Marching On

How you doin?

Keeping in step? Drumming your own beat? Reaching your goals?

Time to check in with the monthly Insecure Writers Support Group. Hard to call myself a writer these days. I'm marching in a squiggle pattern between work, chores, doggies, and travel to watch my son play ball, leaving little to no room for my WIPs. 

Go Coop!

But my stories are not forgotten! I often jot notes about how to enhance a scene or get ideas and inspiration from the book club I recently joined (which also warns me about things not to do!) And my students always inspire funny or dramatic scenes and character traits--they're hilarious and can't stay out of trouble, the little scoundrels!

With so much going on, I have to remind myself to slow down. Funny to be saying that after I was so bored when I first moved. I like a busy, productive lifestyle, but I can easily stress myself out. I have to remind myself, there are some things I have no control over and just have to deal with, like traffic, weather, time, and confounded technology glitches (grrr!) No point pulling my hair out. Just take a deep breath and do what I can. It all gives me opportunities to work on my patience.

Hope you all are finding time to write and finding patience to deal with your hair-pulling ordeals!

Remember: March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. IE: we can make it through the tough times and good times won't be far behind!

via GIPHY

Humans are so petty

A quote from Thor.

I agree. We are. So many of us don't consider the big picture. We don't realize how small we are in the grand scheme of things. We are miniscule specks in the universe. Grains of sand on a beach.

That's why I love writing (and reading). I love researching and exploring new perspectives to share with others. My little life bubble is quite boring. Sure, I've had some funny and scary and heartwarming stories. But when I look beyond my corner of the world, I realize there is so much more out there! So many other ways to do things! Even my kids teach me new stuff in the kitchen (and they still learn from me too)

As I've gotten older and now that the kids are grown, I've become more adventurous. My attitude has shifted to "What have I got to lose?" Some of my accomplishments this past year... I took a helicopter ride, moved across the country (with a lot of whining), accepted a new job with crazy middle-schoolers and no lesson plans--making it up as I go! And I flew by myself to visit my sister (I am not a fan of flying.) As old as I am, I'm still having firsts and trying to overcome fears. I hope to do more in 2026.

As we share in this first Insecure Writers Support Group of the year, have you set any goals? Are they specific or general? I still have to sit and think about my specific goals. "Do more" is very broad! But my writing goals are on-going: Finish my two WIPs!

Sending positive vibes your way. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to!

The Story is Yours in 2024!

Calling all writers! Time to celebrate your story!

Though it's cliché to make resolutions as we ring in the new year...

And usually those resolutions are the same as the year before...

Then those promises are soon cast aside by the return of every day drudgeries...

But I won't give up... I say: Try, try again!

And what better time to start than on the first IWSG post for 2024. To be successful, we need daily reminders of our Resolutions. I want to think about health improvements, writing goals, and being a better person in general every day. And this year, I plan to do that by using positive daily reminders. I'm also happy that my puppies need less attention, getting me back to a more normal schedule. Here are my goals:

• I've been sharing inspirations with my homeroom students for years, encouraging them to have more self-confidence, kindness for others, and a broader perspective. This is a positive boost for me too!
• For a healthier lifestyle, I've used a Food Diary App which I really like, until it becomes tiresome and time consuming to enter all the foods and activities... But I'm going to try, try again!
• 
  What I always need help with is carving out time to write--plus all the other fun and not-so-fun parts of publishing. Making a list helps me get started:
• I want to re-start the Writer's Chat.
• I need to publish the e-book of CONDUCTION--not to mention the million things that along with it (but that's another list -- check off book trailer, still perfecting, but here's the prelim)
• and I have a bunch more stories waiting to be written!
• So, I need a plan to find time to dedicate to writing, et al, and stick to it! I'm sure I'll figure something out like leave myself sticky notes, annoying phone reminders, or reward myself for getting things done.

What's your story? Are you writing? Got any advice for making time to get things done? I hope you accomplished everything you wanted to in 2023, and will accomplish more in 2024!

PS - Don't forget to stop by Alex J. Cavanaugh  &  Christine Rains my helpful cohorts promoting CONDUCTION! All you folks in the IWSG keep me going!

Happy New Year!

via GIPHY

Here we go again

Happy New Year, take 2023!

Welcome to IWSG Jan 2023

How many times have we gone through the motions of vowing to change in the new year? Too many to count, for me! But the change in year does remind me to try harder or resolve anew, as it were... I always have big plans, lofty goals, and personal growth promises that inevitably fizzle out. I realize now, that when I plan these things, I'm at the end of my holiday break from work. It's easy to reach for high hopes and dreams when you have a ton of time on your hands!

So this year, I'll be more reasonable. I'll go easier on myself. I'm going to keep up with the Blogging at least once a month for IWSG -- your voices are what keep me chugging along on this writing journey and expressing my thoughts is wonderful therapy! Eating better and exercising more gets a jump start when I go back to work and get away from sedentary-dom, eating out, and extra sweets with company and the holidays! Not that I didn't love every minute of it! 

And Writing more. I really want to work on this. It was so much easier to begin the process. We start out bright-eyed and hopeful. Sure there are many obstacles along the way: will anyone like our writing? will we ever get published? will anyone buy it? -- some of you are in these stages now! But once you've been through those, the harder challenges arise: critics, marketing, failed publishers, and pandemics! Well, I'm over it. I have to make a plan, plotter that I am, and stick to it. If I want to call myself a writer, I need to keep writing, right? (haha) And that means I need to keep working through all the hard stuff that goes with it. So that's what I would like to do. We'll see how it goes...

Thank goodness I have support from you all! And I want to jump back into our weekly WRITERS CHAT! TUESDAYS @ 7:30 PM (EST) It is time.

We use Discord - a private chat group website. Please join us if you can!

And lastly, a piece of my heart is missing as we said farewell to the sweetest dog in the world just before Christmas. Comet held on long enough for our middle son to come home and say goodbye. Having my family fill my house, I was able to make it through the difficult time. And now that they're gone and I'm taking down the Christmas decorations, the house is even emptier, deafeningly quiet. I need some time to heal before I make him a scrapbook - so many tears. Dogs are the best, we don't deserve them.

I hope you enjoyed your holidays and are looking forward to a jamboree for 2023!

via GIPHY

Harpy New Year and Best Witches!

Welcome 2021!

And thanks for stopping by the Insecure Writers Support Group

I'm usually pretty optimistic as each new year begins... but we all know how last year tore us up, so this year I'm CAUTIOUSLY optimistic. I'm always hopeful things will get better, and I'm up for the challenges. Though I'm not one to cower from change, I don't enjoy it, especially so much at once. In 2020, my writing waned, but I can't complain--I've been doing pretty well dealing with the rest of life.

As we start a fresh new year, I hope you are healthy, happy, and hopeful!

Besides re-publishing most of my books in 2020, I was determined to publish something new... and I did it, barely. (My post title goes with my latest Un-Princess novella.)

Introducing...

GERTRUDE, the nerdy princess

Un-Princess Novella #4

by Tara Tyler

High school can be tough for teenagers, but it’s nothing compared to Princess School. Especially for an awkward, overweight, nerdy princess who likes to read.

Princess Gertrude wants to be a great Queen someday, so she endures the daily torments of the frilly princesses. Until they go too far. With her emotions and clothes in tatters, she runs away into the haunted dark forest—not that she believes in such things. But what she finds there will teach her more about courage and leadership than that ridiculous Princess School ever could.

paperback on Lulu $4.99

Would love to send you a FREE copy for a review

(pdf or signed paper--let me know!)

After discovering some new "improvements" at Amazon, I have to do some fancy dancing to get the e-book done, as if the normal hoops and hurdles of self-publishing weren't exasperating enough. Plus all the joys of adding it to Goodreads--another fun-filled, hair-pulling-out experience. It's a good thing I love to write--I'm used to overcoming obstacles, and I can apply it to my characters!

GOALS

This year, I'm not going to be specific on goals, considering last year's list was a waste of time! I just have a bunch of hopes: 

• I hope to finish CONDUCTION Pop Travel #4. I'm half-way through the first draft and decided one of the events needs a major rewrite--I was taking the easy way, and easy = boring, so...
• I really hope to get out and do some live book events this year
• I hope to find time to read more and write more

The end. Keeping it simple. I'll post updates here, which helps remind me to keep at it!

How did you do for writing in 2020?

Have you made any goals or have hopes for this year?

Getting it done in

Day 27: Accomplishments #30DaysofGratitude

I'm very thankful for reaching my goals.

Some of the paths have been very convoluted, some have been direct, and some have taken years to accomplish. But all my adventures have given me knowledge, perspective, appreciation, and of course FUN! 

Setbacks and surprises challenged me along the way, giving me valuable life lessons and experiences I could never have planned for and made the journeys arduous at times, but exciting and even satisfying when I made it through.

I have loved my life so far with the good times carrying me through the bad. You have to make the most of it. As it keeps on rolling, I'll keep rolling with it--and I'm especially thankful to have you on this journey with me!

Keep setting and reaching for your goals -- the journey is part of the accomplishment!

Visit Diane Burton who's joining me on this thankful blogfest!

#WritersLife can be Lonely

Many writers and artists are introverts. It can be a lonely occupation. We sit alone with our thoughts, expressing them through written words and images. It takes a lot of courage for creatives to put their work out into the public for scrutiny and judgment.

But we must! We need to share our hard work - everyone needs validation and approval, despite some negative feedback which should help us improve and grow stronger, right?

Starting slowly, we send our precious works out into the world. First, we recruit betas and critique partners who are the best encouragers, giving insightful, constructive advice. When we feel confident (haha) to move on, we can hire an editor, or polish it as shiny as possible, and try querying, continuing to improve with each rejection--which will be many!

Once you are published, (and you will be published, but only if you keep at it!) that's when the really hard work starts. Marketing.

As a teacher, I consider myself more outgoing since I get up in front of very critical audiences on a daily basis! I'm not afraid to go to events and put myself out there. But as a writer, I'm a one woman show. I have to set my own writing goals and deadlines. I have to look for the events and try new things and leave my comfort zone. I have to make a commitment to myself to keep writing and figure out ways to market my books without annoying all my friends!

It can be very difficult to keep going with so many negatives to overcome. And it's all on us. The negatives are a direct reflection on our work, so it's hard not to take it personally or let it get us down!

And that's why I'm so thankful (again!) for the writing community. We all know how it is. I can't say enough how much I appreciate my awesome writer friends. They understand and won't let me give up!

If you'd like to join our weekly twitter chat where we discuss writerly things and life in general, we'd love to have you. Don't forget the hashtag!

Now this...
I had another great week during the TAKING BACK BEAST WORLD campaign! ONWARD is out there, and apparently it will make you cry. I don't like to cry at movies, especially animated features.

But like I said, it was a fantastic week! I had so many visitors at C. Lee McKenzie's & Alex Cavanaugh's blogs, I'm still getting around to visiting back! So here's a big

This week, I'll be talking about School Presentations at Sherry Ellis's place. She's also a great example of excellent MG writing and putting herself out there. Hope you can stop by!

Are you an introvert? Do you go to writerly events?

What advice do you have to encourage writers to get out there?

Happy Daylight Savings!

Tara Tyler Talks #Goals and Remember Blog Hops?

Anyone fall of the Resolution Wagon yet?
I hope not! Keep at it all month and it SHOULD become a good habit.

I was really feeling the need for New Year's Resolutions this year. The treat train finally came to a stop, and I totally purged my pantry. Better eating is Goal #1 and my method is--if I don't buy it, I can't eat it!

Speaking of goal-setting, one of my writer friends appropriately pushes forward any goals not met the year before. As surprises, emergencies, and other life stuffs jump out at us throughout the year, our goals get shoved aside. Sometimes this is for the better. Maybe we weren't ready to publish yet, which is just one more step toward the worst part of books--the dreaded marketing... Not to mention, some unexpected experiences can add quality to our writing. No worries, we deal with what comes and adjust accordingly. So don't fret if you can't reach all your goals.

The first step toward achieving goals is to write them down (and I love lists). So here are my broad Writing goals for 2020:

• Taking back BEAST WORLD Campaign, Phase 2 - a subtle undercut jab at Pixar for appropriating my unique setting. Would love to have you JOIN THE CAUSE!
• Repub Cradle Rock, Simulation, and Disposal (and tweak Windy Hollow) -- 2 down, 4 to go!
• Publish GERTRUDE - the Nerdy Princess
• Write first draft of CONDUCTION, Pop Travel #4
• Polish and Submit FARTHER ALONG, Christian YA
• Connect more with writer friends by posting more often
• Market more... ugh.

My process: chip away at this list on the weekends and go gung ho during the summer.

What are your goals for this year?? 

Let's help each other stay on track. I'll be checking in more regularly this year. Hopefully that will help!

One way to connect more... Remember Blog Hops? I was just reminiscing about how much I liked them and how I met new writer friends when we used to do them... and BLAMMO!
Patricia Josephine is having one!

Valentine's Day is ABDUCTED LIFE's birthday. To celebrate, Patricia's asking us to write a little story about being abducted by aliens... sounds like fun! I'm making the time.

Here are the deets:

• Possible approaches: Government report. First person encounter. Stowing away on an alien spaceship. Maybe write it from the alien's POV. Go to the Outer Limits!
• 500 words or less. 
• Posts will go up the week of Valentine's Day.

I hope you join in! Sign ups for the blog hop
(This prompt also fit right into another contest I happened to find, so I already wrote my story--submitted to the contest too. Love when that happens. Thanks, Patricia!)

Good luck with your Goals & Keep Writing!

Oh, #Pumpkins !

Yay, it's Fall! Love Fall. Love Pumpkins.
Need to stop cursing. So replacing curse words with pumpkins... Try it. It's pumpkin nuts!! (hahaha)

Oh yes. It's also OCTOBER! Hopefully we'll have more cool days than hot days this month. And as we begin October, welcome to IWSG day.

I actually have a goal for this month, with a deadline of 10/20: I must get Pop Travel re-published!! I have 2 events in November and I'm almost out of books! So my post is about...

How to tackle a big project within a deadline

1. Know your time constraints. I only have the weekends to work on my writing stuff these days. And I have lots of other responsibilities then too, so I have to manage my time wisely.
2. Make smaller, reasonable goals. Right now, I'm 1/3 done with my edits. Here's my breakdown for what's left to do:
• 10/5 & 6 - have 2/3 or more edits done, work on cover tweaks
• 10/12 & 13 - finish edits, start formatting, finish cover
• 10/19 & 20 - finish formatting, PUBLISH!
3. Limit distractions. Ooo, I like the prompt for that contest! No! Bad kitty! Must focus on the GOAL.
4. Keep the GOAL in mind. I try to work on it whenever possible during the week, if I can.
5. Celebrate when you reach it! Not only is it a giant relief when you reach your goal and worth celebrating, but it encourages others that they can reach their goals too! Like Heather Gardner just re-released her two awesome romance thrillers--all by herself. ALREADY HOME and ONE GOOD CATCH. Way to go girl!

In other good news... I had a terrific signing at my local bookstore a couple weeks ago. Much better than expected. I also picked up this adorable ipad cozy...

AND I got a fantabulous review for the entire Beast World Series. Check it out here at Pen and Paper. Reviews are priceless!

Hope you enjoy the pumpkin out of October!

How to set writing goals in 2019

1/1/2019 -- Just another day? I like to see it as the promise of a new beginning. For some, it's a continuation of your story, maybe just a new chapter. My last chapter was quite tumultuous with moving, kids returning to the roost, and the holidays all bombarding us at once. Some days, I didn't know if I would make it. But here I am, back for a new beginning of a new chapter.

I even squeezed in some writing--subbing day-to-day, I find spots of down time, and it's a blessing to leave the house stress for a bit!

So as we press on and look ahead to a new year, it's time to set some writing goals--the topic of my IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) post for this month.

How to Set (& Achieve) Writing Goals - version 2019

1. What do you want to get done? Jot some things down, make a list. Then prioritize what you want to accomplish first. Use pencil or a computer doc... change is inevitable.
2. How much time do you have to work with? Life always comes first, and usually second and third. Writing usually has to take a back seat, but don't let it be forgotten. You need to make time for you, just be reasonable about it.
3. Don't procrastinate. If you don't feel like writing some days, that's okay. And the list is more of a guideline, you can jump around on it and add to or take away from it throughout the year. Just don't stick the list into a drawer only to find it next December wishing you'd done more on it! Plan to do a little each day.
4. Limit the Social Media temptation. Checking SM too often brings me down--no new likes or mentions this hour :( And posting all the time to receive more responses takes away time from real writing. My snippet SM advice: it's a great tool, but use it sparingly; remember, you get from it what you give, so lower your expectations; and I've found if I set aside a time to schedule posts for the week, I get more out of them later.
5. Be realistic. Writing is a long distance marathon, you need to have stamina and deal with all the bumps in the road (or find a way around the chasms!) You can reach the goal, but only if you keep going!

Here are my major writing goals for this year... the list helps me focus on writing toward the goals every day and every way I can!

• WINDY HOLLOW Release is 1/29/19 and I'm planning the Blog Tour - I made a Book Trailer for it! -- If you'd like to help out, here's the FORM (Fingers crossed my publisher holds it together to get this one out there--after that, the future looks dim. Read my NEWSLETTER for the full update...)
• Submit FARTHER ALONG to betas/CPs this Spring, then polish to gleaming and Query by Summer/Fall.
• Finish UnPrincess Story #4 GERTRUDE and self-publish this Summer. Seeking artists for this and future projects.
• Type first draft of Pop Travel #4 - POWER OF SUGGESTION or CONDUCTION - still debating on the title - by Spring/Summer, then on to betas and CPs.

And I haven't forgotten my Shout Out of the Week!

Julie Flanders!

She's a boss! With a super cute book about a baby bossie (haha) I've known Julie for several years and love it when we can get together for events or just do lunch. I'm lucky she lives pretty close!

A librarian from Cincinnati, Ohio, Julie loves to read, run, go for walks with her dog, and visit new places. She's a sports fan and an Ohio State Buckeyes fanatic. She's also a history buff and loves to weave history into her stories.

Her adult novels are "mysteries untethered by time." Two paranormal thrillers, Polar Night and Polar Day and a historical mystery The Ghosts of Aquinnah. She also recently released a horror novella The Turnagain Arm, a prequel to Polar Night. Her debut children's book, Baby Moo's Great Escape, features the animals of Sunrise Sanctuary in Marysville, Ohio. A sequel, Baby Moo Goes to Hollywood, is forthcoming.

Check out Julie, she's fantastic!

How do you set writing goals? How'd you do last year? Always room for improvement, right?

Lastly, a Shout Out to my Street Team. They are 100% wonderful, and I'm always looking for more perky promoters. Work is minimal, results and rewards mega. Here's the FORM if you're interested in doing something awesome! (name that movie)

Happy New Beginnings and Positive Vibes in 2019!!

Reasonable Writing Goals and How to Stick to Them

For many of us, writing every day is a necessity, not just a goal.

But some days, our schedules don't allow any time to write. That's when we need to set goals--to make time! Here's my advice:

• WHAT'S YOUR SETTING? - I can write just about anywhere: waiting rooms, baseball fields, the pool, or anywhere I can find a quiet corner. Whether you need silence or sound in the background - we all have a special setting that helps us produce the best writing. How about you?
• WHAT'S YOUR TIME FRAME? - How much time do you need to feel like you've accomplished something? And is it reasonable to carve that much time into your schedule?
• WHEN DOES YOUR BRAIN WORK BEST? - Are you a crafty night owl? Or an early bird setting a trap for that worm? Pick the best time you can manage to steal!
• WHAT'S YOUR PRIORITY? - Do you have a deadline? Or can you freestyle? Sometimes, when we get that hallowed writing time, we spend half of it deciding what to work on. To save time, I jot down a list and revise it as I go, but sometimes I can write away and ignore it. It's your writing time, use it as you see fit!
• DON'T WASTE IT! - Stay off social media! Unless you are specifically using your writing time to research, organize, advertise, or publicize, DO NOT SURF! Save that for your other down time. We have work to do!

Now put all your answers together and set aside some time for YOU to WRITE. Voila! A customized, doable goal. And don't worry how much or little writing you get done--just keep at it!

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And for this week's SHOUT OUT... The fantastic Fable Writer,

ANGELA BROWN!

I have been friends with Angela forever! She's positively perky, she always tells it like it is, and she's an excellent source for all things YA - especially dystopian and urban fantasty. She's published NEVERLOVE and THEY ALL FALL DOWN of the Shadow Jumpers series, FRAILTIES OF THE BOND and ATONE of the NEO Chronicles, and Coming Soon: BEACON, published by Evernight Teen publishing.

Recently, she's completed Fable Ranger II, in her MG Fairy Tale mashup series. Great stuff to look forward to!

She's also a part of Untethered Realms - a supernatural compilation of anthologies by a stunning group of authors - check it out on Goodreads.


Hope you have a great week!

And don't forget to enter my fun summer GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Writers Gone Wild!

It's summer!
As a teacher, I have more time to write and blog in the summer - yay me! At least I think I will, then my days seem to get filled by appointments, summer events, running kids around, and the chores I've been putting off because I'll have more time to do them this summer... Anyone else feel this?

But at least I've had my quiet mornings =)
So my Insecure Writers Support Group post this month is about having so much on my plate I want to get done! Here's my
Summer Writing To Do List:

• Finish typing up WINDY HOLLOW, so close I can smell the edit gnomes! they're stinky buggers - and unlike shoe elves who do the work for you while you sleep, edit gnomes nag you to get the job done, very motivating
• Polishing DISPOSAL (Pop Travel #3) - comes out in NOVEMBER! Woohoo!
• Publish Unconventional Princesses novella #2, TWO PRINCESSES - been waiting ages on the cover. So long that I am about ready to...
• Publish Unconventional Princesses novella #3, PRINCESS B - have to beef it up and get some illustrations...
• Then there's my latest obsession lurking and stalking me, very eager to be fleshed out - MAGIC STORM - Twins in London find ancient talisman and race against evil descendant to bring magic back to earth - debating to make it into a graphic novel, or submit to a publication as a monthly series... so many possibilities!
• I also would like to write the Christmas short story - A Harried Holiday, where Cooper takes Geri home to meet the family and solves a local mystery - gotta write this stuff months before the season for submission!
• And finally, I have not one, but two new novels to outline - the next Pop Travel #4 CONDUCTION and a new Christian YA novel FARTHER ALONG

Sorry for the rambling, but writing this all out really helped me organize my madness! 

Now, for the results of the latest Writer's Life Survey #7 - Time Mgmt - I so enjoy collecting this data and reading the answers!

Do you write every day?

Do you have a day job?

How do you make time to write?

• I just make the decision, block off a couple hours, and do it.
• I just sneak it in whenever I get a few minutes. Extended writing time is rare for me.
• I just ignore my to-do list.
• I try to force myself when I have the time. Doesn't happen very well.
• I have a lot of "down time" in my life, so whenever I'm inspired, it's easy to find time to write.
• I take a journal with my everywhere. If I can, I take my laptop, too.
• I gave up on sleep.
• Getting up early on my days off & making sure I don't turn on the TV :P
• I have a house to myself during the day, so I just have to be smart and not waste time. 
• Shut down everything and go somewhere quiet.
• while the kid is at school
• I've set a word goal of at least 650 a day. 500 is almost assured, so I upped it a little to challenge me, but not overwhelm myself.
• I stay at my desk during lunch and write instead of enjoying my meal elsewhere.
• I have a set time every night.
• Setting aside a certain time each day works, as well as going to a library or other place without distractions.
• I literally have to wrench it free.

Do you meet your daily writing goals?

Do you have any creative ways to save time you could pass along?

• Blog from work! Then it's like you're getting paid for blogging.
• Be ready to write at all times, so when that ten minute slot of free time opens up, you can take advantage of it.
• Write while the microwave is heating something up for lunch, write in the car (not while driving), and write before/after appointments in a waiting area. Saving time: um, cutting out commercials or anything commercial-like in my life. Use this time to socialize, do chores, or exercise.
• Set a timer for social media and just walk away when time is up. 
• Clump your chores into a block of time. Do email all at one time and not throughout the day, for example
• Hire a nanny?
• Making a list and checking things off.
• Shut off WiFi while writing, while keeping open any windows you need for research.
• Several came up with wishful ways…
• Hire a virtual assistant.
• Clone myself... ;)
• Don't do housework?

Great responses! I can totally relate to these. I was surprised at 50% with the jobs - I need to delve into that one! What about you? Can you relate?

This month, I'll be asking "lightning round" style questions for quick responses. Look for it mid June!

Lastly, I wanted to share about my school presentation... It went very well! I had it filmed so I could critique myself and I'll share a snippet of it with you... 

The kids did a great job! And I made notes on how to improve for next time - looking forward to it!

So what have you all got going on??? And I love to give you a shout out, just let me know what you need. HAPPY SUMMER KICK OFF!

**Also wanted to express my condolences and concern with all the hate spreading through the world lately - praying for solutions, safety, and peace.**

A Break in the Blog Party #writerslife Results!

It's Insecure Writers Support Group day!

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 =)

And here are some of the short answer responses...

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."

Tis the Season for Recommended Reads:
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?

Of Pens and Swords - #newbooks

I'm excited to have RENA ROCFORD visiting today as her latest book, OF PENS AND SWORDS just came out. It's a wonderful modernized YA from a cherished classic. AND she's taking over the blog with some great advice about making your Somedays into Todays. Here's Rena!

Thanks for letting me invade the blog today, Tara!

For years I’ve struggled with the somedays. You know them: Someday I’ll have my house perfect. Someday I’ll have all of my laundry done before the start of the week. Someday I’ll do a better job of making all the lunches so everyone has something to eat all week long and I don’t have to feel like a failure when I make the family eat mac and cheese for dinner (with hotdogs). Someday, I’ll finish writing this novel. Someday, I’ll finish this marketing campaign. Someday, I’ll really really be able to entertain my friends and family in my nicely landscaped backyard.

I’ve been living in the somedays for most of my life. Really, we all have. Isn’t it silly how much stress we give ourselves over laundry and housework? Like many people, I have a full time job and a gig as a writer, and you know what I don’t have? Somedays.

source: twitter

If I waited for my Somedays, I wouldn’t get to anything. There’s now and there’s tomorrow. It’s taken me a long time to really view my time like money. If you ever thought about how much time you spend on Facebook or instagram as money, or a fee per minute, you’d use it differently, right? I know I would. If FB cost a dollar a minute, I’d never hang out there. It doesn’t so we spend all the time we want there. It’s free, even. Except for one part: Facebook and instagram and pintrest and twitter aren’t free. They still cost one minute per minute.

And sometimes, I need a cat video because the real world sucks sometimes. Social media is good for that part of life—the getting away from the real world—but in the end, the only way to get to the somedays is to pick some of them and do them in the today.

But how do you pick which to pursue?

This is where you need peace. You need to make peace with the fact that some of your somedays will live in someday for a very long time (I just finished unpacking the boxes in my library, and we moved in a year ago). That doesn’t always mean they will stay somedays forever, but it’s not looking good for my getting into gymnastics if you know what I mean. Something happened last week, and my someday of weed whacking the front yard had to be put off for a full week. Somedays are just like that, and you need to make peace with it before you can move down that someday list. 

Of Pens and Swords

By Rena Rocford

Seventeen-year-old Cyra Berque wants two things in life: a date with Rochan and a chance to fence at the Olympics. But people with one hand don’t normally fence, and girls with big thighs don’t get the boy. Knowing that she wants to make the Olympics, Cyra’s coach sets her up with another coach, one who could take her all the way to the top, but the new coach costs more. Feeling her dreams slipping out of reach, Cyra agrees to tutor a ballerina with a rich father and a D minus in English. It’s triple the pay and triple the pain. The ballerina isn’t interested in passing classes―she wants Rochan, and she’s promised she’ll turn her D minus into a full-fledged F if Cyra doesn’t help her win the heart of Rochan. 

Buy it now on Amazon!

When Rena Rocford isn’t taking over the world one book at a time, she can be found living out her mild-mannered life, wearing out dance shoes, raising a herd of pets, and enjoying her time with her family in beautiful Northern California.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Time keeps on slipping...

A faceless woman
made of sand

walks along
an endless beach

Always ahead of me
leaving me behind
ever in my sight

I jog to catch up
I reach for her
I want to slow her down

Her hand disintegrates
in mine
and she keeps walking
at that same
steady
pace
not too slow
not too fast


May was the season for graduations. Seeing so many around me grow up and move on, I've been reminiscing about when they were little, running around on firefly-filled summer nights with flashlights playing Ghost in the Graveyard while we parents had a grand old time not having to pay attention to them... Good times.

I just took my big boys on a college visit. I only have them for one and two more years. It's hard to fathom. I don't feel any older, mentally. But I sure feel it when I wake up in the morning with my shoulder out of whack or my hand goes numb from blow-drying my hair. Does anyone else groan every time they get up out of a comfy chair?

Soon I'll be fifty years old... ah!

Which brings me to my Insecure Writer's Support Group post - If I ever lose my mind, I'd want to be put out of my ignorant misery. (You know what I mean, I'm already crazy!)

Today I'm not complaining. With summer here, I have many more opportunities to write and have written more this past week than the past two months, though I have been busy like a bee in a botanical garden. And I have so much waiting to be written, so many ideas and new ones all the time. I know there are many of you out there like me with lots of stories to write and little time to write them. I also know the slow pace can be a discourager in itself. So this month, this summer, I implore you to keep at it! Let's reach some writing goals - and be proud for any word counts or editing we can get done!

Make it a summer of accomplishments. I'll be checking in!


And NOW THIS!
At the end of the school year, I was so excited that one of my young fans got a group of friends to do their book club project on BROKEN BRANCH FALLS! And for part of their project they made a cute little commercial for it! (I hope it plays!) I was also invited to answer questions with their group - it was awesome! Times like that are what makes it all worth every painstaking moment!

That's what it's all about for me - getting kids excited about reading.

So what will you accomplish this summer? Because you can do it! I know you can!

#summer is coming

Are you ready? Do you have a plan?

As a teacher I'm supposedly going to have all this free time when school gets out. But usually when I find myself with extra free time, I squander it and get nothing done. Well, not so in the summer! (ha ha, yeah, right)

• I put together a master schedule that includes all of our activities - because we don't often sit still and if you need a ride or want to have a sleepover, you have to check the schedule.
• I post the Reading Chart - it has 50 days on it. The boys mark off each day they read. They get rewarded at the halfway point and the end. (This helps with their summer homework
• I hang the Things To Do When I'm Bored list - I update it yearly as they get older. I won't let them sit around and play video games or watch TV all day!
• I make a Chore Chart - one of the least favorite Things To Do, but these are required. I really ask so little of them!
• This year, I'm going to teach my older boys how to do laundry - some of you have already done this, but sometimes teaching my boys how to do something is more frustrating than just doing it myself.
• I'm also going to have my oldest plan a complete meal for our family. I had to do that for a project in a human civics class (I never took home ec) And I learned a lot from the experience.
• And all of that stuff is just for my boys!!

Here's what I hope to accomplish this summer, besides all the baseball games:

>> a lot of writing in the mornings while they sleep in, yay!

>> squeeze in a pilates class or two a week - wish me luck!

>> shop for myself once or twice

>> do several book events!! yay!

>> visit a blog friend or two, I'll keep you posted!

>> and tackle my basement!

The basement's been on my list every summer, but this is the year I can't put it off any longer. I only have about a year left with my oldest and I have to organize all his pictures and memories and (waaaaaahhhhh!) It's okay. I'll be all right. He sounds like he wants to go to college closer to home, so we'll still get to see him. I look forward to seeing how he turns out!

What plans do you have for the summer?

#Writing is Life

There is SO MUCH going on this week! Meme Blog Hop, Release Day, and IWSG!

First I want to thank all the participants in advance for joining our MEME BLOG HOP!

Here are a few I came up with...

(All you need to make a meme is a picture and a few words of lightness or encouragement - put them together in Paint or I used Powerpoint. There's also a meme app.)

Stop by my most awesome co-hostesses - Christine Rains, C. Lee McKenzie - and those on the list below for some further wonderful wittiness!


I also hope these memes are encouraging for IWSG day! Here's my contribution...

Some say "Life's not a sprint, it's a marathon."
I say, "Life's a never-ending obstacle course!"

Does anyone else feel pressure to show others that writing isn't just a hobby? Lately I've been submitting short stories, hoping to prove my writing is "worth" something and help pay bills... But these bits and pieces take time away from my novels, which I feel I need to continue to put out there, too!

I'm also scheduling more appearances to drum up business - marketing is an incredible time drain. I've got so many different projects going on at the same time, it's hard to prioritize and can get very stressful (and makes me grouchy) Sometimes I just feel lost.

I guess the key is to concentrate on one thing at a time. I hate to break it to you, but science has proven that multi-tasking is FICTION. Our brains can only truly concentrate on one thing at a time. Though it may seem like multi-tasking, it's just doing successive things quickly.

Another way I help myself is to make deadlines. I like deadlines, they're just more concrete goals. I prioritize my stuff and set soft dates to try and get them done by.
>>Try to work on WIP 1 hour a day (finish the dang thing so I can start editing!)
>>Blog posts have their own deadlines, so I do them. And try to visit!
>>Submissions have deadlines too - but if I don't finish those, there are plenty more, so I'm working on building up a file of ready-to-submit stories.

How do you keep your head above water??


And lastly -

JOLISSA IS AVAILABLE TODAY!!

JOLISSA - An Anti-Princess Story,

with ongoing video storybook

A trouble-making maiden, a clumsy out-of-work squire, a loyal puppy, and a talking goat go on a quest - What could go wrong?

I didn't plan a big launch day or tour or anything, but I want to say a huge THANKS to Susan Gourley-Kelley and MJ Fifield for volunteering to help spread the word! We'll see how this self-publishing goes. And the next story in my Unconventional Princesses series (of course it's a series), TWO PRINCESSES, is somewhere on my extensive TO DO LIST...

Have a positive and productive week!