I know that I promised
yesterday that this one would be up on time but…I’ve been writing most of the
day and I figure that is a good excuse to not be posting this. Never mind that
the internet decided to be a PIA today and be flaking in and out. It happens a
lot here with the older buildings and the rain. Matter-of-fact, I can’t buzz
anyone into the building until all the electronics dry out. Oh, the joys of
living in an older flat. Sigh.
This past week I have done
quite a bit. I’ve written a few blogs and started on the second book in the
MacKenzie Clan series with a vengeance this week. The book is titled Deceiving
the Scotsman and it’s about the heroine’s assistant and the hero’s brother both
from the first book. And it all begins at a wedding. I’ll be posting random
bits and pieces on some of the My Sexy Saturday posts. It has a little bit of
suspense and intrigue and once I get things more gelled in my mind, I’ll let
you all in on it.
And I know that I promised
last week to share information regarding specific marketing information
regarding my last book but I’m still writing it. I don’t want it to be anything
more than a piece about what worked and didn’t work for me. Opinion has no
place, other than how it relates to the event, in an article of that nature. I
want to be fair and non-judgmental on every level. That means, it needs to be
looked over by the crit partners once it’s completed the way I like.
If luck holds out, I might be
able to have it up for Thursday’s Tidbits. That’s the day that I actually plan
to share information tidbits, which have helped me along the way. Now, other
authors can do this too and if you have a tidbit you want to share, just send
me an email at lynncrain@cox.net
and let me know. I can schedule you in any time and let you know the
requirements.
Another great thing that
happened to me was that I finally read some of the books that are piling up on
my tablet in the Kindle app. Yeah, there are hundreds there. Some I’ve purchased,
others I’ve downloaded when an author had a free day and I wanted to help them
with their counts. But I don’t think that works anymore and in the last six
months, I’ve been more choosy about who I’ve been downloading. Meaning, if I
don’t think I’ll ever read it, I don’t download it any more. The only ones that
I will download automatically, are friends and authors I know. Yes, I really do
believe in the back-scratch theory.
Anyway, the book that I think
every writer should read came to me in a StoryBundle Package. That package was
full of great writer’s books and I feel that I should be reading one fiction
and one non-fiction book at all times. Of course, one is for pleasure and the
other to help me hone my craft. I am one of those who feel learning is a
life-long mission. I will never learn it all, especially in writing, so I must
always be taking a class or reading a book in regards to getting better as a
writer.
One of the books in the
bundle was by a favorite author of mine, Kristine Kathryn Rusch. She is someone
I learned about long ago and wanted her to be my editor if I ever got into the
short story market. Today, she is a powerhouse as far as self-publishing goes
and gives out damn good information that writers need. This book is called The Write
Attitude and most of it is taken from her Thursday blog
called The Business
Rusch. She blogs about other things but Thursdays are
special. The link goes to the pages and all of the articles available.
This book has a compilation
of what she considers her best articles on certain topics. Things like being
the best writer you can be and life. She calls those things that we can’t
predict ‘life rolls’ and by gosh, she’s right. Kris explains it so much better
than I can and I had to admit, there were places I was practically crying
because she could have been talking to me. I swear, I have done all the bad,
the good and the ugly things she mention in this book.
No…not really…but it seems
like it. I mean, I’ve yet to follow an editor into the bathroom and shove a
manuscript under a stall door. So, I guess I am better than some. LOL!
If you are in a place that
you feel like you’ll never dig yourself out of then this is the writing book
for you. It is flat out motivating and has tons of useful information. I am
already reading parts of it again and definitely looking into taking some classes
with her and her husband, Dean Wesley Smith. These two, without even knowing
it, formulated much of how I think about writing science fiction. Maybe if I
had studied with them years ago, I would have more confidence in myself and be
a better writer overall.
Personally, I know my flaws
and have some great ideas on how to go around or through them. Every writer has
to find the path that is good for them and the one that will work. Still, I
highly recommend going to look at the book and check out Kris’ website. You
will not be sorry.
Next week, or possibly Thursday,
I will be sharing the marketing information and where I feel you’ll get the
most bang-for-your-buck on a limited budget of just $250. And don’t despair,
you can go it too.
Until then…
Lynn
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