Janice Thompson's Blog, page 21

Ten "No-Brainer" Writing Choices

Oy, the life of the wannabe writer! The ups, the downs, the in-betweens. Maybe you can relate. You come into it convinced you'll be the next bestseller. Day One: You're seated in the chair, banging away at the computer. Day Two: You're slightly distracted by a good friend, who invites you to lunch. Day Three: You're facing the blank screen, struggling with writer's block. Day Four: You're suddenly wondering what ever made you think you could write in the first place. Day Five: You decide you'd rather go to culinary school.

If you're trying to figure out how to begin writing, start by making a few simple, no-brainer, choices:

CHOICE ONE: Keep your rear in the chair. I know, I know! It's so tempting to get up and leave the room. To stop mid-stream. To watch TV. Don't! Stay put. Pound your way through the writer's block. Keep writing, even if you have to put a steady stream of S's on the page.
CHOICE TWO: Find an accountability partner. Choose someone who will call you routinely and ask tough questions…questions like, "What's your word count?" "How's that magazine article coming?"
CHOICE THREE: Start with short pieces. Many writers give up early on because they tackle projects that are simply too large.
CHOICE FOUR: Begin your day with creative writing exercises. You'll tease your muse and stir up your imagination in the process.
CHOICE FIVE: Hang out with other writers. Nothing will motivate you more than spending time with others who love the craft. If you're writing articles, find other article writers to hang out with. If you're a novelist, learn alongside other novelists.
CHOICE SIX: Start a blog or keep a journal. Doing so will keep you writing every day. Writing in a routine manner such as this will be the equivalent of pouring water from a magical flask. The more you pour, the fuller the flask.
CHOICE SEVEN: Consider taking a class at your local junior college or perhaps a few online writing courses. Remember, all writers are on a learning curve. Acknowledge your need to learn then do all you can to develop your skills.
CHOICE EIGHT: Set clear, concise goals. You might not hit all of them, but you'll come closer if you actually set them.
CHOICE NINE: Go to a conference but choose wisely. Some focus on fiction only. These won't be of any help to you if you're a magazine freelancer.
CHOICE TEN: Don't give up. Think about the great writers from days gone by. If Louisa May Alcott had given up, we wouldn't have Little Women. If Charles Dickens had given up, we couldn't enjoy A Tale of Two Cities. If Jane Austen had given up, millions of women around the world couldn't sigh over Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. You get the idea. Whatever stories or articles lie inside of you will be nothing but ideas if you give up. Project ahead to those readers you've not yet met. Don't deprive them of the great things they could one day read.

That's it for today, writers! Read over these ten choices again and make up your mind to do everything you can to stay the course.

Does God Laugh?

I've been pondering this question for a while. I'm wondering: Does God ever just kick back and laugh? Does he rumble the heavens with his guffaws or double-over when He finds something funny? I'd like to think He does. After all, there's plenty of evidence to prove that laughter is good for the soul:

Proverbs 17:22: A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

I've quoted that scripture hundreds of times and have even used it as a motivation in my writing. But i've never really thought about God's motives for sharing that information with us. He wants us to be joyful. . .and we're created in His image. That must mean He's joyful, too! (I can almost see him slapping his knee as I type all of this!)

Laughter is a natural part of our celebration and praise. Check out this verse:

Psalm 126:2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."

I don't know about you, but I find those "celebratory" times in my life so invigorating! Laughter energizes me! It strengthens both my backbone and my "want to." And I'm not the only one to benefit from this. Check out this next verse:

Job 8:21: He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.

Think about that last verse for a minute. Job, who could've garnered a legacy as the "Why me, Lord?" guy, is told that God is going to fill his mouth with laughter. Can you hear his argument now? "Who, me? After all I've been through?"

Yep. Even after walking through seasons of pain and anguish, laughter is on the way–streaming down from none other than God, Himself. So, here's my logic: I have to believe God laughs. Why would He take the time to share the value in laughter if He didn't occasionally partake of it, Himself?

Nah. I can't prove it. There's no chapter or verse. But in my heart, I know it. And when I get to heaven, I'm pretty sure He'll greet me with a broad, Daddy-like grin, slap His knee, and say, "Hey, Janice. . .did you hear the one about. . ." And then we'll both laugh together.

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Earn Your Way as a Freelance Writer

Here's a shout-out to my fellow writers. 

Most folks know that I'm a writer, but many don't know that I'm a full-time freelancer. It took years of trial and error before I reached the point where I could support myself with my writing. With nearly eighty books under my belt (along with far too many magazine articles to count) I've "done my time" (and paid my dues). Now I want to take what I've learned about the money-making end of the writing biz and share it with others.

The end of 2011 is looming in the near future. Some of us have already started looking to 2012 and the opportunities that it will bring to us as freelance writers. With that in mind, I've decided to offer a very special learning and coaching opportunity to help writers close out 2011 and get 2012 started on the right track.

I've decided to offer my "Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer" Course, along with an upcoming Live Webinar Series for one low price.

Here's what you'll get: 

Lifetime Access to the Full Course, All Ten Lessons

Access to our Members Only Discussion Forums

A Reserved Spot in the Live Webinar Series, Five webinars in all

and a 30 minute personal coaching session with yours truly, Janice Thompson

We will cover all sorts of things NOT included in the original course, focusing primarily on goals, motivations and conflict. Of course, I'll touch on things from the original lessons, too: Goal-setting, where to find work, how to sustain that work, etc.

My webinar students will be able to send their personalized 2012 goal charts and I'll help them tweak, according to their strengths. They will also get a half hour of one-on-one counseling time with me privately. We will talk about how to best utilize their time in 2012 for maximum (financial) potential.

So here's a summary of all that you will receive:

10 Lessons To help You Get Started and Stay on Track as a Freelance Writer that you can access any time you like and work at your own pace, including video, written transcript, audio, worksheets and bonuses

Access to our Members Only Discussion Forums

5 Live webinar sessions with inside tips and ideas where I will help you set realistic goals for your writing career

30 minute private coaching session to discuss your specific needs related to your writing career

Don't miss out! This is a ONE-TIME OFFER. Deadline for Registration is this Saturday, October 30, 2011.

TO GET ALL THE DETAILS AND RESERVE YOUR SPACE, CLICK HERE!

 

Go, Gus!

Oh my goodness…the article about Gus, the wonder dog has posted. Check this out! http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/102011/10242011/659660/index_html?page=1. I am such a blessed girl. How is it that fun things like this seem to happen to me? (Maybe because I'm such an animal lover!)

Baklava and Other Yummy Delights

I don't know if you guys have picked up on it or not, but I like to add food to my books. Yep. Food. Lots and lots and lots of food.

Going back to my Annie Peterson mysteries. I added lots of yummy delights from (and for) weddings.

Jump to Weddings by Bella. Heavens to Betsy! I've had more fun (and more calories) than a writer should be allowed by law. After all, this was a book about an Italian family. I couldn't do it justice without adding pasta. And sauce. And Tiramasu. And garlic twists. And fettuccini. And. . .well, you get the idea.

So, now what's cooking? In my latest release, Hello Hollywood, the heroine is Greek. Not just a little Greek. . .very, very Greek! Her parents run a gyro shop in Van Nuys. This, of course, gave me ample opportunity to load the story with all sorts of tantalizing delights, including my fave: baklava. Oooooo! Maybe it sounds SO tempting because I'm on a diet and know I can't have it. Regardless, the idea of those sticky, oozy, tasty layers makes me want to swoon!

Speaking of swooning, there's a fun scene in Hello Hollywood where the heroine and several of her friends put together a gyro. While doing so, they parallel it to "building a hero." (Hey girls, what are you looking for in a man?)

Oy, the food. I can't seem to get away from it. In my upcoming book from Revell (The Director's Cut) the heroine is Mexican. Yeah. You can see what's coming. Talk about a fattening story!

Signing off for now because all of this chatter about food is making me hungry. Happy eating (and reading), y'all!

Love on the Set

Ah, Love!

We've heard about love in the workplace, but what about love on the set of a television sitcom? In the Backstage Pass series, I explore the possibility of falling in love with your co-workers.

In book one (Stars Collide), Kat (the lead actress) falls for Scott (the lead actor).

In book two (Hello Hollywood), Athena (the head writer) finds herself torn over the newest member to her writing team, Stephen Cosse (a Vegas comedian)

In book three (The Director's Cut/not yet released), Tia (the female director) falls for a hunky cameraman.

So, what's up with falling in love on the job? 

Instead of boring you with a bunch of yada-yada about romantic unions in the office place, I thought it would be fun to let you chime in. What "workplace romances" have you witnessed? Whoever leaves the sweetest story will win a free copy of Hello Hollywood!

From Athens to L.A.

Making Light of Heavy Things

Har-dee-har-har-har!

Humor writing comes naturally to some authors. Others have to work hard to be funny. (Sounds funny, doesn't it. . .working hard to be funny?) I'm one of those who came into the world with an overactive funny bone. Oh, it occasionally gives me trouble. Life's woes kick in and my funny bone gets arthritic. It locks up. Whenever that happens, I trip myself on purpose, just to loosen it back up again. (Hey, a girl can only go so long without laughter!)

Happy-Go-Lucky, Janice-Go-Lightly

Yep, from the time I was a little girl, I was the happy-go-lucky sort. Giggly. Goofy. My mom always called me a ham because of my overly-dramatic style. Not that I minded. Oh no. Drama was my thing. And performing comedy on the stage was the thing that made me happiest.

Enter Tragedy…

Then I grew up. . .and life happened. Unfortunately, some of the events of my grown-up life weren't funny. In fact, they were pretty tragic. Still, through my faith and my innate desire to keep on keepin' on, I managed to keep my smile intact much of the time.

So, what does this have to do with writing? Everything!

I wrote as a child—poems, stories, even a novel (in the 6th grade). And my drama sketches in high school were a hoot. (Note: There's no greater thrill for a humor writer than to write for the stage. An audience filled with laughing patrons is the best gift in the world! Talk about instant gratification!) I went on to write musical comedies for the stage at a local school of the arts. Time after time I was rewarded with that "instant" gratification. And it felt good. In fact, it did my heart proud to know I was bringing joy to others, and there was some sense of satisfaction in knowing they "got" me.

A Light-Hearted Approach

When I began to think about writing books for a living about fourteen years ago, I decided to take the humorous approach. What a ride it has been! During this crazy, awesome, rollicking season as a published author, I've written quirky romantic comedies for women of all ages. What joy! Not only do these humorous stories transport readers, they lift my spirits, as well. And frankly, I've needed my spirits lifted.

Lighten Up!

The next time you pick up a book that I've written, I hope you see my sense of humor shining through. I've particularly enjoyed adding humorous elements to my first person stories (The Weddings by Bella series, The Bridal Mayham Mystery series and The Backstage Pass series). Why? Because I can introduce some serious topics and deal with them in a light-hearted, non-invasive way. What a gift, to be able to use humor to minister to others!

What Folks are Saying About Hello Hollywood

I had such a great time writing Hello Hollywood and hope that readers enjoy it! Here's what a few people are saying:

*****

"Romance, drama, fun–Hello, Hollywood! has it all."–Jenny B. Jones, award-winning author of Save the Date and A Charmed Life series

*****

"Thoroughly delightful! A blend of contemporary life and romance with nostalgic snapshots of Hollywood's golden age. Thompson writes with warmth and humor, creating a world we can all escape to for a little while."–Rachel Hauck, bestselling and award-winning author of Dining with Joy

*****

Comedic timing is an art form, and Janice Thompson is a master. Her romantic comedies keep getting better and better. I laughed all the way through Hello, Hollywood! The story is reminiscent of the old Hollywood sitcoms – the days of I Love Lucy and Dick Van Dyke. If you like to laugh–and who doesn't?–treat yourself to a rollicking good read. Novel Rocket and I give it 5 stars. A must read! – Ane Mulligan, Sr. Editor of Novel Rocket

*****

For those that remember the old Dick Van Dyke Show from back when sitcoms were in black and white (you can catch reruns of the show even now) you will enjoy how the writing team our heroine belongs to uses that show, about a similar comedy writing team, as role models. It made me want to flip on the television and find some of those reruns. – Reviewer Pam Meyers

*****

Hello, Hollywood! is a fun easy read, and I really loved the Zeus, the Greek Domestic dog. They are quite a fascinating breed, and as an animal and dog person myself, I had to look up a bit more about them. All the characters were strong. Family, friends, God and solving problems were integral parts in this book. Overall I just liked it, it was fun, well written, fast paced, and sweet. I liked the ending screen play as well.  - Reviewer Carol Keen

*****

So, there you have it, folks! To learn more about the story, follow this link!

We Interrupt These Posts About Hello Hollywood…

…to bring you a special announcement!

The most amazing Young Adult novel in years!

Happy Thursday, y'all! I wanted to tell you about a special offer one of my author friends is making available today. Judy Christie has written her first Young Adult novel, Wreath, which I endorsed. . .AMAZING!!!! When you order this new book TODAY, you also get several cool downloadable gifts free, including one from yours truly!

So, here's the deal about Wreath. It's a YA (young adult) story about a teenager — Wreath Wisteria Willis — who lives in a junkyard by night and goes to school by day. Life has kicked her around, but this is one girl who is determined not to let it keep her down. Wreath is gutsy, fun, and smart — just the type of girl you want to read about and share with the young readers in your life. I can honestly say this is the best YA book I've read in probably ten or fifteen years. I wish I had enough money to get a copy into the hands of every single teen and pre-teen girl. Seriously. Remember, if you order Wreath today you will get lots of other free gifts — including free chapters from a couple of other novels and something special from me!

Check out this cool offer!