A Little Change

Hi, friends!

There's going to be a little change in my blogging routine. I've decided to post only once a week from now on. I've got so many things going on in my life right now that simplifying things is all I can do. This is something that I've been thinking about for a while. Now I'm implementing it. Sorry for being such a party pooper. haha I need time to do all the fickle things in life. Plus, I really need to allow for time to visit other blogs. I've been a serious flake in that area recently. My apologies. My sincerest apologies!

So, stop by on Wednesdays for posts. That's my new day for blogging fun!

It's interesting how when I started blogging I randomly posted. It could've been four times a week to maybe once every three weeks. Then, I realized I had to have some kind of order in the chaos. I started posting Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. After a while, I dropped my posting down to two days a week. Now, once a week.

But, alas, I'm still trying to be consistent. That's the thing with blogging, you need consistency so your followers know when to expect some brilliant (haha) posts from you. That's one thing I learned at a writing conference. So, dearest followers, stop by on Wednesdays for whatever I conjure up for posts.

Have you ever had to shave off a couple days from your weekly blogging routine? How have you decided how many days a week to blog? Or when you will post? 

I appreciate you all! Super Mwah!

Writing. Jewels.  

Month of July Goals

It's reporting times, folks. Yay and a few woots all around! Here's how I did with my Month of June Goals:

• Read The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare ---> Getting there...
• Complete an edit of my wip: BOUND ---> Super Check. Oh, I love this story
• Hand off BOUND to one more round of betas ---> I'm pretty confident with where it's at right now. I'll hand it off to my agent soon
• Beta a friend's book ---> I've started going through it
• Continue forward with my no sweets diet. ---> I went an entire 22 days without sweets as per my detox plan.
• Exercise three times a week ---> Check. I'd like to thank the gym facility where I work and having an hour long lunch break

Here are my Month of July Goals:

• Beta a couple books
• Start reading Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull 
• Continue exercising three days a week
• Only have one treat a week on Fridays
• Start the first draft of BOUND's sequel. I so can't wait

As always, I ask: what are your Month of July goals? You can voice your successes from last month as well.

Writing. Jewels.

Insecure Writer's Support Group: Battling the Storm Within

Here's to another lovely edition of the Insecure Writer's Support Group. I'm posted today instead of tomorrow due to the U.S.A Fourth of July holiday. Topic today ---> there's one thing that constantly gets in the way of my writing:

ME

Yep, you read correctly. Me. Me. Me. I think that might be a common connection between writers. Here are some reasons why I get in the way:

• I'm my own worst enemy
• Laziness 
• There's a storm brewing inside
• I get distracted
• Lack of motivation
• Writer's block
• Being overwhelemed

I'd like to focus on one of those items on my list. There's a storm brewing inside. For me the initial battle is getting myself sitting in front of the laptop with the Word document opened. I write when I get home from work or on Saturday. Now, folks, the last thing I want to do after a long day at work or on my weekend, is to work again. I get tired really easily, therefore, I can only do so much. But these are the only times I can really work on my writing.

When I arrive home, about 40% of me wants to relax, 40% wants to write, and 20% is giving me a guilt trip for not being productive. The tug-of-war continues until my mind feels like it will explode. If I choose to relax, at the end of the night I'll feel terrible. If I decide to turn on the laptop and work, I'll feel accomplished and happy with the results of a good nights writing/editing.
The trick is to get myself at the laptop. When I get home, I automatically get my laptop out and ready to go. I'll get dinner and then plug in earbuds and I'm off. It takes me a few minutes to get into the groove, but once the music drowns out the world and I'm invested in my story, I'm loving the process.

So, whatever gets in the way of your writing figure out a method to overcome it, then move forward. You can do this! Man, if I can, anyone can!

Do you get in the way of your writing? What are the things you battle with when it comes to writing? How do you conquer the sludge that keeps you from writing or progressing with your art with words?

Writing. Jewels.

And the Race with Words Begins


I can attribute my writing journey to one thing...

Le Tour de France

My dad is an avid cyclist. He introduced me to Le Tour de France years ago. He taught me the ins and outs of the tour. I guess I can say he has a major role in my love for writing, too. Bless the man's heart. Willingly, he reads everything that I write, be it during the first draft, editing, or revising stages. He catches typos and things that don't make sense. I think he's read my books more times than he probably would ever desire to. I love him for it, though.

All this does have a point, I assure you. LOL

So, Le Tour de France commences tomorrow. Of course, for the full three weeks of racing, I'll be watching it from the comforts of my room on Versus  (a sports tv station).

Three years ago, for my graduation-from-university-present-to-myself, I went to Paris, France. I saw the tours traditional last day as they rode onto Champs-Élysées (a main road in the gorgeous city). Yes, I saw the cyclists fly past me at least six or so times, and (*giggles*) witnessed one of my famous crushes, Lance Armstrong, as he zoomed past me, too. *Swoon*
Anyway, this trip, of which included an excursion down to Italy, brought about the idea for my first book, FÉLICITÉ FOUND. I know it's totally cliché, but I fell in love with Paris so much that when I came home I dreamed about it all the time. One of those dreams turned into an idea for a book. 

I feel so grateful and blessed that over a period of eleven years (+/-), I was led to Paris through my love of Le Tour de France and traveling. These experiences were the catalyst to commence my own race with words. Otherwise, I really don't think I'd be writing. 

Over the next three weeks, you'll know what's keeping me busy--watching some wicked awesome cyclists and maybe, just maybe, their ripped legs. *blushes* Oh, and beta'ing some books, too.

So, how did you start writing? What initially inspired your writing journey?

Writing. Jewels.

Do You Write What You Read/Like?

I'd like to think of myself as a prolific reader. I've ventured into many different genres (MG, YA, Adult, Suspense, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Dysopian, Fantasy, Paranormal, etc...). I enjoy everything from Brandon Mull to Stephenie Meyer to Dan Brown.
But, my favorite genre to feast upon is YA, more specifically anything with a fantastical or paranormal element. I like these books because they place me right smack in the thick of a different world. It's enjoyable to read different twists and takes on supernatural beings. I love to wrap my mind thoroughly into the realms of these stories. And I do. When I finish a book, I typically think about it for days afterward.

With all this said, I write what I read/like, at least in the YA arena. My first book is a YA Paranormal Romance. The one I'm editing is an Urban Fantasy. I've also got a few other ideas up my sleeve--a YA Dystopian, YA Sci-Fi, and another YA Paranormal Romance.

I could definitely never write a Contemporary piece of literature. People wouldn't get past the second page if I did. Writing something non-fiction would make me dig my eyes out with a spoon (no offence to non-fiction writers). I don't think I have it in me to write an Adult work because I adore being in teenagers minds far too much. That sounded weird, I know.

So, do you write what you read/like? Have you ever tried to write something that doesn't fall under your typical reads? How do you decide what genre you write?

Writing. Jewels.

Positive Affirmations

Yesterday, I was talking to a few people at the university I work at. We got on the subject of mathematics courses. In general, many people are or were (*coughs* me) terrified of the tricky subject. One of my coworkers said: "I hate math." Another employee instantly responded with: "Saying that, subconsciously, will condition you to really hate math. You will not succeed in the subject because of that negative self talk." I can't remember her exact wording, but in essence that was the gist.

I took this to heart, friends. As authors, it's a good practice to repeat positive affirmations to ourselves, even out loud. We are freaking amazing for taking this difficult road to write. Often times I fall prey to the negative talk about myself.

Anyway, it's time to throw all that negative junk in the garbage. We are good enough for whatever we do, be it writing, painting, needle pointing, cooking, parenting, sleeping... Well, you get the point.

Recently, I taped up signs around my bedroom and bathroom that say:

I am a New York Times Bestselling Author



I see this phrase no matter what direction I face in my little neck of the woods. I hope that subconsciously it will reinforce that my dream to achieve that very lofty goal WILL happen. It's all about being positive and keeping your eyes dead on your target, whatever it may be.

So, what are your goals? What kind of positive affirmations or positive self talk do you use to keep you going?

Writing. Jewels.