Saturday, March 2, 2013

Brain Drain and How I plan to avoid it.


Writing is hard work. That is for sure. Aside from the grammar, there are other things, which make writing hard for some of us. Paid content does not mix to well with the creative stuff. There is a better way to accomplish this stuff and I am anxious to figure it out here.

When I am writing paid content along with a mix of creative writing, most of the time the creative stuff is harder because my brain turns to mush. There is nothing like brain drain to zap the motivation out of you. I have come up with a new plan here and I am hoping it will work.

First, let me share my old way with you. I would do the paid stuff in the morning or after a nap while my brain was still fresh. However, after a few hours the brain drain set in and left me wanting to nap a few hours. After I got the paid work done, I would do the housework and then dive into the creative stuff. It failed, as I was not giving myself any real mental breaks to relax during working hours. Soon, games replaced the day and that certainly was not good.

Therefore, the new plan is something like this. Write one sponsored blog post of 300 or so words, and check out Facebook groups. Then I will write two blog posts for another article and then play a game on Facebook. I think the two-fer deal is working well this morning and I just might stick with it. I know I need to write at least 6 articles, and I am well on my way here. 

In the afternoon with a lunch break away from my desk I will come back and hopefully have some one on one time with my muse for the series I am writing. 

Monday, August 27, 2012

New Print Book Circle 8 Writers! Check it out!

The newest book by the Circle 8 writers is now out. This one is titled ‘If”.  Stories that are more exciting are coming your way once you purchase the book.

The stories of If: Amy Browne: "And So It Begins: the Birth of Paisley" Short (Paisley)story: The kingdom rejoices at the birth of a new princess. If only grandma had been more careful, the baby would not have floated up, up and away.

Andi Caldwell: "Saint Theresa" Short Story: Theresa had something in common with her namesake Saint Theresa: seeking terrible vengeance on those closest to her. If only she had known then what she knows now--that the saint was no saint in her young life, either.

Angel Sharum: "As If You Cared" Short story: If Robert hadn’t been so alienated by his wife’s manic depression, maybe the cure wouldn’t have proved so deadly.

"If You’d Only Listened" Short story: Nobody ever listened to Will, not his mother, not even his best friend Dale—NOBODY! If they had, maybe Will wouldn’t have decided it’s time for Judgement Day. 

"I’m Sorry" Flash story: Sorry, Charlie.

"I Want You Back" Flash fiction: If only Nathan would’ve washed his own dirty shirts.

LL Darroch: "Artemis Unbound" Short story: A scarlet ribbon always around her neck. Oh, dear, if poor Henry had only known or had guessed why his beloved never took it off.

"The Bracelet" Short story: If Mattie can only conjure up fake spirits, how can one that keeps taunting her with a bracelet prove to be too real. 

"UserError" Flash fiction: If you’re going to use a computer to cheat, don’t drink coffee.

“Green Cheese” Flash Fiction: Green Cheese: What if the moon really was made of green cheese?

"Fortress" Poetry: If the past is a dead thing, should a tombstone marks its grave?

Brittany Joy Chadwick "IF" Short story: If Frank could only believe in his Imaginary Friend.

Robert L. Arend "Snow Globe Short story: If only Ralph hadn’t been so ambitious, greedy and selfish, he and his family might not be homeless and struggling to survive the harsh Philadelphia winter. If only he could change their present by changing his past. 

"The Andre Peterson Conspiracy" Short Story: If Sirhan Sirhan didn’t kill Robert F. Kennedy, who did? Time will tell.


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Got a Nook buy a Book

Here are some links to the collection of eBooks I have currently for sale on Smashwoords—books are available in other formats as well.


Nonfiction


3x Heart Attack Survivor 14,710 words for $2.99 USD This book contains  my personal story. I share how mine felt and share how I work each day to prevent more heart attacks from occurring. Readers can learn how to prevent their own here as well.


Bipolar Patient’s Guide to Symptoms and Coping Price: $0.99 USD. 3090 words. Published on July 18, 2012. Nonfiction. 
I wrote this guide for newly diagnosed bipolar patients. I am not a doctor or therapist, but I am the wife of a patient. I have learned a lot about this illness and I want to share that knowledge. You are not alone; many people have this illness. I share coping tips, and I share where you can find treatments and support groups.


A best friend’s guide to Inflammatory Breast Cancer Price : $0.99 USD. 4610 words. Published on January 3, 2012. Nonfiction. 
This e-book is for friends who are watching helplessly while their best friend undergoes treatment for inflammatory breast cancer. I discuss the treatments your best friend will undergo and give you ideas on how to help them on this tough road.


Fiction


Cheaters Never Prosper Price: $2.99 USD. 7150 words. Published on December 13, 2011.
When a spouse or someone you are dating cheats on you, first, you get mad and then most of us at least think about getting revenge. In these three short stories, women take that step and get their revenge. Revenge on a cheater comes in many forms.


Merry Christmas  Darling Price: $0.99 USD. 1740 words. Published on December 6, 2011. . 
Nurse Hollister strolls into work one night and sees the perfect opportunity for her long awaited revenge. The man, who broke her heart years ago, was a new patient in the ICU. Whatever is a girl to do? Why of course she does whatever comes naturally. This short story does contain mild adult situations.


In Plain Sight  Price: $0.99 USD. 2540 words. Published on November 20, 2011. . 
Elmer is a nursing home resident who has dementia and terrorizes the other patients on the floor. Elmer is reliving his younger days in his mind and goes hunting, in reality he is hunting on the nursing home floor.

Price: $0.99 USD. 4360 words. Published on November 19, 2011.  
Ralph is a con man who has spent his life taking whatever he wants. He is the type of man who takes justice into his own hands, no matter the costs. In the end it all catches up to him. His punishment by Saint Peter and God show they both have a sense of humor. This short story lets us see how karma comes around and bites us in the butt when we least expect it.


Paisley Series

The Gift Price: Free! 5710 words. Published on July 25, 2012. Fiction. 
Paisley and Joe are two old friends, who love each other deeply and have for decades. Her royal heritage forbids her from acting out any form of love with a mortal man. Readers will see she often breaks the rules when it suits her, because her heart leads her astray. In this edition of the paranormal romance series, they have a gift exchange straight from the heart.


Sacrifice Price: $0.99 USD. 4700 words. Published on July 25, 2012. Fiction. 
Paisley noticed Joe is not his usual self, what is she to do? Her herbs and poultices can only do so much to help. She spends time some time with a client named Sarah, while contemplating Joe’s condition. When she realizes the extent of his condition, she makes the ultimate sacrifice in order to cure him.


A Paisley Christmas Price: $0.99 USD. 4390 words. Published on December 26, 2011. Fiction. 
Its Christmas time and Paisley is headed home for the Yule festival. Her special friend awaits her, and truthfully, she is more excited about seeing him than she is her family. She is nervous that Joe might be mad at her for saving his life. Come and celebrate Yule in the Eternals with Princess Paisley and her family.


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Crazy summer, but I am back on track!

It has been a crazy summer for me and not particularly a good one. However, I must say with hard work and determination things are now moving in a more positive way. Life sure does get crazy when you are focusing on work and family and sometimes you forget about the more important things like living.


This year I have been so driven on creating the multiple streams of income with my eBooks, that I pretty much left the writing sites where I make decent money alone. I realize now in hindsight what a huge error that was. I need to find a way to work on everything during the day so that nothing is left out.  The only way to do that is to write a list in a spreadsheet and follow it daily.


 I simply made a list of all the web sites that I do something on in a column of the spreadsheet. As I do something on that site, I can just simply add a number of articles or ratings I did for it and simply move on to the next. I have also left time at the end of the day for the creative writing, which I love to do. This should keep me focused. 


~~Goals do not happen as life does. You must work hard to make goals a reality!~~
http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Browne/e/B004EW761G/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Thursday, July 26, 2012

I am overworked and under paid


Freelance writers are seriously overworked and under paid, that is something everyone in the business can agree to.  Do you know what is worse? It’s when the freelance writer is trying to support a family and pay the bills on those wages.

It has gotten so bad, that as a single mom I have been looking for a job in the real world since early 2012. Without a car, even in this small town it is hard to get a job within walking distance. I am willing to walk a mile or two each day to make the money but there is nothing.  It seems silly for these places to insist you have a car, when it’s within walking distance.

Walking is healthier for you and its way better for our environment BUT business owners just do not seem to car.  Anyways that is not the point of this post.

The point of this is to show you the types of things a freelance writer does on a daily basis  in order to bring in that income.  Granted, every writer does not do what I do, but I know I work hard for the peanuts I get.

I begin my day about 6 am, writing for a content farm or some other website that tries to sell my articles for more than I would get at a content farm.  For the biggest content farm on the internet I could write 10-15 articles a day which would take hours. Sad part is the articles are 3 to 4 a piece and take ½ an hour or so to write up. Imagine working all day for 30 to 45 dollars for 10-12 hours a work but many of us do it because we need to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads.

I also spend some time writing on different sites where I hope to snag a private client, that will pay me 20 bucks for 500 words, but those clients are so hard to find. 

I also write blogs which make money. Sometimes I have a private client ask me to advertise for them on one of my blogs but it does not happen nearly enough.  Of course, I have ads running on the blogs which may bring in some money but its a few pennies far and few between.

Then after I have earned my pennies on the web, there is housework or yard work depending on the day and season.  I keep reminding myself I am only one person, and not everything is going to be done in any given day.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

New eBooks Paranormal Romance series Paisley is published

 In the summer of 2008 I wrote a short story for a contest. That short story gave birth to my favorite character, a white witch named Paisley. Since that time, on and off between writing content, a part time job and living life I have been writing her life stories  as I found a few spare hours. 

 

I decided long ago to make these a series. Much like Amanda Hocking did with her books.  Jennifer Malone Wright who I have known for a few years also made her Vampire Hunter’s Daughter story into a series.  

 

Like their series, mine is paranormal as well.  How could a portal jumping white witch story not be paranormal?  Once Paisley meets Joe, it turns into a romance of sorts. She loves him and without a doubt he loves her.  Will they ever get together in that special way that lovers do? Your guess is as good as mine. Like you I am simply watching their tale unfold.

 

The Gift is the first part of the series. Paisley and Joe are two old friends, who love each other deeply and have for decades. Her royal heritage forbids her from acting out any form of love with a mortal man. Readers will see she often breaks the rules when it suits her, because her heart leads her astray. In this edition of the paranormal romance series, they have a gift exchange straight from the heart.  

 

Purple Flames is the second adventure.  This story is based on the one that was submitted to that contest, so you might say this started it all. Paisley noticed Joe is not his usual self, what is she to do? Her herbs and poultices can only do so much to help. She spends time some time with a client named Sarah, while contemplating Joe’s condition. When she realizes the extent of his condition she makes the ultimate sacrifice in order to cure him.

 

A Paisley Christmas is the third adventure in the series. This one is based on the one I wrote for the Dark Christmas book the Circle 8 Writers group published, but I revised it.  Its Christmas time and Paisley is headed home for the Yule festival. Her special friend awaits her, and truthfully she is more excited about seeing him than she is her family. She is nervous that Joe might be mad at her for saving his life.  Come and celebrate Yule in the Eternals with Princess Paisley and her family.

 

The first book is free, so please go over and download it (link is up there) and leave a review. Have a great day.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Indie Authors & Books: New eBook Release The Lost Diadem

Indie Authors & Books: New eBook Release The Lost Diadem: Title: The Lost Diadem A Rogue's Tale Part I Release Date: August 1, 2012 ... Author: Saoirse O'Mara Cover Illustrator: Svenja Li...