Welcome to A Writer’s POV. If someone had told me that writing a novel would cause me to loose sleep, gain weight, snap at my husband, pull my hair out, (literally and figuratively) and kick the dog, if I had one, I never would have put pen to paper. But as they say, ignorance is bliss, and I plunged in and began writing my book with the naïve expectation that I’d be finished in a year. Needless to say, five years and seven drafts later, I’m still on my quest for the Holy Grail, a published novel. Although frustrating, I spent that time growing as a writer. Every rewrite, revision and critique taught me something. Every book I read or workshop I attended offered new insights and ways to improve my craft. My goal with this blog is to share with you what I've learned so far. To talk about issues that plague all writers, to talk about the nuts and bolts of writing. Despite the fact that it's all been said before, each of us has our own way of telling a story and hopefully you'll visit often for help, support or just for the fun of it to read the posts written from this writer's point of view.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Moonlighting Again
But even the most determined and dedicated individual can burn the candle at both ends for so long, and the flame must be turned down to a more manageable level. So I gave up one of my jobs in sales.
The opportunity was there as well as the potential earnings. My plan was to build a client list and eventually quit my weekend job. But after several months of calls, emails, and knocking on doors, the return never did match the amount of time I put in. To make matters worse, instead of eliminating a job, I added one more to my work load, which adversely affected the quality of my writing.
I'm a regular moonlighter again. And although the money didn't exactly pour in, I gained valuable experience and confidence that will help me on book tours and signings when my novel is published.
I can dream, can't I?
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Research Can Be Fun
Whether it be for a novel or magazine story, I tend to get "lost" online when confirming a fact, or reading to learn more about a particular subject to make a profile or story more interesting and accurate. The Internet makes this former arduous task easier and more enjoyable than spending hours in a library. Believe me, I'm no academic. I'm just taking advantage of modern technology.
The past comes alive, one website at a time, revealing bits of trivia about actual historical occurrences that were little known, to me anyway, that can be used in a novel. Each mouse click leads to another and before you know it, an hour or more had passed. It's fun, but can be counterproductive at the same time.
So now, I have to restrain my desire to know more about anything. Because eventually, I have to get back to work and write the story.
Friday, August 15, 2014
I've Never Been So Busy Before in My Life
Of particular interest to readers might be my latest column, "Just My Type" in Ocala's Good Life magazine. "On the Phone Again" is a parody of Willie Nelson's hit song, "On the Road Again." Willie is one of my favorite artists, and I mean no disrespect, just sharing a humorous take on cell phones and how they're used. Just click on the magazine cover and flip to page 36 to read it.
I've also made my modeling debut in the March and June 2014 issues of Southern Living magazine. It was a two day shoot that involved shopping, birding, hiking and horseback riding in beautiful Ocala and surrounding areas in Marion County, Florida. More ads may pop up online and in other publications. I'll post updates when and if I find more.
Friday, May 9, 2014
The Road To Publication Is Paved With Opportunities
Since I began writing my novel, followed by the usual laborious manuscript revisions, I now have my own column, "Just My Type" in Ocala's Good Life magazine, and get regular assignments from the editor like the cover story in the May/June issue. (to read, click on cover photo) I've been published in Florida Gardener magazine, and most recently, been asked to be a corespondent on a new TV show, "My Ocala TV," that airs on Florida's WCJB TV20 on Saturday mornings following "Good Morning America." Wow!
Of course getting my book published is still my ultimate goal, but what happens in the meantime can be just as exciting, and maybe even help you reach your final destination of publication.