10,000 Hours

 This post is dedicated to a writer friend who is just getting started and feeling a bit down about his ability. It's also for all those who are working to accomplish anything.

Do you know how long it takes to become a master electrician? I googled. 12,000 hours working under a master electrician plus at least 2 years as a journeyman. I mathed, too.  Divide that by 40 hours which would be an average work week, and you get 300 weeks...and since there are 52 weeks in a year, it would take almost 6 years to get those 12,000 hours. So, let's say about 8 years to become a master electrician.

To become a master welder takes anywhere from 5 to 6 years.

A master carpenter at least 5 years.

To become a dentist is a minimum of 8 years. And if you want to specialize, add a couple more.

Doctors take anywhere from 10 to 14 years. And again, if you specialize, it's more time learning.

Want to go into music?

To become professional level classical pianist takes 10 to 15 years of study with a master pianist along with hours of daily practice.

If you want to play the violin and only practice an hour a day, it'll take about 27 years to master it.

Flute more your style? If you practice only a half hour a day, count on about 22 years to be proficient. If you just want to be decent, you can get there in about 500 hours or 3 years.

So, to my writing friend...

They (I'm not sure who they are but...) say it takes about 10,000 hours to be proficient as a writer. And, if you only write 4 hours a week, it'd take you about 48 years.

That's a long time. A real long time. And a lot of words on the page, or screen if you are using a computer. 

All that to say, you're doing fine. Yes, you have some things you need to work on, but you'll get there. You'll write, rewrite, write some more, and then rewrite that. And you'll study your craft. You'll read a lot. You'll read how-to books, and study books of those who write professionally. When you read a novel, you'll see things like how characters change and grow over the story or how the author makes the reader care about what's happening to those characters. 

And then, you'll write some more. And rewrite. And you'll get better. 

To those of you who aren't writers...learning a new thing is hard. It takes time and work. Don't let slow progress get you down. Progress is progress and you'll get there. 

Now, I'm off to put words on the page. I've still about40 years to go. 

Shoulder Vultures

 Yep, something to go along with yesterday's post. Anyone suffer from shoulder vultures? 

For us writers, they says things like, "No one wants to read anything you write." Or, "You're the worst writer, ever."  Or, "You have nothing of interest to be blogging about."

For some, it's a lack of self-confidence. Maybe it's the fear we can't live up to the expectations of others. Or, we put so much pressure on ourselves, it's easier to not do things that challenge us.

Years ago, a lot of them, I took an online writing course. I sent in my first assignment and eagerly awaited the day it would return with comments from my instructor. At least, I waited eagerly until it came in the mail and I had it in hand. Then, I sat on my bed and stared at it for a couple hours before daring to open it. Her comments were much better than I thought they'd be and I felt silly for not opening the assignment sooner.

This online school had a chat room. Like I said, this was a LONG time ago. Chat rooms were a great way to meet people and socialize without leaving your house. In this chat room, I met another instructor who explained about shoulder vultures. 

Shoulder vultures are sneaky. They show up when you least expect them and they whisper just the right things to make you question everything. They aren't pleasant.

But, you can get rid of them. At least temporarily. For me, I kept copies of critiques with all the positive comments highlighted. After a while, I kept rejection letters that encouraged me with an "almost, but not quite, try again with something else" comment. Then I added acceptance letters and emails from contests I'd won. And when one of those shoulder vultures showed up, I'll pull out my pile of encouragement and show them that, yes, I'm a darn good writer. They'd squawk a bit and leave.

So, here's the thing. We are all going to have doubts. Some days are going to suck. And, that's okay. 

My daughter and I are members at the same gym and we both have personal trainers. Which I highly recommend. Her trainer is the male version of Jillian Michaels but we both really enjoy him. He tells her that yes, it's hard, it's gonna be sore, and sometimes it's just going to plain suck. He says for her to embrace the suck and move forward. And that's good advice for all of us. 

So, I leave you with this thought. Have you ever noticed how one negative comment or criticism can wipe out and make us forget the 99 positive ones? Writers are really bad about this. We get one negative review and we focus on it instead of the 99 good ones. Let's be more mindful of the good ones. 

Imposter Syndrome

The fear of being found out that you aren't as competent as people think you are.

I read that about 70% of folks out there have some form of imposter syndrome. And yes, imposter is spelled both ways. I'm not sure which is more correct. I'm sure someone knows, but I'm not going to look it up. But it's a strange thing. I once had frequent bouts of  imposter syndrome. It doesn't happen as often now but still, it does.

For example, I had a critique partner that no matter what I wrote, found major flaws. Or at least, that's what this person made them out to be. I let this person get in my head, screw with my self-confidence, and stop me from doing what I love. It took a long time for me to get over it.

Last year when I joined a local gym, I definitely had imposter syndrome. The feeling of not belonging. That's getting better too. Thanks to great gym staff, an awesome personal trainer, and time. 

So, what do you do with it?

First, realize it for what it is. It's a feeling, self-doubt. It's not the truth. Take an honest look at your abilities. If you need to get better at whatever, then do so. But don't be so hard on yourself. Which leads to the next thing.

Perfection...let it go!!! No one is perfect and striving for perfection is only going to lead to anxiety and stress. Always do your best, of course, but don't stress over what you can't control. Which brings us to...

Have self-compassion. Again, don't be so hard on yourself. 

And finally...celebrate your successes. 

For me, that means continuing to go to the gym and working out. And when I reach a new personal record, I celebrate it. Even if it seems insignificant, it's still important that I acknowledge each milestone. For my writing, I've changed to a different critique partner who knows my genre. I've also realized that I'm a darn good writer and the opinion of one person doesn't change that.

So, are you one of the 70%? If so, how do you deal with imposter syndrome?

Hey, write for free!

 Why do publishers think it's okay for writers to not be paid for their work? I mean, really? And writer's aren't the only ones...my other daughter is an artist and has the same problem. Pardon me while I get on my soapbox.

Let's put some numbers out here. Let's say it takes 120 hours to write a complete novel. That's just an average, some take longer and some not so much. Now, if writing was a "paid" job, at just $10 an hour, the writer would earn $1,200.  But since no one is paying authors to write, it's actually costing the author that $1,200. 

For self-published authors who rely on their income to make a living, this is a big chunk. Now, let's add in cover cost, editing, and promotion. I pay on average $200 for a cover. And while I do most of my own editing, for the book I'm working on now, I paid about $1,500.(Totally worth it, by the way.) Promotion can range in the hundreds but for this post, let's just say another $250. It even costs to upload the novel document to the publishing platform, it's right at $50, at this time. So, the author has about $3,200 of sweat hours and other money invested in their novel. 

Now, let's sell those books. To make the math easy, let's say $10 each. Meaning, the author would need to sell 320 copies to break even. Except it doesn't happen that  way. Amazon takes their cut, IngramSparks takes a cut, and other distributors also take a cut. Again, to make math easy, let's just say that cut is $3.00 leaving $7.00 for the author.  Now the author has to sell 457 copies to just break even with time and money spent.

And, statistically, self-published books only sell about 250 copies over a lifetime.

Some do sell more, of course. The author gets out there, goes to book events or festivals and get some sales that way. But again, money is involved. Booth fees, travel, food, and of course the hours spent at the festival. I'm not even going to math that. But, booth fees range from $25 to $100, and those days are generally 12 hour days...so add another $120 in time invested.

Being a published writer is just plain expensive.

Short story writers are a different story. Let's say it takes 10 hours to write and edit that story. So, the writer has $100 bucks invested. Not a big deal, right? 

Author does some searching and finds a place to submit his story. His story is published and he gets nothing. Whoever published it says they pay in exposure. Well, you know what? Exposure won't buy gas for the car or food for the table.

And this is where this rant comes from. There is a themed anthology soliciting short stories. They don't pay anything and the author will get a "discount" for any books they purchase.

Let's play math, again.  Say 20 authors have stories accepted. 

The publisher provides cover, editing, and publishing. Since all this is done inhouse, there is no cost other than time. Yeah, there is a bit for the ISBN number and publishing platform but I've added things up and cost would be less than $100. If those 20 authors buy just 2 copies each, that's 40 copies. And at a discount, say, $10 each, that's a publisher income of $400, minus the costs, so about $300 profit for the publisher.

I don't have a problem with the publisher getting paid for the work they do. They should get paid. But so should the author. 

Now, I have written for free. It was for an anthology but all the profits went to Toys for Tots. It was for a good cause. I have also turned down being published because they weren't willing to pay. Like I said, exposure won't pay my bills. 

We don't expect lawn services to mow our yards without being paid. We don't expect lawyers or plumbers to work for free. Or we shouldn't. So, again, why should authors and artists be expected to not get paid? Why should we be expected to be happy to be taken advantage of? It's not right.

So, what about you? Have you been expected to work for free? 

Welcome back...

 It's been a little over 12 years since anything new was posted on this blog. And I seriously thought about deleting the whole thing and starting over, but even without promotion of any sort, it's still getting a nice number of visitors. 

So, since the publishing world has changed so much in the last few years, I thought it's the perfect time to take a new look at the industry and see just what's going on.

When I first started writing, self-publishing was something only those who couldn't get a real publisher did. I found this quote from one of the traditional publishers dated 2018."In the publishing industry, a self-published author is generally not considered a published author, anymore than someone who starred in their own home movie is considered a movie star." 

A real writer wrote, did the agent search thing, submitted query letters to those agents, did a lot of waiting, and hopefully ended up with a publishing contract. And then, in about two years, you had a book out. It was a long and difficult process and not everyone made it. We were told to grow thick skin to deal with all the rejection. 

My goal was a book published by one of the "Big Six" publishers. I stalked agents on their blogs, Twitter, and Facebook. I went to writer's conferences to meet agents and editors from those big publishers. I even spent a week in New Orleans studying with best selling authors, learning how to properly pitch a novel, and then had two days of meeting with top agents and editors. It was an awesome week, I learned so much, even though I didn't get a publisher out of it. 

Eventually, several years later, I decided to publish with a small press. She was still a "legit" publisher so there was none of the self-published tarnish, though things had gotten better for those who took the self-pub route.

Now, with more freelance editors, cover artists, and affordable software, self-publishing is a normal thing and most of the time, there is no difference in quality when compared to a traditionally published book. And that's a good thing. Sure, you still have some folks who rush the publishing process and don't edit as they should using homemade looking covers. But it's a much better product these days.

So, since there are several paths to choose, let's take a quick look at them.

First, traditional or commercial publishers. This used to be the "Big Six" but now, as of 2020, is the "Big Four." Here is where the author must query agents. This could take a while but if/once you get an agent, they help get your manuscript polished and then shop it around to different publishing houses. Again, this takes a while. Normally, the publisher buys all rights to your work. The author gets a royalty payment against future sales. Meaning, you get paid but won't get anything else until you earn out that royalty. 

Next, Subsidy publishers. Here, the author makes a commitment to subsidize part of the cost of publication. Rights purchased vary with the contract. I've seen it described as a partnership between the author and publisher. They aren't as selective in what they publish as the traditional publisher are but there is still a selection process.

Vanity presses, on the other hand, will publish anything submitted to them. The author pays all the costs including editing, design, marketing, and promotion, along with all sorts of other services. They tend to have different "packages" that vary in price and what services are provided. And, where other publishers make their money from the sale of books, vanity publishers make most of their money from the authors. Again, rights purchased vary with the contract.

And now, self-publishing. The author handles everything. Many times, the author will "sub-contract" work such as editing, formatting, and cover design. They still pay but remain in control of their book publishing process. 

One thing all these options have in common is the author is still responsible for promotion and marketing. Sure, the traditional publisher helps, to some degree, but the author still has to be active and involved. We'll talk about marketing and promotion in another post.

So, are you a published author? Which option did you choose and why? Would you do it differently?

Tick, Tick, Tick.

What motivates you as a writer? Fame? Money? Glory? We all hope for those to some extent, but what really gets you to sit down and put words on paper?

If your anything like me it's pressure. Unless there's something that makes me feel a real need I just can't bring myself to do it. I think that's why deadlines came into existence, to get people like me to do it.

So what use is this to us? Well like I said before the best way to improve is to write, a lot. You can't always be writing for publication. Sometimes you just need to write for practice. But how do you motivate yourself if you're writing for something as nebulous as practice?

Set your own deadline. Make it something real, something with consequence. When you write to publish the consequence is simple. You don't get published. Do something for yourself to make it real. Whether the outcome is positive or negative depends on you. Personally I'm not much for self flagellation. I bribe myself with a pack of trading cards for a game I enjoy. It works for me.

Now just figure out what works for you and get to it. The clock's ticking.

Scribble, Scream, Repeat.

I’m supposed to tell you about writing. Well guess what here’s a treat for you. I don’t know all that much about writing. Can I give you the secret that will unlock bottomless troves of publishing treasure and might? No. Can I bequeath you the location locked in your mind that will reveal all of your full fledged characters? No.

I am a writer, just like you. I get the same rejection letters you do. I struggle to put pen to paper just like you do. I even beat my head against the keyboard into the wee hours of the night, just the same as you. So what could I possibly have to say that’s of any use? How about this?

I’m still doing it.

After years of ridicule growing up, medical mayhem, a family, and general random insanity. I am still at it. That’s what it takes. The majority of people out there “want to write a book.” It’s not that unique of a dream.

What is unique is the fact that you’re here. Your reading this trying to improve your writing. And you know what? You just might. There are any number of ways to improve your writing. Probably the most hyped and least practiced is this. Just write! When it comes down to it the only way to actually get better is to sit down and bang out those words.

And keep at it. Whether it’s every day or every week or every month. Write regularly and as frequently as you can. That’s the thing that will eventually get you published. If you keep trying to learn and keep putting it down on paper, sooner or later you’ll get that all important acceptance letter. And then the next. ;-)

Link Salad

I don't know about you, but I LOVE reading articles about writing. And while not every article is useful, I still enjoy reading how other people write, where they get ideas and so forth. With that in mind, here's some links.

CopyBlogger is a blog about blogging. Not everything applies to writers, but there are some really good tips spread around.

How do Agents and Editors Decide Webinar  taught by agent Rachell Gardner.  This should be really good.  And everyone who signs up gets a query and five pages looked at.  It's not free but should be worth the price.

If You're Writing a Memoir then check out these great tips. 

Seventh Sanctum is just one of the coolest places online.  Not only do they have name generators, they have so many others, you just have to go check them out for yourself.  I especially love the tavern and room generators.  Now, some names won't work but they often can be tweaked or will inspire one that will.  Be prepared to spend time there...and take a pen and paper.

And lastly...if you love cats,  you need to stop in HERE.  This is another place you might be tempted to spend a lot of time so only visit when you aren't busy. :-)  I follow them on Twitter so I won't miss the new ones.  Plus, it saves me from having to catch up later.

Enjoy...

On Getting Tough...

Writers groups are so much fun! We all support one another and root one another on. When no one else in the world can understand our frustrations, a fellow groupie can. Nothing quite like it, is there? It's all chocolate and roses, until...

We ask for a critique. And get what we asked for. Only what we got wasn't exactly what we hoped to get. We were looking for something in a gold box, tied with a red bow, a sweet note inside saying, "If I died today I could die happy having read this story. My life is fulfilled."

Instead what we got is a note on the outside of a cardboard box saying, "Think outside the box." "This story has no structure, no POV, no emotion. It isn't believable, it isn't properly written. If I died today it would be heartbreaking that this story was the last thing I read. I'm going for a newspaper right now."

A devestaed writer hangs his head and cries. "They don't understand me...I was being subtle...I was using undertones...I was going for effect! It's my style for God's sake! How can they not see what beauty I have given them. I HATE them! They are just stupid!"

The writer has two choices here. They can either wait a few days, calm down and read the critique again, forcing themselves to go line by line and begin murdering those darlings...and some orphans too; or they can wad up the note along with the story, put it all in the box and set it on fire. Walk away, never to write again.
(Well I guess they might try and send the story out as they wrote it, being certain that the critiquer was wrong. But that would be publishing suicide)
If the writer is going to become and author, he best learn to write a story properly. The best way to learn the technique is by a critique of our peers. Once we throw our fits, get mad, eat dirt and get all the drama out of the way, we get a tougher skin; we begin to evolve in who we really are, storytellers.

The quicker you learn to take critisism of your work, the more rapidly the tough skin will grow and before you know it, you see it for what it is; a hand up.

G

It's the Story Stupid!

In politics they have a saying, "It's the economy stupid!" For we consumers, it's always about the economy. Without a strong economy, I can't buy your book. So yeah, it is the economy stupid.

Fortunately I have been able to buy a few books lately, popular, commercial fiction, New York Times bestsellers. And may I say in my humble opinion, most of them are badly; and I do mean badly written. I have been disappointed that in this tough economy I spent good money on bad books. But I also have been enlightened, something money can't buy.

How do they do it, these authors who are not writers. How do they sell a gazzillion books and help write the screenplay for the blockbuster movie when they can't properly construct a sentence? And how dare an editor throw my properly written story onto the slush pile in favor of someone who doesn't know an adverb from their elbow?

I tell you how they dare. Cause it's all about the story, stupid.

These authors who are not writers, these interlopers who flew over us on the wings of our own shoulder vultures and landed safely in their editors arms are not to be hated. We should not despise their easy rise to the top; although sometimes that is almost impossible. We should learn from them the one thing that seperates us from them. Story.

"Tell me a story."

In the end, after all of your plotting and planning, grammar checks and revisions, if you don't have a great story, you got nothin' to say.

In the news...

Publish America will now send your PA book to Random House.  I'm sure Random House is thrilled.

See why this is not a good thing here.

Be sure to check out the comments along with the link to the original source at the bottom of the post.    Then tell your friends.

And while you're at it...bookmark Janet Reid's blog.  It's a great place to spend a few minutes each day catching up on things.

Little Bitty Bites

Every morning last week I woke and thought, “I am going to re-write that story this week, starting today.” And today and today and it never happened. It’s Saturday night, I need to have it ready by tomorrow and all I have managed thus far is to change the opening lines. And I call myself a writer!

Well, yeah, I do. Call myself a writer that is. Still, in spite of my best efforts the story lay in four stacks at my feet. My original, and three critiques, complete with edits. J I spent the past 6 days scribbling all over them, making notations and dabbing up the tears of frustration that kept dripping from my chin. Every spare chance I had I was shuffling papers and pondering the story. And all of this brought forth only one sentence.

While cutting up chicken into bite size pieces for our young grandson tonight, it occurred to me that I have been re-writing all wrong. I’m not sure why I have always done it the way I do, trying to take on the whole thing at once. It’s no wonder I choke.

No more.

After dinner I got the baby to sleep and came back in here to my desk, picked up the first two pages of my story and laid them aside. I put the rest of the story, along with the three critiques in a folder and put it in my desk drawer. I am going to re-write those two pages tomorrow. If I find two pages to be too intimidating, I’ll start with one.

The first thing I will tell myself when I wake up in the morning is “Today I am going to re-write two pages.” I’ll let you know how it goes.

**Posted by Jean for Sherry who had issues with blogger today.**

Follow me...

...over to Let's Write a Novel...Together. For the next couple weeks I'll be posting there.

Tomorrow's post is on naming our characters and I list some very good name sites to check out.

See you there!!!

Life, Writing and Stuff...

Things have been neglected here lately and I apologize. Life has managed to get in the way, my computer died and I was without one for a while then I decided to make novel writing a priority of mine.

But, I promise to do better from now on.

Here's what's new...

Starting today, we're getting ready to write our NaNoWriMo novels over at Let's Write a Novel...Together. Today's post is about characters. If you've ever wanted to write a novel, compete in NaNoWriMo or would just like a couple writing buddies, join us. The more the merrier.

Writing a mystery? Then follow me over at Mysteries in the Making.

I won't promise a new post every day but at least three times a week so say hi, come back and relax a bit.

And thanks for hanging around.

Great Rules of Writing

Do not put statements in the negative form.

And don't start sentences with a conjunction.

If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a
great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.

Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.

Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.

De-accession euphemisms.

If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.

Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.

Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.





~William Safire, "Great Rules of Writing"

Rejections: Form Letter vs. Personal Note

This month I've gotten two rejection letters from publishers. One, was the form letter and the other was a personal note with comments letting me know I was close this time.

I totally understand the reason for a form letter. Editors are busy and taking time to send personal notes to everyone just doesn't make sense. They'd spend all day writing rejection notes instead of the many other tasks on their plate.

However...I've gotten some less than business-like form rejections in my short career. Like the bad copy of a bad copy rejection. I read one writer complain about getting this kind of rejection letter. He said something to the effect that it diminished him. That the editor or assistant couldn't take the time to at least send a nice form rejection to him, as if he wasn't worth the effort. While I'm sure this isn't the editorial thought behind the letter, sometimes it makes us writers wonder what message they are trying to send.

Then there was the rejection which consisted of "I really don't like this." scrawled across my cover sheet and mailed back to me. No signature, no reason why they didn't like it. I'd much rather have a Thanks but no thanks. Or even that form letter.

What about you? Are you getting your share of rejection letters? If not, then you need to be sending out more work.

Make it your goal this month to get a story, article or query out there.

Creating Memorable Characters

I think every writer wants the reader to remember the characters they create long after the book is read and put on the shelf. And, as I pondered this, a couple characters came to mind. Scarlett O'hara, Capt. Ahab, Black Beauty, Johnny Castle and all those Disney princesses.

But what is it about these characters that make them memorable? I have a couple thoughts...

First, they have strong personalities. Or at least well defined ones.

Next, they take us to places we've never been to or might never get the chance to visit. We get to share their world through how they live and see things.

Also, characters do and say things that we might never dare do or say.

We identify with these characters. We bond with them, share in the journey they take, struggle, and eventually rejoice with them.

We all know it's a hard road to publication and the future looks even more difficult. But I believe there are always going to be readers. No matter what happens in the real world, people will want to be entertained. They'll want to escape to other worlds and become part of it. They'll want to become that character and take part of his or her adventure.

This is where memorable characters come in. The more memorable our character, the better chance we have of publication.

So...what characters do you remember best and what makes them memorable for you?

DUH!!!

Time to get this blog active again. Here's an older post of mine to get things started.



I'm a list maker. No way around it. And most of the time, most of the things get done. Usually the ones that are most important. Or at least the ones with deadlines looming. I'm getting better about meeting deadlines. In this business, you have to be.

However there was a time when my favorite thing about deadlines was the "whooshing" sound they make rushing by.

I've done the goal setting thing, the resolution thing, the do it and reward yourself thing and failed at all of them. I want to share what works for me. It's a little thing called DUH!

D - Do it first or as close as humanly possible.

U - Understand it may be inconvenient and/or difficult and do it anyway.

H- Hurray, celebrate! You did it!


Here's why it works for me. There isn't much worse than going to bed with things that needed to be done still needing to be done. The guilt robs me of sleep and I lay there berating myself for not getting things done. By applying "D", I don't have to dread doing it or the results of not doing it.

The "U" also reminds me it may not be fun. For example, exercise. Not fun but definitely got to be done.

My favorite is the "H". We should celebrate our accomplishments everyday. No matter how small they are.

I'd love to take credit for this little system but just can't. I found it on Margie Lawson's website. Give it a good read over. She explains it very well.

Now, apply as needed:--)

Back to School and Your Writing Schedule

Back to School and Your Writing Schedule

Copyright Cheryl C. Malandrinos - All Rights Reserved

Back to school season is upon us and that means it’s time to get your writing schedule back on track now that the lazy days of summer are almost behind us.

Even if you don’t have kids going back to school, it’s a great time to get serious about your writing career so that the last two quarters of the year are productive.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Clean Up Your Work Area

Nothing puts the stops on motivation quicker than a messy work area. Clean out everything you don’t need to make room for all those exciting new projects you want to tackle.

Stock Up on Office Supplies

If you have a child going back to school you’re probably going to be visiting an office supply store anyway. Why not make a list of everything you need to stock up your home office for the next month or two? This will save you an additional trip to pick up envelopes etc when you’re ready to submit that next query.

And don’t forget to swing by the Post Office to buy stamps.

Create or Revise Your Contact List

Every writer needs to have one of these. Yes, it’s a time consuming task, but once it’s done all you have to do is add new contacts as you make them or update the information for your current contacts. I keep all my contacts in Microsoft Outlook. It sure beats looking for one business card in a pile of hundreds. And my contacts automatically feed into my electronic Address Book so I don’t waste time looking for a person’s email address when I need it. Just one click, and it’s done.

Now that you’re ready to start writing, here are a few ways to stick to your writing schedule:

Review Your Goals

Summer usually means we don’t set as many goals or try not to stress when we don’t meet them. It’s time to figure out what you’ve accomplished and what is still outstanding. Make a new to-do list and post it over your desk so you can keep it in plain sight.

Track Your Time

As a writer, you’re probably juggling multiple projects, performing research for assignments, and balancing all that with your home life.

Knowing where your time goes can help you accomplish more.

Whether you use a spreadsheet, time-tracking software, or a pencil and paper, record how you spend your day.

A sample of my day might look like this:

9 - 9:30AM: Answer/send emails
9:30 - 10AM: Eat breakfast
10 AM - 11AM: Marketing/Promotion
11 - 11:15AM: Short break
11:15AM - 12PM: Marketing/Promotion
12 - 1PM: Lunch and Laundry
1 - 1:30PM: Get Sarah down for a nap
1:30 - 2PM: Research Writer2Writer article
2 - 2:15PM: Short break
2:15 - 3PM: Begin first draft of Writer2Writer article
3 - 10PM: Family Time
10 PM - 12AM: Work on next chapter of memoir
12 - 12:30AM: Read books that need reviewing

Not only will this help you know where your times goes, it will help you get a handle on where time is wasted.

Write When You Feel Most Productive

I’m not a morning person. So, I don’t try to write in the morning. Ever!

If you look at my schedule above, you’ll notice that I do research and write for a short time in the early afternoon and then again late at night.

Each person has his/her own time of day when he/she is the most productive. That’s when you need to write. It might not always be possible, but do try to schedule your normal routine around your peak writing time if you can.

Take Breaks

It might feel right to forgo a break to get more work done, but it’s not a good idea.

Regular breaks are important to keep you focused and healthy. Our bodies simply aren’t meant to be sitting down for long periods of time. And a short break might help you figure out what role that secondary character plays in your latest novel.

Make this back to school season a time to commit to your writing. With these few simple steps you’ll be ready to make the most out of your writing time.

Thoughts on Dark Fantasy by Janrae Frank

The definition of dark fantasy is still widely debated. The label is claimed by both fantasy authors and horror authors. Some horror authors perceive dark fantasy to be merely a way of side-stepping the horror label and the current industry prejudice against it. In a debate about the term, dark fantasy, on a messageboard called "the messageboard of the damned" several years ago, Nick Mamatas stated that dark fantasy is matter of ambiance.

Certainly Laurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series and her Merry Gentry series can be called dark fantasy. The former series is set on an alternate earth in which vampires have been given full civil rights and courses in magic are taught in colleges. The latter series involves a princess of Faery who is working as a private investigator. Most urban fantasies can be equally considered dark fantasies.

As more and more cross-genre works appear, with elements of both horror and fantasy, the classification is often left up to both the publishers and the distributors.
Please allow me a few personal anecdotes.

My ebooks that come out from Renaissance Ebooks (renebooks) are listed as dark fantasy at Fictionwise. There my works are a bit of an odd man. The vast majority of books listed under dark fantasy on that list involve vampires and werewolves. Often with a romantic element.
There is the connection for me. I write about vampires, wolfweres (which are often tossed in with werewolves by definition), and necromancers. Such things are staples of horror novels. However, because I am writing in an alternate world with a semi-medieval setting, my work is often classified as fantasy.

Wikipedia says that dark fantasy involves "a bleak pessimistic outlook … and moral ambiguity." It can also involve brutality.

Anne Bishop's Dark Jewels trilogy is extremely dark. Grey Keyes is another excellent example of dark fantasy, especially his series that begins with the Briar King. George R. R. Martin's "Swords of Fire and Ice" series has some of the most brutal, edgy dark fantasy out there.
All of those qualities mentioned in wikipedia are present in their novels.

They are also present in my own, up to a point. I believe in the triumph of the human spirit, that people can pull themselves up by their bootstraps and overcome both their inner and outer challenges. Lyn McConchie says that what makes the darkness and despair in my novels work is that I "don't compromise with evil."

I have had horror authors who write about werewolves say that my work is fantasy and try to deny me a place at the table. I write about werewolves also. My first professional sale was "Wolves of Nakesht" (Amazons, edited by Jessica Amanda Salmonson, DAW 1979) that involved a woman and her children fleeing across the grasslands of an alternate world pursued by werewolves.

I have had fantasy authors tell me that I write horror because I have werewolves and vampires in my novels.

Only time will tell whether the label 'dark fantasy' becomes fully accepted by both the writers and the readers.

Discover Janrae's Serpent's Quest at Buzz the Book and then get your own copy.