Writing is Hard - A writer's advice to a new author #writing

At a critique group I belong to, a new author has been banging her forehead on her laptop. She's penned a few discontented emails venting that frustration.

As a slightly seasoned author - This is my response

Without trying to sound funny - welcome to a writer's world and you haven't even got to the fun part yet.

Being a writer isn't easy. A lot of people have the wonderfully romantic vision that we sit in our offices in our cottage in some remote south Pacific island and write a book every other month. Then we fly off to fabulous parties with A list celebrities. When the book is published - the world loves it and everyone praises us for being Goddesses or Gods.

Truth is - most can't find the time to write the book they want to write. Life is too hectic. When they do get it finished then it is the horrendous issue of trying to get an agent or publisher. Rejection after rejection can become very disheartening.

If lightning strikes and a publisher is found then there are always edits. A person could go through 2 - 4 rounds of edits - which are someone else pointing out what you did wrong. It may be as simple as a misplaced comma or it could be a massive plot problem. Their job is to be as nit-picky as possible.

And yes, the publisher would like a "polished" manuscript before being sent to editor as it isn't the editors job to "make a horrible book good" - it's to make a "good book better." Editors can be very expensive and the more hours they spend pointing out edits for every paragraph on every page the more $$ it costs the publisher and this is worrisome especially if you are an unpublished - therefore unproven - author.

Things are pretty much the same for an Indie author except they have bypassed the agent/publisher rejection part. Many indie authors hire editors and again those edits can be expensive - as the $$ comes right out of their pocket - so the cleaner the manuscript the better.

Once the book has been edited and then released - next comes promotion - trying to get your book noticed by the millions of readers. Such a monumental task can easily be described as the proverbial - looking for the needle in the haystack. What do you use for promotion to get your book noticed? Everyone says "A" works. Then it just seems to disappear. Then it is "B", but not much success - especially with a first time author - sales are low. Very disheartening.

But - luck strikes - someone reads your book and then they post a review. Fingers crossed the review is good, because bad reviews can hurt to your core. Some bad reviews are just stupid - most likely a troll, but still they hurt. Other bad reviews rip apart your story exposing flaws that no one spotted (no cp, no beta, no editor and not you) and they can make you feel like such a fool.

I forget the actual saying - so I'll paraphrase - one good line of a review makes your day - one bad line of a review haunts you forever.

And through all that - the lack of time - the frustrations of writing - edits - bad sales - painful reviews - you are supposed to go off and write another book - somehow shutting out the bad stuff and letting your creativity and talent surge.

Writing is hard.

Being a writer is hard. Lots of people think they can write a book. But only a few do.

This is one of those jobs where - literally (lol) - only the strong survive.

So - we hear you - we really do - because we've been there. The standard responses are "grow a thick skin", "suck it up", or "buckle down".

If you want that book published then you are going to have to make some hard decisions - but always keep it in mind - the book is yours and ultimately the responsibility of the book rests on your shoulders.

You hate your book at the moment.

If I asked the critters how many at some point just want to delete the whole thing and pretend they didn't write it - a lot would raise their hand. But luckily they don't hit the delete key. They go get some chocolate or some wine - or both - and they breathe - when ready - back at it they go.

 How about you? Ever hit that - I hate this book moment? Did you delete it?
Any advice for a new author?

Enceladus - one of Saturn's Moons on Fridays in Space #4

NASA ID: PIA21326
Secondary Creator Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Date Created: 2017-05-01
• Center: JPL

In the north, Enceladus' surface appears to be about as old as any in the solar system. The south, however, is an entirely different story. The north polar area of Enceladus (313 miles or 504 kilometers across) seen here is heavily cratered, an indication that the surface has not been renewed since quite long ago. But the south polar region shows signs of intense geologic activity, most prominently focused around the long fractures known as "tiger stripes" that spray gas and tiny particles from the moon. This view looks toward the leading side of Enceladus. North on Enceladus is up and rotated 38 degrees to the left. The image was taken in visible light with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Nov. 27, 2016. The view was acquired at a distance of approximately 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) from Enceladus and at a Sun-Enceladus-spacecraft, or phase, angle of 85 degrees. Image scale is 620 feet (190 meters) per pixel. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21326

1997 Hurricane Dolores from Space Fridays in Space Post 3 #space

• NASA ID: s94e5027
• Center: JSC
• Date Created: 2017-04-12

S94-E-5027 (9 July 1997)--- Hurricane Dolores located about 20 degrees southwest of the tip of the Baja Peninsula in the eastern Pacific supported winds of 90 knots with gust of 100 knots on July 9, 1997. The photograph was taken through overhead windows on the aft flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia. Notice the thunderstorms in the bands leading into the eye at lower levels and the lighter cirrus clouds coming from the outflow out of the eye at higher levels.

Don't Be One of Those People Yoga Thoughts #yoga #inspiration

Don't be one of those people.The ones who DON'T use their brains.

Space - a photo of our Sun of my new weekly Fridays in Space.

(Lol - I made the photo large but I could have clicked on "original size".)

Week 2

• NASA ID: PIA21604
• Center: JPL
• Secondary Creator Credit: NASA/GSFC/Solar Dynamics Observatory
• Date Created: 2017-05-01

The magnetic field lines between a pair of active regions formed a beautiful set of swaying arches rising up above them Apr. 24-26, 2017, as seen by NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory. The connection between opposing poles of polarity is visible in exquisite detail in this wavelength of extreme ultraviolet light. What we are really seeing are charged particles spinning along the magnetic field lines. Other field lines are traced as they reach out in other directions as well. Videos can be seen at https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21604

To be beautiful means to.... #yoga

Repeat the last line 10 times a day.  
Every day. 
Until you believe it.

I've touched a Moon Rock - Post #1 on Fridays in Space #space

Yes - I'm a space junkie. I love Star Trek and Star Wars - oh and can't forget Guardians of the Galaxy. (It opens tonight!!!!)

But I also like real space. You know the stuff that's "out there" - way out there. In a heartbeat I'd go up into space, if I didn't have to do all the physical fitness tests and challenges and  math and other non-me stuff. I just want to be a tourist and stare out the window.

So instead I stay earthbound and gaze at pictures and imagine possibilities.

NASA has very generously opened up their files copyright free. Each week, I'm going to post a space photo. Drop back on Fridays and see what glorious shots I have.

This week's photo is one of mine - taken at the Space Center in Florida.

That's my hand touching a moon rock.

See you next week.

Who should you love? #yoga

It's okay to look out for # 1. 
That would be you. 
What else needs to be said.