Selena Blake's Blog, page 8

Writers: A Book Club just for You

Finally.

A book club for romance writers.

You’ve bought the popular resource books for writers, but have you read them? 

And once you read them, do you have questions? Need to brainstorm and discuss what you’ve learned? Want to put those ideas into practice?

Join the RomanceWritersChat and make the most out of that stack of reference books for writers.

Our first selection… drumroll please…

Mastering Amazon Descriptions: An Author’s Guide: Copywriting for Authors by Brian Meeks

Drop in to the Book Club channel at RomanceWritersChat*
throughout the month as you read to discuss the Book Club Pick. Primary discussion is scheduled for the last Tuesday of the month.

* If you don’t belong to the RomanceWritersChat on Slack yet, email me for an invite. Membership is free and Slack is available via your web browser, desktop application, or smart phone app.

Writers: How I stay Organized

Staying organized is easier said than done most days. I’ve tried it all. Paper. Digital. Combinations thereof. Spreadsheets were scary. Databases were scarier.

I have a secret. It’s called AirTable. It’s how I keep track of everything from my royalties to characters.

It’s sort of like a spreadsheet and a database had a baby.

For now, check it out. Sign up. Have a look around and in future weeks, I’ll share how I have my different “bases” set up.

Photo by  Lex Photography  from  Pexels

Why Do People Do That?

Is there anything more frustrating than someone who complains but won’t make adjustments to fix the problem?

I’ll give you an example. The other day, DH walks by and says he needs a hole in between two of the holes on his belt. He’s said this many times before. I always say something like “I have a leather punch. We can make that happen.”

Well, that day, I’d had enough. So I hunted down my leather punch and told him to give me his belt.

“I don’t want a new hole. This is my favorite belt.”

Imagine the death glare I gave him.

He tries to explain something that that’s inexplicable to me and I told him not to talk to me. Yeah. I was steamed. I’d just spent 10 minutes lifting heavy tank trunks full of old horse gear hunting down the tool that would FIX his problem.

But he didn’t really want the problem fixed. He just wanted to comment about it and complain about it. Until the end of time.

So let this be a note… think hard. Do you have a behavior you complain about but are unwilling to change? Perhaps it’s time to stop complaining and starting changing.

Tired of being overweight? Today is as good as any to go for a long walk or exercise in whatever way works for you.

Tired of feeling lonely? Volunteer. Join an organization. Try Meetup.com to make friends.

Sick of your disorganized closet? Donate clothes to a women’s shelter and get yourself some drawer organizers.

Whatever it is that’s holding you back, whatever it is that acts like a burr in your saddle pad, whatever causes friction in your life…

Make a change.

Starting at the Beginning

I’ve been working on a book recently that drops us in the middle of New Orleans. Sounds great, right?

There’s this adorable little shop on a quiet side street, spooky cemetery, fabulous characters.

I’m here for it.

But the more I wrote, the more I realized there’s a lot going on and stories that need to be told. At least to me. Maybe not to readers. But I need to get my story straight, so to speak.

So back to the beginning we go.

To the catalyst that started my characters on the path that they’re on.

And while these words may never be read by anyone but me, let this be a note to writers everywhere, it’s perfectly okay to write sections of a story that will never be published.

Writing these chapters is an amazing way to open up your characters, crack open that story, grease your wheels, and answer burning questions.

I call them exploratory chapters.

Sometimes, they’re a real life saver.

So if you’re struggling with a book, I highly recommend going back to the beginning and writing some exploratory chapters.

Getting Yourself Out of a Funk

A friend of mine was asking about how to get yourself out of a funk.

Boy do I know about this one.

I feel like I’ve been in a funk for three or four years now.

That’s not to say everything is bad. Or that anything in my life, in particular is bad. Sure, there’s sad moments. Down moments. Rough times. Hard times. Real hard times. Times where I have to go back to bed and start my day over. There are days where my hormones are so out of whack I just sit here and cry tears of frustration.

But over all, I’m an optimist. I’m persistent. I’m stubborn.

I refuse to be down. To give up hope.

And still, I feel adrift. There’s far too much indecision in my life for my liking. The older I get, the less I seem to be able to focus.

There’s also a lot of overwhelm. Too much sitting around. Too much surfing the internet, watching TV, complaining, not taking action.

I think that’s what a lot of this funk feeling boils down to. Being tired and not taking action.

See, I think that for some of us, we are being driven crazy by lack of control. And it’s hard to take care of things when you’re so darned tired and run down.

Which is how I plan to attack the funk.

First, getting the energy level up. Maybe that’s a vitamin. Maybe it means exercising more. Or heck, just hyping myself up and telling myself I have tons of energy. Hello placebo effect.

Next, take action. It seriously bums me out to see all the posts going by on the internet about pollution, lack of recycling, endangered animals, etc. It feels like a massive freaking problem that there’s no solving. Hello overwhelm. But guess what? Every piece of litter that I collect is a piece that’s not destined for my local lake. Every item I recycle is a piece that isn’t in the landfill. Every person that makes a small effort will snowball into greater change. (I hope this goes for riding my bike more and shedding some pesky pounds.)

Lastly, contacting the appropriate authorities. Instead of simply spouting off online about a bad decision by XYZ, have the guts and take the time to contact XYZ and articulate why I feel that was a bad decision. And also write to people and let them know when they did a good job. Praise letters are few and far between and I think society needs to change that. I have a weird relationship with thank you letters (they make me uncomfortable to receive) but I feel like it’s changing. I think we need to send more good thoughts, more thank yous, more praise for a job well done. Even if we’re just thanking the local grocery clerk for being so pleasant.

What about you? How do you get out of a funk? Please leave a comment below.

New Release: Kissing Wilde

She’s the only human he’s ever trusted. He’s waited his whole life to claim her.

Get Your Copy: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon FR | Amazon DE | iBooks |Nook | Kobo | Google Play | Smashwords |

She’s the only human he’s ever trusted.

Captured and sold into the circus as a child, weretiger Callan Wilde has no love for humans. Until he rescues a wide-eyed beauty determined not to die without a fight.

Amelia Peabody gave up her whole life to escape a deranged stalker and stepped into the safe role she thought she was destined for, Cal’s assistant. Keeping the gorgeous billionaire organized and on time is the least she can do to repay him, but hiding her true feelings comes at a cost.

When a hurricane leaves hundreds of pets homeless, Cal and Amelia jump to help. But can a gaggle of warm, cuddly puppies help them to see destiny has a better job in mind Amelia …Cal’s wife?

Don’t miss this sinfully sweet paranormal short story by NYT bestselling author Selena Blake. It’s over the top and you’re bound to fall in love with Cal. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Making the most of it

A tweet caught my eye today.

It made me realize that one difference between those who are successful and those who aren’t is how they put their time to use.

Instead of looking at an 8 hour commute and saying “well I can’t edit my videos or photos” during that time, we should be saying, how can I make the most of those hours?

I write on my phone. That’s lucky, I know.

But guess what, I’ve done watercolor painting from the back of a car too. Heck, I’ve even come up with all kinds of stretches I can do in the limited space of the passengers seat. Plus, hello keigels!

There are podcast, videos, and audio books about almost everything. I try to find something worthwhile from everything, not just about writing.

Sometimes productivity isn’t about completing your designating task (IE, taking a photo.) Sometimes it’s about making the most of each moment. Whether you’re learning how to be a better person, how to balance your checkbook or just stopping to appreciate that you’re alive.

Ultimately, I hate seeing people waste time because they “can’t do something.” The real problem is that they “won’t” do something else.

Do I expect a heart surgeon to work from the back of a cab? No. But I bet he would’ve used his commute time to study in school. Just a thought.

Life Tip: Build Cleanup Time into your Project

I’m so bad about this you guys.

This is not really reading or writing related, but it’s changed my life and I wanted to share with you.

I’ll plan a project (say building a table or organizing my office or even just vacuuming a carpet) and I’ll only think as far as getting it done.

Does this happen to you?

I’ll build the table, varnish, seal, sand, seal again. Table is done. Table goes in the house. Garage looks like a beaver exploded. Sawdust everywhere, rags waiting to combust and burn the house down.

Or I’ll pull out all these piles of things in my office. Books, paperwork, shipping supplies, whatever. I sort a bunch. Put things in a box to donate. Toss. All the things you’re supposed to do. Then I’ll squeeze things back in a container and never (okay, eventually…far in the future) take that box of donations in.

Or I’ll vacuum the carpet upstairs, then shove the vacuum in a corner so I don’t have to carry it back downstairs where it actually has a spot in a closet.

It’s bad you guys.

I always loved that line in Gattacca where Ethan Hunt tells his brother that he left nothing for the way back. For those of you not initiated, see the movie. It’s excellent.

The point is, when you don’t cleanup after yourself, you haven’t really finished the project. The final polish is missing. And for me, it’s a niggly feeling that drives me crazy. In the case of the exploding beaver (don’t worry, no beavers were harmed) the workshop was in disarray for months. Months!

Super Sale: Mystic Isle

SUPER SALE ALERT

Mystic Isle is on super count down sale now.

Get the whole 5 book Mystic Isle series in one box set. If you love werewolves, vampires, and/or vacations in pretty places… this is the series for you!

Learn more: http://www.selena-blake.com/book/myst...

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012...

Amazon UK: https://kdp.amazon.com/amazon-dp-acti...

But hurry! Because as the clock marches on, the price goes up.

Giveaway for you: April Hot & Steamy Reads

Psst… I can’t remember if I mentioned this yet or not, but I did a little update on Instructing Adam. It also has a new cover. And right now, it’s part of a giveaway over on BookFunnel.

Check it (and the other books on offer) out today!

https://books.bookfunnel.com/romancebookspromotion/q8m0bwnrsy

Instructing Adam is the prequel to Ask For It, Go For It, and Beg For It from my Girls’ Night Trilogy (writing as Gillian Blakely.)

When you’re finished with Instructing Adam, read the rest of the series and get updates about Cindy and Adam: http://www.selena-blake.com/bookseries/girls-night-trilogy-2/

About Instructing Adam

Cindy Smith has had it up to here with the tech support for her website. When a business trip puts her in the same city as the web hosting company, she shows up dressed to kill.

She never expected Adam, the geeky tech support guy, to be so cute. Nor did she expect the instant connection or chemistry that blazed between them. But she’s only in town for the weekend. Can he convince her that her impromptu visit could be the start of something more?