Yep... I did say goats. I even said the word promote. They are great at promoting your work. They are great at helping you work harder on your Work In Progress (wip for all those who didn't know what that was). If I had known how much they would help me, I would have gotten one sooner. Wait a minute, I feel a Dr. Seuss moment coming on.... whew! It passed~
How do goats help you? It's really easy. Once you have a goat, you will decide after the first day or two that you will promise to do your own work, you will worker harder at your manuscipt, ANYTHING to not have to work with the said goat ever.. ever... ever.. again. How do I know this? lol~ My husband and I have brought two goats to our growing "farm" to live. We officially have 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 fish, 16 chickens.. and now, 2 goats. No, the number 2 is actually not a requirement. It just keeps happening to us. (I swear there is NO ARK in the making!) So far, they have managed to get tangled into every vine, weed, grass & limb that they refuse to eat, which means I am the one who has to untangle them from all the wonderul things they find to get into. Let's not forget the water buckets that the youngest goat watches you fill with it's head turned just soooo. Then butts it over with her horned head so she can watch you refill it - 3 more times.
The best part though? When I let the chickens loose from their pen. You would have thought we were having the end of the world, goat style. REM's "It's The End OF The World" (I think is the name of the song~ someone tell me if I am wrong!) goes through my head everytime I let the chickens out. It is the funniest thing! The goats running in circles ~ the chickens flapping & crowing at the goats. The goats baaaaiiinng back in defense. I'm telling you, Russia and the US had nothing on these guys!
So now, I am working hard on my manuscript, eyeing my hubby to see how I can talk him into watering the goats today. Cause I enjoy a good show... just sayin' .... ; )
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Cars Are Easier Than Manuscripts
No, you didn't misread the title, I promise. I have realized that cars are actually easier to fix than a manuscript. I have just helped my husband change out the spark plugs in our car (he pulled his lower back so he "coached" me on how to change them). Now, that was definitely an experience but I'm not finished. He has changed out the thermostat, the water pump and put on a new tire...okay, so walmart put on the new tire, but I paid them to do it. lol
I have yet to work on my WIP though. With Jamie's back being pulled (I have to take him for an MRI today), 3 children with school work, trying to keep the house clean, bills paid & everybody happy... yeah, I haven't even looked at it. Granted, I have been swamped with family issues & car issues, but still, I should have at least LOOKED at it, right? It's not that I am stuck with writer's block... I just don't want to work on it right now.
So what do you do when this happens to you? Or does this happen to you? Do you continue to work on it, hoping that you aren't making it worse or do you walk away from your wip for a while, just to give yourself breathing room or a break? I suppose it depends on whether you are a traditional writer or self-publishing one. Since I have only written one book that is self-published, I am very much still new at this. I am going to finish up a blanket & then look at it again with a fresh eye. That way, I can see if I still like the way it's going.
Now for the fun part:
Tell me what you do when you are tired of writing. On Friday, I will pick a winner from random.org who will recieve a free ebook copy of my book, A Fire Within. (And be sure to share it with your friends!)
I have yet to work on my WIP though. With Jamie's back being pulled (I have to take him for an MRI today), 3 children with school work, trying to keep the house clean, bills paid & everybody happy... yeah, I haven't even looked at it. Granted, I have been swamped with family issues & car issues, but still, I should have at least LOOKED at it, right? It's not that I am stuck with writer's block... I just don't want to work on it right now.
So what do you do when this happens to you? Or does this happen to you? Do you continue to work on it, hoping that you aren't making it worse or do you walk away from your wip for a while, just to give yourself breathing room or a break? I suppose it depends on whether you are a traditional writer or self-publishing one. Since I have only written one book that is self-published, I am very much still new at this. I am going to finish up a blanket & then look at it again with a fresh eye. That way, I can see if I still like the way it's going.
Now for the fun part:
Tell me what you do when you are tired of writing. On Friday, I will pick a winner from random.org who will recieve a free ebook copy of my book, A Fire Within. (And be sure to share it with your friends!)
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Cover Art Is Like Chocolate...
Okay, so cover art isn't exactly like chocolate but it's close. You don't think so? Hmmm... I'm thinking we are gonna have to have a lesson then. lol Here we go!
Think about it like this: you have many different kinds of chocolate to choose from: sweet, semi-sweet & dark. You have the option of having it hard-edged like a candy bar or soft and sweet like a marshmallow. Or maybe even the kind that coats all the fun, edible stuff like strawberries, Oreo cookies w/ cream cheese or peanut butter. So many choices to choose from! lol (I won't get into toppings because that is a WHOLE other topic in itself!)
Cover art is the same way. What do YOU want as the cover of your book? It depends on the book itself and your own personal taste. Does it have a hard edge to it? Or is it soft & gooey to make you all warm inside? Is it spine-tingling or is it so hot that you need a cold shower after you are finished reading it?
Regardless, your cover needs to draw attention to itself.. in a GOOD way. Obviously, it needs to catch the eye of a potential buyer- that's a given. But it also has to match the feel of the book. And please... PLEASE remember that if you use people on your cover art, please try to match them with your characters in the book. Honestly, I can't say how many times I have been turned off by a book just because the cover has a different people than what is mentioned in it. You know what I'm talking about...
The hero with his striking black hair and green eyes glared down at his beautiful, yet stubborn, captive. She shook her head in denial and promised retaliation, even as her blond hair seemed to wrap itself around his hand on its own.
And the cover art on the front is a brown-haired woman with a man with blond hair. That is annoying. That is unprofessional... That does NOT get you any chocolate.
The point is, make sure that your cover art is everything YOU want it to be. Don't let others decide for you. Instead, make sure everything matches the characters of the book. Make sure you are 100% happy with it before you are ready to release it to the world. Why? Because we are watching... we are waiting... we want to read your book~ if you can capture our attention.
Now, I am off to make homemade cookies because all I can think of is ...well... you know.
Think about it like this: you have many different kinds of chocolate to choose from: sweet, semi-sweet & dark. You have the option of having it hard-edged like a candy bar or soft and sweet like a marshmallow. Or maybe even the kind that coats all the fun, edible stuff like strawberries, Oreo cookies w/ cream cheese or peanut butter. So many choices to choose from! lol (I won't get into toppings because that is a WHOLE other topic in itself!)
Cover art is the same way. What do YOU want as the cover of your book? It depends on the book itself and your own personal taste. Does it have a hard edge to it? Or is it soft & gooey to make you all warm inside? Is it spine-tingling or is it so hot that you need a cold shower after you are finished reading it?
Regardless, your cover needs to draw attention to itself.. in a GOOD way. Obviously, it needs to catch the eye of a potential buyer- that's a given. But it also has to match the feel of the book. And please... PLEASE remember that if you use people on your cover art, please try to match them with your characters in the book. Honestly, I can't say how many times I have been turned off by a book just because the cover has a different people than what is mentioned in it. You know what I'm talking about...
The hero with his striking black hair and green eyes glared down at his beautiful, yet stubborn, captive. She shook her head in denial and promised retaliation, even as her blond hair seemed to wrap itself around his hand on its own.
And the cover art on the front is a brown-haired woman with a man with blond hair. That is annoying. That is unprofessional... That does NOT get you any chocolate.
The point is, make sure that your cover art is everything YOU want it to be. Don't let others decide for you. Instead, make sure everything matches the characters of the book. Make sure you are 100% happy with it before you are ready to release it to the world. Why? Because we are watching... we are waiting... we want to read your book~ if you can capture our attention.
Now, I am off to make homemade cookies because all I can think of is ...well... you know.
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