Another Monday Inspiration.
This paper on my bulletin board has only three words on it "Remember the Joy!" I've forgotten who said this to me once, when I was worrying about all the things you learn to worry about once you start learning about writing, but I had to write it down and post it where I can see it every day.
Remember when you loved to write just for the sake of the story? Before you knew about POV? Before you'd ever heard about GMC or character arcs or scene and sequel? Back when you loved to sit down and write your stories just to see your characters come alive on the page?
Sometimes it's so easy to get caught up in all the mechanics of writing, that we forget the joy that comes from the words, the characters, the story. It's so easy to agonize over the three-act structure, the hero's journey, and all those other tools we've be given to tell our story that we forget the joy in telling the story itself. And as we worry about all these external things, our writing falls flat. The spark is gone.
And then there's the submission process, the queries, synopsis writing, the agent search. I could go on and on. No wonder we can forget the joy we felt when we realized we were writers. The joy when the words we put to paper told the story in our heart.
When you sit down to write today, remember the joy that brought you to write down your stories to begin with. Because if we can't feel the joy, what's the point in the writing??
Natasha
Monday, February 12, 2007
Sunday, February 11, 2007
HOW READING ROMANCE CAN SUPPORT A WORTHY CAUSE...
Did you know that 95% of abuse victims are women? Every year four million women are assaulted by their spouses or partners. Freya's Bower Publishing is hoping to do a small part to break the cycle of abuse.On February 1, DREAMS & DESIRES: A COLLECTION OF ROMANCE AND EROTIC TALES will be available. This anthology features short stories in a variety of romance subgenres from 19 talented authors. The stories range from sweet to sizzling.Not only did the authors contribute their stories to this anthology, but all the editing and cover art were also donated. All net proceeds - that's 100% of the profit - from the sales of the anthology will go directly to a battered women's shelter in Florida. There have been other anthologies published for charity in the past, but most of those have only donated a portion of their profits. With DREAMS & DESIRES, every penny of profit goes to help women and children in dire circumstances.Please help make a difference by purchasing a copy of DREAMS & DESIRES. As an added bonus to contributing to such a worthy cause, you'll be rewarded with 19 great short stories by some of today's rising authors.
"The Forest for the Trees" by Jenna Bayley-Burke (sweet; contemporary)
"Song Without Words" by Faith Bicknell-Brown (sweet; contemporary)
"Love @ First Site" by Amanda Brice (sweet; chick lit)
"The Christmas Prize" by Sela Carsen (sweet; contemporary)
"Romance for One" by Rachelle Chase (spicy; chick lit)
"Confessions of a Bombshell Bandit" by Gemma Halliday (sweet; chick lit)
"The Velvet Mask" by Candace Havens (sweet; contemporary)
"Road of Misgivings" by Zinnia Hope (sweet; contemporary)
"To the Core" by Jackie Kessler (tangy; paranormal)
"Taking the Alleys" by Susan Lyons (sweet; contemporary)
"Brushstrokes" by Richelle Mead (spicy; historical paranormal)
"Red's Merry Mischief" by Debbie Mumford (tangy; fantasy)
"Baring It All For Mr. Right" by Rhonda Stapleton (sweet; chick lit)
"The Wedding Policy" by Bebe Thomas (sweet; historical)
"Blood and Feathers" by Emily Veinglory (sizzling; M/M paranormal)
"The Mirror" by Sasha White (sizzling; contemporary)
"The Reluctant Bridesmaid" by Lois Winston (sweet; chick lit)
"The Forge: Jezren Dark Sky" by Shaunna Wolf (tangy; sci-fi)
"Secret Valentines" by Kit Wylde (sweet; contemporary)
DREAMS & DESIRES is available as an eBook for $7.99 (ISBN: 1-934069-36- 1), a paperback (ISBN: 1-934069-22- 1) for $19.95, and a hard cover (ISBN:1-934069- 23-X) for $29.95. The paperback and hardcover are available fromBarnes & Noble online. The books and the eBook are also available through Freya's Bower atwww.freyasbower. com. The book is also being sold at Borders anddistributed by Ingrams. If your local bookstore doesn't have it, they'll beable to order it for you. Just give them the title and the ISBN number.
Here's the link where D and D can be purchased: http://www.freyasbower.com/content/view/132/77/
Together, we CAN make a difference!
Natasha
Thursday, February 8, 2007
New Hair Do
I got my hair cut today. Nothing drastic. Nothing too short - it's freezing here in the Northeast! But I debated for weeks beforehand, trying to decide what to do with my hair. I've worn it the same way for several years and I was ready for something new. But the old style looked good and was easy to take care of...so did I really want to change??
Have you ever seen those women who you can pinpoint the year they graduated from high school because they're still wearing the beehive or the flip or the long, straight do? At least, I've changed my hair since high school. Hopefully, no one can pin point my age quite that easily :)
How about you? Do you keep the same hair cut for years and years? If so, is it because it's easy? Just because you like it? Because you're afraid you won't like something and it will be too late when all that hair's lying on the tile floor?
Or do you change all the time? The cut. The color. If so, is it because you can't find the perfect cut? Just because you like a change?
I did change my hair style. I think I like it. We'll see in the morning after I get out of the shower and see if I can make it look like my hairstylist did. Somehow I never can get it to look exactly the same. Do you have that problem too?
Natasha
Have you ever seen those women who you can pinpoint the year they graduated from high school because they're still wearing the beehive or the flip or the long, straight do? At least, I've changed my hair since high school. Hopefully, no one can pin point my age quite that easily :)
How about you? Do you keep the same hair cut for years and years? If so, is it because it's easy? Just because you like it? Because you're afraid you won't like something and it will be too late when all that hair's lying on the tile floor?
Or do you change all the time? The cut. The color. If so, is it because you can't find the perfect cut? Just because you like a change?
I did change my hair style. I think I like it. We'll see in the morning after I get out of the shower and see if I can make it look like my hairstylist did. Somehow I never can get it to look exactly the same. Do you have that problem too?
Natasha
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
New Short Releases by Jenna Bayley-Burke
If you know something only in your dreams, should you dare try and make it happen? Even if it means starting over and risking the disapproval of your family? Vanessa and Nick are searching for a sign that their dreams might come true. Vanessa only hopes she can find her dream ring…
Rachel and Evan Hansen are getting a taste of their own medicine. As teenagers they ran away and eloped, and now their daughter wants to follow in their footsteps. Looking back, Rachel and Evan wonder what would have been if they'd listened to the warnings instead of trusting their hearts.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Monday Morning Inspiration
"What's talked about is a dream.
What's envisioned is exciting.
What's planned becomes possible.
What's scheduled is real."
-Anthony Robbins
Dreams are a dime a dozen. Don’t get me wrong, dreams are important (I have another saying on my wall that says “Nothing happens without a dream” but that’s another post.) We can dream all we want, but until we take definite steps toward making that dream come true, it will never become reality.
This really ties in with last week’s post, doesn’t it? Specific goal setting. Can you tell this is important to me? You have to do the work. Not all at once. Not more than you can handle at one time. But day by day. Page by page. Word by word.
So dream your dreams. Envision them coming true. Plan how to get there. Schedule the work.
Then DO the work.
Natasha
What's envisioned is exciting.
What's planned becomes possible.
What's scheduled is real."
-Anthony Robbins
Dreams are a dime a dozen. Don’t get me wrong, dreams are important (I have another saying on my wall that says “Nothing happens without a dream” but that’s another post.) We can dream all we want, but until we take definite steps toward making that dream come true, it will never become reality.
This really ties in with last week’s post, doesn’t it? Specific goal setting. Can you tell this is important to me? You have to do the work. Not all at once. Not more than you can handle at one time. But day by day. Page by page. Word by word.
So dream your dreams. Envision them coming true. Plan how to get there. Schedule the work.
Then DO the work.
Natasha
Thursday, January 4, 2007
New Book by Ember Sinclair
Up In Flames by Ember Sinclair
Available January 12, 2007from CobbleStone Press
BlurbKat Ashbrook has two things on her mind—catching a murderer and sexy new boss, Connor Mercer. She never expected his come-hither looks, but she’s betting she can resist if she keeps her mind on the job. Too bad a prank leads to her surrender and possibly their deaths.
Natasha
Monday, January 1, 2007
Monday Inspiration
As we look forward to 2007, our goals can seem overwhelming. We need our dreams and our goals to aim for, but how do we get there without feeling it’s like that unreachable star? Writing an 80K novel can seem daunting. Even finishing a short story can seem impossible with everything else going on in our lives.
I attended a workshop given by Barbara Samuel this fall and during her goal-setting workshop, this quote really struck home with me. “What can I do TODAY to help me reach my goal?” Yes, today. Just think about today.
Even as we look at where we want to be 5 years from now, or at the end of 2007, we can break down our goals into bite-sized pieces. 500 words. A single page. Reading a chapter in a writing book. That’s something we can do today.
So…”What can I do TODAY to help me reach my goal?” I’m writing a thousand words. How about you??
Natasha
PS. Check back every Monday for more inspiration quotes
I attended a workshop given by Barbara Samuel this fall and during her goal-setting workshop, this quote really struck home with me. “What can I do TODAY to help me reach my goal?” Yes, today. Just think about today.
Even as we look at where we want to be 5 years from now, or at the end of 2007, we can break down our goals into bite-sized pieces. 500 words. A single page. Reading a chapter in a writing book. That’s something we can do today.
So…”What can I do TODAY to help me reach my goal?” I’m writing a thousand words. How about you??
Natasha
PS. Check back every Monday for more inspiration quotes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)