P.G. Shriver's Blog, page 15
November 12, 2012
Falling Behind...
Oooo, day twelve! I have 33,000+ words to go just to reach 50,000. That's 1,800+ a day. I wanted to reach 75,000, finish the rough draft, but I don't know if I will make it. There's just so much going on in my life right now. We almost lost one of our horses last week, so that was two days of watching over her, going to the vet and not getting too much writing done. I would do that again, though, because I would give up on NaNoWriMo if it meant keeping my mare...
Well, back to work. I've written 1,000 so far today and would like to write much more than that. Here's to you NaNoWriMo participants! Go get those words!
Tentative cover design for the book I'm working on:
Well, back to work. I've written 1,000 so far today and would like to write much more than that. Here's to you NaNoWriMo participants! Go get those words!
Tentative cover design for the book I'm working on:
October 31, 2012
November... Yikes!
Ooops, I just realized that my giveaway is over!
Tomorrow is November! Yikes! NaNoWriMo starts and my new marketing plan takes off! What was I thinking when I timed that?
Anyway, I will be trying to complete The Gifted Ones The Dream, book two in my series. At least I've chosen which novel to complete. I'm a bundle of nerves right now, so I guess I'll take it easy tonight and relax since November will be a month to breeze in and out of as I will be extremely busy. I just hope all of my hard work in November proves a success.
The Gifted Ones The Fairytale, the first book in the series, is on blog tour in November, too. Wow! I just don't know what is going to happen. Fear of the unknown can be debilitating and exhilarating at the same time. My adrenaline is in full stream and I find I'm having to really practice my patience when thinking of the coming month. I can almost taste success, but I fear failure will follow me as it seems to have done all my life. What to do but think positive and ramble on...
I only know that I've always wanted to be a writer; I've always wanted to make a living writing books and this is my chance, but I just don't know what to expect.
As a teacher, I expect my students to succeed, so why is it so hard for me to expect it of myself? We make our own success, but I always seem to reach too high and fail. Well, I won't give up, no matter what happens. I will continue the marketing campaign and I will continue to write, but most importantly, I will continue to believe... that some day... :D
Have a great month author friends and readers! I will not be blogging at all next month. Happy Halloween! Be safe!
Tomorrow is November! Yikes! NaNoWriMo starts and my new marketing plan takes off! What was I thinking when I timed that?
Anyway, I will be trying to complete The Gifted Ones The Dream, book two in my series. At least I've chosen which novel to complete. I'm a bundle of nerves right now, so I guess I'll take it easy tonight and relax since November will be a month to breeze in and out of as I will be extremely busy. I just hope all of my hard work in November proves a success.
The Gifted Ones The Fairytale, the first book in the series, is on blog tour in November, too. Wow! I just don't know what is going to happen. Fear of the unknown can be debilitating and exhilarating at the same time. My adrenaline is in full stream and I find I'm having to really practice my patience when thinking of the coming month. I can almost taste success, but I fear failure will follow me as it seems to have done all my life. What to do but think positive and ramble on...
I only know that I've always wanted to be a writer; I've always wanted to make a living writing books and this is my chance, but I just don't know what to expect.
As a teacher, I expect my students to succeed, so why is it so hard for me to expect it of myself? We make our own success, but I always seem to reach too high and fail. Well, I won't give up, no matter what happens. I will continue the marketing campaign and I will continue to write, but most importantly, I will continue to believe... that some day... :D
Have a great month author friends and readers! I will not be blogging at all next month. Happy Halloween! Be safe!
October 10, 2012
1... 2.... 3.... Marketing Away!
Finally, I'm seeing a light to the end of my new marketing campaign idea. It shouldn't take more than an evening or two to finish up phase one, and then my creativity will reinvent the initial idea. At least phase one will be complete and won't have to be reinvented. I'm very excited to try this and am hoping to see HUGE results. I will keep you posted on how it turns out. So far, virtual tours are not helping my book sales at all, so I probably won't go that route again, but I believe this new venture will definitely result in big sales and then, look out, it will happen again every month, because it is a campaign I can repeat each month!
I am in desperate need for more writing time, though. I have four novels to complete, but marketing has taken over my life. If this new campaign doesn't work, then I guess I will just refer to a marketing business I have been communicating with so I can put all my efforts back into writing. We'll see what happens. Back to work...
I am in desperate need for more writing time, though. I have four novels to complete, but marketing has taken over my life. If this new campaign doesn't work, then I guess I will just refer to a marketing business I have been communicating with so I can put all my efforts back into writing. We'll see what happens. Back to work...
September 22, 2012
More Writing Today!
So, I woke up this morning, and after getting all of the necessary social media done, I continued on the newest YA novel I've been inspired to write. I'm thinking, with all of the novels on which I have six or more chapters written, that I may have to spend October, November, December.... pretending it is National Novel Writing Month every month! There are just too many books on my computer to wait for one month of constant writing. I want to complete them ALL! Wow! My head is on turbo cycle and the ideas are in full spin!
On top of that, I've applied for an Assistant Professorship at a major university for which I received a letter today thanking me for my interest and letting me know that they will soon be reviewing the applications! That was amazing, even though I'm not sure that I have a chance at it without a PhD... Who knows? Life is exciting!
Next week, I'm headed to Paradise to promote The Gifted Ones The Fairytale. Paradise is the cumulative setting of the Trilogy and I'm really looking forward to meeting community members and visiting with the teens about the book. I hope it's a sell out! I love the new cover.
My daughter saw it when I received the shipment Thursday and said, "Wow! Mom that looks really professional!" Her picture is still on the cover, but you really have to look at it to see her image. I'm making T shirts for my husband and I to wear that day. It should be fun! I love traveling to all of these arts and crafts festivals and meeting the locals, visiting with them, and talking about my books. Heck, I love traveling! I'm about to burst with thrill right now. Think I'll go have some Rocky Road ice cream for dinner and get back to that YA novel! :-D
On top of that, I've applied for an Assistant Professorship at a major university for which I received a letter today thanking me for my interest and letting me know that they will soon be reviewing the applications! That was amazing, even though I'm not sure that I have a chance at it without a PhD... Who knows? Life is exciting!
Next week, I'm headed to Paradise to promote The Gifted Ones The Fairytale. Paradise is the cumulative setting of the Trilogy and I'm really looking forward to meeting community members and visiting with the teens about the book. I hope it's a sell out! I love the new cover.
My daughter saw it when I received the shipment Thursday and said, "Wow! Mom that looks really professional!" Her picture is still on the cover, but you really have to look at it to see her image. I'm making T shirts for my husband and I to wear that day. It should be fun! I love traveling to all of these arts and crafts festivals and meeting the locals, visiting with them, and talking about my books. Heck, I love traveling! I'm about to burst with thrill right now. Think I'll go have some Rocky Road ice cream for dinner and get back to that YA novel! :-D
September 19, 2012
A Little Behind on Blogging...
I've been working hard on a novel and festivals. Haven't had much time to blog, but just found out I've been awarded The Lovely Blog Award! How fun! And a good way to catch up!
Rules are:Include the blog award logo in your postThank the person you nominatedNominate 15 other bloggers and let them know about it...Seven random facts about yourself..
7 Random facts about meI love to walk in the country with my dogs.My favorite breakfast is a veggie fruit smoothie.I love writing more than I love work.I wake up at 5:30 and write while drinking my only two cups of coffee for the day.Family means more to me than anything else in life.I would love to be a hermit with a computer.Fall and Winter are my two favorite seasons.
Here are the fellow bloggers I have nominated! Congratulations to the winners! I'll be contacting you soon!Suzie HendersonHelpful Heather's HideawaySarah's Goodies!Bookish WhimsyMomma Without a ClueOf Werewolves and Other StrangersAlicia ColemanWriting Equals LoveClosed the CoverThe Book TowerOur ElectricityWeekly Words with Leti Del MarAll in One PlaceRyukage BrainworkBookworm's Avenue
Rules are:Include the blog award logo in your postThank the person you nominatedNominate 15 other bloggers and let them know about it...Seven random facts about yourself..
7 Random facts about meI love to walk in the country with my dogs.My favorite breakfast is a veggie fruit smoothie.I love writing more than I love work.I wake up at 5:30 and write while drinking my only two cups of coffee for the day.Family means more to me than anything else in life.I would love to be a hermit with a computer.Fall and Winter are my two favorite seasons.
Here are the fellow bloggers I have nominated! Congratulations to the winners! I'll be contacting you soon!Suzie HendersonHelpful Heather's HideawaySarah's Goodies!Bookish WhimsyMomma Without a ClueOf Werewolves and Other StrangersAlicia ColemanWriting Equals LoveClosed the CoverThe Book TowerOur ElectricityWeekly Words with Leti Del MarAll in One PlaceRyukage BrainworkBookworm's Avenue
September 15, 2012
Fun at the Texas Word Wrangler Festival!
Okay, so I didn't sell many books at the festival, but that's not really the point. I had a blast! I promoted ALL of my books, gave away several bookmarks, and obtained numerous autographs from the children there! How fun! The best part of the day was when this cute little seventh grade girl walked up to the table, pen and paper in hand, and before she could say anything, I asked for her autograph. She touched her heart with her fingertips, as if saying, "Me?" and giggled all the way to my autograph book and back. When I asked her what she liked to do, she couldn't even tell me for giggling! I loved it. That's why I go to these festivals, to get out there with the kids and let them get to know me. I think I had higher expectations about sales, but I don't know why. Those usually come afterwards, through Amazon and my website. And, of course, my best seller yesterday was Master Stinky Dances! I always sell one or two copies at festivals, though it never sells online. I guess people have to see it in hand and flip through vibrant images to enjoy it. It has become such a festival phenomenon that when I arrived home, I asked my daughter, guess which book sold first? Her reply, "Stinky?" It amazes me how such a quiet little book online can do so well in hand!
What a blast it was, though! Here's a picture:
I wanted shots with children lined up for autographs, but you pretty much have to have parental permission anymore for use on websites. And, they were there with their schools, so...
Well, as I woke up at 5 am inspired to work on one of my novels, wrote the first entire page in my head, and couldn't sleep after that, I guess I better get it down. That's how it works with me. I write most of my books that way. In my head first, then into the computer it goes. To Paradise I go in two weeks to promote The Gifted Ones The Fairytale, which is set in Paradise. Have a wonderful weekend!
What a blast it was, though! Here's a picture:
I wanted shots with children lined up for autographs, but you pretty much have to have parental permission anymore for use on websites. And, they were there with their schools, so...Well, as I woke up at 5 am inspired to work on one of my novels, wrote the first entire page in my head, and couldn't sleep after that, I guess I better get it down. That's how it works with me. I write most of my books that way. In my head first, then into the computer it goes. To Paradise I go in two weeks to promote The Gifted Ones The Fairytale, which is set in Paradise. Have a wonderful weekend!
September 11, 2012
Two Days!
Two days left to prepare for the TWWF! I'm so excited! Books will be here tomorrow. Got my new poster and bookmarks in. Need to make age cards for the books. Still have to figure out my table decorations. Not sure what to do there. I have part of it, but I need a little more, I think. It will be great attending the banquet Thursday night and staying overnight there to sell books all day Friday! I'm so looking forward to it! Then comes the Mainstreet Festival in Paradise, TX, where The Gifted Ones takes place. For October, Dead Perfect is going on virtual tour and in November The Gifted Ones The Fairytale goes on virtual tour. I feel like good things are coming my way the next few months. For NaNoWMo in November, I'll be completing another one, too. I love the Fall/ Winter months, because I can't spend as much time outside and I can do a great deal more writing!
September 6, 2012
New Writing Journey...
So, I have begun a new journey with my writing. I signed up for Fanstory this week. It is very difficult to understand and use, but with time--time that I should be using for writing--I will figure it out.
What I like about Fanstory:
I like that unknowns can read your poems, short stories, book chapters, and give immediate feedback and the feedback is constructive. So far, there are a few already interested in my new book.
I like that I can read and review, also. I have not reviewed writing for some time, and participating in this is bringing my mind around to really reading, not just passively, which will help with my writing.
What I don't like about Fanstory:
I completely despise the entire "game-like" way it is set up. You earn points and treasure chests, and certificates and all that! I am just not a gamer. I don't want all that! In that aspect it is set up like Facebook where you earn points or buy FB dollars to continue! Come on, Fanstory! You are already charging for a subscription, unlike Facebook who doesn't charge monthly!
I will try Fanstory a few more days, but then I may write and request a refund because of the gaming thing. I just don't like that. I don't mind paying for a subscription and giving and getting feedback, but why turn it into a game. Writing isn't a game to me. I'm really put out by it. We'll see.
What I like about Fanstory:
I like that unknowns can read your poems, short stories, book chapters, and give immediate feedback and the feedback is constructive. So far, there are a few already interested in my new book.
I like that I can read and review, also. I have not reviewed writing for some time, and participating in this is bringing my mind around to really reading, not just passively, which will help with my writing.
What I don't like about Fanstory:
I completely despise the entire "game-like" way it is set up. You earn points and treasure chests, and certificates and all that! I am just not a gamer. I don't want all that! In that aspect it is set up like Facebook where you earn points or buy FB dollars to continue! Come on, Fanstory! You are already charging for a subscription, unlike Facebook who doesn't charge monthly!
I will try Fanstory a few more days, but then I may write and request a refund because of the gaming thing. I just don't like that. I don't mind paying for a subscription and giving and getting feedback, but why turn it into a game. Writing isn't a game to me. I'm really put out by it. We'll see.
September 5, 2012
My Overheard Conversation!
No, I'm not the eavesdropper this time! Sometimes, eavesdropping can be a bit fun, though! Check out this eavesdropper's take on my writing mind! She sent me a free button for getting caught! Hehehehe!
The Orangeberry Summer Splash was so incredibly fun to participate in! A very special thanks to Kriss for running this! And to all of the other authors who came up with creative and fun ways to promote our books! It was a tour to remember! Thanks, Pandora for organizing it!
The Orangeberry Summer Splash was so incredibly fun to participate in! A very special thanks to Kriss for running this! And to all of the other authors who came up with creative and fun ways to promote our books! It was a tour to remember! Thanks, Pandora for organizing it!
