Amy’s Comments (group member since Jan 15, 2017)

Amy’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Theodore wrote: "Language shifts so fast these days that it's difficult to keep up. Better to let it slide and not date your writings. "

Agreed

The NHS way at the moment seems to be:

We don't have enough money for this.
"Go away and think about it, but it's probably nothing."
I hope to f that clears up on it's own like I told her because I haven't a clue/don't believe her/she's making a mountain out of a molehill.
Weeks pass...
"Oh you're back again, oh, it didn't go away on it's own. Maybe I can send you for some tests or get you an appointment with a specialist."
Damn, that's going to eat into our budget.

Or at least that's how it feels, hence four osteopaths and a podiatrist (that I paid for) diagnosed me with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, but the NHS GP told me I was depressed and gave me Prozac. I wish I had private health care, if I did I would have the full picture of exactly what type of EDS I have. Instead I've ordered the latest book in the hope that will shed some light.

The NHS in principal is excellent, but it is critically under-funded.

Loved that. Loved the bit about the happily ever after. I can't write those. I'll write a "we're still alive, moving on..." And the bit about slang is spot on. It passes. I can't even be bothered to learn what "fleek" means because I've never actually heard it used here, and it may not mean anything in a few months.

I do over use sarcasm. I was born that way.

Drama fits.

I think it is different here. I also think it's different now compared to when I went. Psychologists have to be accredited by the BPS that only came in in the last decade or so. Now they're all qualified. I don't believe they can prescribe drugs. I think that's Psychiatrists/GPs. (Daughter wants to do psychology at uni she won't have the ability to prescribe drugs at the end of it.) So if you want to avoid drugs at all costs go for a psychologist who will work with various therapies which may or may not include CBT. I wonder what qualifications school counsellors have in the UK. Secondary schools have to have counsellors now because there is no mental health provision for 16-18 year olds. How they got away with that I have no idea.

I've had patches of time like that Alex. I wasted so many days just sitting doing nothing. I was not productive enough when medicated.

Angel you are right you have to look after yourself first. Especially if you have other people relying on you to look after them. The trouble is some people around me don't like it when I start doing the things that are right for me. I don't talk to them often any more. Life can be very one sided sometimes.

No reason why you shouldn't. I do a similar thing although I am contemplating giving up my failing business for my own sanity. It's not doing me any favours.

Yes I lost clarity on Prozac. It is known for making you emotionally disengaged. It's not useful for a writer. I haven't taken any in a couple of years but I was on it for the best part of my 30s. Works for some. But never a long term answer for me.

Keep fighting.

My mum was in a mental institution for some time way before I was born. I'm not sure it helped. She told me about ECT and how bad than was when I was little. After that she was basically left to her own devices and that was wrong. Especially when she had a small child to bring up. These days it seems you have to have the money to help yourself. The NHS didn't diagnose my EDS I had to pay people to get that far. It's the same with mental health services. They don't really exist despite what people claim. You have to meet a set of criteria to access them. You can get Prozac though which of course is modern society's cure all!

Oh it hasn't changed then has it? And yet we're supposed to be really making great strides with mental health services. It's not great strides if it's going to cost a fortune. Out of interest let me know how much it is when you find out. An hours therapy when I was 19 cost me £25. That was 26 years ago. Osteopaths are now £40-£50 for half an hour. Physios are £50 for half an hour or was it an hour? I imagine therapy will be in the region of at least £50.

Well done Alex. Great news. I look forward to that one.

I've decided to publish Nate and Day (Lunar Medical 2) on 14th July which is also our wedding anniversary (it'll help me remember it's our anniversary-damn thing always creeps up on me)

Oh I agree, some of Grammarly's commas are just weird, but some are ones I've missed. And I'm happy to own up to that. That I'm afraid is what happens when you "read" mostly audio books, take a decade out from writing, suffer a stroke and then think "oh yeah, I was taught that at school" as the song says "It's all coming back to me now."

Ginger sounds like a thing I need to look into. Hopefully by the time I go through a MS for the 6th time I've picked up most of the horrendous errors.

I would be terrible at editing for others, I read too slowly to be of much use. If I had the money I'd consider paying someone. I have humongous debts that need to be settled first. (Plus we have to be careful with finances, we've got university to pay for next year and we won't get all of the maintenance loan. Money is going to be tight for a long time)

I have just looked into Instafreebie. I've stuck my first book up there, but not activated a giveaway. It looks like you have to pay per month in order to grab email addresses to make a mailing list. (I'm on mailing lists, I'm afraid I don't read them-sorry.) I haven't yet convinced myself people won't unsubscribe the moment I email them. But I'm thinking about it.

I think I'll stick a pin in that for later. My second book will be out in July, (ebook everywhere and paperback on Amazon) I may release it on 14th, my wedding anniversary. I'm talking myself into a pre-order for that date. I'm away on holiday for a couple of weeks at the end of July and wanted to get it out there before the summer holidays start. As it doesn't have to be a new book for promotion to happen I can do that later.

Personally it's more important for me to have a second book out than to promote it in a big way beforehand. I'd rather promote when I have a back catalogue of at least one other thing just to prove my intent!

shared

I agree about Grammarly, I basically use it for commas! It's good for that. I prefer PWA but that's got some weird stuff going on too. With both of them you need to know what you're doing in order to over rule them when they suggest drivel. And they are both capable of suggesting drivel. However, I've found them both useful for suggesting punctuation I have just missed outright. They have also boosted my confidence. And I have told both of them to take a hike on a number of occasions.

Never heard of Ginger, is it any good?

I'm still not sold on hiring an editor. My confidence is building to the point where I now no longer think an editor will get hold of something I've written and tell me it's crap. So I'm now battling the finances. I am already running one business that has fallen into the realms of an expensive hobby, I can't afford this one to at the moment. Maybe later if my inheritance ever comes through.

Done

I'm going on holiday in July/August, so can't commit to an entire month at the moment.

Crikey, that actually worked. I'm always impressed when I appear to press the right buttons.

Elina wrote: "That's a good point too. Even editors are humans. :) I'm a bit doubtful in investing on Grammarly, when I could use that money also to an editor... but maybe I'll buy it someday. :) "

Have you got the free version for a start? I've got the free version of Grammarly and a version of Pro Writing Aid which I did upgrade for money for life and, wait for it, no professional editor (gasp). I simply cannot afford one this side of my inheritance.

Dear whatever power you pray to-I've managed to get my Modified cover updated for both the paperback and ebook versions on Smashwords and finally Amazon. And now I think I've gone through the rigmarole of updating Goodreads (from my phone because I'm at the caravan this weekend) Sheesh.

I need new eyes!

after you've uploaded a new cover does it take for it to appear in the Amazon store? (I know I've asked this before, I can't remember what the answer was and I can't find the answer.) The minute it's deemed "overlooked" I want to get onto them and ask them to sort it out. The ebook cover was apparently live last night, so I'm starting the clock...