5 Reasons Why You Should NEVER Begin Something New

Beginnings are hard, right?

1. They suck the life out of you. Day and night, you worry and stress and plot.

2. They're slow. (Enough said.)

3. They leave you teetering, questioning your choices. There's no balance to beginning something.

4. They take SO MUCH WORK!

5. You MIGHT succeed, and succeeding can be a lot scarier than failure.

Once you get moving, momentum grows.

“The hardest part is always the beginning, when you feel uncomfortable. Know that this is normal, and all you need to do is go against your emotions. ...face your fears, be uncomfortable, and experiment with different strategies until you find something that works.”

― Jamie Cooper, Albert Einstein: Extraordinary Life Lessons That Will Change Your Life Forever

In the last four years, I feel like I've started again about fifty times. But like Wright Brothers (who failed more times than I want to count, going through 200 different wing shapes for planes and risking everything while unemployed), we keep trying.

Because beginning something is easy. Seeing it through takes dedication, fortitude, and the willingness to start and start again.

This week, we are starting something NEW.

We're publishing the entire STAGED READING of our musical in 1 minutes episodes over the coming weeks. Subscribe so you don't miss out!

Our awesome co-hosts are Shannon Lawrence, Diedre Knight, Liza, and Pat Garcia!

Today's question: As a writer/author what is something you regret? Or something that you wish you'd done differently in your writing process?

I'm skipping this one, but I look forward to reading everyone's responses!

How do you feel about beginning something new? Are you in the midst of a new project? Do you like musical theatre?

The Big Stupid: Making Adult Decisions Like an Adult (and How Not To) IWSG edition

What is your big dream? Something you thought impossible?

Every year I feel my age more and think about things I want to do. The things I have done. The things that are no longer realistic.

My husband is the same way, and this year he decided to do something about it.

So he took back up rollerblading.

At first, he was lucky to keep his balance. I kept my mouth shut...until he came home bruised from a fall.

He bought protective gear.

He watched YouTube videos and learned how to fall, new techniques, then practiced them in our garage. 

Occasionally, he came home with another booboo, but for the most part, he did pretty well -- until he could go out for an hour each day, cruising the neighborhood.

The rest is his story, and you can read it if you'd like: 

Click on me!

It boils down to this: he chased a dream, he achieved the dream, he got confident, he made a bad decision.

And now he's recovering from reconstructive shoulder surgery. For his dominant arm.

Chase your dreams. But stay humble. Listen to that little voice that warns you when you're about to make the big stupid. Hubris goes before the fall.

Our awesome co-hosts for this month are: Rebecca Douglass, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Cathrina Constantine, and Jacqui Murray!

The question: Is there anything you'd like to see changed, added, and/or rearranged about the book publishing industry?

So, so much! Alas, if wishes were lollipops... (Don't ask me where I'm going with that. LOL!)

I think the biggest problem the industry used to have was a HUGE barrier to entry, and now it's the opposite.

Everyone should have the opportunity to reach for their dreams, but it doesn't seem there's much reaching when it's too easy to obtain. I'm not saying writing a book is easy, and there are many things to learn when it comes to publishing.

I mean that with the ease of publishing, the market has been flooded by scammers, AI agents, etc. who are looking to make a penny. And I can't blame them. Everyone needs to eat. There are even people who sincerely put out their best work...whether it's ready to see the light of day or not. And my heart aches for them -- because this is a brutal world and you learn that through reviews.

The sheer number of books released (good and bad) make for a lot of noise and sometimes a breakdown of trust between readers and the publishing world. Where is our quality control? I guess that's what I'm trying to say--because we've gone from one extreme to the other. There's a perfect middle ground somewhere. I think.

What dream are you holding back on? Have you ever made a big stupid? Broken a bone? What are your feelings on the publishing industry?

Where Book Dreams Go to LIVE

 We've all had it -- the dream we're hoping to fulfill.

That sits.

And sits.

And sits.

Years go by while we walk by and shine that little dream and imagine it breaking free.

My little dream is finding its wings, one day at a time, inch by painful inch. Today, that means I'm about a week away from finishing the rewrite of IMMORTAL the book. (First penned in 2004.)

(Not a true representation of the cover)

Which means I'm looking for potential beta readers (in about 2 weeks to a month). 

What is a beta reader?

When a book is fully drafted, the author puts it in front of other eyes. The first reader is:

The Alpha Reader -- a trusted reader who helps iron out major plot/character issues.

Followed by:

Beta readers -- a small group who shares their reading experience with the author, often helping iron out minor inconsistencies or weaknesses in the writing.

The working blurb:

Rage. Isolation. Thirst…

For 300 years, an immortal cursed to live on blood has traversed the earth—hunted by a single family sworn to destroy him.

England 1792.

When the present-day hunter, Phineas, injures him, Lucas vanishes into the night. Weakened and desperate, he stumbles into his neighbor’s ball and meets Justine. His silent heart beats for the first time in centuries. If he is capable of love, is he capable of redemption? And will Justine’s uncle, Phineas, end him before he can discover?

Would you like to be a beta reader? Leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Welcome to our IWSG buddies! Huge thanks to our hosts, Victoria Marie Lees, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and C. Lee McKenzie!

June 3 question - Do most of your story ideas come from one place (the news, dreams, etc.) or do they hit from all over the place?

I started writing because of literal dreams: Story dreams with fully fleshed out plots, an awesome cast of characters, unexpected twists, and usually a resolution. My first 10 page story came from a dream when I was 10 years old.

But.

We grow, right? These days, story ideas/components come from everywhere, but my subconscious usually forms them as I write without conscious effort. It's helpful that way.

What about you? Where do you get ideas? Have you ever beta read for someone? Do you like getting in on the ground floor and giving your ideas?

Book Reviews 101: 10 Ways to Review a Book

 I know how intimidating it can be to write a book review--even when you're elbow deep in the industry.

The first time I volunteered to review a book for a friend was Kerri Cuevas' Deadly Kisses. Kerri and I had rubbed shoulders and exchanged laughs over our efforts with three separate Choose Your Own Adventure bloghops. I didn't want to get this wrong. And yet, when I stared at that blank text box on Amazon, I totally froze.

What?!?

I mean, I've written my whole life. How hard should it have been to say a few nice words about a book I really liked for a friend I totally adored?

Book reviews are book food. If you love a book and want it to succeed (or to see more books from the author) YOU BETTER get out there and leave them a review. Reviews boost visibility in Amazon's store. Which means they boost sales. Which means the author is motivated to put out more content.

But wait, that book already has thirty reviews. Why does it need another one?

People are lemmings, or sheep. I hate to say it, but it's true. They say, "Ooh, everyone is reading this book--see, it has two hundred reviews. I bet it's awesome."

A book cannot have too many reviews. 

But you really didn't like something about this book. Boo hoo. I bet there were a TON of things you did like, and good vibes always come back around. Say what you can that's positive and reward the author who put their blood, sweat, and tears into it. Don't be an author killer.

Now to the 

All of these ideas can be used separately for a simple review or a few combined for a longer one. When I review a book, I usually include one to three of these aspects.

1. THE SHORT REVIEW: If you're not confident writing a long review, don't. One sentence is sufficient. "I love this book." "I can't wait for the sequel." etc.

2. THE COVER: Did it get you? Were you intrigued by it? What questions did it have you asking?

3. THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE: What did this book make you feel? 

4. THE HOOK: When or how did this book grab you? The end of the first chapter? The first page? The first line?

5. SETTING: How was the story world? Realistic? Beautiful? Uninspired? Strange? A place you'd like to visit? Somewhere you're glad you'll never live?

6. THE CHARACTERS: Was there a character you absolutely loved or hated? Tell us about it. (This can comprise an entire review with multiple characters.)

7. PLOT: Book reviews aren't book reports. You don't need to rehash the plot. In fact, please don't. Only summarize when you need it to expound upon a point you want to make. Was there a twist in the story that took your breath away? What was your favorite scene? Did the story move too fast, too slow? Any glaring plot holes? Did you like the way it ended?

8. ORIGINALITY: What makes this book stand out from others? 

9. STYLE: What is the author's writing style? Poetic? Filled with imagery? Abrupt? Gritty? Comical? 

10. RECOMMENDATION: Do you recommend this book, and if so, to whom? (Age and genre preference.) 

  

 And there you have it, ten approaches to writing a book review. Go, read, share the love!

Welcome to our IWSG buddies! Huge thanks to our hosts, Jenni Enzor, Jemima Pett, Jamie of Uniquely Maladjusted but Fun, and Kim Lajevardi!

The optional question this month is: What was the most inspiring feedback you received from readers, including agents, editors, and beta readers?

I'm going to skip the question but I'd love to hear what everyone has to say.

Do you leave book reviews? What techniques have you discovered to make it easy?