Riley Amos Westbrook's Blog, page 37
April 20, 2016
Day 73 of 90: Recovering from bad reviews #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors
I saw a question on the Support Indie Authors board that asked if you can recover from a bad review. I’m here to tell you that you can if you don’t let that one-star review stop you. Remember, perseverance is the key.
We authors often focus on our reviews. We crave for input from readers, the more the better. However, when those views are negative and highlight areas the person reading the book didn’t like, we as authors don’t always approach the situation with the clearest perspective.
I’m here to tell you, don’t sweat it. Every single one of the grand classics has a one-star review. From Pride And Prejudice to Of Mice And Men to Hamlet, every single one of them has a review from someone who hated it.
Maybe you just got unlucky with the person. Sometimes what they expect isn’t what you wrote, and a reviewer will knock you for that.
I say, just write. If I had followed the advice of one of my first reviewers, I would have quit writing. I wouldn’t have met the awesome people in this community, and I wouldn’t have written 2 more novels, 5 novellas, and have more in the works.
Write because you want to. If someone doesn’t appreciate what you wrote, that doesn’t mean someone else won’t. Write to tell your story, and forget everyone else. It is after all your story.
One of the great thing about being a writer is not having to compromise unless you want to. Don’t surrender to other’s opinions, don’t settle and compromise. Stay true to you.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
April 19, 2016
Day 72 of 90: Never Stop Reading #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors
It’s amazing to me how much a story can change our thinking. A well written story can completely change the way we look at the world.
I really believe that reading throughout my life has helped to shape me into the empathetic person I am today.
I’ve seen outside perspectives from thousands of points of view. And, thanks to the authors of those stories, I’ve experienced all manner of different ways to react in those situations.
I hope I never stop reading. How else am I going to understand this crazy world?
I believe with all my heart that fictional words can change your outlook on life. How you look at a situation affects everything about it. If you convince yourself a situation is terrible, it will never get better.
It’s as much how you paint it as how others paint it. That’s not to say there aren’t terrible things that happen in this world, of course their are. How you choose to react to them is another matter.
I used to be a miserable, sullen person. I had problems getting energy, and finding enthusiasm for the things I wanted to do. I woke up thinking the world sucked, and I went to bed thinking the world sucks.
It wasn’t until I started to change my mind, until I started smiling at people instead of frowning, that my life started to change. That sullen grumpy asshole came back for a bit, when I first hurt myself, but as time passed, I came to realize my mood was affecting my health.
A year and a half removed from that, I’ve lost over a hundred and fifty pounds, and I’m still working to lose more. I know how hard it is to change your world view, I’ve done it recently. Happiness starts on the inside, if you’re looking elsewhere for it, you won’t find it.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 4/19/2016
The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall by Katie Alender
This book was good. I like ghost books and stories for the most part. I loved the way it ended the best. My favorite character was Delia. I think this story shows us that even in dead love will conquer all! Great book! 5/5
Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review
April 18, 2016
Why I LOVE Indie Authors/Books
Awesome little post from Peachy Keen Book Reviews. Always great to see another person looking to support new authors rather than tear them down. #SupportIndieAuthors!
Hello Everyone!
I’m sorry for posting so much lately, I just have so much to say! I am filled with such love for all of you and the indie author/book movement as a whole and I wanted to share with you the reason why.
I am a twenty something college student who was first published in 2013 during my senior year of high school. I continually slaved away at sending query letters to agents, hoping and praying to find someone who would accept my work and help me get traditionally published. I wanted to spread my work with the world in the biggest way possible and I felt that being traditionally published would help me achieve this.
But that was not the case.
I got rejected time and time again, and I would be lying if I said that it didn’t damper my passion for writing and my characters and…
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Filed under: Musings
Day 71 of 90: Writing Methods #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1 #SupportIndieAuthors
Love teaches tolerance, tolerance teaches strength.
Nothing special about those words, I just wanted to share them.
Anyways, I’m already halfway through my first pass of my latest work in progress. I’m a firm believer in the editing process, as that’s where I believe the stories are perfected.
First draft is where they are made, everything else is polish.
I usually go over a work two to three times before I send it to my first line of editors, but the first time is always the most fun in my mind.
As I’ve said before, I’m mostly a panster, so I don’t plan the encounters you run into in my book. I only look one scene ahead, while keeping in mind all the scenes behind.
The reason I bring up method is I see authors asking and talking about it all the time. My response to them is always the same. It doesn’t matter how you write, as long as you write! The only way you lose at writing is to stop doing the work to perfect your book.
The Snowflake Method, Signpost Method, Note cards, whatever you do to keep track of your universe, as long as you’re working on it, you’re winning in writing.
I’m constantly saying everyone has their story to tell, and that I support just about anyone willing to take and put their feelings onto the page. Just because I won’t read your story, just because I don’t like your genre, doesn’t mean I can’t offer you any support. It costs me nothing but time to help.
There’s a saying that time is money. I agree, time is money. But it’s so much more than that, and we are the ones who choose to define it.
Filed under: Musings, My books, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 4/18/2016 part 3
The Shadow Falls by K.S. Marsden
This book did not disappoint me at all! I was very excited to read the ending. I think K.S. Marsden did a great job with this series. I would read more from this author. You like stories about witches or about witch hunters or both, you should check out this series. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review* 5/5
Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review
Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 4/18/2016 part 2
The Shadow Reigns by K.S. Marsden
I still really enjoy K.S. Marsden series so far. This book for me slowed down just a little. But the characters are still great the story line is exciting for me. I look forward to the next book! * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review* 4/5
Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review
Cruisin’ through books cause books make life worth living with Aly 4/18/2016 part 1
The Shadow Rises by K.S. Marsden
I love horror books and I love books about witches! This is a great series. I was so excited to get a chance to read it! It did not disappoint. A 7th generation witch hunter, I think could be a good dreamboat! This book had me right from the start and didn’t let go. I was so looking forward to the next books in the series. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review* 5/5
Filed under: Musings, Riley Amos Reviews, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book Review
April 17, 2016
The bridesmaid.
Good quote to go with the image.
‘If I like a photograph, if it disturbs me, I linger over it. What am I doing, during the whole times I remain with it? I look at it, I scrutinize it, as if I wanted to know more about the thing or the person it represents… I want to outline the loved face by thought, to make it into the unique field of an intense observation; I want to enlarge this face in order to see it better, to understand it better, to know its truth.’
Roland Barthes
Filed under: Musings
