Thursday, November 13, 2008
Full Moon
Neptune Retrograde
Cloudy and cold
Don’t you just love it when unpublished writers tell you what you’re doing wrong in running your writing business? Geez louise, people, if I wasn’t doing something right, I’d still be in a job I hate, just like the ones who tell me in the most strident tones what I’m doing wrong and why I’ll never “make it.” Make what, exactly? A living? Already doing that, although it’s still paycheck to paycheck. Make the fame roster? Made the choice not to join that ages ago, when I saw what fame did to so many actors with whom I’ve worked. There’s always room for improvement, but I’m on the right path.
I’m not saying that any comment by an unpublished writer is irrelevant. That, of course, is not true. Readers have perfectly valid comments about what does and does not work, content-wise (and the loyal ones stick by me even when I try something that doesn’t work, bless them). However, those outside the biz (be it writing or theatre or whatever) really can’t speak to the nuts and bolts of what it’s like to live inside it until they’ve been there, any more than I can speak to the nuts and bolts of living as a doctor or an astronaut or some profession in which I haven’t immersed myself in order to write about it! 
And telling me that what I do is “wrong” when I pay my bills with it and the speaker can’t even get a letter to the editor published . . .time for a big eye roll, rude as it is.
I had an interesting adventure yesterday. I went to Costco for the first time in my life. My friend has a card, and we went together, since I’d never been and needed binders. I wound up buying all kinds of interesting things: a case of 48 cans of cat food, lots and lots of chicken soup, an 800-sheet ream of paper, my binders, enormous jugs of cranberry juice, crackers – I stuck to my budget, but I could have bought a lot more! I have limited storage space where I currently live, but when I move – I just may join a place like that and buy in bulk. For certain items, it makes a lot of sense. Because let’s face it, you can never have too much toilet paper or too many cans of cat food.
I’m still on that knife-edge, not sure if I’m getting sick or not. It’s the achy, fatigued, scratchy-everything, but don’t really feel that bad phase, and it’s boring the heck out of me.
Lost most of the afternoon and evening writing sessions due to computer problems. I need to get back on track today, because I have some questions to get out to interviewees, and I’ll be writing a guest blog post for Writing the Cyber Highway in the near future. AND, I’ll be on Kim Smith’s radio show on Sunday, November 16 – I’m pretty sure it’s at 4 PM EST, 3 PM CST. I’ll post times and urls tomorrow.
Back to the day.
Devon
Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 30,947 words out of 50,000 (Nano goal)
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30 / 50
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Untitled Helena Francis Mystery – 30,947 words out of est. 75,000 (total goal)
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30 / 75
(40.0%) |
Devon’s Bookstore:
NEW!Sensory Perceptions: Techniques to Improve Your Writing Through the Six Senses by Devon Ellington. Use the six senses to take your writing to the next level via a series of sense-specific exercises. By the end of seven weeks, you complete seven short stories!. $1.29 USD. Here.
Free limited download
“The Possession of Nattie Filmore: A Jain Lazarus Adventure” by Devon Ellington. If you loved HEX BREAKER, you’ll love spending time with Jain and Wyatt as they try to solve a haunted house mystery. Read an excerpt of the story and download it free here
Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.
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30 Tips for 30 Days: Kick Start Your Novel and Get Out of Your Own Way. A Nano Handbook by Devon Ellington. FREE!
If you’ve ever wondered whether or not you could survive National Novel Writing Month, this is the handbook for you! Ideas on preparations, setting goals, overcoming blocks, pushing yourself, tips for each day of the process, and ideas for going beyond, this handbook by veteran Nano-er Devon Ellington will help you survive. Best of all, it’s free! Download it here.
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Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.
Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:
By Jenny Storm. A young girl fights to save her horse trainer father's reputation when vicious rumors could ruin their lives. Purchase from 
Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, teaming with tough, practical Detective Wyatt East on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
Currently out of print. Stay tuned for re-release.
Visit the site for 
I should be able to make the radio show – cool!
Good old Costco. I always stock up on their Paninis when I’m in. Don’t buy any PC-related stuff out there, though – I’m talking major hard or software purchases as tempting as they may look. Blank CDs etc. are fine, i.e. “disposables”.
Wow, you are one busy novelist. Keep cranking those words out. Good for you!
*Make what, exactly? A living? Already doing that, although it’s still paycheck to paycheck. Make the fame roster? Made the choice not to join that ages ago, when I saw what fame did to so many actors with whom I’ve worked.* LOL. We define our own success, don’t we?
*There’s always room for improvement, but I’m on the right path.* That’s a great attitude, and one I need to remember.
Glad your Costco adventure was fun. I’ve been once but we still haven’t joined. I need to go through the house and purge the unneeded stuff before I start buying in bulk. This fall/winter is all about that!
People are trying to give you advice on a writing career?! And they’re not even published? LOL! People are so strange.
Hey Devon,
You didn’t mention so I’m not sure if you knew Hex Breaker was reviewed on Long and Short Reviews.
Lyncee
LOL on the advice. It’s like people who don’t have children telling those who do how to raise them!
Some people just need to keep their advice to themselves. Sheesh.
Oh, and you are so in trouble! Cosco is addictive. You can’t even set foot in there after December First–if you are into Christmas (and I know you are) you will be tempted to buy anything and everything. They REALLLLLY milk it this time of year. Cosco is DANGEROUS during the holidays! That’s exactly why I’m going there in a couple weeks. I can’t resist it!
“And telling me that what I do is “wrong” when I pay my bills with it and the speaker can’t even get a letter to the editor published…”
Oh my! Where do these people crawl from?
I’m reminded of the morons who say “I’m going to write a book when I find the time.” Grr. The time is there – 24 hours a day for all of us. I usually tell them that the first 5,000 words are easy but the next 95,000 get a bit trickier.
I have a friend who just LOVES Costco. I imagine it’s a bit like Sam’s Club, only better. I’ve never been a fan of buying bulk, but I think it makes sense in a lot of ways.
I love your attitude too. It’s amazing how people feel they can give advice to others, when they have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about.
I don’t get people who dole out advice to an experienced writer like you. I’ve seen it before and all it does is piss of the writer. We lost a couple of members of our chapter because of stuff like that.
Anyway – OooO! Costco! I have yet to make that adventure but I hear it’s greatness. Sounds like you made a nice haul.
Oh wow! I love Google Alerts. Just received the e-mail with an alert for “Writing the Cyber Highway” and ended up here reading that you’re going to do the guest post for me – yay!
You have lots going on! And, you’re right… never can have too much toilet paper! LOL
*smiles*
Michele
“Those who can’t do teach.” Remember it when they start, doll. People like that are just itching to tell you how to do anything – how to raise your kids, how to live your life, what to do with your spare time, how to spend your money. These are people who usually have unfulfilling existences or deep insecurities.
I usually answer rudeness with a question: “Oh really? Where did you read this information?” And if they say it’s their own knowledge, “Oh? That’s interesting. How long have you been freelancing full time?” Then when they give you the “Well, I don’t, but I’ve read a lot” answer, stare blankly, nod and walk away. Fools.
I love Costco. It ROCKS for office supplies (binders for a buck a piece? sign me up! 10,000 sheets of paper for $20? I’m all over that).
You’re a self-employed, self-supporter. What, exactly, might you be doing wrong?
I can’t believe someone tried to tell YOU how to write. Good grief!
I’ve never been to COSTCO, but have a time limited membership to Sam’s Club. They do come in handy.
I understand about the blah feeling, there myself today and with cold symptoms as well thanks to Chris.
I hope you feel better soon!
I think it’s the “fame” word that actually shows up the unpublished. Ignorant people really do believe that if you’re not famous then you’re not a successful writer. That’s when I consign them to the bin. I am famous, thank you very much, in my own field, and so are you.
I do admit to occasionally suggesting how people should rear their children, but only because I remember what it was like being a child and why I decided not to have them. Some things are also just plain obvious, whether you have kids or not.
We may not all be successful writers, but we all were children once.