Artistry With Words

I haven’t been on this blog for a few weeks.  I’m assuming you all managed to get along quite nicely despite the dearth of words from me.

So how’s it going for all of you?  Pounding out the words, are you?  Perfecting your craft, are you?  Striving to become a better writer, are you?  Finding new ways to market, are you?

Or are you stuck in neutral?

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“You’ve heard the saying, ‘Analysis creates paralysis.’ You can’t be 100 percent sure of anything.” Mark Burnett

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

I wonder how many writers reading this are insecure people?  There are times when I’m convinced that all writers suffer from insecurity.  They just aren’t good enough.  They are concerned that once they publish, people will chastise them and ridicule their writing?  They hold back from being “real” in their writing because they fear the feedback.  They have been rejected so many times in their lifetimes that they are afraid to even try.

Does that sound like anyone you know?

I also know writers who are quite happy with the current eBook craze because it keeps them safely in their writing studios, writing, publishing and never having to actually go out and face their target market.

I have a friend who is an idea person.  She is one of the world’s great brainstorming people, and her creativity is off the charts it is so good.  Add to that the fact she has some good writing skills….but….she never goes beyond that point.  She talks about writing children’s books, and she has a file folder full of great ideas and book outlines, but she never writes a word.

Can you guess why?

TIP OF THE DAY

I have no tip for this kind of paralysis.  I wish I could give all of you a hug and tell you that it’s okay to be rejected, that’s it necessary and I’ll be by your side every step of the way, but I suspect that would do absolutely no good in overcoming your paralysis.

I used to suffer from it.  I was terrified to speak in front of people.  I hated meeting strangers.  The only thing that got me through it was the memory of my father and his words “always move forward, Bill.”  If I’m in my writing studio, cranking out words but never testing the waters, I’m not moving forward.  It’s as simple as that.  I still do not feel comfortable meeting new people and introducing myself as a writer, but for me, it’s necessary….so I move forward.

Some people are natural-born marketers but mediocre writers. Some are incredible writers but they have the marketing skills of an aardvark.  I think the trick, for most of us, is to find a medium in there somewhere.

I wish you success!

PERSONAL UPDATE

It’s time to shamelessly spotlight myself.

The second in the “Billy the Kid” novella series, “Walking in a Dead Man’s Shoes,” has been published and is available on Amazon.  I am nearly done with the third in the series, and I continue to try and learn how to make a podcast.

After publishing the third novella I’ll be working on the next in “Shadow” series, and I’ve also started my novel about growing up during the 60s, a coming of age novel centered around the disappearance of a little girl in Tacoma, Washington….loosely based on the disappearance of Ann Marie Burr, a real life mystery some have attributed to a young Ted Bundy.

So that’s it for me….how about you?

Bill