Monthly Archives: June 2019

Distractions!

You know you’re addicted when you get up at 5:30 in the morning to do what it is you’re addicted to.

Not writing. Gaming.

I’ll admit, City of Heroes’ reboot is my addiction; and it’s taking time away from writing. However, I am still writing on weekends, doing about a thousand words a weekend. That’s pretty sad, considering I used to write five thousand words on a weekend, no problem.

I have a book due, and I’m working on it with about four thousand words left to do (four chapters). I’ll buckle down next weekend, when I have a four-day weekend and no place to go.

Except Paragon City.

Qualifications

This past week, I’ve had the issue with my right eye bleeding and because of that, I’m having a hard time reading things. I look down, then up – and it looks like a lion’s tail is moving around in my vision.

Mostly I’ve been wondering if I’m qualified to give advice about writing. Real Magic for Writers is not just about magic, but about how you can improve your writing. In order for the magic to work, you need to be able to do the improvements.

I’m drawing on my 30-plus years of experience, both in magic and with writing. Is that enough to prove that I know what I’m talking about? I’m published, but I don’t have a ton of reviews; I have people that I read cards for, but I don’t have constant clients. Do I really know what I’m doing?

How do I prove it? Do you want to see my diploma from college, saying I have an English degree? Do you want me to read your cards for you? I can’t guarantee that Real Magic will work for you, but if you do the work, your writing can only be improved.

Pridefest

I participated as a vendor in our local Pride festival yesterday. I had to leave early because the wind was just insane, and the tent next to mine blew away. I took that as a sign.

I sold two books, though there were tons of people there. I really expected to sell more. I think I know what happened.

I didn’t advertise as an LBGTQ author or book. I advertised like I usually do, “I write magical fantasy, military fantasy, and erotica.” I was selling for a general audience, like I usually do, because there are a lot of conservative readers in this area. This event I needed to be much more progressive.

I would probably try again next year if we do it, but bring more weights for my tent.

It didn’t help that my right eye started bleeding behind the eye, causing floaters and a pink film over everything. I couldn’t see people clearly. As it is, I can’t see what I’m writing here so I hope I don’t misspell too much.

I don’t know if I’m going to do anymore outdoor events. I have one sceduled: The Loof in Riverside on August 10. I have to do that one alone because my son refuses to do any more outside events. Seeing the tent next to us get ripped away freaked him out.

August is a long way off, so we’ll just have to see.

The Secret – by the Muse

So while I was writing Real Magic for Writers, I realized that I stumbled upon what I call in the book “The Secret.” It’s not really a secret; it’s what most other writers say about how to write.

Sit down and write.

That’s the secret. Simple, huh?

I was talking to someone recently who gave me a detailed Steampunk story, and ended it by saying, “But I have to write it.”

Well, yeah!

At the risk of putting people off: You’re not a writer if you think about writing. You have to do the work.

That’s what the core of Real Magic is–doing the work. (I’ve just saved you the price of the book.) I only hope that the book is uplifting enough and helpful enough for others to follow.

It’s who you know

I did an author Meet and Greet with about 20 other authors at Woonsocket Harris Public Library. While most of the authors there didn’t seem to sell any, I sold three. One to a “fan” (I’ve got fans!); one to someone I hadn’t seen in a long time; and the third to one of the authors’ guests that I sat next to.

It seems that’s my base, people who have read the books and enjoyed them, and people that I know who want to try them out. Luckily, I go out to enough events that I get more fans than just family and friend. The “fan” told me she passed Grimaulkin on to her cousin. Who knows where it’ll go from there.