WOW...LOOK WHAT I FOUND

So, I recently just saw that none of my 'scheduled' posts had posted. So here is one that I wrote right before Halloween.

In the days leading up to Halloween, what kind of inspiration do you get for your writing.

I don't like scary movies but I love reality police shows. I watch The First 48 every day.

Sometimes all day. Lifetime and A&E channels run marathons on Monday, Wednesdays and Thursday with the NEW episode on Thursday night.

I love this show and find myself thinking about the detectives on that show.

My favorite is Carolyn Mason. She is a weave wearing, high heel wearing, gun toting black woman who will make a grown man cry and a teenager ask for his momma.

She is the kind of heroine I need in my stories and well; she is my inspiration for The Stiletto Stalker.

I've been working on this book for two years and finally its done. 

Since its my first murder mystery, I am very hesitant to submit it because; well I'm an author and I don't want it to be bad. (please don't let it be bad)

So for now; it sits in my drawer and on my computer...waiting for the day that I am ready to 'give birth' .

So, what inspiration do you take from Halloween?

AN AUTHOR AND A TINY HOUSE

What do these two things have in common?

ME!

I am so excited to announce that I am purchasing a tiny house and will be writing full time.

What is a tiny house?

It's just what it says; a house that is tiny. Normally a tiny house consists of square footage that is no more than 500 square feet.

If you want to see the type of house I want; Take a peek at it right here. 


If you scroll through the pictures, you will come across one that is near a pool; that is what the outside of mine will look like. Looking further at the pictures; you will see one that is mostly white. That would be mine!

I found this builder and have fallen head over heels for them. Some people might call it stalker; I call it admiration.
 
This is a local builder, located in Virginia, specializing in tiny house: Tiny House Virginia

I fell in love with the tiny house movement about a year ago. I watch TINY HOUSE NATION faithfully every week and if I can't; my DVR records it for me.

I have found many tiny homes via YouTube and if you want to see some of them, check them out on my subscriptions: Tiny House Videos

I have decided to take the leap of faith and become a full time writer and I will use my tiny house as my office and I will have all of the comforts that I need.

Some people use their tiny home as an in-law apartment. Some people use them as rental properties.

I plan on taking mine on the road! I plan on parking it in an RV park or campground. I want to move around every couple of weeks for the new scenery.

I am so eager to begin this new journey and will post updates as they come. 

NEW YEAR AND NEW GOALS

It seems as if 2016 flew by in a blur.

For most of us authors, it was a year filled with lots of activity. There were lots of edits, rewrites, conferences, submissions and rejections that occured in 2016.

For 2017, it may be filled with the same but how will you approach it?

Will you take what you learned in 2016 into 2017? Will you submit your manuscript to more publishers? Will you rewrite that manuscript in your desk drawer? Will you attend another conference or maybe your first conference? Will you look at those rejections with new eyes and make improvements on your writing?

Whatever you do in 2017, remember that being an author is a privilege that a lot of people WISHED they had the courage to do.

Remember that you, yes you, can improve on being an author if you do one simple thing.

Be the best author you can be.

That means; attending workshops, conferences and seminars geared towards your genre of writing. That means not limiting yourself to one specific audience. That means taking time to market yourself to everyone; not just your family and friends. That means taking a leap of faith and submitting your work to a publisher, editor or doing it yourself.

Whatever you do; do it to the best of your ability.

I hope that your 2016 ends on a high note and that 2017 begins on a higher one.

See you in the new year.

AUTHORS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

On December 6 80+ authors met for their annual author dinner at The Old Europe Restaurant on Wisconsin Ave in Washington DC.

This is an event that is put together by +Dan Moldea  is something that all of us look forward to. This is an event that requires only two things.


You have a published novel and a check for $35.

It's that simple.

There was a room full of authors that write everything from literary works to fiction and we all get to give a 20 second elevator pitch.

We sit with our fellow authors and talk about everything from politics to the upcoming inauguration.

Take a look at all of the pictures that were taken last night and if you want to get on this exclusive list; please leave a comment below.




We also get to take lots of selfies....

CYBER DEALS ARE FOR EVERYONE

Today starts another big shopping day.

If you thought BLACK FRIDAY was big; then you have never done CYBER MONDAY.

Consumers spend just as much during this day than any other online shopping day.

Please remember this as you are clicking your way around the internet.

AUTHORS LOVE CYBER MONDAY TOO.

This is the day that they may sell a year's worth of books and be able to travel to a new book conference. This is the day that you can buy a series by a new author, for half the price and this is also the day that you will discover brand new reading materials.

If you ever wanted to try a new genre, buy it on Cyber Monday.

Want to get a personalized gift for the reader in your family, workplace or teacher?

Give them a book signed by the author and you will be the best gift giver EVER!

I never liked mysteries until I read Austin Camacho's Hannibal Jones Series. When did I get it?

Cyber Monday 2011 and have never regretted it.

SO take a chance on a new genre, new author or better yet; give the gift of reading to the readers in your life.

And if they have enough books...well there are so many great gifts to give...but that's for the next blog!

Stay Tuned!

REJECTION IS A GOOD THING

Rejection isn’t something that anyone likes to go through.

Being a published author, I worry about rejection.

Rejection from a publisher, an editor or from readers.

How do you overcome the fear?

By saying to yourself: I will be better for it.

Yes, rejection serves a purpose. 

It allows us to remember that we are humans and make mistakes. It reminds us that we are not perfect, no matter how hard we try to be. It also reminds us that we have to, correction, we MUST continue to get better in our writing.

Readers are not going to allow authors to sit back and push through mundane work. Publishers aren’t going to let authors think that don’t need improvement and if you have a good editor; they will make sure that they are pushing you to bring out the best words you have.

Yes, Rejection is hard but it is necessary.

So don’t just sit there crying because you have gotten another rejection (or your first rejection).

Dust yourself off, pick up that pen, paper, Notebook, computer or IPad and begin the rewriting process. 

Trust me, you will be glad that you did.

WRITING DURING THE SUMMER

During the summer I want to do many things and writing is not really one of them.

However, I'm an author and writing comes natural to me. Have you ever been somewhere and thought; wow that would make a great mystery? Or maybe you went on vacation and said, wow this would be a great place to put some characters and see what they can get into?

If you haven't done that; you are not a writer but most writers will know what I am talking about.

If you notice by the shirt, I wished I was in NYC right now and participating in +ThrillerFest Volunteer Coordinator  but I missed it this year due to being on tour for my own novel. But next year I will be back!

During the summer months, I sit in my office and I just stare off into space. There is not much to do when the students are on break but I get a lot of writing done.

Hopefully you are getting some writing done in between going to the pool, the beach, taking the boat out or fishing. If you are; snap a selfie and post it in my comments below.

I'd love to see what you are doing when you are 'supposed to be' writing.

Happy Summer!

ONE DAY AT A TIME

Now is the time that you should be working on those new manuscripts. Why? Because during the summer most major publishing houses do not bring out new books.

This gives the rest of us a chance to get our books out there

You have to take one day at a time and remember that even when you want to give up on writing or being published; you can't.

So when I want to give up I just remember what I normally do.

One day at a time is how I approach my writing.

One day I sit and think of the concept.

One day I begin typing without an outline.

One day I finish and then begin to re-read it and then One day it is ready.

Where are you in your process?

Are you beginning your writing, one day at a time?

GREAT INTERVIEW

Going to conferences and being interviewed is two of the best ways to get yourself and your brand out there.

Last year, I was interviewed at the MDC3Con, Creatures, Crimes and Creativity Con.

The interview is now up for your viewing pleasure. 

If you know me, you know that I'm full of information. 

So if you want to know what I'm working on, you will find it here! B. Swangin Webster Interview

ARE YOU READY FOR SPRING?

Spring is almost here and the question is; Are you ready?

As an author we should be ready at all times but spring is the time that we should get ourselves in gear for the upcoming 'conference' and 'writing' season.

March and April are typically when you make your definite plans on what conferences, trips or writing events you will attend.

Why you may ask?

Because once you file your taxes you have a little more liquidity to plan such events. In some cases your tax refund may fund your writing endeavors.

In most cases your tax refund will also replenish your stock of books, postcards and marketing swag.

So go online, research some local writing or conferences for writers. Sign up for some that you can afford and then take a look at your marketing handbag. (You do have one don't you?) and see what needs to be thrown out, restocked or refreshed and get to work because it is Spring cleaning time as well. 

So, I'll ask the question again...Are you ready for Spring? and if not; why?