Becca C. Smith's Blog, page 5

Feeling inspired...

I'm on the tail-end of editing and releasing three books!! Geesh! So. Much. Work.

So I needed to clear my brain a bit. Drawing does that for me. The first drawing I did was inspired by Buffy the Vampire. I call it: When you kiss me, I want to die...

In this silhouette I decided to make Buffy and Angel the forefront since (in my opinion) they will always be the love of each other's lives. But since they could never be together, I drew Spike in Buffy's shadow and Darla in Angel's. Buffy loved Spike in her own way and Spike, of course, fought to get his soul back for Buffy, so we know how much he loved her. And I drew in Darla on Angel's side because she had Angel's son and ended up sacrificing herself to see him born.

​And of course, in the scythe we have Willow and Xander which need no explanation :-) The second piece I did is from The Mortal Instruments books/TV show. I used the likenesses of the actors from the TV show since I like this casting better than the movie's casting.

At the base of the heart is the Love Rune with Clary and Jace (Clace) just above it. On the left side of the heart is Isabelle and Simon (Sizzy) and on the right is Alec and Magnus (Malec). 

I'm a huge fan of the book series and LOVE the way it has come to life in the TV show! 

Now back to the books! I just received my proof for Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Atlantis today! So excited, but time to bring out the red pen!

If you want to check out more of my artwork here's the link to my RedBubble page: 

Editing is the key to everything…

Editing is so important, especially for Indie writers.
 
As an Indie writer, your book has to be close to perfect simply because our novels are judged much more harshly than traditionally published books. Readers don’t seem to notice or care if there are grammar/typo blunders in a traditionally published book. Here’s an example of a novel published by Tor: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson.
No one gives him a hard time about it, but if an Indie author makes the same exact mistake, readers give them hell!
 
So you can either complain about it, or do something about it. I choose to do something about it! 
 
Finding an editor can be a challenge, especially a great editor. I’m a lucky girl because my father-in-law is a professional editor and one of my best friends used to edit novels for a living. But for those of you who don’t have an editor in the family there are many inexpensive resources out there that you can use.
 
Nowadays, you can google: “book editing services” and a number of websites pop up. I’m trying out CreateSpace’s editing services for my most recent novel since my two editors are swamped with other things right now. It’s a bit expensive (close to 800 bucks) but hopefully they’re worth it. I’ll keep you posted.
 
But paying for an editor is worth it. Definitely. You don’t want readers to be able to tell the difference between your work or a traditionally published work.
 
And as the picture shows above, the traditional route doesn’t guarantee your book will be error free!  Realistically, mistakes will be missed, so don't beat yourself up about it! Be as meticulous as you can and be proud of what you put out there!

2016 Reading Challenge!

​One of my best friends posted this list on FB and I’m in!  ​Every month I will update my progress! I’m really excited about this. I’ve been wanting to carve more reading time into my schedule anyway and this is the perfect opportunity!
 
The first book I’m going to tackle on the list is: A book that’s more than 600 pages.
 
I started reading the second book in The Stormlight Archive: Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. The first book Way of Kings was brilliant! And so far so is book two! It’s 1200 pages long so my first book is a doozy J
 
I’ll do Kindle screen shots of each book, for each category! 

Inspiration? OR DISCIPLINE? THE WRITER'S DILEMMA

As a writer, is it inspiration or discipline that drives me? I always look for inspiration to work on my projects, but ultimately it comes down to discipline. If I waited around to be inspired I might not get anything done. It's difficult to keep yourself inspired. It takes a lot of energy. But discipline is so much more rewarding psychologically. When you set a goal for yourself and you reach it, everything else that happens that day is just gravy. The hardest part is maintaining discipline, especially if you are your own boss. 

Sometimes I have to ask myself: Is there really such a thing as “being stuck” in terms of writing? Is writer’s block real, or is it just an excuse we tell ourselves so we don’t have to write.
 
It feels real. So I guess that makes it real to a certain degree.
 
I’ve read countless articles on how “real writers don’t have writer’s block,” or “real writers, write, ‘being stuck’ is just being lazy.” This may be true, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve been trying to finish this book for several months now and it’s been like pulling teeth.
 
I’ve switched to other projects and finished two other books in the meantime! Which is awesome, but it still doesn’t change the fact that I need to finish this one! Why is this one so difficult? I keep asking myself that question. The answer is: I have no idea. It should be a fun adventure that should flow out of my head and into my typing fingers. But for some reason, this isn’t happening. At least not in the ‘normal’ way I write books.
 
It’s not like I don’t know what’s going to happen. I do. So why can’t I write it? I’m 3,000 words from finishing! 3,000! I can do that in a day, easy! I thought it would be today. Maybe it still will be, but for now, I blog, which ultimately is just distracting me from finishing…

So, bottom line: I have zero inspiration today, so it's time to let my discipline take over. I'm going to do an hour sprint now! 

My journey on Kindle Scout so far...

​So I’m trying out this new program of Amazon’s called Kindle Scout. Basically, you put up your novel for 30 days, people vote, then Amazon decides whether or not to publish your book under their label.
 
Now, for people who have a massive social networking following this potentially would be easy-peasy. But for writers like myself, it’s quite difficult. Marketing is always difficult in any field, especially if that’s not your forte.
 
This has been my biggest hurdle so far on my Kindle Scout journey. I feel like once I announced it on FaceBook and Twitter, that’s it. I don’t want to bug my friends by constantly advertising my book and asking them to vote. I feel like they’ve supported me so much by purchasing my previous books that it’s almost rude to ask them to do more. I know this is silly thinking, but it’s the “people-pleaser” in me that holds me back from being a “salesman.”
 
I chose to do FaceBook/Instagram ads instead. So far, it seems to be working pretty well, I’ve been on Kindle Scout’s Hot & Trending list pretty consistently since my campaign started five days ago.
 
The only issue I have is keeping the momentum up. 30 days is a long time to keep people interested enough to want to vote.
 
I’m going to keep going though! I’m excited to see what happens. I figure, even if I don’t get picked, I’ve had 30 days of promotion and exposure for when I publish it myself! Either way it’s a win-win situation!
 
As for now, I have to keep on promoting!

If you'd like to nominate my book here's the link :-) 

https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/3484034AR926X

3 Ways To Stop Writer’s Block

What is writer’s block? It’s probably different for everybody, but for me, it’s when I stare at a blank page for hours on end and can’t seem to think of anything to write. What’s usually the most frustrating about it is the fact that I have an outline sitting right next to me telling me EXACTLY what I need to write. But for some unknown reason, I can’t get the words on the page.
 
So what can you do when you’re mentally STUCK?
 
These 3 methods work for me, so I thought I’d share and hopefully they can work for you as well!
 
1. Take outlining to the next level.

​I realize some people are Pansters and some people are Planners. I’m a Planner, but this advice works for both, especially if you’re stuck.
 
What I mean by taking “outlining to the next level” is: outline the next scene only. You don’t have to outline your entire book. If you’re like me, you already have, and usually each chapter has a brief summary of what’s supposed to happen in that chapter. But, for me, sometimes it’s the little details I’m unsure of that lead up to the main event of the chapter that get me stuck.
 
So, plan out the next scene in full detail. Writing a description of everything that happens in the next five pages will help you get past your block and write! This is the number one method that works for me!

2. Sprint! If you're not familiar with the term "sprinting" it's when you sit down for set amount of time and write. No interruptions, no Internet surfing, no phone calls, just you and your computer or pad of paper.

If you have the discipline to do this on your own, you’re awesome.
 
But if you can’t seem to make yourself sit down and sprint I suggest you call or text a fellow writing friend and ask if they’d like to do a sprint with you. Chances are they’re going through the same writing struggle as you and will welcome a way to get out of it.
 
I usually do one hour sprints, but some people like doing shorter bursts like 10 minutes or 20 minutes. Sometimes even a 5 minute sprint can get you out of your writing funk.
 
If you don’t have a friend that’s around at the time, you can always find someone on Twitter using hashtags: #writingsprint #NaNowordsprints.
 
Also, Jane Espenson (one of the greatest TV writers of all time!!) does writing sprints on Twitter. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in a rut and found that she was starting a writing sprint. Follow her @JaneEspenson.
 
3. Character rants. ​This helps me when I’m in a crazy-super-block and no matter how much I outline or attempt a sprint, I’m still staring at a blank computer screen.
 
I call this stream of conscious writing. Wherever I’m at in my story, I just start writing whatever my main character is thinking. Rambling, really. Whatever comes to my mind: how she’s feeling, how she wants to get out of the mess she’s in, how she feels about the other characters around her, etc.
 
This is a good exercise no matter where you are in your project. It can help you connect to and understand your character better. Sometimes I get bogged down in plot and action, so it’s nice to remember that you’re trying to create characters that people can relate to and connect with.
 
So, that’s it! I hope these tips help you get out of your rut!

My journey to limit Internet Surfing!

​This is hard. And I mean hard. When I’m writing and I’m having a lull, my first instinct is to check my Face Book. That leads to me finding articles, which I then read, which leads me to other articles, which I then read, which leads me to…
 
You get the idea. My laptop and my phone have become one big bad habit for me.  Basically, whenever I’m not writing, I Internet surf. Sometimes I even do this while I’m watching TV. I try not to do it when I’m with friends and family, but every once in while, there’s just something I have to look up!
 
It’s almost like an addiction in some ways.
 
Unfortunately, marketing my books requires me to be on social media so I can’t drop it completely. Going cold turkey would almost be easier in some ways, but like it or not, I have to stay active.
 
My solution?
 
I gave myself limits: 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes at night. I time it. And as soon as I’m done, I close out the windows on my computer or phone.
 
Of course, since 5 minutes is such a short amount of time, I have to make to-do lists, so it’s time well spent. But it’s difficult. I allow myself to research via Internet for my books and projects, but that’s it.
 
The best part?

​It’s strangely liberating! ​I feel really great not falling into the Internet surfing vortex I found myself trying to swim out of every day. I’ve been getting more writing done. I’ve actually been getting a lot more things done.
 
Granted, I still spend most of my time in front of a screen. This can’t be helped, I’m a writer. But I can limit the amount of time I waste on the Internet and my phone.
 
Try it and tell me how it worked for you!

3 ways of How to stop getting distracted

This is one of the hardest obstacles a writer must overcome. Distraction comes in many forms, usually of our own making.

Distractions are really just another word for the “P” word: Procrastination. During a month like NaNoWriMo, distractions and procrastination can run rampant if you don’t cut them off at the pass.
 
So here are three things I do to buckle down and stay on task:

1. ​Make a to-do list as soon as you wake up in the morning or even the night before. 
This may seem like it’s only propagating the need to distract yourself, but it actually works. Give yourself 2-3 hours to complete the entire list because once it’s done, it feels as if a weight has been lifted off your chest. It gives you the freedom to sit down and do some writing without guilt!

If you have a full time job, complete the to-do list as soon as you get home, but in this case I would limit the time it takes you to one hour. You want to make sure you don’t talk yourself out of writing later on with excuses such as: “I’m too tired,” “I work all day, all I want to do is relax.” Trust me, you won’t get any work done if you use these excuses. You’re always going to be tired, but you have to learn to push through it if you want to succeed.

2.​ Write in a place that doesn’t have Internet or TV.
​Don’t panic!
 
If you’re like me, the main culprit of distraction is Internet browsing or watching television. I’m often amazed at how much time passes while I’m literally doing nothing but checking FaceBook statuses. Sometimes I feel like a zombie has taken over my body and I can’t stop scrolling down my FB page reading about people I barely know. It’s even worse with Twitter, because most of the people I follow I definitely don’t know and yet I just have to know how their day is going. It’s insane!
 
So if you just go to a place where you don’t have access to the Internet like a park, that’s most of the battle right there. As sad as it is, it’s really hard not being “plugged in,” but I'm telling you, it can be liberating at the same time.

3. ​Turn off your phone.
I’m a texting fiend. I text all the time and receive texts all the time. This can be the biggest distraction because you’d be amazed at how much time it takes away from your writing. The funny thing is I’m usually texting about how frustrated I am that I’m not writing lol! So decide how long you want to work and turn off your phone for that amount of time. 

There are many more ways to limit your distractions, these are just the main three I use. The bottom line is: if you want to finish your project, you have to buckle down and do it. We’re our own worst enemy and distraction/procrastination is usually a huge factor for most people. Learn what works best for you and make it apart of your daily routine. Creating good working habits is key to getting what you want in life.
 
So stop reading this blog and get back to work! You’re procrastinating :-)

NaNoWrimo is tomorrow!

​This is my second year of NaNoWrimo and I’m so excited to get started. I’m doing it a little differently this year though.
 
Last year, I came up with an idea one week before November, outlined it, and wrote the whole thing for NaNo. While fun, this ended up being a nightmare later on in the editing process. I realized that I hadn’t given the story enough time to percolate, and since I was on a one-moth time crunch I had to finish it. Six months later I re-wrote most of it and added another 20,000 words.
 
Don’t get me wrong, I loved this experience! It was so much fun challenging myself to write an entire novel in a month. I’ve done it before with my kid’s novel Alexis Tappendorf, but I had spent months researching and outlining that book. So when I finally sat down to write it, it only took about thirty days.
 
But this year I’m going to use NaNoWrimo to finish my second Alexis Tappendorf book. Like the first book I’ve researched and outlined it so I know exactly what I need to write to finish. I may not have 50,000 words left of book, but I’m okay with that. The main goal of November is to finish a novel and that’s what I intend to do!
 
I’m in the process of editing two other books as well, so November is going to be a great month for productivity. I’m excited to jump in and do this thing!

I'm my own boss, and I suck at it!

Why does this always happen? I keep trying to limit myself to one project at a time, but I always end up juggling three or four or more! It’s overwhelming, it’s unnecessary, it’s crazy! And yet, here I am working on three books, a teleplay and a webseries.
 
Don’t get me wrong, I love that I have all these projects to work on, and I LOVE working on all these projects. But sometimes I feel that I’m on some kind of deadline (which I’m not) and they have to get done or….
 
Or what? There is no or what.
 
So why am I so hard on myself? The days I produce exactly what I say I’m going to produce are happy days, and the days I only accomplish one out of my four goals, I feel like a failure. It’s never ending. I try and stop it by trying to convince myself to stop the self-punishing, but it only seems to last a day or two. Then I go right back to being angry that I couldn’t do what I set out to do for the day.
 
Well, there’s not much I can do, I guess, except keep trying. I’m taking a deep breath as we speak and plowing forward. If I don’t finish everything I set out to finish today, I have to be okay with that. Because, really, what else can I do? I’m tired of chastising myself. It doesn’t do me or my work any good.
 
Wish me luck!