Happy May 5th to you all! I hope this finds you happy and sassy, I hope this week produces the perfectly-written article you’ve always dreamed about.
I’m twenty-thousand words into my new book, “Shadows Over Innocence,” and I have to tell you, when writing a series, the second book, for me, is infinitely easier than the first. For one thing, the main characters have already been developed in the first book, but more than that, in the second book, you have a better feel for the main characters. You understand better how they would handle certain situations, and their voice develops over time. I just find the second one infinitely easier to write than the first.
And, of course, I’m still sending out query letters to agents and publishers for the first in this series. I’ll do this for a year. If I don’t find an agent in that time, I’ll self-publish both novels, print up some copies through CreateSpace, and go hit the road marketing them myself.
In other words, life moves forward.
Usually, on Mondays, I write my articles for the week for HubPages. Today I came up empty. I finished one that I had worked on earlier, but nothing new came to me. Zero! The muse would not respond when I called her. In fact, she yawned at me and turned her head…towards the novel. So I listened to her. I worked today on the novel and I will maybe, or maybe not, have more articles this week for HP.
That’s just the way it goes for this writer. I don’t force it. If it’s not there it’s not there, and I never want to be accused of publishing writing that looks like I was just meeting some quota. I want it to be of high quality or I won’t publish it.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Steve Jobs
Truer words were never written!
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
I have talked to countless students over the years about this topic. Do great work. Work at what you love. Don’t settle for less!
My father worked, after the war, at a sand & gravel pit. He worked there for twenty years. He worked hard. He hated the job, but it was a job and he had a family to support.
He died three days before his fiftieth birthday.
I admired my father greatly, but I gotta tell ya, I can’t imagine working a job I hated for twenty years. It’s just not in my DNA, and I’ve got a lifetime of experiences to prove it. I quit a full-time teaching gig that paid $60,000 to become a freelance writer. My first year of writing I made $16,000, and I loved every minute of it.
For this boy, money does not buy happiness. I know other disagree with that, but for me it is a truth.
TIP OF THE DAY
Do whatever you need to do to find happiness and satisfaction in your work. The average person works what, forty years? More? That’s one hell of a long span of time to be doing something you find no satisfaction in, don’t you think?
CONTEST OF THE DAY
The Banff Mountain Book Competition is taking submissions until the end of June. Read about it here.
Also, Unicorn Press First Book Contest is now taking submissions through the end of May. No entry fee required. Check it out here.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
I haven’t done a prompt in a long time. Sorry, Sha! Here’s a picture that might nudge your imagination in the right direction.
SITE OF THE DAY
Stop by and say hello to my friend Greg at his site Lancer Life. You can find it by following this link. Greg is a freelance writer with great insights that I’m sure you will find helpful.
SEE YOU NEXT WEEK
I hope you have a fantastic week of writing. Thanks for stopping by and I’ll see you soon.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Bill, I’m glad to hear that the second novel is going well. That’s good news for all those first-in-a-series writers I’m sure! Thanks for the Steve Jobs quote. I agree with your assessment. Happy writing. 🙂
Thank you Cristen. I love to write…I’m never “at work.” I’m always playing. 🙂
Bill, I totally know the feeling and that is why I cut back a bit with my publishing on my own blog, because I want to write quality not quantity with my articles. I finally had a bit of a muse today, but for the past few days I was coming up empty, too. But still I figure I can always republish older articles or just let it go if need be. Just glad it isn’t me sometimes. I wish you a great rest of the day and week, too! 😉
Janine, I’m pretty sure we all go through it. That’s just the way it goes. There is no point in fighting it, as you well know.
Thank you and Happy Tuesday my loyal friend.
Bill, your muse is guiding you deeper into your plan. You’ve stated you’re going to back off on posting to HP (which you already have) and concentrate on your novels. Your muse is just as invested in you becoming a best-selling novelist as you are. She comes alive in your characters and I’m sure she enjoys the journey.
I truly hope an agent or publisher snatches you up. I don’t see why they wouldn’t, especially since you’re working on a series. A talented author such as yourself is a good investment on their part. Can you say ca-ching?
I chuckled at your little comment regarding the picture prompt. Your nudges aren’t always so subtle. That’s one thing I love about you.
Shoot, Sha, and I so wanted to be subtle. LOL Missed again!
Thank you dear friend. We do what we need to do…I need to write this series. Nothing else really interests me except for the critters in the back yard, my son, Bev, and friends.
Hi Bill, how are you my friend? I hope you’re well. I must say, I find it hard to believe that your loyal muse would ever leave you, not even for a second. 🙂
Sorry I haven’t been around much lately, just taking a little time out to reflect on what I really want to do. HP is great, I do miss everyone, but the site can be very time consuming. I also realised that I’ve been drifting away from friends and family so it’s time to take stock. However, I’m persevering with the writing, although I’m not quite sure about the best avenue when it comes to publishing, still, I’m not really there yet.
I can’t believe you’re already well into the sequel, you are amazing! I want some of what you’re having. Take care, my best to you and Bev.
Jo@tobusiness
Jo, thank you for checking in. I love my friendships and I always notice when someone has been scarce. I’m happy to hear you are doing well. The answer to your writing will come to you. I’m confident. In the meantime, take care and stop by occasionally to let me know you are doing well. My best to you always.
It is interesting that we are often on the same wavelength, Bill! I just published a hub about preparation, and made the comment in there that if we don’t like our current employment, we are the only ones who can change it! That is one of the reasons I am where I am today. I left a lucrative position as a School Psychologist and Special Education Director because it exacerbated my mental health issues. Now, I work as an office manager and spend my down time writing about emotional health. I am a much happier person! I wish you all the best in your novel writing. May the muse–I mean force–be with you!
Thank you Denise. I think there are many out there, like you and I, who need a change. That’s why I think articles like this are important…people need to know they are not alone in their feelings and that there are alternatives. Thanks for sharing part of your story…it’s always nice to see you.
I am so behind right now that I almost wrote “Happy Monday”–Glad things are rolling along for you–I need to do some catching up and send out pieces for submission—
Well Audrey, Happy Monday or Happy Tuesday…just plain Happy that you stopped by. 🙂 Good luck with the rest of your week and thank you.
I too think the second book in a series is easier than the first. (Its sort of like that with kids too.) The third is even easier. The fourth? Well, I will let you know.
LOL..Donna, that’s a classic and so true. Thanks for the laugh this afternoon.
Loved that you have already penned down 20K words…saying it again you inspire me!
I agree we ought to do what our heart aspires…you sure are a brave soul to make that call 🙂
Thank you Ruchira! Brave? Maybe I just don’t have good sense. LOL
I’m so proud to know you, your perseverance, and your accomplishments! You’re truly an inspiration!
These days I’m working from about 8 in the morning to 6 at night, staying with in-laws while our house sells, going home on the weekends. This is why you haven’t seen me much. But I continue to wish the best for you and I’ll be back – one way or another – soon. Lately, I’ve been wanting to be at a computer less and in front of a canvas (to paint) more…and we have some ideas about buying our new house (still in a rural area, and still a small house – against what most people do).
In any case, I think of you often and smile when I think about you teaching and how much you still have to teach. 🙂
Hey Lil Sis, it’s so good to hear from you. I think of you often too, and I smile, because I love your free spirit and your willingness to try new adventures and to follow your heart. Never change….I like you just the way you are.
Wishing you the same success continually in your second in series…constant encouragement comes from you my friend … Isn’t it the right way to live ?- to me the only way, as to ‘love it or leave it’ a life long motto ; one goes with the other hand in hand. Loving what we do is symbol of our products, making life happy and radiant…
Be blessed and prosperous.
Michael my friend, eloquently stated as always. Thank you for that….very true words and I do try to live by them.
blessings always
bill
Love your quote today Bill, it is so so true!
Funny how the words sometime dry up for no reason, I bet they will be flowing wildly soon for you so HP will have to wait. Have a great week, talk real soon!
Thanks, Irish. The words are flowing on the new novel, and at this point that’s my main focus, so it’s all good.
Thanks for being here. You bring a smile to my face with every visit.