Happy January-Almost-February to you all!
What have you been doing lately? I just self-published the second in the “Shadows” series, this one titled “Shadows Over Innocence.” If you’re interested in a thriller, you can find it on Amazon, and that’s the last time I’ll mention it on this site for marketing purposes….well, maybe not the last time. lol
If you live on the east coast then I imagine you’re still digging out from the blizzard. I hope you are all well and healthy. Nasty storm for sure! Here? Mild…wet….not a sniff of snow. Welcome to my world!
Now let’s get on with the show.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Jack Canfield
SECOND QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.”
Robert H. Schuller
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
My latest novel is my fifth book. I have four novels now published and one non-fiction book on writing tips. If you would have asked me twenty years ago how many books I would write in my lifetime I would have said none.
Today I have five.
I’ve begun work on #6, plus work on my first in a series of novellas.
The point is not to brag. I am a fairly honest person when it comes to self-reflection, so when I say I am basically a modest person you can take it to the bank. No, I’m only mentioning the five books because I’m amazed by what I’ve accomplished, especially since I didn’t really start writing until I was sixty-two years old.
What I’m trying to share with you is a lesson it has taken me a long time to learn….it’s all right to acknowledge your accomplishments and give yourself a pat on the back. In my case, I will always think a book I write could have been better but still, I’ve actually written five of them, so how cool is that?
TIP OF THE DAY
Give yourself a pat on the back today. Maybe you aren’t accomplishing what you wanted to so far, but you are moving forward and you have made progress. Concentrate on that progress and for one day rejoice.
FREELANCE GIGS
Are you looking for paying jobs? They are everywhere around you, so open your eyes and see.
Traditional magazines and newspapers are still hard to break into, but online mags and newspapers are great in number and seriously not that hard to break into….but you have to try. You might get rejected a couple times but keep trying.
Here’s a free tip: Decide what your passion is and then use that passion to springboard into a paying gig. There are online mags, blogs and newspapers for practically every passion. Get online, start Googling and see what you come up with.
If you have your heart set on traditional mags then be prepared to do some work. I have a friend who parlayed her love of photography and nature into a newspaper gig called “Life at Boomer Lake,” a weekly article about the birds at Boomer Lake in Oklahoma. She had a passion, she came up with a unique approach and she sold that approach to a newspaper.
You can do that too. I absolutely hate hearing someone say “I can’t do that.”
Bull! You can do it….you just don’t realize it yet.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Someone mentioned the other day that I should have an online writing course. I’m thinking about it…they aren’t that hard to start. I wonder how many would sign up for a course if I offered one? What do you think? Is it worth the time and effort? Are there people out there who would pay to learn from this old teacher?
MORE IN A COUPLE WEEKS
I used to do this blog at least twice-weekly. Now I’m lucky if I do it twice-monthly. Oh well. Life hands us changes to deal with, and we change our approach, and our priorities change, and we either learn to handle the change or we get run over.
I’ve never been run over in my lifetime and don’t plan on it happening.
I’m not a victim and never will be.
Have a great week!
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Definitely still digging out here from the lovely blizzard and jealous of your no snow in your neck of the woods. But congrats on the latest book (definitely so well deserved!). And I think you most definitely should start a writing course, because of all the people I know you definitely know this writing thing in and out, as well as have a ton to offer to those who are in need of writing help and advice. Just my two cents, but think you would be an amazing writing teacher! Happy Tuesday once again 🙂
Thanks for your input, Janine. I appreciate it. Stay safe and warm and thanks for always being here.
Well Bill, that blizzard really didn’t do much damage to me. I went out and shoveled with my shorts on. Oh, and not snow shovel, a dirt shovel to plant 2 orange trees, 1 Guava tree and a Cinnamon tree.
Yes, I am patting myself on the back for getting out from behind this computer and planting some trees. But the busy freelancer that I am better get back to work. Thanks friend!
Greg, at this point, I can’t even conjure up a daydream of weather like that. LOL Good for you getting away from the computer. I’ve got animals to feed soon, so I’ll take my break shortly. Thanks for the visit.
Self-appreciation is something that I had to learn as an adult. Before that, I was so self-critical that I could hardly lift my head up when someone said my name. You are right in that giving ourselves a pat on the back when we do something good is great for a person’s sense of worth. Now, when someone gives me a compliment, I look them in the eye, smile, and say, “Thank you!”
Congratulations on getting those books published! That is quite an accomplishment! You give me hope that there is still time for me!
Denise, there is time…you are healthy and alive…there is time. 🙂 Best wishes and thanks to you.
I just finished writing my fifth and sixth book and getting ready to send number 7 to the beta reader. You are right writing gigs are all over the place! As you can probably guess, I won’t be taking your writing course. There’s a lot of people who would like to do a writing course, but there are far fewer who would be willing to pay for it.
Donna, that is very, very true, and that is my concern. I’ll have to give it more thought…thank you!
I guess you probably should also ask the question: How much would you pay for me (William Holland) to conduct a writing class. Another possibility could be writing coaching.
Thanks for the additional input, Donna!
I think your accomplishments are extremely cool. I also think it is perfectly okay to promote your books on your blog.
I’m now older than you were when you started but I’ve finally decided to get serious about my writing. (I’m running our of time). You are one of the inspirations I thought about turning to, so here I am reading your blog for the first time in a while.
I just read a wonderful book called ‘Write. Publish. Repeat’ about self-publishing. I recommend it if you haven’t read it. It’s a book about self-publishing by a couple of guys who have been very successful at it.
Jo, thanks for stopping by. I actually have read that book and promoted it on this blog about a month ago…great book with an important message for sure.
Aaah, Bill, you continue to inspire me every time I click to read your blog, I love it! Makes me want to hunker down and churn out a blog post right now!! That will have to wait till the weekend because work calls, but still. You have the power to move people to action, it’s awesome!
Huge congrats on all your published online books, that’s definently something to pat yourself on the back about 😀 You know what would be a great idea? You teaching people how to write novels while they work full-time jobs – tips and tricks that you’ve picked up. LOL, I only say this because I still have a deep desire to do this, but never seem to find… MAKE… the time. That other writing course sounds like a great idea, I’m sure you’ll get some interest in that.
Hope your week is good and you’re keeping warm and safe on that side!
Mel, it’s always good to see you. Thank you! I’m afraid my secrets really aren’t secrets….I’m organized and laser-focused….not everyone is…we all have talents and character strengths. Use yours in a way that will lead you back to writing on a regular basis. 🙂
Hi, Bill. Impressive work you’ve got there. You should give yourself two pats on the back. Here let me get you started. (pat, pat)
I’m currently developing a story I started at my writers’ group. I was going to publish it on HP but it seems to have taken on a life of its own (2500 words and counting). I may have to publish it in parts. I’m at a standstill at the moment. One of my characters is not cooperating. Her sole purpose is to lead the reader to the star of the show. The problem is she’s not that interesting. I doubt the reader would hang around long enough to follow her to the main protagonist. My son suggested that I needed a trope (he did media studies in school) that would elicit a question from the reader and then proceed to answer that question. I get what he means, I just can’t think how to make her more engaging. (heavy sigh) Have any of your characters turned ornery on you?
Anyway…to answer your question, yes I would gladly pay for your pearls of wisdom. Have a great day Bill.
Zulma, I have no doubt you’ll figure it all out. To answer your question yes….the Shadow Series ….the main character, Eli Baker, is the reason I threw 10,000 words away and started over. Either he wasn’t cooperating or I wasn’t…still not sure which. 🙂
Thank you as always. You’ve given me something to think about and that’s never a bad thing.
bill
10,000!!! Now I don’t feel so bad. Well if you can bounce back from that setback, then I have no cause to complain or feel sorry for myself. Right then, tomorrow I am back in the saddle for sure come Hell or high water. Thanks, Bill.
Let’s hope it doesn’t come down to hell or high water. 🙂
I am trying to get my stuff together this year–not really sure what that will look like yet! You are always an inspiration to me Bill!
Thank you Audrey! I draw my inspiration from all of you, my peers and friends.