Ann’s Comments (group member since Jan 10, 2015)

Ann’s comments from the Support for Indie Authors group.

This one is a bit more awkward than embarrassing, but I thought I'd include it.

I worked for a strange company who mostly sold hydraulic jacks, but for some reason they decided to buy a shipment of folding bikes. When we couldn't sell them, I got sent to a couple of trade shows to try to get them out of our warehouse.

It had been a year since my horrendous break up and I had just "gotten back out there" by joining eHarmony.

At the first trade show, another booth owner gave me his number and told me to call him if I ever wanted to hang out. Seemed nice enough, but eHarmony was going well so I dismissed him. At the second show, my coworker had a family emergency and left me stranded with no car at the show.

Then a guy that I had only begun talking to on eHarmony showed up (somehow figuring out that I was working this particular trade show) And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the guy to leave, nor could the woman in the booth next to me. So who did I call? The guy I met at the previous trade show. . .I promised to explain everything if he would just come to my booth and pretend to be my coworker. Which he did. Immediately.

And after about an hour of awkward conversations from the eHarmony guy including "I've looked at bikes before. At Wal-mart. I like Wal-mart. I go there a lot. But not too much. That would be weird." he finally left and my trade show friend stayed with me the rest of the night and then drove me back to my car. . . . . . . .we've now been married for 2 1/2 years and have an adorable son.

But having to explain why a creepy online dater was looking for me at a trade show and just the whole situation itself was quite embarrassing!

For the same reason that writing our profiles and short bios are hard. :)

I would give anything to erase a few of my teenage years! They were so awkward!

Michael wrote: "It was my 15th B-day at Lake Mohave with my family. I'd gone off by myself to talk to a cute blonde California girl, doing my best to convince her I was 16. We were getting along great, went into t..."

Sounds like something my husband would do! :)

Victoria wrote: "Also a pregnancy story. I was in my ninth month of pregnancy with my first baby. My husband was in a bowling league, and I kindly offered to accompany him, even though it killed me to have to watch..."

I'm glad I'm not the only one with embarrassing stories!

I thought I'd start up a fun topic -- non writing related. Just for kicks.

What's your most embarrassing moment??

And since I would never ask a question that I wouldn't answer myself, here is mine:

While I was pregnant, my husband and I were out Christmas shopping. When we left the store, we started looking for our car and couldn't find it, no matter how many rows we went up and down. I tried the alarm button, but no alarm sounded. So I rushed back into the store, convinced that our car had been stolen and proceeded to ask them to call security. . . . . .and then my husband called me and told me that he'd found it a section over from where we were looking. Apologizing to those bewildered women in the store without bursting into tears was the hardest thing I've ever done.

Your turn!

I started off this way! My main character in The Two Lands is Keita, a name that I had decided on for my first daughter. . .and then my husband and I divorced. So, any future daughters I have will NOT be named Keita!

If there's a rare instance that a name doesn't spring to the tip of my tongue as I'm created the character, I pull from baby name books and websites.

Kayla wrote: "Half of my characters have names that I want for my own kids that my husband says "absolutely no way!" The other half are from top baby name lists (even the top WORST baby names list) or randomly s..."

Absolutely! I'm trying to re-write one of the first books I ever published (Crimson Mistress) for that very reason! It's not as in depth as the follow up stories!

Kayla wrote: "Not related to the chapter topic, but does anyone read over their published work and think "omg, take it down. Take it down right now!" Lol. I'm re-reading the book I just published and I'm cringin..."

I like going back and forth. If I feel that the chapter title adds something to the chapter, then I'll use it. But sometimes I like to leave them numbered -- making it a little more mysterious.

Sandrine wrote: "Great topic!

I'd be interested to know what people think about chapters being numbered, titled, or not even marked. I often struggle with chapter titles because I like puns that don't give away to..."

Do you have a process for coming up with them? Or do you wait for them to come to you? Just curious :) I usually go with the first name that pops into my head, but I don't write much science fiction, so earthly names are usually acceptable.

Pam wrote: "Neither most nor least favorite but possibly one of the hardest things for me in writing is naming the characters. I'm plotting out my next book right now and the outline is full of placeholders: "..."

I very much wish I had your love of editing! I would get my books written so much faster! No more editing procrastination!

G.G. wrote: "I have to agree with Neil. Getting feedback is also my favorite part, followed by editing. Yes, I love editing for two reasons. I love how the ugly duckling turns into a swan (well maybe not as gra..."

It'd be awesome if we could simply publish a book and immediately it would magically find its way into the right hands of the people who would love and cherish it!

S.K. wrote: "I love the freedom and creating something from nothing.
I can live my life in prosperity which I could never do chasing the wrong dreams earlier in life.

I don't hate anything, but I really, reall..."

With writing science fiction, do you ever find yourself placing imaginary boundaries? I find it difficult to remember that I can 100% in control and can make up whatever I want to. I tend to limit myself on how fantastic something really is -- if that makes sense.

Pam wrote: "I love the creativity, the fact that I get to make stuff up (my last book was YA sci-fi - so amazing for the imagination!! So much fun!).

I love that writing essentially gives me a passport to the..."

New topic time. I'd like this space to be an area where we can share complications in our work in progress and offer help to one another.

Can't think of a name for your character? Having issues with your descriptions? Don't know whether to use numbered chapters or titled chapters? I realize these seem like minor issues, but what can be minor to us can be the main hurdle for someone else!!

All comments must be supportive and encouraging or you'll buy yourself a ticket out of the group. For any of you who read my blogs, you'll know that I do not permit negativity.

Only constructive criticism here please.

The middle is the worst. I always start out with an awesome beginning and an exciting ending, but that bridge that joins the two together is such a headache!

Peter wrote: "My favorite part about being an author is hearing from readers who like what I've written.

My least favorite part are those middle months when things never seem to get anywhere. Starting is alway..."

I love it when all the pieces fit together in the end! It's like some part of you was in control from the very beginning, even when it just notes on a napkin or a scrap of paper. :) Brilliant!

Cobus wrote: "Hi everyone,

This Might not sound so Great,
But I see scenes of Books or Projects I'd be working on.
MOSTLY they'd be Light-year distances away from Each other AND I'd not easily have any Idea how..."

Have you checked out Hootsuite? Their free version will help you with three social media sites. I use them for Facebook and Twitter. That way I can sit down and in 30 minutes have all of my tweets and posts done for the week. Then when something comes up that I want to share, I have an extra post. It's saved me a lot of headache and days without social media updates.

Neil wrote: "Getting great feedback is my favourite part. The least favourite is marketing. It's so hard to maintain a strong presence with so much other negative crap going on in life."

It's such an amazing feeling when the words flow out!

Kayla wrote: "My favourite part is when I'm on a roll, and I smash out a few Chapters in one sitting. (I of course then have to go back and re-read the absolute drivel that came out, but there's usually SOME goo..."

I don't think that's narcissistic. It's good to be proud of yourself and your work.

Sandrine wrote: "What I like best is having good feedback. I also like finding scenes that make me laugh or think "wow this is good" when I'm editing my work. It's a bit narcissistic but sometimes it's good to noti..."

Marketing is rough. My husband helps when he can (he's a marketing director) but he's pretty busy these days and pretty much leaves me to my own devices. But I feel a sense of accomplishment when I get a real sale or I see someone post one of my books on Pinterest, etc.

Andrew wrote: "My favourite part of being an author are the moments of inspiration, where I think of something brilliantly fun (even if only to me) to do with the previously rather dull plot and characters I've b..."