The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

September 10, 2014

The 40-Year Old Author

 

I don't know when it happened, exactly. Sometime between graduating high school, slinging pizzas at Pizza Hut, graduating college, getting my teaching job, getting married, going back to college to get my Masters, teaching some more, and becoming an author...suddenly, I've blinked, and I've turned the big 4-0. 

It's an odd feeling. I don't feel forty.  People say I don't look forty. And yet, when I subtract 1974 from 2014, that's the number I get.

Instead of feeling depressed about that number, I find that it's given me a sort of strength. I've spent the last forty years being a people-pleaser. A peacemaker. Doing things I felt like I "should" do instead of doing what I really wanted. Or what I needed. Worrying about what people thought of me to the point that it made me physically sick. But lately, I've noticed this particular phrase coming from my mouth quite a bit: 

"I'm almost forty years old, and I don't have to do that if I don't want to."

And it's awesome.

Breaking Bad is one of my favorite shows EVER (I'm so glad I waited until the series ended to binge watch it on Netflix). By the end of the series, Walter White is pretty terrible, but he said something that really resonated with me. Walt told his brother-in-law that he had spent his entire life being afraid of everything, but as soon as he was diagnosed with cancer, suddenly, he wasn't so afraid anymore. I remember thinking how sad his life must have been . . . that being told he had inoperable cancer was the one thing that made him feel at peace for the first time in his life. Granted, Walt took that peaceful, easy feeling and used it as an excuse to become a drug kingpin and murderer, but I found it interesting how such a grim diagnosis could give him such a sense of calm.

(Not that I'm comparing cancer to turning forty, but you know what I mean.)

I'd hate to think that it took something potentially life threatening to give me that confidence and sense of peace. And I would hate if, someday, when I'm breathing my last breath, someone asks me if I regret anything, and my answer is "Yes. I regret that I worried so much about stupid things that didn't matter."

So I'm hoping to use my forties as a time to smile more and worry less. To have confidence in myself and to accept that sometimes, good enough is good enough. To not put so much pressure on myself to make everybody happy. And to remember this:

Written by A2A Author and Contributor, Sydney Logan. Learn more about Sydney and her work at www.sydneylogan.com

 

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

T.M. Franklin on Netgalley

Author T.M. Franklin's books are available on Netgalley for a limited time! Don't miss this opportunity to check out the MORE trilogy for yourself!

MORE: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/19899
The Guardians: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/33310
TWELVE: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/show/id/51354

Jeanne McDonald has a new Preorder Available

Preorder Branded: A Bad Boys Anthology on Amazon today! http://www.amazon.com/Branded-Boys-Anthology-Jo-Matthews-ebook/dp/B00MYAL7QU

Sherri Hayes Book Sale

Author Sherri Hayes has books on sale on all sites for some seriously low prices! Take a look! Her newest work, Crossing the Line, is also available for preorder on Amazon, iBooks, Kobo, and TWCS!

 

Win a Signed Paperback

Author Sydney Logan is giving away two signed paperbacks of Soldier On! Register on her website for your chance to win! http://www.sydneylogan.com/2014/08/soldier-on-signed-paperback-giveaway.html

Wednesday's Weird Word

Abnormus

 Misshapen

Thank you for reading this edition of Author to Author's The Wednesday Word! Visit us again in two weeks for more news, savings, and giveaways to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word! Have a wonderful day!

The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

August 13, 2014

Are you ever self-conscious about what you write? 

This question was asked of me a couple of weeks ago at a book fair. I write contemporary romance and BDSM erotic romance, so this particular person was specifically asking about the sex I write in my books.

She went on to ask me if I would feel comfortable with my family reading what I wrote. The answer to that question is simple. Yes, I'm comfortable with my family reading my books. My mother and sister-in-law have read most of the books I've written.

Over the last three years, I've been asked these questions, and similar ones, regarding the genre I write. For a reason I'm still trying to wrap my head around, romance has this stigma attached to it. Granted there is some pretty racy stuff out there, but there are also sweet romances that contain no sex at all, and everything in between.

Romance is a genre that encompasses a huge variety of sub-genres and writing styles. At its heart, however, it is about relationships. Since when did love become that dirty word that can't be talked about?

Then again, it's not the love part some people have a problem with. It's the sex. Again, this confuses me. Most adults I know, especially those in romantic relationships, are having sex. It's human nature. So why is it taboo in books about the development of an adult relationship?

I'm not sure this stigma of the romance novel will ever completely go away. There will probably always be those who will look down their nose at the genre thinking it is inferior. It's not. There are romance authors that spend hours writing, revising, and editing the same as writers of any other genre. Writing is an art, no matter the genre.

 

Written by A2A Author and Contributor, Sherri Hayes. Learn more about Sherri on her website, www.sherri-hayes.blogspot.com

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

Lindsey Gray's Giveaway

Author Lindsey Gray has a giveaway going on to celebrate 1500 Likes on her Facebook page and the 2nd Birthday of her novel, Revisited. Check out the post pinned at the top of her Facebook page to enter! https://facebook.com/LindseyGray11

You can also check out Lindsey's radio show, Gray Matters. Catch up on past shows and listen to new ones as well! https://archive.org/details/GrayMattersRadio

Win a Signed ARC from T.M. Franklin

Join A2A Author T.M. Franklin on Goodreads for a very special giveaway! Entries are open now through August 21st! https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/103669-twelve

 

Wednesday's Weird Word

Anfractuosity

 This refers to a channel, crevice or passage full of windings and turnings, not quite a maze, though some mazes certainly take on an anfractuous appearance, one that is sinuous or winding.

Thank you for reading this edition of Author to Author's The Wednesday Word! Visit us again in two weeks for more news, savings, and giveaways to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word! Have a wonderful day!

The Wednesday Word

Author To Author’s Newsletter                                                    

June 18, 2014

*Note: This edition of the Wednesday Word was published one day late on June 19th due to power outages from severe storms in the North East on June 18th. Thank you for understanding. :)

Virtues of a Writer

 Humility in Writing

Humility: Being able to respect one's own limitations.

Doesn't sound very motivating, does it?

In the writing world, we are told by our peers to put our best foot forward and have no fear. To try, try, try, and never give up. Though it might seem confusing and contradictory, humility can play an essential role in your writing process.

Let's break down that definition a bit and see what value we can derive from it.

Respect.

Respecting yourself is key to any success you seek to achieve in life.

Respect one's own limits.

You know your limits. You know what tires you out or turns you off from the work you love.

Pushing yourself too hard by setting unrealistic expectations for yourself can lead to writer burn out pretty quickly. If your word count goals are dragging you down, take a break. If your promotional activities are too taxing, back off for a while. (Professionally, of course. If you have others depending on you, you need to be clear with them by letting them know what you are going through and notifying them of any changes you plan to make.)

Take a moment to sit down and accurately assess what you can and cannot do on a daily basis. Jumping on every opportunity that comes your way may seem like the road to success, but more often leads to unnecessary burdens that can put quite a damper on your fiery love of writing.

As a writer, I sometimes have trouble following my own advice. There have been plenty of times when I felt burnt out and needed a break. It's normal, you don't need to feel badly about it or let fear of failure consume you.  Respecting yourself enough to have humility means that you're giving yourself what you need in order to succeed.

By respecting your own limits, you can ensure that writing continues to be an enjoyable activity.

Do you have a hard time respecting your own limits?

What activities tend to lead to your own "burn out" as a writer?



By A2A Member and Contributor, Andrea Goodson. http://www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com   

Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members

Sydney Logan Releases Soldier On

Check out Sydney's website for the release of Soldier On this weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

Download Fireworks for Only 99cents

Lindsey Gray has permanently lowered the price of Fireworks to 99 cents! Check it out! http://lindsey-gray.blogspot.com/2014/06/birthday-celebration-fireworks.html

 T.M. Franklin Hosts Blog Tour and Giveaway

The How to Get Ainsley Bishop to Fall in Love with You Blog Tour and Giveaway continues through June 19th.  Up for grabs: TWO signed copies of Ainsley, THREE eBooks of the winners' choice from the TWCS library, a t-shirt, notebook and pen, and some other fun prizes!

Jennifer Garcia to Visit Long Beach Library

If you're in California this weekend, stop by and visit Jennifer at the Long Beach Library this Saturday, the 21st for a signing and panels with Jami Denise, Lorenz Font, and many others!

Jennifer was also chatting books on Hummingbird Place Blog Talk Radio this week. Click here to listen: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/.../2014/06/16/sweet-romances

Wednesday's Weird Word

Frigorific

Something frigorific causes cold or is chilling

Thank you for reading this edition of Author to Author's The Wednesday Word! Visit us again in two weeks for more news and savings to refresh your bookish pleasures! As always, feel free to share and spread the word! Have a wonderful day!