Susan Hanniford Crowley's Blog: From Nights of Passion Blog, page 122
February 9, 2018
How to Write A Fiction Novel, Part 12 – Character Quirks
Quirky means to have unusual behaviors. Many of my characters have quirks that define [image error] them or make them stand out. Probably the quirkiest one I’ve written so far is Vampire King Maximillion Vander Meer in Vampire King of New York.
Max loves Broadway shows. He thinks Mary Poppins is a vampire because she can fly. Max also finds humor sometimes in romantic moments. One of his quirks has to do with locales for romance. On one romantic evening, what began on his yacht ended up on the Statue of Liberty.
Excerpt:
Evelyn’s eyes lit up and her smile was breathtaking. “Yes, Max. Oh, let’s do that.”
He stood and opened the door for her, noting the way she averted her eyes from the waves. Holding her by the waist, he lifted off into the sky. Her warm breath in his ear ignited his blood. Oh, how he wanted to rip off her clothes and take her in his cabin for night after night of floating love. But for her sake, he restrained himself. He’d prefer that passion’s fire consume her and make her rush at him instead. Then he would be sure of her attachment to him. Damn. Even his thoughts betrayed him. He wanted her to love him, and he couldn’t help notice that each time he proclaimed his love for her, Evelyn avoided the words. But she had claimed him as her lifemate. She just needed more time.
“Max, can I touch her eyes?”
Pulled from his thoughts, he found himself floating in front of the statue’s face. Evelyn reached out to touch her. He moved closer so she could accomplish it.
“It’s perfect. She looks so real.” Her hand caressed the statue’s eyelid.
“Are there any other parts you want to touch?”
Evelyn giggled and it was fun holding her close when she laughed. The vibration singing through her body was erotic. “Bad Max.”
“Shall we fly up to the crown now?”
“Yes, but I want you to hover so I can touch it.”
“Of course, you do.” Max smirked and sprinted upward to the crown. Everything she did and said either amused him or reminded him of sex. Her hair fluttered in his face. The scent of roses and honey filled his nostrils, and every part of him responded. Damn. If only they could be alone.
Evelyn reached out to touch the crown. He moved them closer.
“Ouch.” She jerked back her hand.
He leaped through the air and landed on the statue’s head behind the crown. With Evelyn in his lap, he took her hand, “Let me see.”
Her blood sang to him. He put her injured finger into his mouth and sucked. Her eyes half-closed and she sighed. Her taste was potent; every drop was liquid gold coursing like lava in his veins.
“Max, you’re going to make me rip off your clothes, if you keep doing that.”
He grinned, the injured digit still in his mouth. “What do I get if I suck all your fingers?”
She removed her finger from his lips. Then she turned to take in the view of city lights. “Maybe after this you should take me home.”
With a frown, he leaned back. “Are you angry with me?”
“No, I just want to be alone with you.”
“We are alone up here.”
“I don’t want to be thinking of falling off while we’re . . .”
He kissed her, moving her beneath him. “We won’t fall off. I promise.” Max nuzzled her neck. She unbuttoned his shirt. Oh, her hands on his skin felt like fire licking him, warm in its embrace, stirring him to action.
“Max,” she whispered, then whimpered in his ear, sending sparks of sheer lust through his being. “Max.” She pulled his hair. He unbuttoned her blouse and was about to dismantle her bra with his teeth.
“I don’t want my clothes flying around Long Island Sound,” she said with a giggle.
*
Oh, there’s a lot more to that scene. Giggles. Vampire King of New York is available at Amazon in Kindle and Print and also in Print through Barnes and Noble online.
So now you know about character quirks and how to make your story even more compelling.
If you have missed the other lessons in “How to Write a Fiction Novel,” here they are:
https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-2/
https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/11/25/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-1/
https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/30/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-6-real-dialogue/
https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2018/01/27/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-10-love-scenes/
https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2018/02/03/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-11-conferences/
Happy Writing. Next week we will talk about “Great Endings.” If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write them in the comments box.
-Susan
Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance
www.susanhannifordcrowley.com
Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!
NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle! In Amazon Print! In Barnes and Noble Print!
Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print
Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.
Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.
Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.
A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.
The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print
When Love Survives, Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.
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February 8, 2018
Valentine’s Day Is Coming by Stacy Hoff
I love Valentine’s Day. So much so, I drafted a short story centered around the holiday. It’s called, “Love Delights” and is included in the anthology SEASON OF LOVE. The story also involves chocolate, a true symbol of V-Day.
I wrote this 11,000-word story in a week. When I’m inspired, the words fly. (Of course, the editing process took a whole lot longer.) I wish I was always this fired up when I sit down to write. Man, my stories would be written so much faster. By now, I’d be the most prolific author ever.
Now that this story is written, I’ve got some free time. I’m going to ask my husband out on a dinner date. I’ll be sure to surprise him with a box of chocolates. After all, he is my “Love Delight.”
What are you doing this Valentine’s Day?
SIGN UP FOR STACY’S NEWSLETTER! http://eepurl.com/bG0HZD
WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS FOR STACY HOFF:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorStacyHoff
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorStacyHoff
AMAZON buy link for SEASON OF LOVE anthology: https://www.amazon.com/Season-Love-Anthology-2/dp/1530066298/
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HOTTER THAN THE CARIBBEAN – In the Caribbean, the secrets, sex, and scandals are hotter!
AMAZON buy link for HOTTER THAN THE CARIBBEAN: http://amzn.to/2xW3WtJ
BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS (BUILDING LOVE series, #1) Love is the biggest gamble of all!
Amazon buy link for BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS (Kindle version): http://amzn.to/2kAgBvK
NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT: https://www.amazon.com/Betting-Love-Vegas-Stacy-Hoff/dp/1682913422/
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JOCKEYING FOR YOU print version http://amzn.to/2eanq2o
JOCKEYING FOR YOU Kindle version http://amzn.to/2c8Hi5t
DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC print version http://amzn.to/2cubwCf
DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC kindle version http://amzn.to/1KjfP9V
DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES print version http://amzn.to/2dXO1zV
DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES Kindle version http://amzn.to/1YEseie
LAWFULLY YOURS print version http://amzn.to/2e6Ug8k
LAWFULLY YOURS Kindle version http://amzn.to/1Ky5CZm
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February 6, 2018
A Mental Day
I work in finance and must say that earlier this week and end of last week, there has been no better time to live by the words “ignorance is bliss.” Now don’t get me wrong, these are not words in general that I like to live by and I think it is important to test our limits. I usually like to pay close attention to what is going on in the world and try to be considerate of my fellow man or woman. That being said, the fluctuating markets globally were quite hard to ignore and after being in this industry for as long as I have, I’d say these are something the average person needn’t pay such close attention to—at least if they want to keep some degree of sanity and avoid unnecessary stress.
As I thought about this and my opinion of our volatile markets, it made me think of all the directions that we are pulled in. I was speaking with a family member the other day who told me I need to pay more attention to what is going on in our country from a political perspective and I could only stare open-mouthed in response. It isn’t that I am ignorant to what is going on—I read extensively and often find myself looking for unbiased opinions. Despite this, I find myself simply overwhelmed by life’s to do list and the directions we are pulled in. We work, care for are families, try to be good citizens and try not to be ignorant to difficulties around us. Some days are more successful than others.
At the end of all this, I guess I’m saying that it doesn’t warrant beating yourself up because you need a mental break every now and then—everyone does. We don’t want to walk around with blinders on but at this point we’ve learned we are all different and only we know are limits best.
Happy writing this week!
February 5, 2018
Preparing for Romancing The Capital Convention 2018 by Mandy Rosko
There are a couple of things on my To Do list in between writing and editing and just getting anything done in general.
Along with attempting to make regular posts to Facebook and engage with fans, one of them is to think about the books and swag I will be bringing to Romancing The Capital.
For the last two years in a row there were water bottles 
February 4, 2018
A Mardi Gras Paranormal-Scope
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By Flickr user radiate2357 (Photo by Flickr user radiate2357 at [1]) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons.
Every year since I was twenty, I’ve wanted to go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I haven’t gotten there yet, but I may still. For those that are going, don’t miss the Krewe of Muses Parade on Thursday night. I know Mardi Gras this year falls on Tues., Feb. 13th, but the parades have been happening since Jan. Here is the schedule of all the parades: http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule.htmlWhile I am not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked to the paranormal in the world in many ways. So are you.
The paranormal-scope is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to guide your life by.
The week for:
Aries:
Gnomes don’t do well with glitter and masks frighten them. Don’t let fears and obstacles get in your path. Go out and have fun.
Taurus:
Werewolves roll in glitter for special occasions. Take a look at your wardrobe and add some power pieces. You have a special occasion coming up.
Gemini:
Elves know that masks are used for hiding. Hang that mask up. Show the world your smile and your talent. It’s time to take charge of your life.
Cancer:
Werewolf pups love to dance. At least, I think they’re dancing. Celebrate and cherish those close to you. A new person is coming into your life. Or a pup.
Leo:
Dragons love to party. It’s the food that gets them. Of course, heartburn is not a problem for them. It might be for you.
Virgo:
Zombies love parades because they tend to walk like that anyway. Wearing beads might be fun. Look for fun things to do. You’ve been working too hard.
Libra:
Pixies glitter everything in sight. It’s time to vacuum and straighten out your place. Company is coming.
Scorpio:
Shapeshifters are flexible. Masks are just our different moods. Wear a happy and sparkling mask. You deserve to let loose and have some fun.
Sagittarius:
Gremlins love Mardi Gras. They can parade and no one knows their gremlins. Sometimes being part of the crowd is fun. Hint!
Capricorn:
Faeries sparkle without glitter. Between Mardi Gras and Spring, they are dancing with joy. Let joy into your heart and put past hurts aside.
Aquarius:
Mermaids rise from the waves to watch the festivities. They take on human form to dance. But it isn’t the music that attracts them. It’s the food. Learn some new recipes and invite friends over.
Pisces:
A vampire thinks you are the star of the parade. Put effort into looking your best every day and others will see it too. You are the sparkle in someone’s eye.
-Susan
Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance
www.susanhannifordcrowley.com
Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!
NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle! In Amazon Print! In Barnes and Noble Print!
Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print
Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.
Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.
Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.
A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.
The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print
When Love Survives, Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.
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February 3, 2018
Whose Alien is This? By Ripley Proserpina
In just under two weeks, I’ll be publishing a book along with eight other science fiction romance authors which is the culmination of nearly a year of work.
And that doesn’t count the actual writing.
Shared worlds isn’t a new idea. Authors have been doing it for years, though perhaps they’ve been doing it anonymously. Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew and Co., Wonder Woman, all these universes are shared by multiple authors. While many of these worlds share the same characters, others—like Sweet Valley or Nancy Drew—have offshoots…
This summer, I got to meet a group of science fiction romance writers who wanted to share a romance universe in the most literal sense. After months of group work brainstorming, we came up with the planet Sonhadra, and the creatures that would inhabit that world.
We read each other’s books and critiqued each other. We even had an author donate her time and talent with photoshop to make us individual covers. It’s been a really buoying experience—seeing how authors could work together and support each other.
Maybe it’s a risk, but we decided to make our books standalone. Then we decided we’d release on the same day, because then the reader can jump from one alien to the other… that is, if they want to.
Next week, I’ll be posting some teasers, but in the meantime, here’s a bit more about the universe and my part in it.
And to see all the books, here is the Goodreads list. http://bit.ly/2BSt2IL
When an orbital prison is torn through a wormhole and crashes on an unknown planet, it’s every woman for herself to escape the wreckage.
As though savage beasts and harsh, alien climates aren’t enough, the survivors discover the world isn’t uninhabited and must face new challenges—risking not only their lives but their hearts.
Welcome to Sonhadra.
The Valos of Sonhadra series is the shared vision of nine sci-fi and fantasy romance authors. Each book is a standalone, containing its own Happy Ever After, and can be read in any order.
How to Write A Fiction Novel, Part 11 – Conferences
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I’m not really pausing in my writing to talk about conferences. Actually late at night, I am often inspired at conferences to write. The energy and excitement gets me writing like a maniac. So this is a different case of how a setting can inspire.
Also rather than being glued to your writing desk or place, going out and meeting people and listening to other writers is good for you and your novel. You never know who you will meet that could be inspirational or influential in where you book goes. In addition to readers who can really invigorate your writing, you could meet an agent or publisher. They’re readers too. If you’re coming out soon with a book, talk to people about it. You don’t have to get into the story. No spoilers allowed. But do tell them what kind it is. How the book is special.
A reader I met at a conference told me that Vampire Princess of New York is a page-turner all about deception, suspense, lies, and passion. I knew it was about deception, lies, adventure and passion, but had never really thought about suspense. She insisted that I am a very suspenseful writer. See what you can learn about yourself. I am always ecstatic to meet people, so if you are at HELIOsphere, be sure to drop by and say hi.
I will be bringing both Vampire Princess of New York and Vampire King of New York with me. It’s always a good practice to bring some of your books with you. At one conference, I was next to a very upset author who had experienced some mix up with her books from her publisher and they didn’t get to the event. She had nothing to sign, unless someone walked up to her and already had the book. From that incident, I learned always to bring some books with me. I am also very happy to sign books people bring from home too! Some people even have the anthologies edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley that my early sword and sorcery novellas appeared in. To find out about those, see my website: http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com
I want to stress to readers and authors alike, please, take part in the events. I say this as I search for my Gryffindor scarf and Ravenclaw jacket. I’m torn. The hat tested me twice and that was the result. Laughs. These events are lots of fun. You get to meet all kinds of people with various interests. I know that by meeting costumers, it’s helped my writing. I am currently working on a paranormal historical romance. I’m also looking through my closet of what to wear for the Blues Dance. Want to get a different view on life? Talk to people you’ve never met before. Want to have fun? Go to the events. Go to everything you can.
I’m very excited about this conference. I hope to see you there. It’s going to be a blast!
*
If you have missed the other lessons in “How to Write a Fiction Novel,” here they are:
https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-2/
https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/11/25/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-1/
https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2017/12/30/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-6-real-dialogue/
https://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/2018/01/27/how-to-write-a-fiction-novel-part-10-love-scenes/
Happy Writing. Next week we will talk about “Character Quirks.” If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write them in the comments box.
-Susan
Susan Hanniford Crowley, Amazon Kindle Bestselling Author of Vampire Romance
www.susanhannifordcrowley.com
Where love burns eternal and whispers in the dark!
NEW: Vampire Princess of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 2 available in Kindle! In Amazon Print! In Barnes and Noble Print!
Vampire King of New York, Arnhem Knights of New York, Book 1 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print
Vampire in the Basement, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 4 available in Kindle.
Poseidon’s Catch (mythology romance) available in Kindle.
Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room (steampunk romance) available in Kindle.
A Vampire for Christmas,Vampires in Manhattan, Book 3 available in Kindle.
The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampires in Manhattan, Book 2 available in Kindle and Print and Barnes and Noble Print
When Love Survives, Vampires in Manhattan Book 1 available in Kindle and Print, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords.
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February 1, 2018
How I Signed With A Literary Agency (And You Can, Too) by Stacy Hoff
The last few weeks have been crazy. My horse racing romance, JOCKEYING FOR YOU, won the 2017 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for contemporary romance. Simultaneously, I signed with a literary agency. Considering my life is usually pretty boring, my head feels like it might explode.
I had tried to find a literary agent for years. Quite unsuccessfully. It was actually easier for me to get a publisher. I met my wonderful small press publisher at a writers’ conference. I pitched to them via a pitch appointment. This same publisher will soon publish my seventh contemporary romance novel, MAD FOR YOU IN MADRID (Building Love#3) in October, 2018. Because this publisher was willing to take a chance on me, I was able to get my books published without an agent, and even managed to achieve the Gayle Wilson award. (You can see the covers for all of these books below.)
Getting published was (and still is) a dream come true. I’ve always loved writing contemporary romance. But I decided in November, 2016, to try writing something new. I drafted a science fiction romance story during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Science fiction was a heck of departure for me. Especially since this story straddled the line between a post-apocalyptic and a dystopian world. Now that I was writing different genres of romance, I again wanted to find a literary agent. I dusted off my query letter template.
The real question was, who would be a good match for me? Who would be interested in acquiring new authors? Who had a good reputation? Who would be a true partner in my career (providing marketing advice, career advice, editorial feedback, and sit-down discussions about future books)? I plowed through a zillion websites. Although I gained good general information, I still had no idea who would be a solid candidate to pursue.
There are two Twitter hashtags that helped me sort through the overwhelming info. #MSWL (manuscript wish list) and #amquerying. #MSWL is the hashtag agents use to make special requests; a call for the manuscripts they immediately want in their inboxes. Think of #MSWL as a “hot sheet.” The other hashtag, #amquerying, is primarily used by writers and authors, although agents can tweet here as well. You’ll find news here as to writing contests, agents who are actively acquiring new authors, and helpful tips on getting published (i.e., how to write an effective query letter). #Amquerying is also a great place for writers to commiserate together while they search for an agent.
I found through #amquerying two great links for finding new agents: https://gradstudentfreelancers.com/ and http://www.writersdigest.com. I recommend both.
Of the two hashtags, using #MSWL was what ultimately worked for me. It was here that I saw a tweet from Eva Scalzo, Literary Agent for the Speilburg Literary Agency. I also saw several tweets about her appearing on the same #MSWL hashtag. My curiosity was peaked and I checked out her full manuscript wish list. When I saw her extended profile, I noticed that Eva and I had many things in common—the types of books we focus on, a commitment to including diverse characters, and even several places we’ve lived. Plus, Eva had a strong science background and love for romance. Sounded perfect for my new sci-fi romance novel. I checked out Eva’s Twitter feed. This gave me a full picture of Eva as not only a literary agent, but as a person. (Eva’s Twitter profile photo is directly below.)
I not only polished up my query letter to reach out to her, I personalized it. I let her know why her profile and manuscript wish list “spoke” to me. I crossed my fingers while hitting the “send” button. And did my best to distract myself while waiting for a response. Luckily, it did not take long for me to receive the happy news that Eva wanted to read the full manuscript for my sci-fi novel. Within three months, I was signing the agency’s agreement.
Had it not been for Twitter’s #MSWL hashtag, I might have missed the opportunity to reach out to Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. Twitter jumpstarted my search, and then “brought home the bacon.”
I’m sure Eva will help my career sizzle.
By the way, for those of you who want to check out Speilburg Literary Agency, here are the web links: https://speilburgliterary.com; Twitter link: https://twitter.com/alicespeilburg To find Eva Scalzo on Twittter, https://twitter.com/evascalzo
About EVA SCALZO
Eva Scalzo was born in New Jersey, but has lived in Houston, Buenos Aires, San Juan, and Boston before settling down outside of Binghamton, New York. She has a B.A. in the Humanities from the University of Puerto Rico and a M.A. in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College. Since graduating in 2002, she has spent her career in scholarly publishing, working for Houghton Mifflin, Blackwell Publishing, John Wiley & Sons, and Cornell University in a variety of roles.
Eva has been reading romance since the fifth grade when she discovered the Sweet Valley High series. On inheriting her grandmother’s collection of vintage Harlequin Romances, she promptly set about filling the gaps, and her goal is to someday finish reading all the treasures. Eva is looking to represent all subgenres of Romance, with the exclusion of inspirational romance, as well as Young Adult fiction.
One last fun fact: if you’ve been reading this bio and pronouncing Eva’s name with a long E sound, you’ve been saying it wrong.
STACY’S TIP FOR WRITERS: Always do your research before signing with any agent, publisher, or any other literary professional.
SIGN UP FOR STACY’S NEWSLETTER! http://eepurl.com/bG0HZD
WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS FOR STACY HOFF:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorStacyHoff
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/authorStacyHoff
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JOCKEYING FOR YOU print version http://amzn.to/2eanq2o
JOCKEYING FOR YOU Kindle version http://amzn.to/2c8Hi5t
HOTTER THAN THE CARIBBEAN – In the Caribbean, the secrets, sex, and scandals are hotter!
AMAZON LINK: http://amzn.to/2xW3WtJ
BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS (BUILDING LOVE series, #1) Love is the biggest gamble of all!
NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT: https://www.amazon.com/Betting-Love-Vegas-Stacy-Hoff/dp/1682913422/
Kindle version: http://amzn.to/2kAgBvK
DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC print version http://amzn.to/2cubwCf
DESIRE IN THE ARCTIC kindle version http://amzn.to/1KjfP9V
DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES print version http://amzn.to/2dXO1zV
DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES Kindle version http://amzn.to/1YEseie
LAWFULLY YOURS print version http://amzn.to/2e6Ug8k
LAWFULLY YOURS Kindle version http://amzn.to/1Ky5CZm
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January 30, 2018
All Work, No Play?
Do you ever finish your work day and feel exhausted? Why is that?
I know this seems like a silly question but I honestly do enjoy my job and as a kid growing up I’d always hear “find a job that you enjoy and it won’t feel like work.” I disagree. This is a job I enjoy and it absolutely feels like I do work each day. It is a work I enjoy but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel draining. I really enjoy writing as well and as much as it feeds me, it also can drain me at the same time—don’t ask me how that is possible.
Thinking about it logically, my job is a lot about numbers but I also talk with a lot of people and whether we mean to or not, we tend to carry a lot of our worries and concerns around. Very infrequently do I have a conversation that doesn’t stray into the state of our country, our current administration, global issues, economic issues… you get the point. We are a species of worry warts. Not all of us perhaps, but a lot of us. As such, a lot of my conversations feel very restorative in nature. I want to make folks feel better and I want them to spend more time living and less time worrying. It is hypocritical because I’m always trying to talk myself into the same thing but I’m also a firm believer in the cliché that life is short (cliché and fact for many). Why spend so much time worrying about things that we may not be able to control or that quite frankly may not have any grounds for being valid? We are at time our worst enemy and sometimes we just need a shake back into reality.
Happy writing this week and my suggestion (and something I plan to do myself) is you reward yourself for all your hard work!
Cleaning Up My Email List by Mandy Rosko
This month I’m working on switching gears a little. The first month of the new year is winding down, and by today I should be finished with this part of my new, fairly loose, plan.
I want to tighten this plan up as the year goes on, make a step by step plan that can be rolled out as the months go on so I can focus more on my newsletter list as well as my Patreon page, instead of just one or the other.
It shouldn’t be that way, and I intend on spending this year making up for that.
As well as catching up on my reading and writing
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