Wednesday, March 7, 2018

IWSG: March and A Broken Race Gets A Facelift

What? It's March already? Did someone fast forward my calendar, or my life, for that matter. Ugh. There's just not enough time.

I used to do surveys for points. This was years ago. I don't remember what service it was, but on nearly every survey, toward the end where they ask you about your demographic details, there were always these questions. Do you feel the world is moving too fast? Do you feel the internet is overwhelming? I though they were the silliest things. Overwhelming? The internet is awesome! How can the world move too fast?

Well guess what? My answers these days are: yes. OMG yes.

I've reverted to playing solitaire on my computer to unplug from the internet. The internet is stealing my energy and my ambition. There is too much out there I should be doing: networking, marketing, learning, researching. Even though I'd hoped to blog more and I have plenty to talk about, I'm stuck on too fast and overwhelming. And no, this post isn't a challenge to see how many times I can use that word.

Here's one fun thing I can share that's quick and easy. A Broken Race is being re-released very soon. It has a new cover and additional content actually in the book rather that only here on my blog. I received the rights back from the publisher a couple weeks ago, and as soon as I get the all clear from Createspace, the new version will be ready to order.



And now it's time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group post! 

How do you celebrate when you achiever a writing goal / finish a story?

When I reach a writing goal, such as finishing a chapter or a number of words, I go off and do a quick reward to relax. That might be watching an episode of whatever I'm currently binging on Netflix or going out to work in my yard or garden.

Finishing a short story usually means taking the rest of the day off from writing while I ponder potential edits.  Finishing a novel means taking a couple days off to let my brain decompress. Holding a whole novel in your head takes a lot of energy and it can be very distracting. All that thinking about motivations, backstory, what would this or that character do or say and twisting all the plot and subplots together into a tight thread. When I'm mid-novel, that's all going on at once during all the minutes of the day (and sometimes, night). Finishing a novel means I get a clean reboot. I go vegetate on a yard project or a season of show, or read a couple books. Of course, in the back of my mind, I'm now starting to contemplate edits, covers, blurbs and all those sorts of things.

If we're talking holding a finished book in my hands, I'd love to say I do something huge to celebrate, but honestly, I'm probably already contemplating which project to work on next. I don't know about you, but my writer brain doesn't seem to take anything more than long weekend vacations. No rest for the wicked.

How do you celebrate your writing victories?



23 comments:

  1. Gardening as a reward works for me ... except I tend to get distracted and stay out there all day.

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  2. I hear you about the Internet stealing your energy. I want to be writing, but find myself looking at stuff on the Internet, though sometimes I'll be looking for something that could be a possible blog topic.

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    1. The internet is a wormhole of knowledge isn't it?

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  3. I hear you about the "no long weekends." I'm always cooking up something writing-related, and I suspect that's a trait of most successful (read, productive) writers. Happy writing!

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  4. It's good to celebrate and look ahead to the next project. We're never done living and creating. And, yes, time certainly flies. My babies are graduating high school this year.
    Mary at Play off the Page

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    1. Time certainly does. I've got one in college and one in high school.

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  5. I used to take surveys too. At one time I made a cool twenty bucks a months on those bad boys, but stopped doing them because I never seemed to qualify for them anymore. I wasted way too much time on them. Congrats on getting your rights back. That's awesome!

    Elsie

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    1. It sure seems like they used to pay better than they do now, doesn't it? I gave up on doing them years ago. Even then, it wasn't worth my time for the most part or I'd spend ten minutes on it only to get disqualified. Twenty bucks is pretty darn good.

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  6. Hi Jean - good luck with the re-release ... and I'm sure come warmer weather the garden will draw you out but you won't forget to write - cheers Hilary

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    1. Warming weather would be nice. It's been sunny on and off the past week, but also snowing and raining and always right around freezing. I'm ready for spring.

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  7. I hear you about holding a whole book in your head. I'm right with you! Some people put all that stuff down on paper, or in scrivener. I keep it tucked in my brain so the subconscious can work its magic. Being an author definitely takes higher mental stamina, eh?

    Awesome about the rerelease! I'm wishing you epic success.

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    1. I'm just not a put it all down on paper kind of writer. Maybe all those character voices and plot ponderings are what cause my headaches? Glad to meet another head novelist. :)

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  8. My go-to mindless computer game was always minesweeper back in college. Congrats on the re-release of A Broken Race. That's exciting. No rest for the wicked, indeed. Sounds like you're having a great time with your writing. Thanks for the post, and happy March!

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    1. Oh my, yes! Minesweeper was my back up when I got bored with solitaire. Hope your March is a productive one!

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  9. I get bogged down with social media and it does take up my time. Promotions and marketing are the pits too. Congrats on the re-release and face lift of your book!!!

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    1. Thanks, Cathrina. The pit of marketing and promotion is indeed vast and soul sucking.

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  10. I get time management games from Big Fish Games to shut down the internet. Also, I've found a free logic puzzles site online I can do. When I'm not working, if I find I'm just logging onto Facebook constantly, I start playing the games instead.

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    1. I used to love Big Fish games! The restaurant ones were my favorite. I finally cut that habit because I was spending way too much time playing and not enough writing. Facebook can be super distracting too. Darn evil internet. :)

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  11. All the best with your book and happy gardening!

    Damyanti

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    1. Thanks, D! I'm already planning gardening projects. Too bad there's at least another month before the weather will cooperate.

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