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Wednesday, March 4, 2015

The Good News and the Bad News - IWSG style

Feeling insecure about your writing career? Join the club - literally! (ha ha) The Insecure Writing Support Group is here to boost your spirits and commiserate and whine together. I've had a very up and down month, so I'm getting right to it!

*  The good news: I got a ton of writing done on Cradle Rock and Jolissa's Tale (anti-princess story) when we were snowed in for a week off school!
  • The bad news: Now that I'm back at work, I've stagnated again... Oh time, why must you be so fleeting!
*  The good news: I was accepted to be a panelist at 2 awesome events! Ohioana and Imaginarium. So excited!
  • The bad news: I'm not having any luck getting a gig for Spring Break (and hardly have time to work on it)
*  The good news: After Spring Break I'll have more time to write!
  • The bad news: But I'll have substantially less income, too.
*  The great news: I was so flabbergasted when one of my students presented this drawing to me while he's reading Broken Branch Falls.
  • The bad news: I wish there was an easier way to spread the word about my books!
*  The good news: I had an awesome turnout for my giveaway! Yay to the winners and thanks to all who participated! (see previous post for who won)

*  More good news: I'm finally introducing myself as an official muffin commando A to Z regulator with a drill of questions:

1) Who are you?
I'm just little ol' Tara Tyler, adventure author, mom, and math teacher

2) What kind of muffin are you?
It's a toss up between blueberry and pumpkin...

3) What's your latest WIP/publication?
BROKEN BRANCH FALLS (MG fantasy) was published last June and SIMULATION (techno thriller) comes out in September!

4) What was your theme last year for A to Z?
artwork by http://www.matusic.com/
Last year I did bits from Broken Branch Falls, writing advice, and jokes about why men are happier.

"We're the muffin commandos, delicious as we can be.
Mixing it together, to whip the A to Z.
Fully baked, crispy crusts, we'll make it to the end.
We're the muffin commando, the net's sweetest blend!"


I'm excited about my theme this year. And since April will be a slow work month, I should have plenty of time to visit, visit, visit! Sorry I've been so lame. I don't know how you full timers get it all done. I'm always behind!

How was your February? Any insecurities this month?
Joining us for the A to Z challenge?
Share with us! We care!
at

42 comments:

  1. Sarah FosterMarch 4, 2015 at 6:13 AM

    Hooray for lots of writing and your student's drawing! That's so cool.

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  2. AnonymousMarch 4, 2015 at 7:37 AM

    Life is full up good/bad, isn't it? It's that darn balance. But, if you think about it, I find the good still outweighs the bad. Keep on trucking with your writing!!

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  3. Karen Jones GowenMarch 4, 2015 at 7:37 AM

    This post made me smile. It always is a good news bad news thing isn't it? I'm having a few of those myself, and I like the idea of listing them this way. Makes it more acceptable, I think!

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  4. Alex J. CavanaughMarch 4, 2015 at 7:38 AM

    That's cute one of your students drew that for you. Wish there was an easier way to spread the word. Congratulations on being accepted as a panelist.

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  5. Madeline Mora-SummonteMarch 4, 2015 at 8:06 AM

    Yeh for all the good news!

    Wishing you positivity and focus on working through the not so good stuff. :)

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  6. mshatchMarch 4, 2015 at 8:36 AM

    Glad you had lots of good news to go with the bad. I'll be away for half of April so no a-z for me this year. And I love that one of your students was inspired enough by your book to draw a picture! That's very cool!

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  7. E. ArroyoMarch 4, 2015 at 9:43 AM

    The drawing is so cute. I'm still not sure if I'm going to join the challenge. If I have at least half my posts by March 30th I will. Hopefully. Maybe. Yeah, I'm insecure. =)

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  8. M.J. FifieldMarch 4, 2015 at 10:31 AM

    I love the drawing; it's terrific.

    I have to pass on the challenge again. Sad to do so, but I'll be cheering everyone else on.

    Also...I'm uber excited about the anti-princess story.

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  9. Michael Di GesuMarch 4, 2015 at 10:47 AM

    Hi, Tara,

    This is LIFE... LOL... Good and bad... At least it is interesting and very unpredictable. Who would want it any other way?

    Take care. Keep breathing. And ALL THE BEST!!!

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  10. Susan Gourley/KelleyMarch 4, 2015 at 11:12 AM

    I loved your posts last year. I don't think I missed a day to read why men are happier. Glad you have some good news to outweigh the bad.

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  11. Tyrean MartinsonMarch 4, 2015 at 11:32 AM

    I'm always behind, too. It's ok. :)

    I love that drawing and all your good and great news! Way to go with being a panelist!

    Love your Muffin Intro!

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  12. Nick WilfordMarch 4, 2015 at 11:57 AM

    I think the good stuff will win out, you sound pretty positive anyway! The drawing is great and good luck on your panels.

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  13. Chrys FeyMarch 4, 2015 at 12:07 PM

    Those are definitely give and take, but I'm with Nick in thinking that the good stuff will beat the bad.

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  14. cleemckenzieMarch 4, 2015 at 12:34 PM

    You've done exactly the right thing. You've shown both sides to each of the events in your life. If there's a negative, there has to be a positive. Our job is to find that positive.

    Loved your Muffin intro. I'd vote for blueberry.

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  15. Carrie-AnneMarch 4, 2015 at 1:19 PM

    One always has to take the good with the bad in life. It's just like the line in the George Harrison song "Crackerbox Palace," which I gladly paid $100 to quote from.

    I'm looking forward to A to Z, and hoping I get a lot more visitors to my secondary blog this April. I've put a lot of time and thought into the posts for both of my blogs.

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  16. Tammy TheriaultMarch 4, 2015 at 1:59 PM

    WOOT WOOT!!!! Love broken branch falls. Seriously!!!!

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  17. KimberlyMarch 4, 2015 at 2:20 PM

    You have a lot of great news! We definitely need to figure out the magic formula for spreading the word on books. :)

    What a great drawing and how cool to get one!

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  18. Carrie ButlerMarch 4, 2015 at 3:03 PM

    That drawing is awesome! You should frame it in your office. :D

    And woohoo for the Muffin Commandos!

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  19. Liz A.March 4, 2015 at 3:34 PM

    Keep focusing on the good news!

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  20. Annalisa CrawfordMarch 4, 2015 at 4:06 PM

    Lots of good news there, well done. Work gets in the way of my writing too - not so good!

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  21. Donna McDineMarch 4, 2015 at 5:32 PM

    I'm honored to be on the Muffin Commando Squad with you! Congratulations on your forthcoming book. Nope, never enough time in the day! Do the best you can and don't be so hard on yourself.

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  22. ELAdamsMarch 4, 2015 at 6:13 PM

    That drawing is awesome! Hope the good news outweighs the bad!

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  23. AnonymousMarch 4, 2015 at 6:32 PM

    Awesome drawing. I'm still waiting for someone to draw something from my books for me. Might have to resort to doing it myself. That's not lame, is it?

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  24. F. StoneMarch 4, 2015 at 6:32 PM

    Thank you for your post. I'm not sure about A-Z challenge. I did it a few times. Got bored with a lot of the posts (too long or not applying rules of A-Z). Did anyone find the experience positive, genuine long-term connections with authors and readers?

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  25. Diane BurtonMarch 4, 2015 at 7:07 PM

    Love your good news/bad news. That's life, isn't it? Best wishes.

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  26. JenniMarch 4, 2015 at 7:41 PM

    I loved your student writing! There's always trade-offs. It seems like you have money or time, never both. :) Kudos to you for getting so much done!

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  27. dolorahMarch 4, 2015 at 8:02 PM

    Wow, what a roller coaster ride :)

    I'm not doing A-Z, I'm concentrating on getting some reading done, and writing reviews. Hmm, maybe next year I should do book reviews as a theme.

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  28. L. Diane WolfeMarch 4, 2015 at 8:21 PM

    I love blueberry muffins.

    Being on a panel is so much fun. Congrats on scoring two.

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  29. Krista McLaughlinMarch 4, 2015 at 10:46 PM

    Sounds like you have some good and bad things happening! I liked how you set that up.

    Your A-Z theme sounds wonderful! I'm still trying to decide if I want to do it this year, but I might. :)

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  30. Yvonne VentrescaMarch 4, 2015 at 11:33 PM

    Love your good/bad approach. And what a great drawing!

    Yvonne

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  31. SuziMarch 5, 2015 at 9:15 AM

    Not doing A to Z. Got burnt out last year, so this year I'll probably just be doing the reading of A to Zers.

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  32. LD MastersonMarch 5, 2015 at 1:01 PM

    Hey, you had more good news items than bad. Can't ask for more than that.

    Love the drawing.

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  33. Maurice MitchellMarch 6, 2015 at 12:16 PM

    It's always good news, bad news, but that drawing is awesome Tara.

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  34. Christine RainsMarch 6, 2015 at 7:19 PM

    Lots of good news! I hope to see you at one conference this year if I can make it. :) And wow, fan art. That's so awesome. I blinked and February is gone. Here's to a fabulous March!

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  35. A Beer for the ShowerMarch 6, 2015 at 11:00 PM

    I think I'd be horrified if a child tried to draw one of our books. That's awesome your student drew one of yours, though.

    Someone say pumpkin muffins? Those are my favorite.

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  36. RenaMarch 8, 2015 at 7:06 PM

    Sounds like things are the usual mix of good and bad. And you're going to be a Muffin! Awesome!

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  37. Stephanie FarisMarch 9, 2015 at 3:52 PM

    YAY!!! Promotion's always tough. You want to be able to tell everyone in America to read it...but you just can't. All you can do is plan a few things and hope for the best.

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  38. Romance Book HavenMarch 10, 2015 at 6:33 PM

    Awesome post. Yes, marketing and promoting a book is tough.

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  39. Shelley SlyMarch 11, 2015 at 10:38 AM

    Sounds like you have a ton of good things, even with the not-so-good. And your student's drawing is awesome!

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  40. Cathrina ConstantineMarch 11, 2015 at 7:01 PM

    I'm very late in commenting, been so busy lately and I don't see it easing off.

    And it sounds like you're extremely busy too!! Looking forward to A to Z!

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  41. Hilary Melton-ButcherMarch 13, 2015 at 4:28 AM

    Hi Tara - life is full of good and bad .. the good I came to visit, the sad Christine's character post on her new book isn't up yet!! No worries .. I'll be back to that post anon .. cheers Hilary

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  42. Michelle WallaceMarch 14, 2015 at 4:07 AM

    The Muffin Commandos sound like a force to be reckoned with!
    And I LOVE your "Commando Creed" - such a cool jingle! I can totally hear a tune accompanying those words...

    Love that picture! Really cool. Kids are so spontaneous... we can learn from them!

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Thanks for stopping by!