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.

The Voice in an Audiobook

Yesterday I was sent an audition for the audiobook version of Out of the Frying Pan. While I love the fact that my book will be available in yet another format, I don't really like audiobooks. They never sound like I hear the characters in my head . . . which makes me completely incapable of being a valid judge for the voice talent doing the audition.

But it did get me to thinking about how voice talents work. Here's what I discovered ~

1. Start listening to audiobooks.
Hear how other people narrate. Listen to the various styles. Listen to all genres.

2. Practice.
Before you try going pro, practice reading many different books to anyone who will listen. Okay, so not many people are, but good news . . . LibraVox is always looking for volunteers to put books in audio format for the blind.

3. Study.
There are actually voice coaches you can hire or workshops you can take to really polish up your voice.

4. Make a demo of your voice.
A great place to do this is at Audiobook Creation Exchange.

5. Give it a whirl.
Lest you think this is an easy gig, the competition out there is fierce. Be prepared for lots of rejections.

That's it in a very tiny nutshell. Here's a short (5 minute) video that goes a bit more in-depth from someone who is a voice talent:

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.

Body Self-Care for the Computer User

Are you a user? An all-day, everyday computer user? If so, your body might be trying to send you a message. Listen real carefully . . .

"Psst! Buddy! You're killing me. I know you're making a living pounding on the keyboard, but my sitter is getting shot, my eyeballs are blinkity-blanking, and have you noticed my skin lately? Saggy. Baggy and dry as the Sahara. Do something!" 

So, what exactly are you going to do for your body? Besides healthy eating and exercising, that is. Here are several things that are easy and don't take a whole lot of time.

3 Strategies for Body Self-Care for the Computer User

Sit Right

Perching on a chair all day can do a lot of damage to your back and neck, so it's important that you position your body correctly. Sit straight in your chair. Yeah, I know I sound like your mother, but it turns out mom was right. Sitting straight, with your head upright, not dipping toward the monitor, really helps you prevent back pain. Your knees should be bent at right angles and don't cross your legs. Your feet should also be flat on the floor, not dangling. HERE'S a link with a picture of the correct position.

Look Right

Staring at a screen can wreak havoc with your eyesight, so follow the 20-20-20 Rule. Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break to look at an object at least 20 feet away. Yep. That simple.

Drink Right

What's the number one drink of choice for most computer users? Coffee. There's just something about a steaming cup o' joe on your desk that makes everything seem better. But here's the deal . . . if you're sipping on coffee or tea -- or heaven forbid, soda -- chances are you're not drinking enough water. Staying hydrated is important. Dehydration leads to fatigue, headaches and an inability to focus, which all inhibit production. The current accepted rule of thumb is to drink eight 8 oz. glasses a day.

It's hard to focus on your body and stay healthy when you're thinking about deadlines. If you can work to make these 3 habits part of your daily routine, you won't have to think about it anymore, and your body will thank you.

Healthy Eating for a Computer Jockey

Apparently it's turning into health week here at Writer Off the Leash. Spring has a way of toggling the ol' sweet-mercy-I'll-soon-be-uncovering-my-body-due-to-heat reflex. Since we've already tackled exercise -- you are exercising, right? -- the next topic is food.

Yeah, I see you. Put that doughnut down!

Let's be honest. We all get cravings for treats on the naughty list. But if you're sitting at a desk all day, then you've got to not only limit those treats, you've got to be actively putting things other than pie into your pie hole. But what?

Foods rich in antioxidants are a go to. These nutrients are substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage. Here are the top 10 to keep within reach instead of M&Ms:

1. Small red beans, dried (well, yeah, cook em' first)
2. Wild blueberries
3. Red kidney beans, dried
4. Pinto beans
5. Blueberries, cultivated
6. Cranberries
7. Artichoke hearts, cooked
8. Blackberries
9. Dried prunes
10. Raspberries

It goes without saying that staring at a screen all day is hard on your eyes. Here are some nutrients that can help:

• DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) ~ found in fish, eggs, and seaweed
• Vitamin A ~ liver, eggs butter, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach
• Lutein ~ kale, spinach, broccoli, avocado
• Bioflavinoids ~ berries, cherries, pomegranates 

And 2 vitamins that keep your nervous system healthy and which you might be lacking after a long winter are Vitamin D and B12. Again, fish and eggs are powerhouses of these.

Above all, don't forget to drink plenty of water. Not pop. Not coffee. Just plain ol' water. Keeping hydrated is one of the best things you can do for your body, whether you sit at a desk all day or not.

Get off the Couch, Pork Chop

This week heralds the tender green beginnings of spring. You know what that means? Yeah. Swimsuit weather is just around the corner . . . and the thought of shimmying my winterish jiggly-puff body into a pair of shorts makes me break out in hives. Really. I've got hives today. Go figure.

But back to the topic at hand. It's past time for all of us to get off the couch and exercise -- especially if you're working at a computer screen all day. Besides the obvious health benefits of strengthening your bones, shedding extra fat, and improving the ol' cardio system, it turns out there's one more big bonus to exercising:

Physical activity boosts creativity.

Oh, quit your groaning. I know you wished I had said that eating doughnuts enhances creativity, but there aren't any studies out there proving that (though if you know of any, please give me a holler--I'd sign up to be a lab rat for that any day). There are, however, studies that show regular exercise is associated with improved divergent and convergent thinking. That's scientificky-type speech for the components of creative thinking.

As for me, my plan is to do the 7 Minute Workout once a day for the next week. I'll report back next Monday to let you know how I did. It seriously is 7 minutes, no more, no less, though you can make it repeat and do more if you like. It's basically an app that has fast-paced exercises one after the other, with videos so you can see what you're supposed to be doing. I've got it on my phone.

But you do you. Even if all you do is add one jumping jack to your daily routine, you're headed in the right direction. Just plan on doing it for one week. You can live through seven days of exercise, and who knows? You might continue on with it for longer.

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.