Mary Newman's Blog - Posts Tagged "reading"
Writer's Block
Time to do a blog post and seriously, I got nothing. Lots of issues swimming around out there and I have no desire to write about any of them. I'm all drama-ed out (I know that's not a word, but I write fantasy so I make them up all the time).
My latest story is kicking my butt, so I've been ignoring it. That or I run the risk of deleting the entire book and starting over. That thought sends me wailing to my corner to toss the covers over my head and shut the world out. It's a good thing I didn't sign up for NaNoWriMo or I'd feel a total failure.
Instead of writing, I've been reading. My justification is if I can't be one, at least for now, I can at least support one (or more). My latest finds are Ashley John's Shelter, Andrew Grey's Saving Faithless Creek, Kade Boehme's A Little Complicated, and Mercy Celeste's Out of the Blues. There are more, of course, since I tend to read a lot when my own words won't come, but those were the really good ones.
Now what? I have no idea. The book I'm writing is well past the half way point, and I eventually hope to finish it. Guess I'll take a look at it and see if I can't get a few more words down.
My latest story is kicking my butt, so I've been ignoring it. That or I run the risk of deleting the entire book and starting over. That thought sends me wailing to my corner to toss the covers over my head and shut the world out. It's a good thing I didn't sign up for NaNoWriMo or I'd feel a total failure.
Instead of writing, I've been reading. My justification is if I can't be one, at least for now, I can at least support one (or more). My latest finds are Ashley John's Shelter, Andrew Grey's Saving Faithless Creek, Kade Boehme's A Little Complicated, and Mercy Celeste's Out of the Blues. There are more, of course, since I tend to read a lot when my own words won't come, but those were the really good ones.
Now what? I have no idea. The book I'm writing is well past the half way point, and I eventually hope to finish it. Guess I'll take a look at it and see if I can't get a few more words down.
Under the Weather
I waited until the last minute, it seems, to write this post because, honestly, I just feel like crap. It's been a weird year, weatherwise, here in Oklahoma. So much rain in both the spring and the fall, we had flooding during both seasons. This winter, up until a couple of days ago, has been warmer than normal with only a mild freeze here and there. Did that ever change this weekend! Our temps dipped crazy low over night. Yes, I know there are colder places on this earth, but I don't live in Antarctica, I live in Oklahoma. Getting down in the teens is frickin' cold here.
And that's why I'm feeling so bad. Going from T-shirt weather to parka weather in the space of a day shocked the heck out of my immune system and allowed my grand baby to pass on her sniffles. No biggie. Except, her sniffles are a full blown, achy, coughing, chills, fever, feel-like-hell bug for me. I'm dealing, I just struggle to get out of bed and get things done.
My favorite thing to do, for now, is sit on my couch in my nice fleece jammies, with my feet up and read MM romances on my kindle. That has another set of problems since both my cat and dog insist on having their space and my feet get a little crowded. At least they're sharing their warmth with my toes - the dog, not the cat - Kiko is a touch me not with claws.
Hopefully, next week will have me feeling much better and able to interact with the world without growling and grumbling.
And that's why I'm feeling so bad. Going from T-shirt weather to parka weather in the space of a day shocked the heck out of my immune system and allowed my grand baby to pass on her sniffles. No biggie. Except, her sniffles are a full blown, achy, coughing, chills, fever, feel-like-hell bug for me. I'm dealing, I just struggle to get out of bed and get things done.
My favorite thing to do, for now, is sit on my couch in my nice fleece jammies, with my feet up and read MM romances on my kindle. That has another set of problems since both my cat and dog insist on having their space and my feet get a little crowded. At least they're sharing their warmth with my toes - the dog, not the cat - Kiko is a touch me not with claws.
Hopefully, next week will have me feeling much better and able to interact with the world without growling and grumbling.
On My Horizon
This week already feels like I'm living in Wonderland with Alice, and it's only Monday. The white rabbit seems to be my close companion and has been yelling "We're late, late, late!" in my ear. Okay, okay, I'm listening and I'm writing my blog post right now!
I've been doing a lot of reading this past week. So many good books have been released I couldn't resist, and my body and mind needed to recharge after being sick. Slowly, the new ideas are coming through and maybe another book is on the horizon?
The latest story is still in edits and I've been chewing my nails and squirming in my seat waiting to find out what she thought. New editor for this book, so the nerves are really showing. I did get back one note that she's liking it, so far, but there were a couple spots where it seemed I rushed. *chews another nail to the quick*
The exciting thing regarding this book, at least for me, is the fact that the very talented Catherine Dair has agreed to do my cover. I'm not embarrassed to admit I happy danced all over the RV when she confirmed. This will be my first professional cover and it's a huge step for me. It kind of makes me feel more like a "real" writer, I guess; more serious about what I do.
At this stage, it's a lot of hurry up and wait, and feeling as if I'm going nowhere. In reality, everything is moving along as it should. I'm shooting for a late February/early March release date and planning a cover reveal as soon as its completed.
It looks like the new year is starting off in a good way.
I've been doing a lot of reading this past week. So many good books have been released I couldn't resist, and my body and mind needed to recharge after being sick. Slowly, the new ideas are coming through and maybe another book is on the horizon?
The latest story is still in edits and I've been chewing my nails and squirming in my seat waiting to find out what she thought. New editor for this book, so the nerves are really showing. I did get back one note that she's liking it, so far, but there were a couple spots where it seemed I rushed. *chews another nail to the quick*
The exciting thing regarding this book, at least for me, is the fact that the very talented Catherine Dair has agreed to do my cover. I'm not embarrassed to admit I happy danced all over the RV when she confirmed. This will be my first professional cover and it's a huge step for me. It kind of makes me feel more like a "real" writer, I guess; more serious about what I do.
At this stage, it's a lot of hurry up and wait, and feeling as if I'm going nowhere. In reality, everything is moving along as it should. I'm shooting for a late February/early March release date and planning a cover reveal as soon as its completed.
It looks like the new year is starting off in a good way.
Going Forward
I seem to have had an utterly unproductive week in regards to writing. The majority of my time has been spent watching a granddaughter while her parents move to a new apartment or work. It’s really taken a lot out of me. I love my grandbaby, but I’m simply not as young as I was when I raised my own family. Caring for a 6-month-old takes some energy. Most likely, that will change now that the new apartment is completely moved into. It’s a town further away and a new baby sitter has been procured. Which means I won’t be spending quite the amount of time previously spent watching my sweet Lettie smile for me.
We’ve had some fun times, though, and I love getting her to smile. I also love making her parents give me “the look” when I try to teach her something they’re not too sure about. Like sticking out her tongue, or blowing raspberries, or even howling like a wolf. It seems her mother just doesn’t remember me teaching her the same things. I continue to claim “grandma’s privilege” and my daughter continues to eye me as if she’s wondering if perhaps she made an error in judgement in allowing grandma to watch her little one. Definitely, fun times.
On the writing front, I’ve managed to set up a new document and dig out my notes for a new book. That’s about it. Even writing this blog has been a chore to schedule in. I haven’t given up, though, since my previous blog regarding my various insecurities. (By the way, thanks so much to those who commented or sent messages to lift me back up. They were greatly appreciated.) I have so many voices in my head and stories to write, there’s just no way to stop cold turkey. Many of those characters are men and they’ve already told me they want their HEA to involve another man. If I’m going to tell their story, I’ll need to write within the M/M romance genre.
The fantasy worlds I’ve created in my head will also continue. I dislike where the human race seems to be going, so I’ll just keep making up worlds and galaxies where the beings aren’t quite so judgmental, and they learn from the past. Not to get too political, but I’m thoroughly disgusted with my country’s political climate and the idiots that want to run the government. I’ll just hide in my stories, thank you. Who knows, maybe someday enough people will read my writings and finally figure out caring for each other, learning from each other, accepting each other, and allowing everyone to live in peace would be a much more productive way to live.
We’ve had some fun times, though, and I love getting her to smile. I also love making her parents give me “the look” when I try to teach her something they’re not too sure about. Like sticking out her tongue, or blowing raspberries, or even howling like a wolf. It seems her mother just doesn’t remember me teaching her the same things. I continue to claim “grandma’s privilege” and my daughter continues to eye me as if she’s wondering if perhaps she made an error in judgement in allowing grandma to watch her little one. Definitely, fun times.
On the writing front, I’ve managed to set up a new document and dig out my notes for a new book. That’s about it. Even writing this blog has been a chore to schedule in. I haven’t given up, though, since my previous blog regarding my various insecurities. (By the way, thanks so much to those who commented or sent messages to lift me back up. They were greatly appreciated.) I have so many voices in my head and stories to write, there’s just no way to stop cold turkey. Many of those characters are men and they’ve already told me they want their HEA to involve another man. If I’m going to tell their story, I’ll need to write within the M/M romance genre.
The fantasy worlds I’ve created in my head will also continue. I dislike where the human race seems to be going, so I’ll just keep making up worlds and galaxies where the beings aren’t quite so judgmental, and they learn from the past. Not to get too political, but I’m thoroughly disgusted with my country’s political climate and the idiots that want to run the government. I’ll just hide in my stories, thank you. Who knows, maybe someday enough people will read my writings and finally figure out caring for each other, learning from each other, accepting each other, and allowing everyone to live in peace would be a much more productive way to live.
Readin' and Writin'
I guess the title is self-explanatory. That's what I've been doing this past week. More reading than writing, though.
Reading is one of my ways of gaining inspiration for continuing to write. No, I don't copy other people's works - that's not inspiration, that's plagiarism. Big, major no-no. But reading what others have written and going off into their worlds helps me recharge and get my imagination flowing.
That's kind of imperative for the kinds of books I write. Imagination. Although I do draw ideas from real life, writing fantasy/scifi types of stories means my imagination must be in full gear in order to build a different world. That can be a drain, sometimes. I'm coming to realize I don't really suffer from writer's block so much as I just have no energy to write. I still have ideas and make notes, but pulling everything together into something cohesive is just beyond me when I'm feeling as if my energy level is too low.
Hence, the reading part. I've come across some great books and a couple that were kind of eh, but I'm slowly recharging my batteries so I can continue the current WIPs. Yes, that's plural. There's two of them. Hopefully, both will be released sometime later this year.
In the meantime, I'll do a lot of reading, some note taking, maybe pull a couple of ideas together to add to either story, and continue posting updates, opinions, and snippets into my life on both this blog and the new one I've started on WordPress. If you haven't checked that site out, you really should.
The main site is here:
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.com/
and the page with buy links and a bio is here:
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.co...
Reading is one of my ways of gaining inspiration for continuing to write. No, I don't copy other people's works - that's not inspiration, that's plagiarism. Big, major no-no. But reading what others have written and going off into their worlds helps me recharge and get my imagination flowing.
That's kind of imperative for the kinds of books I write. Imagination. Although I do draw ideas from real life, writing fantasy/scifi types of stories means my imagination must be in full gear in order to build a different world. That can be a drain, sometimes. I'm coming to realize I don't really suffer from writer's block so much as I just have no energy to write. I still have ideas and make notes, but pulling everything together into something cohesive is just beyond me when I'm feeling as if my energy level is too low.
Hence, the reading part. I've come across some great books and a couple that were kind of eh, but I'm slowly recharging my batteries so I can continue the current WIPs. Yes, that's plural. There's two of them. Hopefully, both will be released sometime later this year.
In the meantime, I'll do a lot of reading, some note taking, maybe pull a couple of ideas together to add to either story, and continue posting updates, opinions, and snippets into my life on both this blog and the new one I've started on WordPress. If you haven't checked that site out, you really should.
The main site is here:
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.com/
and the page with buy links and a bio is here:
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.co...
It's Not Okay
Other than my blog posts, I haven’t been writing for over a month. Yes, there’s a reason for that. I lost my voice. No, I wasn’t physically ill, but I was spiritually suffering – and I still am. I enjoy reading other’s blogs and stories. I am a voracious reader. I could care less what gender (or race, religion, orientation, etc.) the author is, if the writing is good, I want to read it. My preference, of course, is romance with a side of fantasy or scifi, but I also read blogs by other writers, and news stories. What is out there can be confusing. contradictory, and sometimes hateful. We have become a society of offended children and it shows in what is being written.
More here...
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.co...
More here...
https://marynewmanauthor.wordpress.co...
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I am currently migrating my blog to my website on Wordpress. New posts will generally be shared here, but the blog itself will now be on Wordpress. I look forward to hearing your comments on the new s
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