Waste of Time

Writing a book is time-consuming work. Not only the writing part, but the thinking-about-it part. But it’s work I love and time I love to spend.

Once I became published, my time to write shrunk. Now I have to market. I was never on Facebook all that much. Now I feel I should be there. To be seen. Not that it’s working all that much, but if I wasn’t there at all, I wouldn’t be seen at all. It’s thoughts like that that are also making me think about joining Twitter (***shudder***). Marketing is a necessary evil if I wish to make it in the publishing business.

What I do not want to spend my writing time doing is hunting down piracy. Mainly, because I don’t see the profit in it (in time or money).

Sure, I’d love it if all the pirate sites would just disappear (I’d also love to get 5 star reviews all the time!). But I really believe that people who download pirated books would not have bought the books in the first place. Heck, I’d be surprised if 10% of pirated books were actually read.

Some authors see hundreds of downloads of their books from these pirate sites and panic. They see it as lost income. I’m sorry, but I don’t believe that’s true (unless these authors are hiring someone to send out takedown notices and then in that case, it is lost income). Do authors panic when people share their purchased paper book with a friend? How about when the reader sells the book to another reader? They didn’t get any money for that, so how is that any different? People who like to read, people who are honest, will buy the book (or get it from the library). People who are fans will want their own copy. Plus, smart people probably stay away from these pirate sites anyway. Who doesn’t think a lot of these sites aren’t set up to steal your information? I certainly don’t trust them.

I also don’t visit these sites because if I do search for my books and they’re not there, I’ve just flagged an interest. I truly believe they work that way.

So… what do you think about pirate sites? Am I in the minority here?

Stacy

Status Update

So far my goal of writing 2000 words a day is turning out to be 2000 for the week! Didn’t help that I had to delete 2800 words yesterday. Talk about painful! But most needed. I had taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque and had to get back on course. That’s the peril when you write by the seat of your pants. But I wouldn’t write any other way.

Let me tell you, though. While deleting those 2800 words hurt, I’m so GLAD those scenes were thinly written. I hadn’t spent all that much time on them (although they were really great scenes and I wish I could have salvaged them); I only wrote what needed to get the story moving. If I had spent hours editing them to make them sound right, it would have hurt a whole lot more.

So basically, when I come to a kissing scene, I just say they kiss and move on. No descriptions. No emotion. Okay, maybe a little emotion. Love scenes (and fighting scenes) are hard. No use spending time on them if there’s a good chance they’ll be cut. Once I know everything is in place, THEN I can add the meat. And as long as I can remember all that, the scenes should get written faster.

At least, that’s the plan!

So… my eye exam went well (no big changes). I couldn’t believe I’ve owned my current set of glasses since 2008. Okay, maybe I could believe it a little bit. They are pretty scratched up. Time to get a new pair, something I hate shopping for. Not only are they expensive, I’ll be wearing them all the time, so they have to look like me. And they can’t distract me (no shiny frames). I have a feeling when I finally get to the store to buy them, I’ll be spending quite a bit of time there (I’ve been known to try on nearly every frame). And no, I won’t consider contacts. Those are even MORE expensive (since I have an astigmatism). If you wear glasses, how often do you buy a new set? Do you get more than one? Yeah, I only get the one pair.

 

They don’t call me cheap for nothing! J

 

Have a good weekend!

Stacy

Wednesday Reads

Even the best laid plans get stomped all over, huh? My daily writing goals have pretty much crashed and burned right out of the gate. If my exercise routine had suffered such events, I’m not sure I’d still be going. Good thing I love writing. Just gotta dust myself off and do better the next day. And that day would be today. Keeping fingers crossed I’m not interrupted.

Hey, I got a book read this week. Here it is:

Sep 18: “Hearts in Harmony” by Gemma Brocato, the 2nd book in the Five Senses series, a contemporary romance. Blurb from Goodreads: Sometimes life’s most simple melodies become songs of love. Pippa Sanders’ life is filled with songs of leaving, longing and loneliness. Since the death of her husband, her children have been her world. She’ll do anything to protect them, including encasing her heart in ice until they’re college age. She’s made a practice of shying away from any relationship that could break her heart when it ends. And it’s worked so far. Clay Mathers has made a temporary move to Granite Pointe, Massachusetts to help with his mother’s Christmas tree farm while she recovers from a stroke. Although his long-range plans don’t include staying in the small town, a little female companionship during his short residency would be welcome. While on duty as sentry against protestors at a military funeral, he finds Pippa visiting her husband’s grave, and begins a campaign to make her into a friend–with benefits. What starts as a simple affair evolves to something more, something that changes the soundtracks of both their lives…the beating of two hearts in harmony. I really enjoyed this story. The family has captured my heart and I can’t wait to dive into the next one, which I just happen to have on hand (love getting those advanced reader copies!!). Not only lots of romance and some sexy scenes, it held a bit of a suspense/thriller, too. Really captured my attention. I don’t say THAT about too many contemporaries.

In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve done away with my star ratings here. Felt it wasn’t needed when all I’m doing is sharing what I’ve read. You can still see the ratings on Goodreads, but you’ll have to work at finding them. Yes, I’m mean like that, but I’m guessing you really don’t care! J

So… Does it seem like when you finally make plans that something always comes up at the most inopportune time? Why can’t that happen when it’s something I DON’T want to do? Never does, though, does it? ***grumble***

Happy reading!

Stacy

 

I’ve Set a Goal. Can I Succeed?

I certainly HOPE I succeed. My goal is to finish the first draft of Ghostly Interlude by Thanksgiving. That means writing about 2000 words a day, M-F (weekends and my cruise week off).

Can I do it? I should. My first book was written that quickly and I had a day job back then. I just have to “vomit” the words out and not worry about it being perfect. I also have to stay away from blogging and Facebook until I’ve reached my daily goal. THAT will be the challenge. I was doing that stuff BEFORE I write. My reasoning was to get it out of the way. But I’m realizing now that that’s garbage. So I gotta stay away until AFTER. It’s the only way I’ll get the job done. And I sooooo want to get the job done.

My reward for accomplishing this goal? Getting to watch “American Horror Story.” I’ve got the first two seasons on DVD. Never seen the show, but it sure looks interesting.

In other news… I’m finally getting ready to send out a newsletter. If you want to be on the mailing list, you can sign up for it on the side bar. I have no idea how well I’ll do (or what I’ll put on it), but I DO know that I’ll only work on it either AFTER I’ve reached my writing goal or on the weekend. Because, man, getting that stuff ready is really time consuming! Mainly because I’m learning as I go.

Update on my exercise routine: I’ve done really well the last couple of weeks going to the gym. Made it four days each week. Haven’t lost any weight, but I’m hoping I’m gaining muscle. Muscle eats more calories and takes up less space than fat. Plus, there’s this whole wanting-to-get-in-shape thing. The gym is killing me, but breaking up the exercise routine (legs on one day, arms on another), is really working out well. I’m walking at least 30 minutes before the weights (and getting my reading done during that time), which means I’m working out for about an hour a day. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can stick with it. I am motivated, though. Got a cruise in October (and again in December) and I’d like to be able to not look as fat. I know… I’m asking a lot! J

So…what did you do this weekend? Or did it go by in a blur?

Stacy

A Change in Plans

See… I complain about not having anything to blog about and then I go and have stuff to blog about. Of course, it would be nice if I wasn’t blogging about this particular thing.

I knew this would eventually happen, just not so soon, and not for Blind Temptation. I really, really love that story and feel it’s my best yet. But my publisher doesn’t want it (paranormal romance is selling slowly), which leaves me free to self-publish it.

I’m glad I have that option to consider. It certainly beats sending it out on submission. I mean, what publisher is going to want the third book of a series that started with another publisher? And it’s not as scary as it seemed last year. Still…it’s a lot more work on my part and we all know how lazy I am (haha!).

So it appears my road is changing a bit. A little bumpier with more outlying costs, but will get me to the same place. I just hope I can recoup my tolls. J

Life is an adventure. Isn’t it?

Have a great weekend.

Stacy