P.A. Pursley's Blog, page 3

Don't Stop!

Since self-publishing a book, I've had many people tell me they've written a book or started to write a book then stopped. It truly breaks my heart to hear this.

Growing up, I had a couple of English teachers ask me if I wanted to be a writer when I grew up and I always just shrugged my shoulders and said, "I don't know." In my house, striving for something other than a job that brings in a steady paycheck was useless. It was always, "You can't do that", "Do you know how hard it is to be that", or, my favorite, "You don't have the skills for that." Always discouragement! Always!

It breaks my heart when someone has a gift or talent or desire to do something and people, whether it be their friends, family or the world, are discouraging them. It also kind of makes me angry!!!

I didn't self-publish my book to try to sell millions of copies the way that Stephen King, Stephanie Meyer, or any one of the NY Times bestselling authors do. My goal was to get a book in print for myself and my children and grandchildren. What a wonderful legacy to leave behind! What a wonderful thing to leave your thoughts in print so others can read them after you're gone! I did it for God! I did it because Satan didn't want me to! I did it to bring a message to the world!

Whatever your reason for writing or singing or drawing or painting or whatever talent you have...do it for yourself! Forget about all those people who want to destroy you or bring you down or "talk some sense into you." They are the ones lacking vision! They are the ones who are surviving and not living!

Are you going to leave behind a legacy of "She was a great employee...look at all the clients she signed up." Or will you leave behind a legacy of "Her books really inspired me, they made me think, they had a profound affect on me."

The choice is yours...

Remember...no one can write your story but you!

Would you edit a painter?

I'm kinda having mixed emotions about editing. I certainly understand the need for editing in regards to spelling, grammer, punctuation, etc. but I am having a difficult time at the thought of someone telling me what to take out of the story and what to add. When Piccaso, Chegall, Cezanne and even Peter Max were starting out I'm sure they were told what should and shouldn't be done but weren't they all great at their art when they were finally free to truly express themselves?
Story editing really is just trying to please the editor, not the author, not the characters or the audience. One of my favorite stories about that was from one of my favorite authors, Dan Simmons, who said the editor at the publisher for his book "Carrion Comfort" told him to "keep the title, rewrite the book"! What?! How dare you tell an artist to keep the canvas and repaint the picture!
I say all this because I had my first experience (another first!) with a friend who offered to edit my book for free instead of paying the publisher for the service since I am self-publishing. She enjoyed the first chapter but the second one had so many marks on it I really wasn't sure what I was supposed to do with that. I made obvious grammer or structure corrections but kept the story as is because that is the story. I cannot have the rest of the story without background. I thanked her and decided to revise the book and send it for publishing, paying for the editing process. I know she was just trying to help and she is an English teacher so I was hopeful but all I really wanted was grammer and punctuation correction, not for someone to tell me I am writing the story wrong.

I don't know if I can have the freedom to express myself in my writing and have an editor. Need to do alot of praying about this one.

(sigh)

Firsts...

Self-publishing my book has opened the doors to many firsts; my first customer, my first book signing, my first book club talk (coming up soon), and my first review.

Granted my first review was from my daughter but I am thankful it was from my daughter who knows more about the writing industry than anyone I know. I go to her for advise and answers and she always has them. She even advised me on how my book signing should be and what I should do. If she didn't want to be a writer herself I would ask her to be my manager.

Was she the first to read my book? No. But she is the one whose opinion matters the most to me. I value what she says and take her advise to heart.

So when I logged into Goodreads and saw that she rated my book and gave it 4 stars! Wow! And the review was good!

I know you are probably saying, "yeah, but she's your daughter. she has to say that." You don't know my daughter then; because she never would lie about a review just to sell books or make the author look good. Books are her life and I aspire to make them as much a part of me as they are to her. We plan to meet up and she will give me more advise that I will be proud to accept. But she would never say a book is good when it isn't.

So I wear the four stars with honor and I will print it up and post it as a restaurant owner would post the first dollar they made; with pride and accomplishment.

Thank you, sweet daughter, for reviewing my book and being one of my best friends!

Going...going...

The 2012 year is almost over. I have great plans for next year but the end of one year always seems to be full of hope for the upcoming year. New challenges, new goals, new resolutions. I did keep one of my resolutions which was to read more books this year. I only read 14 in 2011 and when I am done with my current book I will have read 38 books in 2012. So that is wonderful!

I also had a goal to self-publish my first book, which I did! That was also wonderful!

So 2013 holds many new adventures and bright lights of hope for things to come!

Hope everyone's 2012 lived up to your expectations and hope everyone's 2013 are chock full of wonderful surprises and great adventures!

And so it continues...

Finally back home from doing my work in New Jersey. I did complete this year's NaNoWriMo with hours to spare! I was actually able to complete the book and I am so very excited about it! I look forward to the revision and publishing!

Now it's back to the normal grind and working on the book I set aside during NaNo. I am truly enjoying the book simply because of the character development in it. The character that will appear in this series has my heart. My heart aches for him as a mother to her son. Desiring only good for him and weeping when he is hurt. I hope everyone enjoys him as much as I do.

Happy reading!

A Writer Writes...Always

Because I am not a contracted writer with a well-known publishing company, I do have to earn a living. So the company I work for sent me to NJ to help with the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

I have now a challenge to work 24/7 for 28 days and work on my book for NaNoWriMo. It has certainly been interesting.

I am only a few days behind but hope to get caught up soon. I do enjoy the travel and experience because it helps in my writing. I have gone through some amazing and frightening experiences already and I have only been here for 11 days. But they are experiences I have already been able to use in my book.

This book for NaNo will not be published for a couple of years but I am very excited about it. Certainly different than the others I am working on.

As Billy Crystal says in "Throw Mama From The Train": A writer writes, always.

Just Say No

There are some days when you just have to make yourself stay in and write.

Don't get me wrong, I love writing! It is my talent and my passion! But when you are surrounded by friends and family who want you to go out and do things with them, shop, eat, have fun, sometimes the book falls to the wayside. Then you find that you are either several days behind in NaNoWriMo or you are behind your own goal in finishing your book. I would say you are past your publisher deadline but I don't know how that feels yet! :D

So today has been dedicated to writing. I will pepper in some eating, working, reading but the majority will be writing. The goal is to get my own book done and get, at least, caught up with NaNo. I want to get this all down while everything is still fresh in my mind. While the characters are still alive and passionate. While they are still running around in my head wanting to get their story written.

I will give them the time they deserve and just stay indoors and write.

Press On!

As some of you know, I am not a contracted author with a publisher which means I have to work for another company to earn a paycheck.

So the company I work for sent me to New Jersey to assist with the hurricane Sandy damage. Because of that I got 3 days behind on my NaNo writing. But pressing forward I am gaining lost ground! I am determined not to let outside forces interfere with my goal of finishing the NaNo book and the book I am currently writing to be published next year.

One of my favorite authors, Dan Simmons, held down a full time job to support his family while trying to write and sell his books. Amazing!

Moral of the story: Keep going! Don't stop! Don't get discouraged and don't quit!

Writing

Yesterday's book signing was exhausting! I cannot imagine doing that while also traveling and sleeping in hotels. I have additional respect for well-known published authors! When do you find time to write?!

I am already behind on NaNo and need to finish my other story to at least get the draft in the computer. So today is dedicated to writing.

Write On!

First Book Signing

I believe the smaller intimate crowds are so much fun because you get to talk about things without feeling like you are airing your dirty laundry.

I had a total of 5 attendees as my first book signing. Considering it is my first I think that is pretty good!

We had snacks and talked about the creation of the book. That was the best part!

It truly was an exciting experience!