Erin Jamison's Blog, page 4

A Story Is Born

I was a Samhain Publishing consumer. I loved the authors they represented although I felt like sometimes the stories were short. As if they had been cut off to stay within a certain word count. Anyway, I had wanted to write my own story and I had some WIPs (work in progress) stories but they were incomplete. I had a few others that had complete outlines but lacked details…you know the story? I was still trying to figure out angles and define the characters.

You've read how I started telling funny stories to friends and they enjoyed them and were anxious to read about the next ridiculous, sad but true story. So…at least my friends thought I could write.

So anyway, I was just looking around the site. It had recently been revamped and updated. I saw a link for contests. The theme and the challenge was to write a story of an online romance. There had to be an email or some form of online communication present in the story. Sometimes stories just write themselves…and this was one of them. I was dating, registered to dating websites, checking out profiles, trading emails and chats back and forth and I thought, "Dude, this is me!"

Right then and there…a story was born. That wasn't it. You know, I still had to make it interesting but it was the prompt that gave me the confidence to pursue my writing. I was nervous. Could I make the story interesting? If someone else wrote the story, would I buy it? As fanatical as I am as a fan, would I recommend the story to a friend? All the answers were yes for me.

If you've got an idea for a story, ask yourself the same questions. Would that cover, blurb, opening line, those characters…would that book convince you to pick it up? Would it convince you to continue reading? If you come back with a yes, and honest yes, then I say go for it.

You can't fail if you don't try.

Self Publishing Is A Test

Self publishing is a test of endurance and perseverance.

After I decided what I was going to write I started reading up on what to do. Appeal letters, queries, how to write an appeal letter, capture their interest from the start, don't be boring, do something that sets you apart, and why should they pay attention to you. I was already doubting myself…yet I kept writing. I had decided that even if I got a rejection letters that I believed in the story enough to publish it myself. Silly me…I expected the costs to be nominal. Well it wasn't nominal but it was worth the investment.

So then I talked to an author that had done some self publishing of her own. She was willing to take me on as a client and I no longer felt adrift in an ocean by myself. I had someone to help guide me. She hit me up with a list of stuff that I had to do and/or get. I looked at this list and whispered, "Holy s***!"

Get a website (check)
Blog (guess where you are)
Facebook business page (check)
Facebook personal page (check)
Twitter account (check)
Get a cover (check)
Write a bio (check)
Write a blurb (check)
Figure out keywords they will help an audience find your material (what would you look for)
Develop an eight second pitch (check out your author workshops from a chapter association)
Take classes/learn the craft (yeah, you still have to go to school, even if its at home)
Advertise while you're writing (check and double check)
Start making appeals and start networking (I am on that)
Be sociable, don't be wooden (still working on that)
Join groups, reciprocate (ditto)
Create Kindle accounts, PubIt, Smashwords, Amazon (check)
Find like authors and find out what they are doing (in progress)
Reach out to other authors…we all support each other (yep)
And if you have extra time, create a book trailer (you're kidding about the extra time right?)

So that's it people, or at least that has been my journey thus far. I have to say it's a great sense of accomplishment. I will also caution that if you go into an endeavor like this with the intention of making a lot of money or duplicating the success of the likes of the Amanda Hocking's out there, you will likely fail. Do this because you love it. Do this because you believe in the story you wrote. Do it because you believe in the voice you have as a writer. Don't do it solely to make a buck. You may find with intentions such as those, that's all you make, is just a few bucks.

Who Would You Invite To Dinner?

Goodreads pacifies the geek in me. I think its great. I get to hang out and talk to other readers about the books we enjoy, books we recommend to one another, support of one another and all. I found a like minded friend today and for any new person that was interested in being friends with her, she asked this very simple question, "Who would you invite to dinner?"

You know…so simple right? So I was still stuck in geek/nerd mode and I'm thinking, "Oohh, what if I could invite JR herself (J.R. Ward) to have a sit down at my table." Psst….well you know the first thing I wouldn't do is bake anything for her. Only the best store bought desserts for the warden. Those doggen would most certainly boot me right out of the way. So then I thought, "Oh, I know. What if I invited Shiloh and the Hunters over for dinner." Yeah scratch that. I mean I like reading about them and all and they're hot as sin but for some of them, I'd be dinner. So, no (wagging my finger back and forth) eating the host.

Then…voila….I had it. I'd invite the most controversial, sure to keep dinner interesting and lively. I'd invite the master himself. Mr. Gordon Ramsey you are welcome to my table any time and since its customary to bring something with you, I'll be counting on you for dessert.

Who would you invite to dinner?

Silence Is Golden

I've often read about how other authors like to write to music. I confess that I've even adopted bands/songs as favorites based on the recommendations of other authors. I however, can't get into it when I'm writing.

My poor family, seriously. I need silence. It doesn't matter the music, type of music, and even television show…its all distraction. I've tried to mute the tv and just have a program running in the background. I'm still distracted by it. For that very reason is how a mention the movie, The Matrix wound up in my latest book. I kick everybody out of the room, turn off everything and let the keyboard become my rhythm.

Family members have told me that it's not normal. I just smile at that. I think it may be a consequence of living in my head. In my head, there are conversations to be had, conversations to be played back an analyzed, strategy to be plotted, schedules to be kept…there is more than enough noise going on that I don't need anything extra added to the mix.

I don't know about you but for me, silence is golden! How do you write? Do you need some kind of outside stimulus or noise?

Riddle Me This…What's Your Online Persona?

Do you ever wish you could be more like someone else? Maybe you could be less serious, or more upbeat. Maybe you could be inspirational or encouraging, moreso than your usual pessimistic, glass half full, rose colored glasses not required or wanted self. Well, that's what I was thinking anyway.

I thought I'd try to be carefree online. I thought I would try my hand at being witty and funny, more or less sarcastic, you know….take a break from being me. I'll tell you a secret. Ssshh….(whispers) "Come closer". Did you know, (looking over each shoulder), that I follow myself around all day? Totally ignoring the silly parrot in the corner saying, "Yep she's a goner. Totally coo coo!" Seriously! (Throws my hands up in the air in exasperation). I can't get away from me.

I can no more not be myself that I can be more of a person I'm not. Did I say that right? You understand don't you? Hmmm….I'll try again. I have moments. I may have little glimpses of brilliance just the same as I may have fleeting moments of a happy go lucky personality. But you know what, it all makes up me. Just makes for a complicated, multi dimensional, colorful, never fits comfortably in one box, kinda person. And you know what….that's quite alright.

I wouldn't take me any other way. I think this is all apart of knowing thyself (as my character Stacy would say in my upcoming book, Better Than 8 Fantasy) or getting to know your own self and….accepting whomever you are. I remember in high school that I didn't have the money to buy designer kicks or gear but that was ok. Some of the other kids in the popular clicks weren't that well off either but you know what they did have. Personality. I know, you hear the remnants of that song playing in your head too don'tcha?

I didn't have a dynamic personality. I didn't make friends easily. I was shy, introverted and preferred to blend in the background. More like melt if I could but I digress. You know, I still know some of those same people I knew as a kid. They still have great personalities. They can make you laugh til your sides hurt but few of them, if any can say, "I'm a Writer."

Well what do ya know? Looks like I'm pretty cool after all. Were you an introvert or extrovert? How did you overcome your shyness or how did you tone it down? Was it even needed?

Ummm, Yeah…I Forgot A Key Ingredient

Remember how I said I couldn't bake. Ummm….yeah. I don't try to mess up. Shoulder shrug….it just happens, naturally.

Ooooh how I wish I could be the homebody that goes in the kitchen and whips up a nice batch of wonderful but that is not me. I swear I'm like a perpetual, lifelong student. I believe for anything that I'm lacking or want to know more about, there has got to be a class on it and I need to go signup. Looks like, this is one of those things people.

Remember when your mom used to make cake batter. Were you the kid that couldn't wait to lick the bowl clean. Well that was me. I was a fiend for cake batter and cornbread cake batter. THE best cornbread is the Jiffy cornbread muffin mix. I literally make it cake like with just a tiny bit of lemon extract or vanilla extract and a little bit of sugar. My family loves it and usually asks for more before its gone. Usually I don't screw that up. I did say usually.

The Incredible Edible Egg

Last week however, I made cornbread. Got out two boxes and emptied the contents in a bowl. Put two-thirds milk, tiny bit of lemon extract, sugar and mixed it all up. Put it in the baking pan and slapped it in the oven. Did you notice anything missing among the ingredients? Nodding my head up and down. Mmm hmph, mmm hmph! Yep, yep. Sigh. That's right…I forgot the eggs.

You know that stuff that holds it together. That would be what I left out.

I did remember, about 15 minutes after I put it in the oven. There wasn't any turning back at that point though. It was edible but it fell apart in crumbs anytime you tried to solidly hold it. We were eating cornbread with a spoon. My friend, T.F. Walsh suggested a timer might help me out. Not saying I told you so T….just saying. I'm not as bad as Sissy Spacek in the Coal Miners Daughter when she used salt instead of sugar. Remember that movie?

Have you ever had kitchen disasters? How did you try to save it?

What Kind Of Writer Do You Want To Be?

I knew I wanted to write from the time I was in high school. I figured the best thing I could do would be to write what I like to read. I looked around my bookcase and it was stacked with books stuck in every available space, on the top of the bookcase and taking up residence in other parts of the house too.

What I found was mainly romance novels. I had some reference manuals, textbooks from years gone by that I refused to give away, and murder/mystery novels. What I had an abundance of however, were romance novels. Out the waazoo! So, ok…apparently I'm a sap.

But when you took a closer look at the books, the women featured in the books were fighters. Books like Through the Veil by Shiloh Walker, Lover Mine by JR Ward, Blurred Bloodlines by Kallysten. Those were and are authors I love to read. I tell you, I'm a fan first. I'm still the geeky fan that checks in from time to time to see when the latest book is coming out in the series that I adore. I buy jewelry that represents the characters that I've literally fallen in love with. Like this one http://www.etsy.com/transaction/28404299.

I know…. a bit much!? If you're staring at a blank piece of paper, and you know you want to write a story and you have no idea what to write about; write what you like. So now you're talking to the screen like I can hear you right? You're saying to me, "Duh, I know what I want to write but I need a concept." Did you know that you already know the best stories? They are the stories you tell your friends about. The stories you laugh about and can't wait to share with someone else. They are the stories that drive you to drink, cry, rage, and rail. Those stories make you feel warm, sad, gutted, whole, uplifted and grounded. You know the characters too. They are your friends, your colleagues, your co-workers, classmates, allies, enemies, neighbors and maybe even parts of yourself.

The story is there. Be still a moment and it will come to you. It did for me.

Color Me Tickled Purple, Not Pink

I'm done ya'll. That's right, I'm a southern chick and this southern belle has completed her first book, "Better Than 8: Fantasy". My very first one ya'll. Its the first book of eight. Better Than 8, which represents a website and the first of 8 books… you get it? I thought that was quite clever. (Giggle)

I had respect for authors before but now I feel their pain. Now that it's done I keep telling myself to just breathe. The book is in final edit with my editor, Beth Barany. I've been getting to know people, making friends, and requesting reviews. I have to say I'm anxious to see what you guys/gals think. Even if I get bad reviews its not that bad because its a learning experience, right?

Have you ever said to yourself not to take it personal and on the inside, you're taking it personal? That's like sticking your hand over an open flame until it turns all black and crispy while you say to yourself that it doesn't hurt one bit. I mean really people! But honestly, I welcome your feedback. I honestly think you're going to love it. At least, I hope.

So tomorrow, I'll be hanging out for a little Q&A at http://jessicasvision.blogspot.com/,  Stop by, check me out if you're "in the neighborhood". For any fellow authors or bloggers that would like to interview me or have me do a guest post for your site, sign up at http://klearbooktours.blogspot.com

Oh and I'm just not a pink kinda gal. I got too much spunk for pink, purple fits me much better!

If Only I Could Bake

I got a recent email from a new friend, T. F. Walsh, and she's a baker. She's even got pictures. They look like you could reach through the screen and eat one. *Sigh!* I wish I could bake. I've told friends, some people just don't have it… and I'm one of 'em. For example, I cannot for the life of me, keep a plant alive. My thumb is brown people. Literally and figuratively.  So I figured I'd share one of my many baking episodes with you.

Picture this.

Its a cold winter day in Virginia; 30 degrees. Cute as a button, bundled up to look like a tiny version of the Michelin man, is my two year old son in one arm and on my right hip. In the other hand, as many bags as I can carry to balance out my load. I struggle up the stairs, juggle the kid against the door, groceries, and keys without dropping a thing. Yay me!

I drop the bags in the kitchen that have now encumbered my ability to walk without it seeming like I'm gonna take a header into the nearest wall. I put the kid in his room to play while Mommie fixes dinner. I unpack and put away groceries and I take what I'm going to fix for dinner and place it on the stove. Frozen dinner rolls included…

I know, you're laughing already. I sit down on the couch for a minute. I'm gonna get up in a minute. Just need to rest my eyes. Yep. You guessed it. Two hours later when I woke up, I panicked. Checked on the kid, he had fallen asleep too. Still, oblivious I walked into the kitchen, took one look at the stove and said, "Aaawwww". You know like what you used to do when you were a kid and you knew someone was in trouble. Those dinner rolls that were a bag of 10 rolls was now one big bag of dough that had busted a portion of the plastic bag it was in. You'd think I would have stopped there…nooo. I then decided that I could save it. I tore pieces of the dough, rolled it round by hand and baked it. After 20-30 minutes, when they were a pretty golden brown, I took them out and found that I could use them the same way you would throw rocks at targets because they were just as hard.

See what I mean? I can cook but unlike Amara, the female love interest in Better Than 8: Fantasy, I am no Betty Crocker. Do you have a cooking/baking horror story too?

Can Men And Women Be "Just Friends"?

Well, I mean, why not? It's possible right? I mean, just because we're friends doesn't mean that he wants to know me on a carnal level right? And just because I would jump his bones in a heartbeat if it wasn't for my significant other doesn't mean a thing. Nope, not one iota.

I have this theory and tell me if I'm wrong. I think women are open and friendly with guys that are "the nice guy" or those they see as endearing; the brother. Men however, I think they are usually friends with women that they are attracted to. Its like they keep one in the pocket just in case.

Do you know people like this? Is this you?