We Are Here, We Are Here, We Are Here!

Oscar Pistorius
"I complained that I had no shoes,
until I met a man who had no feet"
Indian Proverb

 And by "we" I really mean me!

I haven't gone anywhere, I've just been hanging over at my new digs, Gwen Gardner, YA Author.

If you haven't been by yet, please drop in. Lots of exciting stuff is going on over there!

So here I am at Run Gwen, Run! It feels good to be back. I've been wondering what to do with this blog. I really do love it here. But I've been wondering if all my writer friends will continue stopping by since I moved. But then I thought, writer's want to be healthy too! They need motivation and inspiration to be healthy, mind, body and soul.

I've struggled with health issues for a while, but the biggest problem I have is weight related. And so this month I've made the committment to move more and eat less.

I've set small goals so as not to give myself an impossible task. So far, it's going great! My goal for this month is to lose ten pounds. I'm really close!

How are you all doing?

Need inspiration?

You might find something on my Inspiration page above.

Friday Funnies: Critique Excuses

Used with permission from Debbie Ridpath Ohi at Inkygirl.com."

Who hasn't done this?

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Have a Great Weekend!

Friday Funnies and Social Media

Welcome to Friday Funnies!

(This photo has been removed due to copyright laws)

This is true in an oddly disturbing sort of way!

I enjoy social media, but it does tend to take away from my work

because it's so time consuming. I wish it paid the bills, though.

How much time do you spend on social media?

If you like this post, please follow me at my new blog HERE!

Friday Funnies: Writer's High

Writer's High 

Vs

Writer's Low

I totally resemble this...

How about you?



(This photo has been removed due to copyright laws)



I hope you get Writer's High!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

Have a Fun and Safe Weekend!

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Welcome fellow Insecure Writer's Support Group Members!



For those of you who don't know about this support group, what rock have you been living under? we "meet" the first Wednesday of every month to discuss our fears and insecurities about writing, and receive support.


Thank you to Alex Cavanaugh for hosting this group!


And so this month, here is my topic:

To self-publish or not to self-publish? That is the question.

CONSIDER THE FACTS!

Some truthful facts:

• I'm a relatively new and inexperienced writer.
• I've learned a lot and have a lot to learn.
• What I write is quirky
• I know I have not written the next Great American Novel.
• My work is not five-star (except to family and friends! God Bless them!), but I hope it's three+++ or four +++.
• I believe I can attract a following of people who like my stories and characters, even if I haven't created a Harry Potter world. Even if I'm no Hemingway or Dickens or Stephen King.
• I've read some totally awesome books by self-published authors!
• The more I write, the better I get.

Self-publishing facts:

• No publisher shopping
• In charge of own artwork, editing and formatting
• Self marketing and social media
• You're on your own timeline - no deadlines
• Up to 70% of the royalties all to yourself
• Instant gratification on publishing timing - no waiting.
• Paid 60 days in arrears on royalties
• Total world domination control and the final word! (Oh yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about!)

Traditional publishing facts:

• Shopping for a publisher takes time, maybe even forever!
• Once a publisher wants you, it takes 6-12 months to see your book in print
• Gratification that a traditional publisher likes your work thereby validating you as a good writer (yes we all want this!)
• Still self marketing and social media
• 30% royalties? I'm not sure on this, but I know it's less than self pubbing
• Not sure when the money starts "pouring" in... (maybe "pouring" is too strong a word, lol?)

So what have I missed? Any information you'd like to share? Any advice?

I've been going over this question and it seems there are so many reasons for someone like me to self-publish.