This Week in Favs...Is Retiring (For Now)

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After a lot of thinking, and thinking, and thinking, I have decided that it's time for me to temporarily retire my Week in Favs posts.

This decision has been in the works for quite a while - since November, actually - and it wasn't until I read Stina Lindenblatt's post announcing that she was retiring her Cool Links Friday posts, that I finally decided to retire my post as well.

Stina's reasonings mirror my own, and so once again, I felt a little relieved at knowing WE ARE NOT ALONE. I also felt a little sad because I enjoy sharing the best posts of the week with my fellow writers.

But the time has come to buckle down and concentrate on my writing. With the additional four to five hours a week that I would normally spend on perusing the blogging world for the best writing posts I can find, I'll be able to concentrate on not only my writing, but also on bringing all of you better quality writing posts. And maybe some more music posts. And maybe some movie posts.

So... today I will not say 'goodbye' to This Week in Favs. Instead, I will say 'goodbye for now' because I'm sure that somewhere down the road I'll end up missing it and will end up incorporating the posts back into my schedule. Not sure when, but it'll always remain an option for me.  :)

Thank you for understanding, and for visiting my blog on Friday's to catch up on the great posts our fellow authors have written throughout the last year and a half. *BIG HUGS*

My blogging schedule will now be Tuesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays I'll continue to reserve for writerly posts, and Fridays I'll now reserve for fun stuff - music, movies, and anything else my heart desires that week. :)

As always, Happy Reading & Writing, Everyone!!!
Melinda

This Week in Favs - 1.25.2013

Playing on the Zune: Night of the Hunter by 30 Seconds to Mars
 
 

Social Media, Blogging, and Author Websites

A Tip for Getting Readers to Your Blog by Lucille Zimmerman on WordServe Water Cooler

Social Media Just for Writers by Stina Lindenblatt

Character Development: Morals & Ideology by Ava Jae

Writer Wednesday: Goodreads vs. Facebook Ads - an Experiment - Part I and Part II by Angela Quarles

The Power of a Reader's Word of Mouth by Jody Hedlund

 

 

On Writing Craft

 
Three Steps for Creating Believable Character Emotions by Marcy Kennedy

Researching Your Novel: Dos and Don'ts by Carolyn Kaufman

13 Writing Lessons from Stephen King's On Writing on Writers Write

Why Cliffhangers Keep Your Readers in Your Raft by J.E. Fishman on Men With Pens

Will Omniscient POV Ever Be Popular Again? by Jami Gold

What I Learned While Writing My First Sequel by Amy Christine Parker

How Can We Avoid Cookie-Cutter Writing? by Jody Hedlund

 

 

 

Inspiration for Writers 

An Author's Confessional: 15 Authors Talk About The Biggest Obstacle in Their Writing Life by Charissa Weaks

Keep Dreaming... Even When They Think You're Nuts by Jeff Goins 

 

On Editing, Critiquing, and Querying

 

 Naked in the Mud Puddle: on the Vulnerability of Critique by Amber Belldene

I Love Writing Synopses! by Gina Conroy 

  

 

The Industry and More...
 

E-Books Destroying Traditional Publishing? The Story's Not That Simple by Zoe Chance on NPR

Deciding Between Traditional and Self-Publishing by Rachelle Gardner

25 Hard Truths About Writing and Publishing by Chuck Wendig

8 Ways to Help Your Favorite Author by Rachelle Gardner

Enemies of Art Part 1 - Approval Addiction and Enemies of Art Part 2 - Psychic Vampires by Kristen Lamb

The Wrong Goodbye of Barnes and Noble on The Passive Voice

A Rejection Doesn't Mean the Industry Is Out to Get You by Scott Eagan

Self-Publishing Success Stories: The Anatomy of a Kindle Bestseller on The Creative Penn

A Few Posts Every Writer Should Read

 

Plagiarism and Terrell Mims - A Chronic Care of EPIC Stupid by Kristen Lamb 

 

Behave.. The Internet Never Forgets by Jami Gold
 

 

Other Weekly Round-Ups

 

 The Author Chronicles’ Top Picks Thursday

Roni Loren’s Fill-Me-In Friday

Elizabeth S. Craig’s Twitterific (compilation of all writing links she’s shared this week – updated on Sundays)

 

 

 

This Week on the Blog...

 

What's Your Biggest Obstacle? 
 

Photo Credit

 

 
 
 
Happy Reading & Writing, Everyone!
-Melinda

What's Your Biggest Obstacle?

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Last week I was approached by the lovely Charissa Weaks to join in on some writing fun - er, yeah, we'll go with *fun* - and talk about the biggest obstacle I've faced as a writer. Of course I was excited to oblige, Charissa's an all-around awesome person (who I can't wait to meet in person one day), and hey, let's face it, I'm a writer, and I've definitely had struggles. :)

When it came down to decided which was my biggest, I actually had to make a list, then score each obstacle to find which I'd consider my biggest. And, well, this should come as no surprise - since I've addressed it here and here and here on the blog before - but my biggest obstacle would be time management.

This is something I believe many of us face throughout our writing careers. Something we each struggle with from time to time, especially in those moments where we're up against a deadline and things just seem to fall apart at home. Something we should have a constant reminder of before it's too late and we end up burning ourselves out from trying be everything to everyone.

While I do have a few other obstacles that I've faced, and continue to face, as an author, but since Charissa asked for my "biggest" obstacle, I definitely had to go with time management. But if she'd asked for a quick list of what I felt my obstacles were, well ... let's just say there'd be quite a few. ;)

Charissa's put together a great post where she's asked many other authors - such as Jami Gold, Angela Ackerman, and Misty D. Waters - to talk about the struggles they've faced in their writing lives.

Please head over to Charissa's blog, have a read, and join the conversation! Tell us what obstacles you've faced and how you've dealt with the hurdle.

See you there! :)

This Week in Favs - 1.18.2013

Playing on the Zune: Haunted by Kelly Clarkson
 
 

Social Media, Blogging, and Author Websites

Passionate Characters to Counteract the Passive Inciting Incident by Martina Boone

The Most Powerful Social Media Tool for Building an Author Platform - Part 1 & Part 2 - by Kristen Lamb

 

 

On Writing Craft

 
Four Ways to Pre-Write Your Scenes on The Otherside of the Story with Janice Hardy

Five Quick Tips for Better Dialogue in Fiction on The Creative Penn

5 Examples of Misplaced Modifiers on Daily Writing Tips

How to Cure the Sagging Middle on Hugs and Chocolate

The 100 Best Blogs for the Modern Writer on LiveHacked.com

How to Find the Right Title for Your Book - A Brainstorming Workshop by Roz Morris

Writing an Outline by Sophie Masson on Writer Unboxed

Kurt Vonnegut Can Bite Me by Tiffany Reisz on The Other Side of the Story with Janice Hardy

How to Engage Your Reader - A Guest Post by Matthew Turner on Storyfix.com

 

 

 

Inspiration for Writers 

Want to Be a Successful Author? Burn Your Ships by Kristen Lamb

 

On Editing, Critiquing, and Querying

 

The Number One Mistake New Writers Make by Anne R. Allen

 

 

 

 

The Industry and More...

5 Surprises About Self-Publishing by Jennie Nash on Rachelle's Gardner's blog

Taking the Scary Out of Scrivener - Interview with Gwen Hernandez on Writers in the Storm Blog

Publishing and Marketing Your Crap by James Scott Bell on The Kill Zone

What Flavor of Publishing Will You Choose? by Chuck Wendig

 
 

Other Weekly Round-Ups

 

 The Author Chronicles’ Top Picks Thursday

Roni Loren’s Fill-Me-In Friday

Elizabeth S. Craig’s Twitterific (compilation of all writing links she’s shared this week – updated on Sundays)

 

 

 

Just for Laughs

 

My Bestie shared this pic on Facebook. Hope it brings a smile to your face like it did mine. :) 

 

 

 
 
 
Happy Reading & Writing, Everyone!
-Melinda

This Week in Favs - 1.11.2013

Playing on the Zune: Gasoline by The Living Daylights
 
 

Social Media, Blogging, and Author Websites

Divide and Conquer: Building an Author Platform by Proxy
 

How to Think of Blog Post Ideas by Ava Jae on Writability

 

 

On Writing Craft

 
What Writers Can Learn From Classic Television on Left-Brain Business for Write-Brained People

Inspired Openings by Kay Honeyman on Adventures in YA & Children’s Publishing
 

The Paradox by Donald Maass
 

The Finishing Touches by Jael McHenry
 

Series of Events or Plot? on the Behler Blog
 

When Do You Start the Story? by Shannon Donnelly on Writers In the Storm blog
 

Breaking Down Story Structure: MORNING GLORY, Act One by Lydia Sharp
 

Three Keys to Memorable Similes and Metaphors by Marcy Kennedy
 

Let Characters Be Wrong on Moody Writing

Should I Write That Potentially Controversial Scene? by Roni Loren

 

 

 

Inspiration for Writers/New Year's Resolutions for Writers 

Don’t Give Up Hope When Progress is Hard to See by Jody Hedlund
 

Reassuring Facts for the Creatively Compulsive by August McLaughlin

Carrie Arcos on The Discipline of Dream Making on Adventures in YA & Children’s Publishing
 

13 Reasons to Keep Writing in 2013 by Jody Heldund
 

Resolutions for Writers on W.I.P. It: An Author’s Journey
 

11 New Year’s Resolutions for 2013 by Victoria Mixon
 

What Will You Write in 2013? Ten Mini-Resolutions to Get You Started on Aliventures

 

On Editing, Critiquing, and Querying

 

When You Have Editorial Differences on The Behler Blog
 

Fifty Shades of Editing by Stina Lindenblatt on the QueryTracker.net blog
 

How Chuck Wendig Edits a Novel on Terribleminds

 

 

 

The Industry and More...

Interview with an Editor and Giveaway on Dear Author (Interview’s with Shauna Summers)
 

Agents Suck Because They Only Want the Immediate Best Sellers! by Scott Eagan
 

Don’t Feed Your Discount by Rachelle Gardner
 

The “New Adult” Genre: Why Does It Exist? by Jami Gold
 

Guest Author Matthew W. Quinn: Things I’ve Learned about Writing Research on The Other Side of the Story with Janice Hardy

More on Promo and Approaching Promo in 2013 by Elizabeth S. Craig

 
 

Other Weekly Round-Ups

 

 The Author Chronicles’ Top Picks Thursday

Stina Lindenblatt’s Cool Links Friday

Roni Loren’s Fill-Me-In Friday

Elizabeth S. Craig’s Twitterific (compilation of all writing links she’s shared this week – updated on Sundays)

 

 

 

This Week on Muse, Rant, Rave

 

New Year, New Setting, New Attitude

 
 
 
Happy Reading & Writing, Everyone!
-Melinda

New Year, New Setting, New Attitude

Happy 2013, everyone!

It's a Work-In-Progress, but here's y new writing space!

It’s been a looong time since I last posted, and while I spent quite a bit of time beating myself up over not doing my weekly posts throughout the holiday season, I also spent a lot of time re-evaluating life in general. From personal, to the day job, to the writing life, I took the time to sit back and re-think – at least when I wasn’t signing my life away on our first new home and packing and moving. :)

On Sunday we were settled enough to where the hubs and I began putting our offices back together. We’ve all been there with moving where as long as you have the ‘basics’ unpacked (i.e., bed, couch, TVs, dining room), everything else can be done whenever you get to it. So on Sunday we unpacked about 6 boxes (mostly my writing space stuff), and after I got my new space in working order, I immediately wanted to get to work. It didn’t matter if it was editing, writing, tweeting, whatever. I just felt re-energized and I wanted to do something.

This burst of energy got me thinking about that old saying: change location/setting, change your attitude and inspiration. This saying is incredibly true!

Granted, I entirely changed homes and not just my writing space, but changing your setting doesn’t have to be that big. In fact, changes that inspire your creativity can be so small that it could be difficult for others to notice. Because as long as you and your muse take note, that’s all you need.

Here are some ideas on how to change your setting, which can help inspire your creativity and give you a new attitude/outlook on your writing:

·         Moving your creativity area to another room.

o   Before we moved, I had taken my laptop, monitor, keyboard, and mouse to the dining room table. That minor change did wonders with waking up the muse.

·         Re-Organize your creativity area/desk

o   A simple change such as moving your monitor to the opposite side of the desk.

·         Re-Organize your bookshelf

o   Whether you rearrange your books in alphabetical order by author name, or title, or split them into groups by series, etc., by redoing your bookshelf, you’re awakening that creative spark because you’re remembering how great each and every one of those books were when you’d first read them.

·         Treat yourself to something new

o   Whether buying a new monitor, a new desk, a new mouse/keyboard, or program, something shiny and new will make you want to ensure you use it more often.

These are just a few ideas to get you thinking about what you can do to get that explosive spark of creativity to hit. And there’s no better time than right now. With the start of a New Year, everyone’s mindset is on new beginnings, fresh starts, positive outlooks, and we have the drive to not only succeed, but to make any new resolution or goal stick throughout the year.

Your Turn: What other ideas do you have for how to change your setting/attitude? Have you tried any of these ideas? Did they work? Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions or 2013 Writing Goals that could be helped by changing it up a little with your writing space?