What I Learned Releasing Eight Books In One Year

The Challenge

In late December 2014, I had a thought, seeing I had written seven books this particular year, that I should try to release eight books in 2015. It seemed a little crazy and maybe unwieldy to undertake, but, I decided to give this a try. It was definitely going to be a challenge, but, I felt like I was up to it, and wanted to see how it would turn out (and how I would go about doing it).

PATRICIA’S HOLIDAY AFFAIR

In January 2015, I composed a blog post whereby I outlined five of the books I wanted to release in 2015. I decided not to state that I would be releasing eight books, as I myself was not entirely certain if I could live up to this pronouncement! Instead, I mentioned five of the books, as I was in doubts about the other three books, being, which ones I wanted to write, and, how I would go with time.

In February, I released THE ANNOUNCER, in March, THE CHAUFFEUR came onto computer screens. I had decided by this time that the final two books for the year were not the ones I originally envisioned, but ANGRY CAMERON (October) and EARLE’S GRAND DESPAIR (November) were not leaving me alone early in the year, so strong was the pull for me to write them. The other two books I wanted to write have been postponed for a later date, which worked well for me. In very late December 2014, the concept for BRANDY’S SUMMER IDOL (August) began to be developed, and in early January, I took three weeks away from twitter and other writing to compose the rough draft. Originally slated to be written over two weeks, life and other things slowed down the process a little, but it was now done.

THE KIDNAPPER

Generally, I had a release every two months, and once one book was delivered, another took its place. I surprised myself by how organized I actually was during the course of this year, but, there were several things which had to give way to the books. I began to tweet less, reverting to every fourth day, and when this proved difficult time wise, I then tweeted every second week, which has afforded much more time to writing and other book related activities. I am very happy for automated tweeting and retweeting, as it also freed up time to take care of other matters without having to be in front of the computer all the time.

HARVEY HANDSOME

I also did not play around on the computer much for recreation, just concentrating on the books. The increased writing load also played a great effect upon reading time. The number of books I read was down considerably compared to previous years, as I just did not have the time to read as much as I wanted to. By the end of the year when all my books had been released, I read some short works to lift my reading numbers slightly, but, I was unable to read a longer work this particular year.

In all honesty, I had started to write some of the eight books at the end of 2014 over the November-December period. PATRICIA’S HOLIDAY AFFAIR (May) was written over Christmas, and THE KIDNAPPER (June) over February. HARVEY HANDSOME was begun in October 2014, but released in April 2015. As I always do, though, I let these ‘sit’ as I either worked on a book, editing and refining other books. I did not enter 2015 with any books entirely done, but THE ANNOUNCER was 90% ready, as I always edit right to the end.

What I Learned From This Exercise

While it was an interesting, testing experience, and I learned a lot about time management and other matters, I do not think I will again release eight stories in one year in the near future (though never say never!) The books were composed of two novellas, three novelettes,  and three shorter stories (it would have been impossible to achieve if the books were all full-length novels!) The maximum number of books I will do, to keep everything and life on an even keel, from 2016 onwards, is six. This number works perfectly for me, as it is enough to keep me stimulated writing, and sufficient for balance. Six books also takes into account reading and other writing related activities such as editing.

It is good to find a happy medium with whatever we are doing, and if it works for us, we should run away with it. As a result of everything, I also became more in touch with myself, making sure that I am eating properly, drinking sufficient water, and taking the time to rest. Knowing when to stop writing or editing to recharge one’s batteries is also something I learnt more about this year. Afternoon naps are always helpful, but in this particular year, have been a godsend!

I hope that my experience has been interesting and helpful to read, and welcome your comments about your own writing experiences and challenges which you have set yourself.

Guest Post: Jacqueline Rainey discusses her author journey through spirituality, music and writing

In today’s guest post, I have the great pleasure of welcoming author Jacqueline Rainey to the blog. Jacqueline, author of TONI’S BLUES, THROUGH WHOSE EYES: RISE, CHILD OF GOD, DARK HARMONIE, and 30: THE DRAGONFLY CATCHER,  discusses her author journey of discovery through spirituality, music and writing, which is an enlightening and compelling essay. Without any further ado, over to Jacqueline!

Jacqueline Rainey, author photograph

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Spirituality, Music and Writing

An Author’s Journey

I can honestly say that I was born to write, first falling in love with the words to songs like Smokey Robinson’s “Ooo Baby, Baby” “Quiet Storm” and “Cruisin.” Smokey Robinson’s voice was smooth, almost magical to me when I was a young girl of only about eleven. I remember there was this one song that I fell in love with and just had to hear it every morning before going to school. I would rush around the apartment getting dressed so that I could run next door to the apartment where my favorite uncle lived and have him play the song for me, sometimes two, three times back to back. The minute the needle hit the vinyl something wonderful would happen with my ears; every instrument and vocal would become crystal clear and I would sing. That song was “Let Me Be the Clock” this song came out in 1974 and I was just a young girl of about ten or eleven years old and it was around this time that I wrote my first poem which was a love poem about the heartache of being in love and not being loved back.

I believe it was my mother’s love of music that help to unlock not only the music lover in me, but the writer as well. On weekends the apartment would be filled with music; Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Whispers, The Jacksons, The Sylvers, Commodores, Evelyn Champagne King and the very missed Minnie Riperton. The list of musical artists that helped to shape this writer goes on and on; today when I listen to their songs I’m instantly taken back to that time and place where they and their music were my world. They all took me on a journey with music and most importantly with their words. When the poet in me bloomed I wrote to take myself on a journey and to tell the story of me, but back then my poems were only meant for my eyes to see, my lips to read and my heart to feel. Writing is so intimate, most writer bare more than their souls when they write and in my books I have seamlessly weaved in the deepest and most intimate parts of my soul in words and lines and paragraphs. I write in a way that may at times come off as some sort of code that can only be interpreted by someone who has walked in all my shoes, but that is so far from the truth; the words I string together to create my stories are literally filled with magic.

DARK HARMONIE by Jacqueline Rainey

I write fascinating one liners and paragraphs that instantly brings the reader to that exact moment and emotion to the point of wishing they were there to see it: for example this from my third book “Dark Harmonie” These are the tales of me, a woman who lived her life as an ordinary creation of God, telling it from a dark, candle-lit room while sitting in a corner. Although it was only two o’clock in the afternoon in Arlington, outside my bedroom window, it was as dark as midnight and the only thing I could see clearly was the lone tree that brought me shade in the summer and became a winter wonderland scene in the winter when it snowed. Everything was beautiful when covered in that white blanket, fresh and white without a footprint in sight. Just for a short time it was pure, a symbol of how all things were one shade, neither black nor white.

During the editing process my editor told me that she loved this paragraph, she saw the beauty in my words and I felt that I had accomplished what I was going for. What those who have not read Dark Harmonie don’t know is that it’s a story about a child of God who is fighting to the death to hang on to her soul, fighting to stay alive and running, not walking, but running every step of the way and all of her enemy are dying off one by one in odd ways. A lot of my writing was done while listening to music, but for some reason it just wasn’t there during the creative process of “Dark Harmonie.”

TONI’S BLUES special revised edition by Jacqueline Rainey

After the publishing of my second book “Toni’s Blues” I felt like I was having a secret affair with everything else I began working on. The story of Toni a broken woman who only wanted to be loved the way she loved is just one of those stories that just never goes away no matter how many more books come after it. When I began work on my forth book “30: The Dragonfly Catcher” it almost felt as if my two lead characters Toni and CaSandra were competing against each other and vying for my creative affection and attention. As a writer I used that spirited character competition to push my character CaSandra completely over the edge in “30: The Dragonfly Catcher” giving her her own spotlight to shine in and my character Toni still remained a star in her own right. These two women are complete opposite of each other the weak and timid soul of Toni would be completely consumed by CaSandra as if engulf by inferno flames and burned to ash. But what kind of writer would I be if didn’t push my creative limits and recognize the muse that Toni was during the birth of “30: The Dragonfly Catcher?” Both of these strong women character have plenty of very memorable lines and histories that make them come to life on the pages and reach out to the readers and say “do you feel what I feel?” “Do you hurt when I hurt?” Of course these are not lines in either of the stories, but you will feel when they feel and hurt when they hurt.

30: THE DRAGONFLY CATCHER by Jacqueline Rainey

Take a look at these dueling lines and feel free to just let them take you inside the worlds of Toni of “Toni’s Blues” and CaSandra of “30: The Dragonfly Catcher.”

Toni’s Blues: His fists were gone and so was I, lost among the past scenes filled with pleading cries and screams. I had done more than stumble, I fell, I was battered and bruised. I had done more than just fall, I paused and stopped it all and here in this window is where I landed. Nothing soft about it, an over the top crash landing and I was the wreckage. My soul, the black-box that only God could decipher, the pieces of His creation were shattered beyond recognition except to Him and He knew me because He had formed me from that small speck of dust. (From Chapter Two)

30: The Dragonfly Catcher: I kissed him softly on his forehead before I began the work of cutting off his head with the kitchen knife that I brought back with me. I held the blade steady, my hands didn’t shake not one bit; at first I used one hand and then I put both my hands on the knife, pressing down hard and cutting faster each time I hear that voice in my head say “he’s going to leave you, they always do”

“Dark Harmonie”, “Toni’s Blues” and “30: The Dragonfly Catcher” all have amazing female lead characters and I’m currently working on a new named “Dirty Blue” which will make the vixen CaSandra look like a schoolgirl. Dirty Blue aka Nichelle Davis is a complex character who worships and respects her gun which she has named Daisy. Just like Toni and CaSandra she is beautiful to behold, but it’s always the beautiful ones who are the most intense and unpredictable. Her ritual of creating what she calls self-portraits on an array of mirrors drawn in her own blood give this character a dark side that makes it hard for you to not to want to read more about her. My writing style has evolved since the publishing of my first book “Through Whose Eyes: Rise, Child of God” which was my introduction to the world as a writer. “Dirty Blue” is not my only new writing project on deck there are currently two others along with a screenplay that is based on one of the new projects entitled “Evening the Race.”

THROUGH WHOSE EYES: RISE CHILD OF GOD by Jacqueline Rainey

My love for music at a young age was a key that unlocked the door to a world of creative writing that I had never dreamed of, who would have thought that this ex-addict and abused child would be blessed with such a beautiful gift of creativity! Sometimes when I see my books and posters of my bookcovers I am in awe of it all as if it’s someone else’s work, unbelievable! Music inspired me to write some of these memorable lines in the stories of “Through Whose Eyes: Rise, Child of God”: These are more than just stories they are words strung together that build a foundation of strength, hope and faith. The story of the little girl seeking out churches every time she moved to a new foster home was me; I had been through seven foster homes in less than a year. Even before I knew what I know now about spirituality and faith I knew that someone or something bigger than anything I was going through was out there watching it all and it turns out I was right; God was always there. The title of that story is “Waiting for God.” It turns out I wasn’t waiting for Him, but He was waiting for me to realize that He was there and that He saw all that had transpired.

“I wanted to fade into the background. I wanted to become a part of the landscape, at least then I would be seen.” (Waiting For God)

“She sat in the back of the church and prayed as the choir sang; all she wanted was to be clean.” (Clean)

“She opened her eyes to the walls of a familiar place, but not one of comfort. Being confined wasn’t the hard part; she didn’t want to lose her corner……..” (Turning Corners)

“Behind closed doors, my mother’s fears and worries showed, pushing her to hold on to her Bible like a floatation device.” (Touched)

I won’t lie and say that I’m not in the category of being one of those crazy obsessed writers because I would only be fooling myself. I’ve learned over time to embrace the quirks and eccentricities that come with being highly creative and imaginative; if I didn’t possess these wonderful qualities my writing would be nowhere near as creative and entertaining as it is. When things get crazy in this not so big world that we live in I can always count on my spirituality, music and my writing to fade the world into the background and become a blank page allowing me to create a world of my own. As a writer I have thrown the doors wide open to my world and humbly invite you in to pick up my books and prepare for the journey to begin.

Namaste

Author Jacqueline Rainey

Buy Links and Video Trailers

Dark Harmonie Book Trailer

Dark Harmonie Amazon

 

30: The Dragonfly Catcher Book Trailer

30: The Dragonfly Catcher Amazon

 

Toni’s Blues “Special Revised Edition”

 

Through Whose Eyes: Rise, Child of God Amazon

Other Links to Jacqueline

Twitter

Goodreads

Barnes and Noble

Are Your Characters Reacting To Each Other, and Plot Events, For Maximum Impact In Your Stories?

There are many times when we are writing our stories that we have a big scene where a major event takes place between the characters. Does the scene shine in its execution, or fall flat? I myself find when I am rewriting a draft this can occur, and that a scene which should be prominent, adding to the action, and opening up other story possibilities, does not deliver this, but, this can be remedied very easily. The reactions of characters to an event in the story, or to each other, can add depth, and reveal more about the characters than we originally envisioned.

This is something, though, that should be picked up in subsequent edits after the first draft, when we are perusing the story cafefully for any inconsistencies or deficiencies. I believe the main key is that we put ourselves in the position of our characters, and think what they would do in these situations. Sometimes having a character not react to a situation immediately, or having this delayed for plot purposes, is also useful, but, in any which way, if it is true to the character and story, then all the better. What are your thoughts on this?

Feeling That You Are A Little Stuck For Writing Inspiration? Do Some…Cleaning!

Are you feeling that you are low on inspiration, and just cannot get any writing done? Have you been writing, but have come to a part that you just cannot continue with, and it is getting you down? Well fear not, there is a solution in sight, and it is not as difficult as it might seem. If you are feeling that you are a little stuck for inspiration, do some…cleaning!

I believe that many times our home environment can have an effect on our writing, be it positive, or, even negative. The energy can sometimes build up without us even noticing, until we wish to do something such as writing, and we feel that there is an ‘obstacle’ in our way to achieving this. By cleaning I mean the cleaning which we sometimes may let go of for a little, sometimes due to the weather, as in winter it can be difficult to clean, as we keep the doors and windows closed to keep out the cold, and other such instances.

I have found from previous experience that when I do some cleaning, be it washing windows from the inside of the house, cleaning walls, bathrooms, cleaning floors, it helps to ‘cleanse’ the home of negative energy, and I am able to continue with what has been hampering me. It gives me a buzz which I cannot explain, and brings a spring in my step. To have done some cleaning not only makes the home fresh and hygienic, it also brings about a feeling of renewal in the home, and also, our actions.

This can also extend to spring cleaning, and other forms of de-cluttering, cleaning and purging. Once one starts to do these, they can be very addictive, and wholly satisfying. Seeing the fruits of one’s labor is a joy in itself, and then the time arrives to reap the rewards of this hard work!

Interview with author Ann Mullen

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Ann Mullen, author of the Jesse Watson mystery/thriller novel series, including WHAT YOU SEE and SOUTH RIVER INCIDENT, and short story collection LUNCH BREAK SHORTS, amongst her many books, and welcome her to my blog.

Ann Mullen, author photograph

 Welcome Ann!

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 Q: Have any life experiences inspired you to write your books?

 A: Yes, it was the experience I had one day when my husband Tom showed me an article in HOOK Magazine. John Grisham was going to be the sole judge in a short story writing contest. The winner would receive prize money and have their story published. Tom convinced me to give it a try.

You see, I’ve always had pretty wild, vivid dreams, and after every dream I would tell him about it. He told me to use my imagination and take from those dreams. I didn’t do exactly that, but I did sit down and let my imagination come to life.

So… it was that experience that brought out the writer in me. I never did enter my story in the contest, but it turned out to be my first published book.

P.S. Don’t we all take something from our life experiences or from others?

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Q: For how long have you been writing?

A: I started writing eleven years ago. I’m not a seasoned writer like most of my fellow authors. I retired, left the city, and a whole new word opened up.

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Q: Each writer works in different ways with reference to writing. Do you have a writing program/schedule that works for you?

A: Most of the time, I would write in the mornings after a good night’s sleep, or if I was still energized, I’d write in the middle of the night. Time didn’t matter. And, I never considered myself to be a real writer. After two books, I thought I had just gotten lucky.

Now that I’m older and wiser, I write early in the morning before I get too tired. Night writing is out. If the creativity isn’t there in the morning, I don’t write. And, I found that I like writing in the winter. There’s something magical about a snowfall. When I look back, all my books were written during the winter months. Ironic, isn’t it?

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Q: Do you have any favorite book genres which you love to read?

A: I love reading a good mystery. That’s probably why I chose to write mysteries. I get lost when I try to delve into sci-fi, fantasy, vampires/werewolves, or such.

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Q: Are there any favorite books and authors who have been influential upon you and your writing?

A: Reading great mysteries by such authors as J.A. Jance, Nevada Barr, Sandra Brown, Sue Grafton, and of course, John Grisham.

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Q: From my reading experience of your books, specifically LUNCH BREAK SHORTS, it reminded me of those great crime/detective television programs from the 1970s, such as CHARLIE’S ANGELS, THE ROCKFORD FILES and BARETTA, which had a compelling premise in each episode, many twists and turns along the way to keep readers on their toes, and, employed a disarming sense of humor, especially at the program’s conclusion. Your books also delve into more psychological territory than detailed descriptions of the crimes themselves, and explore the human impact of these situations. What inspired you to write mystery/thriller novels?

A: I write mystery/thrillers because it’s what I know more so than anything else. And when I come up with a storyline, I always try to make it different. Even though my books are fiction, I want people to feel like what they’re reading could easily be true. I want to put them right there in the middle of it all.

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Q: Do you have any favorite TV shows, from either the past, or still on the air?

A: My down time is sometimes spent in front of the TV, so yes, I have many. Jericho and Firefly were my favourite series, but of course they’re no longer on the air. Now I keep tabs on Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy, IRT, Mountain Men, and Wicked Tuna.

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Q: Are there any hobbies you like to participate in when you have spare time?

A: I raise donkeys and chickens. I never thought I’d be saying that, but you never know what life holds for you. I love every minute of it.

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Q: Do you have any other writing projects which you would like to mention?

A: Yes. I’ll be finishing my 8^th and final book in the Jesse Watson Mystery series, and then I’m moving onto another series about two women (one in her thirties and the other in her eighties) who become friends and get into lots of trouble snooping on people. And, to add a little surprise to this new series, I plan to throw in a few characters from my first series. I think my readers will like that. We’ll see…

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I am certain you will join me in thanking Ann today for her time, and that we look forward to reading more of her works in the future. If you wish to contact Ann, she is available on:

*Twitter: www.twitter.com/WriterAnnMullen

*Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11146326-ann-mullen

*Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ann.mullen

*Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/author/ann_mullen_stanardsville

*Ann’s website is: www.aftonridge.com

*Blog: www.annmullen.blogspot.com

– Ann’s books can be accessed by clicking on the book covers below:

WHAT YOU SEE by Ann Mullen

SOUTH RIVER INCIDENT by Ann Mullen

A CRYING SHAME by Ann Mullen

MIDDLE RIVER MURDERS by Ann Mullen

GREENE COUNTY KILLER by Ann Mullen

DEATH ON THE BELLA CONSTANCE by Ann Mullen

ALL ABOUT THE MONEY by Ann Mullen

LUNCH BREAK SHORTS by Ann Mullen

Are You Unconsciously Overediting Your Story?

There are instances when we are composing scenes for our stories we may consider that a specific scene(s) is/are unnecessary, and, hence, excise these. Maybe we are thinking that if we include extra scenes, this will slow down the story, or, add unnecessary material to our work. Sometimes this is necessary to do, but, many times it can be detrimental to the story to overly speed it up, or cut back on certain scenes. I have been personally finding this whilst writing a current project, but have also experienced this writing other stories.

What I originally envisioned as a short project, being around 1,000 words, is 3,000 words at the moment, and, may go higher the more I go into it. Certain scenes that did not seem as important in the initial stage gained momentum in the writing process, and, spawned more scenes, giving the story a depth which I did not foresee when I was writing the story breakdown. I am now pleased that this has happened, and, looking back, if I made the decision to not include these scenes, it would have made the story choppy, and uneven. I believe that this will assist the story to unfold at a more realistic pace, and, include the most essential scenes which are key to the story.

Everyone works in different ways with their writing. I find that I add scenes and (sometimes) new characters during the planning, first draft, or even whilst editing; it is just one of these individualistic things. What I advise is that we should not be afraid to just write scenes that may feel a little out of place in the beginning; we should just write these, and see what happens, you just never know what could emerge from all of your ‘meaningless’ pondering poured out onto the page!

Some Thoughts on Managing Book Release Deadlines for Authors

The release of a book, and managing book release deadlines, are topics which I have considered a lot over the past few months. The accompanying questions of when to release the book, where it will appear, how, why, and, for whom, are items which I believe many authors may have a dilemma, and fret over. I will utilize my newest book release, THE GRANDMOTHER’S MESSAGE, as an example of how I went about managing these questions.

THE BOOK’S RELEASE, ON WHICH WEBSITES, AND, THE RATIONALE FOR THIS

THE GRANDMOTHER’S MESSAGE was released on 28 June, 2013, and firstly appeared on Smashwords, then Amazon, and, subsequently, on Smashwords’ distribution partners such as Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Sony. I wanted to have the book in as many places as possible as readers might have a preference between different websites. Limiting the book to only a single or few websites, from past experience, deprives other readers who may simply not have access to certain websites, due to geographical reasons, or other factors.

PREPARATION OF STORY AND PERSONAL OBJECTIVES

I began planning the story from December of 2012, and, by February of 2013, had completed the first draft. I found that by having a breakdown of the events in the story, it gave me a structure to work with, and, I could build the story from this point. As I did not want to waver, and sought to give myself sufficient time to deliver the story by mid-year, I had initially set a release date of June 2013. I found by having a deadline set, that it gave me something to work towards. In addition to this, I also have a personal aim this year to release two books, and having one completed gives confidence to continue with the next one.

SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE RELEASE DATE, AND OTHER DETAILS SUCH AS TWITTER AND BLOG

In May 2013, I looked at my calendar, and, as I was on track with my writing, sought to select a release date, which I did. Even though I now had a release date of 28 June 2013, I continued working on the book right up until the final few days. It is funny how you can find errors right up until the end in a manuscript that are not as evident in the early stages. It did help, though, to have a few beta readers, who also assisted with spotting errors, and certain details in the story which needed attention.

It was also useful to utilize my blog, and twitter, to make readers aware of the book’s upcoming release. Readers were aware months in advance from twitter that my book was on its way, and it was very heartening that the book teasers received many retweets, thanks to wonderful fellow tweeters.

CONVERSION INTO BOTH SMASHWORDS AND AMAZON FORMATS

When I was satisfied that the book was just right, I began to convert it into the Smashwords format, and, then, the Amazon format, a few days before uploading. As the vast majority of the work had been completed, all I now really had to do was this. I find that generally it is easier this way, as, from past experience, one helps the other, but, it is always good to follow the instructions which each book site has; then a lot of problems can be avoided, and help make a smoother transition.

SYNOPSIS AND KEYWORDS PREPARATION IN ADVANCE

It is also good to have the synopsis, and keywords which one will use on the websites, composed months before the book’s release, as once this is done, it is just a matter of typing these in, or, slightly changing these to suit one’s needs. Apart from this, starting these details months in advance will give the writer time to refine their concepts of the story, and fine tune certain details, instead of having to rack one’s mind at the last minute, giving further stress.

SUMMARY

The bottom line for me was that having a realistic, and manageable, time frame to complete the project was paramount, taking into account life itself, how much time one has to write, and leaving some time for those unexpected incidents. And now, it is over to you for your thoughts on managing book release deadlines in the most beneficial manner possible, and what you think of my suggestions.

The Benefits Of Leaving A Writing Project Temporarily On The Backburner

Sometimes when we are writing we may experience a feeling that we cannot proceed any further with a project, and this could be attributed to various factors. Maybe we have been working on the story for so long we begin to find fault with it, thinking that we may possibly have writer’s block, or, that it’s just not worth pursuing. Maybe the speed of life itself makes us think that we will never find the time to complete the project, and, in a sense, we may effectively ‘give up’ on the story. Whatever the reason, I believe that, in the majority of cases, there is a remedy for this, and, it is more simple than we realise.

The best thing I have found from my experience is that when I leave a work by putting it temporarily to the side, this gives me more perspective on the project, and, having some distance from it can make me more objective in the long run. Having something else to work on in between is also another great way to take one’s mind off the project, and onto something else. For example, at the present moment, I am drafting a project whilst doing the final editing for another. I find that this works as I can alternate from one to the other, and it keeps things fresh for me. In addition to this, new ideas for the stories may emerge which may not have been possible if there was a tight focus on just one story.

It’s basically one of those things where what works for one writer may not work for another; everyone has different ways of carrying out their writing projects. It could also be boiled down to the fact that maybe we need a little break from writing, which could do the trick, in order to return to it refreshed and creatively revitalised. Whatever it is, and whatever works for us, we should pursue this totally, and never feel guilty if we require some time out from writing. We know ourselves, and how we feel, and should listen to our inner voice in this respect. We will know when the time arrives for us to return to writing; our sixth sense will tell us, for sure. Now it is over to you, for your thoughts on the benefits of leaving a writing project temporarily on the back-burner.

Interview with author Jane Carroll

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Jane Carroll, author of the motivational self-help book BERTHA-SIZE YOUR LIFE!, and welcome her to my blog.

Jane Carroll, Author Photograph

Welcome Jane!

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Q: Have any life experiences inspired you to write your book?

A: Marcia, first of all thank you so much for having me on your blog, it’s a delight to be here. Now to answer your question…actually everything in my life inspires my writing. I’ll see something or hear something and it just takes on a deeper meaning for life. They say that a writer never wastes an experience. I know it’s certainly true for me as I generally take the mundane and turn it into life lessons…with the help of Bertha of course. Now…all that said…every experience in Bertha did not happen to me personally. Some of it was inspired by others asking for advice and from coaching clients. I have to say that because my mother got really upset when she read some of the stories because she thought I’d been depressed and she didn’t realize it.

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Q: For how long have you been writing?

A: For about ten years now although I’ve always enjoyed expressing myself in writing.

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Q: Each writer works in different ways with reference to writing. Do you have a writing program/schedule which works for you?

A: I normally write better in the morning so that’s when I write my blog. Since I work fulltime as a school nurse, by the time I’ve done that I don’t have time to work on anything else so that usually comes on the weekend or holidays. I would love to be one of those regimented writers who has a word count planned for the day but it just doesn’t work for me.

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Q: Do you have any favorite book genres which you love to read?

A: I love to read anything that is uplifting and inspirational. I gravitate to spiritual and self-help books like most people do to fiction.

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Q: Are there any favorite books and authors who have been influential upon you and your writing?

A: Og Mandino has definitely influenced me, especially his book The Greatest Miracle in the World. I love the way he incorporated life lessons into beautiful stories. Although my writing style is nothing like his, I strived to follow in his footsteps.

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Q: BERTHA-SIZE YOUR LIFE! is an entertaining self-help book which covers various topics in a fun, and informative manner. What inspired you to write this book, and create the spirited, and indomitable Bertha?

A: Interestingly, it’s not the book that I started to write. I began writing a book of transformational exercises for women experiencing empty-nest just after my youngest daughter got married. I had completed my life coach training and had always wanted to write so it just seemed like the right time and place in my life to begin. The only problem was that the book was boring. Most of the chapters started out…take some time and get quiet. Then one day a friend left me a voicemail that her daughter had moved out and her nest was empty…what should she do? I tried to call her back and thankfully she didn’t answer so I sent her an email instead. It was flippant and off the cuff to say the least and I told her to name her nest and I named mine Bertha. I thought that was that until a few days later something was bothering me and I decided to just let…Bertha…handle it. I wrote a funny little story in my journal about it…and that as they say was that. Bertha quickly took over that book and turned all those exercises into funny stories. Of course she had the starring role. Many of Bertha’s details are the opposite of me…from the big red hair to the high-heels and spandex…I just didn’t want her to sound like me. She sort of evolved on her own into a persona that most people once they’ve read the book…consider to be a real person in her own right.

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Q: Would you consider writing fiction at some point in the future? If so, are there any genres in which you would like to write?

A: I’ve actually started a fiction piece although it will also be a book of personal transformation and will mirror some aspects of my life. I can’t wait for the summer to really get into it.

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Q: Do you have any favorite TV shows, from either the past, or still on the air?

A: I used to watch a good bit of TV…loved sit-coms, Oprah, Law and Order. Now I watch very little…mostly just something on HGTV if I want to turn the TV on for company.

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Q: Are there any hobbies you like to participate in when you have spare time?

A: I love biking. In fact I had a ride before we started chatting. I wasn’t able to ride for a couple of years due to health issues so I’m really looking forward to getting back on the road this spring and summer. I used to ride between 20 and 40 miles a day and I hope to build back up to that. Today I made ten and I also went to the gym for a weight session. I also love reading and piddling in my yard, although you couldn’t call me a gardener.

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Q: Do you have any other writing projects which you would like to mention?

A: The sequel to Bertha-Size Your Life! is at the publisher as I type, awaiting the editing process. I hope it will be released before the end of the summer. It picks up where Bertha left off and the transformation of the narrator continues with a few fun twists and turns. I’m really pleased with the direction it took. (Hope the publisher agrees.)

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I am certain you will join me in thanking Jane today for her time, and that we look forward to reading more of her works in the future. If you wish to contact Jane, she is available on:

*Twitter: https://twitter.com/janecarroll10

*Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/197223.Jane_Carroll

*Facebook page: https://facebook.com/janecarrollauthor

*Amazon.com: http://amzn.com/B008873ZRM

*Jane’s website is: http://www.janecarrollauthor.com

*Jane’s Blog: http://janecarrollauthor.com/category/life-according-to-jane-blog/

BERTHA-SIZE YOUR LIFE can be accessed by clicking on its cover below:

BERTHA SIZE YOUR LIFE by Jane Carroll

When Writing, Never Procrastinate – Write Your Ideas Down When You Can

I believe that we all, at some point, may have done this while writing – we put it off, thinking that our ideas will stay with us, and are content to just let these stew in our minds; all the while time passes, and, in the process, we have not written anything on the page. The idea may take some shape or form in our minds, but it is just that, in our minds, and, if we allow it, may stay there, forever. This can be an unfortunate thing, as, from personal experience, I have found that once an idea or concept is down on the page, however we are comfortable, be it on the computer screen, or in longhand, there is the scope for it to develop, and, in a manner of speaking, ‘blossom’ for the writer.

Writing ideas down has positive effects which, more often than not, lead to a chain reaction for writers.  A ‘simple’ idea, once written down, as such, may spawn any number of further inspirations for the writer, as, once they begin to play with the idea, other roads open up, taking the idea down paths which the writer never expected. My message to those writers putting off writing, therefore, is that they should never procrastinate, and write their ideas down when they can. You just never know where the ideas could lead you in your writing endeavors – a short story could eventually lead into a longer novel, or a series of books…the sky’s the limit!