BIG NEWS! I’m Now A Full Time Writer Now!

 

OMG OMG OMG! I’m so excited and nervous, I can hardly breathe….

Okay… taking a deep breath….

In a nutshell: I’ve decided to become a full-time author!

There, I’ve said it. You have no idea how incredible it feels for me to write those words! Or how long I’ve dreamt of such a thing.

Some context for my decision:

As many of you know, I was laid off from my job as a manager in a biotech corporation back in August of 2025, one of many waves of layoffs from that company, sweeping out thousands of employees over last year and this year. I was with that company for 26 years! Unemployment payments stopped after six months. After that (and really during it), I’ve been living on the severance pay I got and whatever I had in savings. It’s been painful watching my bank account decrease despite every cost-cutting measure I could come up with, including going to food pantries and whatnot. It’s been nine months now, with little hope for things changing for me.

The layoff is thanks to the current president drastically slashing funding to science and medicine, which impacted academic customers that my company, and most biotechs, rely on to buy their products. The company is floundering. This is true for most biotech companies, academic labs, science non-profits, and related companies. Some companies are folding. Most are cutting back drastically, hoping to survive until things turn around (which likely won’t be until a Democrat is back in the presidency).

Since then I’ve applied to 120 job announcements, all of which I’m qualified for, which drew upon my background doing science lab work, technical support, technical writing, or management. You’d think with two degrees and 28 years of post-graduate experience over many roles, I’d be imminently hirable. Despite tailoring every resumé to the job announcements, getting advice from recruiters, and being on every major job board on an almost daily basis, I’ve only managed 7 recruiter interviews – all rejected. Only half of the jobs I’ve applied to have gotten back to me (with rejections). And AI has made the entire process stupider. Since every other science company is hurting, there aren’t many jobs to apply to, and they get hundreds of applicants for each position. Combine this with a high unemployment rate, inflation, tariff effects, and AI taking over many white-collar jobs, the outlook for getting hired is very, very bleak.

BUT…. I have a sizeable 401K. I’ve consulted with a financial advisor several times. There’s this thing called Rule 72(t), which will allow me to withdraw it, penalty-free (but taxed as income), over the next five years in regular, monthly payouts. This will be just barely enough over the year, combined with my other income streams, to make the minimum I need to meet my financial needs.

Am I nervous? Hell yes! And what will I have to fall back on when I’m old? Between now and then, I’ll just have to build my author empire big enough to meet my financial needs.

At the same time, I’m incredibly jubilant!

Finally liberated from the corporate workaday life, endless meetings, and being under some manager’s thumb, I am now free to pursue my author activities! I’m my own boss, with all the concerns that go along with that.

In addition to writing more books (and I have soooo many books in my head yet to write!), which I’ll have more time for now, I have income from the great number of author events I do all year (and time for more!), income from online sales, income from my publisher (GladEye Press), and income from the author services I provide to other authors. I also have a part-time job doing data entry for the University of Oregon (with special thanks to my friend, Vicki, who hired me for that).

And if I don’t earn enough? There’s nothing to stop me from taking another job if, gods forbid, this decision doesn’t work out for me. Maybe I’ll land an additional part-time gig doing editing or technical writing.

I’m seriously shaking right now. Here I go!

Please wish me well as I move forward with this. And if you want to help me in this new era of my life, please buy my books, request that your local bookstores and libraries carry them, or contribute to my Ko-Fi page.

 

Cheers and happy reading!

I Just Took Author Event Participation To A Whole New Level

OMG. I can't believe I did this.

Looking at last year's income from writing, I realized that I made TEN TIMES more income from doing in-person table sales at events than I did from sales of my books on Amazon or through my publisher combined. 

Unfortunately, I'm limited to only as far as I can comfortably drive to and from events. That's because the moment I pay for a hotel room, I've spent at least as much as I can earn in a given day of events. Often much more than what I earn, in fact.

So... I went all in and purchased a camper van. This way I can simply camp at or near the event! Plus, a camper van would have lots of space to all the stuff I need, like boxes of books, table, chair, pop-up canopy, and decorative backdrops.

Here it is:

It's a really cute little Japanese camper van. Literally imported from Japan, with the driver's side on the right side of the vehicle and Japanese language printed inside! It's pretty old (from 1995), but is lightly used, clean, and has lots of new parts on it. It's a Toyota Hiace "Royal J." And it's super fun to drive. It has back seats that fold down into a full size bed, plus an upper loft that can be pulled out into a sleeping area (or storage), and a neat little kitchenette in back. There's even a canopy that comes out to cover the sliding door area.

I put it into action today, in fact, driving to the first of two days of the Spring Into Reading Author Fair in the little town of Canby, Oregon.

I've also begun signing up for events throughout the year, ranging as far north in Washington state as events in Seattle and Puget Sound, as far south as Sacramento, California, and as far east as Boise, Idaho. 

And if there are any weekends left after all that? I plan to go camping in the woods with it. :D

Is it worth the $15,600 I paid for it? I'm certain of it. It should pay for itself in extra book sales after only a few years, if I do this right.

Cheers and happy reading!

Should You Get A Writing Coach?

You want to write the best book you can, but there’s so much to learn. Can a writing coach help you? Keep reading….

Image by John Schonobrich from Unsplash

Writing a book isn’t just about putting words on paper. Congratulations if you’ve gotten that far. Really. I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who say "I've got this great idea for a book," but never seriously tried to write. 

But there’s so much more to it. And I’m not even talking about spelling, grammar, sentence structure, plot, characters, and all of the “craft” of writing. We will assume for the moment that you’ve taken English classes and a good creative writing class. What comes next?

This is where you need a writing coach. There’s a lot they don’t teach you in that creative writing class when it actually comes to the business of being an author. Here are just a few of the basic questions they could help you with:

• What program or app is best to use? Microsoft Word? Google Docs? Scrivener? The days of simply writing on a pad of paper or a manual typewriter are long gone. You have to get those words into a digital format.
• How do you manage your writing time? We have busy lives, after all. Most writers still have day jobs. Many of us have children to raise and households to run. We have active lives. Where can you fit in writing time?
• Should you make an outline? What does that even entail? There are different kinds of outlines. Which is best for your kind of book?
• How do you find an experienced editor?
• How do you query a book to get an agent or publisher?
• Do you need an author webpage? How would you go about doing it?
• What sort of social media sites should you have an author page on?
• How does one promote or market a book after it’s finished? Will the publisher take care of that? What if you self-publish?
• Should you join a writer’s group?
• How do you go about designing a book cover and image?
• Should you self-publish? Or should you try to get published traditionally?
• Should you have a writer’s blog?
• What sort of writer events should you do after publishing? Book fairs? Author tables? Public readings?
• How do you handle the finances? Do you report book sales on your taxes?

 

And there’s so much more. When you stop to think about it, really think about it, the actual writing of your book is just a portion of the overall picture of your writing journey. And if you want to make a living from your writing, especially if you self-publish, then you need to learn how to make it a business and wear many hats. It can be a bit dizzying.

Enter the writing coach.

A good writing coach can bring order to the chaos, step you through the process, and help you build a good foundation to build on. You can’t be expected to know it all. They can lend their experience and organizational tools. They can answer the questions I posed above.

Like any other professional, they should be paid for their service, and this would be negotiated with them. But I assure you, it is worth paying for.

Recently I had the opportunity to be a writing coach for two different authors.

One is an author who has published a book and who has been in my writing group for years. Our group recently moved to being all-virtual, and she needed help understanding how to use the technology, namely using the virtual meeting app (Discord), uploading and downloading manuscripts from Google Docs, and how to leave comments on the virtual copy of a manuscript. We had several virtual sessions, and one in-person session, each about an hour long. I believe she now understands how to do these things, giving her the ability to continue benefiting and contributing as a member of our writing group.

The other person I coached is a beginning writer who has a great book idea (an autobiography with a bit of self-help added in), and she has a very compelling life to learn about – and learn from. But she needed help understanding how to outline the book, how to structure the sort of book she wants to write, how to do voice-to-text in different writing programs, and some general information about the business of publishing and marketing books. We had a phone session for about an hour and a half, and then an in-person session of about four hours. I really enjoyed sharing my knowledge, and I believe she feels better about the processes we talked about and more confident about proceeding.

And I’ve had a coach, too. Well, sort of: she’s a life coach, actually, not a writing coach. I needed help from Danielle for a very specific goal: to help me better organize my writing time each week. Over several sessions, we hammered out a weekly schedule and realistic expectations for my writing time and activities each day, then she followed up with me on a regular basis to measure my progress. As a result, I’ve doubled my efficiency. Despite working 50 hours a week and leading a very active life, I’m churning out at least a chapter a week, I’m blogging regularly again, and still finding time for all my marketing and promotional efforts.

And yes, just for the record, I would love to do it again. If you would like to hire me as a writing mentor, contact me.

How do you find a writing coach?

• Start locally. If you know some experienced authors, don’t be afraid to approach them and ask if they could help you as a writing coach, or if they know someone.
• Local writing organizations can be found in most regions and states and you can ask them if they have a listing.
• Online service sites, such as Fiverr.com, will have listings by professionals who are offering their services. Search for “writing coach.”
• Or contact me!

What qualities should you look for in a writing coach?

• Experience: They should have several publications, preferably of the sort of genre you are wanting to publish. Or they should have experience in the business of editing and publishing.
• References: They should come well-recommended.
• Cost: Negotiate a fee for their service that you are comfortable with. A typical range can be between $20–100/hr (I charge $30/hr) and may depend on the package deal
• Services: What sort of services do they offer? Can they help you with the questions you are needing answered? Do they do editing too? Do they offer different packages?
• Scheduling: Can they meet virtually, or in person? Can they work with your schedule?

 

Writing can be a solitary activity, with just you and your words, but it doesn’t have to be. In addition to writer’s groups and writing organizations, a writing coach can be another option to help you in your writing journey. I urge you to consider their help.

 

Cheers and happy reading!

Want To Take Part In Author Book Fairs? Here’s How.

Are you a writer who has published at least one book and are looking to get some exposure to potential readers and make some sales? Then taking part in a local book fair is something you’ll want to look into! I love interacting with other readers and writers, so I jump at every chance I get to take part in author book fair events as one of the authors. Last year I took part in four book fair events, including events that were part of the county fair, the state fair, a holiday market, and a book festival. I expect to do more than that this year.

WHAT IS AN AUTHOR BOOK FAIR?

Author book fairs are events where published authors set up tables to display and sell their books and to interact with potential readers. Count me in!

Typically the venue will have a large room or event hall where tables are set up and each author will get a table (sometimes, two authors per table), at convention centers, community centers, senior centers, or libraries. Sometimes the event is shared with artists. Sometimes the author portion is part of a larger event, such as a fair or holiday festival. I’ve seen these events as small as a couple of authors or as large as fifty.

The events are most often sponsored by local libraries (or library leagues), writer organizations or coalitions, or simply very organized individual authors who have done this a lot. Once in a while they are put on by local businesses that cater to readers, such as bookstores, coffee shops, or wineries. Sometimes they are part of a fundraiser (such as for the local library).

Usually there is a small fee to take part in the event, and sometimes I have to drive a fair way to get to them, but it’s worth it. I make more from book fair events each year than I do from Amazon book sales.

BE PREPARED TO TALK TO PEOPLE

It goes without saying that if you’re engaging the public and trying to sell your books as a writer, you’re going to have to talk to potential readers. They are customers, so you need to be a salesperson. Be your own advocate. And sometimes you’ll meet people who have long wanted to write and publish their own books and want to ask you about the process and how you got to the point you’re at.

If you’re really shy or have anxiety about meeting people, maybe a table event isn’t for you. I’m a bit odd in that I love public speaking. Over the years I’ve become a bit of an extravert, so it delights me when people walk up to my table and ask me about my books. Public speaking is the number one phobia (glossophobia) behind the fear of death, so if you have such a fear, you’re in good company. Somewhere around 75% of the population shares your fear. Sitting at a table isn’t exactly “public speaking” in that you’re not standing on a stage or giving a presentation, but you do need to advocate for yourself and entertain a little bit, too (such as by relating a scene from your book or talking about the process).

And, remember, you’re competing for their attention against a room full of other authors. You want to draw customers in by smiling at them and engaging with them as they step by. Often I’ll meet their eyes and say, “Hi! What do you like to read?” If they like the sort of thing I’ve published, I’ll say, “Oh, then maybe you’d like this book….”

HAVE A QUICK BLURB OF YOUR BOOK(S)

“What’s your book about?” is the most common question you’ll get. It’s also a question that many authors dread. How do you sum up a 100,000 word novel (or longer!) into a blurb that’s only a few sentences long? After all, you’ve got a masterpiece with complex characters and multiple subplots. I’ll admit, it ain’t easy. But you have to conquer that challenge anyhow in order to write a query letter to an agent or publisher, put text on the back of your book cover, or describe the book on the Amazon book page, so you might as well make it happen. This isn’t a synopsis (which describes the entire book and is a spoiler). No, this is a fast ad for your work.

Here's an example I tell people when they ask me about my fantasy novel, Dragon of the Federation:

Have you ever read a fantasy book told from the point of view of the dragon? A young female mage travels to see an ancient gold dragon who rules over a land of humans. She wants to warn him that the gods are angry and seeks to find out why. While she’s at the dragon’s palace, a visiting elvish prince is assassinated by one of the prince’s own guards. Meanwhile, a war is brewing with a neighboring civilization, threatening the security of the land. Sensing a link between these things, the dragon and the mage team up to investigate, uncovering a conspiracy to unleash arcane gods upon the land. If they fail to stop the scheme, control of the world’s magic could be lost forever.

There are lots of online pages and videos that will help you write (or say) a great book blurb, but your overall goal is to impel the reader to pick up your book to read more and hopefully purchase it from you.

They’ll have other questions, too. “Where do you get your ideas?” a customer might ask. Or “How long have you been writing?” Are you ready to answer those?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING WITH YOU?

What do you need to bring with you for your event? Here is a list of what I bring:

• Books. Obviously you need copies of your books to sell. But how many? Have enough to sell at least a couple copies of each book per hour. Bring more than you think you may need. I keep a box of extra copies in my car, even, in case I sell out. Plan ahead of time how you’ll set up your books. You want them to be neatly organized, and you may not get a lot of room on your table (or even your HALF of the table sometimes).
• Tablecloth. Some events will provide a tablecloth for you. Others won’t. It’s a good idea to bring your own, just in case. Mine is purple, which is eye-catching.
• Folding table. Most events will provide a table for you. Some will make you pay for a table. A few will make you bring your own. Check beforehand with the organizer!
• Money for making change. Not everyone carries coins or dollar bills, or enough of them anyway. I price all my books in increments of $5 so I don’t have to carry around dollar bills or loose change. In any case, be prepared in case someone hands you a large bill to pay for that book of yours.
• Credit card reader. I’ve found that over half of the people I sell to want to pay by credit card. So you’ll want to download a commerce app on your phone and have a card reader that goes with it. I use Square, which has an easy app and will give you a card slider that plugs into your phone for free. You can also use the “tap” function on many phones and readers. I’m always surprised by writers who aren’t prepared to take credit cards. They miss out on sales because of it!
• Cell phone. If you have a card reader, you’ll need an app to go with it. Some customers also might want to pay with Venmo or PayPal, too, so be prepared. There are a surprising number of authors who don’t use cell phone money apps (I’m sorry to stereotype, but it’s usually the elderly authors who have the hardest time understanding how to use those). It’s a good idea to bring a charging cable and plug, or an external battery pack, so your phone doesn’t run out of juice during the event. Also, don’t be tempted to play on your phone during the event or constantly check it for messages. People will just walk by if they think you’re occupied or distracted.
• Promotional signage. You’re marketing your books, and signage is important for that! I have a table banner with my logo and striking pictures of my books that hangs on the table. I also have a couple of signs in holders on the table (one advertising my website, and another announcing my coming books), as well as copies of a special flyer to advertise my “quick read” stories sold on Amazon. There are websites that specialize in making such signage, such as Vistaprint, or office supply stores and sites.
• Price list. Make sure to show how much your books cost. Maybe you could even advertise a deal? For instance, if you have more than one title for sale, maybe you’ll offer them $5 off if they purchase one of each?
• Pens. People love it when authors sign their books! So bring a couple pens so you can do that. And be sure to ask “Would you like me to sign that for you?” when they make a purchase, and ask if they want it made out to them or to someone special. Make sure the pens are working beforehand and have nice, thick lines. Some people sign with fine-tipped Sharpie markers. I use new gel pens.
• Business cards. Be professional and have some business cards in a special holder. Many readers won’t want to buy your book right away. Or maybe they want your website. Or perhaps they don’t want the print version but prefer the Kindle ebook version and need a link. So have a good business card they can take with them that has all of that information. I even stick a business card into every copy of my books that I sell.
• Swag. Have something to give away to people who come by your table. Maybe a dish of free hard candies or chocolates. How about a specially-printed bookmark that has information about your books and webpage? Maybe some pens to hand out (with your logo and website printed on them, perhaps)?
• Bags. Have bags ready to hand to people. Most authors don’t do this, but I’ve found that customers love having a bag to carry your book and the other books they bought. I have bags that have my logo and website printed on them! They aren’t that expensive when you buy them in bulk. (HERE is the one I buy from Amazon). A few events will provide a bag to customers.
• Food and drink. These events often last all day, and you want to minimize how much you leave your table. Some events have food venders, but I bring with me something to drink (a couple sodas or water bottles) and food (usually a sandwich and a couple snacks). Don’t bring anything messy, though. Don’t want to get stains on your books!
• Hand cart. All that stuff, above, fits in about three boxes. That’s a lot to carry! And maybe you can’t park right at the door of the venue. So I bring a folding, wheeled hand cart to carry it all.

HOW DO YOU SIGN UP FOR A TABLE?

Don’t know how to get a table at an author book fair? Here are some suggestions:

• Go to an event. I mean, you’re interested in going anyway, right? Because books! When you go there, ask to talk to the organizer. It might be too late to get a table this year, but how about for next year? Or maybe they run several events a year.
• Inquire at a venue. Contact the event center and ask if they have an author event and, if so, if they can put you in touch with the organizer.
• Ask your local writer’s organization. Chances are the writer’s organization in your area sponsors events or has lists of events, with contact information for the organizers.
• Contact your library or bookstores. Libraries and bookstores are in touch with the local book scene. They advertise events. They might even sponsor one themselves. They can put you in touch with the organizer.
• Ask more experienced authors. Chances are the more experienced authors in your area have taken part in these events. They can tell you who to contact.
• Plan your own. Obviously this is a more daunting option, since organizing events is a skill set that many people don’t have. But it is do-able. And if you partner with a local writer’s organization, venue, and/or sponsors, you might just find others who have more experience and can help you.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Regardless of the size of the event or the venue, I think you’ll find it very rewarding to have a table at an author book fair. Not just because of the revenue you can generate by selling your books, or even the chance to find more readers, but because you get to meet new readers, network with other writers, and get experience in the “writer scene” to build your writing career (or hobby, however you see it). Writing isn’t just about putting words on paper, after all. There’s a LOT more to it when you get to the point of publishing. Enjoy the experience!

Cheers and happy reading!

I Want To Write Full Time

I have a day job, but like so many other writers, I dream of one day writing full time and making enough to make a living at it.

It’s a dream shared by so many other creative people out there: artists, musicians, dancers, poets. Our creativity is part of our core being. As we go about our daily drudgery, our minds often go to our work in progress (WIP) or our next big idea.

Don’t get me wrong. I actually enjoy my day job and the people I work with. I earned two higher degrees for it. And after that, I’ve worked hard at my career as a scientist for almost three decades since then, through hard times and good times. I now make enough to live reasonably well. I’m not hurting.

And yet, writing is in my blood. Every still moment, my mind goes back to my books. Coming up with the next plot point while waiting in the doctor’s office. Visualizing the action during a break at work. Hearing the dialogue as I make some tea. Thinking up ideas while in the shower. All day long, I feel an irresistible urge to be back at my writing desk to bring it all to life on the page.

But I have to bring in the money. I can’t make enough of a living on my writing yet to even live modestly. Not yet. I still have a family to pay for. Too many bills to pay.

After self-publishing four books on Amazon, I’ve recently signed with a small press, GladEye Press. They will cover the editing costs, cover image art, and maybe a bit of marketing, so that I can focus on the writing part and not have to shell out money ahead of time. They will also help get my print books distributed to brick and mortar bookstores. They take a massive chunk of my royalties for these services, but if distribution is significantly higher than what I was currently selling, it’ll pay for itself and more, and we both profit. They are in the process of republishing each of my books with their brand, and this spring will publish my fifth book, Footman of the Ether (a sequel to my fantasy novel, Dragon of the Federation).

Related blog post: Before signing with GladEye, here’s why I self-published.

There was a time, up to a couple generations ago, when it was expected that an author would only publish one book a year, and it was enough to make a living on. Publishers would actually limit authors to only one book a year (this is why Stephen King took the pen name of Richard Bachman, in fact, so that he could publish more often). Now, the expectation is at least three a year, and the author has to do much of the publicity themselves (unless you are big name, of course). If you don’t already have a huge following on all the social media channels to do that, agents and publishers won’t give you the time of day, much less actually pay attention to your query letters or read your submitted work. Trust me. I spent more than a decade playing that game before I self-published. I feel lucky to get accepted by GladEye Press, frankly. If you still want to self-publish, you’re going to have to publish a dozen books, do everything yourself (or pay for others to do them for you), and have side gigs (such as editing or tutoring) before you can maybe earn enough.

I don’t say this to dissuade anyone from hoping for one day being a full time writer, even if self-published. There are lots of writers who have make it. I’m just being realistic. Like entering any other career, you always start at the bottom and have to overcome obstacles, train hard, and work even harder. Just don’t expect to live like a (Stephen) king!

As for me, I have a plan. It may be too ambitious, I admit. But in three years, my financial responsibilities will lighten. Then, if all goes well, I’ll quit my day job, sell my house and most of my belongings, and move to a cheaper area to live in. I’ll live a more modest lifestyle, too. By then I should have at least 3-5 more books published, bringing in royalties. Maybe … just maybe … I’ll be able to make enough to live a modest lifestyle with a roof over my head and enough food on the table.

Is it a pipe dream? We’ll see. But I’m clinging to it with one hand and a pen with the other.

Is it your dream too? Let’s help each other make it happen.

Cheers and happy reading.

Sometimes life gets in the way of writing. It's okay.

One of the "rules" of writing you hear over and over is that you have to write every day. I'm here to tell you that it isn't always a possibility. And that's okay.

Any writer who feels bold enough to pronounce "rules" of any type is, I think, a bit full of shit. Some of the greatest writers in history made their mark precisely by breaking the rules. But the "rule" of writing every day is one that is repeated all the way from bestselling authors to unpublished writers aspiring to be like those gurus.

Stephen King, for instance, in his much-lauded book, On Writing, prescribes that you write at least 1000 words a day at least six days a week. Well good for him, but remember that he is a full-time author who makes buckets of money at it. I’ve found that a lot of writers who hand out this advice, particularly if they declare you should write X thousand words/day or some number of hours every day, are actually full time writers.

Yes, if you are committed to writing as a career or are serious about putting words on paper and getting it into the hands of readers, then you should write as regularly as possible and as much as your muse can manage. But let's get real, okay? We're human and most of us who write are not full-time writers. We have messy lives. We have kids to raise. We have dayjobs (sometimes more than one) demanding our full attention. We have groceries to shop for, lawns to mow, friends and family to nurture. And gods forbid we actually want a little "me" time just to entertain ourselves with a movie or a good book. After all, you HAVE to be in touch with your life and your culture or your own writing will seem less “real.”

Lives are messy. I'm no exception. After I finished my second novel, I actually stopped writing fiction for over eight years as I raised two special needs babies and worked a career. I found other outlets (blogging and job-related writing), but trying to write quality fiction while exhausted, in maybe 15-minute increments, was simply not do-able. Eventually my kids became a bit more self-sufficient and my dayjob calmed down, and I found myself with enough time and energy to get back to my fiction. It was such a relief to finally exercise that part of my identity! That was several years ago. Happily, I'm back at it.

These days, I'm hitting it harder, with lots of projects coming together in rewarding ways. I find much more time now for writing, editing, and marketing my books. But LIFE is still messy. I'm just coming out of a divorce. I'm buying a house. I'm having kid issues. I'm preparing for a move. And, let's not forget, we're all in the middle of a worldwide pandemic while socially isolating and, at least in my case, working from home for the dayjob. Throw in there a surprise (!) root canal the other day, too. Whew! That's a hell of a lot to deal with!

Many of you reading this may have similar craziness in your lives. It's okay. Really. It's okay.

And if you feel you need permission to attend to life and write later, here it is: You have permission to write when you can, whenever or for however long that may be. We'll wait. It'll be brilliant, because you'll be able to focus better knowing that your life's basic needs are also being met.

And the silver lining? All those crazy things in our lives will color our writing, too. Life experience is the number one best thing to bring your writing to life. It pops up in unexpected ways, breathing essence into your characters and the way they deal with their own lives. And because our readers are human and have crazy lives, too, they can relate better to your writing as a result.

I know your keyboard is calling to you. But go ahead and deal with your car appointment or child's recital or your work report, or whatever. The words will come when you get that chance. Your mind will be clearer. And we'll eagerly await to read what comes out of it!

Cheers and happy writing!

My Review of The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey

The Unstrung Harp by Edward Gorey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Poor Mr. Earbrass, facing the eccentricities and foibles of the creative process that all of us writers must endure, the endless editing, and the excruciating process of getting published!

This little book is a delight and a must-read for anyone who loves books or, particularly, is involved in making them. Gorey's illustrations are delightful, and though this is a quick read and an old-style writing (as is the setting), his wit is spot-on. Perhaps my favorite part is when he is nearing the end of his creation, where "the characters have one and all become thoroughly tiresome, as though he had been trapped at the same party with them since the day before; neglected sections of the plot loom on every hand, waiting to be disposed of; his verbs seem to have withered away and his adjectives to be proliferating past control."

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Cheers and happy reading!

10 Cheesy Pick-Up Lines for Writers

There's one in very nightclub. You know the type. That creepy pick-up artist who eyes you from across the bar, cocktail in hand, then sidles up to you, looks you up and down, and says .... 

(Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash)

But no, lose the nightclub. Now you're in a cafe next to a bookstore. And everything about you says "WRITER." That introverted way about you. Glasses. Unassuming clothes. And, of course, an open book or laptop next to your pumpkin spice latte.

And up walks another writer, but instead of a cocktail in his hand it's a cappuccino, and in the other a copy of something pretension enough to worthy deep discussion. Maybe Tolstoy. Maybe The New Yorker. He's got a man bun and an ironic but neatly trimmed beard. A real hipster. The sort who boasts about his Great American Novel but is still searching for that bit of inspiration to get it started.

Then he invites himself to sit at your table, looks you up and down, and says...


10. "I like the curves of your story arc, baby."

9. "This is one conjugation guaranteed to make you comma." 

8. “You’re my climax.” 

7. "If you show, I won't tell."

6. "Ooh! I haven't seen a 'plot' that big since War and Peace."

5. "I've got some Great Expectations for you, with an Oliver Twist!"

4. "I'm plotting a way into your heart."

3. "Wanna see where I put my apostrophe?"

2. "How about we start with some foreshadowing?"

1. "Hey, girl, wanna see what's between my covers?"

and a bonus!

"Baby, if you were words on a page, you’d be fiiine print."

Do you have another great "writer pick-up line" to contribute? Leave a comment!

Cheers and happy reading!

Writing is in my blood

One question that writers sometimes get is: "Where do you think your love of writing comes from?"

I think a passionate writer might reply, "Where do you think your love of breathing comes from?" For me, writing isn't a silly little hobby to while away the still moments. I don't do it to humor anyone. No one makes me do it. And though I hope to make a living from it one day soon (and quit my day job!), I would still continue writing even if I had no hope of ever making a dollar from it. I HAVE to write, like any other devoted creator or artist (If you have a writer or artist close to you, this is an important thing for you to realize!). One way or another, I have always found an outlet for it. I published my first poem in the local paper in first grade, and wrote my first fiction story at age 10. 

Even so, I could also answer, "Writing is in my blood." You see, I come from a couple generations of writers. 

Books by my mom (now Bobbie Taylor)
and dad (Ray Kilgore)

My father, Albert Ray Kilgore (he went by "Ray"), spent his life studying philosophy. Though he died in a plane crash when I was three years old, he had written a book, The Fire of Heracleitus, which my mother self-published for him just after he died. This relatively short book follows a character, named Heracleitus, as he first renounces the world he knew and retreats to a mountain cave to probe his own mind in solitude. Then, upon reaching an enlightened state, he goes back to his people to share his enlightenment. Interspersed with poetry, the philosophies are part Pyrrhonistic observations of the the changing world, the death and rebirth of both your sense of self and the world around you into something better, and part Libertarian virtues about improving oneself without interference from those who would put up obstacles to it. I have to admit, having only studied the basics of philosophy in college, a lot of it surely goes over my head. As my Dad wrote in the preface page, "This little book, written during the winter of 1959, incorporates most of the philosophical ideas of my youth." He also published several magazine articles on flying and about a Western ghost town.

My mother, Bobbie Taylor, is also a writer. Throughout her life she has loved New Age philosophies and alternative explanations for the world. When I was a late teen, she was laid off from her career in banking. To make ends meet for a while, she pursued self-employment in digging and wholesale selling of quartz crystals (we lived in Arkansas at the time, where quartz crystals are mined). But she didn't feel they were just pretty semi-precious stones. She believes that quartz crystals and other such gemstones hold special properties. So she wrote and self-published an 11-page booklet entitled Crystal - The New Frontier about those special properties. In her words, from the forward in the book, "crystal is a tool we may use to amplify and focus our own mental and spiritual abilities." She also published a bit of poetry and a couple magazine articles on crystals and recipes.

Along the same New Age line of thinking, my mother has also believed that the prophesies of Nostradamus hold important information, if only they could be correctly interpreted and ordered. It took a couple decades of her working at it and studying Nostradamus's quatrains, but in 2004 she wrote up what she had learned and self-published, online, a book entitled, Nostradamus and His Prophecy Puzzle, It's Never Been Solved. If the topic interests you, and you think you might be able to build upon her findings to finish decoding his riddles, I invite you to download her book for free online HERE.

And then there's my maternal grandmother, Verna Lee Hinegardner. Grandma was a poet. In her lifetime she published 13 poetry books and chapbooks, some of which can be found for sale, used, on Amazon, and had her poetry included in many poetry anthologies. She was named by then-Governor Bill Clinton to the post of Poet Laureate of Arkansas, in 1991, which was supposed to be a lifetime post (though Governor Huckabee broke that tradition by naming another, much more Conservative poet to the position in 2003 over the objections of Arkansas poetry societies). Grandma served all sorts of positions with national and Arkansas state poetry societies. She invented a poetry form called the "minute" form. She won many, many awards, including being inducted into the Arkansas Writers Hall of Fame in 1991, and a $25K family reunion in 1985. And for 22 years she published a weekly poetry section, called "Kaleidoscope," in the local newspaper (the Sentinel-Record). One of her proudest accomplishments was that she delighted in judging poetry contests for children for over two decades. 

Thirteen poetry books and chapbooks
by my grandma, Verna Lee Hinegardner.

My Grandma inspires me not just from her accomplishments, but because of the obstacles she overcame. She had severe rheumatoid arthritis which caused a lot of pain. By the time I was in college, my Grandma's hands were gnarled looking with large knuckles, bruising, and swelling. It hurt for her to type, and handwriting was even harder. But even worse than this, she went through a series of serious strokes that nearly killed her, and she lost the ability to read! But against all odds, she taught herself to read again and continued writing poetry, publishing books, and both entering and judging contests. It was incredible. When times are bad for me and it's difficult to write, I just think about the inspiration of my Grandma, and then it doesn't seem so hard.

Not long before she passed away, Grandma was interviewed by a local paper, when she was 92 years old. ″My goal is simple,” she said. “I want to write poetry that is easy to understand and hard to forget.” And it was. Her poetry didn't mess around with highly experimental forms or delve deep into symbolism. It wasn't esoteric. You didn't leave her verses scratching your head and wondering what the hell she meant. No, her poetry was mainly about family, living in the South, and old-fashioned values. Most of it was warm. Much of it was funny. And all of it reverberated with her. HERE is a video of Grandma, from that interview, reading a spoof she wrote of one of Robert Frost's famous poems:



What about you? Does writing run in your family? Please leave a comment, below!

Cheers and happy reading!

Poll Results: What pet do writers like most?

Last weekend I ran a poll on Twitter. I honestly wondered if writers were more likely to like cats or dogs, or other things.

"Rocket" helping author
D.M. Cain with her
manuscript.

I posted it in the evening and didn't think much more about it.

The next day, I was doing my weekly Saturday morning coffee shop writing session and opened up Twitter during a break. Imagine my surprise when there were 850 votes and counting! By the time the poll closed on Sunday evening (I had set it for two days), there were a whopping 1,687 votes!

The result? See below. Cats won, but only by 8% over dogs, 47 to 39%.

It's fun to read through the replies. See it HERE. Lots of writers shared pics of their furry (or feathered, or scaled) friends.

This poll was international, but here in the United States, at least, households have 30.4% cats and 36.5% dogs (source). So it would seem that authors DO prefer cats, particularly compared to the typical ownership her in the U.S.!

What kind of pet(s) do you have? Please leave a comment, below.

Cheers and happy reading!