Month: June 2015

Recharging Days

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Writers write everyday is a common adage among the author crowd. I’m not so sure it’s true for the rest of the creative world. Surely, an actor is no less an actor if he doesn’t act in a movie every day of his life. Nature photographers can’t photograph beautiful flowers on days the weather is all thunderstorms and hail.

I think the true statement is this: when on deadlines, a writer writes every day.

Deadlines aside, it’s important, I think, to take a break from the project you’re working on sometimes. Even more important if you’ve been working on it for a long time, and you’re hitting a huge stumbling block.

Maybe you’ve sent out 280 queries and haven’t heard from a single agent.

Maybe you’ve been trying to fix a plot hole for six months and your betas are still getting lost in your story’s confusing narrative.

Maybe you’ve totally lost the idea of the story and every word seems like gobbleygook.

This need for space and time away from your art isn’t just a creative person problem. Many professionals tout the benefits of a mental heath day, like in this article from INC.com and this one, from the Huffington Post, provides clear examples of signs you need a break.

So, take a day to clean the house, or go for a run, or knit. At least, that’s how I spend my days off. You might have different hobbies. Clear your mind, and tackle some non-creative pesky tasks on your to-do list. I keep a tab of “worn-out day activities” on my to-do list app, (the incredible 2Do app if you’re curious) so that on mentally rainy days, I can still feel productive by completing little tasks.

But.

Here’s my warning. It’s very easy to let one recharging day become a recharging week. Or a month. And then, suddenly, you’ve lost your flow on your project, and you have no interest in ever putting your butt back in a chair. So, the minute you decide it’s a recharging day, grab your phone or computer, and add a couple timers scheduled for tomorrow and the next day. If you have the functionality, add little reminders about how much you love your creative endeavors. You can even add reminders of what you need to work on next.

Here’s a screenshot of my phone for tomorrow, since I took a break today.

Motivation!

Motivation!

So, that’s my plan to give my brain a break, without losing my place in my writing. What about you? When do you know it’s time for a break? How do you get back to work?

An Interview (+ Giveaway!) with Author Lindsay Randall

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I’m very excited to welcome author Lindsay Randall to my blog today. She was my very first writing mentor, and I still have the notes she gave me saved in my writing folder. I can’t say enough positive things about her. Her encouragement has bolstered my spirits many times. She’s a talented, award-wining author of over twelve novels. Today, we will be discussing her newest book,  Rescued by the Cowboy. I just finished the novel, and I highly recommend it! It’s a perfect read for a summery day, with a romance guaranteed to make you swoon.

Interested? Check out the Rafflecopter below  for a chance to win your very own copy and a Starbucks giftcard! Nothing says summer time like a romantic read and an iced latte! (giveaway open internationally, ebook and ecard delivered via email)

The book is also available for sale here! 

CLICK HERE FOR Rafflecopter giveaway

Randall, Lindsay - Texas Flyboys series - Book 1 - Rescued by the Cowboy...

Lindsay:  Thanks for inviting me to visit with you at Creatively Carrie. I’m glad to be here!

Carrie: Could you tell me a bit about your writing career?

Lindsay: Absolutely. I think of it more as a writing life, though. Writing is what I do—it’s what I’ve always done.

I have this vivid memory of me in second grade, struggling to put a story into words and onto a page. I wasn’t so much striving to get an assignment done as I was awakening to this deep-seated need in me to sculpt a scene with words. Zoom ahead decades later and here I am, responding still to an urge within that wants to write.

I am the author of historical and contemporary romance novels. I also enjoy writing nonfiction articles. By day, I create university fundraising materials. So I pretty much write all the time. I think it was Louis L’Amour who once said a person can be a writer from cradle to grave, or something similar. I like that—and yep, it’s my goal.

Carrie: What is the process like for you? Are you a “plotter” or a “pantser”?

Lindsay: A bit of both. When I begin, I have a plot in mind and know where I’m headed. But then, boom, I get writing and my characters never fail to surprise me. Happens every time.

With Rescued, though, I did stick to an outline of where the story needed to go and what events needed to happen. This book was written during a year’s worth of weekends. Every Saturday I’d get up early, sink into a scene, and stay there until I was finished. I absolutely loved telling this tale. It was pure joy to hit the weekend and spend it with Nick and Tess.

Carrie: What was your favorite thing about writing Rescued?

Lindsay: Diving into the setting! I just loved heading into the mountains of Mexico and imagining all the things Tess and Nick would encounter. The cave scene near the end remains my fave spot/scene for these two characters (well, other than the scene at the zocalo, that is!).

Carrie: I really enjoyed the way you describe settings! Reading Rescued felt like a vacation! Did you face any challenges in the process?

Lindsay: Yes and those challenges came from the same place they always do: juggling full-time work with my creative work, which is mostly a challenge but also a bit of a gift.

When I get bruised by one, the other is always there, inviting me to come soothe myself in a different space.

Carrie: That’s great advice, and something I know I struggle with too. On a lighter note, any fun facts to share about your characters?

Lindsay: Ah, here’s a fun fact about Nick. While Rosie, the miniature pig, took a shine to him, she’s not the first creature to follow at his feet. Animals love Nick. Horses, dogs, even cows—they all just sort of gravitate to him. His brothers found this hilarious, which led to lots of jokes through the years. But whenever there’s an ornery animal to wrangle, they call Nick. 🙂

Oh, and he plays the harmonica even better than he does the guitar. 🙂 🙂

Carrie: Oh, goodness. A musical man with a sensitivity to animals? I feel faint. Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Lindsay:  Don’t let your writing keep you from reading. Make time every day for reading—and read widely. Step outside your comfort zone/zip code/present century and immerse yourself in diverse voices.

Other than that, keep writing. The more you write, the better you’ll write. And the more you read, the better you’ll know what to write and what not to write. (That sounds a bit like I’m saying you’ll encounter bad writing. That’s not what I mean. What I mean is this: The more you encounter the beliefs and ideas of others, the more you come to understand the human condition. Your writing will begin to reflect what it is to be human. And when you can write about that, I suspect you’ll be creating powerful pieces.)

Thank you so much for coming to the blog today, Lindsay! Can’t wait to read your next book!

 

COVER REVEAL: CHAMELEON, by K. T. Hanna

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Hi everyone! I am very excited to be part of the awesome K. T. Hanna’s cover reveal for CHAMELEON, her thrilling YA sci-fi novel. She is a talented writer and a great friend. Keep reading for a bit more about the book, the jaw-droppingly beautiful cover and a giveaway for Amazon Gift Cards!

Chameleon (The Domino Project #1) is a YA futuristic science fiction story. It’s set in the wasteland of earth after a meteor shower devastates landmasses, makes seas rise, introduces the psionic gene into the human race, damages the atmosphere, and gives the gift of an alien parasite to the world.

The goodreads blurb is as follows:

After Sai’s newly awoken psionic power accidentally destroys her apartment complex, she’s thrown into an intensive training program. The only grades are pass or die.

Surviving means proving her continued existence isn’t a mistake–a task her new mentor, Bastian, takes personally. Her abilities place her in the GNW Enforcer division, which partners her with Domino 12, who is eerily human for an alien-parasite and psionic hybrid. When her assassination duties are revealed, Sai understands the real reason for her training.

On a mission to dispatch a dangerous Exiled scientist, she uncovers truths she never thought possible. Sai is unsure who to trust as her next mission might be her last, and a double agent seems to be manipulating both sides.

Without further ado – here is the cover, by the amazingly talented S.P. McConnell.

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It’s finally here!!!

CHAMELEON Domino Project Front with Text 2

Isn’t it GORGEOUS!?!?!

Sit back and bask in this for a moment.

You good? Okay, now go  preorder for a special price of $2.99 from Amazon! (Click on the icon below)

Amazon Link

About the Author

Me

KT Hanna has a love for words so extreme, a single word can spark entire worlds.

Born in Australia, she met her husband in a computer game, moved to the U.S.A. and went into culture shock. Bonus? Not as many creatures specifically out to kill you.

When she’s not writing, she freelance edits for Chimera Editing, interns for a NYC Agency, and chases her daughter, husband, corgi, and cat. No, she doesn’t sleep. She is entirely powered by the number 2, caffeine, and beef jerky.

Note: Still searching for her Tardis

Celebration!

To celebrate, we’re giving away 2 x $10 Amazon e-gift cards (open to anyone who can receive and use an Amazon e-card) Just click on as many options as you like and enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We are stronger than our insecurities.

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A long, long time ago, I promised a post on self-doubt, and how to overcome it. I asked you lovely readers to open up about your fears and worries in the creative world.

And you did. I learned so much from all you, everyone from writes who have never let another person read their story, to published authors working on multi-book deals. Everyone faced very similar fears. Don’t believe me? Check out the word cloud below. Those words showed up in the majority of fears, regardless of “success level.”

wordle

No matter the specifics of the fears, (will anyone like it? will anyone buy it? will I ever make money from it? will I ever find friends?) all the fears came, like many do, from a place of…well, insecurity.

I say that, not out of spite at all. I’m one of you. I’m a ball of insecurity and fears, never sure if I’m enough, if my words are good enough, my jokes are funny enough, my friends like me enough. Every fear you’ve felt, so have I, and so has the rest of the community. Maybe that’s why we’re driven to be creative. We’re looking for “enough.” We’re trying to create something we’re lacking. Maybe that’s why we play gossip games on Twitter, or start cliques. Not because we’re mean, but we’re scared and alone, lashing out like a cornered cat. We’re so sure we will never be enough that we turn our fear on our own creative works, bashing them and calling them stupid.

Here’s the thing. You are enough.

Say it with me.

You are enough.

In your worse moments, when it seems like everyone’s doing better than you, or that you’ll never catch up, that you’ll never have a good day again, or learn the skill to take the work to the next level, say that little phrase. You are enough.

Our business can be a cruel one. It’s full of critiques and rejections.  Some can be helpful. Some can be hurtful. We’re surrounded by our creative idols, whose books fill our shelves, and successes our dreams, and some days it seems like we’ll never be half as talented as them.

Here’s the thing. Your art may always be incomplete, but you are not.

You are complete. You are enough. and WE (notice that word was missing from the word chart) are all in this together. WE can help each other. WE can drive away fears and insecurities together.

We are all enough. Our art is good art. We’ve got this.

❤