November MGR Tour: My Piece of Advice

New writers get a lot of advice sometimes. This month's task it to limit my recommendation to one thing, and I think my "one thing" encompassed more than that by implication.  Come see what I'd recommend to a new writer.

Your Writer's Platform

Here I shall stand upon my Writing Platform, doing…er, writing platform-y things…Vote for me based on my platform, and I'll give you four years of awesome.

Or not.

VOTE FOR ME by clicking the link. 

MGR: Writer Platform?

We're talking about platform this month on the MGR Tour.  Come see what I have to say about it.

Writing Platform? Do I have One?

When I saw this month's topic, to be honest, I was baffled. I didn't know what that meant. So, being a modern woman I went to the internet to get some help. I stumbled on http://www.be-a-better-writer.com/writing-platform.html and checked out the definition there. Here's the first paragraph on their page.

"Having a writing platform means that you have an audience, and that you have some vehicle in place to reach that audience when you have books to sell. This platform is as important to those not yet published as it is to established writers."

Oh! Yeah, how am I contacting people, selling books, putting my name out there? Good question. The site offers thirteen things you should or could do to create a rounded "platform". If you're interested in what they suggest, check out the site. However, we get all of this same information right here on Forward Motion. Here are a few of the things I do.  Click here to see the whole post.

The Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour is sponsored by the website Forward Motion (http://www.fmwriters.com). The tour is you, the reader, travelling the world from author’s blog to author’s blog. There are all sorts of writers at all stages in their writing career, so there’s always something new and different to enjoy. If you want to get to know the nearly twenty other writers check out the rest of the tour at http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com!  Up next: Jean Schara!

MGR: Publication Fears

I had to chuckle when I saw this month's topic.  Find out more here.

Dawn's Publication Fears: Unleashed

 When it comes to writing, I perceive there to be two kinds of fears: the first being that voice in my head that throws the meanest what-if’s at me to keep you from getting stuff done. There’s also the stuff that truly is scary. It’s as real for writing as it is for publication.

Keep reading here.

MGR August: Protagonists.

This month, I talk about a few of my protagonists.  Come meet them.

Merry Go Round Blog Tour: August - Protagonists

Protagonist: The story's main character. The protagonist can be anything, think of Steven King's Christine, for example. But we generally think of the protagonist as a person, one that you, the reader, can relate to. A character that you're willing to spend some time with and makes you want to read the book or story you've just picked up.

Most of my protagonists have been women. It makes sense. I'm a woman and not surprisingly, I'm kind of familiar with being a woman. 

See more of this post here.

The Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour is sponsored by the website Forward Motion (http://www.fmwriters.com). The tour is you, the reader, travelling the world from author’s blog to author’s blog. There are all sorts of writers at all stages in their writing career, so there’s always something new and different to enjoy. If you want to get to know the nearly twenty other writers check out the rest of the tour at http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com! Up next: Jean Schara!

MGR Tour: Mid-Year Check-In

This month we're checking on our progress toward achieving our January goals for the year.   How am I doing?  Come see.

Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour July: Mid-Year Goals Check-In

Six months worth of goals. Ack! It has been a whirlwind year for me in my writing world, to be sure.  I completed all of the goals for January, February and March which to be honest, was a struggle. I just felt behind the whole time. April was tough, though I did get the cover for Hard Choices done and revealed in April. Hard Choices finalized in May right on schedule and was published. It's always pretty exciting to send another book out into the world. Read more here.

The Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour is sponsored by the website Forward Motion (http://www.fmwriters.com). The tour is you, the reader, travelling the world from author’s blog to author’s blog. There are all sorts of writers at all stages in their writing career, so there’s always something new and different to enjoy. If you want to get to know the nearly twenty other writers check out the rest of the tour at http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com!  Up next: Jean Schara!

Half a year in

I didn't actually post goals back at the beginning of the year, but looking back on the past six months, I'm reasonably happy with what I've gotten done.

Check out the post on my blog to see the details.

June MGR: Improving Craft

This month we're talking about improving craft.  I recommend a three prong approach.

Improving Craft

Three Tools to Improve Your Craft

Write a journal -


It's been said before by many people that keeping a journal helps improve your writing. The act of throwing the words out on the page gets you into the writing habit (a very good habit to have!)

I've never been a journal writer, but I can't argue with the logic. There have been countless journalists over the centuries who have poured their emotions into a diary and became successful authors.

If you're finding yourself stuck, maybe you should sit down and write whatever comes to mind. You can't find the diamonds without digging through the mine.

Continue Reading...

Improving the Craft

In my mind, there are three ways to improve one’s craft, and I actively participate in all three, sometimes binging on one form over the others for a perspective change. There’s input, output, and one-step-removed analysis. Continue reading here.

MGR: Finding A Life

How does one balance writing and life?  I'm sure there are as many ways as there are people.  Come see my thoughts on the subject here.

Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour: Work/Life Balance

Writing can be all consuming. I get a story in my head and I want to start writing and keep on writing. But, I can't write all the time. If I did, where would my ideas come from? So it's important to get up away from the computer and interact with other human beings.

Click here to read more.

The Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour is sponsored by the website Forward Motion (http://www.fmwriters.com). The tour is you, the reader, travelling the world from author’s blog to author’s blog. There are all sorts of writers at all stages in their writing career, so there’s always something new and different to enjoy. If you want to get to know the nearly twenty other writers check out the rest of the tour at http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com!  Up next: Jean Schara!

Finding a Life - The Balancing Act

The Dilemma

As a writer, it’s more than just a day job and a family life to juggle (unless you’re fortunate and don’t need an outside vocation to survive.) The writing has to be done too, and that will come at the expense of your friends and family. You’re not carrying a full-time job — you’re working two jobs, one of which has you at the corner desk in the bedroom, pounding words into your computer.

The difficulty lies in perspective. You need to concentrate on attaining your writing goals or you won’t be a success at writing. Your family, no matter how accepting, will experience feelings of neglect because you prefer your fantasy worlds and characters over them. I know. I have a super-supportive woman at my side who still feels ignored when I get into a story.

Continue Reading...