The Problem with Free

This is not a post ranting about all the free Kindle books, I promise. There are more than enough of those out there. Besides, I have no idea what I feel about them.

Instead, this is a random note about writing free projects, just for fun.

I've been working on a free short that I had planned on offering here, and on my website, as a little gift to my readers and a promotional item. Give readers a chance to read a nice, complete, short story (say, about 3-5,000 words), to see if maybe they'd like my other stuff. It seemed like a fine idea to me, and I'd still like to offer such a thing. I think.

I've also been toying with the idea of writing a free novel, bit by bit, and posting maybe a chapter a week here on my blog, or on my Tumblr blog. That also seemed like a fun thing, since I have a story idea in mind that I'm eager to play with. It's not something I'd be interested in writing for publication at the moment, but I'd like to do it, just for kicks.

My first concern is that I'd be talking to myself, I admit. I'm worried I'd lose interest if no one was reading, and I don't care to start projects I won't finish. However, I'm extremely tempted, and if I knew enough people would read it to make it worth my time, I might give in to that temptation.

But, here's the main concern - nothing escapes theft on the internet!

I'm not all that fussed about pirates, as I've said here before. Sure, I'd rather people buy or borrow my work legally, but I don't expend energy on the whole piracy thing. What I'm talking about here isn't about piracy. Since these stories would be free, I'd have no cause to complain if they got "pirated" by file sharing sites.

What ultimately makes posting freebies a tough decision is plagiarism. The constant threat of plagiarism feels like a gag. I don't want someone ripping off my fun, free, weekly serial from my blog, sticking their name on it, and trying to con people out of 99 cents on Amazon with it.

I've tried to tell myself, "Don't be so full of yourself. Who'd steal your rough little blog book?" Myself has not believed me. You and I both know, if we've paid attention to the web at all, there are content grinders out there who'd steal ninth grade history papers and pass them off as their own if they think they'd make some money off it.

Nothing is safe.

Recent stories about fanfic writers getting screwed over should be enough to give any of us pause. Not only do you lose your work, without credit, but someone else profits from it - this is particularly galling if you were offering it free of charge to begin with. It especially annoys me when people rip off fanfic writers, since they are writing out of sheer love of the work and for the enjoyment of their community. (I'm sure there are other, more concrete, benefits, as well, but I admire fanfic writers for toiling away without great hope of immediate compensation.)

Frankly, piracy is one thing, but plagiarism is where even someone as sedate as I am must draw the line. Especially if that plagiarism turned into passing off a free lark for money to unsuspecting customers on Amazon, who don't deserve to be robbed any more than I do.

Besides, I come from academics, where plagiarism is a cardinal sin, the taint of which is enough to sink a whole career. I can't shake that training, and I bring that along with me into my "night job" of writing fiction.

So, I'm torn about posting free content. And, thus, I remain undecided. So far, I have been very careful not to post too much of my work online, especially before it's been published, for the very reasons I've stated here. I don't even use online crit groups, just in case!

You can see why I'm reluctant to jump full on into the fire, right?

What are your thoughts? Does this ever stop you from posting free work? Are you seeing more or less free content online? Are there any safe ways to do it, or should I just go limp and let cheaters steal as they may? Do you have any war stories to share?

Do blogged novels even get enough attention to make the risk worth it? Or, maybe I am worrying needlessly. Is this a case where the greatest potential threat is not theft but obscurity?

I'll have to continue thinking about it, I guess. Right now, all I can say is that I'd love to, but I'm still sorting out the pros and cons. Any comments are more than welcome as I try to puzzle out my thoughts on this.

Truth

I read an Indie (aka Self-Published) novel recently. I can't say it was good. It kind of wasn't. The writing was on par for some of my mid-range students. The formatting was atrocious, and the errors numerous, and, through the unhappy combination of the two, most of the sentences and paragraphs read like they'd been through a blender. I had to read a lot of the bits multiple times to understand them. So it wasn't great.

But, yet, something about it stuck with me.

I appreciate beautiful writing. Normally, typos and grammatical errors can pull me right out of the book, and this book was no different. But, the overall feel didn't dissipate for some time afterwards. With better execution and editing, it might have been a great book.

But I'm not really writing about the grammar here, but about that Other Thing that caught my attention.

Truth.

Now, having been in the university system as long as I have, I know Truth is an iffy word for me. Capital-T Truth - does it exist? Likely not, on the grander scale. But, I think for authors it does.

There were moments in this book when the author showed genuine, fearless Truth. Glimpses of himself. Real, honest, raw insights into his childhood, which was the kind no one should have to endure.

I don't know, perhaps all of that emotion and honesty got in the way of the technical aspects of his writing. I could understand that. It happens to all of us, even when we aren't writing such harrowing tales (which is why I thank the heavens for objective editors).

What is this thing, authorial Truth?

For me, it's when I feel like I am no longer reading a book by a stranger, but hearing the intimate, confessional whispers of someone close by. Some of the best authors can make you feel this way through the most fantastic fictions; others through unflinching recounting of their real history. But, as a reader, you feel it to the marrow. You are sucked into the most painful empathy. When the author-as-child cries out, you know the author still feels that cry, and you feel it, too. This, to me, is Truth.

There have been brief moments when I have written my own Truth.

Even in some of my published works, I can see the honesty, crouched and veiled to my satisfaction. Sometimes, too much honesty, and I am grateful most of my readers don't know me personally, because I wouldn't be that honest with people I actually know in real life. I don't write about true events in my published works (so far), but I write about things I've actually felt, and I can see it lurking around the edges of my characters' minds.

But, for the most part, I do flinch. I protect, I huddle, and I hoard my Truth. It wouldn't be too far off the mark to call me Standoffish. My personality is generally, "Friend to all, close to none." I wasn't born under a poker table, but I should have been.

This book, for all its glaring errors, made me ask myself why that should be. Is that what's missing from my books? Would they be better if I didn't edit out so much Truth? Will these new projects, some of them extremely close to me, be better if I stop being so guarded?

Can I summon the courage?

It's hard to tell, but I thank that author for his honesty and Truth, and for making me ask these questions. Writers are blessed people. We have so much productivity in our profession from which to draw such questions, thoughts, rambles. I found some in a rather unlikely place, this time, which ennobled the book in my eyes, whatever the style. Beauty can be more than just the lines, I think.

Long live Truth.

Very, Really, Actually

I use these words way too often, and end up doing an editing sweep especially for them. I don't know how or when they became habit, but I'm hypersensitive to them now, and they bug the hell out of me. Wasn't it Mark Twain who said to insert the word "damn" every time you are tempted to say "very"? "Then your editor will delete them, and your writing will be just as it should be," I think the rest goes. Really.

So, what are your no-no words?

Writing What Sells

On a forum today, and many times before, I have been left to shake my head at how overt some writers are with their desire to write "whatever will sell." Here's an example (compiled and fictionalized out of many such threads):

"So, I hear sex stories sell, so I think I should do that. What type of sex story sells best? Also, how short can it be before people stop buying it? Is 1,000 words enough, or should I make it 4,000? How quickly can I crank out 2,000-word sex stories, and how different should they all be before people stop buying them? I don't want to be bothered reading any erotica to see what it's about, so just explain to me what the most profitable ones all share in common."

Honestly?

As a reader, this kind of discussion skeeves me out. When I see a writer baldly announcing, basically, "I don't give a crap about the story, or anything else, I just want to know the recipe for soaking money out of the marks" it makes me want to never, ever read any of their mass-produced crap, ever, let alone buy it.

Writers, please be aware that open greed is noted, and readers don't really like being seen as sheep. Especially not sheep watching the farmer trying to throw together the easiest sheep ramp at the lowest creative cost.

Pretty nasty, this "must make dollars" attitude amongst writers.

No, I don't believe writing is 100% inspiration, and, yes, I firmly believe that art cannot exist with economics. Sure, we all want to be read, and to sell. But, in my opinion, it needs to start with a good piece of writing.

So, if you are asking "what piece of crap can I throw together to make you buy it?" the answer is none, frankly.

Go find some boglands to sell to tourists.

Question for You: Submissions

Tomorrow, I will be posting about the submissions process, since that is basically what my life is about these days. Today, I want to know from writers what your favourite/least favourite part of submitting a query and/or a manuscript is.

Please, comment below!

Question for You: What's on your WIP List?

A "WIP" is a Work in Progress. You see writers of all sorts all over the net fretting and/or crowing over their WIPs - second only to our children (and usually somewhat above our Day Jobs), the WIP is the centre of our world. We are only as good as our current/next WIP - because these will, hopefully, be our future releases.

Yesterday, I actually got around to updating my WIP list on my website. This occasionally falls by the wayside, since working on my WIPs takes up so much energy, I often don't have time to talk about them! WIP lists are useful, because they help an author keep their projects straight, and keeps them on track by publicly shaming us if we don't finish them. It is also a way to note for readers that you are still active and working, and there will be more to come.

So, what's on your WIP list? Care to share a link, or note a few important projects? Comment below, and let us know about your babies! 

Question for You: What Are Your Fav Romance Epubs?

Hi folks!

With Draft 3 of the new novel off to readers, and Draft 4 to follow when I get that feedback, I am currently researching epublishers for the submission phase of the book's strategy for world domination. I have a list of suspects, and am going through them one by one.

So, my question to you this week: What are a few of your favourite romance epubs? Which have you worked with? Which do you buy from? 

Please, comment below, and share some great finds!

Question for You: What's Your Favourite Cover?

What is your favourite book cover?

Could be either a book you've written/illustrated or one you've read.

Come'on - brag about your cover artist!

Comment below.

Question for You: On Betareaders...?

In keeping with the betareader theme this week, which I kicked off yesterday with my love letter to the wonderful bunch and will continue later in the week with updates on revising my new novel (now tentatively entitled Textbook Romance), today's "Getting to Know You" questions are all about betareaders.

Authors: How do you choose your betareaders?

Readers: Have you enjoyed beatreading?

Also, anyone with tips about the process, an anecdote of note, or a great betareader they want to brag about, please leave a comment!

***

Next week's theme will be book covers, so drop me a line at anneholly2010@gmail(dot)com if you want to trumpet your covers!

Question for You: What's on your Editing Hit List?

This past week and a bit, I have been slaving away trying to whip my WIP into shape, scouring it for typos and plot holes, strengthening the little threads, and punching up the dialogue. This week, I'm opening up my dirty little editing secrets in a series of three posts exploring my worst weaknesses, but there are other little habits that I also have to watch for: forgetting to use contractions when necessary, using way too many purple adverbs, reusing phrases that I love a bit too much... The list goes on and on.

I think it's useful and important when a writer knows their bad writing habits, especially in editing.

So, today's question: What little foibles are you constantly fixing in your work in post-production or on the look out for during writing? If you are an editor or a reader, which bad habits do you hate most?

Leave a comment, and let me know what you think!

Writing Resolutions for 2011

I'm fairly new to this game, only having received my first acceptance in July 2010. I have had three shorts released since then, and am anticipating my first full length (actually the first one accepted) release in May. I have been with three companies, and have learned quite a bit - but I still have a long way to go. Looking back at 2010, I can see some things I want to better or differently in 2011.

1. I really do want to produce a free read short story. Honest. But it is very hard, I admit, to get my hands on enough time to do something for free that will be worth using as a sample. This continues to be a hope, and will be moved up on the priorities list.

2. I want to improve my promotions and marketing quite a bit. I want to continue to make better trailers, sooner, and find more places to get them out there. I want to make/get good banners for all of my books, as I have found the one supplied by Decadent was very useful. I think I will have to start putting money into marketing, as that really is the only way to get your book out there. 2010 was an extremely lean year, but 2011 might be better.

3. I want to improve my website - and get a .com instead of a .webs.com - as soon as I can afford it.

4. I want to finish and edit my NaNo novel. I have full lengths planned for Jan-April, May-August and Sept-Dec, as well. This upcoming year, I am hoping see better sales. I have publishers in mind for my current projects, and in 2011 I hope to have three or four full lengths accepted by strong companies. I will keep you posted if/when they say yes!

5. Shorts. I have decided to stop doing shorts - well, not altogether, but to spend much less on shorts. Shorts don't pay much at all, are hard to get reviewed and are kind of hard to promote in a big way. But they still demand a lot of time for writing, editing, promoting, etc. So, I have decided to give up writing shorts, for the most part - I will finish those currently in production, and complete the five story holiday erotica plan I have in mind with one publisher, as they are terribly fun to write (and so I can see it in paperback, I hope), but I think that is all, unless any novella-length ideas really grab me. I need to spend my time on my full length works, which sort of got the short end of the writing stick this year.

So, those are the specific goals and hopes for 2011. As always, the main overarching goal is to work at it; is to improve, continue to be happy at what I am doing, and produce the best writing I can for an increasing readership.

All the best for 2011. I look forward to better and brighter things!

***

What are your resolutions for 2011?

Gentle Muses

I have many muses. Not the Greek kind that run around in the clouds strumming harps at you - that stuff I just call inspiration, and keep the credit for myself, thanks. Instead, I am talking about the muses that are more like models for my characters.

When I am working in a project knee-deep, I like to keep it on my front burner at all times, so I don't lose the flow. The way I do this is to tie all of my leisure activities together with a muse, who serves as a model for my current work.

Usually, this is an actor who reminds me of the looks and essential character of my male lead (the male character muse is because, most of the time, I am my own muse for the female character to some extent). Sometimes it takes more than one muse to get the complete picture, but usually it's one at a time, who, combined with my own memory and imagination, facilitates me building a fully fleshed (ahem) romantic hero.

Thus, when I am writing, all time spent not writing is spent communing with this muse. I read only books that have similar characters (though I don't read a lot when in the middle of a writing crunch), and I try to get my hands on the chosen actors' works, and watch them when I am taking breaks. The end result is that my imagination is constantly firing with ways to describe certain things, even in my down time.

This is one way I manage to produce as quickly as I do - it's not that I copy anything, just that I use various entertainments to give myself "working breaks" that make my writing time more productive. It also keeps me from getting distracted by other characters who might be bumping around in my head at the time, and helps me clear out the last muse to make room for the next.

I am not sure if anyone can recognize my muses in my works - I would be interested to hear any guesses, though. Surely, by the time they hit my pages, they are mere shadows of my impressions of fake screen personae, so they are well and truly removed from anything resembling reality by the time you read them.

But there's a little tip from me to you on how to create a world in your head and keep it bubbling between writing sessions. Let me know if it works for you, or if you have any tips to share... Or if you care to guess on any of my published muses. ;)

Happy writing!

Meta-Blogging Post

I am late posting today, and almost didn't post at all - but I figured, why break a streak?

Recently, I have been questioning the value of this blog. Is it helping my sales? Likely not. Am I using in a helpful way? Some times. Is it a lot of work? Yes. More work than it's worth? Possibly, yes.

I wanted to post about paranormal/horror writing for Hallowe'en, but I find I don't have anything to say and no one gave me any nuggets, so now I wonder if it is worth slapping something together just for a blog.

So, I am revising my blogging scheme - I will likely discontinue the daily posts, that much is certain. I have also decided to cancel the NaNo theme for November, since I got only one reply (which I will run, with gratitude). And I'll be busy with my own NaNo project if I enter, anyway.

Thus went my experiment in author blogging... I'm not sure yet if it was a success or a failure.

Normal programming will resume later in the week.

Doing Interviews - From Both Sides

I've looked at interviews from both sides now - from asking and answering, from posting to linking... and still somehow, it's interviews' illusions I recall. I really don't know interviews at all.

Or something like that, anyway.

On this blog, I have posted several interesting interviews with authors who have very nicely given their time, and I've even done a few myself for other sites. So, why do we do them, and how is a good interview asked/answered?

Now, I admit that I cheat a little - I have pre-set questions that I send to the author, and leave it pretty informal and up to them which they answer and how they go about it. I figure, being authors, they know how to come up with interesting stuff with only slim prompting. I try to give a mix of advice/craft questions and random interest stuff, while still giving them the chance to talk about their books - which, after all, is why most authors do interviews. It is good exposure, we all hope.

This week on Facebook, I posted an open invite to authors to post their advice and opinions on interviews, and got some good tips.

In terms of answering, Stephanie Beck, author of David's Angel, recommends authors answer in ways that are "not a constant book pitch (no one wants to read that), not super trite (readers want to get to know you at least a little), and not choppy or left un-spellchecked (your writing style translates more than just into actual books)." I concur! I think a well-written interview is an important step in convincing potential readers your books are enjoyable - otherwise, they might be counter productive.

And self-promotion is really what interviews are about. Robert C. Roman, author of Road Mage, puts it well when he says, "The more places you put your information out, the more places people see it. Cross pollination of fanbases, so to speak."

Yet, conducting author interviews is also a form of promotion, if the truth is told. There are other reasons, of course - I need the regular content, so interviews are a big help there, and I also find it is a great way to make friends, get to know other authors, and to generate good karma for yourself in the community, as people tend to appreciate the chance to talk about their work, even on little blogs like mine. And I like doing things that people appreciate.

But, I can't lie and say blogging interviews is not without its promotional element, as well. Not only does it increase posts (which updates my Facebook) and therefore hits, I also hope many authors will pass the link to their interview on to their fans, which increases my name recognition (even a little) - all of those factors are good reasons to do author interviews. That and, of course, you want your blog to be interesting to book people, and readers like reading about authors, and find new books.

However, there is more to blogging interviews than just asking, "So, what are you selling?" I am still new to the game, so my questions aren't really refined yet, but I am working on it. It is important to ask good questions and to post interviews that attract readers.

So, what makes a good interview? Beck suggests matching the tenor of the questions to the nature of the author - funny, serious, dramatic, etc. This is a fine suggestion, though it requires some research on the part of the interviewer - but it makes for a stronger interview that is more interesting to read. Roman recommends not forgetting to let the author improvise, and not to ask questions that are too narrow - and to let them talk about their books. He also suggests that questions should be a mix of serious and fun. All very important things for making the interview not only interesting to read but more pleasant for authors to answer.

More than any who responded to my plea for advice, though, romance writer Jasmine Aherne is concerned with keeping the interview interesting for the readers. Her suggestions are, "Ask interesting questions, keep it fun. Make it ocassionally random. Post lots of pictures." All sound advice for keeping your blog visually and mentally stimulating, which ends up being better promotion all around. (And her concerns for fun, stimulating media are clearly reflected in her author site - one of my favourites!)

In sum, when you are author/book blogging the important thing to remember is that just doing it on autopilot is not always better than not doing it at all. If you are not interviewing in such a way that draws readers or in ways unpleasant to your authors, this would reflect poorly on your blog. In turn, when answering interviews if you don't put your best foot forward, you might be turning off potential readers rather than promoting yourself in your best light. Robert Roman is absolutely correct when he urges authors to be honest in asking/answering, but there are many ways to be honest while still being interesting and/or fun.

I will keep working on my interviews, both giving and conducting, and I hope you all continue reading! I'd love to hear what you think on this week's topic - feel free to leave a comment!

~*~

If you would like to do an interview for this blog, please email me at anneholly2010@gmail.com.

Romancing Historical Details

Today, we have a guest blog from historical romance author Jackie M. Smith, on the joys of research and the importance of understanding your time period for quality writing.

When I first researched for my historical romance A Soldier’s Vow, I discovered so many interesting facts about the French country during one of the most terrifying periods in their long history. The German army had easily invaded the Northern part of France and often bombarded Paris but never succeeded in penetrating the city’s walls. Nonetheless, the city had been hit in other different and equally devastating ways.

Blackouts, food shortages and influenza affected everyone. Through my research, I discovered many families could no longer afford to keep their children fed, therefore they sent the weakest members of their family to their relatives in the country or other safer places. In A Soldier’s Vow, I wanted to show how the heroine Winnie Douglas saw and lived what everyone went through between 1914 and 1918 Paris. I also show how the war affected the women who stayed behind and waited for their husband, brother, cousin who joined the war effort.

The war also changed the soldiers who fought and saw firsthand the horrors and victories of war. Henry Whitfield, the hero in A Soldier’s Vow, had no idea what he would see and experience when he left his Canadian hometown. Many countries including Canada sent their strongest and bravest men overseas and fight an unknown enemy. They trained hard and fought even harder. Yet what waited for them in the trenches became their worst enemy. Rats, lice and other diseases caused the most terrible living conditions for every soldier on both sides.

Using such details in my book not only creates a setting but also brings the reader back to a time of turmoil, courage and undying love.

So, how do you approach researching your time period?

~*~
Jackie M. Smith is a Canadian novelist who currently writes historical romances for XOXO Publishing. Her novel, A Soldier's Vow, is available for purchase here.

Topical Tuesday: Parenting and the Writer

A typical afternoon at my house finds me begging an extra 10 minutes from my 2 and a half year old son so I can finish a paragraph. Naturally, he wants me to play "choo choo" and isn't always kind and understanding about why I'd rather play "keybood."

I suspect this is a scenario common to most writers who also happen to be parents. (Or, should I say, parents who happen to be writers? Chicken and the egg, I guess.)

The basic dilemma is this: How do you juggle the time demands of an active child, who you adore, with your work, which you love (and need to do)?

Most of the time, I have managed to figure out how to get my 1k a day without too many tears from either one of us. Without finding a way, I wouldn't have been able to finish my dissertation, or do my fiction. I was a student when my son was born, and have only recently finished, and I have applied the lessons learned then to my writing.

It doesn't really matter what style your writing is, the method you develop is entirely based on the rhythms of your family and of your work, but these are some broad strokes of my basic regime:

• I work whenever I can, meaning I have stopped waiting for the "perfect setting" or "right time." When the tot is sleeping/playing nicely I go for it. This is helped greatly by my habit of outlining scenes - I can just pick up the next scene and run with it, by plugging away. There is no guessing as to what to write next.
• I work at night whenever possible - no distractions, free time. I am fortunate in that I can exist on very little sleep - a survival skill I picked up in grad school, encouraged by a natural life-long propensity towards insomnia. One challenge in this system is staying awake while putting the tot to bed (after a whole day of chasing him around). The bigger challenge, however, is in staying cheerful during the following day after some late nights - this takes concentration, and the will to be cheerful. Cheerfulness does not always come naturally, but it can be inspired if you are mindful of yourself and your moods.
• While I try not to compromise on my motherly duties where they count, I have had to adjust my idea of "ideal motherhood." My house is often horribly messy, for example. Meals are filling and nutritious, but they are hardly glossy-magazine quality. And I have had to back down on my "he should never watch videos" stand (we don't have TV/cable reception, which I will not change my mind on, but we do have DVDs). The tot does spend a bit of each day watching his favourite DVDs to give me some peace. At first, I was super-guilty about that, but when I see him learning from them, and clearly enjoying them, I have loosened up a bit on the issue.
• I have been working on establishing my writing as "important to mommy." I patiently explain and re-explain to my son that "I need to do xyz-amount of writing before we do this or that". I don't push his patience, but I am increasing the limits steadily, encouraging him to play near me on his own more and more, and to accept that when I am writing I am not entirely accessible. I don't overdo this, as he is still so young, but I hope this will pay off when he is older.
• I use a Dictaphone when necessary.
• Finally, I try to be interactive when I write, as much as possible. I do not demand constant silence or privacy. This way, he can feel that I am reachable, even if I am not directly playing with him. We listen to music together while we do our separate activities in the same room, for example. I will often read what I am writing out loud (if it is under PG-rating), as he does seem to enjoy my running monologues - he doesn't really care what I am saying, I find, as long as I am talking to him. A lot of the time I spend writing, I am nursing him, or he's sitting on my shoulders, or sitting next to me at the desk typing on his own keyboard or toy laptop. Writing this way is not ideal, perhaps, and some people wouldn't want to do it, but I find it works for me. Sometimes, you just have to power through.

In asking authors around the biz (or any work-at-home parent), I find similar make-shift processes in place. Robert Roman, author of Road Mage, and father, gave me a quote that sounds pretty familiar:

I'm lucky - the boy who likes to sit in my lap is small enough that I can type. Other than that? I steal time from myself when they are sleeping and I ought to be, and I sometimes steal time when they're playing quietly and daddy doesn't get the game.

(Basically, make hay while the sunshines, parents!)

Diana Cosby, author of His Conquest, gives me hope that proper balance, boundaries and explaining your writing to your children as if you are - gasp! - a human and not just a mom does work as your children age:

Make your children a part of the process, explain how writing is important and like they value the time they spend doing what they love, you value yours. Break down with them a time you write and they respect your time. After, it's fun time where you play, do homework or spend with them.

Juvenile/young adult fiction author of Shrinking Forward, and mom to four, Nathalie LeBlanc may have it the best of any of us - her stuff can actually be used seamlessly with her parenting!

I started writing when I was pregnant with my first child and now she is nearly nine years old. She has read my first novel Shrinking Forward. She was so excited to find out what happened next she bugged me for a week to read book two called Fading Away. After a week of bugging me she won! I love her excitement on her face every morning waking up and wanting to know what happens in the next chapter! After all, one of my main reasons for writing my novels was for my children.

Perhaps not so applicable to those of us who write romance or erotica, but, while we can't all write to the age group of our children, Nathalie reminds us that writing is not really contrary to our parenting. At times, the work is important to our family health by adding income. Even more often, it aids our parenting by making us happier or more complete as individuals, which should make us more able parents. For some of us, it's an important part of keeping sane! In the long run, seeing a parent create and have the courage to pursue their dreams is a valuable thing in a household.

So, even while it might get dicey, and you may feel one obligation or the other is suffering at times, and you feel the burn of sleep deprivation when the muse strikes, there are ways to juggle both, and many have done so successfully for years. Investing in the quietest keyboards you can find and living off coffee... It may be a fair price to pay for us toilers in words and nurturers of small people, as both are wonderful gifts.

I am of the opinion that being a mother makes my writing better and that being a writer makes my mothering better. And if the dishes are not always done, and the floors are not always spotless, I can honestly say I feel good about what I do - on both sides.

So, happy writing! (And give your little ones a hug for me.)

Technical Difficulties

Due to some sort of issue between Networked Blogs and Blogger, my posts are not updating on my social networking sites, so I have decided to delay today's Topical Tuesday post until further notice.

However, I am pleased to celebrate BethAnn's release of Broken Together today, so I won't leave you without a post!

Launch of Topical Tuesdays!

Starting next week, Tuesdays here will be dubbed Topical Tuesdays, when I hope to present a topic, and have other authors and book folk weigh in with their views. I will be bumming comments off other authors throughout the week, but would love to have you contact me if you have an opinion!

Next week: Balancing Writing and Motherhood

Your Participation is Needed!

ATTENTION!

This blog will be open to readers/writers/publishers/sellers/etc. for the following features:

• Submissions for Meatless Monday recipes.
• Quotes, opinions or even editorials on various issues for Topical Tuesdays. Contact me, if I don't contact you first!
• Suggestions or requests to be interviewed/reviewed, or to guest blog, or just rant about something, on Open Thursdays.
• Emailed synopsis or trailers, etc, for Free Friday promo days - no limit to these, and will be posted the week I receive them.
• Special Release Celebration or taking a guest shot on Excerpt Sundays - this will currently be exclusive to my fellow WHP authors, for the time being.

Anything else you got, feel free to contact me.

This is, naturally, free, and open to more than just authors - I'd love to hear from publishers, PR folk, editors, readers, book sellers, book club folk, cover artists, and others. Just contact me! Of course, you will get full credit, a line or two about yourself, and whatever links you wish.

Hey, it's a free shot to get some PR - though this blog is small now, I have hopes it will grow.

I am sure it will, with your help!

How to contact me:

• Through Facebook (friend me!)
• Through my website
• Via comments, below

Or email me at anneholly2010ATgmailDOTcom!

I hope to hear from you very soon.

FYI! My NEW Blogging Schedule!

I've decided to work out a regular schedule for this blog, so I know what's happening.

So, watch for these features, which I hope you'll enjoy! If you'd like to take part, I'm very easy to find on FaceBook or on my website, and I'd love to hear from you.

How the week will look, in addition to any little "coffee break" ponderings that might come up throughout (especially when I feel an urge to procrastinate):

Excerpt Sundays - Short bit of my writing on my FB page. (Might not be every week, but at least once a month.)

Meatless Mondays - Vegetarian recipes or home tips. (Submissions welcome.)

Topical Tuesdays - Pick a topic every week and I will ask writers to speak up on it. Contact me for more info!

Writing Wednesdays - All about my writing and publishing journey. .

Open Thursdays - Guest Bloggers, videos, freestyle topics, tips, cool websites, reviews, editorials, interviews, opinions, etc. Contact me for more info!

Free Fridays - Free self-promotion for other authors and various book folks, or myself should I have no volunteers. Contact me for more info!

Personal Saturdays - Day off or short snippets of my life as a mom and writer.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Releases will take priority when they happen! (TBA)

Holidays, etc., may be excepted.