I Almost Gave Up On My Story

Some months ago, I was added to a writer’s group chat for an anthology call. The anthology’s theme piqued my interest, so I stayed in the group. I was absolutely down for writing a story for this anthology.

 

The problem was, I couldn’t figure out a story!

 

But I know that creativity comes to us in waves, so I decided to sit tight until I had an idea for a story.

 

Sure enough, one morning, I woke up with a story in my head. And it was perfect for this theme!

 

So I went to the computer and typed it up. My next problem was that I didn’t have the idea for the WHOLE story. Just some of it. So, after I typed up what was in my head, I couldn’t figure out where to go next.

 

I really wanted to write the rest of this story, because it was interesting, so I didn’t let this go. I spent my time doing research on the mythology surrounding the creature in my story. I also tried to figure out a FREAKING NAME for this thing! And I also worked on worldbuilding for this story, since it had elements of fantasy.

 

Even still, after all that, the rest of the story remained a mystery.

 

So I decided to let it rest for a few days. Maybe something would come to me eventually.

 

But as several days passed, I grew frustrated.

 

So, I did more research, this time on writing these particular kinds of stories. I also chatted with my oldest about it, since he is also a writer and we tend to talk about writing. We threw around some ideas, he offered suggestions, and I decided I should just focus on the worldbuilding in the story while trying to figure out the rest of the story.

 

But as the deadline for submissions to the anthology drew closer, I still couldn’t figure out the rest of my story.

 

I opened the group chat on my phone, my finger hovering over the tiny keyboard as I read messages already in the chat. I was ready to tell them I was withdrawing from this anthology because “my story is shit.” But something made me pause. I had a feeling that there was hope for this story yet.

 

So I closed the chat and went on to doing other things.

 

Meanwhile, I have been reading a science fiction novel. I was impressed by the author’s worldbuilding in this story. It made me think about ideas for worldbuilding with my own story.

 

And the more I explored my story’s “world,” the stronger my story grew. And the easier it was for me to figure out the rest of the story!

 

Soon, I had ideas on what should happen next in the story. I grabbed my phone, opened the notes app, and furiously started typing.

 

And even as I managed to finish writing the rest of my story, I couldn’t figure out a name for my creature. (Yes, I have done research on naming fantasy creatures as well.) I came up empty by borrowing words from languages, so I started to play around with ideas in mythology, since my creature is mythical and there are actually creatures just like this in other world mythologies.

 

Well, that ended up being another rabbit hole I went down. I explored what my creature represented in Australian mythology, Greek mythology and Egyptian mythology. Soon I had a list of words and names and decided to just combine two or three words to make one.

 

I didn’t want my creature’s name to be long, complicated, or unpronounceable. I kept this in mind as I created a word.

 

Let me just say that I love to play word games, Scrabble, Boggle, anagrams, etc. You name it. This came in handy as I worked on creating a name for my creature.

 

I took three words from Greek mythology which represented my creature’s themes (since my characters had Greek names) and got to work. Soon I had a word I was happy with. The problem? A business already had that name. ARGH! So I tried again, Googling my word each time. After many attempts, and double checks that this word didn’t already exist, I had my creature’s name. Yay!

 

Now that I had a name for this thing, I could get back to writing this story. I ended up revising what I wrote last night and also added more information to the myth surrounding the creature in that story’s world.

 

Then I was DONE! YAY!

 

I even texted my son, “I FINISHED MY STORY!!!!!” Yes, I was very excited about this. My story was FINALLY complete and I was very happy with it!

 

I submitted my story right before the deadline. Now I am excited to share this story with everyone. I’m so glad I didn’t give up on it!

 

Books published in 2013

Today is the last day for the year 2013. Aside from book stuff, I had two gigs this year: PR and editing. The PR gig was my dream job: I worked for a publishing company. I got that gig near the end of last year and I'm so grateful I had a chance to work in that position. It's true when they say that being a PR rep is a 24/7 kind of job! You really can't turn that stuff off. There were times I was emailing clients late at night and struggling to keep my eyes open. I don't regret resigning from that job and I am grateful for that experience. 

The editing gig, unfortunately, is not exactly a well-paying one, but I'm happy that at least it brings in SOMETHING and have enjoyed working in this capacity. At the end of last year, I was ready to say goodbye to editing forever. I only took this gig because the client insisted he only wanted ME to edit his book. I am glad, too, because I have enjoyed the work. So I am not saying goodbye forever to editing!

A decision does NOT have to be set in stone.

Now, as far as the books are concerned, this year was a good one. This year I wanted to do one poetry book, one nonfiction book, one children's book and a novel. And, thankfully, that happened. Hooray! But I also had an extra “fiction book” come out this year, which was a nice slice of awesome!

The first book to come out this year was my first attempt in self-publishing, Hunter’s Upcycling Adventures. I managed to get this one out in time for Earth Day. Woot-woot! My daughter, Jennifer Wilson, illustrated this book. You can read more about this children’s book here.

Next came the poetry book my daughter and I collaborated on, Satyrs Are Cool: Poems of Mythological Creatures. Last year, Jen and I collabed on our first poetry book together, and this time ‘round it was her turn to put a theme for our next book. A fan of Greek mythology, she wanted to do a book on mythological creatures. She also illustrated it. Read more about Satyrs here.

The next book to come out was the first two books in The GHOST Group series, The Ghosts of Sarah Travers and The Crying Valentine. This one was released as an ebook only but we have plans to combine editions for a print book every so often. I was thrilled this book came out. This series was a long time in the making! I was also happy it got a good review. Check it out here.

My poetry book for this year was the autobiographical collection, Touched by Fire. I felt it was important to do a poetry book about being a burn survivor, but there are also poems in there about being deaf. It was edited by Denise Bartlett and the cover was designed by Charlotte Holley – both very talented ladies in their field! Read more about this book here. 

And, yes, my novel came out this year. HOORAY!! I was so thrilled to finally see the release of my dark fantasy novel, Shadow of Samhain. It was quite some time for me to write the book, get it edited, rewrite it and everything else involved before it finally came out. I am so grateful to everyone who helped make this book possible, including Denise and Charlotte at Gypsy Shadow Publishing! THANK YOU! Read more here.

And the last book of 2013 was … the nonfiction book! Thanks to my co-author, Martha Jette, for all of her hard work in getting Terror In the Night edited and released! I am very excited about this book and grateful to Martha for taking me on board for it! Read about this book here.

So it seems that I managed to get one of everything published this year. Yay! That is 6 books I had published this year! Not bad. I am so grateful for these accomplishments and to all of the people involved who helped to make it happen.

Next year will be different. It seems there will be “two of everything” in 2014, except there won't be a novel next year. More on that coming soon.

Here’s to a busy 2014!

How to Manage Writer's Block : Guest post by author Amy Lignor

Author Amy Lignor is celebrating the release of the second book in her Tallent & Lowery series, The Sapphire Storm. She has stopped by today to share how she combats writer's block. I can so relate to her habit of keeping a tablet of paper and a pen with her in the car! I also have one in my nightstand, in my purse, in the kitchen...

How to Manage Writer's Block

By Amy Lignor

"How do you manage writer’s block?" This is one of those questions that will forever wrack the minds of all writers. The basic concept of a book for me comes out of nowhere. I will hear or see something that I just have to investigate further. I am a huge fan of librarians and the minds they have; they can produce an infinite number of facts in an infinite number of categories that others just don’t know. My mother had a career as a research librarian and I will always thank her for passing that love of information to me.

After the research has been done, however, writer’s block happens to me almost in an instant. Because I’m one of those authors that needs – literally NEEDS – to have the first line of the book before I can write a single word, I will drive myself nuts trying to find it. And…I drive everyone else nuts too. I can’t read books when I have writer’s block because my own brain is searching so hard for that one opening line. I do watch a lot of movies during that time period in order to just relax and step away from literature completely.

That line will sometimes come at 2:00 am, and I wake up with a start and run to the den. Or, sometimes it comes to me while I’m driving and I have to pull over immediately to write it down because I’m getting older and I forget easily. (I always keep pen and paper in the glove compartment just for this emergency.)

Once I’ve found that line I can’t step away from the computer. I get so into the adventure and where I’m going next that, thankfully, the block releases. And I love the fact that even though I’m the author of the book, my plans can change (and do) midstream during the creation of the story. It feels very much to me like the characters are telling me where to go next. I have the research done on locales, but their next steps seem to be given to me by them.

I love writing the ‘Tallent & Lowery’ series for the simple fact that I can watch the adventure play out by following this incredible duo. If I get confused by what I should do, the character literally tugs me by the hand and we’re off once again. It’s a good thing, too, because if I were to experience writer’s block in huge doses I think my family would pack up and I’d never see them again.

Until Next Time, Everybody,
Happy Holidays!
Amy

After going up against a man who believed he was the Devil, himself, Leah Tallent and Gareth Lowery are beyond exhausted. Now they are about to embark on the most terrifying journey imaginable . . . a trip to meet Leah’s parents. When Leah arrives where the ‘home fires burn,’ her sarcasm burns even brighter, while Gareth Lowery—the handsome adventurer—uses his charm to sway the ‘odd’ Tallent clan. But when a frightening call from Gareth’s sister arrives telling him that her love has disappeared, the daring duo is soon running away from one horrific situation directly into another. A new puzzle from the past has come to life. Following clues left behind, the courageous couple becomes embedded in a world filled with liars, killers and greed. And when the riddle of a famous ‘Bard,’ is solved, a strange woman appears who has far more in common with Leah than she can possibly imagine. The heart-stopping suspense of this new quest takes them from Coptic Cairo to the magical world of Petra, in search of a cave deep underground that once housed a true ‘Illuminator.’ Yet again, they must find the answers and stay one step ahead of true villains who are determined to make sure that—this time—Tallent & Lowery do not survive. Join the action as the passionate team who readers fell in love with in “13,” end up unlocking an ancient mystery that no one is ever going to believe!

Purchase Links for the print & digital versions of Tallent & Lowery:
Amazon:

www.amazon.com/13-Tallent-Lowery-Book-One/dp/1481136070/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385748415&sr=1-2&keywords=Tallent+%26+Lowery

http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Storm-Tallent-Lowery-Book/dp/1482671921/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385748415&sr=1-3&keywords=Tallent+%26+Lowery

http://www.amazon.com/Heros-Companion-Tallent-Lowery/dp/0615907164/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385748415&sr=1-1&keywords=Tallent+%26+Lowery

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/amy-lignor

Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/4177

Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5222068.Amy_Lignor

Bio: As the daughter of a career librarian Amy grew up loving books; ‘Patience & Fortitude’ at the NYPL were her heroes. Beginning with Amy’s first book of historical romance which was titled, “The Heart of a Legend,” she began developing the storyline for a new series, (Tallent & Lowery) which moved her into the world of action and adventure/alternative history, however she had to temporarily place Tallent & Lowery on the back burner when her YA career spiked with The Angel Chronicles series. Tallent & Lowery just wouldn’t be put to bed so easily and Amy, the ever obedient author, found the time to bring these remarkable characters to life. “13” is the first book in the seven book series. Working as an editor in the publishing industry for decades, Amy is now the Owner/Operator of The Write Companion (www.thewritecompanion.com) which offers full editing, ghostwriting and proofreading services to authors. She is also a contributor to Suspense Magazine and various other literary publications such as The RT (Romantic Times), and HumorOutcasts.com. Amy is a reviewer for periodicals and websites including: Authorlink, The Feathered Quill, The Romantic Times (RT) Magazine, SheWrites.com, Random House YA, Bookpleasures.com, and Once Upon a Romance. Join Amy on Goodreads.com where she has won the YA writing contest with her continuing story titled, Meet the Reaper.


Author Links:

https://www.facebook.com/alignor
http://tallentandlowery.blogspot.com/
http://the-angel-chronicles.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @HelloWritersAmy
www.TheWriteCompanion.com
http://www.pinterest.com/amylignor/
 

Interview with author C.A. Szarek

It is my pleasure to host a guest on my blog today, fellow Gypsy Shadow Publishing author C.A. Szarek. Gypsy Shadow published her fantasy romance novel, Sword's Call, Book One in the King's Riders series. I have known her ever since she joined the GSP family and I have noticed she is one of the most prolific writers around! Please welcome her on my blog and check out her books.

Interview with author C.A. Szarek

How long have you been a writer?

I have always been a writer. Poetry when I was very young, and then short stories, that started morphing into novels when I was about 14. It’s just a part of me. I couldn’t imagine not writing.
 
What was your biggest obstacle in getting your book published and how did you overcome it?

Probably dealing with the rejections. I got so many “No’s” way before I got a “yes.” I just persevered. I knew I wanted to be published, so I had to keep trying, keep submitting. It’s a matter of getting the book in front of the right editor, right publisher. I found that with GSP.
 
How did you end up getting your newest book published?

Well, my newest title is a romantic suspense entitled Collision Force (Crossing Forces Book One) It is published by Total-E-Bound Publishing. My friend, Maggie Nash is with them and told me to submit. I was lucky enough to be accepted.
 
How did you get the idea for your book?

I have always been into fantasy. Always. It is and always will be my first love as an author. So I always have a story of a world I made up floating around in my head. Sword’s Call actually came to me in a dream. I dreamt of the heroine, Cera and her white wolf. The rest sort of fell into place.
 
What is the most important lesson you have learned as an author?

That you never stop learning and growing. The more you write, the better you get.
 
What genres do you write in? If more than one, how do you balance them?

I write a little of everything: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and the occasional YA.

I’ve always been into fantasy. Grew up reading the greats, Anne McCaffrey is my fave, and the genre will always be close to my heart.

That being said, I always wanted to be a cop and have been in to “Police stuff.” I never did becoming a police officer, but I have a Law Enforcement background, and I actually work in a court.

I adore paranormal because it’s a mix of both, sorta. *grin*

And YA, well, I work with kids, and sometimes a good story they can read will pop into my head.

Maybe someday day I will be published in all the genres I write.

What are some of your other books we might want to check out?

Collision Force (Crossing Forces Book One) is a romantic suspense story about a kicksass female cop and a hot FBI agent. They’re a lot of fun, because they don’t like each other much when they meet. Here’s the book’s blurb:

Bad boy, married to his job FBI agent Cole Lucas always gets his man. So when the unthinkable happens and one gets away, Cole grits his teeth and hunts human trafficker Carlo Maldonado all the way to Antioch, Texas, where he collides with Detective Andi MacLaren.

Cole doesn’t do small towns and doesn’t get involved with women he works with, but Andi tempts him in ways he doesn’t want to acknowledge.

Two murders, her partner shot and leading the investigation on her own, the last thing Andi needs is a cocky FBI agent who sees her as no more than a tagalong.

Widow and single mother Andi is used to being on her own. When Cole gets stuck without a place to stay, crashing on her couch puts them in dangerous territory.

Attraction and passion bring Andi to a place she’d left behind when her husband died. Her three-year-old son quickly wiggles his way into Cole’s heart, and he starts contemplating things—family, love—that he’d never planned for himself.

Can being forced to work together make them stronger or will their differences jeopardise their case and their hearts?

What else do you do besides write books?

I am a busy girl. I work two jobs, as the Juvenile Case Manager for two municipal courts, and I also work at a Shelter for teens. I also love to read and scrapbook when I’m not writing.
 
It’s common knowledge that writers are also readers. What kind of books do you like to read?

Truthfully, anything that peaks my interest. I read a lot of romance, all subgenres. YA, it doesn’t matter who it’s intended for. If it looks good, I’ll read it.

Do you read books in the same genre you are currently writing in? Why or why not?

Absolutely I love to read the genres I write. It’s nice to see how others do it, but I also just LOVE the genres I love. I do read and love genres I don’t write as well, I am a big big big fan of Scottish Highlander Historical Romances and I couldn’t write one to save my life.
 
What can we expect to see from you next?

Well, I have a few upcoming releases I am excited about!

Love’s Call (King’s Riders Book Two) will be out in the fall of 2013 and Chance Collision (Crossing Forces Book Two) will release Jan 31, 2014!

I also have a FREE short story called Cole in Her Stocking that is about the couple from Collision Force. It will be in the November Total-E-Bound Newsletter as well as a free download on their site. I am reallllllly excited about it, because I just adore Andi and Cole.


Love’s Call:

Senior King’s Rider Ansley Fraser has been in love with Leargan Tegran for turns, but he’s never noticed her. When she sets out for Greenwald to deliver a message to the duke, she has no idea its contents contain an order that will change her life. Instead, she is focused on visiting dear friends.
  
Leargan, captain of the Greenwald personal guard, is an honorable knight, so when the king commands him to wed Ansley, he intends to follow orders, even as he knows nothing of the girl.

Ansley ignores her instinct to question Leargan’s sudden interest in her. She wants to fall into his arms—and his bed—even as Ali, her wolf bondmate, growls her reticence.


Her extended visit allows Leargan time to win her affection, but when he falls for Ansley, it takes him by surprise. Will she be willing to give herself to him if she learns their marriage has been commanded by the king? What will it take to convince her he’s not simply following orders? 


Chance Collision:

Vowing to protect her had nothing to do with feelings.

Detective Pete Crane catches a new shooting case and considers it business-as-usual. But when the lead witness is the Chief of Police’s fiery assistant, he never anticipated she’d challenge him—personally and professionally. Especially while under his protection.

Little do they know, the shooting she and her grandmother witnessed was anything but random.

Thrown together, their attraction sizzles, even though she’s squarely in the no-fly zone. She makes him break every rule in his little black book.

Nikki Harper has been attracted to Pete since they met two years ago. Witnessing a brutal shooting throws her into a stigma that’s always been her greatest fear: a victim. She has no choice but to accept his protective custody and let him help save her and her beloved grandmother.

Can Pete protect his witness and solve the case, while fighting the intense heat with Nikki?

What is your advice to a writer trying to get a book published?

Never. Ever. Give up. If you want it, go for it. Fight for it.

For generations, the Ryhans, ruling family of the Province of Greenwald have been keepers of a sword rumored to possess enough magic to defeat kings. Lord Varthan, a former archduke and betrayer of the king, covets the sword and invades Greenwald.

Lady Ceralda Ryhan, daughter of the murdered duke, gains the sword and flees, trusting only her white wolf, Trikser—magically bonded to her. Cera needs nothing more to aid in her fight.

Jorrin Aldern, half elfin and half human, left his home in the mountains of Aramour to find his human father who disappeared twenty turns before, but finds Cera with Varthan and his shades on her tail instead. His dual heritage and empathic magic will tempt Cera in ways she never thought she’d desire. But can he convince her trust and love can pave the path to redemption or will the epic battle end in tragedy and evil conquer them all?



Grab your copy of Sword's Call here. 


ABOUT C.A. SZAREK: C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She is married and has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she’s not writing. She’s always wanted to be a writer and is overjoyed to share her stories with the world.

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"It's fiction!"

I have been struggling with certain issues with writing this new MG series. I've mentioned before how I was worried it might incite a negative response from the parents of kids reading these books. Something along the lines of "you shouldn't be filling my kid's head with ghost stories!" or "these children are too young to be reading about kids and ghosts!" But then I remember that these books are NOT meant to be some kind of "guide" or reference for children interested in ghosts.

In fact, they are JUST STORIES. Complete works of FICTION.Yes, I know writers and actors tend to get this very response from people. Who can forget what Timothy Busfield went through after his character made an insensitive remark to his wife in thirtysomething?? It's a nice thought that we can say "it's fiction" or "it's fantasy" and not have to deal with people ready to boycott a show or ban a book. But that's not going to take away the possibility people will still get upset.

I know J.K. Rowling faced this very problem with her Harry Potter books, AFTER they came out. Funny thing is, my situations with writing these books have even been compared with J.K. Rowling, even though MY books aren't even published yet! (Yes, they CAN be considered fantasy instead of suspense or mystery. I'm going to go with that!) And in my case, my books aren't even published yet and I'm worrying over the same thing happening to me NOW. While I am writing Book One. In no way do I expect to be "the next J.K. Rowling" or have "the next Harry Potter." Even though I DO want to say "my books are FANTASY, people!" and hide under the covers. But this kind of thing can happen to EVERY WRITER, EVERY ACTOR. And everyone else trying to spin a good yarn COMPLETELY made of fiction! As in, "NOT TRUE."

The very claim that "it's fiction!" is what is helping me to deal with this inner turmoil and write my stories, anyway. Why am I writing them, anyway? I am writing them for the readers. I KNOW that there will always be readers who understand that a story is only a story. That it's not real. That it's all make-believe. And I really think that kids are smart enough to understand that it's all make-believe, too. Most kids are smarter than we give them credit for. They know that a story is just something made-up. They read these stories for the sheer purpose of escaping into that fantasy world. Of playing pretend. It's an experience so many children know so well, and one which so many of them enjoy. For this reason, the writing of these books will continue.