Riley Amos Westbrook's Blog, page 57
February 14, 2016
Day 7 more inspiring words!
I was so tired yesterday, but it was easy to shake off this morning. I woke up, and set to work with no problems, even finished half a chapter in a new wip. Good times!
I think I may know what it was holding me down though. I started meditating on a daily basis a couple years ago, and it really helped me get on track. Before meditating, I was unbelievably undisciplined. Meditating helped me to conquer that. Looking inward for answers has really helped me get back to living and enjoying life.
It’s also helped me figure out what I want.
About the same time I took a break from writing, I took a break from meditating. I quit a 10 minute activity that really helped me, and I don’t know why!
Today I added that back to my daily to do list, joining writing and exercising.
Already I can feel a difference, to the point where I am considering adding an afternoon meditation to the list. Clearing my head by planning ahead. I don’t know if it will work for everyone, but I know it works for me.
What it really boils down to is relaxation. Relaxation helps to keep your writing fun. If you are not relaxed, how can you create? If you’re having a stressful time, how can you enjoy it? So take a moment, a few deep breaths, and don’t stress about the things that don’t matter.
Ignore the chaff and just keep writing!
Filed under: Musings, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
February 13, 2016
Day 6 of sharing with your wonderful people!
Today is one of those days where it’s hard to get started. My brain feels like it has a fog clouding it, and words are a challenge to use correctly. Still, the stories won’t write themselves.
And once I get started they seem flow much easier. It doesn’t help with the energy department though. I still find myself stifling a yawn as I pull my cup of coffee to my lips.
I know the question you’re asking, how is this supposed to be inspiring? And my answer is, not everything has to be about you! Remember that the inspiring people have down days too, days where we need to recharge our own sources. This just happens to be a day like that.
I refuse to surrender Refuse to let this down mood defeat me in my goals. I can’t surrender Today, or ever. Life is too important and too short to do that.
I only need to look at the world around me to know inspiration. Watch those who struggle and strive for a better place, especially the ones that succeed, what’s one thing they have in common? They do the work.
You can’t be successful if you don’t work for it, and that means doing things even when you don’t want to.
So, like a child shoveling their vegetables into their mouth, I get the struggle over to enjoy the fun. Remember, all work and no play makes life hell, and harder than it needs to be. Keep playing like a child, but think like an adult.
Filed under: Musings, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book, Book Review, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
February 12, 2016
#SIAFBB Coming soon! #SupportIndieAuthors #ASMSG #IARTG #IAN1
It’s almost that time again! Our last event had over 40 authors, and 50 books, to giveaway. Hundreds of downloads were had!
Formats have changed a bit since last time, but we’re hoping to get just as many people involved.
If you’re a reader, click here to receive more information about our next giveaway.
If you’re an author, click here to see what you need to do in order to get started.
Filed under: Musings
Day 5 In response to an inquiry from yesterday!
I had someone ask me for specific examples of things I use to help jumpstart the mind for writing. I gave them the typical answer that I give everyone, which is read more and have a routine. However, last night I was thinking that might not be enough. So, I decided to make my post about that this morning.
First, I am a video game player, and having my PS4 (want an Xbox and Gaming PC too, but I’m broke) helps me immensely. If I find myself struggling to write a scene, I quit trying and play a game. Watchdogs, Diablo 3, Uncharted, Fallout 4, Grand Theft Auto 5 and others help me to forget the stress of writer’s block. An hour or so of games, and I’m ready to go again.
Sometimes that isn’t enough, and more is needed. That’s when I head over to Youtube, and search for interesting videos on philosophy or science. Lots of great distractions to be had here, like Wisecrack and Crash Course. The thing I love about the internet, there’s something for everyone out there.
Sometimes a simple word game is needed, such as a crossword puzzle or a word search. Just using and searching for words can help jostle something lose. I tend to use phone apps for this, because I am poor and they are free.
Meditation is another beneficial activity that helps reset your brain. Fifteen minutes of your day can really help to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to go.
And last, if none of that works, then I focus on helping others. I don’t have as much power as I would like, in order to help, but I do what I can. I help other authors, or do simple tasks like freerice.com and let my writing sort itself out.
Point is, your writing isn’t going anywhere. Focus on living life and enjoying it to the best of your ability. The writing will come on its own.
Filed under: Musings, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
Is Criticism Cruel?
Humor is our most enjoyable form of truth. A bit of a serious rant, today.
Noooooooo!
Yes, so buckle up!
Humor (in this case, humour) has once again raised a teeny-tiny controversy, and I may have some thoughts on the issue.
That was the cue for the drumroll, dammit! Drumroll? Drumroll?
A recent online article (2/2/2016) about John Cleese in the British newspaper, The Telegraph brought a complex issue to light. Here’s the short version:
The Monty Python star revealed that he has been advised not to perform to [university] students as the fear of offending has expanded so far that any kind of criticism is now seen as “cruel.”
While this article was published as entertainment news, and I applaud the writer, Lucy Clarke-Billings, for not mixing news and commentary as so often happens today, I must also note that this article failed miserably to adequately address the many…
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Filed under: Musings
February 11, 2016
Day 4, only 86 more to go! #Inspire #IARTG #IAN1 #ASMSG #SupportIndieAuthors!
I’m seriously starting to think that writing is addictive once you start. As I wrote before, I took a short break to enjoy time with family, friends, and pursue other projects, so I didn’t write for an entire month. I admit I wrote a couple days, but on the whole I ignored any writing.
I felt off for the entire time. Seriously, after years of not writing I felt like I should be doing something. And then I realized what it was. I wasn’t feeding my brain! It starved for a want to create or learn or experience something new. Once I realized that, a few mind stretching exercises had me feeling right as rain.
And that’s the thing with writing it stretches your comfort zone. It takes a lot to bare your soul to the world, which is what we as writers do.
We expose our own faults and opinions to the world, and hope that people fall in love. I think writing is the greatest addiction I could have.
Too often we seek pleasures that are no good for us, and may even be bad in the long run. Writing is the first hobby I’ve had where I didn’t feel that way. I don’t feel that telling my stories is going to be a bad influence on my life.
Tell your stories because they are yours, and they need to be told. One word at a time, one story at a time, and ignore the chaff.
Filed under: Musings, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Author, Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
Only 40 Self-Published Authors are a Success, says Amazon
For those looking to become rich and famous as an author…Don’t write for the money.
Claude Forthomme - Nougat's Blog
The cat is out of the bag, finally we know exactly how many self-published authors make it big: 40.
Yes, that’s not a typo.
40 self-published authors “make money”, all the others, and they number in the hundreds of thousands, don’t. This interesting statistic, recently revealed in a New York Times article, applies to the Kindle Store, but since Amazon is in fact the largest digital publishing platform in the world, it is a safe bet that self-published authors are not doing any better elsewhere.
“Making money” here means selling more than one million e-book copies in the last five years. Yes, 40 authors have managed that, and have even gone on to establishing their own publishing house, like Meredith Wild. Her story is fully reported in the New York Times, here, and well worth pondering over.
That story reveals some further nuggets about the current…
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Filed under: Musings
February 10, 2016
Day three of my 250 words of inspiration! #SupportIndieAuthors
I was thinking about what inspires me today. It’s sort of been floating in the background all day, a buzz that wouldn’t leave me alone. What encounters do I have in my life that help me connect to my imaginary friends.
There are so many distractions in this modern world that conspire to keep you from working. Movies, books, everyday experiences, they all vie for attention. But I’m here to tell you all of them can be a boon for your writing, if you take the right perspective. For instance, at this very moment I am watching a movie with my wife. To me, it’s okay, but nothing fantastic. The main character seems bland, the story is alright but nothing awe inspiring, the music however is wonderful on the ears. I’ve watched it before and it’s good but not great. I feel just enough into it for it to serve as background noise while I write.
Meanwhile, Sara is enthralled, enthusiastically planning art projects even as she absorbs the story. She’s never seen it before, and the scenery has her enamored. The characters have her drawn in, and I see a rare twinkle of wonder in her eyes.
I find her enthusiasm infectious, and even now I feel my imaginary friends stirring. Though I was bored, now I feel a drive. Where I had walls, they start to crumble. You never know where inspiration will come from, but I can tell you where it starts.
An open mind and a willingness to absorb new ideas lead to a crashing crescendo of creativity that just can’t be stifled. Work to push your comfort zone, and you’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish.
Revel in other people’s worlds, because they will help you expand yours.
Filed under: Musings, Resource, Support Indie Authors Tagged: Book, musings, Resources, Riley Amos Westbrook, Support, Support Indie Authors, SupportIndieAuthors
