Simply a matter of delayed discipline

cj Sez: It used to be that I thought if I gave myself adeadline, I’d have the incentive to keep working hard on the WIPs I have on mycomputer. Found out that’s not true.

  I manage to bury any deadlines under weeks ofwhat I have called “research.” It seems that the more I research,the less creativity I have. I’m getting bogged down in discovering fascinating facts,and the stories are suffering.

 

  I suppose some of you might call that procrastinating…I’mcalling it delayed discipline.

 

  How about you? How do you kick research to the curb and stayon track?
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  Speaking of research, I came across the word "bildungsroman"while I was spiraling down a research rabbit hole looking for more informationon coming-of-age stories. In literary criticism, a bildungsroman isa literary genre.

  Bildungsroman is the combination of two German words: Bildung,  meaning "education,"and Roman, meaning "novel." Fittingly, a"bildungsroman" is a novel that deals with the formative years of themain character, but takes a slightly different tack than modern coming-of-age stories. Thebildungsroman usually ends on a positive note with the hero's foolish mistakesand painful disappointments over and a life of usefulness ahead. 

 
(Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bildungsroman)

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Buy Nigel Now    And speaking of bildungsroman: “The Apprenticeship of NigelBlackthorn” is a Western historical fiction coming-of-age story from authorFrank Kelso, a friend of mine.

 

  In 1853 Texas, thirteen-year-old Nigel Blackthorn is thespoiled son of a Protestant preacher. When his missionary family fall victimsto a Comanche attack, his easy childhood crumbles in an instant. How will hefind the grit to survive?

   It’s 4.5-star novel with more than a thousand ratings.      

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Writers take note:
  Jane Friedman takesissue with a recent article at Vox that said: “With any book, but especiallynonfiction ones, publishers want a guarantee that a writer comes with abuilt-in audience of people who already read and support their work.” Ms.Friedman says it doesn’t hurt to have a platform, but it isn’t the all-end-all.

 

  Read more here:
https://janefriedman.com/author-platform-is-not-a-requirement-to-sell-your-novel-or-childrens-book/

 
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Mobile and near-Mobile readers and writers: Save the Date

  The Mobile LiteraryFestival at the Ben May Main Library is the place to be on Saturday, March 23,2024. Come on down to see what’s going on at this FREE event.

  Here’s a copy of theschedule so you can pre-plan your day. 
  Check out the names of the prestigiouspresenters on the schedule—everyonefrom a NYT best-selling author to a Harper Lee Award winner to aState of Alabama former Poet Laureate.  
  And it’s an open-house kindof event, so come and go as you please.

 

  P.S. The HauntedBook Shop will have a pop-up sales store (including some of my stories), andsome local authors will be in attendance to sign your purchase.

 

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  You-all guys keep onkeeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. Raising prayers for a happy and safeyou and yours.
cj

 

Now some words from my sponsors:

  For your to-be-readstack: My novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA are fast-paced,thriller/suspense stories with sassy banter and a touch of romance. The booksare available on Amazon or through your favorite eTailer and bookstore. Got alibrary card? You can read the ebooks free from Hoopla.

 

  The Haunted BookShop has signed copies of my paperback books in stock. TO ORDER on line,contact: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us  .

 

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