Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
Today's question: Why do we do this? Why, when we know the odds are against us meeting our ultimate goals, do we keep writing?
Showing posts with label Fess Up. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fess Up. Show all posts
Monday, March 19, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
Okay, more like Fess Up Monday on Tuesday. I'm blaming the time change.
Today's question: Have you ever returned a book because it did not satisfy?
Personally, I think the practice of unhappy readers returning books is, to say the least, odd. Especially if the reason is because the ending wasn't happy, or, even more strange, the book featured people outside your ethnic group (as noted on Karen Scott's blog, comments section.)
I wonder if this is a practice for romance readers only, or if unsatisfied science fiction or mystery fans demand their money back for the offending book? Presumably the fan read the book, because otherwise how could they know the story didn't make them happy?
Do you ask for your money back because the wine doesn't have the smooth finish you expected? Do you ask for your money back because the pizza gives you gas? I've read some books so unsatisfying I felt I should be able to sue the author for damages afterwards, but come on.
This world. It disenchants me on ocassion. How about you?
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
Okay, more like Fess Up Monday on Tuesday. I'm blaming the time change.
Today's question: Have you ever returned a book because it did not satisfy?
Personally, I think the practice of unhappy readers returning books is, to say the least, odd. Especially if the reason is because the ending wasn't happy, or, even more strange, the book featured people outside your ethnic group (as noted on Karen Scott's blog, comments section.)
I wonder if this is a practice for romance readers only, or if unsatisfied science fiction or mystery fans demand their money back for the offending book? Presumably the fan read the book, because otherwise how could they know the story didn't make them happy?
Do you ask for your money back because the wine doesn't have the smooth finish you expected? Do you ask for your money back because the pizza gives you gas? I've read some books so unsatisfying I felt I should be able to sue the author for damages afterwards, but come on.
This world. It disenchants me on ocassion. How about you?
Monday, March 05, 2007
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
We officially declare this week to be....(wild trumpet fanare)
SUM3 WEEK
SUM3: The Zircon Anthology of Speculative Romance is now available in both paperback and electronic formats. Yippee!
Through the two Zircon contests hosted by SpecRom, we collected short speculative romances that highlight all the facets of our subgenre. Like futuristics? We got em. Like fantasy: mythic, high or historical? We got em. Contemporary paranormal with a little humor? Contemporary paranornal with a bit of an edge? We got those, too!
I've invited the SUM3 authors (including my humble self) to share the motivations and meanings behind their stories here at the blog. Stay tuned this week!
SUM3 at Amazon
SUM3 at Fictionwise
SUM3 Website Extravaganza
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
We officially declare this week to be....(wild trumpet fanare)
SUM3 WEEK
SUM3: The Zircon Anthology of Speculative Romance is now available in both paperback and electronic formats. Yippee!
Through the two Zircon contests hosted by SpecRom, we collected short speculative romances that highlight all the facets of our subgenre. Like futuristics? We got em. Like fantasy: mythic, high or historical? We got em. Contemporary paranormal with a little humor? Contemporary paranornal with a bit of an edge? We got those, too!
I've invited the SUM3 authors (including my humble self) to share the motivations and meanings behind their stories here at the blog. Stay tuned this week!
SUM3 at Amazon
SUM3 at Fictionwise
SUM3 Website Extravaganza
Monday, February 19, 2007
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
What a crappy week. I spent most of it trying to wrestle through plotting. Sometimes I THINK I know where the story should go, i.e. I want take the Path of Least Conflict and Easiest Writing. Then the words just run dry. Until I shake myself out of the stubborn desire to do it the easy way, I get nothing but frustration and irritation and it makes for a very crappy week.
Happen to any of you?
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
What a crappy week. I spent most of it trying to wrestle through plotting. Sometimes I THINK I know where the story should go, i.e. I want take the Path of Least Conflict and Easiest Writing. Then the words just run dry. Until I shake myself out of the stubborn desire to do it the easy way, I get nothing but frustration and irritation and it makes for a very crappy week.
Happen to any of you?
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
The blog Magical Musings interviews one of the Five People I Wish Would Have Said Yes, agent Lucienne Diver. She gives some great insight on what makes a story go from almost to hell yes, especially that tricky thing they call "voice."
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
The blog Magical Musings interviews one of the Five People I Wish Would Have Said Yes, agent Lucienne Diver. She gives some great insight on what makes a story go from almost to hell yes, especially that tricky thing they call "voice."
Monday, February 05, 2007
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
MY FAVORITE SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL: Snickers: After the Kiss.
M4M assaults the bastion of machismo. I couldn't be happier!
(Also, Prince in the rain is a beautiful thing.)
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
MY FAVORITE SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL: Snickers: After the Kiss.
M4M assaults the bastion of machismo. I couldn't be happier!
(Also, Prince in the rain is a beautiful thing.)
Monday, January 29, 2007
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
I'm working on a little rant about appropriate sexuality levels in speculative romance stories. I've been disappointed lately as a reader by books which seem to inject inappropriate or gratuitous sexual content, detracting from the stories' character development, speculative integrity, plot and tone. But I keep sounding like some prude who doesn't like sex. Which is certainly not the intention of the essay or an accurate reflection of dirty little me.
So if anyone has some early ideas, rants of their own, etc., about speculative romance sex, toss them out in the comments and I'll address them later this week in this rant. I believe the issue is an important one, and I can't believe I'm the only person dealing with them as both reader and author.
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
I'm working on a little rant about appropriate sexuality levels in speculative romance stories. I've been disappointed lately as a reader by books which seem to inject inappropriate or gratuitous sexual content, detracting from the stories' character development, speculative integrity, plot and tone. But I keep sounding like some prude who doesn't like sex. Which is certainly not the intention of the essay or an accurate reflection of dirty little me.
So if anyone has some early ideas, rants of their own, etc., about speculative romance sex, toss them out in the comments and I'll address them later this week in this rant. I believe the issue is an important one, and I can't believe I'm the only person dealing with them as both reader and author.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
(For those new readers -- the Global Existential Threat Level monitors our chances of wiping ourselves out, or being wiped out, as a species. It's always good to put your own hopes, dreams, fears and nightmares into planet-wide perspective, doncha think? I mean, gosh, what's the sense of getting all hyped about something if the world is about to explode. We're just those kinds of pragmatists here at SpecRom. Always got your back, baby.)
I had a couple of those wonderful and far too rare days when it's a push to have my fingers type fast enough to get down all the words, they flow so fast. And other than missing my scheduled blog posts for Friday and Saturday, everything else in My Author's CageFight (doesn't that sound more interesting than 'My Author's Life'?) went pretty well. It's hard to feel threatened when your first novel-length release comes true, and step one in your evil plan to rule the world is achieved. So my Personal Existential Threat Level is Super-Mondo No Chance of My Head Exploding Low. (How's THAT for daring the universe, harhar.)
I'd like to invite you all to preview the upcoming anthology SUM3. That's for someone, somewhere, somewhen is falling in love and being amazed by it. SUM3 is the compilation of outstanding stories found through the Zircon Contest for short speculative romantic fiction. My short story, the infamous weird take on vampires "Attraction of Otherness," the story that convinced me to write speculative romance, the story that landed me this gig ladies and gentlemen, is in that anthology. It's due out any time from Zumaya Book's romance imprint, Zumaya Embraces.
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
(For those new readers -- the Global Existential Threat Level monitors our chances of wiping ourselves out, or being wiped out, as a species. It's always good to put your own hopes, dreams, fears and nightmares into planet-wide perspective, doncha think? I mean, gosh, what's the sense of getting all hyped about something if the world is about to explode. We're just those kinds of pragmatists here at SpecRom. Always got your back, baby.)
I had a couple of those wonderful and far too rare days when it's a push to have my fingers type fast enough to get down all the words, they flow so fast. And other than missing my scheduled blog posts for Friday and Saturday, everything else in My Author's CageFight (doesn't that sound more interesting than 'My Author's Life'?) went pretty well. It's hard to feel threatened when your first novel-length release comes true, and step one in your evil plan to rule the world is achieved. So my Personal Existential Threat Level is Super-Mondo No Chance of My Head Exploding Low. (How's THAT for daring the universe, harhar.)
I'd like to invite you all to preview the upcoming anthology SUM3. That's for someone, somewhere, somewhen is falling in love and being amazed by it. SUM3 is the compilation of outstanding stories found through the Zircon Contest for short speculative romantic fiction. My short story, the infamous weird take on vampires "Attraction of Otherness," the story that convinced me to write speculative romance, the story that landed me this gig ladies and gentlemen, is in that anthology. It's due out any time from Zumaya Book's romance imprint, Zumaya Embraces.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
Hey -- having a bad day? A bad week? Do you know what you need? A new outlook. A new perspective. A radical shift in consciousness. Because, as my mother always told me, you can't change the world, so you must change yourself if you want to be happy.
Somehow I didn't think she meant this, but on a rainy (again) Monday when I'm running behind on everything, this works for me.
So You've Decided to be Evil: A Step-by-Step Plan for Joining the Forces of Darkness.
Of course, you'll also need An Evil Plan.
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
Hey -- having a bad day? A bad week? Do you know what you need? A new outlook. A new perspective. A radical shift in consciousness. Because, as my mother always told me, you can't change the world, so you must change yourself if you want to be happy.
Somehow I didn't think she meant this, but on a rainy (again) Monday when I'm running behind on everything, this works for me.
So You've Decided to be Evil: A Step-by-Step Plan for Joining the Forces of Darkness.
Of course, you'll also need An Evil Plan.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
Almost everyone I know, whether they live in my hometown or in Houston or London or Shanghai or Oregon, all have taken second winter homes in the Land of Mucous. I know that I'm ever so excited to be visiting!
And since I am, and you probably are, surrounded in wadded up tissues, I recommend an always fun read: Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex. If you haven't read it, go for a great laugh. If you have read it, chances are you need to laugh. It will help you cough out all that mucous.
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
Almost everyone I know, whether they live in my hometown or in Houston or London or Shanghai or Oregon, all have taken second winter homes in the Land of Mucous. I know that I'm ever so excited to be visiting!
And since I am, and you probably are, surrounded in wadded up tissues, I recommend an always fun read: Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex. If you haven't read it, go for a great laugh. If you have read it, chances are you need to laugh. It will help you cough out all that mucous.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
Happy New Year to everyone!
This is a milestone year for me, because this is the Year of my First Novel-Length Publication. You can all read BONDS OF DARKNESS from Liquid Silver Books on January 15th, or you can sneak a peak at www.JoyceEllenArmond.com.
But of course, while that's pretty cool, I'm well into two new projects. What are you up to, this first day of 2007? What are your goals? Do you freeze up even thinking about that?
If you want a little hint in setting reasonable, attainable goals, check out FINDING FOCUS: MANAGING YOUR CREATIVITY from last autumn's newsletter. If you set an unreasaonable goal, you're just setting yourself up to fail. And that sucks. A good goal for 2007: avoid the suckage early and often.
On the blog schedule this week:
Tuesday: News 2 Use, everyone's favorite feature.
Thursday: A new Read This, with links to some good speculative romantic short stories available on the web…including MINE!
Friday: Romance and science fiction go out on another date in a new publication dedicated to speculative fiction.
Weekend: A new feature, From Other Shelves – noteable books outside our subgenres.
So I invite you, every Monday, to fess up. Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell, tell! Because if you write just 1,750 words a week, by this time next year, you'll have the first draft of a novel!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
Happy New Year to everyone!
This is a milestone year for me, because this is the Year of my First Novel-Length Publication. You can all read BONDS OF DARKNESS from Liquid Silver Books on January 15th, or you can sneak a peak at www.JoyceEllenArmond.com.
But of course, while that's pretty cool, I'm well into two new projects. What are you up to, this first day of 2007? What are your goals? Do you freeze up even thinking about that?
If you want a little hint in setting reasonable, attainable goals, check out FINDING FOCUS: MANAGING YOUR CREATIVITY from last autumn's newsletter. If you set an unreasaonable goal, you're just setting yourself up to fail. And that sucks. A good goal for 2007: avoid the suckage early and often.
On the blog schedule this week:
Tuesday: News 2 Use, everyone's favorite feature.
Thursday: A new Read This, with links to some good speculative romantic short stories available on the web…including MINE!
Friday: Romance and science fiction go out on another date in a new publication dedicated to speculative fiction.
Weekend: A new feature, From Other Shelves – noteable books outside our subgenres.
So I invite you, every Monday, to fess up. Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell, tell! Because if you write just 1,750 words a week, by this time next year, you'll have the first draft of a novel!
Monday, November 13, 2006
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
This week my mind is on keeping speculative romantic sex believable. PC Cast and Gena Showalter give their insights: Aliens Do It With Tentacles!
For your reading pleasure, and a nice primer on keeping alien sex believable:Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex.
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
This week my mind is on keeping speculative romantic sex believable. PC Cast and Gena Showalter give their insights: Aliens Do It With Tentacles!
For your reading pleasure, and a nice primer on keeping alien sex believable:Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level has gone back down to GUARDED.
My personal existential threat level has gone down as well. It's nice to be back.
This week's inspiration are my favorite jokes. I hope they inspire you. too.
Q: How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Banana.
So, Mr. Hydrogen Atom rushes into the Periodic Chart Police Station in a great tizzy, crying, "Help, help, someone has stolen my electron!"
"Calm down, Mr. Hydrogen Atom," says the nearest Periodic Chart Police Officer, "are you sure someone's stolen your electron?"
Says Mr. Hydrogen Atom, "Oh, yes! I'm positive."
What's your favorite joke?
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level has gone back down to GUARDED.
My personal existential threat level has gone down as well.
This week's inspiration are my favorite jokes. I hope they inspire you. too.
Q: How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Banana.
So, Mr. Hydrogen Atom rushes into the Periodic Chart Police Station in a great tizzy, crying, "Help, help, someone has stolen my electron!"
"Calm down, Mr. Hydrogen Atom," says the nearest Periodic Chart Police Officer, "are you sure someone's stolen your electron?"
Says Mr. Hydrogen Atom, "Oh, yes! I'm positive."
What's your favorite joke?
Monday, October 16, 2006
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at ELEVATED.
My personal existential threat level is much, much higher.
This week's inspiration:
Fall seven times, stand up eight. - Japanese proverb
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at ELEVATED.
My personal existential threat level is much, much higher.
This week's inspiration:
Fall seven times, stand up eight. - Japanese proverb
Monday, October 09, 2006
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level has been upgraded to ELEVATED.
That damn North Korea...
Here's some inspiration, but if you had a week like mine, you need more perspiration and less playing Sid Meyer's Pirates...
You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.
Robin Williams
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level has been upgraded to ELEVATED.
That damn North Korea...
Here's some inspiration, but if you had a week like mine, you need more perspiration and less playing Sid Meyer's Pirates...
You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.
Robin Williams
Monday, October 02, 2006
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
I wonder what circumstances must prevail for the threat level to reach low?
And instead of inspiration, I'll leave you with my new motto:
When does CPR become necrophilia? -- Kevin Nealon, WEEDS
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
I wonder what circumstances must prevail for the threat level to reach low?
And instead of inspiration, I'll leave you with my new motto:
When does CPR become necrophilia? -- Kevin Nealon, WEEDS
Monday, September 25, 2006
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
Humanity remains in no immediate danger of destroying itself, which is always comforting on a Monday:
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
And to inspire you this week, a thought from one of my favorites:
As for me, prizes mean nothing. My prize is my work. -- Katherine Hepburn
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
Humanity remains in no immediate danger of destroying itself, which is always comforting on a Monday:
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
And to inspire you this week, a thought from one of my favorites:
As for me, prizes mean nothing. My prize is my work. -- Katherine Hepburn
Monday, September 18, 2006
Fess Up Monday!
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
But first...so you can focus on your muse:
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
I know my mind is greatly eased. Yours?
And our inspiration today:
Goals are dreams with deadlines -- Diana Scharf Hunt
Did you write? Did you sell? How many words? Tell, tell tell!
But first...so you can focus on your muse:
The Global Existential Threat Level remains at GUARDED.
I know my mind is greatly eased. Yours?
And our inspiration today:
Goals are dreams with deadlines -- Diana Scharf Hunt
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