Chrys Fey's Blog, page 12

H - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...a Home + BONUS

 

When I was thirteen, we lost our home to foreclosure. I still remember getting the news when I came home, packing up my belongings in plastic grocery bags, and running up the moving truck ramp with my arms loaded. A lot of my stuff broke. We were terrified because we thought we had to get out that night and would only be able to bring what we could fit into that one moving truck. Fortunately, we had thirty days to leave. Those thirty days were filled with fear and worry and doubt.

We found a cute home to move into that reminded me of a farmhouse, but I would never forget my childhood home. I would never stop grieving for it. I would never stop disliking or feeling jealous over the new family who moved in.

Our stay at the cute farmhouse-styled home didn’t last long. Two years. Two years in which my parents got a divorce, I had spine surgery, my father moved to Michigan, and things at home became more dangerous and scarier at the hands of my half-brother.

My family moved into an apartment, where that danger and fear escalated. A year later, my sisters got places of their own, and my mom, my two brothers, and myself moved into another apartment, where life became a downright nightmare.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I lived with one sister for a handful of months, sleeping on an air mattress that would deflate in the middle of the night. That situation was not ideal. I was used and mistreated, so I lived with another sister, sleeping on couch cushions for a few months. During all of those months, I felt displaced, unwanted. My future was in question. What would happen to me?

Finally, my mom and I moved into our first apartment to ourselves, but my fear wouldn’t die, because my half-brother knew where we lived. He would come back during the day, banging on the door, when I was alone and taking care of my nephew.

Due to money issues, over a year later, my mom and I moved in with one of my sisters. Problems arose that had me moving in with my best friend for a few months until my mom and I could move out of the city.

This was an unstable part of my life that lasted maybe three years but felt like a century. Nowhere I lived during that time felt secure, safe, permanent. None of those places were my home. They were locations...someone else’s home where I was allowed to stay.

I started to doubt I would ever have a place to call my own—a true home. But my feeling of displacement didn’t stop me from writing. Everywhere I lived, I continued to write. And I did it with pen and paper.

Writing was my escape, my sanctuary, my home sweet home.

If you are going through something similar, or even more difficult, make your stories your home, too. Go home whenever you write.

BONUS A TO Z

THEME: AVRIANNA HEAVENBORN

H - The Humble Hotel

We don't read about The Humble Hotel in Universal Killer or Cocky Killer, but you will come across this hotel at some point because it's an important location in Avrianna's history. I'll save any spoilers for what this hotel means to Avrianna and provide a little background to it that is shared in Book One.
The Humble Hotel:
The Goliath family came to New Vida, hoping to revive the oil industry, only to discover New Vida didn’t have petroleum beneath its surface. Instead, New Vida was found to be rich in minerals unique to Earth that were ten times stronger than oil. Too bad for the Goliaths, Vidians knew the history of the dangerous mining of Earth’s natural resources and the Justices blocked anyone from drilling and mining on New Vida. With the oil industry going bust, they had to find another way to keep money lining their pockets. They opened the first hotel chain, in time for the tourist boom—The Humble Hotel.

You can read Universal Killer, Cocky Killer, and all future Avrianna Heavenborn novellas on Patreon for just $5.00 a month. You get access to special perks, too, and you pay-it-forward to a good cause because 10% of all earnings go to StandUp for Kids, a charity that helps homeless American youth.
Become a patron now.




A - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be an Adult + BONUSB - Break Down Your Goals + BONUSC - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...a Coach + BONUSD - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need a Degree + BONUSE - HappEEEE (Happiness Jar & 100 Happy Days) + BONUSF - Feng Shui + BONUSG - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be a Good Speller + BONUSH - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...a Home + BONUS

G - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be a Good Speller + BONUS

 

Do you fear you’re not a great writer or will never be one because you’re not a good speller or don’t know extravagant words? Never fear! You don’t need to have won the spelling bee every year in grade school to have the chops it takes to write a good story. Just because you may be a poor speller doesn’t mean you can’t be a writer. That’s what spellcheck, Google, beta readers/critique partners, editors, and proofreaders are for. Nor do you need to have an arsenal full of words five or more syllables long to pepper throughout your story.

Nowadays, the simpler stories are told the better. When readers come across a word they don’t know it can throw them out of the story, as if they’re coming to a screeching halt at a stop sign. Some may skip it, never knowing what that word means and not caring. Other readers may feel inclined to look it up, taking away time they could be reading your book and drawing them further away from your story.

Books written with humongous words may cause readers without that level of vocabulary strength to shy away from them. Whereas books written with more simplicity will appeal to all kinds of readers (depending on the genre, of course). A story written with simplicity doesn’t mean it can’t have well-developed characters, a complex storyline, and a twisting plot. Rather, the writer uses words that are more commonly known to do all of that.

Speaking of genres, fantasy and science-fiction can get away with enormous words with countless syllables, but what if you want to write these genres and don’t know those kinds of words? Then you don’t have to use them.

No matter where you fall on the vocabulary spectrum, I have one thing to say: Do what you want.

I’m not that great at spelling, and I pronounce many words wrong. It took me ages to spell “definitely” correctly (back in the day) and to pronounce “salmon” without the “L.”

All the way to my teen years, I pronounced “magazine” as “mazagine.” For some reason, I thought the “G” and “Z” were switched, and I swore I said it correctly. I also pronounced “headache” as “head-ick.” I mean, headaches make us feel icky, don’t they? Made sense to me! To this day, I pronounce “necklace” as “neckalace.” Fortunately, I think I say it fast enough that people don’t notice.

In high school, I was also awful at vocabulary. Yes, the girl who wrote in class and even on the bus sucked at vocab. What can I say? It wasn’t my strong suit. To this day I don’t use big words in my writing. That doesn’t make my writing weak, though. That’s my style. It’s okay if you load your writing with big words, because that’s your style. And it’s okay if you only use words you know and are comfortable with, too.

I’ll say it again…all writers are different.

Whenever I write on my computer, I have Thesaurus.com open in a tab. I write many action scenes that require the use of verbs with the same meanings, but I don’t want to use “ran” or “jumped” over and over again. So, I use Thesaurus.com to remind myself of other options, especially if I’ve already used the one or two synonyms I could recall off the top of my head.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with using a thesaurus.

When I edit for clients, I point out verbs that they repeat on a single page or several times in one chapter. I highlight the word and then insert a comment for them to consider an alternative. Changing up these overused words helps us to keep our writing from being stale and repetitive. Of course, you shouldn’t use words you found in a thesaurus that you don’t know and wouldn’t normally use.

Stephen King tells us any words we have to find in a thesaurus are the wrong words.

Well...I don’t believe that. While writing, even my first draft, I am aware of when I am reusing the same verbs in action scenes, and it drives me nuts. I could let it slide until the revisions, but I’d still need that thesaurus or a thesaurus website to give me a hand, because I may not be able to recall “pivot” as a good replacement for “turn.” To me, using “turned” three or more times on one page is two times too many and the thesaurus can help me find alternatives.

I own an old paperback thesaurus, too, (that’s so old it doesn’t have a cover) with odd words in it that aren’t even in use anymore.

Stephen King has also said to toss your thesaurus into the trash. But I won’t throw mine out. That thesaurus helped me to come up with my pen name (Fey) and to name an island in a work-in-progress with one of those words not commonly used anymore.

I love my thesaurus! And I believe you should love yours, too.

BONUS A TO Z

THEME: AVRIANNA HEAVENBORN

G - The Galaxy's Tease

The Galaxy's Tease is a strip club in Cocky Killer and the location of one crime scene.

Excerpt from Cocky Killer:
Avrianna's cell phone chimed. She answered it on the first ring. “This is Avrianna.”
“Hey, a call came in,” Chuck, her partner, said on the other end. “Dead body found in the alley next to The Galaxy’s Tease.”
Avrianna arched a brow. “Isn’t that a strip club?”
“It is, indeed.”
She groaned. “Great.”
“Not a fan of strip clubs?”
She scowled. “You do know whom you’re talking to, right?”

 

You can read Universal Killer, Cocky Killer, and all future Avrianna Heavenborn novellas on Patreon for just $5.00 a month. You get access to special perks, too, and you pay-it-forward to a good cause because 10% of all earnings go to StandUp for Kids, a charity that helps homeless American youth.
Become a patron now.




A - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be an Adult + BONUSB - Break Down Your Goals + BONUSC - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...a Coach + BONUSD - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need a Degree + BONUSE - HappEEEE (Happiness Jar & 100 Happy Days) + BONUSF - Feng Shui + BONUSG - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be a Good Speller + BONUS

F - Feng Shui + BONUS

 

Feng Shui originated in China and is a system of laws regarding arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy forces (in a room/house/office) that harmonizes individuals with their environment.

Desk Position

Your desk should be in a position where you can see the front door, or at least not be surprised if someone were to enter the room. If the only place for your desk is where the entrance is to your back, a mirror on the wall above you can let you see the door at all times and avoid the surprise of someone coming into the room behind you. Good positions to avoid bad chi are to sit diagonally from the door or catty-cornering your desk and placing your chair in the corner of the room so you can see the door.

Splitting a Room

If you have to put your desk in another room, such as a living room or bedroom, using a screen will separate the two places from each other. That way work-related items won’t be seen while you are relaxing in your bedroom or living room. It will also provide a level of peace when you are working at your desk, making you feel removed from the rest of the room/house.

Windows

Try to avoid sitting in front of a window. I know I used to have a view out the window and enjoyed it, and so do many other writers. I also know I’d get distracted and daydream a lot more while staring out the window. If you like to sit in front of windows, or if that is the only place to put your desk, make sure the view outside the window is a pleasant one, not a view of your neighbor’s house, the pool, or the street. If what’s happening outside is distracting, hang a light, see-through curtain to provide a barrier that still lets sunlight through.

Desk Décor and Supply Arrangement:

Middle Front Position – this is the Career position according to the Bagua (or Pa Kua) and should be left clear to open possibilities. Having a desk with a roll-out keyboard shelf would be ideal. Try to put loose papers and pens away so they don’t clutter this spot.

Central Position – the center of your desk is the Spirituality position and where you should do your work. Once done, however, make sure to put away your things. When your space is clutter-free, good chi can flow freely and positively.

Back Middle Position – this is the Fame position. If your computer screen is here, use an image as your monitor’s background that makes you feel powerful as a writer. This could be the cover art for your recent or upcoming release, your author logo, or a photo you can use as inspiration for your current project. On the wall above your computer monitor, you can hang an inspirational image, such as your vision board or certificates/degrees.

Left Front Position – the Knowledge and Wisdom section is a perfect place to store an orderly stack of reference books, a framed writing quote, or a picture of a mentor, such as your favorite author.

Left Middle Position – the Health position is an ideal place to put a plant on your desk.

Left Back Position – this is the Wealth position. Here you can put accounting books or representations of money, such as a coin, bamboo, or a crystal. Placing your computer here can create wonderful prosperity with whatever you write.

Right Front Position – the Helpful People area is a good place to put your address book and business cards from people in the writing and publishing industry. If you have a work phone, this is where you can put it on your desk.

Right Middle Position – this is the Creativity position where you can store any documents or notebooks for your current work(s)-in-progress. You can even place your journal here. A pencil caddy full of pens would work, too. This area is also the Children position, so if you write for children, include something here that will inspire you, such as your favorite children’s book or a framed image of your illustrated characters.

Right Back Position – the Love and Relationship section is used to represent people with important roles in your life, but you can put something that symbolizes a relationship between two people here, such as two candles or two red roses. Romance authors should pay special attention to this spot. Whatever inspires romance in your life or in your stories, put a representation of it here.

TIP: Keep computer wires hidden. You can use tape to keep them out of the way and twist ties to keep them together and untangled.

There are many books and websites dedicated to Feng Shui that dig much deeper into how you can improve the flow of energy in your home/office. If you’re interested in this concept, I encourage you to do further research.

BONUS A TO Z

THEME: AVRIANNA HEAVENBORN

F - Fashion

Avrianna 

Fashion Sense: Zero

Neutral colors

Plain T-shirts

Jeans

Black, tailored pants

Leather boots

Leather jacket

Detective badge

Handcuffs

Belt

Police radio 

Sassy

Fashion Sense: Barbie meets Samantha Jones

Pink everything

Feather boas

Short dresses

Short skirts

Super high heels

Glitter

Sequins

Leather/pleather

Faux fur

Evony

Fashion Sense: 100 x 100

Locs

Braids

Glossy, nude lip gloss

Bold lipstick

Oblong nails

Gold jewelry

White pants

Lace-up boots

The perfect ensemble every time.

You can read Universal Killer, Cocky Killer, and all future Avrianna Heavenborn novellas on Patreon for just $5.00 a month. You get access to special perks, too, and you pay-it-forward to a good cause because 10% of all earnings go to StandUp for Kids, a charity that helps homeless American youth.
Become a patron now.

A - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be an Adult + BONUSB - Break Down Your Goals + BONUSC - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...a Coach + BONUSD - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need a Degree + BONUSE - HappEEEE (Happiness Jar & 100 Happy Days) + BONUSF - Feng Shui + BONUS

E - HappEEEE (Happiness Jar & 100 Happy Days) + BONUS

 

Happiness Jar

Another technique I did for a couple of years in a row to help me focus on the good was a Happiness Jar. I found out about this on Facebook around 2010. A Happiness Jar is a jar that you fill with notes whenever something brings you happiness. On New Year’s Eve, you empty the jar out and read each slip of paper to remember the good things that happened and brought you happiness throughout the year.

I took an old jar, which I believe had been for pickles, and repurposed it for my Happiness Jar. I glued a piece of dark red velvet around the outside of the jar to hide the contents and added some cute embellishments to dress it up. If you Google “Happiness Jar” or “Happy Jar,” you will find many inspirations for how you can decorate your jar. You can even purchase a special, personalized jar from places like Shutterfly.com or Zazzle.com and customize it to say “Happiness Jar.”

Back when I had my Happiness Jar, I put notes in it that said things like:

- I went to the zoo with my sister, nephews, and mom.

- I talked to my best friend on the phone for hours.

- Beach day. Collected shells.

At the end of the year, when I re-read these notes, I reflected on those things that had brought me joy, even in the midst of depression and tough times.

I kept this jar, small cuts of paper, and a pen on my nightstand to remind me to put a happiness inside it. I didn’t do this every day, though. My life then was difficult. Many days were not good days, where nothing made me happy. Unlike with the gratitude journal where I could at least come up with general, everyday gratitudes, on a day that wasn’t good or nothing made me happy, I didn’t insert a note into the jar. Even on normal days, boring days, blah days, I didn’t. Instead, I used the jar only when something genuinely made me happy.

You could use your jar every day, though. Especially if you feel you need to focus on the happiness in your life more than the negative. This jar is yours, so use it as you wish.

As you see the jar fill up with notes, you’ll start to realize that there are good things in your life, that you can find happiness even in the darkest of times. That’s why this jar is so powerful. At the end of a year you deem “bad,” that you can’t wait to put behind you, when reading those notes again, you’ll be able to see that even a bad year can wield moments of happiness. We need those reminders.

100 Happy Days

On May 16, 2014, I started a photo challenge called 100 Happy Days. Since this was pre-Instagram, I posted my pictures to Facebook and created an album titled “100 Happy Days,” so I could revisit those memories later.
As you can probably tell by now, I am a big fan of challenges, especially if the challenge is just for me, like this one and sharing three gratitudes a day for three weeks. I think those kinds of challenges are the best, because you’re competing against yourself, no one else. The rewards are better…impactful. They are thought-altering…life-changing. If you don’t meet the goal, it doesn’t matter as much. What matters is the effort you put into it and what you get out of it. Whatever you manage counts and makes a difference to you and your overall well-being.
When I did the 100 Happy Days photo challenge, I was going through the agonizing process of trying to get disability benefits. This challenge really helped me to find at least one thing, no matter how microscopic, that made me happy each day—even on the worst days when my money dilemma was brutal and I could cry at the drop of a dime at how fragile my life felt.

BONUS A TO Z

THEME: AVRIANNA HEAVENBORN

E - Ember and Evony

Ember and Evony are twins in my "Secret Book Baby Series" universe. We do not meet Ember in Universal Killer or Cocky Killer, but we do meet Evony, who has a special role in Avrianna Heavenborn's life; she provides Avrianna with her undercover disguises.

Excerpt from Universal Killer:
Avrianna drove to Evony’s beauty shop in a strip mall. Only one other car was in the usually-packed parking lot. Evony got out of a small teal-colored car. She wore skin-tight white pants, knee-high lace-up boots with three-inch heels, and a black long-sleeved shirt with a deep scoop neck that showed off her cleavage. Today she had styled her hair into a single long, thick braid. Her wide lips were painted a glossy nude to compliment her tawny skin tone. For having been pried out of bed extra early, Evony sure didn’t look it. She looked amazing. Next to her, Avrianna felt rather frumpy in her jeans and plain black T-shirt and boots that needed to be shined.
“I have all the wigs and makeup and nail polish you could imagine inside. I also have a little closet of clothes and shoes to complete a client’s look. We should be able to find what we need. Follow me.”
Avrianna followed Evony into her shop. Rows of chairs for hairstyling, a beauty bar for cosmetics, sinks for hair washing, dryers with large hoods, and tables for nail art filled the space. In the back, there were changing rooms, mirrors, and a walk-in closet with wardrobe options for clients looking for a head-to-toe makeover. When it came to Evony's skill, most of her clients wanted the full treatment because Evony was the best, and she owned the best beauty shop in New Vida.
That’s why Avrianna knew she was the best person for this task.

You can read Universal Killer, Cocky Killer, and all future Avrianna Heavenborn novellas on Patreon for just $5.00 a month. You get access to special perks, too, and you pay-it-forward to a good cause because 10% of all earnings go to StandUp for Kids, a charity that helps homeless American youth.
Become a patron now.




All A to Z Posts:
A - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be an Adult + BONUSB - Break Down Your Goals + BONUSC - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...a Coach + BONUSD - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need a Degree + BONUSE - HappEEEE (Happiness Jar & 100 Happy Days) + BONUS

D - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need a Degree + BONUS

 

Don’t misunderstand that to be a jab at educated people, individuals with degrees, or education itself. Education is a wonderful thing and should never be taken for granted. I am grateful for the education I have received and believe education is something everyone has a right to, and should receive—boys and girls, all around the world. Teachers deserve so much of our thanks for their hard work and dedication, and schools are valuable additions to every community, every country. I respect education in all its forms and what it gives to us, to our minds.

Nor am I judging those who do want a degree in literature, to further their education or pursue their passion of books. I personally hate it when people say a degree in literature is the most useless degree of all, and believe me, they say it. When I was young and wanted a degree in English Literature, a few members of my family thought it would be a waste because writing and literature aren’t viewed as solid career paths. But to me, it would not have been a waste because literature was my passion and I wanted to be a writer.

No degree is useless. All education enriches the mind. I believe literature is important in our lives, in this world. Imagine a world without literature. I shudder at the thought. Appreciation for literature is also important. It’s an art and should be honored as such.

If someone wants to pursue a degree in literature, journalism, or creative writing, more power to them. They have that right. No one should discourage them from wanting to further their education. It is, after all, their choice. Someone once told me that the writers of an online community (I won’t specify which one) would attack anyone so much as considering pursuing a creative writing degree. I’m not part of the online community this writer spoke of, but if it’s true, it’s a shame. Why do so many writers think their way is the only way? Why are so many writers attacking and shaming other writers for their choices—whether it’s getting a degree in literature or what genre they choose to write in (romance and especially erotica get the brunt of criticism)? Many writers need to learn to let other writers be. Writers should be free to write what they wish, and students (for we all should be students forever) should be allowed to gather whatever knowledge they want to soak up, in any way they desire.

Many writers still believe they need a degree in literature to be a writer. To be taken seriously. To prove their dedication. To land an agent or editor. To get published. To get readers. But that is simply not true, and this idea harms many would-be writers who give it up because they can’t get that degree. Or they falsely believe they aren’t good enough, worthy enough for publication, because they don’t have that degree.

Having a degree won’t any more help you or hinder you in the matters I listed above. Being a college graduate doesn’t necessarily mean you’re more dedicated than a writer with their GED. It doesn’t mean you’ll have an easier time getting an agent or editor or publisher. It certainly doesn’t mean writing will be any easier for you if you have a diploma to your name. Or that your work is better or more important than the work of a writer who has achieved a lower level of institutional education.

I have actually heard from individuals with degrees in English Literature that they did not learn much or more than what they had already known, their degree did not help them, and only afterward did they realize they didn’t need one to write. That is not meant to dissuade writers from getting their degrees. If you want it, don’t let anything or anyone stop you. On the other side of the token, writers shouldn’t let their lack of a diploma—be it a high school diploma, a college diploma, or the mighty master’s degree—stop them, either.

College may not be in your cards. If that’s so, please don’t despair. You can do it yourself, as I did. Learn about your craft in any way that you can. Something I greatly believe in is continuing to educate myself. You can do the same.

Don’t let your lack of a diploma put you in a shadow. Don’t let it stop you from doing what you love, from striving toward your dreams. Don’t let it give you the wrong impression that you shouldn’t be a writer, aren’t talented, aren’t worthy of publication.

You should write.

You are talented.

You are worthy.

For a long time, my GED and my inability to continue on to college were my biggest insecurities. But I am here to tell you—as someone who is now proud of her GED, her knowledge, and the things she’s achieved with both—not to let your circumstances bring you down.

There is no such thing as job applications for writers that require you to fill out an education section and list where you’ve gone to school. There is no higher power fact-checking the information on “writer applications” to accept or reject you into the fold of existing writers if you don’t look good on paper. You don’t have to fill out an application to write a book or a short story or a poem. Instead, you only have to write. Write, and don’t let anyone or anything stop you.

Furthermore, the great thing about pursuing publication is that you don’t need to present your school transcripts to agents/editors/publishers. You don’t even need to include a note about your education in your biography while submitting your work. No one needs to know you didn’t graduate from college. Your writing, whether college-educated or not, is all you need.

So…keep writing.

Keep believing.

Keep dreaming.

BONUS A TO Z

THEME: AVRIANNA HEAVENBORN

D - Diz the Assassin

Diz is the assassin in Universal Killer. She is the universal killer.
I created Diz for fun and for something completely unrelated to Avrianna Heavenborn and her world. In fact, it was for the blog tour I did for 30 Seconds Before. That blog tour asked participants to turn themselves into a mobster.
For my post, I created a mobster named Disaster Chrys...a nod to my Disaster Crimes series and a nickname given to me by Jeff, a long-time follower of my blog.
Disaster Chrys was shortened to Diz.
I never thought I'd write a story with Diz in it until I needed to come up with the assassin for Universal Killer and Diz came to mind. It was perfect.
In my blog post, which you can view here, I described what I would look like as mobster Diz, and I used that for inspiration.

"Sleek, neon green hair past my shoulders. I realize this makes me easily recognizable and even visible, but I’m notorious for it. People say they only catch a glimpse of green hair when I carry out my plans."

You can read Universal Killer, Cocky Killer, and all future Avrianna Heavenborn novellas on Patreon for just $5.00 a month. You get access to special perks, too, and you pay-it-forward to a good cause because 10% of all earnings go to StandUp for Kids, a charity that helps homeless American youth.
Become a patron now.



 All A to Z Posts:
A - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be an Adult + BONUSB - Break Down Your Goals + BONUSC - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...a Coach + BONUSD - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need a Degree + BONUS

C - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...a Coach + BONUS

 

Many writers just starting out with a story idea and a dream yearn for a coach/mentor whom they can go to whenever they have questions. Not everyone gets this opportunity, however. I didn’t know a single person I could go to for help, who could guide me, or read my work. I had to do everything on my own. I learned, failed, and succeeded on my own.

I started my blog www.WritewithFey.com because I wanted to assist other writers in the same way I had wanted/needed assistance back then. I’m not a mentor, though. I’m just a writer passing on what she knows to other writers. I sincerely believe it’s part of my purpose, and I love doing it.

You don’t need a writing mentor, either. Instead, you can look for the answers you need in books and on websites and writing blogs, as I did. You can go to local writers’ meetings to connect, find critique partners, and get advice. 

If you do find someone who wants to be your mentor (or is like one to you), that is awesome. Appreciate that person with every fiber of your writer’s being.

If you’re in the situation that I was in and you don’t have anyone you can go to, check out the options I mentioned above and be your own mentor.

BONUS A TO Z

THEME: AVRIANNA HEAVENBORN

C - Cocky Killer

The second Avrianna Heavenborn novella that's exclusively on Patreon is Cocky Killer. I wrote Cocky Killer in 2018, when I was experiencing extreme burnout that started in 2017.
The inspiration for this story was sparked by a controversial incident that rattled romancelandia, specifically the self-publishing romance world. It was known as Cocky-Gate.
An author, who I will not name on my blog, filed trademark for the word "Cocky" in romance titles and tried to enforce her copyright on any romance author with the word "Cocky" in their title. It was a huge mess. Authors were worried, especially when other authors from all genres started trademarking words part of their brand, as well.
Yes, it was a HUGE mess.
Some authors even retaliated by writing fast stories with the word "cocky" and "cock" all throughout the title. That's how I got the idea for Cocky Killer...a paranormal mystery featuring Avrianna and a killer who targets people with...well, you know... and kills them in a very specific way.
I had a lot of fun writing this story. There's a lot of humor in it. In fact, it was the first Avrianna Heavenborn novella I had written.

You can read Universal Killer, Cocky Killer, and all future Avrianna Heavenborn novellas on Patreon for just $5.00 a month. You get access to special perks, too, and you pay-it-forward to a good cause because 10% of all earnings go to StandUp for Kids, a charity that helps homeless American youth.
Become a patron now.




All A to Z Posts:
A - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be an Adult + BONUSB - Break Down Your Goals + BONUSC - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...a Coach + BONUS

B - Break Down Your Goals + BONUS

 

With a manageable weekly goal, you’ll be able to strive toward a specific page/word count by the end of that week. The key, though, is to set a realistic goal. Many writers beat themselves up for not meeting a goal that was rather grand and out of their scope to begin with. This isn’t healthy.

Set a goal you know you can meet. Then tack on an additional 10% to that page/word count to give yourself a bit of a challenge, which is always good practice. I can usually write 1,000 – 2,000 words in a single day. For a week, that could be 7,000 – 14,000 words if I write every day and reach those word counts. Incredible, right? And that’s not even tacking on the extra 10% to give myself a push.

In the beginning, it will be difficult to write every day and meet your goal, but if you stick to it and DON’T GIVE UP, it’ll become easier. Believe it or not, eventually your daily/weekly writing goals will suddenly seem too easy. Yes, really.

If something crops up that makes it impossible for you to write one day, or even a few days in a row, that is okay. I’ll say it again…THAT IS OKAY! Don’t punish yourself for not writing because of other responsibilities. Some days, you may only be able to write a hundred words. If that happens, pat yourself on the back, because although your day was crazy or you were mentally exhausted, you still WROTE.

There’s actually a wonderful challenge called 100 Words for 100 Days, which is exactly how it sounds. You aim to write at least 100 words a day for 100 days. You can share your progress and journey on social media and use the hashtag #100Wordsfor100Days.

Here are some tips for breaking down goals:

1. Breaking Down Goals

Setting monthly goals can help us reach our yearly goal.

Setting weekly goals can help us get to that monthly goal.

Setting daily goals can help us complete our weekly goal.

2. Write a Chapter a Week

For a book with 25 chapters, writing a chapter a week would have you finishing in about 6 months. If you're able to write more some weeks, you'll finish sooner.

Thinking about writing one chapter a week is a lot less daunting than telling yourself you need to finish your book in X amount of time. Remember, manageable goals. Goals that won't stress you out.

Since chapter lengths vary. They can be long (20 pages) or short (5 pages). They can even be longer or shorter depending on the story.

No cheating by having a bunch of tiny chapters, though. Something needs to happen in that chapter. Check out Dan Brown. He's a pro at exciting, short chapters.

TIP: Plotting out the story helps, even a little plotting helps if you’re a pantser. The key is to always know what you need to write next. So, plot out a chapter at a time. You can do this before the start of each new week.

3. Daily Goals

With a weekly goal, you can devise a daily goal, such as to meet a specific word count.

Your daily goal will depend on you and any time constraints you have. I aim for 1,000 words a day. It changes, though, as it should. Some days I write more, some days I write less. Both are fantastic. Any words written should be celebrated.

TIP: Add a treat to help you reach your goal. Something you can look forward to at the end of each day or at the end of the week.

One of my daily treats at the end of a long day is a nice, hot bath. At the end of a hard-working week, I give myself a movie weekend. All that matters is that the prize is rewarding to you.

BONUS A TO Z

THEME: AVRIANNA HEAVENBORN

B - Blood Type

Avrianna Heavenborn, the protagonist in the Patreon-exclusive novellas, is a true mystery. From how she was discovered to her eyes and hair color. Not to mention the fact that she has powers. But it's not only her outward appereance or her history that's a mystery. What's inside is a mystery as well.
Her blood type is HB Positive.
How?
Her blood is full of toxins. Toxins that contribute to the brightness of her green eyes and to her powers that present themselves as green flames and energy orbs.
Her blood can even melt metal.
And her tears burn, too.
Get to know more about Avrianna by becoming a patron.

Bat Girl Joke from Universal Killer

Avrianna unclipped the radio from her belt, pressed down the button, and spoke into it, “Chuck, I think our perp is Bat Girl.”
“Two jokes in one morning? That’s a record.”
“I’m not joking this time. There are shoe prints, roughly size six, heading up the side of the glass building.”
A pause lengthened on the other end of the radio. “I have no words.”

You can read Universal Killer, Cocky Killer, and all future Avrianna Heavenborn novellas on Patreon for just $5.00 a month. You get access to special perks, too, and you pay-it-forward to a good cause because 10% of all earnings go to StandUp for Kids, a charity that helps homeless American youth.
Become a patron now.



All A to Z Posts:
A - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be an Adult + BONUSB - Break Down Your Goals + BONUS

A - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be an Adult + BONUS

 

I planned to participate in this year’s A to Z challenge before my mom passed away last month. I’ve had the posts scheduled since the beginning of the year. Maybe even end of last year. The last time I participated was 2015. I’d done two years in a row before my 2015 run burned me out from doing A to Z again. It’s been 8 years. I was looking forward to it this year and have decided to continue with it. It’ll be a nice distraction. 

Theme: For Writers

No, you don’t need to be young to start writing or to publish for the first time. At the same time, you don’t need to be an adult of a certain age. I started writing before I turned thirteen. It was the first book in a series, and my dream of being a published author began right then. I was seventeen when I started to send out my first snail mail query letters, hoping for a nibble from a publisher or agent. I did all of my research, and no one could guess my age in my query letters. Looking back, I can admit I wasn’t ready to publish then. I had a lot more to learn, but that doesn’t mean a teen or young adult is too young to be a writer or to publish. As I said before, your age doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are writing. You are trying. You are following your passion and striving toward your dreams.

My age is a constant insecurity for me, especially because I look much younger than I really am. There have been times when I’ve been dismissed by other authors because I look as though I am sixteen. I have to prove myself to them, prove that I do know things, because I can see in their eyes when we first meet, “How old is she? She’s an author?” This happened to me when I attended a lunch with local authors and a publisher. Someone even asked if I was the author. Um…I came alone, so, yes, I am the author.

Once, as the featured speaker at a luncheon, someone asked me my age. A writer at a local writers’ meeting also compared their age to mine, or what they thought my age was, in front of everyone in attendance. These sorts of things do bother me. A lot. Because of that, I don’t like to say how old I am, how old I was when I published Hurricane Crimes, or how old I was when I started my blog.

I don’t want to be judged for my age.

No one does.

Age does not equate to how well someone can write. Just because someone has been alive and working and learning longer than another does not necessarily mean they are truly wiser or more talented. I may be younger than others, and I may look even younger than my age, but I am knowledgeable in many areas and am skilled at writing. I don’t want anyone to look at me and think otherwise.

No matter your age, no one should judge you.

A teen can write just as someone in their golden years can write. A young adult can publish a book just as a retired individual can publish a book.

Mattie Stepanek, who had muscular dystrophy and sadly passed away when he was fourteen, started writing at three years old and went on to publish five books of poetry. Christopher Beale won a Guinness World Record for being the youngest male author, at 6 years and 118 days old. Older than Mattie and Christopher, but a wonderful example of a young adult publishing is Veronica Roth, the author of Divergent. She was inspired to write the story during her freshmen year of college and was twenty-two when Divergent was published.

You’re 12? Awesome! Write!

You’re 16? Wonderful! Write!

You’re 21? Yay! Write!

You’re 30? Woot-woot! Write!

You’re 40? Great! Write!

You’re 50? Fabulous! Write!

You’re 60? Perfect! Write!

You’re 70? Let’s do this! Write!

Let’s not forget...you can publish at these ages, too. For the very young ages, you’ll need a parent’s guidance, but you can still do it. Your name, and your name alone, can be on your book.

A - To Be a Writer, You Don't Need...To Be an Adult

BONUS A TO Z

THEME: AVRIANNA HEAVENBORN

A - Avrianna Heavenborn

Avrianna Heavenborn is the protagonist in the novellas I am publishing exclusively on Patreon. She came to me when I was twelve years old and stayed with me through writer's block, depression, and burnout. I've rewritten her series from Book One, page one. And have revised Book One more times than I can say. One day I'll publish my "Secret Book Baby Series." In the meantime, you can get to know her and her world through the novellas on Patreon.

Name: Avrianna Leigh Heavenborn

Location: Aurora, New Vida

Birthday: July 7

Birthplace: Unknown

Found: Floating in the Aurora Diamond

Occupation: Homicide Detective

Favorite Color: Bright Green

Favorite Flower: White daisies

Favorite Food: Vegetarian

Hobbies: Shooting guns

Known Powers: Fire/fireballs/energy orbs, melt metal with her hands

Avrianna--a woman found floating in the ocean as a newborn.

A woman with powers that scare the people of her world, and who has unknown origins.

But she will do anything to protect her world regardless of how the citizens treat her.

You can read Universal Killer, Cocky Killer, and all future Avrianna Heavenborn novellas on Patreon for just $5.00 a month. You get access to special perks, too, and you pay-it-forward to a good cause because 10% of all earnings go to StandUp for Kids, a charity that helps homeless American youth.
Become a patron now.

Cocky Killer Chapter Five Teaser


Chapters Five to Cocky Killer is up. Chapter Six is coming April 4th!
Become  a patron now.

How to Cleanse & Spring Clean Your Writing Space

 

How To Cleanse Your Writing Space

Drive away the negative energies in your writing room, work area, office space, bedroom, studio apartment, or wherever you write. As a matter of fact, I would say to drive away negative energies throughout your entire living quarters.

Method #1: Ring a bell

The vibrations break up lingering negative energies conjured by all of your writer’s blocks, editing headaches, rejections, plot struggles, and any other problems you might’ve had last year with writing, publishing, and marketing and that leaked into the air while venting your anxieties into your space’s atmosphere. Take a bell and ring it around your writing area, focusing on the corners where these bad energies can collect.

Method #2: Smoke Cleanse

Light incense and move around your writing space clockwise to cleanse the area. Wave the incense in all corners, doorways, windows, and throughout the rest of the space (you can do this in every room) with the intention of cleansing the space. 

Great incense scents to try for this: sage, rosemary, sandalwood, lavender

Method #3: Salt

Salt has protective properties. You can sprinkle salt around the outside of your house in a circle to keep out unwanted energies, including people with bad energy. You can also mix salt into water and sprinkle a little through your house for added protection and cleansing. 

Make sure to focus on your desk when you do these techniques. Ring that bell across your desk, and if your desk is in a corner or in front of a window, attack that space with the bell and incense. Wave that incense stick in front of your computer screen, around your modem, and hold your keyboard up so the smoke can float over the keys. Then sprinkle salted water around your desk and on your writing chair. 

If you can, open the windows after your cleansing to let out the negative and let in the good. Even for a few seconds. If you’re unable to open a window, stand in the middle of the room and imagine positive things (love, happiness, success) coming in. 

Enjoy your space!

Spring Clean Your Writing Space

Freeing up space makes me feel lighter and creates room for good things, better things to come in.

First, let’s tackle our writing devices.

Read more »

Disappointing Sales

NOTE: My mom passed away on Friday, March 3rd around 2:22 am. I want to thank everyone who prayed for her and thought about her during the one year and two months she fought lung cancer. My return visits to your blogs and replies to your comments may be delayed while I process and heal. Thank you for your understanding!

I, just like any other unknown author—no matter if you are self-published or traditionally published—feel the bitter disappointment of few to no sales. It is impossible not to feel upset over no sales when you are doing everything in your power to get your name and your book out there.

I published two eBooks by 2014. In the beginning, I struggled as a new author—as any new author with no readership, no presence, and no writer friends would—but I did receive nice support from a small group of authors with my publisher and saw a boost from KDP Select’s five free days. (For my first short story eBook, I was completely okay and excited about those five free days, hoping for visibility when I was invisible.)

However, that quickly diminished, and by the time my second eBook came out, I noticed the small amount of sales and reviews that I was proud of for my first release did not arrive for my second release. (Side note: My publisher no longer participated in KDP Select at that point.)

When my third and fourth eBooks came out, I had an even harder time. When my first print book came out, it became an out-right battle. When my second print book and next short story came out (which to date has been my poorest selling eBook, despite the fact that I am extremely proud of this work), that fight turned nuclear.

Shouldn’t it become easier with each release?

In theory.

But that is not the state of publishing. Not then, not now.

Not seeing sales despite marketing yourself to the bone is hard to swallow. Sadly, it’s something all of us have to swallow, like a bitter pill.

Read more »