What Are You Meant to Do?

What are you meant to do? If you could sum up your greatest yearning, in one word, what would that word be?

I have pondered and wondered and been completely stumped by this question for a long time.  But I have finally boiled it down all my ideas and urges into one word:

Storyteller.

Now, that word has some negative connotations, at least for me, in the vein of: Don't be a storyteller! (you know, a liar! lol).

I'm trying to re-vamp that in my head.

I tell stories when writing, when drawing, when doing anything creative.  The story I'm telling when working on my home? Cozy.  My story when I'm at the computer in my office? That one's harder.  Vision, maybe. Or even cohesive.  The story changes frequently when I'm in my office because I wear a lot of hats in there!  (yep, it's just me and a big honkin' coat-rack in there, trying to get something done!)

My visual, in trying to change my internal connotation of the word "storyteller," is that of a fireside shaman, relating the stories of her tribe.  There might be feathers in my hair.  I like feathers.  But I am magical, creating stories from words and gestures; using pictures to record memories and lessons.

Here's how I think of it: waaaaaay back in the day (which, according to Dane Cook, was a Wednesday), everyone had a job.  Hunter.  Gatherer.  Medicine Man.  Chief. Council Member.  And later: Seamstress/Tailor.  Tanner.  Blacksmith.  But there's always someone to entertain as well.  To record group memories, to help shape the culture going forward based on the lessons and stories of the ancestors. 

Shaman.  Bard. Poet. Playwright.  Painter. Sculptor. Actor.  Designer.
 
Nowadays, "creative" will do.  I am constantly telling stories.  Daydreaming.  Writing.  Drawing.  Coloring.  Inking.  Teaching.  Relating an anecdote.  I cannot stop from doing it--it is as natural and second-nature as breathing!  I'm surprised I don't have stories oozing from my pores!

The word "storyteller" immediately put me at ease, made me nod.  Yes, that is my word. 

I am a storyteller.

So, what are YOU meant to do? What's your word?  Tell me!

The Organized Writer

So I'm often referred to as anal retentive and no where is that more helpful than when I'm writing!  I'm just like anyone else though: if it's too complicated, I'm not going to keep up with it.  So here are the things I'm currently using and some tips to go along.

1. Spreadsheets.  I love excel and making spreadsheets.  So neat and organized and lined.  I use a spreadsheet with lots of tabs for tracking my writing ideas as well as my (meager) writing income from ads, Today's Mama (pay per click), Amazon Associates and Kindle subscriptions.  But the first tab is for post ideas.  This way, as soon as I have an idea, I add it to the list and I'm not wracking my brains later for a topic.  I have lately been sidetracked by graphic design but normally, I like to regularly post on each of my three blogs.  I label each idea with which blog it will go on, what type of post it will be (in order to keep my overall blog subjects focused, I have a list of post types for each of my blogs) and where else I can blurb or advertise that post.  I also note any contacts in relation to a post or article.  I ALSO color code my entries.  They are yellow until I write the post.  I change the color to green if I have written and posted it but still need to put that post somewhere else or need to notify someone that the post is up.  I remove all color so it's white when I am completely done with the post.  

2. Calendar....OK, which I made with excel.  This way if I have a strangely open hour or two and I write feverishly, I can spread out my posts.  I also mark the pub dates of all the books I get from freshfiction.com so I know what order to read them in (oldest pub dates first).  Really, this can be so helpful to see at a glance which days you've schedule posts.  I highly recommend it.

3.  Daily schedule.  I have an atrocious habit of doing things as they strike me, so scared am I of forgetting to do something.  I try to work against it by giving myself certain days for writing to certain blogs.  I also designate certain days for cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping.  It helps me to focus on the task at hand---I can tell myself "Yes, there's laundry to do, but laundry day is Monday, today is Saturday, so let's finish up this post."  Sometimes, things get away from me and I find myself not writing in order to do dishes that have been sitting for a few hours, but really (truly!) I get MORE done by following a schedule.  Otherwise, I'm doing dishes, then wiping down counters, then stopping to run something to its rightful place upstairs, then pausing to wipe at that spot on the mirror, etc etc and basically doing everything but BICHOK (butt in chair, hands on keys).  In other words, for me, a general routine helps me to write instead of spin my wheels.  It also means I can work on posts in the morning and my novel in the afternoon. (which I haven't been doing lately!)  Also helpful: I've realized now what is reasonable and what is unreasonable in terms of expectations for my daily time with kids, their nap times and running errands.  For example, I will probably not be writing for Technorati anymore, nor will I be copying and pasting my blog posts into Bloggy Moms---there isn't enough time in my week!

 All in all, you need to do what works for you, what is easiest and what dovetails with your natural inclinations/habits/lifestyle.  But overall, I highly recommend some kind of organizational system, especially if you are a freelancer.

**UPDATED with LINKS:*

Please also see Kim Harrison's character grid (which is excellent!) and Eclectics.com Fiction Writer's Character Chart.  

What do you do to keep organized?  

More Links, Great Resources, Useful References

Hey all!                                                                                                                     

I have added to and rearranged and tweaked all my links lists, so please have a look!
There is a *NEW* list: Genre Writing, where I weeded out a few things from Resources and References, which is a pretty long list.  I did add a few things to the R&R list as well.  I've added an author or two, completely revamped the Creatives list and added to the Publishing list.  I am thinking about creating a links list for Tools & Software---would you find that helpful?  I would put the two forms I've recently found for characters on there, for example, as well links to writing software and software for artists. 

Also, anyone who has a blog or website themselves (or just one you want to recommend) please do send it along to me and I'll consider it for addition.  You can reply here or find me on Twitter.   Thanks so much!

Book Review: The Art and Craft of Fiction: A Practitioner's Manual

I have just finished The Art & Craft of Fiction: A Practitioner's Manual by Victoria Mixon. 

If you are a writer, this must be on your desk.  Must.  Go. Buy it.  Yes, I mean right now!  Hit that Amazon link and get to clickin'! 

The best way I can describe this is that it is like having a tutor right beside you.  Victoria's voice is clear, funny and informative yet personal at the same time;  it's like she's sitting right beside you, reading your mind, anticipating your questions, voicing things you knew you knew and encouraging you onward!  Every time I paused to read some of Victoria's book, I want to highlight, note and then drop it in favor of writing.  And you know, when I finished, I thought, WAIT how am I going to find that one note I made?  Will I have to go back and scan and scan to find it?  But no, because of course, Ms.Mixon thought of everything: there's an index.  Yay! :)

Topics covered: character, dialog, tension, plot, writing moods, and punctuation and grammar (an invaluable resource!)

Event: Flannery O'Connor

I received a newsletter from my alma mater, College of Notre Dame of Maryland (soon to be College of Notre Dame University!) and it had some interesting things on the calendar.  The one on Catholic writers that I was really interested in was only 4 days away from the day I received the newsletter, so I was a little annoyed at not having enough time to get things together to attend that!  However, they are also having an exhibit: 

Flannery O'Connor: Letters from Andalusia Exhibit,

 February 28 to April 23,

Loyola/Notre Dame Library

Baltimore, MD 

Here's what the newsletter had to say: 

"Writer Flannery O'Connor holds a special place in the hearts of the Notre Dame community, as the most important female Catholic writer of the 20th century, and as a treasured correspondent of poet and English professor, Maura Eichner, SSND '41." 

Should "Real Authors" Steer Clear of Self-Publishing?

 A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about self-publishing vs. traditional publishing. I’m not counting traditional publishing out by any means, but I dislike all the brouhaha that is going on which seems to express indignation on the part of the publishers in reference to self-publishers. In short, I thought publishers were coming across as desperate, whiny and immature.

But then I read a blog post by author Jody Hedlund on the subject and she made some valid points. She is definitely pro-traditional publishing, saying, “The truth is, self-publishing marketing is NOT equal to the marketing done by traditional publishers. For all the talk about how ALL authors everywhere have to bear ALL the burden of marketing, it’s just NOT true.” I was initially shocked by that definitive statement and immediately felt rebellious! Lol But I continued to read and I’m glad I did!

As a Writer, What Fiction Should I Be Reading?

       You know, two of my high school classmates (that I know of…that I’m still friends with…) are writers. When I first started connecting with people online a few years ago, I was stunned and amazed at their pursuit of the writerly profession. A little intimidated. Ok, maybe a tad jealous.

One, I will call E, she writes historical fiction and writes a fabulous blog: professional, thoughtful, intellectual. I wanted to be her. I felt like I was in high school again, striving to be in with the cool kids. She read intellectual fare and I, at first, thought, “Is this what I should be reading? Is this what good writers read?” Shouldn’t I love Faulkner, quote from Yeats, memorize Whitman? (I’ve been reading the poetry issue of O, Magazine!) I’ve never read Austen (although I love “her” movies! Lol), never owned a Sylvia Plath or read Ayn Rand or Tolstoy.....

Post Showcase: Will OnSwipe be the Mobile Publishing Platform... ?



Copyblogger site



I am a gadget girl.  I love trying new things, hitting the buttons, muttering "now, what does this do??" 

So when my daily copy of copyblogger appeared in my email box, I was intrigued to see this headline:

Will OnSwipe be the Mobile Publishing Platform of Choice for the New Influencers?  Of course, anything that has the word "publsihing" in it catches my eye!

Blog Showcase: StoryADay

http://storyaday.org/

StoryADay is this wonderful little place that is crammed full of goodies!  Not unlike what I hope to do (although more focused and, if you can believe it, even more organized than I!) this site offers help, inspiration, spurring-on, groups, challenges and resources.  I believe I was sucked in accidentally on Twitter, when someone re-Tweeted something they had posted and I checked it out.  Their current post: How To Become An Insanely Productive Writer...I mean, who doesn't want to know that??  Good stuff here!

Also, a heads up and perfect timing: their Story a Day May is coming up!  You write a story a day, as many words (or as few) as you'd like!  This is like writing bootcamp, I believe the author refers to it as! lol Keeps your mind and your story muscles working!  I'm not sure if I have enough time (i.e. I'm brave enough!!) to try it but I encourage all you young single types to go right ahead! ;) 

Creative Theming: Birthdays

So how do you feel about birthdays?  Love 'em? Hate 'em? Ignore 'em?  What do you think about?  A particularly aweome one or a particularly hideous one?  Do you remember the gifts or the people?
What are your favorite things about birthdays? (ok, except for the gifts people!)
Take it and run peeps!! :) Have fun! Write, draw, photograph and meet me back here! Getting some sort of linking tool set up soon!
:)




Image credit:  di_the_huntress

p.s. I totally have an ulterior motive: my bday is March 7th, so naturally, whenever I think of March, I think of birthdays!!  My niece's is St. Patty's day, so March is the month my friends! :)

Technical Difficulties---POOF!-- all gone!

Thanks for all the feedback and help guys! :)  Everything should be functioning properly now!  No more pop-up comment box either, it was taking forever to load!
More updates coming tomorrow!
Check out the new link to the uber-cool Art Project powered by Google down near my links---it is a picture link.  I have my own "collection" started and it should take you right to it! 
Enjoy!

Please Excuse Me...

...but I seem to be experiencing some technical difficulties!  First it was just when you clicked on a post title, the comments were riding up and overlapping!  If that wasn't annoying enough, now my posts are overlapping each other!! GGGRRRRRRRRRR. 
Trust me, I am working on it, have been all week and hopefully will have some html help on Sunday.  Anyone that can help, let  me know please!! This just abruptly started happening this week, I cannot figure out what is happening!
Thanks!
:)

Article Response: Do Authors Make Good Publishers?

I just finished reading "Do Authors Make Good Publishers?" on e-reads.  Although it is two months old, I was a little flabbergasted.  Richard Curtis seems to think the answer to that is "no."

Really?

Has anyone heard of Amanda Hocking? I started reading  her in December right before, literally about two weeks, before her books exploded in popularity and she sold over 100,000 books in one month!  I have managed to be able to touch base with her now and again on Twitter and on her blog.  She was rejected many times by literary agents and publishers and so frustrated was she, she published on her own with Amazon, Smashwords and B&N. She is now a self-made millionare in less than a year at the age of 26!
Most of Mr. Curtis's argument stems from the fact that he believes an editor, PR, cover art and formatting of the ebook material to just be too overwhelming and would prohibit the author from doing what they do best, which is writing.  It's far too complicated for just one person to handle and hey, you are the writer, you should be writing, right?  Don't let these other things take you away from that!

Whatever, dude. 

I have read a TON on publishing and its process.  I can tell you this:  it's time consuming whether you have help or not!  If you are the author, it doesn't matter whether you are scheduling and planning your own local bookstore tour or if the publisher gives you a book tour budget (highly unlikely as a first time writer and less likely as time goes on even for even established writers...) you as the author still have to do all the schmoozing, the standing, the signing, the picture posing and the traveling.  You, as the author, still have to participate in the interviews, fill out the email questionnaires, answer the phone calls and skype with the big contacts all while reading other authors so you can blurb for them as a courtesy for them blurbing for you.
When you are publishing a book, there is work involved.  Don't act like once we finish a book, our work is done, Mr. Curtis.

And don't act like you are invaluable.  It sounds like the publishing industry is desperately grabbing at straws as they see their meal tickets sliding away when once these same authors clamored for the publishing industry's attention.  We would agonize over who we were sending our precious manuscripts to and the literary agents had so much reading material, there are rumors of stacks two and three feet high of slush.
It sounds more like the publishing industry is miffed that there is a new kid and they are no longer the popular ones.

I understand Mr. Curtis does not speak for the whole of the publishing world; he is not their voted on spokesperson.  However, he is obviously a publishing insider and one wonders how many others share his view.  This is rapidly turning into an us vs. them issue, rather then a "there is no 'I' in 'team'" type mentality.  How dare we try to go off and do it on our own? The publishing process is sacrosanct and all the professionals involved are necessary players that absolutely must be involved in the process.

I've always been an independent spirit.  I'm not one for burning my bridges but I am in the process of completing my first manuscript and I will be thinking long and hard about the route I'd like to take!  

Publishing: Book Bloggers Can Help Sell Your Book...

I just came across this article on the "Alan Rinzler: Consulting Editor" blog, about the book blogger/author relationship.  It's a great article whether you are (or want to be) a book blogger or if you are (or want to be!) and author.  Just like Pump Up Your Book!, this is another way for authors to get the word out without a PR person.  You can certainly contact book bloggers on your own.  Thanks to Amanda Hocking  (twitter: @Amanda_Hocking), whose books I have read and cannot wait for more, for pointing this article out....of course, it mentions her, so that's why she knew about it! ;)



Publishing: Pump Up Your Book!

There has been great debate lately about the effectiveness of a traditional book tour.  Unless you're a NYT best seller, the publishers are generally not giving you a book tour budget!  You'll be lucky to get a press budget at all!  Most authors do it themselves nowadays and of course, hiring a PR person is expensive.  However, without one, how far can you realistically get?



I literally stumbled upon (no pun intended!) this site, Pump Up Your Book!,  that promotes your book with a variety of tools including an Online Book Tour! What a cool idea! They have a variety of packages.  I can't help but think that this group is right on the money!  I'm definitely bookmarking them for future use!  Their services include a book tour banner just for you, stops at 20 highly trafficked book blogs, many of which are syndicated.  Depending on your package choice, you could have a personalized tour page, book trailer created and more!  Prices range from $399-$799.  They also have a presence on Facebook, just click on their icon to get to that page. 

tea & ink: Now Available on Kindle!!

I am slowly but surely getting things together on tea & ink, but it's a lot of work, especially when I'm still trying to post regularly on both blogs, participate in a blog challenge and contribute to other blogs!! lol 

I have added the ability to add links and pics (I LOVE being able to showcase a picture of something so you know what I'm talking about!) via Amazon. 

I have added tea & ink to networked blogs, via Facebook, for another way to get your tea & ink fix!

And finally, I have added tea & ink to the Kindle, so you can get it and tote it around with you! :)  LaLa Land is also available on Kindle!  

If you would be so kind as to contribute a review of either or both of my blogs on amazon, I would be immensely grateful!  After all, good reviews beget more readers!  And nobody likes to feel like they're writing to nobody! lol  

Writing Prompt: One Pet Peeve That Shouldn't Drive You Crazy....

...but it does!!

My husband does not prepare for anything. Ever.

I should have realized this would be an issue when he arrived at the church and realized neither he nor his brother, the best man, had the rings. (Really, red light here! His BROTHER forgot too?? Obviously a genetic misfire!)

I am an anal retentive planner who always has what’s next swirling through my head. And honestly, if you follow my process, I try to make my life as easy and routine oriented as possible. (in other words, just do what I tell you and everything will go smoothly!).

I’m not a control freak, really I’m not (I see your skeptically raised eyebrows!).

The Interro--what?!

Ever heard of the interrobang?  Me neither!  A fellow blogger (which one now escapes me, I'm sorry!) mentioned in her post she wished she could "interrobang" and I thought, "she wha--?"  Luckily she provided a link! :) Smart woman. 

According to wiki (which we all know is NOT a reliable and true source when doing real research, right?....right??) an interrobang is "a nonstandard punctuation mark used in various written languages and intended to combine the functions of the question mark (also called the “interrogative point”) and the exclamation mark or exclamation point (known in printers’ jargon as the “bang”). The glyph is a superimposition of these two marks."  

It's a question mark superimposed over an exclamation point, people.

How cool is that?!!



Image credit:  http://www.absurdintellectual.com/2009/02/18/interrobang/  



Busy Women and Writing

I belong to SheWrites (I know, I know, my arms ache from how stretched out I am!) and this very interesting article caught my eye, as I'm always interested in the whole mom/woman/writer connection!  Enjoy!

Pink and Blue Diaries:

The Insanely Busy Woman’s Guide to Sustaining a Writerly Life 

Posted by The Pink and Blue Diaries on February 25, 2011 at 5:30am

Deborah Siegel mashes up YOUR wisdom.

One thing I've long loved about She Writes is the intergenerational breadth of its membership. My post last Friday on Book/Life fit elicited confident wisdom from women writers who have been there, done that; tentative nuggets, based on trial and error, from many of us on the road to figuring it out; and one wisely skeptical nugget from fellow She Writer and cultural commentator Katha Pollitt, who wrote:

“[M]ale writers don't write these articles about how busy they are. They don't feel guilty if they do their work. They simply claim the time and the family has to deal with it.”

Read the rest on SheWrites--->

I am a Technorati Writer!!

Article first published as Not Enough Women in UK Board Rooms on Technorati

*horns blaring*

My first article is UP on Technorati!! Go check me out, it looks all professional and such!!
It is about a report put out about UK boardrooms and their lack of female directors and what they recommend be done about it!

Look at me, all newsie and whatnot!
Now that my blogs are falling neatly into line and the design is coming together, more writing, less blogging lulls, ok? ok!