Judy Nickles's Blog, page 17

How it all began...or something...

Copied exactly as written on January 19, 1955 





I will NOT torture you with
"Butterfly Net", "Hair Net", or the unfinished "Waternet". Thankfully,
at least my punctuation and spelling have improved since then.










Fishnet




     My names Joe fishy, my partners Frank Sardine. My badge number is sardine, perch, and catfish. We checked in a(t) headquarters at 3 fish P.M. We were told the boss wanted to see us. The boss is Captain Cat Fish. The boss told us a fish was murdered, by the vicious killer, "The Hook!

     We found out Mr. Fish had one enemy. The Hook. We always knew who murdered the Fish family. But, we never could catch the hook. Mayor Fish called a meeting of the councel of fish. Mayor Fish's wife and four children, one uncle, 2 cousins, and 3 friends had been killed by the Hook.

     Mayor Fish and the Fish Councel stayed in the conference room 36 hours. Finally, Mayor Fish announced to the people of Fishdale a plan had been made. Some of the fish would go to the part of the bank where the hook always struck. A net would be taken along. When the Hook came into the water the net would grab The Hook, and guards would bring the most powerful weapon of Fishdale, the wire cutter and kill the Hook.

     Two days later a company of Fish Marines came marching into town. They reported all had gone well. The Hook roams no more!

     Dum de dumm, Dum de dum dum, Don!




The End




Now--is anyone else out there brave enough to share some of their earliest attempts at writing?????? 

If you had $1000 to spend on a...

Last week's blog took up the arrangement of our work spaces to make them more conducive to creativity and productivity. I viewed such a rearrangement as working with what we already have. Then I thought, What if an extra $1000 came available to fix everything wrong with our writing areas and/or design a brand-new one? I like to play make believe, so...



Requirements for new desk:


built-in place for printer on right side
built-in place for external hard drive, router, thumb-drive storage, etc.other similar devices
shelves for copy paper, photo paper, cardstock, etc. beneath built-in place for printer on right 
nicely divided drawer for pens, markers, stapler, stamps, etc. in midde
hooks/hangars on middle inside to store various chargers (phone, Kindle, camera, etc.)
slide-out for extra keyboard above middle drawer

File cabinets:


two four-drawer wood on rollers

Shelving:


one above desk for favorite photos and displayed keepsakes
one above desk (within reaching distance) for necessary resource books e.g. thesaurus

Boards:


large whiteboard for making writing notes, plotting, creating characters, etc.
large bulletin board for keeping reminders, favorite inspirational quotes, etc. 

Appliances:


small refrigerator for Diet DP stash
shredder within reaching distance

Miscellaneous:


bay window for desk
chimes to hang outside bay window

Chair:


Adjustable with massage function and built-in foot-rest

Could I get all that for $1000? Probably not--but then again, $1000 isn't going to free itself from the budget and come drifting down as if from Heaven either!



Can I rearrange/reorganize to make do with what I have?  Absolutely!



So what would YOU do in your workspace if you had an unexpected windfall?

Creativity or Chaos?

NOTE: I will be drawing a name from the commenters on last week's blog tomorrow. An unexpected medical emergency trip to San Antonio TX to be with my 3-month-old grandson has put me behind. Liam had open heart surgery at six weeks and is back for other issues. With his daddy working out of state this month, it was necessary for his Nanny to step in to provide support for mommy. I'm sitting here with him now, watching him sleep, and wishing I could unhook everything and take him home! Maybe another couple of days...


~~~~~~~~~~


This week's blog addresses the place(s) where we create our masterpieces--our romance, adventure, fantasy, whatever our muse dictates. A thought-provoking article in the June 2012 issue of The Writer's Digest, "Declutter Your Writing Space in 2 Days" (Cynthia. J. Drake) told me what I already knew--but a quote from Milwaukee designer DeAnna Radaj brought it all clear as day:




Do you love it?

Do you use it?

Do you need it"




Obviously, if you can't answer 'yes' to each of these questions, you probably don't need IT in your workspace!



I'd never thought in terms of doing more than organizing items in the usual way. I'm re-thinking! My study will bear close scrutiny when I get home and back to work. I'll have lists in hand and a sketch of how things might be rearranged for easier access and being able to grab things 'on the go'. 




What does YOUR workspace look like? Is it you? Is it conducive to productivity? What changes could you make immediately?




And the clincher: if someone handed you $1000 to re-create this most important area, how would you use it? That's my subject for next week!

P & P

The topic of "promotion" has been addressed previously here at The Word Place, but after reading a recent issue of Hope Clark's "Total Funds for Writers", I have a new perspective. Unfortunately, since it's a subscription newsletter, I can't include a link However, check out the website online anyway. (If you don't already subscribe FREE to "Funds for Writers" and "Small Markets", you should. "Total Funds for Writers" is a bargain at $15/year.)



I digress. We all know the standard social marketing program--Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. a blog, a website, ad nauseum. I must admit I am alternately frustrated and bored with the whole thing. But Hope brought up another P which needs to go hand in hand with the first one (platform)--and that's PASSION. Do we write because we are passionate about writing and what we have to say? If so, the people we are trying to reach won't know it unless we tell them. 



So now I have to think--a tiring process, especially after I just finished a re-write of the first of six cozy mysteries I hope to "go indie" with one of these days. I have to think--WHAT am I PASSIONATE about? And how will I let that passion shine through and encourage readers to want to learn more about it in my books?



I like making lists, so here goes:


history
genealogy
travel to historical places
mysteries (especially real ones)
meeting people 
learning new things
new perspectives on other cultures
and last but certainly not least, my faith because it's the catalyst for everything I do

Now comes the hard part: HOW do I incorporate one or more of these very real passions into my platform and reach those who share them? That's going to take more thought, but I'm determined to do it, so stay tuned.



What are your passions? Do you--can you--how will you incorporate them into your writing platform? Leave a comment, and I'll draw a name at the end of the week for either a PDF or a Kindle version of The Face on Miss Fanny's Wall--a novel, by the way, which built on three of the passions listed above: history, genealogy, mystery. Or, if those subjects don't rattle your cage, you can opt for a PDF of Dancing with Velvet, a WW II romance set in my West Texas hometown.

What does one have to do with the other?

I just returned from the Arkansas Writers Conference sponsored by the Pioneer Branch of the National League of American Pen Women (of which I'm proud to be a new member). The keynote speaker was Charles W. Sasser, author of 50 books and thousands of magazine stories/articles. He's lived at least a dozen lifetimes in his 70 years. During his final speech, he told us that in order to be a writer, one must live life to its fullest. Can I get an 'amen' to that?



For 60 years, I lived life to its emptiest. I thought survival was sufficient. Then I wised up. The revelation hasn't come without a price, but I wouldn't go back. A public blog is not the place to share one's private epiphany. but I felt Mr. Sasser's advice was worth sharing, especially with you younger writers out there who can salvage more of life and gain more years than I can.



I don't think living life to its fullest means 'letting it all hang out', or 'if it feels good, do it'. There's the personal responsibility thing.  Years ago, an older friend whom I loved very much and for whose own empty life I ached, shared this quote with me: For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: It might have been.



Here's a more recent quote found on Facebook:

In the end, we only regret the chances didn't take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make. (attributed to www.livelifehappy.com)



And yet another:

Chances, Choices, Changes: You must make a choice to take a chance, or your life will never change. (attributed to facebook.com/followyourdreamstoachieve)



Once I was young and full of dreams, and life was out there waiting for me. It's not too late for me to find it--and I'm off on the quest. Will you come along with me?

Writing Advice from Allison Knight

When I had been writing for awhile, I met an author who
could write a book in three or four weeks. But even though I tried to write
that fast, I discovered I couldn't do it.




I wasted more time trying to write and everything I put on
paper was garbage. I put myself under a lot of pressure and ruined my voice.
When I lowered expectations I found my own achievable goal. For me, five pages
each day, five days a week gives me a 80,000 word complete novel in four
months. I can live with that. I don't need to write a book in three or four
weeks, not if I want the novel to be any good. If I decide to write more, or
also on Saturday and Sunday, I reach my goal sooner, but I don't have to. I can
take the day off and start fresh on Monday. This works - for me. And I can
write two novels in a year.




Since I'm a plotter, I have to plan time to research. When I
have my outline, my research notes, my character interviews,  I  find
I often write more than five pages, but the important thing for me is, I've met
my goal for the day, there's no guilt, no let down feeling and I know in four
months I'll have a finished novel, ready for revisions.




I'm told pantsers do better with a timer. Yep, one of those
kitchen timers you can buy for a dollar or two at a big box store. Ten, or
fifteen minutes of writing time twice a day will net about the same number of pages
as my five. If you're a pantser, try it. Set the timer and start to write.
Most of us can find ten or fifteen minutes a couple of times a day to bang away
at a typewriter or computer.




But, don't let my goals determine yours. If you can only do
three pages or seven minutes, it might take a little longer, but you'll finish.
Setting too big a goal will defeat you faster than anything. I have a couple of
incomplete books that stink, to prove it. And the old slogan of 'practice makes
perfect' applies here as well. If you start with three pages or seven minutes,
and keep at it, you'll soon find you can do more time or more pages.




But beware. There are traps lurking out there. One is saying
you don't have time, (you can sacrifice ten minutes of your lunch hour, or wait
to start dinner or do the dishes for ten minutes.)  Another is finding something else you just
have to do, (like sharpening pencils, feeding the cat, looking through a
cookbook for a recipe for dinner tonight), or the big one, reading twitter, or
e-mails. Even editing what you wrote last will eat up more time than you think
and no, you really aren't writing, you're editing.




When you return to your writing, limit yourself. Read only
the last paragraph you wrote. When you finish the novel you can always go back
and cut or trim as you need. And here's a trick I learned a long time ago. If I
can't think of the exact word I want I'll substitute symbols for the word, the
dollar sign or star. When I have my five pages or a couple of minutes, I'll use
the find key and look for my symbols. Maybe I won't even want the sentence or
scene.




Set realistic goals and go for it. Remember the fable of the
turtle and the hare. The turtle won because he kept plodding along. It works. I
know for I have eighteen books and two short stories published. And I hope more
to come at just five minutes a day.




Heart-warming Romance with a Sensual Touch
Allison Knight (AllisonKnight.com)
www.facebook.com/authorAllisonKnight
www.twitter.com/historicalAllie
 

What's on YOUR Bucket List as a Writer?

 'Bucket List' has, it seems, become a new catch-phrase everywhere. Even the invitation to my 50th HS reunion coming up in October asked for a 'bucket list' of things we still want to do, even at our age. (Avoid doctors? Hope our retirement funds don't dry up? Survive? You get the idea.) But as a writer--ah, that's a whole 'nother subject...



 So, here goes...




10 Things on My Writer's Bucket List

(in no particular order)




Rack up some (really) decent sales on my five published novels. (I know, I know, they're not HOT...sigh.)
Re-write all 6 Penelope Pembroke cozy mysteries and get them 'out there' as an indie.
Keep current with my writing notebook; ditto the writing journal.
Travel to craft/book fairs around the state and sell books.
Meet the writers I've corresponded with via email and Facebook.
Attend as many writing conferences as I can afford.
Start sending out my stash of short stories to various magazines and journals.
Find the right publisher for Four Summer Days.
Attend a writing retreat (The Writers' Colony in Eureka Springs).
Travel and bring home new writing ideas.

There it is, folks. I could probably add more items, but the above list is pretty inclusive. And, what's even better, everything on the list is doable!



What's on YOUR bucket list? Need an entire blog to tell us? Contact me judy@judynickles.com and let me know when you'd like to guest!



Meanwhile, stop by www.judynickles.com to view the video trailers and read the first chapters of my newest releases,  The Face on Miss Fanny's Wall and Dancing with Velvet, both available for Kindle and Nook as well as from the publishers.









Champagne Books











                                                TWRP

The Truth According to Old Willie

          

            “I finished
your (2) books and felt like I’d lost a friend when I closed the last one.” So
an acquaintance recently wrote after someone gave her my first two books, Where Is Papa’s Shining Star? and
the sequel, Finding Papa’s Shining Star, published in 2008 by The Wild Rose
Press. Somehow, I felt renewed—they were
good stories, carefully researched and crafted—but they were not ‘hot’.
Amazon.com removed a scathing review of the first one: basically, there are no sex scenes, and don’t waste
your money. Frankly, the sexual attraction between the two main characters
evolved and flourished throughout the story, but no, they didn’t hit the
sheets until the end--and they were married. Since when is 'fade to black' not titillating?

            As an
author, I am realistic about what the majority of readers want, and my books just
don’t fit the mold. Most of the ‘action’ doesn’t happen in bed, and my
preferred vocabulary does not include the f-word, the s-word, and various
euphemisms for body parts. If there is what I grew up thinking of as profanity (but now seems part of
everyday conversation), it is in context and fits the character’s thought
processes at the time of use. Please understand that if this is what you like/want to write/read, go for it. I don't have a problem with anything anyone else does.

            And no, my
books are not Christian fiction,
though they contain underlying themes of human and Divine love, forgiveness,
and reconciliation, without which life would be mere existence. I couldn’t
write for the Christian fiction market, as I understand it, because I write
very realistically. (Notice I didn’t
say graphically.) I do not infer but rather spell it out, albeit in less-than-flaming language.

            So, as an
author, I’m caught ‘between the Devil and the deep blue sea’ as it were. It’s
discouraging sometimes, yet a comment such as the one with which I began this
blog rekindles my enthusiasm for spinning my little tales.

Am I tempted to stray from my
somewhat narrow path? Not for a second. Old Willie (Shakespeare) hit the nail
on the head when he cautioned being true to oneself. I may experience
relatively small monetary and celebrity success as an author, but the satisfaction is still there—and
that’s what it’s all about.

So even if you’re into ‘hot’, cool
off this summer with one of my vintage romances/romantic suspense novels. We
can all use an occasional change of pace. (Read the first chapter of each book
and watch the video trailer at http://www.judynickles.com) You just might find yourself turning pages, tame as they are!





































                                      BUY LINKS




Writing as Judy Nickles:

Where Is Papa’s Shining Star?

Finding Papa’s Shining Star

Dancing with Velvet

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=624

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Judy+Nickles




 Writing as Gwyneth Greer:



The Showboat Affair



http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=917



http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Gwyneth+Greer



The Face on Miss Fanny’s Wall



http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Gwyneth+Greer



http://www.amazon.com/Face-Miss-Fannys-Wall-ebook/dp/B007HE6QQ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333304662&sr=1-1



http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-face-on-miss-fannys-wall-gwyneth-greer/1110186412?ean=9781926996851

Sabbatical

Writing is great fun--it's what comes later that isn't so much. Marketing. Promotion. Getting out there and selling that eBook/print book. The guilt that descends like a cloud if you don't do something everyday. It's enough to make a writer seek the deepest, darkest cave and hibernate for a long time.





I frankly admit to being worn out. The Face on Miss Fanny's Wall came out in March, and I've been hard at it ever since. Dancing with Velvet is due out this month, so there's no rest for the weary (or is that, the wicked?) Actually, if my books were more wicked, they'd be easier to sell, but that's another topic for another day. Suffice it to say, I needed a breather--and I took one.



I spent the weekend reading, something I used to do all the time but which has become a guilty pleasure since I took up writing as well. I read TWO books, one written by the new president of the local chapter of the National League of American Pen Women to which I was recently accepted; the other an Agatha Christie novel for discussion at this month's Sleuthers meeting at the library. We read a book a month, discuss it, then watch the movie if one has been made from the book. I feel renewed.



Well, enough whining. What can I share with my fellow authors this week? The March-April 2011 issue of Writer's Digest has a terrific 6-page article on "50 Ways to Build Your Platform in 5 Minutes a Day" (Christina Katz). Obviously, the entire article will take more than 5 minutes to read, but it's worth the time. She divides her tips into several categories:


Listen and Learn
Create Context
Contribute Content
Cultivate Community
Be Authentic
Synergize Connections
Produce Yourself
Publicize Yourself
Pay if Forward
Strut Your Stuff

All her tips are tops--but still I cry, "Time, Time, my kingdom for some Time!" (Or was that a horse to take me away to that deep, dark cave...?)



Share your time-tips with others here. If you want to do an entire guest post on time strategies, just contact me--judy@judynickles.com and tell me when you want to post!



Meanwhile, I've had a sabbatical, and Monday morning it's back to work. Don't forget to visit my website (www.judynickles.com) to see video trailers for and read the first chapters of the above-mentioned books. That's the sum total of the "promo" I'm doing for today!



See you on the loops and blogways!

Erika Mitchell Shares What She's Learned About Writing

Brooding Genius Not
Required






Whenever I tell people I’m a novelist, the most consistent
response I get is, “I’d LOVE to write a book.” Every single time, I have to
bite down on my tongue to keep from asking what’s stopping them. Probably
because I already know what’s stopping them: Work, family, time commitments,
fear of failure, etc.

Of the lot of these, the last excuse is the easiest to
address. It doesn’t seem like it should be, though, does it? There is
undoubtedly something daunting about Writing A Novel. Almost like if you’re not
some brooding genius scribbling over a notebook while running frustrated hands
through your disheveled hair, you aren’t qualified to be a writer.




I would like to offer a different perspective, however.
While it might be cool to be Henry David Thoreau, locked away in a cabin for
two years penning masterpieces, it’s not necessary. The only thing necessary to
be a writer is to write.Wanna know why?




Because no one ever has to read your writing. It’s true. If
you set out to write the Great American Novel because you’re convinced that’s
the only thing other people will accept, you will fail. Every time. It’s too
much pressure.




If, however, you approach your writing as though no one will
ever see it, I absolutely guarantee you’ll have a much better time. Writing
with the intention that no one will ever read it is the best way I can think of
to ensure you’ll enjoy writing your story.




I kid you not, this mindset will get you through writer’s
block, intimidation, and self-consciousness. It’s a huge and unfortunately
predominant misconception that you should only write stuff you intend to try to
get published. The looming specter of the disapproving publishing house of doom
will stymie you every time.

Simply sit down and write. And then keep going. If you get
stuck writing a scene you think you should
be writing, switch to a scene you feel
like writing. You can always go back and fix what doesn’t work, but the purest,
most enjoyable parts of the story will always come from a place where the
writer is having fun.

So have fun. Even if the story never sees the light of day,
you can still hold your head high because you’ve done something 99% of would-be
writers never do: You finished something.




I assure you, the finished novel on your hard drive is going
to be a thousand times better than the unfinished novel in anyone’s head.