Friday, 8 February 2013

Leona's joined me today... She's talking about finding your mojo



Just look at these fabulous covers!






  I'm in drooling heaven! And you just know the story will be as great as the cover.



Why, oh why, did I ever tell Raven I'd give her a guest blog? Just the idea of her reading my writing is intimidating. Silly. Her writing is fabulous. In fact, reading something of hers helped me find my spark—my writing mojo. 

( Oh my goodness, I'm blushing, R )

So here I am, trying to shake loose all the wonderful ideas that have floated through my head this week and all I'm getting is a complete blank. With maybe a dash of fear, but who's counting? I'm currently (and again!) working on the sequel to The Ulfric's Mate. I'm about half way through it, and almost half way through the third book.

There are a lot of reasons this isn't finished. Not the least of which was editing The Ulfric's Mate, and it's prequel, Barely There in the Ravaged anthology. But what it amounts to is fear. If  you're following my interviews/guest blogs, then you know losing my editor through me for a loop. A major one. Again, silly.  I write, literally, a couple hundred thousand words a year.

I've heard some people's opinions you can't write well if you write 5k in a day. I call bullocks. Some people might not, but others, have the imagination AND TYPING SKILLS—don't forget to count that in when thinking of what a person can reasonably produce—and focus and TIME to do it. My best stories are the ones that I sit down and write out 4-8k a day. Partly because the momentum is there and it helps with continuity.

As I was saying, I write literally, a couple hundred thousand words a year. Wrote twice that many the year before I had an editor. And all of the sudden, I can't write? How did my sense of my own ability get wrapped up into my editor?

ACCEPTANCE.

What a trap to fall into. So, as I work through this, I'm completely going nutso by writing shorts for anthologies. Crimson, which I believe is expected out March 1st, and Serviced, March 8th, and definitely my holiday read, The Captain's Christmas, all are a direct result of trying to get my confidence back. LOL and now that I list all of that…I also wrote Rick Sexed Up the Doc and edited these stories ALL IN THE PAST YEAR. And I wrote other shorts and things to send off to other editors. Wrote a HUGE chunk on a fantasy (on which, I need to completely rewrite the beginning. Sigh.) Added 10k to a zombie story, and edited on it.

I think I can quit feeling sorry for myself, don't you? For, although I may not be able to live up to the awesomeness that is Raven (she's not paying me to say these things, but mayhap I should hit her up?),
( Ha, ha, have some chocolate) I still released a full length novel, two novellas/shorts, and an anthology, with two more coming out under contract all written and accepted. Not bad for a years time, not bad.

What's my point? er, when you find out, let me know, k? jk jk My point is, work hard, don't put your identity with one person, And don't forget how far you've come.

I'm going to give away a copy of a book of mine, READERS CHOICE, INCLUDING THE NEW ANTHOLOGIES WHEN THE GET HERE, if 15 of our lovely friends will comment. Either tell me what you do when you get stuck like I did (from loss of confidence) or tell me how far you've come in the past 12 months? What's improved?

 Wow, what a fabulous post. So let's get those comments flowing. And I am truly humbled to think I helped.

 You can catch Leona  and her books here

http://www.breathlesspress.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=Bushman&x=25&y=9

Happy Reading,

Love R x



Posted by Raven McAllan at 06:04

6 comments:

  1. Aurelia B Rowl8 February 2013 at 06:55

    Fabulous post!

    Whenever my mojo wanes, I grab my kindle and read...and read...and then read some more. By then my muse is screaming at me to get the laptop fired up and get cracking, with another half a dozen ideas whirling through my head.

    The past twelve months has been quite surreal for me. It's only fifteen months since I decided to try my hand at writing but already have one novella published and an anthology imminent. Now I just need to find the time and discipline to get the next one finished o_O

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    1. Leona9 February 2013 at 22:58

      Thanks :) And yes!! READ,READ, READ. My art prof had a saying that I've stolen as my own. "You cannot create in a vaccuum." Reading is ESSENTIAL.

      AND GO YOU! I know from experience, you are an excellent marketier and I'm absolutely ecstatic to be in the Serviced anthology with you. Yes, in fifteen months, you've come a long way, baby!!

      Delete
  2. Anonymous8 February 2013 at 09:27

    Great post Leona, and can definately relate to it! I always tend to feel like I should be doing 'more' but to say have only really being writing properly for just over a year then have had a novella accepted and published, three anthologies coming out in the next few months, managed to complete Nano for the first time and have now edited and subbed it. Plus, of course, various WIPs coming along. It's not so bad when you read it like that :)
    Good luck with the releases - am excited we'll be in the Serviced antho together!

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    Replies
    1. Leona9 February 2013 at 23:01

      *a loud squee leaks out* Me too! Me too!! *jumps up and down* This Serviced antho is going to be WONDERFUL and HOT HOT HOT!

      And holy cow, girl. Or should I say, what a cowgirl! You got on that writing horse and rode west straight into gold territory! Keep it up!!

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  3. Anonymous8 February 2013 at 13:28

    Fabulous post! And I so agree with this:

    "I've heard some people's opinions you can't write well if you write 5k in a day. I call bullocks. Some people might not, but others, have the imagination AND TYPING SKILLS—don't forget to count that in when thinking of what a person can reasonably produce—and focus and TIME to do it. My best stories are the ones that I sit down and write out 4-8k a day. Partly because the momentum is there and it helps with continuity."

    Amen to that! As a prolific author myself I get sick and tired of hearing comments like that. I go through phases of not writing much and phases of doing nothing but, and my best stories are the ones when I can't stop typing because the voices are so strong in my head. Funnily enough they also need the least editing.

    Write on, whichever way or speed for that matter suits you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leona9 February 2013 at 23:04

      I'm so glad to hear you say this!! I've read your writing. *blushes as she recalls the blog hop samples* er, excuse me a minute. I need to, er, fan?, myself. *ahem*

      And yes, exactly!! When the voices are talking, write on!! I've recently told my CP partner something along these lines. When she's not working, she can throw out 3-5k as well.

      I love your closing line. May have to put it as my signature of my email :D LOL

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