Heather Weidner's Blog, page 78
April 24, 2020
Stuff I Learned during the Pandemic
This has been a crazy, sad, and trying time, and we’ve all be asked to do things differently. And there have been many disappointments and cancellations. I hope you and your family are safe and healthy!
I was reflecting on this and wondering if I should have started a journal. Life was so busy (my day gig is in IT), and we were working long hours getting ready for a massive work from home effort that I didn’t have time. We’ve settled into a routine now. My big days out are the ones where I’m manager on duty in the office or when I head off for groceries.
Here are some of my learnings or realizations…
Do not put on lipstick before you put on your face mask. (I’d never worn a mask before.)
Wood glue works great for making crafts with wine corks. I made a Christmas tree and a heart-shaped wreath.
I miss my stand-up desk that’s at the office. I have to figure out new ways to stand and stretch at home. My job and writing time are very sedentary.
I bought a pedal exerciser that fits under my home desk. I put long conference calls on mute and pedal. It helps me get moving.
I do like the extra writing time each day because I’m not commuting for two hours each day.
My fuzzy coworkers like to hang out in the office where I work. But sometimes, they snore loudlyTrying or pick the worse time to play with the loudest squeaky toy.
I am halfway through my Goodreads reading challenge already for the year. And I’ve made a huge dent in my TBR pile. Who’s on Goodreads?
We finished a large jigsaw puzzle (covers of the early Hardy Boys mysteries). I wanted to frame it to hang in my office next to my Nancy Drew one. My husband figured out a quick way to flip it to put the sticky backing on it. We slid it on a large piece of cardboard and sandwiched it with more cardboard. Then it was an easy peasy flip, and none of it came apart.
My two favorite social media updates are from Pluto Living (a schnauzer in Candaland who gives pandemic advice) and Moonpie Starbox (several doxies dubbed with kid conversations). These are the highlights of my adventures on the big wide web. Check them out. They are both good for lots of laughs.
April 17, 2020
Writing Advice Worth Its Weight in Gold
Over the years, I’ve received some invaluable advice from editors and other writers that has helped me along my writing journey.
When you get to the point with your writing and revising where you think you’re done, you’re not. That’s just the beginning.
Go through your manuscript and use your word processor’s search feature to find your overused words. You will be surprised how many time you use “just” and “that.”
Everyone needs an editor.
Everyone needs a proofreader.
You need to print your document and reread it after every round of edits to ensure that you didn’t create other mistakes.
Find beta readers or a critique group to help you work through story lines and plot holes.
Don’t be afraid of reviews or critiques.
Read the last sentence of each chapter. Make sure it’s strong. It should make the reader want to read past her bedtime.
Eliminate unnecessary dialogue tags.
Go through your manuscript and rewrite “be word” sentences.
Look for passive sentences and rewrite them in active voice.
If you read a paragraph and you’re bored, your reader will be, too.
Read your manuscript aloud.
Writing is a business.
Guard your writing time.
April 16, 2020
#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Judy Snider
I’d like to welcome author Judy Snider to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!
Words that describe you: Loyal, kind, warm, funny....
Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: interrupt others when chatting a little too much
Favorite foods: Chocolate, crabcakes, donuts,...potato chips...wait, realized I did not put healthy things
I eat...lots, but ...
Things that make you want to gag: Tomatoes
Favorite music or song: All kinds depending on my mood, Motown, folk, Ed Sherin..... .....but favorite songs are
Remember When by Allen Jackson, and the beautiful What More Can I Say a mother/son wedding dance song my husband and I had done with Pearl Snap studios (yes, no one wants us to sing..ha)
Music that drives you crazy: Punk...most of time....like Irish Punk for a holiday song...
Favorite beverage: Coffee
Something that gives you a sour face: Tomatoes
Favorite smell: Smell of the ocean, smell of food in the oven on a cold day, and smell of the air after a
rain storm.
Something that makes you hold your nose: Too strong chemicals, scented candles,
etc.
Something you’re really good at: Walking into a room and enjoying chatting with anyone. I love to meet new people, see people I know, and just laugh with them.
Something you’re really bad at: Staying awake late.
Something you wish you could do: Get my books into tv/film....suspense, and get our children's book done by Hallmark
Something you wish you’d never learned to do: How to go about in a boot with a broken ankle....yikkes...
Last best thing you ate: lobster roll
Last thing you regret eating: too spicy a food....
The last thing you ordered online: Shoes, baby item, and books
The last thing you regret buying: Shoes that didnt fit....
Things you’d walk a mile for: Good food.....family, friends....
Things that make you want to run screaming from the room: Certain smells, Pouporri, strong chemicals, perfume too strong, etc...
Things you always put in your books: CATS, Suspense, and Strong Women
Things you never put in your books: Too much violence/blood, or gore.
Favorite places you’ve been: Mackinaw Island, Michigan, Budapest, New Orleans, Quebec City....lots more too....love traveling....
Places you never want to go to again: Haven't found one like I feel strongly about avoiding, but too crowded cities....
Favorite books (or genre): An Angel Like Me, a wonderful holiday picture book, but I
read suspense and thrillers books. I also now get paperbacks as I like a
"book in hand".
Favorite things to do: Spend time with family and friends, travel, eat, write, watch
shows, and spend time with my cat.
Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Forms/paperwork
Things that make you happy: Being with family and friends
Things that drive you crazy: When I can't figure out something on the computer
Best thing you’ve ever done: Having two terrific kids (now grown) with my husband.
Biggest mistake: Made many in life, but no biggest....learned from them.
The nicest thing a reader said to you: I love that your books are not too long...suspenseful, but easy quick read
The craziest thing a reader said to you: Add more murders.....not crazy, but interesting....
Let’s Be Social
Website: www.judysnider.com
Instagram: judyksnider_author
April 10, 2020
How to Keep Your Writing Life Moving during the Pandemic
We are experiencing a unique and scary time. It’s hard on everyone. There’s isolation, loneliness, and disappointment, not to mention fear, stress, and anxiety.
I’m hearing from a lot of writers that they’re having a hard time getting motivated.
I think it’s important during this crisis to keep to a schedule or a routine if you can. Last week, I put makeup and shoes on for two video conferences and a trip for groceries. (Who knew going to the grocery store would be a dress-up occasion!)
Here are some ideas of helping with routines and schedules. I do better when I have a deadline.
Write when you feel like it. Try to do some writing every day.
Research and revisions count as writing work.
Work on blog posts or marketing ideas.
Reading in your genre counts as research.
Find ways to catch up with others. Video conferencing, phone calls, group chats, and social media are great ways to stay in contact. My two critique groups and my marketing group have moved to Google Hangouts or Zoom. My critique groups give me a monthly deadline, so that helps keep me on schedule.
Look for volunteer opportunities and ways to help others. There are many things that you can do from home. My neighborhood Facebook group puts out daily calls for neighbors in need. My church also has a network for people to request assistance. You can use your social media platforms to connect with people and to share information. My alumni association put out a call last week for members to submit thoughts and wishes for the Class of 2020 who had their senior year and celebrations cut short. There are lots of ways you can help.
Let me know what other ideas you have. Best wishes for you and your family! Be safe!
April 9, 2020
#ThisofThatThursday Author Interview with Anne Moss Rogers
I’d like to welcome author, Anne Moss Rogers to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday.
Things you need for your writing sessions: Quiet, uninterrupted space although I have written in chaotic situations
Things that hamper your writing: Distractions. So I put my computer on “do not disturb.” Best feature ever.
Things you love about writing: The page never taunts me, spits at me, or chastises me for writing how I feel.
Things you hate about writing: Interruptions that take me out of the moment
Hardest thing about being a writer: The time spent sitting alone
Easiest thing about being a writer: Accessibility to our job and how mobile it is. There is always need for writers and writing
Things you never want to run out of: Toilet paper
Things you wish you’d never bought: A Disney timeshare
Words that describe you: Passionate, emotionally naked, bold, persistent.
Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Overbooked, tireless.
Favorite smell: Fresh cedar and coffee (although I don’t drink coffee)
Something that makes you hold your nose: Skunk. Worst smell ever
Something you’re really good at: Creative problem solving and ideas
Something you’re really bad at: The financial side of things (although I’m working on that)
Something you wish you could do: Perform on a trapeze. I love how they fly through the air flipping
Something you wish you’d never learned to do: I love learning, so I can’t fathom that anything I would learn wouldn’t have value of some kind of value. Even things I detest doing.
Favorite places you’ve been: Vienna. We had an unforgettable dinner in a palace with the best table of people I’ve ever sat with in my life.
Places you never want to go to again: Anywhere by ocean cruise
Favorite books (or genre): I read from almost all genres and Bonfire of the Vanities and Man’s Search for
Meaning are two of my faves
Books you wouldn’t buy: Anything Sci Fi
Favorite things to do: Public Speaking, getting together w/ friends/family, learning new things
Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing:Taxes (But I do them)
Best thing you’ve ever done: Starting my blog Emotionally Naked, and deciding to go public with my story and the topic of suicide.
Biggest mistake: Making a financial decision when I was stressed that turned out to be an elaborate scam.
Most daring thing you’ve ever done: Fought a man who attacked me at knifepoint for the purpose of rape and murder.
Something you chickened out from doing: I was sitting with some girls in a gym. They asked me to sit with them on the bleachers and I did, excited to be included since I was new. Someone I had been friends with at the new school walked in and all the girls sat there making fun of her eyebrows which she had overplucked. And there I sat shocked because they had planned this and wanted me sitting there to further her humiliation. My regret is that my shock and desire to be accepted prevented me from standing up for her. I’ve never ever been cruel but my lack of action here has been a regret.
The nicest thing a reader said to you: “I lost my own son to suicide 15 years ago, and although I have read so many books about this kind of loss, nothing has touched me as deeply as this.”
The craziest thing a reader said to you: “difficult to consider the pain for this family.” (I can’t figure out what it means but if that’s the worst review, then I’m lucky)
About Anne
Anne Moss Rogers is an emotionally naked® TEDx storyteller, the 2019 YWCA Pat Asch Fellow for social justice, and author of the book, Diary of a Broken Mind. Despite her family’s best efforts, Anne Moss’ 20-year-old son Charles died by suicide June 5, 2015 after many years of struggle with anxiety, depression, and
ultimately addiction.
Anne Moss chronicled her family’s tragedy in a newspaper article that went viral and her blog, Emotionally Naked, has been read over a million times. After receiving a message from a young lady who wrote that one of her blog posts saved her life, she sold her digital marketing business and followed her purpose of preventing suicide, and helping people find life after loss.
She has been interviewed by the New York Times and was the only non-clinician ever invited to speak
at the National Institute of Mental Health.
Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Journalism, she currently lives in Richmond, VA with her husband. Her surviving son, Richard,
works in LA as a editor and filmmaker.
Social Media Links
IG: https://www.instagram.com/annemossrog...
TW: https://twitter.com/AnneMossRogers
FB: https://facebook.com/EmotionallyNaked
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/digitalma...
Free ebook downloads: https://annemoss.com/resources-2/free...
Resource pages: https://annemoss.com/resources-2/
Book Links
Please buy from a local bookstore when you can. Available in ebook and soon audio book.
https://annemoss.com/diaryofabrokenmind/
Fountain Book Store: https://bit.ly/diarybrokenmind
Beach Glass Books: http://www.beachglassbooks.com/books/diaryofabrokenmind
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/diary-of-a-broken-mind-anne-moss-rogers/1133614432?
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2pw5id8
April 3, 2020
Waiting is the Hardest Part...
Tom Petty said it best, “Waiting is the Hardest Part.” I agree. I think it’s one of the toughest things about the writing process. I am soooo not a patient person, and this is often a struggle for me. Writers wait for everything from agent and editor responses, reviews, contracts, to award and contest nominations and announcements. The list goes on and on, and the clock hands move slowly.
Don’t waste your time worrying or agonizing during the wait. Here are some things you can do…
Write your next book. This is important. You should always be working on your next project.
Build or update your website. Take a really good look at it. Is it easy to navigate? Does a visitor see what you want them to see when they land on your page? Is it inviting?
Write your next newsletter or blog post. It’s nice to have content already created.
Make sure your author biography is current.
Check all of the bios on your social media sites.
Join a writers group.
Read a book in your genre. Reading is research.
What are some of your waiting horror stories? Drop me a line or a comment.
April 2, 2020
#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Rosemary Shomaker
I’d like to welcome author, Rosemary Shomaker, to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday.
Things you need for your writing sessions: I need bright light, pencils or pens, and a window.
Things that hamper your writing: Interruptions by humans, either in person, on the phone, or even email.
Favorite music or song: I like Bluegrass
Music that drives you crazy: I’m not a big fan of “Urban” music, but I have an open mind.
Favorite smell: Fresh cut grass!
Something that makes you hold your nose: Rotten potatoes; they are disgusting,
slimy, and stinky!
Something you wish you could do: I’d love to win an Olympic Gold Medal. Maybe in another life!
Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Vilify
The last thing you ordered online: Wool socks
The last thing you regret buying: Impractical shoes
Things you always put in your books: I always put dogs in my books.
Things you never put in your books: Nail polish
Things to say to an author: Tell an author, “I really identified with this character.”
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: “Your story is a bit thin.”
Favorite places you’ve been: Quebec City, the Cotswolds, Niagara Falls.
Places you never want to go to again: A drug house during a drug buy
Favorite things to do: Take walks, read, learn
Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: Running a marathon. Well, running any kind of race.
Best thing you’ve ever done: Given birth to a child, and then giving birth to a second child.
Biggest mistake: Illicit, reckless romance
Most daring thing you’ve ever done: I’ll never tell!
Something you chickened out from doing: Telling the truth in a situation when it was easier to lie
The coolest person you’ve ever met: Brenda Blethyn; she’s the actress who plays “Vera”
The celebrity who didn’t look like he/she did in pictures/video: Mike Farrell; he’s really aged. I guess I have, too.
About Rosemary:
Rosemary Shomaker writes about the unexpected in everyday life. She’s the woman you don’t notice in the grocery store or at church but whom you do notice at estate sales and wandering vacant lots. In all these places she’s collecting story ideas. Rosemary writes mystery, women’s fiction, and paranormal short stories.
Stay tuned as she takes her first steps toward longer fiction.
Let’s Be Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosewritesva/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vaforestrose
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121853.Rosemary_Shomaker
March 27, 2020
What I Learned from Murder and Mayhem 2020
Many thanks to Lori Rader-Day, Dana Kaye, and their team for making the Murder and Mayhem conference virtual. It was a great way to spend a Saturday during the quarantine. Here’s what I learned from all the fabulous panelists.
Writing/Craft
It can be hard to keep a series fresh and new. The story needs to make sense especially when you get 5-6 books into the series.
The character needs to progress and evolve as the books move forward.
The challenge is to keep long-time readers interested and to draw in new readers to your series.
Weave in your backstory. It should come naturally as the story progresses.
Get rid of gender biases in your writing. Don’t fall into tropes or stereotypes.
Create a document (character bible) to help you keep up with the details about your characters and locations.
Remember that every character has a secret.
Characters need a purpose.
Stop reading craft books and read lots of novels that you like. If you want to be a screen writer, watch lots of movies.
Write from your gut.
Sit down and write.
Book Promotion/Marketing
Plan your marketing up front.
You need to connect with bloggers, influencers, and podcasters.
Understand your audience and how they get book recommendations.
Start small and local.
Find out what your publisher is doing, so that you can supplement and not duplicate.
When you talk to people, make it conversational and not pitchy. You don’t want to be the guy or gal with the sandwich board and the megaphone.
Look at the analytics for your social media posts and see what resonates with people.
Street teams are often helpful with book promotion.
See what people are reading, and see where those books are mentioned.
Go where your audience is.
If you do a newsletter, make sure the content is effective. Be consistent. Do what works.
Personal and educational content often works best in newsletters.
Build your email list organically.
Quality over Quantity.
Always be a good, literary citizen. Like, share, comment on others’ posts.
It’s okay to connect with others via email. Just don’t do mass email blasts.
Face-to-face events are still important.
Things You Need to Check Out
Book Cellar in Chicago
The Doe Network (International Center for Unidentified and Missing Persons)
Quarantine Online Book Clubs
March 26, 2020
#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Elizabeth Moldovan
I’d like to welcome Elizabeth Modovan to the blog for today’s #ThisorThatThursday interview.
Easiest thing about being a writer: I have grown used to writing about myself now, so it is easy for me, and being honest and telling the truth makes it very easy to do.
Words that describe you: Confident, vulnerable, honest, courageous, loving, kind and generous.
Words that describe you, but you wish they didn’t: Impatient.
Favorite beverage: Coffee
Something that gives you a sour face: when people lie to me.
Favorite smell: jasmine and lavender.
Something that makes you hold your nose: the smell of damp on people’s clothing and belongings.
Something you’re really good at: Cooking, cleaning, gardening, making a home.
Something you’re really bad at: Marketing my autobiography.
Something you like to do: Helping people
Something you wish you’d never done: I wish I had never started to use heroin.
Things to say to an author: Market your book six months before it is published. Never give up and never write a book to get rich.
Favorite books (or genre): Autobiographies, True Stories, Memoirs.
Books you wouldn’t buy: Graphic horror.
Things that make you happy: Spending time with my family.
Things that drive you crazy: When people lie to me.
Best thing you’ve ever done: Go public with my true story.
Biggest mistake: Not marketing it widely for six months before it was published.
The nicest thing a reader said to you: Reading your book has saved my life.
About Elizabeth:
Elizabeth's life is penned very simply in this inspiring memoir about her incredible battle, to find a way to live. Born the year her parents immigrated from Europe, in a large Catholic family, she experienced poverty,
neglect, rejection and abandonment before the age of eighteen. She had no sense of self and felt invisible most of the time. Her father passed away after battling cancer for eleven years, when she was nineteen years old. It was then that her world took a bad turn, when she fell in love with a drug addict/dealer. Twenty-four years later, after using heroin everyday while trying to raise her five children, circumstances forced her to leave him. Elizabeth and her three year old daughter had only one bag of clothes and a stroller. They were homeless for three months, and she attempted suicide. Without a car, phone, money or friends and in very poor health she was lost and broken and needed help but was too stubborn to reach out, believing her life to be worthless and of no value. She did not attend any detox, meetings, rehabs, counselors or doctors but with only sheer determination and persistence, overcame her dependency on drugs. Elizabeth began her harrowing journey towards the light of truth and found freedom in Christ alone. She remains clean to this day and is a very private person. She wrote her story only to help people who suffer like she did and need help to find a way to live without drugs.
Let’s Be Social:
https://www.elizabethmoldovan.org/
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41838888-from-heroin-to-christ
March 23, 2020
The New Normal - Make Time for Writing
It’s been a trying few weeks with lots of change and flux. I hope you and yours are doing well and are happy, healthy, and safe. My day gig is in IT, so the team has put in a lot of time making sure the rest of the staff can access systems and services. I was exhausted from all the hours last week, and I’m not doing the heavy lifting like our network guys and systems people.
I started my teleworking adventure on 3/19. The dogs still can’t figure out why I’m home so much. We’re learning how to cope and to be creative when things don’t quite work like they do in the office.
This meme summed up a lot of conference calls. Here’s your bingo card for this week.
I’m still getting up at my normal o’dark-thirty, and I’m using my commute time to write and revise. It’s important to stick to as much of a schedule/routine as you can. Also figure out ways to connect via video chats, calls, or social media. My book promotion groups and my critique groups are switching to virtual chats. And I attended the best conference online on Saturday. Many thanks to the Murder and Mayhem team in Chicago. Over 930 people attended the panels virtually.
Don’t forget to eat right and exercise. (I ordered a bicycle device that fits under my desk. I’ll let you know how that goes.)
I grew up watching “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” and the wise Fred Rogers always told us, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” They’re there, and I’ve seen so many caring and generous folks this week.
We’re in this together, and we can do this.
I love that so many creative folks are doing all kinds on concerts, story times, and exercises. There are so many ways you can learn new things and to connect with others. If you have downtime, finish projects, clean up, and start your next writing effort.
Drop me a note or add a comment and let me know what you’ve done recently for your writing life. Be safe.
