C.R. Richards's Blog, page 17

Happy August

On Vacation!

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@javier brosch – Stock.Adobe.com

See you next week

Sometimes You Just Need a Break!

You’ve completed your novel and have self-edited until you can’t stomach looking at the words anymore. Time to send it out into the world, right? WRONG!

This is the perfect time to lovingly put your book in a safe place with a time lock. Why? I know how you’re feeling right now. You want this book gone and off your hands. Haven’t you suffered enough over its pages?

“The blush is off the rose,” “You’ve lost that loving feeling,” “If you like Piña Coladas…” I hate that song.

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@mario beauregard – Stock.Adobe.Com

Let me talk you down. Impatience is the killer of quality. In your mindset right now, you don’t know for certain whether the book is ready or if you’re just being impatient. Giving your brain a chance to rest is key. You can come back in a month or so and look at your work objectively.

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@Marek – Stock.Adobe.Com

What to do while you’re waiting. Hmm. You are a writer and writers write. Start a new book or a short story. You’ve got an entire month to finish an outline or first draft. Have a bit of fun by letting your creative brain engage in something new.

The Start of a New Year. Wait. What?

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@monamis – Stock.Adobe.Com

It may sound strange, but I consider June and July the start of my new year in creativity. This is the season I drag myself out of the author’s cave and head to Denver Comic Con. Talking about my stories, hanging with my author peeps and visiting with the fans gives me the boost I need to head into another year.

In the works for 2017

Audiobook Adventure – Pariah is headed to audiobooks. Stay tuned for details and dates!

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Conquering the Wild Wooly World of Editing – It won’t be long before I send Book Two in the Heart of the Warrior series to my line editor.[image error]

Happy July 4th!

Have a Dog Gone good time today!

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@javier brosch – Stock.Adobe.com

Denver Comic Con Here I Come!

Off to Denver Comic Con I go! It’s going to be a blast. Hope to see you there!

My Schedule for Author Signings and Panels: www.crrichards.com

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@javier brosch – Stock.Adobe.com

A Fun Sneak Peek Before Denver Comic Con

As the crowd of fans flood into the massive Denver Convention Center, they’re herded through rows and rows of Artisans, Illustrators and Authors. Booths full of artwork, books, t-shirts, collectibles and handcrafted goods draw them in. The booth owners are calm, prepared and ready to share their wares with anyone interested.

Calm. Prepared. It’s early June – three weeks before Comic Con – and I am neither calm or fully prepared. Yet. But I’m getting there. June is a kind of frantic wonderful chaos. I’ve been gathering materials and ideas for the past several months. These last few weeks before DCC are a time of pulling things together and testing ideas. It’s the time of year when solitary writers tear themselves away from their manuscripts and step out into the world again. It’s publicity time!

I kicked off June with an awesome interview at the Breckenridge Brewery – Littleton, CO. The crew from Groovey.TV have a way of putting their guests at ease (even uber introverts like me). Here’s a peek behind the scenes on the set:

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Writer Illustrator – Stan Yan, Interviewer Extraordinaire Doug “Groovey”, Camera God – Deno Apodaca

 

Check out Groovey.TV’s Youtube channel or their FB page for interviews with Denver Comic Con guests.

Into Zombies? Visit Stan Yan’s page for information on his latest Children’s Book Release, There’s a Zombie in the Basement

 

The Most Action Packed Weekend of The Year

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BooblGum – Stock.Adobe.Com

It’s coming! A few weeks left before the superheroes, artists, actors, authors and fans return to Denver. That’s right! It’s almost Denver ComicCon time!

I’ll be there leading a panel (Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave: Complex Plots In Fantasy, Mystery and Suspense Thrillers) and signing books. Look for me under the two HUGE LIONS!

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“The Heart of The Warrior” series at http://www.crrichards.com

When the Journey Gets Rough

 

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ilyarexi – Stock.Adobe.com

I have a confession to make. Ready? I’m not always the confident, positive writer who marches purposefully along my creative journey. 2016 was a tough year full of health problems, work travel and negative events. Despite my best efforts, work on my current novel slowed from a humming 75 mph to about 5 mph.

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Marek – Stock.Adobe.com

Creative inertia is the worst! Your motivation takes a nose dive. Depression and frustration sets in. Soon you start to wonder if you really are on the right path. Here are some steps I took to escape creative inertia:

Do some self-care. Take a spa day, meditate or try a new hobby to relax
Take stock. Why do you do what you do? And is it still worth doing?
Adjust your definition of success. Are you enjoying those small successes or are you fixating on fame and fortune?
Fall in love with your creative journey again. Take a step back and really look at what you’ve done and where you’re going
Don’t take yourself too seriously! Nobody needs that kind of pressure.
Have Fun!

Are You Listening to Your Inner Wisdom?

Pitfalls and perils can surprise you on your creative journey. Stay true to the little light from your inner wisdom and you’ll make your dream a reality.

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Bypass the promises of “Easy Solutions”

Ignore the detours of doubt

Watch for the signs your inner wisdom leaves for you

Hold on tight to the faith you have in yourself and your dream

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Beginning Your Creative Journey

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Spring is a wonderful time for renewal and new beginnings. Why not start the creative journey you’ve been dreaming about? Or refresh things on your current adventure?

Here’s a list of things you’ll need to pack for the trip:

A positive attitude
Passion
Your spirit of adventure
A rough idea of the plan to reach your goals

What to leave behind:

Self-doubt
Other peoples’ negative judgements
Your inner critic
Immovable Expectations (Sometimes you want to allow things to unfold)

Above all else, enjoy the journey!