Being an Artist is Scary

I'm starting a new book. See the picture? Yeah, that's a blank plot board. You would think by book number thirteen it would get a little easier, right? Hah! Wrong. It's not. In fact sitting down to write another manuscript after a dozen is just as scary as writing the first.

Newsflash: It doesn't get easier. Ever. Why? Because being an artist is always going to be scary. I don't have any scientific evidence to back that statement up, but I do have a few thoughts as to why that is . . .

Art is subjective. 
Not everyone is going to get your art. You can know that and even believe it, but when a critic comes along and barfs nasty-venom juice all over your work, it still stings. That's a frightening risk you take every time you go public with something you create.

Not all art is equal.
Your new piece of work might be suckier than previous creations. You're afraid people won't like this project as much as ones you did before. But here's the deal . . . odds are what you create won't be 100% awesome all of the time. You can always hope to do better, but the niggling fear that this time whatever you made might be a flop is always in the back of your mind.

The magnitude of the project is terrifying.
Writing a book is a HUGE undertaking. So is painting a picture, designing an ad promo, photographing a wedding . . . whatever art it is that you're attempting to do is always going scare the bejeebers out of you if you care about your work.

Anytime you set out on an artistic endeavor, you're going to be afraid. It's the nature of the beast. The question is will you let that fear paralyze you or empower you to beat it back with a stick?

Writing Isn't Magic

I just typed THE END on my twelfth book. Or is it the thirteenth? I don't know because I'm too busy writing the next one to stop and count what I've done. I didn't break out a bottle of champagne. There were no confetti parades or big balloon drops. There wasn't anything magical about it except for the satisfaction of finishing yet another project.

The truth is, folks, that writing isn't magic. It's work.

Granted, there are sometimes when the words flow and it's all mystical and dreamy. You feel like you're one with the muse and you can conquer the world with your pen.

But that doesn't happen very often. Most of the time writing a chapter is about as exciting as vacuuming up the dog hair on the carpet or hauling out the trash. If you're under a deadline, it's just something that needs to be done every day.

Magic is capricious and elusive. You can't expect to produce much writing if you only write when you feel the magic. But take heart . . . just because you feel like you're having a bad writing day doesn't mean your writing is necessarily bad -- just like if you think you're having a good writing day doesn't guarantee your writing is stellar. The main thing is to write, whether you feel like it or not.

What to Do Before a Research Trip

Just because you write fiction doesn’t mean you can make up everything. But other than dozing off in dry non-fiction research books, how else can you discover the information you need to know to make your story come alive?

A research trip, silly rabbit!

Whoa, there. Before you go packing your bags, you've got some pre-research trip planning. I know. All you spontaneous types out there just flinched. But here's the dealio . . . **steps up to the mike, clears throat, manifests the most motherly tone possible**

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

But you can’t even formulate a plan until you figure out some basic information. It’s worth it in the long run if you sit down ask yourself 3 key questions:

1. What are you looking for? 

What’s the whole point of this research trip? What do you want to find out? Your trip hinges on the answer to this question. Let’s use my research trip for The Captive Heart as an example. I wanted to know what life was like in the late 18th century in the rural south, especially for an outsider (as was my heroine). Pinpoint what it is that will be important for you to know in writing your story. Don’t gloss over this because your entire trip orbits around the answer to this question. This is your prime objective.

2. Where are you going?

It’s a big world out there. You can’t tromp around all of it for the sake of a story. You have to decide exactly what geographical location will best suit your trip. Going back to my example, the rural south is a large area. Even South Carolina where my story takes place covers a lot of ground. So I narrowed the area down to about a hundred mile stretch that included where my characters would’ve roamed.

3. How are you going to find what you want to know?

Once you’ve figured out why you’re going and where, it’s time to figure out how to discover the information you want to find. Remember to keep your prime objective in mind while doing this. Back to my example, I brainstormed a list of possibilities like hiking the area, hitting up museums, visiting reenactment historical sites, making an appointment with a curator, stopping by at an Indian reservation. Yeah, that’s quite a big list because at this point in the research trip stage, the sky’s the limit. Dream big. You might not get to do everything you’d like, but at least you’ll have a plan.

So, now you have an idea of what, where and how, but what comes next? How exactly do you pull it all together into one coherent research trip?

Figure Out Your Budget

I’m great with words but money? Not so much. Okay, not at all, unless it comes to spending it. Still, budgeting is a necessary evil if you don’t have unlimited funds. You’re going to have to crunch numbers sooner or later, and the first number you need to figure out is how much money you have to invest. This will determine the other thing you need to budget: your time. How long you stay on a research trip hinges on how long you can stay—and you won’t know that until you have a dollar amount. Just a little heads up: it will never be as much as you want and you’ll never get to stay as long as you want. But don’t panic, even if all you can manage is a weekend jaunt, or just a day trip, whatever you can do is totally worth it. 

Draft an Itinerary

Remember all that brainstorming you did? Now's the time to figure out if doing all those things is feasible. Map out your days. I suggest you don't do more than 2 things in a day. If you can squeak in more, fabulous. If not and you can only get to one, hey, that's better than nothing, right? This itinerary is a guideline for you so that you don't waste your time once you arrive at your destination. If you discover other things to do that pique your interest more than what you'd planned, then go for it.

Pray

The last thing to do before you step foot out your door on your research trip is to pray. I know. Sounds a little holier than thou. But this is an important step. Not that you’ll be calling down the heavens to bless your trip, though that’s not a bad idea, but think about asking God to prepare the way ahead of time to bring people across your path that you can be a blessing to. There’s no reason in the world your research trip can’t also be a missions trip. It’s not all about you or your story all the time. Pray that you’d be mindful to see opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ while you’re in a different place.

If you take the time to put all these pieces into place before you go galavanting off into the sunset, I predict your research trip will be a rousing success.

Graphics For Authors

There's more to being a writer than just words -- especially in today's cut throat market. An author is expected to promote their own material. The easy way out is to hire a publicity firm to do the dirty work of selling for you. A valid option . . . but an expensive one. So most authors I know opt to slap on a graphic design hat and wing their way through hacking up a few ads on Facebook or Twitter or what have you. Thank God for web sites that make that a hair easier.

Normally I use Canva. It's an intuitive site to create sweet ads or invitations or whatever it is you want. It's free. It's easy. I love it. But (and I've always got a big but) the problem is I've exhausted a lot of their standard freebies. I could pay for more elaborate or new graphics, but my marketing budget is about as big as my new shoes budget. Translation: not much. I've tried other sites, but most of them are confusing or the learning curve is just too great for me to devote that much time to. So I've been using Canva simply by default.

Until today.

Recently I received an email request asking me to review a new graphic site. I put it off because I am crazy busy with deadlines, but I finally got around to playing with it today. Whoa baby. Canva just met it's match.

Allow me to introduce you to the new kid on the graphics block: FotoJet. Here are the pros and cons as compared to Canva . . .

PROS:
New templates to play with
A photo editor
A photo collage creator
Easy and intuitive to use, quite reminiscent of Canva

CONS:
No infographic templates (would really love to see a site include this)
Not as many ad /social media templates to choose from as Canva

Here's what I created in the space of a half hour:

Overall I think FotoJet is an awesome tool to put in your writerly tool box. You know you're going to have to promote, you might as well make it easy on yourself and give this one a whirl.

3 Ways Writing a Book is Like Parenting

Being a parent is an emotional experience. From the mountain peaks of watching a child take his first steps to the valleys of the terrible twos. One day you're feeling like the luckiest person alive to get to hold a beautiful, sweet creation, and other days you wonder what you were thinking to ever have spawned a devil-chid. And let's not even mention the excruciating pain of Lego-walking in the pitch black of night when said child is screaming his fool head off because he needs a drink of water.

Yeah. That's what writing a book is like. And here are 3 specific ways . . .

1. What’s engrained early on will stick with it until the end.

Just like kids, early impressions or experiences remain with them for life. Unfortunately, it's the same for your story. If you don't take the time to set things up properly plot wise in the beginning, you're in for a world of hurt by the end when all the pieces don't fall nicely together.

2. You’re going to want to kill it at some point in time.

Face it. Those little rug-rats, while cute, oftentimes push you into the danger zone—and beyond. Writing a manuscript is like that. You will want to trash the whole thing at some point. Persevere. This too shall pass.

3. You gotta let 'em feel the growing pains.

As hard as it is, sometimes you have to let your kids face natural consequences in order for them to grow into a responsible adult. It’s heart wrenching to watch that happen. And yet you must do the same to your characters. Let them feel hurts and go through awful circumstances so that they can grow too. That’s called character arc.

Parenting is nearly an impossible task. So is writing a book. 

But both are totally worth it.

Top 5 Benefits of Co-Authoring a Book

ON SALE FOR $0.99!!!

If you ever get the chance to write a story with a writerly type buddy, go for it. It's not as overwhelming a task as it seems. In fact, there here are a lot of benefits to co-authoring a book . . .

Speed
This goes without saying, but the fact that you can write a book twice as fast compared to penning an entire novel on your own really is a huge advantage. Think about it, you're combining energy, imaginations and experience which serves to drive momentum.

Plotting Power
If you get stuck, the other author knows the story so intimately well that he can help you out of a pickle in a way no one else can.

Marketing
With two of you, there are double the marketing efforts, meaning you'll get the word out about your book to twice as many people.

Moral Support
It's hard to write a novel. At some point you will hit the wall. The thing about writing with someone else is that it's highly unlikely you'll both hit the wall at the same time.

Double the Strengths
If one of you is great at plotting and the other at characterization, your story will be the stronger for it.

If you want to see how all this meshes together up close and personal, snatch up an ebook version of OUT OF THE FRYING PAN today or tomorrow (March 27 & 28) for only $0.99.

Irish Reads

Looking for a little luck o' the Irish reads? Here are some to check out . . .

My author buddy Elizabeth Ludwig is a fan-freaking-tastic writer. If you've never read one of her books, here's a great place to start: No Safe Harbor. Here's a blurb:

Lured by a handful of scribbled words across a faded letter, Cara Hamilton sets off from 1896 Ireland on a quest to find the brother she'd thought dead. Her search lands her in America, amidst a houseful of strangers and one man who claims to be a friend--Rourke Walsh.

Despite her brother's warning, Cara decides to trust Rourke and reveals the truth about her purpose in America. But he is not who he claims to be, and as rumors begin to circulate about an underground group of dangerous revolutionaries, Cara's desperation grows. Her questions lead her ever closer to her brother, but they also bring her closer to destruction as Rourke's true intentions come to light.

Irish Meadows 

by Susan Anne Mason

Brianna and Colleen O'Leary know their Irish immigrant father expects them to marry well. Recently he's put even more pressure on them, insinuating that the very future of their Long Island horse farm, Irish Meadows, rests in their ability to land prosperous husbands. Both girls, however, have different visions for their futures.

Brianna, a quiet girl with a quick mind, dreams of attending college. Vivacious Colleen, meanwhile, is happy to marry--as long as her father's choice meets her exacting standards of the ideal groom. When former stable hand Gilbert Whelan returns from business school and distant relative Rylan Montgomery visits Long Island during his seminary training, the two men quickly complicate everyone's plans.

As the farm slips ever closer to ruin, James O'Leary grows more desperate. It will take every ounce of courage for both sisters to avoid being pawns in their father's machinations and instead follow their hearts. And even if they do, will they inevitably find their dreams too distant to reach?

The Brickmaker's Bride

by Judith Miller

Ewan McKay has immigrated to West Virginia with his aunt and uncle, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial help. Uncle Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, and it's Ewan's job to get the company up and running again.

Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he quickly feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man--a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Resolving that he'll make the brickworks enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Ireland, Ewan pours all his energy into the new job.

But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work is put in jeopardy. As his hopes for the future crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. Can she help him save the brickworks, and will Ewan finally get a shot at winning her heart?

The Irish Healer

by Nancy Herriman

Accused of murdering a child under her care, Irish healer Rachel Dunne flees the ensuing scandal while vowing to never sit at another sickbed. She no longer trusts in her abilities-or God's mercy--though when a cholera epidemic sweeps through London, she feels compelled to nurse the dying daughter of the enigmatic physician she has come to love. James Edmunds, wearied by the deaths of too many patients, has his own doubts about God's grace. Together, they will have to face their darkest fears . . . and learn what it means to have real faith.

Why You Should Go on a Research Trip

Research. I know. Boring, right? And if you're a fiction writer, who needs it? We all know story is king, so why bother with dull, dry, boring facts?

Because you’ve got to be credible, or you will hear about it from readers.

Other than holing up in some forgotten backroom of a library with stacks of research books, how are you going to find the information you need? A research trip, and here's why . . .

4 Reasons to Go on a Research Trip

1. Expansion

Visiting an area where you’ve set your story has a way of giving you even more ideas to add to your story. While researching for The Captive Heart, I toodled down to South Carolina to tromp around the same trails my characters would've used near an old Cherokee village. I wanted to immerse myself in the feel of the area so I could write it more realistically. But I had no idea that reality would include spiders the size of Detroit. Seriously, I walked into a web and a hairy monster came right at my face. The thing seriously should’ve been registered with the DOT, and I’m pretty sure his license tabs were expired. Yes, it was that big. Now the takeaway value on this isn’t that I’m a freak about mutant killer spiders (though I am). It’s that research trips add value to whatever story you’re writing because you’ll discover things you didn’t expect. I wouldn’t have dreamed of putting such a creepy creature into my plot. It wouldn’t have even crossed my mind because most of the time I’m trying NOT to think about spiders. But after discovering how abundant these things are, I expanded my story to include them. You never know what you’re going to find—and that’s the point. You can’t know unless you go.

2. Education
There are some things you’re just not going to find in an encyclopedia (does anyone even read those things anymore?) or even on the internet. Case in point, an interesting little—and I do mean little—museum I visited last time I romped around England. I don’t even like science, but I sure loved visiting the Museum of Victorian Science. It’s basically just a little shed that’s been added on to a house—and the house is way out in a tiny village in Northern England. Tony is the old man who runs it. So, what could I have possibly learned from an old man in a shed out in the middle of nowhere? Turns out Tony was not only a chemist but also a physics professor—and quite a good teacher at that. I learned about xrays, ion engines, geisler tubes, and loads about historical figures such as Marconi. The thing is that most people haven’t written research books, and you won’t find them on the internet, but that doesn’t mean you won’t learn amazing things when networking with people who you wouldn’t normally meet.

3. Experience
This is the big daddy of them all, and I think one of the most important reasons to go on a research trip . . . the experience. Sure you can read about places and things, but until you’ve immersed all your senses in a place, you’ll never know how it feels. And if you don’t know, how on earth will your reader know? A research trip definitely tweaks all five senses in ways you cannot predict.

4. Expense Write Off
And last but certainly not least, one of the best reasons to go on a research trip is it’s a tax write off. Save your receipts. Stick it to the man because Lord knows Uncle Sam’s going to stick it to you. You can write off everything on a research trip – except for your travel partner. They’ll have to pay their own way.

If at all possible, it's worth it to visit an area you're writing about. My next trip is coming up this summer when I'll be skedaddling around upstate New York, researching the French & Indian War. I wonder what kind of creepy bugs I'll find this time?

Channeling Elsa

There comes a point in every writer's life when you just have to let it go. Let what go, exactly? Lot's of things . . .

Your Expectations
Sure, there are some anomalies wherein a rookie writer hits a home run and gets his first manuscript published. But it's really not likely. Nor is snagging your dream agent (or any agent) at your first writer's conference. Let go of your expectations and just enjoy the writerly journey. Everyone progresses at a different rate.

Your Manuscript
Currently I'm in about the twelfth read-through of my novel that releases in September. Yep. You read that right. 12. A little excessive? Maybe, but I honestly wouldn't mind going through it another 12 times. But here's the deal -- no matter how hard I or you work to make things perfect, they will never be. There's always going to be something else to fix or change. After editing to the best of your ability, you have to let your manuscript go.

Your Pride
A scathing critique. Agent or editor rejections. 1-star reviews. Losing the glorious award that will show the world what a rockstar you are to another author. If you don't let go of your pride these things are going to really hurt. And even if you humble yourself, they still sting a bit. The writing profession, or really any of the arts, is no place to go around thinking you're better than anyone else because there will always be someone better than you out there.

Your Validation
Getting published by one of the big five doesn't make you a writer. Having a huge tribe or rocketing sales numbers or signed contracts doesn't make you a writer. Writing makes you a writer. Let go of whatever you think it is you need to accomplish before you can call yourself a writer.

Your Insecurities
Nobody knows what they're doing. Yeah, they might sound like it, but deep down inside every writer is a crying baby scared of his own shadow. Fear and doubt are normal emotions that every writer holds hands with now and then. But splay your fingers and let them go. Don't wallow in those insecurities.

Letting go is a great trick to master if you want to persevere in the writing biz. So go on, channel your inner Elsa and belt it out. You'll feel lots better if you do.

Writing With a Split Personality

The advice most agents and editors give to writers is pick a genre and stick with it. Don't be hopping all around. It's too hard to gather a single tribe to buy your books when you spread yourself too thinly amongst different genres.

But even when writing in a single category you can still develop a split personality. Example: I write historical fiction. That's the broad genre. But my books vary from Colonial America to Regency England. There's only about a 50 year difference, which you wouldn't think would be that big of a gap, but whoa baby, there are some huge differences.

So if you're wondering how to write with your own split personality, here are a few tips I've learned over the years . . .

1. Watch the Language

Of course word choices are going to be different when writing a thriller vs a sci fi vs a western. But even if you're not that diversified, you still have to be careful and research language selection for the specific era you're writing in.

Example: An American Colonial wanting to get a horse to move would say, "Hyah," but a Regency gentleman or woman would instead say, "Walk on." 

2. Watch the Dress

This one is pretty straight forward. Be careful about not only the clothing styles you choose but the fabric as well.

Example: Both Colonials and Regency ladies might wear cotton, but in England, it would be of a more sheer texture such as muslin or gauze, and definitely there would be more silks because of a greater trade with the Indies.

3. Watch the Mannerisms

People in different cultures and during different ages have different mannerisms. Think about today's teens compared to those of the 1950's or 1890's. Huge difference.

Example: Colonial men were generally less refined than Regency gentlemen mostly from necessity. Survival took precedence over pretty manners.

Don't get too bent out of shape about these things when you're writing your rough draft, but definitely look for these bugaboos during a final edit.

Play it Safe Newbie Writers

This week I'm taking a break from writing and instead am shushing some great powder in Steamboat Springs. Sound like a fantastic getaway? Yeah, it would be, if it weren't for a killer headache, perpetual nausea, shortness of breath, and a general feeling of being hit by a Mack truck. Turns out skiers from lower altitudes like me shouldn't hit the highest slopes on day one because of altitude illness. Apparently I should've acclimated myself first.

Which is a really good idea for newbie writers as well. A wannabe writer needs to acclimate or risk a writerly-type version of the same sort of malaise. How to do that? Here are a few tips . . .

#1. Don't expect to write a best seller with your very first manuscript. Slow down. Take your time to practice on a few stories before you expect to sell one.

#2. Slow and steady wins the race. Rushing to pump out a novel is going to sound like a rushed novel. Take your time to learn the basics and practice with them.

#3. Give yourself a break and don't be so hard on yourself. It's normal to feel like a loser when you don't land a contract right away, but don't give up. Most writers I know took 5-10 years before selling something. Others even longer.

Yeah, I'll be hitting the slopes again tomorrow but I won't be going to the top peaks again. I've learned my lesson to take it easy for the first few days. Learn your lesson, writer, and don't be overly ambitious in what you expect to accomplish at first.

How to Uncliché a Cliché

If you've heard it once, you've heard it a thousand times . . . avoid clichés like the plague. Okay, so yeah, that whole first sentence was a royal no-no, but today I'm here to say you can use clichés in your writing, as long as you know how to do it. So slap on a helmet and let's go.

The reason clichés are frowned upon is because they're so overdone, readers not only gloss over them, they do so with a gag reflex. Using common phrases are a sign of a rookie writer. No one wants to look like a novice, so here are some handy dandy ways to incorporate clichés with a fresh twist.

3 Ways to Uncliché a Cliché  

1. Freshen up the old with the new.
A fun way to surprise a reader is to use an old phrase but give it a new twist. Add on to it. Example: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence — because his neighbor uses fertilizer.

2. Do the unexpected.
Spicing up a cliché is really an opportunity to get creative. Instead of using "not in a million years" you could use the same concept by applying it to something else that lasts a long time.
Example: Not in an ocean's lifetime.

3. Go opposite.
Twist a negative cliché into a positive one, or vice versa. Instead of the positive: you have to look through the rain to see the rainbow, tweak the end so it's negative.
Example: You have to look through the rain to see the tornado that's headed straight at you.

As you can see, it takes way more brain work to breathe life into an old, worn-out mess of words, but when done creatively, it's a great way to perk up your writing and delight a reader.

Writing Software Tools

Scrivener is the top dog when it comes to organizing story material. It's the writerly tool of choice for lots of writers. I'm not one of them. Not that I have anything against the program. It's just that I'm old school, preferring actual slips of paper and writing in cursive with a pen. But old school and Scrivener aren't the only 2 choices out there. Here are a few more you might want to consider . . .

Storyist

This word processor helps you track plot, characters and settings while keeping all of your writing organized and accessible. This one is great for screenwriters as well. And as a bonus, this includes all the tools you need to output your final novel if you're planning on self-publishing.

Pricepoint: $59

yWriter

This program is the step between old school and high-tech. yWriter was made by an author, so while there aren't a whole lot of bells and whistles, it does break your novel into chapters and scenes. But the best thing about this program is that it's free.

Pricepoint: $0

Ulysses

In their own words: "A pleasant, focused writing experience combined with effective document management, fast syncing and flexible export make Ulysses the first choice for writers of all kinds."

Pricepoint: $24.99

Bibisco
Here's another freebie that's even jazzier than yWriter. You can organize chapters and scenes, manage revisions and even export your novel in pdf or rtf.

Pricepoint: $0

Holding Hands With Failure

Want to know what all successful writers have in common? They're failures. Every writer starts out mucking about in the wallows of ugly failure:
- failure to finish a manuscript
- failure to land an agent
- failure to sign a contract
- failure to get good reviews
- failure to sell bajillions of books

Fail. Fail. Fail. Depressing, eh? Nope. Not really. Not when you make failure your friend. Here's how . . .

Failure isn't your enemy.
Sometimes something as easy as changing your mindset helps alleviate stress. Think of failure as your friend rather than an enemy. How can failing possibly be positive? Because it's an opportunity to start over again with a fresh slate. And this time you'll have a clear sense of what doesn't work because you've already tried it.

Failure isn't weakness.
Real strength lies in picking yourself up and trying again. Not getting something right the first time (or the hundredth) doesn't prove that you've got a flaw. It proves that you're determined to continue plugging away at a particular skill. Babies don't start out walking without falling many times. It's the same with art.

Failure doesn't define who you are.
What you did failed. You didn't fail. Failure is an event, not a person -- not you. Stop the negative self-talk.

Failure isn't the end.
Actually, it's the beginning. Failure is a critical learning experience in figuring out what works and what doesn't work.

Nobody likes to fail, but it is part of life, so you might as well embrace it and make it work for you rather than let it curl you into the fetal position.

A Smattering of Editing Tricks

Whether it's your manuscript, a friend's manuscript, or a letter to your Great Aunt Gertrude, at some point you're going to have to edit. I understand some folks would rather poke out their eyeballs with forks than have to proofread some copy. I'm not one of those. I'm the freak who adores editing. That being said, I've acquired some handy dandy sure-fired tricks to hasten the process.

Read it Out Loud
Yeah, I know. You'll feel weird doing this at first. Yes, you can wait until nobody is home before you start. Reading things out loud makes you slow down and you'll hear the cadence of the words.

Print it Out
Quit freaking out about wasting paper. We can plant more trees if it makes you happy. Print the dang thing out and read a hard copy. I guarantee you'll see things differently than on a computer screen.

Make Sure You're Bright-Eyed and Bushy-Tailed
Editing when you're tired doesn't work. You'll gloss over things, like entire paragraphs. Only proofread when you're jazzed up and good to go for the day.

Give Yourself Time
Reading each words takes time and plenty of it. Allow for that time in your schedule. Rushing through an edit makes for missing boo-boo's and that's the whole point, Hoss.

Find a Buddy
It always helps to have an extra set of eyeballs (or two or three) to read your stuff. You can't catch all your mistakes. I don't care how stellar you think you are, you will miss some errors because the words in your head sometimes mask the words you've actually written.

Limit Distractions
Shut off the wifi. Shut down your phone. Put the cat outside and kennel the dog. Once you start editing, you don't want to break your train of thought.

Finding Your Moxie

It can happen to the best of us. There you are, skipping down the center lane of the creativity highway, singing la-de-dah-de-dah all the way, when all of a sudden, BLAMMO! A Mack truck of criticism hits you at full speed. You're not just flattened. You're tiny splats of matter blown to kingdom come.  

How do you bounce back from that?

It's not easy to regain your confidence when you get a horrific review or suffer some scathing comments from an editor or agent. But it can be done and it must be done if you're going to survive as a writer. Here are a few ways to get your moxie back.

Introspection

Take some time to really think about why it is you're a writer. If it's for the money or the kudos, then honestly this isn't the gig for you. But after some deep soul searching, if you feel like writing is the air you have to breathe, then it doesn't really matter what other people say. Glean what nuggets of truth you can from the criticism then move on.

Change of Pace

Instead of writing something for the direct purpose of publication, write something just for you. Just for fun. Something you can take risks with and love and pour your heart into without ever showing it to anyone. 

Shelve the People Pleasing

Not everyone is going to get your writing because it's art. Art is subjective. Writing isn't about being perfect. It's about writing. Period. And any comments about writing are opinions, not facts.

Consider a Mindset Shift

Turn that negativity into positivity by letting it spur you on to work harder, write better, and prove those naysayers wrong in the future. 

Without the willingness to risk criticism and embarrassment, you will never develop the writing skills you desire. Moxie is about attitude, and sometimes you just have to fake it till you make it. Be bold whether you feel like it or not.

Ways to Cope When Deadlines Are Killing You

Deadline. What's your reaction to that word? Did you cringe? Curl up like a pill bug and roll into the crevice between baseboard and wall? Flail your arms and scream like your pants are on fire? There's a reason "dead" is in the word deadline. . . because it feels like when you're trying to meet one you're pretty sure you're dying in a thousand different ways.

If you've got a deadline stressing you out, you're not alone. I've got a few of 'em looming over my head like a doomsday mushroom cloud about to encase me in radioactive anxiety. How's a person to breathe, let alone be creative, when the clock is ticking down to zero hour? Never fear. Have I got a handy dandy list for you (and me).

5 Ways to Cope With a Looming Deadline

1. Set Goals
Whatever it is that you're working on, take a good, hard look at the final expected project then break it down into little, more manageable pieces. That could mean you have to write a chapter a day or a figure out X amount of plot points before dinner every night. Whatever. The point is that you will accomplish your deadline if you break it down into chunks and do a little bit every day. This removes stress by knowing that if you stick to the schedule you created, you'll hit your goal.

2. Quit Complaining
Spending time talking about what needs to get done isn't going to get the thing done. You're wasting time and frothing up negativity every time you do this.

3. Defend Your Time
I know it's more fun to go out with friends when they call. It's easier to mindlessly page through Facebook or Instagram, or skip on over to Netflix and watch an episode or two. But here's the deal . . . you've got to say no or that deadline is going to blow up in your face. AFTER your deadline there will be plenty of time to do those "fun" things (and there should be as a reward for your hard work). Make your goal a priority, not distractions.

4. Find a Cheerleader
We all need accountability partners who wear mini-skirts and flaunt their pom poms (in a PG sort of way, not R, sheesh). Get a buddy who will ask how it's going, pull you up when you're down in the dumps, kick you in the pants when you're a whiner, and be there to cheer you as you near the finish line.

5. Accept Your Limitations
You are not going to produce a perfect product by the time that deadline rolls around. You're going to produce the best possible product you can and that's all. Stop putting pressure on yourself to create a flawless piece of art because you are not flawless. It's going to have bugs. In the words of Queen Elsa, "Let it go."

It's good to care about meeting your deadlines but it's not healthy to get wonked out about them. Do your best then move on to the next project.

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NEWSFLASH

Announcing the winner of last week's giveaway for a free signed copy of one of my books . . . drum roll please . . . PATTI RHYNE. Woohoo! Round of applause and general squees of joy. Thanks, everyone, for entering and stay tuned . . . there will be more upcoming giveaways in the near future.