Finding a Routine

A routine is what I need right now. It’s a comforting safety net that keeps me sane. When I don’t have something to do, I feel useless. I can’t sit still and enjoy free time for too long. Free time to me is a void that needs to be filled by projects or chores I’ve put off because I was too busy to get to them on a regular day!

As you may know, I just moved out of state from “dreary” Ohio to sunny Florida. I am not a fan of change, especially starting over again this far into my life. Uprooting my beautiful routine, leaving my awesome job, good neighbors and friends, I’ve been apprehensive and stressed. And I will miss the change of seasons. So much NEW!

I also have loads of time on my hands. Is there such a thing as too much free time? Ha ha. It’s ironic I’m usually wishing for more time to write. Well, I have an abundance now. So much time I don’t know what to do with it all. As a teacher, summer was my writing time. But with the stress of having to get re-established I’m hard-pressed to get into the writing frame of mind… sigh

Now, it’s time to buck up. I’ve never been one to shirk a challenge. I need to create a new routine for my new life. I love lists! I’m writing things down to organize myself and take some stress out of the daunting new atrocities of this monstrous change. And look, I finally wrote a new blog post! Many times blogging helps me figure things out.

Things I’m looking forward to incorporating into my New Routine:

• Write every morning! (I hear some groaning, but it’s the quietest time of the day around here)
• Finding a writers group
• Travel - visit family, but also do some Writerly Events
• Start subbing again? Subbing is where I got the bug to write so many years ago. It will keep me busy and still give me time to write. It is also chock full of inspirational characters!

I’m also encouraged by some new neighbors we met at one of the functions we were invited to. It’s so nice to meet people in the same boat, then it isn’t so lonely and scary. And I have a new hairstylist to try (after going to the same one for 20 years). Check!

Hugs from the new roost!

Hope your summer is off to a sunny, productive start!

Would love to hear how you’ve been doing!

PS - I hope to start the Writers Chat back up soon — I miss that big part of my routine!

Tara Tyler Talks about #StarWars (spoilers!)

Happy New Year - bla bla bla

But seriously IWSG-ers, I hope you have a great 2020. If things are going badly, I hope you find a way to turn them around. If things are going well, keep up the good work!

January is a time of reflection. I want to raise the level of my blog from a once-a-month series of IWSG entries to more frequent and more substantial posts. I want to be more engaging!

And so, I give you my first post for 2020--

Let's go to the Movies??

Consider STAR WARS. (NOTE - Spoiler Alert! Plenty of annoying spoilers ahead)

There's nothing like the opening burst...

There's also nothing like the original trilogy. Sure, special effects are better now, CGI is amazing, and meeting new characters is always fun. BUT, just like the last season of Game of Thrones was rushed and lacking, this latest Star Wars trilogy was full of spontaneous, easily foiled threats and not much substance or explanation. I'm sorry to say, True Star Wars fans have been let down.

The Rise of Skywalker was a great action-adventure sci-fi movie, no doubt. My hub even liked it, and he's not a big SW fan. But my closet-nerd son and I felt a disturbance in the Force. So many story lines were severely under-developed and conveniently explained away with a glib comment for us all to accept. It was full of miraculous, impossible saves; instant armies, easy escapes, and predictable rebellious behavior... I felt like I was watching a teenager's spoof seeing what he could get away with--wouldn't it be cool if this happened!

Most egregious irritations:

• Poor Fin - so much potential wasted--they made this guy do nothing but annoy everyone, "Rey!" 
• And the Planet-Destroying Cannons upgrade on a surprise fleet of Star Destroyers--where did they come from? Santa? But the placement of the cannons gave me a chuckle. It was like they all got a kick in the crotch... that magically destroys the whole ship **eye roll**

There was No build up. No anticipation. No time to wonder what might happen, we know what's going to happen. As a writer, you know what I'm talking about.

I had more complaints, but I won't torture you further. And there were some good moments.

• I really liked the new female characters, but there wasn't enough time to expand on them. I would've been happier if they'd split it into two films just to give us some backstory and character development.
• Palpatine was a great twist. But what were all those zombie fans??
• Funny thing, I liked Kylo Ren's character arc (Frankly, I would've chosen him over Rey as a true Skywalker.
• It's just a good thing Chewy didn't die! (Told you there'd be spoilers!)

One saving grace for Star Wars fans: The Mandalorian is fantastic! It has everything the new movies don't, plus awesome LOL scenes and Baby Yoda!


Movies in general lately are lacking in quality and depth. Sequels, Spinoffs, and Remakes are the currency of the day. Over the holidays, I also saw JUMANJI 2 which was pretty terrific, better than expected, but still a sequel, with a teaser of another is in the works. And here are the previews we saw:

>>Scooby Doo origins              >>Mulan live-action              >> Dr. Dolittle upgrade

>> Black Widow spinoff              >>"new and improved" Ghostbusters sequel

Absolutely nothing original.
Money is the biggest motivator which is understandable since it is a business. But the industry isn't taking chances on anything new...

So I call on YOU, fellow writers!
Keep writing. Keep improving. And try a Screenplay! Submit to contests. Put your awesome works out there for these sheltered producers living in their Hollywood Bubble. They need us! (I just submitted JOLISSA to an animated screenplay contest!)

Okay, I think I've talked enough.

Oh, yeah. One last thing -- I'm putting together a team!

Disney/Pixar's Onward is coming out soon (you may remember me mentioning how they "stole" my Beast World concept) So I'm starting Phase 2 of my Taking Back Beast World campaign. I re-published BROKEN BRANCH FALLS!! And CRADLE ROCK is soon to follow.

If you're up for helping me promote the ORIGINAL Fantasy Creatures in High School, here's the new FORM
Thanks for your support!

And don't forget to join us for the #WedWrant Twitter chat tonight at 7:30 PM EST - be sure to use the hashtag!

Blessings a-plenty in 20-20!

Time for a Change

Welcome to the Insecure Writers Support Group for May 2018.

Most of the time, I don't like change. I just had to switch phones, which means I need to re-customize my perfectly chosen alarm tones, figure out which songs in my playlist didn't make it to the new phone, and get used to the new "upgrades" I didn't want. That's actually not so bad when you factor in: I may have to switch phone numbers! That's the WORST! I've had the same out-of-state phone number for 15 years because I wanted to avoid telling everyone a new number, much less memorize one. Egads! What a headache.

But I have to look at the bright side. At least I have a phone. At least we don't have to move, just yet. And my family is doing ok - for the most part. The phone stuff is a minor annoyance taking up time I don't have to give... like dealing with a broken garage door (a side story for another time...)

All things considered, sometimes change can be good. Yes, I'm finally getting to the point. I felt like my header was too loud, and visiting around some other blogs, I wanted to give it more of a writer feel. I also need to update my side bar... an easy thing to procrastinate. But the change that needs my utmost attention is concentrating on connections.

I feel like I've become an isolationist in the writing/blogging world. I barely reach out to my writer friends anymore. And it shows with my lower numbers. I need my writerly friends! And I need to find balance with my job to make it happen. I also want to make my articles more content rich so folks will want to come read them!

So here's the changes I have planned:

• Done with the surveys. It's been fun, but responses have declined, and it's becoming too much effort for the results. Even after I added a prize! Maybe I'll do one again sometime...
• Rebuild connections. I will dedicate an allotted amount of time to spend reading blogs and writing articles.
• Reaching out. I want to tweet more (which also shows up on FB) I think I need more visibility. I just have to come up with awesome things to tweet!
• Posting weekly. This is going to be tough, but I need to get back to a regular posting schedule. I'm going to write more about writing--going back to the roots of why I started this blog. I know I'll have more fodder as I'm breaking away from my two series and diving into a new direction with my latest WIP: FARTHER ALONG, a Christian YA
• Paying it forward. I'd like to have more guest posts. This is a great way for us to help each other and broaden our reach. Twice the audience! Let me know if you're interested.

And here's the final results from the last survey - A-MUSING

Do you have a personal muse?

What is your muse's name?

• Hoho the Magic Newt
• It's unnamed and mysterious.
• Monster, Librarian Linda, and High-heeled Helen
• The Muse
• Styx
• Unknown
• Nigel
• Same as mine. 
• Erato

Who was your greatest influence to become a writer?

• Authors - Anne McCaffrey, Terry Brooks, Tolkien, Stephen King, Holly Lisle, C.S. Lewis
• No one in particular - from classical authors (Dickens, Poe, etc.) to comic book writers like Stan Lee!
• My mom x 2
• My kids
• It's my calling

How long have you known you were destined to be a writer?

And the lucky winner of the A-MUSING survey is...

Christine Rains!!

Thanks to all who have played along.

And finally, the big, huge, awesome announcement...

TICK TOCK, A STITCH IN CRIME is NOW AVAILABLE!!

Exploring the facets of time, eleven authors delve into mysteries and crimes that linger in both dark corners and plain sight. Featuring the talents of...

• Home
• Gwen Gardner
• C. D. Gallant-King
• Rebecca M Douglass
• J. R. Ferguson
• Yolanda Renée

• Tara Tyler
• S. R. Betler
• Christine Clemetson
• Mary Aalgaard
• C. Lee McKenzie
• Jemi Fraser

Official Tick Tock Blog

Amazon == B&N == Goodreads

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Loving me, Loving YOU! Survey Results & IWSG

I'm super excited to be a co-host for the Insecure Writers Support Group this month! Join me for a cup of candid coffee!

Ahh. As you may know, IWSG members post woes or words of wisdom then visit each other on the first Wednesday of each month -- we're a big happy family that listens and encourages!

As a participant of the IWSG since its inception (great movie) I have discovered a few generalizations about myself:

1. I like to try new things and put myself out there,
2. I encourage others to do the same and give any advice and tips I can, and 
3. I never have enough time to work on everything I want to get done! but
4. Most importantly, I really appreciate how we all relate to and boost each other.

The IWSG is about give and take, sometimes I give advice and positivity, and sometimes I need it (Actually, I always need it!) It's not so much about the process for me as the journey.

What have you learned about yourself as a writer during the IWSG?

I usually have enough to write about each month (I do like to talk!), but since I'm a host this month, I will also answer the...

September Question - Have you ever surprised yourself with your writing? For example, by trying a new genre you didn't think you'd be comfortable in??

When I go back and read older stuff I've written, I often surprise myself with how much I like it or don't like it. I know that sounds contradictory, but sometimes it's really good and that's a surprise. And many times it's terrible, which helps me know what to work on, and I'm surprised I was that bad! What was I thinking?


I hope you have a chance to visit the rest of the awesome co-hosts for this month's September IWSG. They are Tyrean Martinson, Raimey Gallant, and Beverly Stowe McClure! Check them out, they're terrific!

But wait! Time for a
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

The IWSG Anthology Contest is NOW OPEN!

Genre: Mystery/Crime/Thriller

Theme: Tick Tock. The story revolves around a clock, is time sensitive, or has something about a specific time. This theme has plenty of scope and we’re open to pretty much anything along these lines. No erotica, R-rated language, or graphic violence.

Story Deadline: November 1, 2017

And now for some RELEASE PARTY NEWS!

I'm having a little local signing party to celebrate the release of TWO PRINCESSES, Un-Princess Book 2. It will be nice to get out there again! And in conjunction with my live event, I'm hosting a Facebook Party too. That way, anyone can join in the fun! Plus I'm going to try a live video broadcast! As always, there will be raffle prizes and giveaways. I hope you can make it!

BTW, DISPOSAL comes out in November -- I'm looking for reviewers and blog hosts... form in the works. But you can give me a shout if you're interested

Finally, your WRITER'S LIFE SURVEY #10 RESULTS - WHAT THE BLOG?

Author Website, Blog, or Both?

How often do you post?

Which blogging website do you prefer? (for blogging and/or visiting)

Do you think blogging is still a good tool for authors?

How often do you visit other blogs?

And I wanted to give a shout out to some of the bloggers who participated (and gave their links) Plus some suggested blogs to visit...

Christine Rains

Chrys Fey - Alex J. Cavanaugh

HR Sinclair

Spunk On A Stick's Tips - the IWSG blog - Elizabeth S. Craig

The WEP - lists other great websites, with loads of opportunities!

Tyrean Martinson

Fairday Morrow - book blog

Patricia Lynne

Susan Gourley

Carrie Anne Brownian - Onomastics Outside the Box 

NEW blog/website C Lee McKenzie

Cathrina Constantine

Check out the new #WritersLife Survey 11 - Mid September

I'll be asking about your Characters!

RECAP! (I know that was a lot of info!)

What have you learned about yourself as a writer during the IWSG?

I hope you can come to my Release/Facebook Party!
What do you think of the survey results?

Let me know if you have something I can shout for you!

TRIVIA--Can you name the band whose song is in the title of this post...?

The Writers' Congregation - #WritersLife Survey 10

This month's #WritersLife Survey is about how writers communicate. Long ago (ten years or so), we were once told to start a blog or website - is this still a rule? I've cut way back on blogging, but I will keep at it as long as I can. It's awesome to talk about our woes and accomplishments with other writers. And this community always has positive, encouraging words to share.




I also wanted to thank fellow substitute warrior, Victoria Marie for the Liebster Award! I haven't done an award in quite a while, so this should be fun. Thanks, Victoria!

Liebster Award Rules and Nominees:
Rule 1: Thank the person who nominated you for the award.
Rule 2: Answer the 11 questions the person asked you.
Rule 3: Nominate 11 people (comment on their blog to let them know)
Rule 4: Ask the people you have nominated 11 questions (My questions are at the bottom of this post.)

Here are my answers to Victoria's questions:
1.     You are thrown into a favorite story. [Not your own.] Which story and who would you be?
I always wanted to live in the world of Xanth by Piers Anthony - then I'd get a magic power!
2.     What is the hardest part of writing for you? Why?
Marketing & Promotion, bragging and being pushy like a salesperson isn't what I signed up for!
3.     When and where do you write? How did you discover that was best for you?
Mornings are best, at my desk or on my treadmill!
4.     If you could be anybody or anything, who or what would you be and why?
I would be a dragon. Do I really need a reason?
5.     How do you push forward when the inner critic won’t shut up?
I read or watch movie trailers which make me think, if this person is famous, I could be too!
6.     Do you need to write inside a bubble or library [like me] or do like to listen to music or other inspiring background sounds or “white” noise to write?
QUIET! Before the herd wakes up.
7.     How do you keep the wolves…ahem…I mean convince your children or other people to leave you alone to write? Does it work? Provide tips—please!
I write while they're sleeping or out of the house - sorry, no tips. Kick them out for a while?
8.     Who was your favorite author as a child? Who is your favorite author now?
From Piers Anthony and Michael Crichton to Janet Evanovich and Harlan Coben - and Christine Rains!
9.     If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Why that?
Flying - I hate traffic
10.  How do you find inspiration?
It's everywhere, on a walk, shopping, walking my dog, traveling, reading, even watching TV
11.  What book or movie or writing workshop or blog post has affected your work the most? Why?
Can't think of a specific one, but I do love to read and watch lots of media to keep up with it and be inspired.

Now, here are my nominees (participation is optional, but I recommend you all visit these fabulous people!) My questions are in my survey above, open to all... (yes, I took the easy way out with that one!)
Doctor Faerie Godmother - Rena Rocford writes witty scifi and fantasy, and blogs about it
Tyrean Martinson - Christian writer and blogger and friend
The Faux Fountain Pen - Sarah Foster shares her struggles as a writer, giving us a good relatable laugh!
Defending the Pen - Yolanda Renee isn't just another pen blog, she encourages other writers and helps host a regular writing prompt - WEP

Positive Letters...inspirational stories... - Hilary Melton-Butcher is one of the most interesting people I virtually know. Her stories are rich with history and fascinating facts!
Kidbits - Tonja Drecker is an amazing mom and her video book reviews are stupendous!!
S.A. Larsen - talking about teen and tween tales

And new friends from Twitter...
Christa Conklin - she discusses writing issues, supporting writers, and the path of her book
M.B. Tosi - A fellow Ohioan, but originally from South Dakota, she writes about Lakota life in the Old West
Amy Eyrie - her blog is full of enlightening sci fi and stranger worlds posts
J.A. Allen - hosts guest posters with great stories, as well as her own

Thanks again, Victoria!
And thank you all for playing!! Results of the survey will be posted Sept 6 for IWSG day - and I get to be a host next month!

The Decline of blogging and Ways to perk it up!

Short is the new long. Quip or quit! Has the blogging ship sailed?

Nick Wilford talked about the Future of Blogging earlier this month and inspired me to write a long comment, and then even more - to write this post!

After blogging for six years, I have definitely noticed the disappearance of many blogger friends. Have you? Well, I have a theory or two why...

They got a book deal! - Like many writers, I started my blog to learn about writing, post my thoughts on the process, and get feedback - while giving the same in return. I met tons of blog friends and am continuing to meet more - some even in real life. But once you get published, the time you didn't have before completely disappears. Marketing and promoting invade your life besides trying to write the next one to keep yourself alive with your readers who are hungry for more. I cut back substantially - from almost every day to once a week. And I will keep with it until I don't feel it's productive anymore. But with many of my blog friends still active, it's still worth it. And as my title suggests, I always have something to say!

They ran out of time - Life will do that. Things change. And many times, blogging is the first thing to go. I know how thin we can stretch ourselves, and sometimes we have to make a choice, and blogging can be a luxury of time we can't afford.

They ran our of things to say - It's just not a priority anymore. When people post about not knowing what to post about, it's a good sign they're on their way to other things. And that's okay!

If you have to let it go, or just slow down or take a break from it - know that this blogging community will still be here. There are rocks that seem immovable (Like Alex J the Rockstar Ninja Warrior and L Diane the photographer and marketing genius, and so many more).

I have to make time for it because I want to keep in touch with my writer friends - we know what each other is going through. I'm so glad I started when I did - I've gotten so much from it and am still learning. And I hope others might still get something out of my articles, too.

In fact, here are some suggestions for a new blogging strategy to keep blogs alive and relevant:

• Catchy, quippy titles - if you want to reach more people, you have to grab them with an enticing title. Give them lists, make them laugh, inform! Then,
• Promote it on the quickie sites - Any social media will do. Use a cute blurb and/or picture... cute enough to make people click on it to read further! Make it easier by connecting your blog to Twitter or Facebook. It's amazing how many people are vying for each other's attention and the ways we can do it!
• Be interesting - Blogging is only as good as what you put into it. If you want more, you must expand and reach out, padawan!

NAMASTE! (It felt right)