Lori Michelle's Blog, page 2
April 12, 2013
Guest Blogger – Armand Rosamilia
Armand Rosamilia
When I say writing goals, I’m not talking about goals like ‘I want to be rich, I want to date Alyssa Milano because my writing is so damn brilliant, I want to win a big award and have that bitch from third grade wish she’d kissed me in gym class.’ Actually, they are all great personal goals, but I’m talking about goals on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
I used to look at a story and think it was going to be 30,000 words and then start writing. And quickly realize it was a lot of words and it would take me a lot of time to write it. So I started breaking it down into bite-sized chunks I could manage. 2,000 words a day is my daily goal, which translates into 14,000 per week and approximately 60,000 a month. If I try to just write 60k in a month it looks like an uphill battle, but 2k a day is cake.
I wondered what other authors I knew thought, and what their own goals were. So I asked a few.
Billie Sue Mosiman (http://www.amazon.com/ALABAMA-GIRL-Memoir-Writer-Part-1-ebook/dp/B00AWVTNXC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1363280278&sr=1-1&keywords=GIRL+mosiman) doesn’t have a goal. “Being my own boss and being creative, I write through the Muse. It may be old-fashioned and I don’t recommend it for anyone else, but I write when the mood strikes. Luckily it strikes often and I’m prolific and generally can produce fast, cleanly written work.”
It’s the same for Author Suzi M (http://www.amazon.com/Suzi-M/e/B003TTLGP2/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1). “None at all. I don’t limit myself for a couple of reasons, the first and foremost being that I hate limitations and I hate missing a goal. No goal, no expectations. No expectations, no pressure. So I may write 10,000 words in a day or I may not write any at all. Ultimately what counts is the deadline.”
And also Jaime Johnesee (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008D2VVXC). “I do not keep to word count. I wish I could, but whenever I write without being in the mood to I hate what I produce.”
Vincent Hobbes (http://www.amazon.com/Khost-ebook/dp/B00AA46MJE/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1363636444&sr=8-1&keywords=khost) is vague in his approach. “I have a daily word count goal. I think writing is like exercise, if you don’t do it on a regular basis it gets tougher and tougher to get back into that routine.”
So, who has an actual word count of those I asked?
Kat Yares (http://www.katyares.com), for one. “I try for 1,000 words a day, Monday through Friday. I take the weekends off to spend with the better half, doing other things, like talking about new projects or making movies. Of course, occasionally those 1,000 words may be book or product reviews or Facebook posts.”
Todd Brown (http://twbrown.blogspot.com/) adds: “I target 2,000 words per day, but do not stop if I reach it. However, I do stop every 1,000 words (even if I am in mid-sentence… thanks OCD!) and take a break to clear my head. That is usually when I will walk the dog or do some house cleaning. The why is simply my own marker that I set for myself because I am very much a goal setting type of person. When I do not reach my numbers, it really has a tendency to derail my train. Then, on the editing side, I simply work in 5 page increments. I edit 5 pages and then either take a break or, as is often the case, I am editing more than one project, I switch. That really helps keep me focused on editing and not getting sucked in to the story so bad that I stop doing my job.”
So who is right? All of us. And you, too… the secret to writing (and eating popcorn) is to be comfortable with your own skill set and goals. You need to stay positive and just get your ass in the chair and start writing. We all have great days and wasted days, but the goal is more great ones. Good luck!
Armand Rosamilia (http://armandrosamilia.com) likes to talk in third person. Because he is cool. And he eats too much. And he wastes time writing blog posts and not writing his next book, but he is comfortable with that. Jimmy likes Elaine.
April 11, 2013
Guest Post
Today I was a Guest Blogger on a friend’s blog. I talk about how I fell into the writing world and specifically into the horror genre. Go check it out!
April 2, 2013
March 13, 2013
Mistresses of the Macabre
So, it’s been a month since I posted anything and I figured I should make an effort of some sort. The last month has been a whirlwind of different happenings. First, my long standing bookkeeping job ended. I had been with that company for 8 years. It was a little emotional to leave that last day. However, I am loving the time off!
Second, I had thyroid removal surgery. There was a lump on the left lobe; luckily it was not cancerous, so they left the right side alone. I look somewhat like the Bride of Frankenstein right at the moment. Also, I don’t think I have ever slept this much before. I am not sure if that is due to the surgery, or the change in hormones, or the fact that I have been seriously stressed and now that is gone. But I think I have slept more in the past three weeks than I have in the past year.
Finally, and the reason for starting this post, is the anthology I edited, Mistresses of the Macabre, is now available. This is an awesome anthology of great writers. I can seriously see it kicking butt at some awards ceremonies next year. So, you should go get your copy now. Why? Because I said so. And because it is worth it. AMAZON
We also had some great interviews with all the authors over on the Dark Moon Blog, so you should go check those out too! It’s interesting to see how they answered their questions.
Maybe since I am now gainfully unemployed (though I seem to have more work to do now, hmmm) I might actually post on here more often. Max Booth III and I are working with someone on a project that is going to be so exciting to work on. So you have to check back for more details on that. Until then, remember that I need a job, or some money, or a cookie. I am not particular.
March 11, 2013
Revolt Daily
A New Project has been started, and I get to play with the cool kids. Go check it out www.revoltdaily.org
February 5, 2013
Women in Horror Month
The Lovely Nina D’Arcangela
Day Five of Women in Horror month and it’s yours truly being honored today! Go check it out!
January 16, 2013
What’s up?
Yeah I know, I don’t post enough on here. Hey, I am only human. And a very busy human at that. But here’s what’s been happening in my neck of the woods.
I was interviewed by the great Suzanne Robb! She asked me some very pertinent questions and dug so deep the dirt came out. You should go see what she said! Linky Link
In March, the anthology I am editing, Mistresses of the Macabre, will be available. It is a great anthology with awesome artwork. I can’t wait to see what praise it garnishes. Make sure you get a copy of this fabulous book!
Over on the Predators and Editor’s Best of 2012 poll, I did relatively well. The e-zine I edit, Dark Eclipse came in 5th out of 23. I wrangled 2 out of 17 for my efforts as Magazine Editor. And my book, Dual Harvest, came in 3rd out of 53 for Horror Novel of the Year. Not too shabby!
Another anthology I am working on, Bleed, is in full swing. I have asked several authors to donate a story to this worthy cause, and the response has been pretty overwhelming. So far, I have stories from Rick Hautala, Tim Waggoner, Richard Thomas, Benjamin Kane Ethridge, and Gene O’Neill. Mort Castle has agreed to send me a story and I am awaiting one more response for some potentially earth shattering news! Stay tuned for that one!
If you are interested in Bleed, make sure you check out the Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing’s website. All proceeds are to be donated to the Children’s Cancer Fund.
In personal news, my job that I have had for the last 9 years is going bye bye. So, I probably should find something else. If anyone knows of any job opportunities, I would love to hear them 
I am going to try and post less sporadically in 2013, but yeah…I think you would all rather I be working on a new novel. Well at least I would be! Catch me around Facebook, I tend to stalk there most often
October 30, 2012
Addiction
A sense that I can not live without you
Delving through the senses in my mind
Driving me to the brink of insanity
I must have your touch or I die
Caught in the whirlwind that is your love
Torn by my relentless need
In a rush my passion beckons me
On to find the solace in your arms
Near you I must be forever
Written for my other half…
October 29, 2012
Rage
So I am torn apart by rage, rage for the injustice that has been done in my life and the things that have been said to me in pain and in anger and in sadness but I wonder what will happen if I was to change and become the person that no one wants me to be and I wonder if she’ll be happy and I wonder if she’ll be sane or I wonder if she’ll still feel like ripping it all apart and tearing a hole in the fabric of time and then in the next minute I’ll be crying my eyes turning red for the girl that is lost somewhere in my head and I wonder if she’ll ever be able to be free but is it too much to ask that I live just for me or is it just one of those things that happiness is not meant to be and part of me wonders if anyone is there or if anyone’s listening or if anyone cares or am I just a spoiled rotten bitch to the core or am I just mental and want too much but I have never known what it’s like to be me and I think of how easy it would be to give in and let the rage take over as I slash at my wrist and let the pain burn and feel the blood rushing out yearning to be free. Oh to be free . . .
October 28, 2012
Ignited
His voice beckons to me
I reach out for him
Craving for his arms
His touch making me burn
The glow that I see
When I look in his eyes
Torments my lust
Heightens my desire
I close my eyes
To breathe in his scent
The aroma makes me alive
My senses aware
I want to hold him, touch him
Caress his hot skin
The passion to mold him
Burns deep from within
I want to use him, abuse him
Watch him work his way
The temptation to have him
Ignites me within
As I observe him dance
My heart sets ablaze
I yearn to watch his form
As he moves and he sways
My wanton need for him
Must be continually contained
The desire to burn things
Will be my downfall one day
Aching to feel the flames
Fire is my hot blooded lover
One strike of the match
And he burns like no other
