Dear Microwave,
I know you're old. I get it. You can stop groaning and grumbling as your cracked plate turns. You think I don't know that you need a new door? Every time I try to open it, the sucker sticks and I have to pry it open with a butter knife. You think I like the jarring sound it makes as it snaps close, nearly severing off my fingers? And just how many screeching beeps do you think it takes to tell me the lasagna's ready? Five? Really? I'm not deaf, fyi. I can hear your wheels churning. I know you're plotting my demise by undercooking food, thereby giving me some twisted disease like lethal micronellacopia--I don't care if it doesn't exist Microknowitall, that's not the point!--If I could rub two nickels together I wouldn't waste them by replacing you with a newer model, oh no. I'd delicately place them right in your white belly and press High Defrost. Maybe then I'd thaw your cold heart and you'd start working right.
Until then I'm using the stove. Take that you 90's dinosaur.
Heatedly yours,
Kristin
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Top Ten ways to wake up your muse
Top Ten Tuesday is back again! I'm beginning to really like Tuesdays...
I've heard some authors say the muse doesn't exist. Inspiration dries up and what's left is the hard work ethic that got them published to begin with. I can see that. Others say their muse is the reason they write and that without their creative juices flowing every day they'd be a useless brain sitting at the computer, checking twitter a gazillion times instead of creating something new. I can see that side too. Pardon me for a moment as I tweet this blog. Heh.
Before I delve into ways to shake life into your muse, you should know where they come from. Wikipedia reads, "The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature are the goddesses or spirits who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths."
So how can you get those darn sprites to behave and keep your ideas rolling? Here's Top Ten ways to wake up your muse:
10. Dance! Nothing beats shaking the cobwebs out of your brain by shaking your groove thang. The music should put you in a better place (emotionally and mentally) and rejuvenate you. And it's good to laugh at yourself every now and again.
9. Exercise. I don't know about you but after 45 minutes on the bike or treadmill, the ideas are flowing like the sweat from my pores.
8. Eat some chocolate. Okay, okay, so I may be a little of a chocoholic. Seriously though, some studies suggest dark chocolate stimulates brain functioning. It may hurt your waistline, but your story lines will improve.
7. Wash your car. Or the dog. There's something about the rush of a water hose and the hard use of my hands that makes my brain zone. During those when times I'm not really thinking of anything at all, inspiration squeaks through.
6. Free write. I'm sure you've heard of this. Sit down with a pad of paper and a pen and set a timer for fifteen minutes. Write about absolutely nothing at all. Grammar doesn't matter. Story doesn't matter. The point is to not stop writing for a single second and bypass the logical side of your brain. Think of it as a mini-lesson in nanowrimo.
5. Do nanowrimo! Follow the link above for all the info. Loads of published novels were birthed from that insanely freeing month including Rachael Herron's How to Knit a Love Song. (Which is one of my absolute faves written by one of my absolute faves!)
4. Garden. Or, in my case, kill plants that would've lived had they stayed at Orchard Supply. I have a black thumb. I can't keep cactus alive. Seriously people, look at my plants.
They're hanging on for dear life. BUT I've heard gardening on a daily basis releases endorphins that stimulate creativity. Something to think about...
3. Head to your special place for some quiet time. Whether it be the beach, the mountains, your bedroom, just go. By quieting your brain and infusing a sense of calm, that idea you've been struggling to pull out of nowhere may hit you like a ton of bricks.
2. Read. Read. Read. Books are gasoline that set your own ideas on fire. Light them up by reading everything and anything within reach.
And the number one thing you can do to wake up your muse is...
1. Talk it out with a critique partner or fellow writer. Find a writing group online. Yahoo! Groups search engine is one way to start. Plug in writing group to the search field and start chatting. I'd be careful who you share ideas with at first, but once you find someone you can trust there is nothing more valuable than bouncing ideas back and forth. Join writing groups in your local area and reach out to others in your position. Lisa Sanchez, author of Eve of Samhain, is my critique partner and I can't tell you how many times we've met for coffee after a grueling writing session. Every single time she got my brain moving again.
So there you have it! Ten ways to kick start your muse back into gear. So what works for you--any of the above? Or do you have your own little muse rocking secret? Care to share?
I've heard some authors say the muse doesn't exist. Inspiration dries up and what's left is the hard work ethic that got them published to begin with. I can see that. Others say their muse is the reason they write and that without their creative juices flowing every day they'd be a useless brain sitting at the computer, checking twitter a gazillion times instead of creating something new. I can see that side too. Pardon me for a moment as I tweet this blog. Heh.
Before I delve into ways to shake life into your muse, you should know where they come from. Wikipedia reads, "The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature are the goddesses or spirits who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths."
So how can you get those darn sprites to behave and keep your ideas rolling? Here's Top Ten ways to wake up your muse:
10. Dance! Nothing beats shaking the cobwebs out of your brain by shaking your groove thang. The music should put you in a better place (emotionally and mentally) and rejuvenate you. And it's good to laugh at yourself every now and again.
9. Exercise. I don't know about you but after 45 minutes on the bike or treadmill, the ideas are flowing like the sweat from my pores.
8. Eat some chocolate. Okay, okay, so I may be a little of a chocoholic. Seriously though, some studies suggest dark chocolate stimulates brain functioning. It may hurt your waistline, but your story lines will improve.
7. Wash your car. Or the dog. There's something about the rush of a water hose and the hard use of my hands that makes my brain zone. During those when times I'm not really thinking of anything at all, inspiration squeaks through.
6. Free write. I'm sure you've heard of this. Sit down with a pad of paper and a pen and set a timer for fifteen minutes. Write about absolutely nothing at all. Grammar doesn't matter. Story doesn't matter. The point is to not stop writing for a single second and bypass the logical side of your brain. Think of it as a mini-lesson in nanowrimo.
5. Do nanowrimo! Follow the link above for all the info. Loads of published novels were birthed from that insanely freeing month including Rachael Herron's How to Knit a Love Song. (Which is one of my absolute faves written by one of my absolute faves!)
4. Garden. Or, in my case, kill plants that would've lived had they stayed at Orchard Supply. I have a black thumb. I can't keep cactus alive. Seriously people, look at my plants.
They're hanging on for dear life. BUT I've heard gardening on a daily basis releases endorphins that stimulate creativity. Something to think about...
3. Head to your special place for some quiet time. Whether it be the beach, the mountains, your bedroom, just go. By quieting your brain and infusing a sense of calm, that idea you've been struggling to pull out of nowhere may hit you like a ton of bricks.
2. Read. Read. Read. Books are gasoline that set your own ideas on fire. Light them up by reading everything and anything within reach.
And the number one thing you can do to wake up your muse is...
1. Talk it out with a critique partner or fellow writer. Find a writing group online. Yahoo! Groups search engine is one way to start. Plug in writing group to the search field and start chatting. I'd be careful who you share ideas with at first, but once you find someone you can trust there is nothing more valuable than bouncing ideas back and forth. Join writing groups in your local area and reach out to others in your position. Lisa Sanchez, author of Eve of Samhain, is my critique partner and I can't tell you how many times we've met for coffee after a grueling writing session. Every single time she got my brain moving again.
So there you have it! Ten ways to kick start your muse back into gear. So what works for you--any of the above? Or do you have your own little muse rocking secret? Care to share?
Sunday, July 4, 2010
How to write an author bio...
Scratch that title.
How to sell yourself.
That's a more fitting title, I think. That's what an author bio is all about, after all. Selling yourself. Making your writing background sound professional yet intriguing. It's a harder task than it seems, especially coming from a debut author who doesn't have a publishing credit that shines like the harvest moon.
When I sat down at my blank word doc, cursor blinking irritatingly and all, I thought to myself, "An editor is going to get to the part where it reads 'no publishing experience' and pass on the manuscript. I know it."
Well in a world where I know everything, that may be how strict the industry standards are. (And in a world where I know everything I would make bucku-bucks betting at the Kentucky Derby.) But you have to stay positive and work with what you have. It's hard to remember that every published author once sat in my position, staring at the blank screen, wondering what on earth to put in their bio.
I researched. A lot. There are loads of resources if you simply google "writing" and "author bio". Here's some things to keep in mind:
~Keep the bio about one page in length
~Stay professional, omit the personal
~Include degrees earned (shows English/writing background)
~Include conferences and workshops attended (where, when, and who presented)
~Include writing group memberships (shows dedication to perfecting craft)
~Include blog or website info. (shows "followers" or "future sales")
~Include publication credits, if any
Sounds easy-cheesy when it's spelled out like that, doesn't it? When you look over the list how many things could you expand on? Have you been to RT, RWA Natonal or RomCon? Have you taken writing workshops like Donald Maass' "The Fire in Fiction"? Do you hold membership in RWA, SFWA, or MWA? Do you attend regular meetings with branches of those groups? Do you know any published authors from these meetings who might be kind enough to give you a blurb for your debut novel? And finally, how many hits do you receive on your blog? How many followers do you have? In other words, how many sales are you bringing to the table when it's time for your agent and editor to negotiate?
You see, there are loads of ways to expand on an author's bio if you're not yet an author. But, and it's a mighty bold but, you have to show you're working toward branding an author name. You have to show you're perfecting your craft and dedicated to writing.
In my research I often came upon author bio's that included personal information. The rules clearly state no personal information, so what's the reason for the discrepancy? Take a look at the first few lines of Karen Marie Moning's two bio's:
The bio on her website reads, "Karen Marie Moning was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, one of four children. She graduated from Purdue University with a BA in Society and Law." Her "official" author bio on the other hand reads, "Karen Marie Moning, a New York Times bestselling author, graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in Society & Law."
Catch the difference? When a reader enjoys her book and finds her website, he or she might feel connected to know how many siblings she has or where she grew up. But no editor, when deciding whether to represent or pass on her manuscript, cares about that info. They care about her professional capacity and how that will relate to future sales.
So this is what I did (not saying it's right or wrong because I have yet to sell Enemy, Beloved), but I kept it professional and expanded on areas I could expand. I didn't say I was unpublished...I just left it out and focused on my stengths. Before I knew it I had a full page in length.
Know that WHEN you get an agent, they're going to need your author bio up front. Start bulking it up now and it'll be that much easier later.
How to sell yourself.
That's a more fitting title, I think. That's what an author bio is all about, after all. Selling yourself. Making your writing background sound professional yet intriguing. It's a harder task than it seems, especially coming from a debut author who doesn't have a publishing credit that shines like the harvest moon.
When I sat down at my blank word doc, cursor blinking irritatingly and all, I thought to myself, "An editor is going to get to the part where it reads 'no publishing experience' and pass on the manuscript. I know it."
Well in a world where I know everything, that may be how strict the industry standards are. (And in a world where I know everything I would make bucku-bucks betting at the Kentucky Derby.) But you have to stay positive and work with what you have. It's hard to remember that every published author once sat in my position, staring at the blank screen, wondering what on earth to put in their bio.
I researched. A lot. There are loads of resources if you simply google "writing" and "author bio". Here's some things to keep in mind:
~Keep the bio about one page in length
~Stay professional, omit the personal
~Include degrees earned (shows English/writing background)
~Include conferences and workshops attended (where, when, and who presented)
~Include writing group memberships (shows dedication to perfecting craft)
~Include blog or website info. (shows "followers" or "future sales")
~Include publication credits, if any
Sounds easy-cheesy when it's spelled out like that, doesn't it? When you look over the list how many things could you expand on? Have you been to RT, RWA Natonal or RomCon? Have you taken writing workshops like Donald Maass' "The Fire in Fiction"? Do you hold membership in RWA, SFWA, or MWA? Do you attend regular meetings with branches of those groups? Do you know any published authors from these meetings who might be kind enough to give you a blurb for your debut novel? And finally, how many hits do you receive on your blog? How many followers do you have? In other words, how many sales are you bringing to the table when it's time for your agent and editor to negotiate?
You see, there are loads of ways to expand on an author's bio if you're not yet an author. But, and it's a mighty bold but, you have to show you're working toward branding an author name. You have to show you're perfecting your craft and dedicated to writing.
In my research I often came upon author bio's that included personal information. The rules clearly state no personal information, so what's the reason for the discrepancy? Take a look at the first few lines of Karen Marie Moning's two bio's:
The bio on her website reads, "Karen Marie Moning was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, one of four children. She graduated from Purdue University with a BA in Society and Law." Her "official" author bio on the other hand reads, "Karen Marie Moning, a New York Times bestselling author, graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor's degree in Society & Law."
Catch the difference? When a reader enjoys her book and finds her website, he or she might feel connected to know how many siblings she has or where she grew up. But no editor, when deciding whether to represent or pass on her manuscript, cares about that info. They care about her professional capacity and how that will relate to future sales.
So this is what I did (not saying it's right or wrong because I have yet to sell Enemy, Beloved), but I kept it professional and expanded on areas I could expand. I didn't say I was unpublished...I just left it out and focused on my stengths. Before I knew it I had a full page in length.
Know that WHEN you get an agent, they're going to need your author bio up front. Start bulking it up now and it'll be that much easier later.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Tik Tok
Oh, you would not believe what I discovered on the world wide web this morning...
Further proof that with enough time and an immense amount of boredom, even Star Trek can be amusing.
Want an update on my progress? I'm still editing Dark Tide Rising for The Wild Rose Press and Enemy, Beloved is out of my hands, hopefully making editors salivate for more in New York. I completed my Author's Bio a couple days ago, turned that in, and am now inserting my voice into a rather dry synopsis. That's the challenge, isn't it? Making your voice come through in a 4-5 page summary. Not as easy as it would seem.
On Monday I'll give some tips on how to write an Author's Bio or at least tell you what I did. I researched a ton of different sources trying to find the best way to make myself "marketable". I'll put all those together and condense them for you. I think I'm gonna let the Trekkies Tik Tok me into another writing session. Have a great Fourth of July weekend! Be safe out there!
Further proof that with enough time and an immense amount of boredom, even Star Trek can be amusing.
Want an update on my progress? I'm still editing Dark Tide Rising for The Wild Rose Press and Enemy, Beloved is out of my hands, hopefully making editors salivate for more in New York. I completed my Author's Bio a couple days ago, turned that in, and am now inserting my voice into a rather dry synopsis. That's the challenge, isn't it? Making your voice come through in a 4-5 page summary. Not as easy as it would seem.
On Monday I'll give some tips on how to write an Author's Bio or at least tell you what I did. I researched a ton of different sources trying to find the best way to make myself "marketable". I'll put all those together and condense them for you. I think I'm gonna let the Trekkies Tik Tok me into another writing session. Have a great Fourth of July weekend! Be safe out there!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
100 Follower Contest Goes On
I haven't mentioned the 100-follower contest in awhile and it's high time to refresh. You can find this info on the "100-follower contest" tab above, but just to save you the mouse click here's the info again.
I'm giving away either a SIGNED copy of Lisa Sanchez's paranormal romance novel, Eve of Samhain,
Or a $15.00 Starbucks Giftcard.
The winner will get to choose their reward, but I'd pity the fool (in Mr. T's voice, of course) who turned down the chance to ogle Lisa's super-sexy (yet adorably tortured) hero Quinn Donegan.
The rules are simple. To be entered, you must "Follow" my blog and leave a comment on the "Author Spotlight: Interview with Lisa Sanchez" post. You can find the post by clicking on the "Author Spotlight" label on the sidebar.
You also get one bonus entry for each thing you do on this list: (And who doesn't love a bonus or two?)
+2 Adding this contest post to your sidebar (shoot me an email so I can check it out)
+2 Blogging about the contest (shoot me another email so I can give mad thanks)
+1 Twittering this post (make sure to add @KM_Miller so I know you did it)
*(Each of those above can only be done for bonus points once. Thanks to those of you who'd so graciously tweet the contest every day...but I couldn't possibly add up all those bonus points until it ends.)
The winner will be announced once my "Follower" count reaches 100. On May 24th, 2010 I had 31 followers. As of today, July 1st, the tally's up to 59! Thanks guys, we're nearly there! Tell your friends and win some goodies!
I'm giving away either a SIGNED copy of Lisa Sanchez's paranormal romance novel, Eve of Samhain,
Or a $15.00 Starbucks Giftcard.
The winner will get to choose their reward, but I'd pity the fool (in Mr. T's voice, of course) who turned down the chance to ogle Lisa's super-sexy (yet adorably tortured) hero Quinn Donegan.
The rules are simple. To be entered, you must "Follow" my blog and leave a comment on the "Author Spotlight: Interview with Lisa Sanchez" post. You can find the post by clicking on the "Author Spotlight" label on the sidebar.
You also get one bonus entry for each thing you do on this list: (And who doesn't love a bonus or two?)
+2 Adding this contest post to your sidebar (shoot me an email so I can check it out)
+2 Blogging about the contest (shoot me another email so I can give mad thanks)
+1 Twittering this post (make sure to add @KM_Miller so I know you did it)
*(Each of those above can only be done for bonus points once. Thanks to those of you who'd so graciously tweet the contest every day...but I couldn't possibly add up all those bonus points until it ends.)
The winner will be announced once my "Follower" count reaches 100. On May 24th, 2010 I had 31 followers. As of today, July 1st, the tally's up to 59! Thanks guys, we're nearly there! Tell your friends and win some goodies!
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