Thursday, September 11, 2014

Just Do It

First, let me say, I'm very happy right now :D Super happy! I have so much writing things happening all around me, that I'm ecstatic. But I worked for them. I worked to make this happen. And I had lovely support from my friends and co-writers.

 

I'm a writer with severe asthma and allergies. I recently moved (am actually still moving :S), but it's too late for this year's dust up! Where I lived before made me so sick, that I've nearly died. I end up with pneumonia/severe bronchitis every year, and spend months trying to recover. I have five kids, three still at home. One, the youngest, has Down Syndrome and has regressed with the potty training with the move, though he's otherwise adjusted extremely well. Yet, I've found time to write. Admittedly, it is 100k words less than the years previously. But I still whipped out 60kish that last really sick year. (most of which is published! The rest is unfinished as yet J )

 

I've worked in jobs outside the home, and edit and sew from home on top of my writing. Writing is a way to release stress and emotions for me, but it's also a way to allow my imagination to run free and live in special worlds. But, how many times have I heard the phrase, "I'd write if I had time." in a condescending manner? Too many!

 

*Grins* And you know what? I smile. I smile and nod. And if it's a good friend, I will tell them to find time, even if it's fifteen minutes at a time. If they really feel the need to write, then indulge in it. My friends will know the personal struggles I have, and if I can find time… *Grins more* Nothing like having them take a second look at what they are saying.

 

If they are just acquaintances, I'll put them on the do not call list—just kidding :D I mostly let it float away like water off a duck's back. Why, when they are being so condescending and acting like what you do is nothing, and that any person could do it, but it's beneath them or not worth wasting their time on? Why just let it all go? Why not hold the resentment?

 

Lots of good reasons…including it's not worth wasting your time on! LOL But one main reason is I love to write in the same way I love to paint. I know how hard I work. I know that I did 3 hours of research for the first 500 words of a historical that I then chose not to finish as it's not the right time for me. I know that even though I include romances in my repertoire of books, that I'm a good writer and researcher, despite what many say about the genre! I know that I use words above a 6th grade level. I know that I entertain people and give them a story worth reading. Though, like all great artists and writers, I feel a twinge—okay sometimes a cascading waterfall—of self-doubt and recrimination when I'm writing.

 

Still, it does no good for you to dwell on someone else's negative thoughts of your chosen vocation. You live and dream and do as you believe. If not, you end up with things like writer's block, or depression because you're not good enough, or something. Be happy! Think positive!

 

I'm working on writing and editing even though finding time is a challenge, but it's so exciting! I am a writer. An author, a mother, a painter, an editor, a gardener, a quilter, a cross stitcher, a crocheter, a scrapbooker, a baker, a cook. I am all those things. And today, it makes me happy. Very happy.

 

Was it always easy? No. Is it easy now? No. But I persevered. I didn't give up on my dream. Every day, I am finding ways to make it easier to do all the things I want to do. It takes work and time. But it's worth it. And that one fan that says, I loved "x line" or "x character" makes it all worth it.

 

No matter how much I say it doesn't matter what someone else says, we know it does to some extent. (I'm just saying don't let it stop you!) Writers and artists love the validation of having a fan, of having someone positively review their work. We love the feedback. We NEED the feedback. My fans have made it easier for me to keep going while I was sick. And now, while fighting what is hopefully the last year of this level of sickness, I appreciate my friends and fans so much!

 

If you have a favourite author, you may think you're only one voice of many, but I can tell you, it matters to hear your positive thoughts, your well wishes when things are not going well. So thank you to all the fans,. I hope I've inspired you to do something, even if it's five minutes at a time. It all adds up. Go make a quilt, or crochet an afghan. Start saving for that dream vacation. Every little step, every positive thought, takes you closer than you were before.
 
Don't be someone who says, "I'd do that if I had time." If it's important to you, make time. :D  I hope I've inspired you to do something, even if it's five minutes at a time. It all adds up. Go make a quilt, or crochet an afghan. Start saving for that dream vacation. Every little step, every positive thought, takes you closer than you were before. Just do it.
 
 
 

 

Monday, September 1, 2014

Hello Rhiannon Wellman!


Please welcome a lovely friend and terrific author, Rhiannon Wellman. :) This is just a bit about her works in progress :D How fun to see into an author's "stash" of work! Soon, I'm going to entice her to come and talk about the difficulties she's overcome--and has to overcome each day!--in order to be an author. For now, enjoy your peek into a writer's mind. Hello, Rhiannon!!
 
 
Firstly, I'd like to say thank you very much for having me. This whole tour is very exciting for me. I've already filled up seventeen of the thirty dates of September which is very cool.

I think I'm going to kick things off by telling you about the four stories I've picked for this tour and where I am on each of them. I do a lot of writing by hand, but for the sake of this, anything not typed doesn't count.

 

Story One

Moon Bound:- This is the sequel to 'Red on the Moon' (which is currently on sale on allromanceebooks.com, I'll put the link at the bottom)

This one tells the story of Scott Donald, the younger brother of Lucas. A werewolf living in San Francisco and how a series of coincidental events leads him to find his mate. But there are forces trying to stop them.

I have lots of this written by hand but as yet words typed is a big fat Zero.

 

Story Two

A Dirty Weekend:- This story might sound self-explanatory, but it only starts with the weekend. There are twists and turns that mean it doesn't end when Monday rolls around. (I do promise what the title says is a big part of the story too, I had fun with this one.)

I've written up to the end of the weekend, but only typed 333 words

 

Story Three

Writers block:-  When writers block strikes, sometimes the best thing you can do is get away from the computer. When Mark (I might change this name) does just that in search of inspiration, he finds it in the form of Ben and his little boy.

Words typed so far 178 (holy shit that's just pathetic)

 

Story Four

Out of Uniform and into Love:- Two service men on leave together are trapped in their tent to wait out a storm, a bottle or two of whiskey and a few confessions later lead to a whole new life neither expected.

This story was supposed to be finished, it was to be a little teaser story, but, well, I liked it so much I decided to tweak where I originally finished and turn it into a much longer story. So the word count for this one is a far more respectable 4504 words.

 

So those are the stories. What do you think? Is there one you'd like to hear more about? Each day I'll just post the title and word count. Now I'm rearing to go, hopefully we'll see a vast improvement in my counts.

Until tomorrow.

Rhiannon.

If you want to follow the daily posts you can find a list on my blog, I'll update links as we go, so if you miss a day, don't worry you can find it here:

http://rhiannonwellman.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html

Buy link:

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-redonthemoon-1414906-340.html