Being a bit egotistical? It's a necessity

I would never consider myself to be egotistical, but I have to admit, working on my social platform makes me feel a little big headed. It's hard to promote yourself and your work and totally keep your feet on the ground. I'm shy and don't really enjoy being the center of attention but, admittedly,  I get a little thrill every time someone "likes" my Facebook author page or  tells me they want to keep tabs on me so they can buy my book when it comes out.  Fame, or money for that matter, are definitely not my reasons for writing, but I'm not going to shoo them away should they seek me out.

In this day and age where self promotion is key to selling books, it's OK to think your work is tops! Have confidence, be a bit egotistical, push your wares to anyone and everyone. It's the only way you're going to get your name out there, build a fan base, have people interested before your stuff even hits the shelves. That being said, I have to stop here and say confidence is great thing, but remember everyone has room for improvement so if you get suggestions, corrections or hate on your work, don't just brush it under the carpet. Take the time to mull over the information given and possibly make changes. There will always be people out there who don't enjoy your writing style or topics and that's OK. There's something for everyone. Just remember to find the happy medium when it comes to taking criticisms and suggestions. 

To sum it up; be confident about your work, get yourself out there in the spotlight and be open to criticism.  It's only going to help you in your quest to become a published author.

In the next post I'll discuss some great tools available to everyone to help build your social platform.

A new year is a new start

Another New Year is here. Heck, it's a whole new decade! Time to get my butt in gear, wouldn't you say?  I don't much go in for resolutions because let's face it, who really keeps them? Not too many people. So rather than call it a resolution and fail to keep it, we'll just say these are some goals I'd like to reach this year (and yes, I know a resolution is a goal):

1) Enter the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest.  I have a piece ready to go. I just need to write the pitch/query and hook. Harder than it sounds, but it'll be my start to the shopping process. Should it not make it to the end (and when it's a 1 in 50,000 shot, I can probably pretty safely say it won't) then I will have, hopefully, some good feed back on things and be able to make some changes and shop it out to agents.

2) Continue to write and post pieces of Embers to Ashes, even if it seems like no one is reading it. I like the story and I want to finish it so I can move onto something else. Having the blog/tumblr page holds me accountable.

3) Post here more frequently. If I'm going to start shopping my work around and hopefully be getting it out there to shelves, I need to start making more of an online presence and platform for myself. Hopefully those of you who are following me continue to do so and tell your friends! I'll try my best not to bore you.


What kind of goals are you striving for this year? Do you have a plan of attack? What are your rewards for reaching them?

Here's to hoping 2011 is a productive and prosperous year for us all!

Books Read in 2010 - December

So the year comes to a close and I've  documented and counted everything up. I'm 10 off from my goal, but 190 books read in a year is still pretty impressive, no?  March was my busiest month with 37 books read while October was the least busy with only 6.  I think it'll  keep it up next year as well, just to keep track of what I read. Maybe I'll rate them as well so if anyone follows this they can decide if they'd like to read them as well.

Here goes with December's list:

It’s Not About the Accent – Caridad Ferrer

When Stars Go Blue: A novel – Caridad Ferrer

Rosemary and Rue – Seanan McGuire (re-read)

A Local Habitation – Seanan McGuire

An Artificial Night – Seanan McGuire

Nevermore – Kelly Creagh

Reaper – Rachel Vincent

Switched – Amanda Hocking (re-read)

Torn – Amanda hocking

Falling from Grace – S.L. Naeole

Bird Song – S.L. Naeole

Black Halo – S.L. Naeole

My Christmas Wish – Ember Case

Lonestar Sanctuary – Colleen Coble

Hush Money – Susan Bischoff

Glimpse – Stacy Wallace Benefiel

Glimmer – Stacy Wallace Benefiel

Books Read in 2010 - November

Even with Nanowrimo going on, I couldn't stop reading. Here's this month's list! 173 for the year. Can I make it to 200 before year's end!?

Ash – Malindo Lo

The Scorch Trials – James Dashner

Fallen – Lauren Kate (re-read)

Torment  - Lauren Kate

Hush Hush – Becca Fitzpatrick (re-read)

Crescendo – Becca Fitzpatrick

Spy Glass – Maria V. Snyder

Enemies and Playmates – Darcia Helle

Pack Challenge: Magnus Pack – Shelly Laurenston

Raised by Wolves – Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Bleeding Violet – Dia Reeves

Danger in the Shadows – Dee Henderson

Where oh where can the beta readers be?

Now that I've finally finished a round of editing on novel number one. I need to get my hands on a person willing to be a beta reader.  I've had a couple of friends read it over for me, but we all know that friends tend to be nice and not 100% honest with their opinions in such matters.

I have tried to find a good crit group or someone I could swap beta reading duties with, but all prospects seem to fizzle out. I understand people are busy and most don't read as quickly as I do, but everyone seems to disappear on me. Is it my writing? Is it so bad that they figure it's easier to ignore me than to tell me the truth? I just don't know.

Finding a good beta reader or crit partner for that matter, is proving to be just as hard as finding a decent man. Someone who's honest and dedicated. Someone who enjoys some of the same things  I do and who has a passion for those things. Someone who will give me the time and attention needed for it to be a good partnership.  I'm more than willing to reciprocate!

*Sigh*

Who would have thought the two things would have so much in common?  Can anyone point me in the right direction to find what I need? If not the beta reader/crit partner, than perhaps a good man? I'd be eternally grateful either way!

Nanowrimo 2010 - 1st week

I am slightly behind in the word count, but I hope to make it up this weekend!  Even though it's posted on my Nano profile, I figured I'd post my synopsis and prologue here for all to see (protected by creative copyright, yadda yadda don't steal my stuff :P )

Enjoy and feel free, as always, to post comments good and bad!



~~~~~~~~~

Power of the Stars

Ten would arrive
Young and spry
Power inherited by their stars
Will take them near and far
Betrayed by one
Yet sacrifice none
Forever their lives will change
Blood and tears will soak the land
When victory is at hand
Should they choose wrong
History will make a song
Of the day the Tenma died

    It was supposed to be a day escaping the summer heat; a day for two councilors and eight young campers to explore the caves of Jenny Jump State Park. No one expected the field trip to land them in the strange land of Tenma, where their arrival had been prophesied. Not only were they expected, but they learn that they possess powers based on their zodiac sign; powers that will be used to save or break the land.

PROLOGUE

     There was a hole in the sky. Not a literal hole, but a gaping stretch of the darkest black where no star shone. A head turned reluctantly, to look around. There were several other patches of inky blackness void of starlight. The sigh that escaped wizened lips was long and pregnant with unspoken knowledge. A sharp piercing whistle echoed in the silent night, followed by the soft sound of flapping wings. A small owl landed on an outstretched arm, head cocked and eyes bright. It preened itself while a small tube was attached to its leg. The bird gave an indignant hoot as the arm swiftly moved up to give the owl the sign to be on its way. Taking to the air, it crossed the dark sky heading east toward the sleeping city.
    “Master?” The old man sighed again when the younger voice questioned him.
    “What is it boy?”
    “I…I had a dream,” the boy said. “A lion fell from the sky. Followed by a ram and an archer and a scorpion. The sun went black and they began to fight. What does it mean?” A wrinkled hand rested heavily on the younger male’s shoulder. It squeezed him hard enough that there would surely be a bruise in the morning, but the boy didn’t flinch or whimper.
     “It means that they’re coming,” said the man, his voice queer with sadness.
     “Who’s coming?”
     “The children of the prophesy. The ones with the power to break or save the land. The children with the power of the stars.”

Characters & Nano beginnings

Nano started at midnight and I'm slightly ahead of the game at the moment! In case you were wondering (if anyone actually ever reads this), I did get names for everyone. Some suggested by friends (THANKS!) and some I came up with on my own.

DISCLAIMER: If you share a name with one of my characters, please do not think I based them on your personality or how you think I see you. This is NOT the case! They are similar in name only.  Thank you.