“And everything under the sun is in tune But the sun is eclipsed by the moon”

by

Today if you live in the (semi) United States you have an opportunity to witness a marvel of nature. While eclipses happen all the time, this is a rare one that most of this country gets to see at least part of. Are you going to watch?

What an amazing event for a writer to witness! The corona of the sun visible, the changes in the earth as the eclipse happens. Birds will go silent or sing their nighttime songs, waves of shadows will flow over the ground. So many events in our history have been triggered by cosmic changes! What fodder for an author!

When you are fully in the sunshine, it is sometimes difficult to see everything clearly. I will sometimes get caught up in the daydreams of fame and that I will be discovered and everyone will love my stories. J.K. Rowling eat your heart out! Of course that would mean that I actually had to finish something, publish it, hope people find it, and then we will see if anyone loves it. After all, who doesn’t dream of shining in the sun.

But it is when I am out of the spotlight and in the shade that I can be honest with myself. I don’t write to be famous. No lie, yeah it would be nice to make some money writing, but I write because I want to, because I LOVE my stories and the worlds I create. By writing down my ideas and stories, I get to spend more quality time with them, exploring and wrapping myself in my creations. You know you have a character in your stories that you wish were real and want to be besties with.

Hopefully, someday I will get over what is stopping me from finishing my stories and actually publish one. Maybe some people will like them, for sure some people won’t, and I doubt I will ever be as successful as Ms. Rowling. But I am happy. I know the real reason why I write, and I am doing just that.

So have a wonderful mystical (but safe) day!

Paula

PS The post title is from the Pink Floyd song Eclipse off the album Dark Side of The Moon.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Author – know thyself!

by

Knowing who you are can really help you as an author. This is not some new age granola thing.  It’s about ways to hack yourself into doing better.

For example I am not a morning person, ever. I need to finish my coffee at a slow relaxed pace before I can talk. Knowing this, I don’t schedule any work meetings until after I am settled. Maybe you are not blessed to be self employed like me. When I worked for corporate America, I would get up in time so I could have a half an hour to chillax, have my coffee and breakfast, and wake the hell up.

When it is time for me to really power work, I have invested in some noise canceling headphones and have a butt-kicking playlist that allows me to focus, especially since I am a poster child for adult ADHD.

Speaking of my inability to sit still, I have lots of unique pieces of jewelry that I can fidget with in meetings without looking like a loon.

The headphone trick, by the way, once allowed me to complete NaNoWriMo in the last three days when chaos took over the earlier part of the month.

It is also really important to know yourself, so you can tell when you are getting overwhelmed and stressed. We are so used to putting our self care aside and ignoring warning signs that we actually get used to operating on a constant stress level.

Quick trick from Mr. Paula who is a shrink: Right now, put your hands on your neck. Go ahead. I will wait.

Are your hands colder than your neck? Then you are stressed. When your body senses that you are stressed it pulls the heat from your extremities to your core.

Being in a constant state of stress means you are not able to give your best to yourself, others, and your writing.

There is a difference between stress and excitement. Doing NaNoWriMo in three days was actually exciting and fun. My family got into the spirit and were cheering me on. Doing that for every NaNoWriMo would stress me out. Because, as someone who is a pantser in writing, I am a plotter in life.

And my hands are always toasty warm.

What do you do to deal with stress or treat yourself?

Have a great day!

Paula

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

What to do when you don’t know what to do.

by

Sometimes you get discouraged and feel like you are not getting anywhere with your writing. Perhaps like the rest of us, life happens. It can be really easy to be discouraged by the events going on around you and then something else happens on top of it just because.

My best friend passed away a few years ago, her husband two years before that. She had three adult boys, great kids, who we were privileged to envelop into our family. Today we had to take my girlfriend’s old dog to the vets. It looks like cancer and now the young men need to say goodbye to another link to their mother.

Life is wonderful, life is hard.

The two statements are true at the same time. We are really sad and I am girding my loins to deal with the heartbreak that is to come and to figure out the best way to help these young men. But I get so much joy from having them in my life. My girlfriend lives on through them. We almost lost the dog before, right after she died. But I was damned if I was going to let that happen then. We managed to save the dog, Meghan, and she was able to help the boys for a few more years. They are in a much better place.

What does this have to do with writing? Because I honestly didn’t want to post. I am tired, and worn out and didn’t know what to write about or if I even felt it was worth it.

But I sat down and just started. Five minutes. I can do five minutes.  Then five minutes turned into a post.

I don’t know if anyone will read this. I just know that I need to do this for me. Perhaps someone will read it and they will need to do just five minutes or one more baby step until you make it until the next moment when life is wonderful.

Have a good day.

Paula

Quick Link: Publishing Industry Cults, Weaponized Amazon Reviews, and Organized Cyberbullying

by

Quick links, bringing you great articles on writing from all over the web.

from the Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris has a great post on the darker side of writing. It is worth checking out.

~ * ~

Publishing Industry Cults, Weaponized Amazon Reviews, and Organized Cyberbullying

By

Over the years I’ve written  quite a bit about the dangers of author-on-author cyberbullying.

A few years ago, a group I called  “Mean Girls-meets-Lord of the Flies” terrorized authors on Goodreads and Amazon. A lot of us left Goodreads and never went back.

The ringleaders were mostly unsuccessfully self-published authors who harassed established stars as well as newbie writers. They criticized successful authors for their “greed” in charging money for their work and gamed Goodreads for free hard-copy books, which they’d give bogus one-star “reviews,” then sell unread on ebay.

Newbie authors who didn’t know the group’s unwritten “rules” were punished with sadistic glee.

They attacked victims with swarms of one-star “reviews” on Goodreads and Amazon that contained character assassination lies, personal attacks, rape threats, and even death threats — what I call “weaponized” reviews.

Read the full post on Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris

~ * ~

If you liked this article, please share. If you have suggestions for further articles, articles you would like to submit, or just general comments, please contact me at paula@publetariat.com or leave a message below.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The care and feeding of a blog or social media.

by

When a client comes to me and asks about starting a blog or what type of social media they should use, I give them what information they need for their particular situation but then I always add a caveat. “No matter what you choose, be prepared. It is like having a baby. You have to put a lot of time and effort into the regular care and feeding of it.”

Having a static site, where you have basic information is different. That is a place where you have the same information, such as your author bio and your book lists. But blogs and social media, by their nature, work best when they are regularly and consistently updated. Your fans and followers need to know what to expect.

With blog posts, I suggest that people start them and write regular posts but not publish them for a week or two. That gives you enough time for the thrill of the new task to wear off and authors can tell if this is something they want to keep on doing.  It can be really difficult to come up with new posts ideas after a while.  If you still want to blog after that, well then you have a supply of back up posts. You can use them when you have crazy days and not be up at 10 pm writing a post when you have to be up for work at 5:30 am for the next day. (I know, play me the worlds smallest violin!)

All of this being said, having a blog and engaging in social media is a wonderful benefit for authors and writers. You get to meet so many great people and learn so much from the experience. And of course, you can help spread the word about your projects.

While I am still finding my feet as a writer, I am an experienced software engineer as my day job. So in the coming weeks I will be writing some posts on how to deal with these technical issues. Feel free to pick my brain or suggest topics. Please also share any tips you have for dealing with your blogging or social media chores. Lets all help each other!

Have a great day!

Paula

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Quick Link: 4 Ways To Develop The Unique Voice Of Your Character

by

Quick links, bringing you great articles on writing from all over the web.

Once you get your own voice as a writer down, you need to then work on the voices of your characters. Their voice helps to define their personality in the reader’s mind. at The Creative Penn has some great tips on how to do this.

~ * ~

4 Ways To Develop The Unique Voice Of Your Character

by

Think about some of your favorite series – either books or TV shows. Why do you keep going back for more? 

It’s most likely to be about the characters because people are interested in people. We experience life vicariously through the experiences of others, real or fictional, and that’s why we love character-driven story. 

In today’s article, science fiction author Don Foxe outlines some ways to develop your character voice. 

For a character to become believable, they must present a unique voice.

When a reader believes this person could be real, you then have the opportunity to entertain with what they actually say. Their voice is not what they say, but how they talk. A lyricist may produce a beautiful message, but if the singer is off-key, we never hang around to hear the essence of the song.

Read the full post on The Creative Penn

~ * ~

If you liked this article, please share. If you have suggestions for further articles, articles you would like to submit, or just general comments, please contact me at paula@publetariat.com or leave a message below.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

When did you know you were a writer?

by

I wrote my first story in Mrs. Brosnan’s class in first grade. It was about Enormous the frog. He was an adventure frog and not a sissy frog but he rocked some serious red nail polish.  At least that is when my mother decided I was a writer. Hi mom.

For me being a story teller was second nature. I found that my imaginative skills were of great use in trying to get out of trouble, especially in High School when I missed a class. But being a great story telling is not the same as being a great writer.  Storytelling is easy and you make the rules up as you go along.

Writing is more. Much more.

Don’t get me wrong. Having a good story is really important, and I know of some great technical writers who just don’t do stories well. But a story is just the beginning of writing. You have to have good structure, good grammar,  good flow, and good grief!

So even though my mother might have faith in my ability as a writer, I am not sure. I have participated in NaNoWriMo for almost 10 years now but I haven’t come even close to finishing anything and to me, that is what will make me a writer. My final story doesn’t even need to be published, just finished.

How about you? When did you decide you were a writer?

Have a great day.

Paula

Save

Save

Save

What if Wes Anderson made S’mores? A little fun for your Monday : )

by

#FoodFilms reimagines recipe videos in the style of famous directors.

The others in the series:

What if Tarantino made Spaghetti & Meatballs?

What if Michael Bay made Waffles?

What if Alfonso Cuaron made pancakes?

Quick Link: The Best Writing Practice: Why You Need to Practice Differently

by

Quick links, bringing you great articles on writing from all over the web.

A great article by at The Write Practice! Learn how to focus on areas that you really need to improve on in order to get the most from your writing.

~ * ~

Read the full post on The Write Practice

~ * ~

If you liked this article, please share. If you have suggestions for further articles, articles you would like to submit, or just general comments, please contact me at paula@publetariat.com or leave a message below.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Why it is good to be different but also very scary!

by

I compare myself to more successful people all the time. I wish I could write as well as Niel Gaiman, write as humorously as Terry Pratchett, or as descriptively as Steven King. In some ways this is normal. We want to see if we match up and how good we are compared to other people.

There are so many problems in doing this. Comparing yourself to others is bad for you.

It was one of the reasons why it took me so long to take a chance on writing this blog. I would use the fact that I am not as whimsical, or funny, or grammatically correct and poised as other people. So I should wait until I get good enough.

The problem is there will always be someone you admire and think of as more qualified than you. It is a procrastination excuse based in fear.

You don’t know the doubts and struggles that many others have had on their way to becoming a successful writer. Maybe you haven’t had the practice or the time to put into your writing yet. Maybe your parents hated reading and never encouraged you. Maybe life happened. It happens to most of us. So by comparing yourself to the greats, you are being unfair to you. Who knows where you will go if you continue to work on your writing.

Another reason not to compare yourself to others is that they became successful because they are unique. If you try to imitate them, you are not being faithful to your own unique voice.

Aretha Franklin is amazing. She sings a cover of Bridge Over Trouble Waters that blows my mind every time I hear it. No one sings like her.

And that is the point. No one sings like her, or Bob Dylan, or Adele. That is why they are great.

So you do you. Because perhaps if you can’t find anyone who writes (or sings) like you, then you are on your way. Or you are William Hung. Either way, you are your own unique self.

Have a great day!

Paula

PS feel free to share any songs that help you through a Monday Morning!

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Women’s fashions through history

by

Need some inspiration for how women dressed throughout history? User at Imgur has a fantastic graphic of women’s fashion in every year from 1784-1970.

Quick Link: From an Engineer to an Author, I Find These Writing Tips Really Helpful

by

Quick links, bringing you great articles on writing from all over the web.

Hey, another engineer who transition to being an author! , who is the Founder and CEO of Lifehack, shares his tips on how to hack your writing skills. There is hope for me yet!

~ * ~

From an Engineer to an Author, I Find These Writing Tips Really Helpful

 

But I’m here to tell you that, as a fan of life hacks, I believe anyone can become a great writer with the right knowledge.

Making the transition from engineer to writer over the past 10 years, I’ve come across many of the common issues people encounter when they write and discovered the writing tips to allow them to write 10 times better.

We Aren’t Really Taught How to Write Well in School

Don’t feel disheartened if writing doesn’t come naturally to you. In this online age, more of us have the opportunity to put our ideas out there but struggle to know where to start when we sit down to do it.

One reason is we aren’t really taught how to write well in school. Much of the emphasis is put on grammar rules and fluency instead of developing the ability to write appealing and influential work.

Read the full post on Lifehack

~ * ~

If you liked this article, please share. If you have suggestions for further articles, articles you would like to submit, or just general comments, please contact me at paula@publetariat.com or leave a message below.

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Am I the only one who has fantasized about living in a library and why do you write the genre you do?

by

I love reading and I suspect most of you do too. It is all about the stories, right? Whether zombie apocalypse, plague, end-of-the-world-whatever, I am hauling my happy ass to a library! I would spend so much time reading everything and eating apples.

The act of reading is itself a pleasure. While I have genres I prefer to read, stick me someplace with only silly teen romances available and by golly I will read those suckers.

Dark confession time. I have read the Twilight series. My daughter swore to me that they were better than the movies.

She lies.

I couldn’t get Kristen Stewart’s voice out of my head for everyone one of Bella’s lines. It is still better than 50 Shades of Gray, just saying.

The point being, I am not tied to a particular type of book. But when I write, I stick to the fantasy genre. Because I am lazy and it is easier. Also I am trying to really improve the quality of my writing and not having to spend time worrying about the correct details helps.

Last NaNoWriMo I wrote a story based on La Carambada. A female Mexican bandit in 1870 who seriously kicked butt. This woman tried to save her French soldier lover from being killed and was betrayed by the governor. To get back at the government, she dressed like a man and took to robbing people and did it better than everyone else. To really rub in the humiliation in this machismo culture, she would bare her breasts so her victims knew they got beat up by a girl. She may have actually poisoned the officials who would not help her.

She needs a story told about her.

The problem is, that while I live in Southern California and I love the Mexican people and culture, there is no way I could do this story justice. Not in a way that it deserved.

Unless…

The story now takes place in a land that is loosely based on Europe during the 30 years war. Very loosely based. Now a young woman is trying to protect her fiancee and is betrayed by the lords of the land so in turn becomes a robbing-hood type character, fighting injustice and flashing her tatas.

No mess, no fuss. I love writing fantasy because there are no rules and anything goes.

So what about you? How did you pick the genre you like to write in?

Have a great day!

Paula

 

Save

Do you like Classic Comic Books? Do you like Free?

by

This is totally legal, totally legit. Ok, so you won’t find any new Marvel or DC comics, these are all classics that are in the public domain now. But still free comics! Head on over to Comic Book Plus to check it out!