Freezing Friday

Wow, did winter slam up or what this week? I'm enjoying my fireplace and being home alone while all the menfolk are on a golfing holiday in Myrtle Beach. It's lovely. Besides getting ahead on my blog posts, I'm completing the rough outline for my next novel.

The other thing that has taken a few hours of my day is doing some food shopping for Thanksgiving. I make a list, go shop and then make another list for all the things I forgot to put on the first list. Not fun times though I love the day, I don't care for the shopping leading up to it. It's a great family day though. And that brings us to my Tolkien quote for the day from The Hobbit and Thorin Oakenshield.
‘If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.’

And some wisdom from The Old Farmer's Almanac:

Goods that are much on show lose their color.  Brazilian proverb

"Allow children to be happy in their own way, for what better way will they ever find." Dr. Samuel Johnson

Use cream of tartar as a cleanser to brighten stainless steel.

Hope everyone is warm this weekend or if you live north of me, I hope you managed to shovel your way out of your house. What are you working on this week? Have your shopping ready for Thanksgiving (if you live in the USA)? Ever use cream of tartar to clean?

To Do List

I've spent the last ten days working on a to do list. Every time I check something off, I seem to add three more things to replace it. Lots of these things are like a housekeeping list for my writing life and not so much setting goals. I'm getting around to the goal thing, but not yet.

Housekeeping involves some things such as:

* Adding up tax info for my husband to do the taxes. Not that I'm making big money or taking big deductions, but it still has to be done.

* I spent an entire afternoon changing all my email addresses I use to sign in at various sites, personal and professional, to my gmail address. I had been using the gmail and two different verizon addresses. All gmail now. You never know when you might change internet providers and then I'll want to be rid of those Verizon accounts.

* I schedule a number of guests on this blog for the next few months. I want to help them with their promotion and hopefully they'll return the favor.

* I've been investigating security programs for my computers. I need to renew my Norton or buy something else today. Haven't decided yet.

* I'm working with my niece, my intrepid cover artist for the fourth and final book in The Futhark Chronicles series. It's with my editor now. Love that Gina.

* I'm catching up on some writing articles and magazines I have stacked on my desk. I'm always looking for something that will make me a better writer.

* I'm also getting back into the swing of blogging three times per week and visiting more blogs everyday.

So my desk looks a little neater. Now if only blogger would fix itself so I can upload pictures. I have my new camera and all these pictures I took to use here, and blogger is being difficult.

So what housecleaning chores did you have to do lately for your writing business? Any security program you recommend over the others? Do you use numerous email addresses?

Happy New Insecure Year

Happy New Year to all. I've been looking forward to the start of the 2013. As I've reminded you again and again, and will again and again over the next few months, this is the year of my retirement from teaching.  I'm looking forward to the being a full time writer and that leads me to my first post of the year for The Insecure Writers Support Group. This wonderful group was started by Alex Cavanaugh and one only has to post the first Wednesday of every month to be part of the terrific network of like-minded bloggers.

I know many of my blogger buddies took some time off over the holidays from their usual blogging schedule. Today if my first post in some time, as I busied myself with family obligations and worked on a manuscript that has needed my attention for a few weeks now. And guess what.

My blog didn't disappear. I didn't lose any followers. Blogger didn't shut down because I didn't have three new posts per week. My friends didn't abandon me because I didn't visit their blogs everyday. The blogosphere went on without me. It was the least amount of time I spent reading blogs in the last two years. And it was okay.

What I learned is that it's okay to take some time off. It's all right to concentrate on one project at a time or spend extra hours with your family. I've worked hard on my blogging over the past year, but it didn't all fall apart because I took some time off. I didn't even feel guilty. And I got so much other writing done. And I have two publishers sending me edits for rewrites sometime in the next two months so I might have to take some more time off. And it's okay.

Don't be afraid to relax and focus on the immediate demands of your life, personal or professional, and slack off on others. That's my advice for today.

Did you take some time off over the holidays from writing or blogging? What's the longest break you ever took? Did you feel guilty?

Out of Food

When do you know when you're in the zone, writing? When you're out jogging and didn't even notice what music played on your iPod because you're thinking about your characters. When you don't visit facebook for days. When you forget about lunch. When you notice there's no food in the house except for stale cereal and a jar of peanut butter.

So today we're down to about a cup of milk, four eggs and three whole wheat hamburger rolls and some frozen foods. I really need to go to the store, but I hate to stop when the words are flying off my keyboard. As of tonight, I'm over 37K into this newest WIP. I'm feeling a little pressure to get it done. I'll tell you on Wednesday during IWSG.

The Light at the End

I have managed to cook a few meals for my family's dinner the last two nights, but I've barely spoken to them. I just don't want to slow down. It's a pleasant tunnel I'm in and I can't quite see the light at the end, but there's some illumination shining through.

I apologize for not visiting as many blogs as I normally do and my posts have been a little bit sparse. In the meantime, my husband and kids might have to go out to eat.

Feeling any pressure lately with your writing? Do you wait until the cupboard is bare before going to the store, or do you keep stuff stocked up? What's the most words you've ever written in a day?

Climbing Out of The Pit

I'm sure we've all had 'one of those weeks.' You know the kind. Let me give an example. Laptop in the shop for the old '3 to 5 business days' before even getting an estimate. Busy family stuff such as senior awards' night, daughter's softball playoffs rescheduled again and again by rain, one son needing help packing and stocking up before leaving for his three month internship(at a private resort in the Poconos, poor kid), a retirement party for a family member, and then to top off this wonder, a five day stomach bug highlighted by 18 hours of the worst illness of my life.  Feel sorry for me yet?

I'm not asking for sympathy, merely explaining why I've been absent. I was so sick, I couldn't even read.  I've never been that ill before.  But I'll be catching up with the blogs I missed.  I'll be enjoying my daughter's softball games instead of struggling to keep it together for seven innings. Hopefully, I'll be able to do some more running. And because I'm a glass half-full kind of gal, I did lose three of those five pounds I wanted to drop.  It wasn't the most pleasant method but it was effective.

I had to skip the annual Pennwriter's Conference this year because of that family member retirement party, but again looking on the bright side, I would have missed it because I was sick.  Saved myself some money.  But I do regret missing all that networking.  So apologies for not visiting everyone over the recent seven days, but I'm back on track now.  Hope you all had a better week than I did.

N: Netiquette

N:  I'm pretty sure someone made up the word, netiquette, but it might be real and it doesn't have to do with tennis.  Certainly the idea is real. And just looking at the construction of the word, it's easy to figure out the definition.  Netiquette is proper behavior and using good manners online.

This is likely challenging for lots of people.  The world wide web is a rather impersonal way to communicate with others of the human race.  You type on a keyboard, almost like having a conversation with a machine.  But your words are being read by humans.  Your comments are directed at people.  Your judgments are touching other professionals.  Despite the old saying, words can really hurt.  Words can cause anger and destruction. Perhaps words won't harm your physical body but they can bring near fatal injuries to your reputation. 

So what is netiquette? I think it is remembering what you share and opine online is being read by people, real people.  People who have feelings, people who have influence and people with memories.  Once it is said online, it can never be unsaid.  When you say something on your blog, facebook or any other social site, write with the same inhibitions, forethought and politeness as you would as if responding in a face to face interaction.  Read what you wrote before clicking on 'post.'  Are you being open-minded? Are you being insulting? Is the tone of your post unprofessional, defensive or angry?  Is something you've typed so controversial you'll become the subject of blogs about crazy, career-killing writers?  Use good manners and common sense. 

Do you take care with your online manners? Have you ever wished to take back something you said? Have you read posts or comments that make you cringe?

Blog vs. Website

Exactly one month ago, I decided to do away with my website and go with a blog only.  Thanks to all my wonderful readers who gave me their opinions and insight into their experiences.  They were split about half and half on having both or having a blog only. 

After a month, I thought I'd share my verdict of how it's going.  Let's start with numbers.  I have more than doubled the number of followers on my blog and have more comments than ever.  Page visits for my blog this past month have been triple the usual number of visits I averaged on my website. 

When I decided to do away with my website, I also set a goal for myself to keep my blog active with frequent posting and also to set aside time to visit other blogs.  It's also so easy to change the design on my blog compared to making changes on my website.  In a few weeks I'm going to add another page to my blog to promote an upcoming release.  What's not to love about blogging?

I know from the previous discussion some more of your were thinking of going blog only.  Did anyone else dump their website? 

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice and shared their experiences.  I'm learning more every day.  I'm grateful to all my new followers and especially those who stop by here often to comment. 

Now if only I could keep up with Facebook and Goodreads.  Twitter only receives my attention on rare occasions though I usually find lots of links to follow when I do go there.  So now that I settled my blog decision my next question, oh wise audience, is what other social networking tools so you deem worthy of your time?  Facebook?  Twitter?  Goodreads?  LinkedIn?  Others?

Beware the Googley Eyes

Is there anyone who doesn't know how to 'google' things?  It's even a popular comic line in movies and on TV.  Google can be used as a noun or a verb but either way be careful how you use it.
Like most authors, I set up Google Alerts to catch any new reviews or other news about my books circulating the web.  I have them set up for all my books, those already released and those yet to come.   Lately I've been rejoicing in the alerts telling me someone is searching out news about my latest release, Beyond the Gate.
It's very easy to waste precious writing minutes 'googling' yourself and then clicking around the Internet to read every little tidbit or stare at every online picture of your book cover.  And what you find isn't always inspiring.  You might find a poor review or a simple unfavorable comment when you follow one of those links.  It can not only waste time but deplete your emotional energy.

But what I'm most wary of is the knowledge that, yes, everybody does google.  It's only human to wonder what other people say about you.  So be careful whom you offend online.  If I write a blog flaming a particular agent, editor, or even another author, chances are good they will learn of it.  Take care with personal attacks on organizations or groups.   If I post on facebook a unflattering depiction of someone in the publishing world, I must remember that person might see it.  How might it affect my career?

A number of years ago at the very first writer's conference I'd ever attended, I attended a panel discussion of where the business was going.  The panel consisted of editors, agents and a few very successful authors.  A question was asked and one of the authors answered in a way one could only construe as racist.  I was shocked but I didn't run home and share it on my yahoo groups or my young blog.  I did stop buying her books though I expect her remarks resulted from ignorance more than true bigotry. 

So be careful what you say.  It may affect your career in unintended ways even it only loses you a few fans.  It could cost you friendships, connections and even trust with others in the industry.  Have you ever been shocked by what someone posted on a social network?  Do you know someone who has suffered those unintended consequences by speaking their mind? 

Back in the Day

I had comitted myself to doing a lot of promotion this weekend including updating my website. I only work on my website from my desktop. I also had some big plans of designing some business card size promotion for pre-ordering The Keepers of Sulbreth, now that it is on Amazon. I vowed to visit all my usual blog haunts everyday and perhaps discover a few more.
Well, Thursday my daughter and I were watching a Lifetime movie on demand, one of Nora's, while I visited some blogs, and Kapow! The ondemand movie went off and so did my internet. I thought it was minor clitch but after checking my desktop and my son's laptop I discovered we had no internet. Two hours later, three times getting cutoff, Verizon told me my router took a fatal dive. I was not happy. They promised to sent one right away but with the holiday that means I won't get it until Tuesday.
So here I am at Borders, checking my mail, doing a quick blog and thinking I'm wasting an entire weekend of promotional time. So, quite dangerously, I started thinking. Is the internet all there is to promotion? Is that all I can do? Isn't there more to promotion than blogging, yahoo groups and facebook/twitter? While at Borders, I picked up the newest copy of Realms of Fantasy. It's filled with glossy book ads. I know it can be expensive, but many authors use it to promote their fantasy and science fiction books. Other magazines such as Romantic Times offer another expensive venue for advertising. So I wonder, back in the day, before the internet, how did beginning authors get the word out about their books? I know some newspapers will run a small blurb, but what else it out there?