December 2008 at 08:38 (Publishing, Writing)
Tags: Author, reasons, self-publishing
Sometimes I wonder what exactly to say to someone who decides to self-publish. There are a hundred different reasons to choose any given publisher and there are benefits and drawbacks to each decision.
For self-publishing, the onus of the work rests solely with the author. This includes writing, editing, marketing, selling, and probably a few other things I can’t think of off the top of my head. It sometimes gets a bad rap, too, because anyone can do it.
They dont actually have to do editing, of course. A person could choose to pen fifteen pages of an endless litany of “I will not smash cars” and self-publish it. Not that anyone would buy it or be extremely happy about receiving a copy, but it could be done.
I’d like to meet someone who could market that, though. I bet I could learn a lot! In the meantime, I’m in search of a word that isn’t congratulations (from dictionary.com “an expression of joy in the success or good fortune of another”) and means more of a “good luck on your endeavor.” I’ll reserve the congratulations until it’s a successful venture.
All of us need the luck, no matter what publishing route we take. We work to achieve any published status and we earn our laurels based on factors not always under our control.
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24 December 2008 at 15:00 (philosophy)
Tags: news, weather, winter
I looked for a cheery news article to share. You know, something happy and upbeat to show the spirit was alive and well.
I found a boy who’s thriving after being born with his heart outside his chest. Everything else had a decidedly downbeat vibe: 10 dumbest things from Wall Street in 2008, Retailers who are simply trying to survive with the economy, and the weather.
The worst part about winter is the cold, snow, ice, sleet, and all that other junk. Why do I live in Iowa again? Luckily my husband takes care of the driveway and I don’t have to go outside the house again today.
Happy Holidays to all!
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23 December 2008 at 08:52 (Writing, philosophy)
Tags: friends, holiday card, holiday letter, keeping in touch, novel
I wait for them in the mail, but don’t usually get as many as I send. I’m trying to update my list, so if I haven’t heard from someone in several years (at least 3) I usually figure they’re not into the card thing. If there hasn’t been other contact, it’s time to take them off the list.
But I did find one useful thing about holiday letters for people I haven’t been in touch with the best: they get updates on me they don’t always hear through the friend grapevine. Sure, everyone manages to share the pregnancy and the relocation, but somehow the upcoming novel dropped off the radar.
If only I could tell them all in person. Maybe next book!
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22 December 2008 at 08:55 (Writing, philosophy)
Tags: fiction, friendship
I have a lot of friends and am thankful for all of them. One thing that I have always attempted to do is portray friends in fiction as they are in real life. So many elements of stories are inspired by actual events, whether they’re ‘based on true events’ or simply to add the feeling of reality.
One problem I face in that attempt is what happens in real life is differentiating characters. We see differences between people when they’re standing in front of us, but in short stories especially readers get confused. It forces me as a writer to dig deeper to really show different nuances, but I notice that isn’t always readily apparent in everyday interactions.
Another big problem is that truth is stranger than fiction. I have a short story on friendship that a few readers commented, “I don’t believe anyone could ever be like this.” I’d made the person less extreme than she really acted, so I never figured out how to really reconcile the story. Friendship takes many forms, and each of them depends on the dynamic between the two or more individuals who are together.
Then there’s the question of what makes friends not be friends anymore. It comes up more in my YA than it does in science fiction, likely because the teenage years are such a volatile time. Each time I write that, I wonder about friendship itself. I pick relationships apart and then analyze what I know about people.
It might not always help some ‘real’ relationships that seem doomed, but it has helped me make more realistic interactions for my characters. Next up ought to be someone who gets a phone call out of the blue from someone who’s been out of contact for two or three years. But after that amount of time, are the two still friends? It’s a question I haven’t yet been able to answer. Most of the time, I’d say no.
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21 December 2008 at 10:53 (Writing)
Tags: collaboration, lyrics, Michelle Tuesday, music, poetry, songwriting
I’ve been working on some song lyrics for a friend of mine. It’s not something I’ve done before, but she’s a singer and this poem-type thing started popping out of my head. I felt a tempo behind it and so I played with it enough to get a chorus and verses.
When I spoke to Michelle Tuesday about it, she was pretty excited. I let her read my draft last night. Turns out she wrote a song yesterday, too, but her efforts at lyrics might be revamped into something with a bit more of a message. (I got to read it – I can’t wait to actually hear it.)
I had to laugh because our original plan -yes, we had a plan- was to start collaborating in February when some of our other projects had died down a little, but I guess our imaginations just ran wild and when inspiration strikes, it must be captured. She’s very talented musically, and I’m trying to be patient to see what she comes up with.
I’m hoping it’s just the beginning, but I don’t have song ideas popping out of my head every day.
Listen to Michelle Tuesday:
Youtube: WDCBrandiwyn
MySpace: Brandiwyn
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