Mariah Albright - New Author

Hello dear readers,

Welcome to today's post, please extend a warm welcome to Ms Albright, a new author just starting on her journey to publication. She's been very gracious in stopping by to be grilled!

Welcome Mariah and thank you for coming in. Lets just jump right into the questions, shall we?

1. 
   
2. What is the first book that made you cry?

Anne Frank

3. 
   
4. Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Energize

5. What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Telling and not showing.

6. Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

It hurts the writers.

7. Have you ever gotten reader’s block?

No.

9. Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Sometimes I've considered it.

10. Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

Deliver readers what they want

11. Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?

Possibly

12. What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?

I help them by reading over their writing and giving them construction criticism.

13. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?

Work a connection between each book.

14. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Write down your ideas

15. How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?

Haven't published anything yet.

16. What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

I haven't made money from writing.

17. What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?

J.K Rowling

20. What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?

Diary of Helene Berr

22. As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

Flamingo

24. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

3

25. What does literary success look like to you?

Having at least 100 readers 

26. What’s the best way to market your books?

Popular places and sites

27. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I spend a week or two researching if I don't already know about it.

Right now I'm researching Planet X.

28. Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?

I view it as a copying mechanism

29. What did you edit out of this book?

Names for personal reasons

30. Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?

Not yet.

32. How do you select the names of your characters?

It has to fit my story whichever sounds best and goes with the time period I'll use it.

33. If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?

Teaching

34. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

Haven't published a book yet.

35. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

No, but I've thought about it

36. What was your hardest scene to write?

A scene about ptsd experience

37. Do you Google yourself?

I have before.

39. What is your favorite childhood book?

Missing Mrs. Nelson

40. What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Not getting distracted

41. Does your family support your career as a writer?

         Yes

42. If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

Always use writing prompts to improve my writing.

43. Do you believe in writer’s block? 

No

Am I driven by my muse...or by the mainstream?

I've often heard from friends and family the question: How do you pick what to write about? Do you write from inspiration with the book being something you'd read...or do you write for the more mainstream fiction reader?

This may seem to be an obvious question, yet there are ways to muddy the waters with it. Are they referring to blog posts? Books? Articles? Being aware of exactly what the question refers to is helpful, but still can leave one unable to answer it.

Every time I hear this question, I am left with the urge to laugh wildly and a little manically. After all, as an artist, how do we decide what we are going to do? Explaining how I write is like asking how someone studies.

In all honesty, the answer is the same regardless of what the asker's intent is. For myself at least, I write what I am driven to. Be it a blog post, an article, a vlog, or a novel.

The topic isn't decided as one would decide whether to look at this or that, but rather what my muse is calling on me to do. I keep several notebooks on hand, as well as paper and pen all over the house, and vehicle, because I often times will get an idea while I'm doing the regular tasks we all do.

Keeping track of the ideas my muse hands out is an excellent way to ensure my creativity is flowing. An abundance of plot ideas, notes, and character information is very good. Still, it does mean as an author I have a decision to make. Beyond just which project to work on, but to actually decide how to write is a key point.

Muse it up or mainstream it down. Do I stay true to myself and my writing creativity or do I write for the more mainstream ideology? Every author must make that choice, for myself, writing within the mainstream has always proven to be a challenge. I can't find it in me to write what I'm told. I want to be free to express myself, to explore the world as I see it. Does this set me apart from others? Maybe, though I can't speak for another.

I'm happy being able to write as my Muse directs me. Writing is intensely personal and as long as my readers are enjoying what I am putting out, then I consider this to be a success.

May the muse be with you!

November's Writing Challenge.

November is looking to be a hectic month for me. I'll be working on my paranormal novella, as yet untitled, which will be part of #TheForsakenSeries. As well, I'm going to be working on the Booktube channel Patricia and I have, and the podcast channel Ciara and I share. Patricia (my alter ego) is working on a historical romance she's been dying to write, so our time will be well spent.

So this month is busy as we prepare for the writing challenge, continuing our blogging, and look to release another title.

To ensure I am able to meet the goals I'm setting myself, I've taken advantage of having this month to prepare for each project and work on getting some blogs written and scheduled, as well as doing a number of recordings for podcasts and videos. This way when November 1 rolls around, I'm ready to start the month by focusing on the projects I'm planning.

A short post for today.

Today being Thanksgiving in Canada, I must admit my post I planned for today will have to wait. I will be posting it tomorrow instead. For now, I'm going to enjoy my family, the delicious turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the fixings.

I would love to hear from you though, on what your plans are for Thanksgiving and what it means to you. For my family and I its about cherishing the small things and embracing what we have... and maybe putting less emphasis on what we want for the day!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in Canada and wishing my friends everywhere a blessed day! See you tomorrow.

My Nanowrimo this year

October is slowly ticking away as I prepare for Nanowrimo. For those who are unfamiliar with this wonderful annual event - it is a challenge. The concept is scarily simple - write a 50k novel in one month, this works out to 1,666 words per day for thirty days.

Lets be realistic though. Is your real life and maintaining your health during this challenge going to allow for you to write 1,600+ words per day? Probably not. From past events, I have found its often best to give yourself few days to write say twenty-five of them to write and recalibrate your numbers to best suit the new data. This allows you to have days where you may not even get on to write in the novel because of outside forces.

So with such thoughts in mind, this year I am aiming to write 50,000 plus words in the space of twenty-five days. Can I do 2k a day? I have done so in the past. There are factors which must be taken into consideration for me to ensure success on this project. Firstly, I need to have my notes, research, world built as best as I can before November 1. This will ensure I am able to simply able to sit down and allow the story to carry me away.

And what am I writing this year?

I am extremely excited to return to my historical romance roots. I will be writing a Celtic romance set in early 6 or 7th century Ireland. Sounds daunting I know but I have been researching the topic for the past couple of years. Learning all I could about the history of Ireland specifically, and reading titles featuring the era I'm looking at. I've also had some help with an friend who used to work at a Library and who is Irish!

I haven't titled the work other than "Celtic Romance" but it is the story of two young people who are from clans who are bitter enemies. The heroine is a strong willed, opiniated woman who is used to standing on her own two feet. She is the youngest of thirteen children with only one boy - who is her twin and ten minutes older. The hero is a minor chieftain - his uncle is the high king of their clan who has to find out what happened to his younger cousin. When the heroine's brother and the hero's cousin vanish it puts warring clans at odds and on the brink of war.

The truth however, is far more dangerous to the kings because it has far reaching consequences. Its also the second story playing out within the novel - but in the background. Amid treachory, youthful inpulsiveness, and forbidden love, the hero and heroine will have to find a way to stop their families from going to war - and stop those who would use their hostilities to seize power.

Research is invaluable in writing a novel such as this for a couple of reasons. I find inacuracies affect the story - for example if you're reading something about Elizabethan England and there's details from the Victorian era it makes one stumble. As well, have the mixture of details can make a reader question the author or editor of the piece even if they don't realize it. I'm not critisizing anyone, this is simply my opinion and why I am so criticial of my own researching ability.

But it definitely means I need to ensure my accuracy when I'm writing a period novel.

With my plans for Nano this year, I've dug out my workbook I created and am updating for patrons (It will be available later this month with a pledge for Distinct Author's Patreon! )

It's something I use when I'm short on time and need to keep track of things. It has multiple sections, pages, for everything from the correct spelling of names - with meanings - to space for cultural trivia, recipes, fabrics, and more. My workbook is formatted so you can print it off and tack it up to a work board, or manipulate it to show the high points or specific details you really need to keep at the forefront of your mind. I like to think its a handy tool to use with your plotting (if you plot) and handy if you're a pantser because you can do all your note take, research etc and have it in one place.
As well, there's a spot to put links and list your sources of historical details - you never know when someone is going to question where you got your details from. 

Me and Nanowrimo by Rita Trevalyan

I’ve participated in NaNoWriMo since 2006, when my fellow writer and adopted niece Kira Cattan first told me about it.  NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, but the “National” part is a misnomer because it has spread all over the globe.  In it, you write a 50,000 word novel in a 30 day month. It used to be that if you didn’t have a plot, no problem, just writing, maybe one word 50K times, and you had it.  But these days, they’ve turned professional, and are asking us to prepare for the big event. I have had several of my NaNo novels published, once they were polished and edited.  Or was it Kira? It strikes me that it was actually my fellow Druid Michael Sharding who informed me about NaNoWriMo, and the rest is history. I got involved in it. My dearly departed the late Richard L. Fulton II called it “the Olympics for writers.”

Like many other writers, I battle writer’s block every day, so I got a book by Jenna Glazter titled Outwitting Writer’s Block  from Writer’s Digest Books.  I employed several tricks from the book, but my favorite has to be “the ugly notebook.”  From a salvage operation I participated in during a muggle gig, I acquired a 3-ringed looseleaf binder that had started its existence as an Office Services manual. I disposed of the contents, and put a package of college ruled notebook filler paper in it.  In this “ugly notebook, I warmed up and limbered my brain to do my writing. I started with the verbal form of scat singing. Scat singing is an art form started when blacks were slaves, and not allowed to own or play any musical instruments. For one thing, it’s rather difficult to play the banjo when your hands were required for picking cotton.  After they were freed, Such artists as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, and in our own era, Bobby McFerrin were known for their scat singing skills. I did it to warm up my brain. After all, dancers warm up their muscles, as do athletes. Shouldn’t we, as athletes of words warm up our writing muscles?Later, I took to asking questions pertaining to my stories.  

I have what’s known as dyscalculia, or math anxiety, so it was easier for me to write 2000 words per day for 25 days than 1667 for 30.  I took 5 days off for the Veterans’ Day parade, Thanksgiving, the Scottish Ritethe Liberty Lodge Thanksgiving dinner, and spending the day with my daughter.  After Doc died, and I moved to Sacramento, my housemate Stephen couldn’t understand why I would engage in something that didn’t have an immediate monetary payoff, and would try to sabotage me in all kinds of ways, mostly by trying to distract me by his incessant chattering like a monkey.  To persuade him of my seriousness, I wrote every day, resulting in 60,000 words or more.  Once I’d polished my manuscript, I submitted it to my new publisher, and after some edits, the book would come out, in ebook format.  After I got my Dragon, It was that much easier to produce my 2000 words, since I would dictate them, and the Dragon would type them on the screen.  I wrote in the morning because the chances were greater that I would be left alone, and I would have the rest of the day to do whatever I needed to do.  

I was, by now, participating 3 times a year, because they added Camp NaNoWriMo in April and  July. At first the April Camp Nano was “Script Frenzy”, and I wrote a screenplay, and a stage play.  Then I turned back to writing novels. Lately, so that I don’t have to wake up to a blank screen with an equally blank mind, I scribble out on paper on my clipboard “(I have 10), at least a portion on my writing for the morrow.  I take that clipboard with me to the bank, the store, the bus stop, and Kaiser, so that I’m always creating, even when not at my computer.  

A warning:when you go to www.nanowrimo.org to commit to your novel and sign up, they will strongly encourage you to donate.  With the exception of one November Nano, and two camps when I either couldn’t participate at all, or had to drop out for health reasons, I participated for 13 years without donating, so you don’t need to, if you’re low fixed income like me.  But if I ever strike it big, I intend to. So get an idea, go to www.nanowrimo.org and register your novel idea. Plan and prep.  Then, starting November 1st,at 12:01 am if you’re really eager and a night owl, write your 1667 words or however many words you write, and on every day, through November 30th, then validate your novel,and join me in in the winner’s circle.       

Rita

Let the Nanowrimo Fun Begin

Hello readers and writers alike. It is October...the month preceding the biggest challenge for a writer which until recently only happened once a year...now there are events three times a year. What am I speaking of?

Oh the horror...the stomach twisting nerves, the gut clenching insanity...okay you get my point.

If you aren't aware of what I'm speaking about, let me fill you in. I am speaking of Nanowrimo...otherwise known as writing a novel in a month. Yes, a whole novel. 50,000 words of creativity and mind numbing word craft.

Have I scared you off yet? No, well then come on in, pull up a chair and let me bend your ear. Coffee? Tea? Pumpkin Spice Latte? 

Nanowrimo is an event I've taken part in for the last four years, and I've won it by reaching my 50,000 word goal. But there is more to it than simply writing 50k, there's maintaining your mental and physical health, learning how to function with deadlines and goals. For myself, learning to forgive myself for not reaching my goal of 50,000+ words was tough. Real life kind of kicked me in the behind and I just wasn't able to do what I wanted.

I know this year is going to be hectic - heck, it's going to be insane. I'm doing two projects one as Elise Whyles and one as Patricia Bates. (I've got blog posts detailing Patricia's story) For Elise Whyles, I'm going back to Forsaken Heart, book one in #TheForsakenSeries and telling the story of two of the characters from the novel.

To ensure success, I'm building worlds, creating lives, and cultures, and really expanding on some of the cultural details revealed in Forsaken Heart while I'm also bringing the two characters forward into the current hostilities in Dreken. As I pondered this, I realized, I needed to be prepared. I need to have notes jotted down for quick reference, to ensure I can maintain my writing goals. As loathed as I am to plot anything, for November I realize if I am to have any semblance of success I'm going to have to plan for things before November 1st, and utilize some of my note taking resources.

I'm a huge fan of spreadsheets you can manipulate them in any number of ways to help you keep on track. Currently I have two open on my computer, one for the Forsaken Novella and the other for the Celtic Romance (See Monday's Post) ;). The one for the Forsaken Novella is a mix of information from now, as well as information from the Treatment for Forsaken Heart detailing the physical characteristics of the characters, the setting, and space for me to add in more details.

There are several sheets opened in each file, allowing for me to document character wants and needs, conflicts, goals, motivators, and more. Having everything in one place this way allows for me to color code details, move them around, and really get everything laser focused. I can hear some say, well isn't that what plotting is. And the simple answer is yes. The big difference I find is using the spreadsheets I can track things like correct spellings of names, if there's a recipe or dish being made I want to try making myself - of course making a demon or vampire dish is a little tricky but still...

I will be making a workbook of what I'm doing for the novella and offering it starting the 19th of this month when you sign up to become a patron. Becoming one helps me, my family, and supports the Distinct Author's channel. Fore more information you can find out about Distinct Author's here. 

Negative Reviews and how to deal with them.

I'm certain we've all gotten a negative review. The one-star review or a review where your book is literally torn to pieces leaving you ragged and raw. Every one of us has had to deal with such a review at one point or other in our career. It's not the review we must worry about, but how we deal with it.

Many years ago, (10 years or so) I got some amazing advice from my publisher at the time. She told me to consider how my life had altered and for me to consider what it meant to have a book on the market. For better or worse, I was a public figure, even if it was only to a select group of people. What I did was being watched closely.

Her words ring true even now after she's retired and I'm working on book number...thirteen or so. In some ways, my life altered with the first contract, in other ways, it's still the same. For me, the biggest difference is how much thought I have to put into what I say online.

Okay, I can hear you say, "Nonsense, what could possibly have changed?"

Well for starters, I had to be aware of getting into controversial arguments on social media. Not that I was into them, to begin with, but I've seen some authors who have lost their s**t over a bad review, or some percieved personal attack. I'm all for defending one's self, especially in light of some of the negatives out there such as Piracy but that's another topic for another day.

Reviews are a keystone for authors, you need them to create sales. Unfortunately, you need sales to get reviews. It becomes an endless cycle of hope and prayer, lol. But let's get back to the topic - I meandered away there, my apologies. We write this book, pour our sweat, blood, and tears into it. It becomes a living entity to us. After weeks, months even, of work, it's published and on the market. And we want people to love it, but you check and see a *gasp* review. Reading it, the anger rolls, steam's bursting from your ears, and you're ready to throw the laptop out the window.

How dare someone tear it apart? What do they mean giving it a single star?

Guess what, it happens.

The way we handle it will set the tone for ourselves and our reputation as authors. No, you don't toss out the laptop or break things. It won't change anything, and you'll have to clean up the mess. Instead, take it for what it's worth. A review is a reader's opinion, and there is very little likelihood you're going to satisfy every person who picks up your novel.

So we have to balance it out. Yes, a negative review sucks, but if we expend all our energy on that one review - what's left. In my experience, and I make no implication I'm speaking for anyone else, the best way to deal with the negative review is to pick it apart. What is the reader telling me? Was there some plot hole which I didn't see and it pulled the reader from the book? Maybe it was pacing? Is there a kernel of information within the review I can use?

If you can answer any of these questions positively, then I would say make this a positive review.
One thing an author should never do is attack the person leaving the review. If you want to lose any credibility, or gain a bad reputation then engage in an all out troll war.

Now, if there is no way to look at the review in a positive light for whatever reason, then just getting passed the review is your only option.

Put your energy into a more positive endeavour such as writing. There is never going to be a day when you will please every person who reads your book. And it's been proven, bad publicity can work in your favour. Keep in mind, reviews are opinions, and trying to force, cajole, or otherwise please everyone so you get nothing but 5 star reviews will ultimately hurt you when you suffer burnout.

Nanowrimo? Is it for me?

It is officially Pre-Nanowrimo month!

What does this mean? For a number of people - me included - this is the month where we get ourselves prepared for the challenge of November. For myself, its figuring out what I'm going to write during the month long writing challenge of Nanowrimo. I'm still considering what it will be as I'm going to be tackling more than one project.

My first project will be one for me, Elise Whyles, which means it'll probably be a contemporary or fantasy/paranormal novel. I do have an idea hanging around, circling me like a shark, just waiting for the right time to snap its massive jaws into my tush.

The second project will be one a little different. I've (as Patricia Bates) have spoken to one of my publishers and we're going to be doing some revamping of some of my historical romances. To follow this up, I'm going to be writing a historical romance. I have an idea for the novel, which means research is going to be my main goal in the next few weeks.

There are a lot of authors I know who take part in the yearly challenge and there have been some great works come out of it. But is it for everyone? Personally, I would say its for everyone who wants to write, but there are things to consider to ensure success.

What do I mean? Do I lose if I don't finish the novel? The measure of success is within your mind, if you start off with the idea to get a book plotted out and research started and only get five thousand words done, who am I to say you aren't successful.

I measure it in the number of goals you manage to complete.

For me, I have two main goals for November:

1. Finish the first draft of the manuscripts I'm working on for the month.

2. Forgive myself if I don't get as much done as I want.

If I can do both of those things by December 1, 2019 I figure I'm ahead of myself.

So are you going to take part in November's challenge? Let me know, I'd love to hear about your progress and if you took part!

Success comes in many forms

I have often sat and wondered just what success meant.  Can I define what it means to me? Was it the balance in my bank account? Or maybe the number of followers I have? Perhaps it is something else, maybe something someone has done better at than I? To see if it was within my grasp, I first needed to define it, and to do so, I had to truly look at more than the dictionary's definition.

Recognizing how you identify success is extremely important. If you don't know what success looks like, how will you know it when you see it?  This leads into the big question: What is success to you?

If we compare our success against another person who has made more money or is better recognized, how can we really measure our success. Which is not to say we should discount those who have gained more than we have. It's human nature to feel some emotional response to another's success. Be it jealousy, anger, or joy, it impacts our ability to see our own place within the spectrum.

The answer to this question is intensely personal. At least for me it is.

My measure of success is different than my neighbors.
And that's how it should be. It's very likely two people have the same goal, or goals. What's unlikely, is if they're going to do the same in the pursuit of those goals. It is only when you get down to it that you see the differences. Like the murky waters of a lake, what lies beneath the surface is where the action is.

So what do I aim to acheive within my writing career?

Thinking big, as if I had the world at my fingertips, my successful achievement would be to see my books on the NY Times best seller list for weeks and royalty cheques  in the seven or eight digits.

Pretty lofty, isn't it?

Perhaps. If I'm honest with myself  (and that's the key here) my success is not obtainable. It is. But if I sit down and really study what I'm wanting, then it means I have to look at the whole picture, not simply the royalty cheques, or the rave reviews. But I also have to look at the road to reach said goal, then it can be overwhelming and I am ultimately setting myself up for failure.

I was read the way to eat a bear was one bite at a time. The anology works. There isn't anything you can't do if you take it step by step. Having the drive to do it, and the will to overcome the negative energy, the self-doubt, the fear, is what is needed.

So if I look at my goal of NY Times Best Seller List, then to ensure success I have to break it down.

1. Setting Realistic Goals for myself.
2. Making them clear and concise.
3. I need to be honest with myself, and accountable.
4. The goals must be trackable.

Breaking my ideal success story into smaller, more easily managed bites, ensures, I don't end up on a sinking boat in the middle of shark infested waters with no lifejacket.  How much success I get will be determined by the amount of work I put in...and if the end goal stands when I get closer to it. What do you think? What does it mean to you to be a success.