Hello and Happy Friday--again,
I’m writing—I have to—but I’m also doing a lot of reading and not just fiction, non-fiction as well, and it’s wonderful. I usually don’t read much non-fiction because I believed (or once believed) most especially the scientific works would be above my head—too intellectual—or worst; boring. But I’ve found it not to be true by seeking out books I find deeply interesting and are written on a level that’s down to earth and understandable and if a good story is throw in them I’m sold.
For example, I read this great book titled: Superthief: A Master Burglar, the Mafia and the Biggest Bank Heist in US History. Now, with a title like that I couldn’t keep away from it and I found to my delight it was a terrific narrative for a number of reasons, one; it was written with Phil Christopher, the main character of the story telling about his life in his own words, the author of the novel, Rick Porello, jumped in now and again but he let Mr. Christopher tell his own tale and it made for easy and enticing reading learning about Mr. Christopher and his criminal adventures. Two, Mr. Christopher was from my hometown and named many places I knew which kept me turning the pages because of the familiarity as if he were a neighbor--a crooked neighbor--but a neighbor just telling me his story, an absolute great read.
Another title: Satan’s Circus: Murder, Vice, Police Corruption and New York’s Trial of the Century, it sounds so great I hope it lives up to my expectations. Bottom line, it’s all non-fiction and what it has in common that makes me so eager to read them is that the topic of each novel is intriguing, they are written in a concise and not overwhelming manner and are about topics I find interesting,this combination makes me look forward to devouring the next and the next knowing I’ll learn in the bargain as well as be delighted by the larger than life stories.
Talk to you soon and keep on writing.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Friday, April 25, 2008
Hello and Happy Friday,
I promised two posts today because I forgot to publish last weeks, I created it but forgot to click publish the post; sometimes my mind just gets away from me. Well anyway, here's the first of today's posts and I promise to make them brief since you get double the post and double the fun.
I of course know very little about the things I love to write about so need help on many occasions. A few weeks ago I found D.P. Lyle, a physician, who's also an award winning writer, a consultant to crime and medical shows and who hosts a site called The Writers Forensic Community -- D.P. Lyle, MD The Writers Medical and Forensic Lab http://www.dplylemd.com , you have to review his site because the assistance he provides is outstanding. I sent a question to him about Owen who lands in a terrible situation in the second novel and if he could die in this situation and Dr. Lyle not only answered my question in the same day, what really put the icing on the cake was that he thinks both as a doctor and as a writer; he was able to give me a few points on why this or that couldn't work in the story plus answer my medical questions.
Having someone willing to help and is as informative as Dr. Lyle is invaluable to us writers; especially writers who want to make sure what we put out there to our readers-- though fiction is close to fact making the experience of our stories as real to the readers as we can get.
If you have any comments or suggestions, please e-mail me at: matwrite1@hotmail. com. I’ll love to hear from you.
Until next time, God willing,
Lori
I promised two posts today because I forgot to publish last weeks, I created it but forgot to click publish the post; sometimes my mind just gets away from me. Well anyway, here's the first of today's posts and I promise to make them brief since you get double the post and double the fun.
I of course know very little about the things I love to write about so need help on many occasions. A few weeks ago I found D.P. Lyle, a physician, who's also an award winning writer, a consultant to crime and medical shows and who hosts a site called The Writers Forensic Community -- D.P. Lyle, MD The Writers Medical and Forensic Lab http://www.dplylemd.com , you have to review his site because the assistance he provides is outstanding. I sent a question to him about Owen who lands in a terrible situation in the second novel and if he could die in this situation and Dr. Lyle not only answered my question in the same day, what really put the icing on the cake was that he thinks both as a doctor and as a writer; he was able to give me a few points on why this or that couldn't work in the story plus answer my medical questions.
Having someone willing to help and is as informative as Dr. Lyle is invaluable to us writers; especially writers who want to make sure what we put out there to our readers-- though fiction is close to fact making the experience of our stories as real to the readers as we can get.
If you have any comments or suggestions, please e-mail me at: matwrite1@hotmail. com. I’ll love to hear from you.
Until next time, God willing,
Lori
Monday, April 21, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Hello and Happy Friday,
I just sent an e-mail to Ms. Karen Long; he book editor for my city’s main newspaper, The Plain Dealer. Ms. Long and I have written a few e-mails back and forth because I’m asking if she'd consider reviewing, You Don’t Know Me. I sent the book to her (along with my press kit) a few months ago but didn’t hear a thing. A couple of weeks ago I got up the nerve to send her an e-mail and she responded. Ms. Long let me know she receives three to four hundred books—published by traditional press mostly—weekly, can you believe it? So, if any self-published show up in the count they are out of luck for that reason and for another, she does not normally review self-published novels. Yet, Ms. Long let me know if I sent her the book again she would give it a second look; I wonder if she’d given it a first and didn't like what she saw?
Anyway, I sent the book last week and of course haven’t heard a word. I let Ms. Long know I would accept a good or bad review; the bad, because I believe Stephen King (I could be wrong) said, " A review is a review—someone’s paying attention--and you can learn from them all." Between you and me, I’m on the glass-is-half-empty side when it comes to the review; I don’t expect a good one for a number of reasons, some not based on fact, most on feelings. On the fact side, a number of people go to self-published work with the already established belief it will not be good, though I don’t know if Ms. Long falls into this category as a well-renowned book editor, I can’t imagine she does, though you never know. I don’t want to expect a good review because the chances I will get a good one are not very good—too many goods; but its how I’m feeling. And oh my God, if I get a bad review and every one sees it, terrible. Oh well, it’s what I asked for and I’ll have to get over it. Lastly, Ms. Long may not want to review it at all, making all my angst for not.
I did a cable tv interview for the book on Wednesday and wasn’t frozen nervous while doing it, I was able to talk about the book so folks could understand what I was saying and surprisingly for my first television interview, it was fun. I will be hosting a book signing next month at my local Barnes and Nobles and I’m looking forward to it and not trying to worry too much that only my family and friends will show, I’m going to try to make it the best signing I’ll ever have (I mentioned this last week) I mean it. About the review, if it’s done (a possible big if) I know for sure it’ll be good or bad so it's best I concentrate on what I can control, that those readers who see the interview or come to the book signing; know I’ve written the best book I could and that they should take a chance on it because it will be worth their time.
Keep at the writing.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
I just sent an e-mail to Ms. Karen Long; he book editor for my city’s main newspaper, The Plain Dealer. Ms. Long and I have written a few e-mails back and forth because I’m asking if she'd consider reviewing, You Don’t Know Me. I sent the book to her (along with my press kit) a few months ago but didn’t hear a thing. A couple of weeks ago I got up the nerve to send her an e-mail and she responded. Ms. Long let me know she receives three to four hundred books—published by traditional press mostly—weekly, can you believe it? So, if any self-published show up in the count they are out of luck for that reason and for another, she does not normally review self-published novels. Yet, Ms. Long let me know if I sent her the book again she would give it a second look; I wonder if she’d given it a first and didn't like what she saw?
Anyway, I sent the book last week and of course haven’t heard a word. I let Ms. Long know I would accept a good or bad review; the bad, because I believe Stephen King (I could be wrong) said, " A review is a review—someone’s paying attention--and you can learn from them all." Between you and me, I’m on the glass-is-half-empty side when it comes to the review; I don’t expect a good one for a number of reasons, some not based on fact, most on feelings. On the fact side, a number of people go to self-published work with the already established belief it will not be good, though I don’t know if Ms. Long falls into this category as a well-renowned book editor, I can’t imagine she does, though you never know. I don’t want to expect a good review because the chances I will get a good one are not very good—too many goods; but its how I’m feeling. And oh my God, if I get a bad review and every one sees it, terrible. Oh well, it’s what I asked for and I’ll have to get over it. Lastly, Ms. Long may not want to review it at all, making all my angst for not.
I did a cable tv interview for the book on Wednesday and wasn’t frozen nervous while doing it, I was able to talk about the book so folks could understand what I was saying and surprisingly for my first television interview, it was fun. I will be hosting a book signing next month at my local Barnes and Nobles and I’m looking forward to it and not trying to worry too much that only my family and friends will show, I’m going to try to make it the best signing I’ll ever have (I mentioned this last week) I mean it. About the review, if it’s done (a possible big if) I know for sure it’ll be good or bad so it's best I concentrate on what I can control, that those readers who see the interview or come to the book signing; know I’ve written the best book I could and that they should take a chance on it because it will be worth their time.
Keep at the writing.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Hello,
I’m apprehensive today because of something I have to do next month, my first book signing. I’m nervous which is understandable; it’ll be my first but what makes me wring my hands is that I’m not going to be doing the signing alone, but with another writer named Kimberly Mckenzie (http://www.booksbykim.com). I checked out her site which is pretty nice and read about her first novel and the announcement that she has four more ready for future publication. She appears to be a very smart person, a seasoned and ambitious writer; so, I’ve been picturing the session and the picture has not been perfect.
I see Ms. McKenzie having people lined up at the door to sign her novel and she's so poised and confident as she works her crowd while I’m the opposite, near paralyzed with out a reader in sight. Okay, my imagination is working over time as usual; the only things that quell my nervousness-turning-to-sick-nervousness are a couple of points: she and I write different types of novels; I write crime/mystery/thriller fiction and she appears to write more African-American romance novels; I may pull in the mystery readers and she the romance; the day of the signing will be a day before Mother’s Day and people might take a chance on picking up something new and fresh to read to give as presents to their moms and give my novel go and lastly, I will be getting the word out as much as I can about my book before the session to bring in people (I hope) who are eager to read about Owen and his trials and tribulations.
So should I still feel nervous about my first signing? Of course; I can’t help it; I’ll feel this way until its over, but what I must do is make this the first of the best book signings I'll ever have, push the nervousness out, smile, and act as if I hadn’t a worry in the world all in the name of selling novels and more importantly, finding readers who will love the novel and the future ones.
Talk to you soon and keep on writing.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
I’m apprehensive today because of something I have to do next month, my first book signing. I’m nervous which is understandable; it’ll be my first but what makes me wring my hands is that I’m not going to be doing the signing alone, but with another writer named Kimberly Mckenzie (http://www.booksbykim.com). I checked out her site which is pretty nice and read about her first novel and the announcement that she has four more ready for future publication. She appears to be a very smart person, a seasoned and ambitious writer; so, I’ve been picturing the session and the picture has not been perfect.
I see Ms. McKenzie having people lined up at the door to sign her novel and she's so poised and confident as she works her crowd while I’m the opposite, near paralyzed with out a reader in sight. Okay, my imagination is working over time as usual; the only things that quell my nervousness-turning-to-sick-nervousness are a couple of points: she and I write different types of novels; I write crime/mystery/thriller fiction and she appears to write more African-American romance novels; I may pull in the mystery readers and she the romance; the day of the signing will be a day before Mother’s Day and people might take a chance on picking up something new and fresh to read to give as presents to their moms and give my novel go and lastly, I will be getting the word out as much as I can about my book before the session to bring in people (I hope) who are eager to read about Owen and his trials and tribulations.
So should I still feel nervous about my first signing? Of course; I can’t help it; I’ll feel this way until its over, but what I must do is make this the first of the best book signings I'll ever have, push the nervousness out, smile, and act as if I hadn’t a worry in the world all in the name of selling novels and more importantly, finding readers who will love the novel and the future ones.
Talk to you soon and keep on writing.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Hello and Happy Friday,
I’m working on publicity for You Don’t Know Me and I've committed to a book signing at my local Barnes and Noble in July or August, I have to secure the date because it’ll be along with another local writer. This will be my first signing at a book store and I of course don’t have much experience on what is needed to make a book signing a great one, though I’m sure the book store will advise me and I will “research” it of course.
As a matter of fact, I was going through some back issues of Writer’s Digest Magazine and found exactly what I needed, an article on how to work a book signing; it was right on time with some great pointers; but what really surprised me, was reading an article I really could use. It’s not that I haven’t gotten some wonderful and useful information from articles and stories I’ve read over the years in Writer’s Digest and The Writer Magazine: pieces on grammar, structure and plotting; advice from famous writers or lists of places to send my writing, its just this was the first time I needed advice on what to do when you've got an actual novel out in the world. Usually I’m devouring the stories on how to write, not those on what to do after you’ve written and published; I’m moving forward and I’m thrilled by it.
One book down. Now for the second one and the rest!
Write, write, write.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
I’m working on publicity for You Don’t Know Me and I've committed to a book signing at my local Barnes and Noble in July or August, I have to secure the date because it’ll be along with another local writer. This will be my first signing at a book store and I of course don’t have much experience on what is needed to make a book signing a great one, though I’m sure the book store will advise me and I will “research” it of course.
As a matter of fact, I was going through some back issues of Writer’s Digest Magazine and found exactly what I needed, an article on how to work a book signing; it was right on time with some great pointers; but what really surprised me, was reading an article I really could use. It’s not that I haven’t gotten some wonderful and useful information from articles and stories I’ve read over the years in Writer’s Digest and The Writer Magazine: pieces on grammar, structure and plotting; advice from famous writers or lists of places to send my writing, its just this was the first time I needed advice on what to do when you've got an actual novel out in the world. Usually I’m devouring the stories on how to write, not those on what to do after you’ve written and published; I’m moving forward and I’m thrilled by it.
One book down. Now for the second one and the rest!
Write, write, write.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Hello,
I don’t talk very much about research though it’s important and it’s been on my mind because I’ve been asked, “How did you know about this or that? Or, “Where did you come by that information?” I always give the same answer, “Reading” meaning; research and though I don’t love it, I just realized I don’t mine it either because it’s a total necessity for me. I am not a rocket scientist and the subjects I love writing about I know almost nothing about, actually less than nothing so I have no choice but to learn all I can about my topic, yet the great thing about this is that what I need to know about I am one-hundred percent interested in which makes the learning, the research not a problem.
For the second novel in the Owen Story trilogy I had to learn about Gulag and found this was the name of the state system that developed the harsh prison system, not the name of the prison camps, it just eventually came to be that the camps themselves became known as the Gulag or Gulags, and reading about the history of the system kept me glued to the pages until I read numerous articles on the subject, it was riveting—at least to me. I’m blessed to write stories with very surprising plot points, twists and turns and steady prose I find interesting, wonderful and feel the reader will find just as terrific.
The research, the reading, the learning is just part of the deal and it makes my stories all the more real, believable and true which is exactly what I look for in the stories I choose to take my time—which is so precious to us all—to experience and hopefully, love.
Write.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
I don’t talk very much about research though it’s important and it’s been on my mind because I’ve been asked, “How did you know about this or that? Or, “Where did you come by that information?” I always give the same answer, “Reading” meaning; research and though I don’t love it, I just realized I don’t mine it either because it’s a total necessity for me. I am not a rocket scientist and the subjects I love writing about I know almost nothing about, actually less than nothing so I have no choice but to learn all I can about my topic, yet the great thing about this is that what I need to know about I am one-hundred percent interested in which makes the learning, the research not a problem.
For the second novel in the Owen Story trilogy I had to learn about Gulag and found this was the name of the state system that developed the harsh prison system, not the name of the prison camps, it just eventually came to be that the camps themselves became known as the Gulag or Gulags, and reading about the history of the system kept me glued to the pages until I read numerous articles on the subject, it was riveting—at least to me. I’m blessed to write stories with very surprising plot points, twists and turns and steady prose I find interesting, wonderful and feel the reader will find just as terrific.
The research, the reading, the learning is just part of the deal and it makes my stories all the more real, believable and true which is exactly what I look for in the stories I choose to take my time—which is so precious to us all—to experience and hopefully, love.
Write.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Hello and happy Friday!!!
Happy to make it to this day to write to you; I just love writing in mostly all its forms. I have signed up to take editing and grammar classes in July at Cleveland State University; both are one day classes and I’m looking forward to them. I can always use a brush up. While writing I sometimes come across a piece in my work whose idea I need to get across perfectly but can’t find the words to convey what I mean because my vocabulary isn’t that large or my understanding of certain words and how to use them isn’t that great, so taking a grammar class at anytime is a plus for me.
And editing, it’s extremely hard for me to self-edit which is the case for most writers I believe. I am so bad at self-editing my work, I take it to the extreme by getting rid of things that are useful and possible crucial to the story because I’m afraid of being too wordy or using three words when one could do or paragraphs that have more than eight sentences, I cut most everything which is not the way to edit. So by taking a course on editing (and grammar) every chance I get, I can brush up on what I know and learn what I don’t so that when I approach the editing process it will be with less trepidation.
And its never too late to learn something new, a better way to do something especially when it comes to writing because for me; I always want to improve so that my writing is so seamless to the reader he is joyfully amazed at the story as a whole and only by knowing what I’m doing grammatically or learn what to keep in or take out can I leave my readers with that great experience.
Write well.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Happy to make it to this day to write to you; I just love writing in mostly all its forms. I have signed up to take editing and grammar classes in July at Cleveland State University; both are one day classes and I’m looking forward to them. I can always use a brush up. While writing I sometimes come across a piece in my work whose idea I need to get across perfectly but can’t find the words to convey what I mean because my vocabulary isn’t that large or my understanding of certain words and how to use them isn’t that great, so taking a grammar class at anytime is a plus for me.
And editing, it’s extremely hard for me to self-edit which is the case for most writers I believe. I am so bad at self-editing my work, I take it to the extreme by getting rid of things that are useful and possible crucial to the story because I’m afraid of being too wordy or using three words when one could do or paragraphs that have more than eight sentences, I cut most everything which is not the way to edit. So by taking a course on editing (and grammar) every chance I get, I can brush up on what I know and learn what I don’t so that when I approach the editing process it will be with less trepidation.
And its never too late to learn something new, a better way to do something especially when it comes to writing because for me; I always want to improve so that my writing is so seamless to the reader he is joyfully amazed at the story as a whole and only by knowing what I’m doing grammatically or learn what to keep in or take out can I leave my readers with that great experience.
Write well.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Hello, how are you this Friday?
I listened to an interview yesterday with Dennis Lehane, the writer of Mystic River, http://www.dennislehanebooks.com. It was a good one, informative for two reasons: first, Mr. Lehane had a hard time talking about his work, his writing process and at first you would’ve thought it was because he was nervous—he was and it came through (most writers have trouble talking about themselves)—but I believe it was more, its hard to talk about writing, your writing and how you do it because most times writers don’t have a clue how its done. The mechanics, yes; you sit down in front of the blank page and get on with it; the getting on with it is the mystery.
I have been asked the questions: “How did you know what would happen next? How did you come up with that character and what he should be doing?” The true answers to those questions are involved, my fist answer is: “I haven’t a clue” the next “it’s complicated, so complicated I can’t define it.” The closes I can get to my writing is that it’s a process of layers; ups and downs, starts and restarts, mistakes and upsets, breakthroughs and drawbacks that go on for a very long time until I “think” I’m finished with it, have tied up all loose ends and filled in all the holes to something I want to believe is very readable and enjoyable.
As writers we all have our individual “process” but to put words to how it works is hard to do, so I suggest if you don’t have to—don’t, it’s not as important as making it work for you whatever it is, to get the work done, creating the story no matter how you have to do it; this is what its all about: writing.
Keep at it, its absolutely worth it.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
I listened to an interview yesterday with Dennis Lehane, the writer of Mystic River, http://www.dennislehanebooks.com. It was a good one, informative for two reasons: first, Mr. Lehane had a hard time talking about his work, his writing process and at first you would’ve thought it was because he was nervous—he was and it came through (most writers have trouble talking about themselves)—but I believe it was more, its hard to talk about writing, your writing and how you do it because most times writers don’t have a clue how its done. The mechanics, yes; you sit down in front of the blank page and get on with it; the getting on with it is the mystery.
I have been asked the questions: “How did you know what would happen next? How did you come up with that character and what he should be doing?” The true answers to those questions are involved, my fist answer is: “I haven’t a clue” the next “it’s complicated, so complicated I can’t define it.” The closes I can get to my writing is that it’s a process of layers; ups and downs, starts and restarts, mistakes and upsets, breakthroughs and drawbacks that go on for a very long time until I “think” I’m finished with it, have tied up all loose ends and filled in all the holes to something I want to believe is very readable and enjoyable.
As writers we all have our individual “process” but to put words to how it works is hard to do, so I suggest if you don’t have to—don’t, it’s not as important as making it work for you whatever it is, to get the work done, creating the story no matter how you have to do it; this is what its all about: writing.
Keep at it, its absolutely worth it.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Hello,
Yesterday, I received one of the best compliments I could’ve received for my book. A reader first told me reading You Don’t Know Me made her anxious, she couldn’t put it down because she had to know what was going to happen and had no idea what would happen next so was surprised; a good compliment but better was that she said and I quote “I didn’t find you anywhere in the story”. That was a wonderful compliment, exactly what I was looking for. A reader finding any part of me in the story would have been tragic, and I know you as a writer, understands this.
“If it sounds like writing, rewrite it.”; this is one of Elmore Leonard’s rules and it means: get (the me) out the way of the writing, the story, or you’ll have a bad novel and I of course can’t have that. Having the reader fall into the hole of the story is the ultimate, enjoying the novel so much she wants to get it read in one sitting, is the goal, the pleasure for me as a writer and I can’t ask for anything less.
Write.
If you have any comments or suggestions please let me know, my e-mail address is: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Yesterday, I received one of the best compliments I could’ve received for my book. A reader first told me reading You Don’t Know Me made her anxious, she couldn’t put it down because she had to know what was going to happen and had no idea what would happen next so was surprised; a good compliment but better was that she said and I quote “I didn’t find you anywhere in the story”. That was a wonderful compliment, exactly what I was looking for. A reader finding any part of me in the story would have been tragic, and I know you as a writer, understands this.
“If it sounds like writing, rewrite it.”; this is one of Elmore Leonard’s rules and it means: get (the me) out the way of the writing, the story, or you’ll have a bad novel and I of course can’t have that. Having the reader fall into the hole of the story is the ultimate, enjoying the novel so much she wants to get it read in one sitting, is the goal, the pleasure for me as a writer and I can’t ask for anything less.
Write.
If you have any comments or suggestions please let me know, my e-mail address is: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Hello and Happy Friday,
I know I’m blogging today instead of Friday but something was on my mind: I’ve decided to enter You Don’t Know Me in a writing contest. Boo—right? I dislike entering contests, well book contest for one-- I don’t like short story contest either-- I never win and for another I hate paying to enter the contest and never win. I have won a few screenplay contests though with a prize or two along with it but it’s different from winning a contest for a novel. I’m entering the Writer’s Digest Self-Publishing Contest ( http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/self_published) that’s calling for entries through the end of April. The contest is open to all kinds of self-published novels including genre fiction. Do I think it’s worth it? The prizes for the grand prize winner will be three thousand dollars, promotion in Writers Digest and Publisher’s Weekly, your novel to major newspapers, distribution to Baker and Taylor, a guaranteed review in Midwest Book Review, a workshop and one or two other things. There will also be 9 first place winners who will get one thousand dollars and a few other prizes—sounds great.
Do I think I’ll win at the one-hundred dollar entry fee? Well, possibly not the grand prize because my novel is genre, its crime and mystery, not pretty and my kind of novels don’t win grand prizes; at least I don’t believe they do. Do I have a chance at being one of the nine first place winners? Maybe, again the people who read the novels probably go by a formula that would not fit my novel so my hopes aren’t high. Honorable mention possibly? Yes, I think I could fit here. So if I’m going for Honorable Mention possibly, why even send the novel and the money; don’t forget the money, at all? Well, it’s kind of like the lottery I’ll say. Though I don’t play the actual lottery I can pick up at the gas station, everybody plays some kind of lottery don’t they? Even if our chances are nine million to one and we’re the one. So entering this book contest is my lottery. And let me say like that one—heck like everyone of the nine-million--I always have hope it’ll be me this time and because I believe in my novel, I believe it’s a terrific story and has a chance like all the other novels submitted so its up to me to give it that one chance and all the other chances that comes its way.
So I’m saying good-bye to my book and the hundred books. We’ll see in October 2008 how it did though no matter what, prize or no prize, it’s a terrific story and novel that makes me proud, very, very proud.
Keep writing too.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
I know I’m blogging today instead of Friday but something was on my mind: I’ve decided to enter You Don’t Know Me in a writing contest. Boo—right? I dislike entering contests, well book contest for one-- I don’t like short story contest either-- I never win and for another I hate paying to enter the contest and never win. I have won a few screenplay contests though with a prize or two along with it but it’s different from winning a contest for a novel. I’m entering the Writer’s Digest Self-Publishing Contest ( http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/self_published) that’s calling for entries through the end of April. The contest is open to all kinds of self-published novels including genre fiction. Do I think it’s worth it? The prizes for the grand prize winner will be three thousand dollars, promotion in Writers Digest and Publisher’s Weekly, your novel to major newspapers, distribution to Baker and Taylor, a guaranteed review in Midwest Book Review, a workshop and one or two other things. There will also be 9 first place winners who will get one thousand dollars and a few other prizes—sounds great.
Do I think I’ll win at the one-hundred dollar entry fee? Well, possibly not the grand prize because my novel is genre, its crime and mystery, not pretty and my kind of novels don’t win grand prizes; at least I don’t believe they do. Do I have a chance at being one of the nine first place winners? Maybe, again the people who read the novels probably go by a formula that would not fit my novel so my hopes aren’t high. Honorable mention possibly? Yes, I think I could fit here. So if I’m going for Honorable Mention possibly, why even send the novel and the money; don’t forget the money, at all? Well, it’s kind of like the lottery I’ll say. Though I don’t play the actual lottery I can pick up at the gas station, everybody plays some kind of lottery don’t they? Even if our chances are nine million to one and we’re the one. So entering this book contest is my lottery. And let me say like that one—heck like everyone of the nine-million--I always have hope it’ll be me this time and because I believe in my novel, I believe it’s a terrific story and has a chance like all the other novels submitted so its up to me to give it that one chance and all the other chances that comes its way.
So I’m saying good-bye to my book and the hundred books. We’ll see in October 2008 how it did though no matter what, prize or no prize, it’s a terrific story and novel that makes me proud, very, very proud.
Keep writing too.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Hello and Happy Friday to you,
I am in the mist of writing, running with it right now, a good thing; its adrenaline isn’t it? I am determined to try and remain on schedule with the newest Owen Story novel and get it done by Christmas though it’s not easy. I’ve never put myself on a deadline with my writing but had to this time for reasons I listed in my last blog; so there is a lot of writing to do, a lot, but I’m determined until the book is done--and good; great. I’m going back to it now to get it done for the day, I love it as you know--bottom line--so I’m going to get back to it. Talk to you.
You keep writing too.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
I am in the mist of writing, running with it right now, a good thing; its adrenaline isn’t it? I am determined to try and remain on schedule with the newest Owen Story novel and get it done by Christmas though it’s not easy. I’ve never put myself on a deadline with my writing but had to this time for reasons I listed in my last blog; so there is a lot of writing to do, a lot, but I’m determined until the book is done--and good; great. I’m going back to it now to get it done for the day, I love it as you know--bottom line--so I’m going to get back to it. Talk to you.
You keep writing too.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Hello and Happy Friday,
I was sick this week but I feel much better now, so that I'm revved to write. I've finished most of my research and will get to what I call serious writing which will mean trying to get a chapter in--that much. I'm eager now to see where the story takes me. I'm still working the first Owen Story novel, getting people to read it, its a very slow process and I have no problem with it. I believe its going to take a very long time for people--readers--to become aware of You Don't Know Me but I'm going to do all I can to make it happen.
So writing the next Owen Story Novel and getting the word out on the first Owen Story novel are this years projects so that makes for me--at least so far--a very good year.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact me at: mathewsla@hotmail.com, I’ll love to hear from you.
Until next time God willing,
Lori
I was sick this week but I feel much better now, so that I'm revved to write. I've finished most of my research and will get to what I call serious writing which will mean trying to get a chapter in--that much. I'm eager now to see where the story takes me. I'm still working the first Owen Story novel, getting people to read it, its a very slow process and I have no problem with it. I believe its going to take a very long time for people--readers--to become aware of You Don't Know Me but I'm going to do all I can to make it happen.
So writing the next Owen Story Novel and getting the word out on the first Owen Story novel are this years projects so that makes for me--at least so far--a very good year.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact me at: mathewsla@hotmail.com, I’ll love to hear from you.
Until next time God willing,
Lori
Friday, February 01, 2008
Hello,
I’ve finished most of the research on my next book (at least until I need to do more on some area in the story I know very little about) it’s a good thing because I’ve set a target date to have the book ready. Was this a smart thing to do? Probably not, but it was necessary. First, because people have asked when the next book in the trilogy would be ready so I have to give a date. I don’t want to keep telling folks: “I don’t know”; “I have no idea” or “I’m not sure”, they all sound lame and—to me—unprofessional; not to let those who have read the first story know when to expect the next when they know a second novel has to come in a trilogy. Secondly, I like having an idea when to have the book ready because it’ll make me do the thing.
Though I am so into writing the new book, can’t wait to write everyday, it still can be hard getting to it for a thousand reasons—we writers have a thousand reasons—to keep pen from paper so by having this date its easier to get around those reasons and just do it. Lastly, I can’t wait to get the entire story told as fast as I can because it’s a wonderful story, fast, rich, surprising, exciting and I can’t wait to get all those pieces together to solidify the novel. I can’t really hurry my writing—its not in me—but by having the date I have a path, even a beacon I’m heading toward which makes it a little easier—even exciting--to write knowing where I’m headed: toward that date.
So, I’m writing, enjoying it and keeping at it headed for that special time, not day because that’s impossible, a specific month in a specific year that’s all and for me its more than enough.
Please, keep writing.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
I’ve finished most of the research on my next book (at least until I need to do more on some area in the story I know very little about) it’s a good thing because I’ve set a target date to have the book ready. Was this a smart thing to do? Probably not, but it was necessary. First, because people have asked when the next book in the trilogy would be ready so I have to give a date. I don’t want to keep telling folks: “I don’t know”; “I have no idea” or “I’m not sure”, they all sound lame and—to me—unprofessional; not to let those who have read the first story know when to expect the next when they know a second novel has to come in a trilogy. Secondly, I like having an idea when to have the book ready because it’ll make me do the thing.
Though I am so into writing the new book, can’t wait to write everyday, it still can be hard getting to it for a thousand reasons—we writers have a thousand reasons—to keep pen from paper so by having this date its easier to get around those reasons and just do it. Lastly, I can’t wait to get the entire story told as fast as I can because it’s a wonderful story, fast, rich, surprising, exciting and I can’t wait to get all those pieces together to solidify the novel. I can’t really hurry my writing—its not in me—but by having the date I have a path, even a beacon I’m heading toward which makes it a little easier—even exciting--to write knowing where I’m headed: toward that date.
So, I’m writing, enjoying it and keeping at it headed for that special time, not day because that’s impossible, a specific month in a specific year that’s all and for me its more than enough.
Please, keep writing.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
Monday, January 28, 2008
Hello and Happy Monday!!!
I know I usually blog each Friday but didn't get the chance to, so I wanted to get a note in today.
I have been feeling under the weather for the last few days, cold and cough, flu like symptoms but I've been self-medicating and feel tolerable today. Though I haven't felt one-hundred percent it of course hasn't stopped me from doing the things I have to and need to do: taking care of my sons, working (I'm swamped at work) and of course writing. Someone could say 'You don't need to write, put it off until you feel yourself again.' That's a thought, but a passing one for me, whether or not I feel like writing doesn't enter into the occasion, I write anyway, its what I do.
Yesterday, I'm lying on the couch, my fever is blooming, I'm watching I Love Lucy on DVD and hear a name that fills my brain (Yes, it could have just been the fever making talking). I think about the name, change it a little--fine tune it--and reach for my notebook. I write a page filling out this character whom I have pages on but no name; the name adds that something and truly gives this character his flesh and blood.
I write no matter how I'm feeling or what I'm doing because all it all, it makes me feel good. And though I was feverish, I was smiling too as the- character-with-the- new-name filled in my blank page.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact me at:matwrite1@aol.com, I’ll love to hear from you.
Until next time God willing,
Lori
I know I usually blog each Friday but didn't get the chance to, so I wanted to get a note in today.
I have been feeling under the weather for the last few days, cold and cough, flu like symptoms but I've been self-medicating and feel tolerable today. Though I haven't felt one-hundred percent it of course hasn't stopped me from doing the things I have to and need to do: taking care of my sons, working (I'm swamped at work) and of course writing. Someone could say 'You don't need to write, put it off until you feel yourself again.' That's a thought, but a passing one for me, whether or not I feel like writing doesn't enter into the occasion, I write anyway, its what I do.
Yesterday, I'm lying on the couch, my fever is blooming, I'm watching I Love Lucy on DVD and hear a name that fills my brain (Yes, it could have just been the fever making talking). I think about the name, change it a little--fine tune it--and reach for my notebook. I write a page filling out this character whom I have pages on but no name; the name adds that something and truly gives this character his flesh and blood.
I write no matter how I'm feeling or what I'm doing because all it all, it makes me feel good. And though I was feverish, I was smiling too as the- character-with-the- new-name filled in my blank page.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to contact me at:matwrite1@aol.com, I’ll love to hear from you.
Until next time God willing,
Lori
Friday, January 18, 2008
Hello and happy Friday,
Are you writing? I am; here and there and it’s coming out like puzzle pieces, a small section here, a longer section there, sometimes one line. This works best for me, every writer has their way of doing things, of writing,I’m no different though probably slower. I need to write lines, then gather them together in front of me and make something out of it and the good thing about this for me is that I do have a good idea of what that something should be. I guess it’s my writing process. What’s your process?
Not to change the subject but I have to say this, today I listened to two books on tape: one was “When the Women Come Out to Dance by Elmore Leonard; the other “A Killing Night by Jonathon King, man what a difference. I know it’s the author’s unique style that makes the difference so obvious. Listening to Mr. Leonard is like listening to Pavarotti at his prime, on the most beautiful summer night of your life, with the person you love the most in the world sitting beside you holding your hand. Listening to Mr. King is like reading a three hundred page book on tax law, at three in the morning, alone, in an office cubicle with terrible lighting while scratching the bad case of poison ivy crawling all over your body; yes, that bad.
I have a number of goals I want to reach when writing—so do you--and at the top of my list is to someday settle into my own natural style, rhythm and flow that is so easy for readers to recognize, feel comfortable with and most importantly, enjoy, so that when they hear or are reading one of my novels it will always be like listening to Pavarotti on a summer day with the one you love. Getting to this place in my writing takes practice, time and could possibly never happen, yet it’s a goal I’m striving to reach; that sense of professional uniqueness that is on the money every time and stands my writing out from the rest. I want readers to get that same wonderful feeling about by novels I get when I pick up an Elmore Leonard, knowing without a bit of doubt I’m getting something special, funny, surprising, riveting and worthy of my time every time. Who doesn’t want their writing to be in Elmore Leonard’s league? In his league, you are there and it’s not an impossible dream; work at it; I do everyday.
You do it everyday too.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
Are you writing? I am; here and there and it’s coming out like puzzle pieces, a small section here, a longer section there, sometimes one line. This works best for me, every writer has their way of doing things, of writing,I’m no different though probably slower. I need to write lines, then gather them together in front of me and make something out of it and the good thing about this for me is that I do have a good idea of what that something should be. I guess it’s my writing process. What’s your process?
Not to change the subject but I have to say this, today I listened to two books on tape: one was “When the Women Come Out to Dance by Elmore Leonard; the other “A Killing Night by Jonathon King, man what a difference. I know it’s the author’s unique style that makes the difference so obvious. Listening to Mr. Leonard is like listening to Pavarotti at his prime, on the most beautiful summer night of your life, with the person you love the most in the world sitting beside you holding your hand. Listening to Mr. King is like reading a three hundred page book on tax law, at three in the morning, alone, in an office cubicle with terrible lighting while scratching the bad case of poison ivy crawling all over your body; yes, that bad.
I have a number of goals I want to reach when writing—so do you--and at the top of my list is to someday settle into my own natural style, rhythm and flow that is so easy for readers to recognize, feel comfortable with and most importantly, enjoy, so that when they hear or are reading one of my novels it will always be like listening to Pavarotti on a summer day with the one you love. Getting to this place in my writing takes practice, time and could possibly never happen, yet it’s a goal I’m striving to reach; that sense of professional uniqueness that is on the money every time and stands my writing out from the rest. I want readers to get that same wonderful feeling about by novels I get when I pick up an Elmore Leonard, knowing without a bit of doubt I’m getting something special, funny, surprising, riveting and worthy of my time every time. Who doesn’t want their writing to be in Elmore Leonard’s league? In his league, you are there and it’s not an impossible dream; work at it; I do everyday.
You do it everyday too.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
Friday, January 11, 2008
Hello good morning and good Friday,
Okay, I’ve mentioned this what probably seems like a thousand times and now I’m doing it again, my novel You Don’t Know Me is out in the world, great and so…? So I have to get more folks to realize it and to buy the book; a traumatically hard thing to do—at least for me. I’m following the general guidelines for promotion of the book or self-promotion depending on the way you want to look at it, so I have press kits I’m sending out, encouraging people who have read the book to write a review—good or bad, sending out copies of the book to people with influence in the media to get the word out and still there is more to do and one of those “mores” ( because it smells of self-promotion) I am leery of doing.
Well, my kid’s school is having a PTA sponsored cabaret with a raffle and some of the ways you can help make it successful is to work the cabaret, provide food or even donate an item to the raffle. My first thought was donate a copy of my book; my second thought---that’s self-promotion---but now as I write this, is it self-promotion or selling books? Okay, I’m donating something—they asked for donations—it just happens to be my novel. I would of course let the PTA representative know it’s an adult mystery crime thriller and it’s so entertaining and fast paced the reader won’t be able to put it down and if they can, I’ll give them a sweet treat of their choice. Hey, that doesn’t sound too bad, as a matter of fact its great promotion for the book so I'm doing it.
I've made the call to the PTA rep and offered my book as a raffle prize along with a sweet treat and I feel great about it for a few good reasons: I think I built the novel up pretty well, it’s a way to promote the book to garner more interest in it and I may get more sells a.ka. readers out of it; alright all the way around, yeah.
In the books I’ve read on promoting your book, you’re told to try any means at hand, to be innovative when coming up with ideas, to take chances, don’t let any opportunity to promote your novel pass you by and to keep at it; I figure I’m doing better than I thought or at least I’m keeping at it. I don’t expect my book to catch on overnight, it takes time even years plus other novels following for that to happen ( if it happens at all) but I’m patient and won't worry about it because its something beyond my control, all I can do is take every opportunity to promote my novels, to keep at it, not give up, do the best I can and most important than any of it: keep writing the books I love. You do the same.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
Okay, I’ve mentioned this what probably seems like a thousand times and now I’m doing it again, my novel You Don’t Know Me is out in the world, great and so…? So I have to get more folks to realize it and to buy the book; a traumatically hard thing to do—at least for me. I’m following the general guidelines for promotion of the book or self-promotion depending on the way you want to look at it, so I have press kits I’m sending out, encouraging people who have read the book to write a review—good or bad, sending out copies of the book to people with influence in the media to get the word out and still there is more to do and one of those “mores” ( because it smells of self-promotion) I am leery of doing.
Well, my kid’s school is having a PTA sponsored cabaret with a raffle and some of the ways you can help make it successful is to work the cabaret, provide food or even donate an item to the raffle. My first thought was donate a copy of my book; my second thought---that’s self-promotion---but now as I write this, is it self-promotion or selling books? Okay, I’m donating something—they asked for donations—it just happens to be my novel. I would of course let the PTA representative know it’s an adult mystery crime thriller and it’s so entertaining and fast paced the reader won’t be able to put it down and if they can, I’ll give them a sweet treat of their choice. Hey, that doesn’t sound too bad, as a matter of fact its great promotion for the book so I'm doing it.
I've made the call to the PTA rep and offered my book as a raffle prize along with a sweet treat and I feel great about it for a few good reasons: I think I built the novel up pretty well, it’s a way to promote the book to garner more interest in it and I may get more sells a.ka. readers out of it; alright all the way around, yeah.
In the books I’ve read on promoting your book, you’re told to try any means at hand, to be innovative when coming up with ideas, to take chances, don’t let any opportunity to promote your novel pass you by and to keep at it; I figure I’m doing better than I thought or at least I’m keeping at it. I don’t expect my book to catch on overnight, it takes time even years plus other novels following for that to happen ( if it happens at all) but I’m patient and won't worry about it because its something beyond my control, all I can do is take every opportunity to promote my novels, to keep at it, not give up, do the best I can and most important than any of it: keep writing the books I love. You do the same.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
Friday, January 04, 2008
Hello and how are you this Friday?
You Don’t Know Me is out in the world (please go get it at Lulu.com) and now is the challenge. You would think the writing is the largest challenge, it is; but I place getting the word out about the novel and getting people to read it runs neck-and-neck with the writing and often times surpasses it. I recently realized how much brainstorming and research must be done to try and figure out how to get the word out about the book; it’s a job in itself and with no guarantee of success.
Despite going in knowing your efforts to get people to buy your book may be a losing battle before you start, it’s not all bad. How can I say this when I lay it on so thick how hard selling your book can be? I say it for three reasons: one, the book's as done as its going to get so that worry is over and you can feel good about it. Two, I’m writing the next book in the trilogy and it feels great to dig into the characters and the new story taking my mind off for a while the business side of writing.
And third, there seems to be a template on how to try and sell your book; it doesn’t guarantee sells of course, but there are certain routes you can follow—most all writers follow I think—that can capture sells, for example: creating press kits introducing your book and yourself that may garner an interview about the book in print media, radio or television and can interest bookstores and libraries. You can do signings or have your novel read by a local book club where you can make an appearance to discuss it if they like. You can give talks about the writing process where your book can be featured; there is an endless number of resources that can help you create the best plan to get your book out to the public. Though I've said there is no guarantee you’ll sell one book (maybe to your mother if she likes you) I believe you can count on your novel selling if it has the right stuff: seamless writing, a great story readers feel they have not come across before and characters that stay with them long after the book is done and who they want to meet again.
Does my novel have this? I think so, but only the readers—I hope millions of readers—can tell me so.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
You Don’t Know Me is out in the world (please go get it at Lulu.com) and now is the challenge. You would think the writing is the largest challenge, it is; but I place getting the word out about the novel and getting people to read it runs neck-and-neck with the writing and often times surpasses it. I recently realized how much brainstorming and research must be done to try and figure out how to get the word out about the book; it’s a job in itself and with no guarantee of success.
Despite going in knowing your efforts to get people to buy your book may be a losing battle before you start, it’s not all bad. How can I say this when I lay it on so thick how hard selling your book can be? I say it for three reasons: one, the book's as done as its going to get so that worry is over and you can feel good about it. Two, I’m writing the next book in the trilogy and it feels great to dig into the characters and the new story taking my mind off for a while the business side of writing.
And third, there seems to be a template on how to try and sell your book; it doesn’t guarantee sells of course, but there are certain routes you can follow—most all writers follow I think—that can capture sells, for example: creating press kits introducing your book and yourself that may garner an interview about the book in print media, radio or television and can interest bookstores and libraries. You can do signings or have your novel read by a local book club where you can make an appearance to discuss it if they like. You can give talks about the writing process where your book can be featured; there is an endless number of resources that can help you create the best plan to get your book out to the public. Though I've said there is no guarantee you’ll sell one book (maybe to your mother if she likes you) I believe you can count on your novel selling if it has the right stuff: seamless writing, a great story readers feel they have not come across before and characters that stay with them long after the book is done and who they want to meet again.
Does my novel have this? I think so, but only the readers—I hope millions of readers—can tell me so.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Hello,
I hope you had a great holiday and will have a wonderful New Year to come. If you get a chance read this blog: http://www.gspitsit.blogspot.com/ its wonderful. Its written beautifully and has a great message regarding priorities, making yourself a priority and not being someone else's
option, its a terrific post and really hits home about the human condition and its failings that usually end up hurting others. The premise of the post is priorities and how our priorities differ from one another and what you may think should be a priority, someone else might not. There are people out in the world who don't think writing is a priority--or should be--for most writers, but is more like a self-indulgence that can be done or not and it's definitely not something should be at the top of anyone's priority list. I of course believe it's wrong, I do list my writing at the top and although it doesn't come near where my children and family stand; its still up there and I pay attention to it, to its details, baby it, agonize over it, rejoice in it and make it work for me when I can by putting in the time and effort just like you would do for anything or anyone you truly love.
So, we all choose our top priorities and writing is one of mine and one of yours too I know, and its a great thing especially when love of it--of doing it--is one of the reasons why and that's a blessing.
Write, keep at it no matter what, keep it at the top.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Lori
I hope you had a great holiday and will have a wonderful New Year to come. If you get a chance read this blog: http://www.gspitsit.blogspot.com/ its wonderful. Its written beautifully and has a great message regarding priorities, making yourself a priority and not being someone else's
option, its a terrific post and really hits home about the human condition and its failings that usually end up hurting others. The premise of the post is priorities and how our priorities differ from one another and what you may think should be a priority, someone else might not. There are people out in the world who don't think writing is a priority--or should be--for most writers, but is more like a self-indulgence that can be done or not and it's definitely not something should be at the top of anyone's priority list. I of course believe it's wrong, I do list my writing at the top and although it doesn't come near where my children and family stand; its still up there and I pay attention to it, to its details, baby it, agonize over it, rejoice in it and make it work for me when I can by putting in the time and effort just like you would do for anything or anyone you truly love.
So, we all choose our top priorities and writing is one of mine and one of yours too I know, and its a great thing especially when love of it--of doing it--is one of the reasons why and that's a blessing.
Write, keep at it no matter what, keep it at the top.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing.
Lori
Friday, December 21, 2007
Hello and Happy Christmas,
The holidays are upon us—sometimes literally--they can be a heavy burden incorporating trying to make sure everyone gets what they've asked for, fighting traffic and pushing through crowds to get to that crowded shopping mall, concerned about overspending or under spending on those you love and worrying if you’d get everything done before the day arrives; it can be way too much.
As a writer, my saving grace is to write through all this and I hope it’s yours too. It may not be true for all writers, but when I can catch a break from all the hoopla and pressure to focus my mind, concentrate on any aspect of my writing; fleshing out a character or a situation the character’s in, doing research to move the story along, working on the story itself and getting a page done or even half a page written, its like taking a mini-vacation in the midst of a storm. I feel good then, as if I’m actually doing something instead of running and getting nowhere like everyone else during this time of year.
So, I’m writing when I can and fortunately it’s pretty often and I feel very blessed this year to be able to do so. I feel blessed for a number of reasons this year ( not just for the writing) the list seems endless and it’s a good one: my sons, my family, my friends, my health, a job I like, publishing my first book, a number of things and I’m going to keep at all of them to make sure next year is not just as good, but great.
Write all you can, it’ll make the season merrier.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
The holidays are upon us—sometimes literally--they can be a heavy burden incorporating trying to make sure everyone gets what they've asked for, fighting traffic and pushing through crowds to get to that crowded shopping mall, concerned about overspending or under spending on those you love and worrying if you’d get everything done before the day arrives; it can be way too much.
As a writer, my saving grace is to write through all this and I hope it’s yours too. It may not be true for all writers, but when I can catch a break from all the hoopla and pressure to focus my mind, concentrate on any aspect of my writing; fleshing out a character or a situation the character’s in, doing research to move the story along, working on the story itself and getting a page done or even half a page written, its like taking a mini-vacation in the midst of a storm. I feel good then, as if I’m actually doing something instead of running and getting nowhere like everyone else during this time of year.
So, I’m writing when I can and fortunately it’s pretty often and I feel very blessed this year to be able to do so. I feel blessed for a number of reasons this year ( not just for the writing) the list seems endless and it’s a good one: my sons, my family, my friends, my health, a job I like, publishing my first book, a number of things and I’m going to keep at all of them to make sure next year is not just as good, but great.
Write all you can, it’ll make the season merrier.
If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com
Until next time, God willing,
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