Media Meltdown

My mind is a maelstrom-I looked it up, it's spelled right-of social media sites and advice about social media. Everything I've read is that it's important to get known. You must, blog, tweet, web?, email, Facebook and pretty much stand on your head. My brain is scrambled. I published a book, and now I must advertise, both my book and myself. So, I created a website. I used GoDaddy, and thankfully their cheap one is okay for me since I'm just learning. By the way, their technology support people are really good and very nice. I have a separate Facebook account just for writing. I have two blogs, one for science fiction and one for beginning writers. The second one is only because I can't seem to stop teaching, so, even though I consider myself a beginning author too, I want to help/teach others. And thanks to a young girl on YouTube, I have all kinds of buttons and links. Are people reading about me/my book? I don't know. Are people interested in my blogs? I don't know. Some of the writing advice I have read says that it takes time to get known and collect followers. I'm sure that's true, and I will continue to blog, tweet, web, FB, and email, oh yeah, and google+. Forgot that one. Why? I feel compelled. Now, to be honest, I'm not really doing all of that so I can sell enough books to be financially independent. I know you just said, Yeah, right. I think the reason why I'm not trying to support myself with my writing is because I don't have the confidence in myself that it will ever happen, so it's not a goal of mine-yet. I just want to know what people think of Golden Hope, and how I can improve my writing. And hopefully get noticed so publishing my next book will be easier.
So, I will try to limit, categorize, and develop my social media so that maybe, on the off chance I do get a following they will enjoy my writing. Then maybe I will develop a little bit of confidence and faith in my writing. Who knows? It could happen.

Do you create or do you write?

What's the difference? Well, to me if all boils down to the books that you have on your shelf. Those would be books that you love and want to read over and over, never mind that you can read them on Kindle, Nook, or other readers, these books are your friends. They come with memories. I have the following books on my shelf; The Lord of the Rings Trilogy- which I have read at least six times, Watership Down, all the Harry Potters,  Dragon Drums, Dragon Song and Dragon Singer plus the White Dragon, and Alas, Babylon. These are my favorites. Some are classics and some are just my personal favorites. But why? What makes them special. I have read hundreds, thousands maybe, books and enjoyed most of them, but I don't usually go back and reread them. But my favorites I will return to again and again. They're like comfort food to me. I especially like it when I have gone a long time without reading one of them, then it's almost like reading it for the first time, again.

I think that what sets the authors of the above favorites apart is that they were were creators, not just writers. They created a world. Their writing had depth and detail. When you read these books, you forget that you are reading words and you enter into that created world. You walk alongside the characters and you become an unnamed character that is part of that world. There are many books that can make you cry or make you happy, but these special ones, they take you away, and quite often, you don't want to come back.

So, that's my question, are you a creator or are you a writer? Right now, I'm a writer. I hope someday to become a creator. There is so much more I could say about this subject that I think I'll stop now and leave it for another day.

Random statement of the day: My bluebirds have built a nest.

Alone in the bloggasphere

Yes, still alone. I have tried to connect to the world out there, but so far, no luck. I"m not giving up, but this social media has to be taken in small chunks at a time. The reason for this is as you find a great blog, there are blog sites listed on it that are also great blogs, so you go deeper and deeper. I'm just diving into what @rachellegardener has to share, and that's only the tip of the iceburg. I just signed up for the HootSuite app.. I think it might simplify things for me, but so far I have yet to figure out how to get my blog noticed-rachelle has an answer for that too- and to figure out that google+ thing and how it can help. I also looked for local writing groups. The only one is half an hour away so I may be forced-gulp-to start my own. Anyway, here I am, legs crossed because I've gotten so deep into great blogs I don't want to stop to go to the bathroom. I know, you've been there too, right? Just agree, okay. I'll be back, even if I'm still talking to myself, about myself talking to myself.

Feeling Like a Loser?

Feeling Like a Loser?

Okay, since I have had no comments so far I'm going to pretend I am alone, not hard, and write this as if it were a diary. Have you ever felt like you've gone your whole life and haven't accomplished anything? I was having one of those days today, so I dragged my sorry butt up and took my dog for a walk. It was a gorgeous day and as I walked I started thinking about how to deal with these negative thoughts. I decided to summarize my life to see if I was really as bad off as I thought. Here you will learn more about me than you might want to know and yes, I will share my age. Ugh, just remember, in my head I'm twenty. So summary: I am 57, I have a wonderful husband (other people say so, not just me), we raised four beautiful girls; we have five grandchildren that we love and are proud of, I spent 22 years influencing the children under my care to be the best, most responsible, knowledgeable children I could; our children are involved with church, pastoring or mentoring; I have published a book; I am healthy; I have traveled the world,...okay I could go on and on. So, basically, I had/have a wonderful life. Then I felt better. The end.
So, bottom line, do you have a wonderful book you can't seem to get published? Do you have a published book that is just sitting there? Do you have dirty laundry that needs doing? All things that many of us deal with daily. So, have a bad day if you must, but then, hating to use a cliche' but, count your blessings.

Beginning Writers Start Here

Beginning Writers Start Here

I am not a beginning writer, but, I'm not a professional either. More importantly, even though I've been writing for a long time, I can remember my beginning steps. Forget that I taught school for more years than I really want to say here. Forget that I completed a manuscript, actually about six. Forget that I've actually published a book. I still have so much more to learn. You never stop learning how to make your writing better, so here's my advice. This is for those of you, young and old, who are just taking that first baby step into the writing realm. Start by doing an online writing workshop. You share what you've written with other authors and they read and critique your work. I learned about POV (point of view) there and how important it is. You'll pick up a lot of writing tips to get you writing and it's a safe environment for criticisms, because you don't know these people. They're not related and therefore not obligated to tell you, yes, I loved your book. (Even though it was still in their beside drawer) Not everyone will like your writing, that's a given, but that's okay, just blow them a raspberry and take whatever advice you can to apply to your work. You also get to read others work, which often makes you feel so much better about yourself because there are some really, really crappy writers out there. So, at least you can say, I know I'm better than that guy. See, positive props. Hope this helps. Also check out the blogs showing here. They have some great tips.

What Is Sci-fi-lite?

What exactly is Sci-fi-lite?

Okay, here goes. First, let it be known that I am claiming sci-fi-lite as my term. Don't know if it's been used before. Maybe I should copyright it? What do you think? I guess you need to know what it means; to me, anyway.

Sci-fi-lite means you have a fun, exciting, adventurous story with limited technological terminology and limited futuristic gizmos and gadgets. Don't get me wrong, I use gizmos, for example; a magnigun is a laser gun that is based on magnetic principals. I'm not a physicist, so, yes, it's made up, and no, I don't know if it could be real.

Moving on; Sci-fi-lite, other than being a little awkward to keyboard, (notice I didn't date myself by saying type), haha, and I won't tell you how old I am, (relatives reading this- shut it!) sci-fi-lite usually has realistic events. I know, that's a bit of an oxymoron,(sorry editors, can't get an em dash)- for young readers this means they are opposite in meaning. Most people use" honest politician" as an example. In realistic science fiction, the people and their daily lives shouldbe familiar to the reader, for exampl: parent/teenager difficulties, jealousies, anger, love, romance, sibling rivalry and so on. Once again, realistic doesn't mean you won't encounter weird animals or people- that's the sci-fi part.

Oh, and a biggie for me, the content should be appropriate for young readers as well as adult. For me that means no bad language and no sex. I know that's a big deal these days but I'm willing to take the chance on fewer sales in order to keep my writing clean. Besides, in my opinion which is what this blog is right? if you have to resort to bad language and sex to draw readers, your writing needs work. I'm just sayin'.

So, that's it in a nut shell. If you want to read a good sci-fi-lite book, try Golden Hope , by Donna Chubb, found on Amazon, B&N, Nook, Kindle, and @All Things That Matter Press.
www.sci-fi-lite.com