2017 We've Been Waiting for You

Happy New Year, dear readers. The calendar finally turned over to 2017. I hope no one jinxes us by asking how it could possibly be worse than 2016. I'm sure there's a way so let's not tempt fate.

Tempting fate ... after proudly saying I hadn't had a bad cold in a few years, I'm suffering through my second in less than a month. Darn germs. Go away.

Don't forget the 4th is the first Wednesday of 2017 and that means it's time for IWSG monthly blog hop. It's also the day the winners of the anthology contest will be announced. I was humbled by the talent of our members. So many excellent writers and stories. The question of the month should you decide to use it: What writing rule do you wish you'd never heard?

Looking back on 2016, there are lots of things to be depressed about. I spent yesterday thinking of all the good things that happened in 2016. (In between blowing my nose.)

We learned we were expecting our first grandchild. My daughter graduated college with highest honors which also means no more tuition payments. I reconnected with an hold friend and have enjoyed a number of lunches with her as we catch up. I read some really terrific books. I only wrote two books last year but I received a contract from my publisher for both of them. My children and my husband are healthy as everyone loves everyone, faults and all. So on a personal level, 2016 was pretty good.

In the professional area, 2016 threw one more fastball at the head. And it hit a lot of writers. All Romance eBooks, a distributor of ebooks, announced it was closing its door on December 31st and would not be able to pay anyone the royalties owed to them for the 4th quarter of 2016. Wow! This hit a lot of indie writers but also publishers of all sizes who sell their books through ARe. They don't just sell romance but also sell other genres on their sister site, OmniLit. There is more fallout from this coming out every day. Mostly what it confirms is how few ways there are for writers to protect their work. Pirates steal and now legitimate sites can't be trusted? How many people now believe the owner of ARe was paying them all monies owed before this? Here is an article discussing the closing and another with further information. I'm waiting to hear from my publisher when they figure out what it will cost her and me. I hope it didn't hurt any of you.

"Yesterday's home runs don't win today's games." Babe Ruth

What can a writer do? Just keep on writing. I'm starting a new romance series set in a post-apocalypse America. The apocalypse seems to be on a lot of minds these days.

Not setting goals for this year. I'm going to write as much as I can and regain the energy I couldn't seem to find in 2016. I need to get more done.

"Do or do not. There is no try." Yoda

One more thought before tonight's football game. Go, Penn State!

Are you tired of football bowl season? I am. Were any of your books for sale on ARe? Are you entering 2017 with hope and a positive outlook? I hope the Force is with you all in 2017.

Floods, Weeds and Lawns

I don't usually have to search for reasons to procrastinate and this week Mother Nature provided all the opportunities to avoid the writing chair.

Central PA is on pace as one of the wettest years ever.  After receiving six inches of rain in a matter of hours a few days ago, our basement flooded for the second time this year.  It's rain every day since so the weeds and lawn are growing like a rabbit running before a greyhound. We can't keep up.  Tomorrow I'm going to use bleach to wash the basement floor again. I've almost chased out the odor.

I don't like complaining about the rain because so many people are having dry years.  But the clean up chores have been draining the energy I usually put into my writing including my blogging. I've been remiss in visiting and posting.  I'm behind in my edits.

I know real life interferes with all writers but June, July and now August seem to be ganging up on me. In a few weeks, days actually, I'll be back at the day job of teaching and my time will be even more limited.  I always set big goals for the summer months and consistently fall short. 

How have your recent goals been coming along? What recent events contributed to any procrastination issues you've been having?  And is it raining there?

Write Faster!

What really gets the engine fired up for a writer? A new contract, the light at the end of a book, a new contract? For me a lot of different things will keep my butt in the chair and fingers on the keyboard.

Last week it was receiving the new cover for my second book in my fantasy series, The Futhark Chronicles. You already heard me squeal about Beyond the Gate. Then I received an unexpected royalty check. Is anything better than that?

Then a member of CPRW, shout out to Joyce, had a great period of writing. Later another member, Elizabeth, had her first sale of a short story. They inspire me.

Today I finally received my print copies of the fourth book in The Chronicles of Solonia, One Good Woman. I've been waiting forever for those to arrive.

All these things, including the light at the end of a book, have kept my word count adding up. One of my students at school told me her mom bought my book and she asked me if I would sign it if she brought it in to school. So I've been writing faster. I have until Saturday to reach my month's goal of 35,000 words. I'm close but I've needed all those little nudges from my colleagues and the mail.

Do you set goals and make them public? Do you usually reach them? What inspires you to write faster?