Hey guys, welcome back! I am here trying this Tuesday thing again to see how it goes. From looking at the stats, this seems to be the better day to post (my traditional Friday posts have been slacking big time but that’s ok. I shall keep on trying!
Hope your week is off to a good start. I’ve been dealing with a brutal bout of insomnia myself. I get it at least three times a year anyway, but since healing up from Covid back in March, it has been coming more and more in waves. In this case, my meds have played a factor as well. I’ve been trying to change them up and wean myself off some of them as well. However in doing so, it has caused tremendous pain and lack of sleep. Finally tonight I caved and feel like myself (somewhat) again. Let me be clear, it wasn’t a withdrawal thing and I’m not an addict, I just have a plethora of medical issues that cause incredible pain. Even if I am doing nothing but sitting here breathing, it hurts. I just needed a break. So sick of all the pills. Of course the problem then comes in, without feeling better, my creativity suffers as well.
Case in point…I wrote a chapter last night that I really couldn’t wait to get to. It was a pivotal scene that had been playing in my head for a week and I was so excited for it. However, I was so foggy, tired and uncomfortable, I could barely get through it. I did what I could and then put everything away and tried to go to bed. I thought about it all night, (you know, because I wasn’t sleeping) and even without rereading it, I knew it sucked. I blew right past what was supposed to be an important moment for my characters and did them wrong.
I’ve talked about my writing/editing process here a number of times:
I write a chapter
Next night I read what I wrote the night before, fix it then move on
Write the next chapter
So tonight, after I finish here, I will go back and make sure that the chapter is properly written and the pair are treated much, much better. It’s funny how attached I’ve become to the people I’ve made up. I actually look forward to ‘hanging out’ with them every night. (I really need to get out of the house more.)
Anyway, I am happy to say that even with all this going on, the latest chapter? Is chapter 21! This book has been really taken on its own life and it has been an incredible journey writing this story. Not just the book itself, but documenting it here. I can’t tell if it’s therapeutic or if I’m hoping that someone out there that reads this blog gets that ‘it’s not just me’ moment from it? But it has helped me keep on track and I actually get ideas for the story while I’m typing out my posts. And I’m always so, so grateful to those who come here to read my rambles. I hope that means I’m doing something right!
One thing I’ve been thinking about is changing the name of this site. I had originally chosen CCSocialCreative/Promosocially (my social handle) when I was doing social media management and writing articles on the side. But now the tone has changed significantly and I’m trying to come up with something catchy and that invokes the writing/reading/life stuff spirit. I’ve chosen a few different names but haven’t narrowed it down as of yet. So stay tuned!
And that is where I will leave you for today. I hope that this week brings lots of good stuff, opportunities and something to make you smile. To quote a great ELF: I just like to smile, smiling’s my favorite!
Note, my StuffWeFind links are on there as well. You can find vintage and estate jewelry there which is my main gig. StuffWeMade is packed with my shops that feature my designs on them. Basically, I’m all over the place.
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Hey guys, happy Friday! It’s been a busy one this week and for those of us who like to read during a good rain storm, it’s been another good couple of days for that. I was excited by the number of folks who came to read my post the other day as well as the likes and I can’t thank you guys enough for coming back each time. And to those of you who are new here? Welcome!
I mentioned the other day that I’ve been quite productive lately and it’s been great. I’m actually about to start writing chapter 20 after I finish this post and just last week at this time, I was happy I had just passed the ‘dirty dozen’ mark. So that has been a bonus for this week. What has been driving me crazy though is that I hit a chapter that caused me to have a little lull. A little lack of, I don’t know, excitement maybe? For lack of a better word.
Let me be clear, I’m not writing an action adventure thing that will turn into a Summer blockbuster down the line (and who I will never champion Tom Cruise for). Rather, mine is but a romcom with some deeper stuff in it as well. Or at least, that is what I’m going for. However, every book that you read or write has those couple of chapters that are just there to bridge the story from one place to another and that is where I am now. I’m not saying they are boring. (Hoping they are not.) What I am saying is that I’m excited for the next chapter and wanted to skip over these last two to get to the next one. There is still a lot going on, a lot of information dolled out and even more character development of course, but as I am living vicariously through these people, I’m just excited for their next adventure.
Last night I even had trouble sitting down to write. I didn’t know where the words were going to take me and I still have yet to reread and edit them before I continue writing tonight. What I do know is this, much like I do with this blog, I just sit down and start writing. That’s it.
This is how I wrote my last two chapters. I had blocks, I had worries, I had “well now what do I do now that I wrote them into this issue” and yet, I just kept writing.
I ended up liking one chapter a lot. It turned out better than I thought it did and when I read/edited it, I actually laughed in some places. (Yes in the spots that were meant to be funny.) So somewhere in my mind, the story is still there guiding me. Yesterday was a bit tougher. I had a vision of where it was going to go, how to get past the lull a little bit more and make it not so, I don’t know, day-to-day? Yet after a bit of writing the first scene, the typing continued. I once again did an almost automatic writing session and because I did, I came up with a new twist I hadn’t even thought of before. A way to tie some pieces together that honestly, never crossed my mind once and again, this is at chapter 19! I was able to add some more depth, some more emotion and some more backstory to characters that deserve to have their stories told.
I hope I’m not building myself up here. This is by no means the next ‘great American novel’ and I’m hoping that if you are reading this now, I’m not ruining anything for you if you decide to read what is finally published. I’m just trying to share part of my process here. I sometimes start off blind. No clue where the story will take me. I just know that if I take more than a day off, I feel like I’m failing myself. That if I miss more than a day of working on this story, the story will leave me.
As much as I like to keep my schedule going, there are times when it isn’t meant to happen. I encourage listening to yourself and how you feel. This goes for anything, not just writing. Case in point, the other night, I had an idea for the next chapter and wanted to get it down, but I hadn’t been feeling good at all the entire night. When I sat down to write, it felt more like a chore, more like homework, more like I had some deadline I was supposed to meet when in reality, I have none. I read and edited the chapter from the night before, but when it came time to write the next one, I got three sentences in and stopped. My eyes and head were pounding looking at the screen. It was pouring outside and I decided to shut off the devices and dive further into the book that I’m currently reading, which, btw, I’m loving. There is nothing like reading during a good storm and once I got off the glare of my iPad, I started to feel a lot better.
What I’m saying is this…there are times the story needs to come out but the body isn’t willing. There are times when the story is stuck, but the mindset is to keep going. Just start writing. You may be surprised. It will either flow or you will get the clear sign that it’s just not going to happen in the moment. But you’ll never know unless you just start writing.
And that’s where I’ll leave you today! Thanks for joining me today, be sure to check out the links below and I wish you guys a great weekend!!!
Until next time…Cheers!
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Hey guys, welcome back and happy new week! I wasn’t planning on posting today but I’m excited. I’ve been so hard at work on my new story that I’ve been making significant progress on it.
When I posted on Friday, I had crossed the dozen chapters mark and as of today, Tuesday, I am about to start chapter 18! This story has me hooked and I hope upon hope that when I finally get it out there, readers will like these characters just as much as I do. I honestly can’t wait to get typing to see what will happen next.
I don’t know if other authors deal with this and this will sound a little out there, but as I am going about my day and taking care of other things, the story is playing out for me in my head like a movie. I feel that these characters are taking the lead and guiding me through this whole thing and I’m letting them. I know I touched on that a bit in my last post, but with the amount of writing I’ve been doing over the last several days, they haven’t let up and right now, I’m letting them!
While I block off a certain amount of time to write each day, I also have a block for doing my research. Tons of research. Steps to take on the publishing side, getting ISBN numbers, to copyright or not to copyright and putting numbers together to see how much I still need to save up to get this book out there when it’s ready. Unless something changes, I’m still planning on self publishing this book. It’s a big undertaking but the way this story is coming together, I feel this one wants to be seen and soon. Not that it’s anything profound by any means. I think that mainly, I need to get this out of my system. My first published book.
I also need to get this story out of my head. I can’t move forward with the first book I wrote (and its sequel) until this one has vacated my mind. That first book I do plan to submit somewhere and that is also part of my research process. Trying to figure out formatting, how much of it I need to send in, editors, am I going agent or direct to a publishing house and of course, figuring out the dreaded query letter. (Ugh)
The book I just finished reading, The Page Turner by Viola Shipman, while fiction, was based in the publishing world. It gave me a lot of insight to the process and some great jumping off points for what I will need to do. (I took a ton of notes.) Ironically, I started a new book yesterday that also takes place in publishing and it was a total coincidence that I picked this particular book off of my TBR pile. Or was it? I like a good sign thrown at me and while yes, a lot of the books I’ve been reading lately have involved writers, these two are the first I’m reading that deal with publishing. So sure, sign!
I think my takeaway from these past couple of weeks is that creatively, it is a strong time for me and I hope you as well! Even though I sit here, directly across from the pile of crafts supplies, mocking me horribly that I haven’t touched them in months, writing-wise (new word?) I’ve been nonstop. Even writing this post, my fingers were flying as I was typing. I’m in a good groove and here’s to hoping this is a wave we creatives can all ride for a long, long time!
May this new week bring you opportunities to flex those creative muscles. Go forth and write, paint, play, sing, sculpt, draw whatever your medium is, go out there and do it! Even if there is no plan in place, you may have something inside of you that has been waiting for its moment to come out…and this may just be that moment!
And that is where I will leave you today. Until next time…Cheers!
Hey all, welcome back! Man, this week FLEW!! I was about to say that it feels as if I just wrote one of these posts, but the truth is…I did! If you missed it, I posted on Tuesday and I have to say, it felt good to do a second post this week. Granted, that one was a bit more on the personal side of things and I think I just needed to get some stuff out, but still, it felt good.
Anywhooo, let’s get to this one shall we?
I have really been making a ton of progress on my new book. I am honestly having a great time with this story and it has been playing in my head like a movie both while I’m writing and when I’m doing other stuff as well. The funny thing is that I still have no idea where it’s going to take me next. I can picture the town and the people so clearly I feel as if I know them now. But as I am not an outliner and I’m still oblivious to where these good people are leading me to. And frankly? I love it.
I am known as a ‘pantser’ type of writer: one who flies by the seat of their pants. I do not outline and never have. Not even in school. I mean, sure, I learned how to do it, but my stories come to me fresh each day and that is how I type. I just run with it. Much like I do here but I swear my stories are more organized than the rambling posts I publish here each week. The only time I write something down is when I have an idea that may tie in things later, come up with a scenario for a character, or to make sure that I go back to something I said earlier for continuity’s sake. But going into a story? I have no clue about how it will all weave together until it is done.
What I have been doing, which is a major help this time around, is editing every night. I edit the chapter I wrote the night before as I reread it which also gears me up to write the new chapter ahead. I am proud to say that I’ve already passed the ‘dirty dozen’ mark and am now about to start chapter 15! This book is seriously flying. I’ve even designed the cover already and I’m so happy with that as well. It looks just the way I’m envisioning the Main Street of the town in my head.
I think my biggest issue, besides studying the best way to publish this one, is my name. You see, my own name is long. Very long. As much as I would like to use it, (as a sort of juvenile way to show those from my past that hey, I’m a published writer so take that) it is not a professional sounding author name. So as I am prone to do, I took a little time to do some research and found that the name I would like to use is available! When creating the book cover, I created several versions of it with different pen names and of course, my actual name. I gotta say, the one I had picked out originally really does look the best. However, as someone who lives inside a guilty conscience, I don’t want to hurt my parents at all. I know I am an adult, hell, I’m in my mid-50’s! (Ugh) But yes, I still have that child-like guilt that rears its ugly head at the worst times and this is one of them. (But the pen name looks SO good!)
The book I’m currently reading is all about authors and publishers. Although fiction, it really dives deep into the whole world I’m now basing my life in and I’m learning a ton. At one point the main character talks about how her book may offend her family, etc. While my book isn’t offensive, my using a different name may be. I caught a line in the book that has resonated with me: “You cannot authentically share your soul when you are always looking over your shoulder.” Where the hell has this quote been all my life?
(Btw, the quote has been attributed to controversial author Philip Roth but it still rings true.)
So after reading this, as well as a lot of other sage advice this book has been handling me, I’m leaning more towards the pen name…and then a big conversation with my parents. I will of course also need to promote my book like crazy to everyone making sure they all know that it really was ME who wrote it. Ironically, going back to my current read, the author’s name is their pen name and they give the explanation on the back cover. Another bit of inspiration? Absolutely. So maybe the decision has already been made and this ramble of mine is my own way of talking myself into it.
Either way, the cover looks great. The story is going well and I sincerely hope I can get this done in time to be a late Summer Read this year. Is that soon? Hell yes! I’m putting pressure on MYSELF here! However, it seems besides a pen name I have also decided to do this one as a self-published book and therefore I can get it out there sooner rather than later and then query agents for my other books. Wow, I just talked myself into something HUGE here. Will it happen? Who knows, but this is part of the ‘fun’ of documenting my writing journey for you all. Sharing the back and forth mental torture I endure on a daily basis.
And that’s where I’ll leave you for today. I wrote quite a long post a few days ago and there is no need for a second one. Friday posting is tradition and I hope that someone out there has gotten something out of this!
Thanks for sticking with me, letting me ramble on and until next time…Cheers!
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What book was I talking about? The Page Turner by Viola Shipman
(note: it is now on sale and the author’s newest release.)
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That’s it for the links for today. Other shops and deals can be found on the right hand side of this site as well as my On the Bookshelf page. Thanks for following!!
Hey guys, welcome back! Hope everyone had a great weekend out there. We here on the East Coast have been getting drenched with a few more days to go and I for one, am happy. There, I said it. LET IT RAIN!
There are a few reasons for this rush of love for the wet stuff…the first being that the high pitched screaming neighbor kids will have to stay inside which means I can open up my windows and let the fresh air inside. Also, I love, love, love reading during a good rainstorm. There is just something about it that gets into my soul. The smell of the fresh air, the sound of the drops hitting the different surfaces outside…it is quite simply Mother Nature conducting her own symphony for me while I escape into someone else’s words.
Btw, I wrote a very short story called Instrumental Raindrops about just such an event. I’ll include the link after the post. 🙂
The next time there is rain in your area, take a break from the devices, grab a cup of tea, hot chocolate or a good whiskey and a book and just listen to it fall while you read. I love putting the focus feature on my phone and IPad on so I won’t get any notifications and lose myself in someone else’s writing. Plus, this time of the year the temps are still cool out there so no AC for now! Ok, I’ll stop. Just excited for the rain and the current postponement of Summer temps of which I am not a fan. But that’s a subject for another day. Maybe. People seem to get pretty heated over that the same way I get pretty passionate about my love of Fall. But I digress…
Please understand my statement up above about the kids is not my general feeling of them all. I absolutely love kids. I really do. We just have some bad eggs here in our neck of the woods that make me crazy. In general, all for them!
In fact, over the weekend I got to celebrate one of my favorite kids in the whole world. (His brother will have his own celebration next month—woo hoo!) Anyway, it was a good day. Filled with lots of laughs and catching up with folks, many of whom I haven’t seen for a few years. I love days like that. Just lots of visiting with people you truly love and have a lot of fun with. And the little guy was so excited and very smiley all day. Plus, you gotta love a kid who goes around and thanks each individual person for their gift. Seriously, what other eight year old does that?
As hard as I am trying to hold on to these good memories of the day, I unfortunately had a lot of problems I was dealing with. I was trying so hard not to reveal the immense and extreme pain I was in. I’ve partially discussed my medical issues here and there on this site. One thing I have failed to get across is that ever since my setback hit a year ago this month, I have been living in pain 24/7. We have tried to mix and match meds to help alleviate the symptoms but there are just some days that are worse than others. This was just such a day and the fact that I missed my time to take one of my painkillers while I was getting ready to go, didn’t help the situation at all. I’m on a very rigid schedule for these pills and I missed it. I also had none with me and didn’t put this all together until it was too late. So I did what anyone else would do, I opted for wine. #becausewhynot
Why am I sharing this? Well, first off, it’s my blog and I can share what I want to. KIDDING. Well, ok, not so much. It is technically true. However, I want it known that there are people out there like myself who have what are known as ‘invisible disabilities.’ You can’t see them just by looking at someone. When I walk, you KNOW I have issues. I have to hold onto something. I have to take it at a snail’s pace and you can see me wince with each step. I should be using my crutches, but hate the stigma of them so I try to do without. Stupid? Yes, yes it is. But there you go.
However, if you see me sitting? You would never know there was anything wrong. During the ceremony at the church on Saturday, I had some nasty looks from folks when I had to stop all the standing and sitting stuff because it just hurt too much. Then they see me sit and think I’m being disrespectful. (It was part of why I sat in the way back to begin with but there are eyes everywhere.) If you talk to me for a bit, you will hear my speech change a little and I may have a hand twitch here and there as well, but in general, you will just see a woman who is having a nice conversation and laughing with her friends.
What you won’t see is what is going on inside. The pain, the frustration, the anger. Not being able to really get comfortable on a chair while in a discussion in public, or at home just sitting on the bed. You won’t see me going home after the day and finally letting go. Being able to collapse from the exhaustion from holding myself upright all day. When I came home the other day, I got home just before the Kentucky Derby post time….watched the race…then passed out for 18 hours. Yes, you read that right. I did, thankfully wake up for an hour in between for some water and my meds, but slept right through again to Sunday night. And you know that if I skipped a day reading? I was exhausted!
There are THOUSANDS of people like me out there! We put on our brave faces to show the world we can be like everyone else. We try to do everything everyone else is doing, but the truth is, we are hurting. And some of us are hurting real bad. So I’m sharing this for awareness sake. That person you see in the store, on the bus, at the office, waiting on a table, running a company, raising a kid, maybe in excruciating pain but trying to live their lives. They may be short of temper or say something in a tone that sounds rude but was never meant to be because they are trying not to cry or absolutely lose it in public. Everyone has bad days and some have bad weeks, months and years. So I ask that in general, be kind. Ok?
While I was able to tie in the above with the kids, I can’t figure out a good segue to discussing Booktok so I’m just going to dive right in here…
I’m on TikTok for my two shops. I also happen to like it. I’ve learned a lot from other sellers and crafters out there. Despite what many think of the platform, TikTok isn’t all stupid stunts and people documenting their every move. It is what you make of it. And I have found some great and supportive folks there.
One section of the platform if you didn’t know already is something called Booktok. Thanks to the hashtag that grew the phenomenon, brick and mortar bookstores have seen a resurgence and physical books are being sold more now than they have in recent years. What’s great as well is that it has created a major boom for local bookstores, thrifting books and for authors, it is a marketing marvel since it’s free to promote their work! (My TBR pile has grown because of Booktok that’s for sure.)
I learned about several authors this way and the more progress I make on my own novels, the more I’m thinking I may need to start my own account for this site in the Booktok world. Will I? Not sure yet. I have secured my account for YouTube when it looked like the great TikTok ban was about to hit but I have yet to create any videos for it. I hate putting my face out there, I don’t even FaceTime or zoom with people I know, I certainly don’t want to do it on a social platform! (I did once or twice, but I used filters and was on meds.) Thankfully one of the trends right now are faceless videos and that I can do no problem. Basically this is me thinking out loud and trying to psyche myself up for finally creating an account. I mean, you don’t have to post at all! I could start by just creating a good list of people to follow first. All it takes is that first step, right?
So here’s to taking that first step! It’s a new month and a new week. Maybe it’s time for new opportunities as well. (Sounds good right?)
And that is where I will leave you for today. I do hope something here resonated with you in this post. I know this was another ramble and that’s what I do here but this was the first time in a while that I’ve done a more personal one. Thanks for sticking with me and getting this far.
It can also be found in the ‘past works’ tab in the top menu bar, look under the first link for my Publish0x.com pieces.
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I’ve added two designs including one about reading in the rain to my Dashery shop! You can click my icon in the right sidebar or click the site’s linktree: linktr.ee/promosoically
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You can find my other shop’s social links, (including my TikToks if you are interested):
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New Chapter Cove 