But first, I'd like to congratulate all the writers who participated and/or completed the NANOWRIMO challenge! Woo hoo! You did it! You have a bouncing baby... first draft. Now, you have to nurture it, coddle it, bathe it, dress it, discipline it, laugh and cry over it, and finally be proud of it before you can send it off to be rejected a bunch of times before it's finally praised and published. Sounds great, right?
But seriously, getting that first draft done is a major accomplishment, way to go! Don't stop until you reach the top!
My insecurity this month... I have a terrible fear of having to quit writing. Financially, it's not going to pay the bills. It's turning into a very expensive "hobby." I have tons of big plans, but it's taking too long to make them happen. I have a lot stacked against me. Especially with my kids getting ready to start college. Having books published is a major accomplishment, but I don't think I can make a career out of it... I never knew the long term goal I had for writing, but I guess that was it. Huh. But it's not like I'll ever stop, I have too many stories and characters waiting to be written! I just need to invest less money in it...
What are your long term writing goals?
Now for the results of the last #writerslife survey!
 |
| It's tougher than you think - when you're in the mood, it's too late to submit it... but there's always next year! |
 |
| Try it! Lots of positive feedback! |
 |
| As expected... |
 |
| A nice mix - we should all read more =) |
Ponderific Quotes from Favorite Works or Works in Progress:
"Everyone has to start somewhere, and there’s no better place than high above the world, up on the roof, under a starry night, on his eighteenth birthday."
"At seventeen, I had my whole life planned: graduating high school with a 4.0, going to Columbia Law, becoming a kick-butt attorney, making millions and retiring by forty-six. Dating an assassin? That one was not on the list."
"When I lifted the cover for the tongue my mouth fell open. Litwell was done rare. Clearly my suggestion to look for him during the day had it's reward. I cut into the succulent meat and savored the jealous looks as the smell of blood filled the air. Litwell you delicious traitorous man you."
"And with three young werewolves in their house, it frequently needed redecorating!"
"He stalked a few feet in my direction then turned, fluffed his feathers and hopped onto a fence post, his back to me and the flock. It tickled me. I never knew a rooster to sulk."
"Their fairytale romance ended the night he went missing without a trace. She had disappeared too, but somehow, she had returned."
"Oh, dear. Looks like I broke him."
We Are The Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson, Dark YA
Two recs for Parallels: Felix Was Here, an anthology
Tango with a Twist by John Robert Mack
Nobody's Goddess by Amy McNulty
Heartless by Marissa Meyer, Fantasy
Triangles by Ellen Hopkins, a novel in verse
Matowak: Woman Who Cries by Joylene Nowell Butler
Timeless by Crystal Collier, Also Moonless and Souless
Of Blood and Sorrow by Christine Rains, Urban Fantasy
Saving the best for last, I also wanted to give a shout out to CARRIE BUTLER and her latest release!
AS WE KNOW IT
by Carrie Butler
Deep beneath the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles alongside the Pacific Northwest coastline, lies the Cascadia subduction zone—a fault on the verge of unleashing a catastrophic earthquake, thirty times more powerful than the San Andreas. Unfortunately, like most tourists, Elena Cordova is oblivious.
She’s got her own pent-up stress to deal with, a humiliating breakup that’s driven her to end her tenure as a human doormat once and for all. So, when a pickpocket makes off with the last remnant of her relationship, she takes action—only to get trapped with him when disaster strikes.
Now, if either one hopes to survive, they’ll have to get past their initial impressions and work together . . . because in fifteen minutes, half the town will be underwater.
More info and purchase links here!
Now back to the CRADLE ROCK Release Party!
Check out my posting schedule in the side bar.
And don't forget to enter my raffle!!
What's going on in your neck of the forest?
32 comments:
That's why I never wanted to make a career of writing. Too much work. And pressure.
Big congratulations to Carrie!
If my NaNo ms is a baby, it is one creepy kid. :)
Hang in there, Tara!
I tried to comment, but it didn't work. Here I go again...
You fear is my fear. I think many writers have the same fear. I don't know if my writing will ever be a career with a lot of money coming in, but I sure hope so. And I hope the same for you. :)
Laughing at Madeline's comment. (About the creepy kid, not you hanging in there. But you should definitely hang in there.)
I don't think my writing career will ever be a lucrative one, but I'll keep doing it anyway. Even if I can only work on it during breaks from a day job.
Hope your blog release party is going well, Tara. Wishing you all the success in the world!
Congrats to Carrie!
Your blog post is choc-full of all kinds of awesomeness, my friend.
Writing career? What's that? LOL.
Okay, on a more serious note...your stories are refreshing and such fun. I'm sure you have LOADS more where those came from. Jolissa is cute and quirky. I still need to finish Broken Branch Falls. Maybe I'll have some time during the holidays.
Just keep rolling out them stories!
Happy IWSG Day!
Hang in there. I share the fear and the dream. Great post, loved the quotes.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
You can't stop writing. Ever. You're work is too awesome. 😊 Saying that, I understand where you're coming from. I'm in a similar head space as you are, unsure of the where and a bit discouraged at the when. And I've already had one kiddo graduate from college, my second is a sophomore now, and our third will be a college freshman next fall. And we still have our 13yr-old. #bahhh... I'm not letting myself think about it. We'll stick together, 'K?
Congratulations to Carrie. Great quotes. We all share the fear of failure. All the best!
That's so nice of you to give shout outs. I know they're appreciated.
Writing for a career is challenging and the majority of us have a day job and write because it's a deep seated need.
Keep on keeping on, Tara. You're doing great!
PS Kids starting college....exciting times.....
Now you know why I'm also a publisher. This is not something we'll make a lot of money with.
How tough it is to make money as a writer is why I have a day job. Sure, it cuts into writing time, but it keeps me from stressing over money and that allows me to write more. I just can't write while stressed. =(
I write with the goal to become fully independent and be able to travel. That's why Ariel is my favorite Disney Character (and Princess). A whole new world is out there. I want to touch it! So that money is coming! Anyway thanks for sharing my creepy excerpt as one of the chosen quotes. 2018 will be one interesting year when Huntress comes out. Funny how I'm going all over the genre landscape. 2017 will have my Fantasy stand alone novel and my Contemporary novella in verse series(YA). 2018 will start my NA journey with Huntress and continue my yearly novella series drop with The Sacrifice Series (YA). So excited and so scared. Hold me. Anyway, love the graphs and glad to see you moving forward. In writing you need to have love for the written word to stay the long haul. At least I believe so.
I think the focus needs to be on doing the best writing you can. The career thing could happen without you even noticing...
I used to believe I'd automatically, instantly become rich and famous as a writer. I'd still like to reach a point where I can make serious money off of it, though now I know it takes a lot of time and good connections. My ultimate dream is to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, but my runner-up dream is to be remembered as a writer for all time, like Dante and Shakespeare, instead of only well-known and relevant in my own era.
Hi Tara - it's achievement for oneself ... if we can write we will do it - and go as far as we want ... keep on writing ... and very good luck - cheers Hilary
Oh, that breaks my heart, Tara. Please don't give up.
And if you do take on an extra job, it could be one that still leaves you time and creative energy for your writing. Best of luck to you--I'm rooting for you!
I think your new release sounds awesome.
My biggest fear is running out of ideas...
I hope you never give up. You've come so far!
Don't throw in the towel. I get satisfaction when people read and appreciate my writing.
I didn't get into writing to get rich (although it was a nice daydream for awhile), and now that I realize I'm such a slow writer, writing isn't something I could do full time unless I won the lottery. But I have these ideas for stories and I'll keep plugging away until their all finished, no matter how long it takes.
So do whatever it takes to keep writing!
I appreciate all your support so much, y'all! Thank you!
I never intended to get rich either, just wish I could spend more time writing and less time on the mundane stuff!
Don't give up! You are amazing. Though i completely sympathize about the financial aspect of it. Thanks for the results on the survey. And for the shared quote. ;)
I hope quitting isn't in your future. I'd hate to see that happen. You've expressed a lot of frustration that we all feel, so, if it's any help, you're not alone out there!
Take care. Enjoy your holiday and recharge. See you in 2017.
I'm leaving my fear as I struggle with my writing. All the best.
I do hope you keep writing. I don't think I'll ever be doing it full-time, but it's hard to imagine stopping! I liked the extracts, and Carrie's book looks great.
So sorry you're struggling with your writing career, financially. I can relate when it comes to my art. (Drawing isn't a good way to pay the bills, either...heh.) No one wants to hire me for anything else, though, so making my art career take off somehow feels very do-or-die for me. Really hope your writing ends up seeming less like an expensive hobby someday. You always come up with such fun stories!
Writing sure takes A LOT of perseverance indeed for any career to take seed.
thanks for the encouragement guys - i don't think i could ever stop writing... we'll just see what the future holds. i definitely need purpose behind the writing if you know what i mean!
It's so easy to put a ton of money into writing. I try to keep my spending limited the past couple years when it comes to publishing as there's no guarantee to make the money back. Let's just say I'm not planning to quit my day job anytime soon. But that's okay. The day job encourages my writing, so it's not a bad thing I won't be a full-time writer anytime soon. Maybe it can be my retirement plan in another 30+ years. :)
Yep, that's pretty much what I've discovered over the years. Writing is not something we do for the money. I think it's only 1% of novelists who can actually live on their writing. But we love it so much, so really, it doesn't matter as long as we can keep writing.
Those are fascinating stats! I've never tried for an anthology - I've got to get my head wrapped around shorts first! :)
Love the quotes, Tara!
Unfortunately, the reality of the mid-list author who makes a living with his or her writing but is not mega-bestseller, is a very rare animal these days. Doesn’t make me love writing any less, but it sure has changed my writing goals.
Yesterday, I sent my third book to my agent. Yay!
VR Barkowski
Post a Comment