Social Media and Platforms

Yes, those strikes of terror into the psyches of writers everywhere.

Since, like Scarlet O’Hara, I’ll think about that tomorrow, I only have vague queasiness now. Although when it does cross my mind — I almost put minds, since like most writers I seem to have more than one, helpful when there’s something boring going on you have to sort of pay attention to and other mind can be plotting character demise. Nothing to do with who you are listening to I am sure. Right?

But if I really let the social media and platform things come into view, terror is lurking at their elbow with an evil grin on their black formless faces.

Yes, I have a twitter and…. Oh, come on, I don’t even get here to update this blog as much as I ‘should,’ you think I’m over frolicking on twitter or something?

Not to mention it’s Spring. In Virginia. Did you not read my previous post - I’m not frolicking anywhere. Until all the pollen goes away anyway. Okay so according to the allergist mine never goes away, just sorrtta bad and worse. So I don’t really frolic. Sounds like I should though doesn’t it. Maybe we should all frolic. Let’s talk.

Yes, the other thing about having writer minds, they go off in different directions, a lot.

So back to social media and platforms.

If you are thinking about it - freaking out or not, you might want to check this post out for quick synopsis and talk about the different venues and tips and such.

But he doesn't cut anyone any slack on well being a slack-off really - in my case, the allergy and terror thing -- most of us disguise it with 'have no time to do it' ploy. And no, he doesn't buy it, and holds up his busy life as example. Don't you hate it when people 1 up you? Or have such worse busy lives? It's really hateful when it forces you to take stock of things before you are 'ready.' Sigh. Oh, well, other things call right now that need doing Now, so I'll just have to be 'Scarlett' again. Tomorrow is another day. And I'll figure it all out then.

And for certain friends of mine that will get this - You will Like the title of the blog -

MY NAME IS NOT BOB

Even tho' it's not in same context it still made me ******Grin************

Breathing and Black Holes

So…..I’ve almost been sucked into a black hole. Sortta.

….Actually that would explain a lot.

I’ve had to really scramble to escape it. Catching fingernails on the edge and slipping and climbing and…..

….. you buying that?

Okay, but breathing….well, Spring has come to Virginia, Early, Way early, so that has meant being in the springtime allergy fog a lot, already. Even when it was still technically winter! What’s with that!

But at least it’s finally Spring on the calendar. Except the weather is now summer not spring.

So another time warp has ensued.

Then there’s been the excavation digs into the storage containers for clothing to wear in the sudden unexpected heat. My husband wasn’t impressed by my archeological prowess. He insists it was just creating a mess. Course he’s the one with the clothes already in the prime spots. Snap, snap, his clothing exchange done.

So in addition to just ‘regular’ stuff there’s the spring cleaning and all that on top of it.

What to do but take a break with a cup of tea and try to breathe.

And take a look at a friend’s blog, where she talks about doing more by doing less, and being reminded to breath.

Got my attention. Yours?

Especially about taking 18 minutes and staying focused.

Do more by doing less, and staying focused and accomplishing your goals in 18 minutes. Yeah.

So yeah, it’s not quite that simple. But was some great things to think of and consider. And consider doing.

Here’s Cynthia’s blog to check it out for yourself.

And here’s they guy she talks about. Well, his site anyway.

Along with some other great points and things suggested there were these two questions to ask yourself.

Good ones to ask yourself, huh.

If I didn’t avoid needles as much as possible I’d want them tattooed somewhere. Where I could see it. Guess I’ll have to make do with putting them here.

Feel free to make your own decisions about making them a tattoo.

Key Questions:

• Am I doing what I most need to be doing right now?

• Am I being who I most want to be right now?

Resurrecting

Am I the only one that has partially finished manuscripts and stories languishing around in notebooks and bits of paper.

How do you determine if they still have life in them somewhere or they are dead, really dead, really door-know dead-dead?

I came across something recently that was talking about how to resurrect a stalled manuscript.

There were some interesting ideas, like doing research, if you are stalled. Take a bit of time to do research on your characters and find out more details that might give you a better grip on your characters, and thus your story.

It also talked about the conflicts in the story. Whether large or smaller. Taking a look at the conflicts, it suggested playing ‘What If’ with the characters and situations. That question alone can send most writers I know in so many different directions, that they won’t have to worry about jumper-cable-ing their story again.

Going along with previous post I did where I mentioned some writers keep their readers / critiques groups to their genre, one of these suggestions about if you are stuck, is to try writing in another genre.

I already write a bit of all over the place, so that’s not something I think about a lot. As to my writing anyway. I think about it in terms of marketing, but not with me as a writer.

A lot of other writers seem to stick to a particular genre, and type of story, and don’t understand my ‘eclectic’ needs to tell a story differently. But I’m okay with that. And now I found out that it can be a way to paddle-shock a dead or stalled story. Cool.

So what about you? Would you, have you, thought about writing something other than what you have / are used to?

Have suggestions for stalled or dead writing? And how to determine which is on the certificate - Revive, or Pull the Plug?

How to Come Back from the Edge?

When you are on the edge of throwing up your hands and giving in to your doubt of ‘is this worth it’ - how do you come back from that?

Or do you?

Whether it’s a manuscript or writing languishing dusty in hidden drawers, or just being tired of the struggle and self-doubts, how do you pick it up and keep going? Or do you?

For those of us that don’t have the ‘love of writing’ but have the whatever it is that compels us to write, is it even a choice really?

How do you keep believing in yourself and your writing, when it is often easier to do the opposite?

And why is it easier to believe the negative things about yourself and thus your writing, than it is the positive?

Which is why our choice of readers is so very important. Yes, we need Honest readers. But we need honesty as pertains to genuinely caring about both the person and the writing, not petty ….well, whatever it is that causes people to say horrible things to people about their writing. And yes, I’ve seen first-hand the damage that causes. Especially when writing, like any kind of artistic endeavor is just a matter of personal opinion. Even as readers we don’t all like the same things. [Thank goodness, would make books I want to read even harder to get hold of from library now wouldn’t it. ]

So it makes sense we all wouldn’t like the same writing. Or do the same writing. Horrors!

That doesn’t mean I’m saying that you have to only have readers that write the same as you, or only read the same things you do. I know some people do believe that, and that’s fine with me. It’s all a learning experience, some good, and some….well, I’ve already done a blog post about critique group difficulties.

So how do you keep believing in yourself as a writer?

The next post I will do - hopefully tomorrow… yes, yes, I know, lagging….a Lot… I will Try to post more often… like tomorrow I plan to post on Raising writing or a manuscript from the dead.

But if you are feeling empty, especially with your writing, then you’ll want to put Thursday, March 29, 2012 on your calendar for the James River Writers Writing Show -

Rejections & Resilience:
Fueling Creativity on an Empty Tank

If you’ve missed the Writing Shows, well, you’ve Really been missing great advice and information. [Not to mention mingling with other writers that probably understand a whole lot more than you think and might even have some helpful suggestions. Or at least commiserations. Chocolate might be involved. All I’m saying.

If you need something stronger than chocolate with writer commiseration, then don’t forget JRWs Writers Wednesdays at Capitol Ale House, Innsbrook Wednesday, March14, 2012. If you still want chocolate, try the chocolate ale. Uh, I Heard it was really good. ;) …all I'm sayin' ]

January’s Writing Show had great advice on how to be the best author for Bookstores.

I’ve been meaning to, and will try to get my notes transcribed soon on the Writing Shows, if you want. But since they are my notes, of what spoke to me, it’s really better if you come and take your own you know.

Critiques, or Not

So, how do you feel about Critiques and Critique partners or Critique groups?

There used to be a lot of controversy about whether they were really needed.

Some writers say absolutely. But then they seem to be in a very successful critique relationship of some kind, whether with partners or a group.

I have heard a Lot of people so damaged by ‘critiques’ that they are reluctant to share their writing efforts and do so very slowly.

I can understand that, I remember a JRW Writing Show a year or so back on the subject of critique groups. I remember the organizer of a successful one she was in telling me in no uncertain terms that a bad critique group was worse than not having one.

I came across this recently talking about Critique group.

Why a Critique Relationship is Crucial for Better Writing

Interesting perspectives about how it’s like finding a husband / mate, you do a lot of searching and a lot of kissing of toads.

Was also interesting, one of them believes you change and grow along the way as a writer so you will do that with critique groups as well.

What do you think?

By the way, critique according to definitions I find is ‘criticize’ but it’s not just bash someone with all the negatives, it’s giving an honest opinion, yes, but it’s about pointing out the things you Did like as well as the things you didn’t.

After all, it’s all just personal opinion, isn’t it? Even when agents are found and books are sold, it’s still about the personal opinion and trying to find others that agree with it enough to buy it.

If you are looking for a critique group to try James River Writers events are a good place to start. There’s usually a listing around of critique groups in the area.

And it just so happens there’s an event tonight, JRW Writing Show. So come see if you can find your Charming critique partners / group.

If too late notice here put March 14^th and March 29^th on your calendar, it’s the next JRW Writers events. March 14^th, Writers Wednesday - JRWs casual get-togethers, and yes, in a bar [Capital Ale - at Innsbrook for March], but a Different kind of bar scene…… well, maybe not so different if you like the analogy of finding a critique group like finding a mate…….

Guess that’s for you to decide. ;)

So what do you think about critique partners / groups? And what has your experience been, good? Or not so good?

And how are you working the critique thing?

How Expensive is Your Life

I know I’ve been absent from the ‘social’ sphere of things, not just from blogs, but all the rest as well. Do you ever get overloaded with everything in your life? All the to-dos. That are not getting all done.

Not to mention all the ‘real’ things in life to deal with, cooking cleaning, laundry…. and so on, and on, and on. More if you have children, husbands, jobs, etc…and all that goes with all that.

Never really ends, does it? And yes, I Do realize, and am Very Thankful, for the life I have and the wonderful husband I have. Still means there’s a Lot to do. And just because your life is different, doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges and troubles in all our lives.

To lighten things up a bit, sortta, I will say, Like dust bunnies. They happen to us all. Don’t they? If they don’t happen to you I want to know why and how. I think.

Sigh.

I am trying to get organized and make things easier to tackle. Course that means taking the time to get organized and things in place to begin with. Which is what I’ve been tackling. Still a work in progress. Although I am seeing progress. I’m pretty sure.

Even though I haven’t exactly kept up with blogs, and twitter, and the rest, I have been reading emails and such. [Yeah, you noticed I said reading. ;} ]

Which brings me to another reason I’ve been a bit absent here. I was gearing myself up to start posting more - okay, so I was trying to come up with more interesting things to say than talk about dust bunnies and cleaning and trying to keep ahead of those things, when I started getting emails about people leaving comments on old blog posts. They were flagged as suspicious so I deleted them. Okay so they were also in Russian and some people think I have problems with English let alone with another language….. But my smart husband said did you translate them before you deleted them?

…….

Yeah, that’s how blank I was. I plead dust mite overload, just so you know. [Nasty looking teeny little critters, btw.]

My husband isn’t all that proficient in languages either. His field, science. Yeah, told you, he’s smart.

So I did have a bit of reason to look at him blankly.

….. But yes, he did sigh. I’m pretty sure. [Yeah, like I’m sure That’s new.] Then proceeded to ask me where the Russian comments to my blog were… uh, deleted. Not to come back apparently no matter what beseeching I did while looking at the screen. But I did have the emails….

Google Trans. to the rescue. Translation.

Uh, I’m Really Really Sorry for all those people whose comments I deleted.

And espec. The comment -

'Subject: amusing blog Strange but true. Your life is expensive.'

Uh, I am not sure exactly how to take that - perhaps just a translation error, what do I know about languages and all. But made my brain go off into musings.

Oh, yeah, like your brain doesn’t? If you are a writer…. It does right?

I’ve read - I used to read a Lot, before guilt about not fighting dust bunnies and disorganization enough took over ---- anyway, I’ve read that for all the stuff we have we pay a price. To dust it, clean it, store it, …. you get idea. I’m not at hoarder stage, thank God, but I do have rather a lot of books. [ Books are our Friends. As are a lot of writers. ;-) ]

So yeah, there is a price for all the things in our lives.

And my brain started musing on the price of our lives…… and the price in terms of more than just money.

What price do we pay for our lives? What price to we pay for our dreams? Or for not following them?

What do we pay for our lives, not in just money terms, but all the rest of it?

Dangerous path to trod, huh?

And to avoid that path, for the moment anyway, I shall get back to organizing and cleaning, and oops, that load of laundry still in the dryer, and the one in the washer that needs to go to the dryer. [And there’s going to have to be all the folding and putting away at some point.]

Then there’s always the great distraction and education that goes on at the James River Writing Shows - which there is one tomorrow night for you to come to and check out.

And since I’ve had rather a heads up on the March Writing Show, I will let you know you should definitely put that on the calendar now to go to. That’s all I’m saying about it. For now. ;)

The Writing Shows are such a small price to pay for what they give you.

And what price do you pay for your life?

Is your life expensive?

Finding Your People

I’m not talking about relatives or people you are related to. Or probably not. But it is the South, and those of us raised in or around the South know how those things go. [If you don’t, you’re obviously not from around here. ‘nuff said?]

What I’m really talking about is finding people you can relate to. And as a lot of us know, Especially in the South, that’s not necessarily your relatives.

It’s nice to have someone to talk to. That understands you. And hopefully respects you and your work. [See above South comments]

It’s Especially nice to have all that when you are a writer. Especially a ‘beginning’ writer. Or maybe just a struggling one, no matter how ‘beginning’ you are.

It’s what a writer friend refers to as finding people from the same planet so you don’t feel like such an alien.

And haven’t we all had enough of Those experiences!

Some writers get that understanding from on-line communities and groups.

Luckily in the Richmond, Virginia area, there’s James River Writers. And all the opportunities they offer to meet up with writers, of all kinds and types.

Every month, the second Wednesday of every month, there’s Writers Wednesday, a casual get together where writers can come and feel like a part of the same planet. No matter how alien their writing and characters really are.

That’s the Second Wednesday of the month. Like February 8^th is the 2^nd Wednesday. Yes, Tonight!

Writers Wednesday is rotating around the Richmond area so all writers have an opportunity to come and meet others that understand. Feb., Mar., April will be at Capital Ale in Innsbrook, you lucky West End people you.

Sign up for the JRW e-letter for updates and notices of all the writerly happenings in the area. And check out the old JRW site for now, but get ready to check out the New one that will be launching the end of February.

Something to look forward to. Just like the JRW Writing Show that is the Third Thursday of the month.

Every month gives you opportunity to meet your alien…..er, your relatives in the writing world. Just like being on the same planet.

Sometimes a weird writing planet, but at least you know you aren’t alone.