Sample Freely

I have a dilemma. What are you supposed to do when someone you don't know very well, a new friend or potential partner perhaps, wants to read some of your work?

It's unusual to find true support for the crazy authors of the universe. And while I share my work with old friends and complete strangers, it's different when you're trying to make a good impression. It's also a dangerous game. Because not everyone has to like what I write, but if you lie and say you like it and you don't, or tell me the truth and say it's not your cup of tea, you're going to lose points. It has nothing to do with my ego. You're going to lose points if you don't like cats either.

It's not that I'm not proud of my work. I'm just not sure which project to choose. They're all filled with characters somehow rooted in my life. That's not a shocker. But it suggests my life is more than a little screwed up. Most of them also make a reader question my sanity. And I suppose this person would figure these things out even if they didn't read my work, so I shouldn't be worried, right?

I don't know. Humans are weird.

I like imaginary people better.


-Liz

You...You...Writer!

I've been braving the online dating world for years, but the last year has been particularly difficult. After the way my last serious relationship ended, I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to truly trust anyone again. But, being the stubborn individual I am, I plowed on. I've gotten past the first few rocky months of being back at sea and I am now comfortable enough to laugh about it, if not enjoy the ride.

Unfortunately, when you're introducing yourself to someone new, the topic of What You Like to Do undoubtedly comes up. This is how the conversation usually goes...

Me: I'm a writer.
Them: A writer? Cool. What do you write?
Me: Sci-fi/Fantasy novels.
Them: Wow. Are any of them published?
Me: Not at the moment.
*pause*

This pause makes me cringe because they always ask why I haven't published. And there are a number of reasons for it. It's not that I can't get published. I haven't tried. But the fact that I identify myself as a writer automatically translates to publication in their mind. If I'm not published, there must be something wrong with me. Or something wrong with my writing.

It makes me want to scream. I have had this conversation countless times and it always ends in me trying to explain the process of publication and how time consuming subbing can be and how with everything going on in the past few years I haven't had time to breathe, let alone do serious writing, and their eyes glaze over and I know I've lost them. They nod and smile politely and tell me it will happen one day. If I were a dog, they would pat me on the head and say, "Good girl. Now go play."

It's my choice when and if I want to sub for publication. I am well aware of how much time and effort goes into these things and I feel if I'm not prepared to take it seriously and devote the necessary effort, I shouldn't bother. It's a waste of everyone's time.

Do I want to publish? Yes.

Do I need to do it now? No.

Do I care if that bothers you? Definitely not. So, shut up about it.

I think I need to have a t-shirt made.


-Liz

A for Alexandria

I have accepted an invitation to become a Resident Author in Alexandria. My posts will appear two or more times a month and I have no idea what I'll be writing about. Feel free to check it out! My first post was published this afternoon.

They also have an opportunity for guest authors to submit, so if you're interested, check out the Guest Post Policy tab and join me down the rabbit hole.

Hope to see you there!


-Liz


P.S. I finally bowed to social pressure and joined Twitter. I know, I know. Follow me anyway...

Land Ho!

With the ever present urging of Cyrus Keith and several long months spent cursing my past projects while slashing at them with a machete, I've started writing again. I don't consider editing to be writing unless it's more of a rewrite than a simple content edit or search for typos. I do consider it to be under the writing umbrella, but, you know, different. Like bacon is technically pork, which means it came from a pig, but I'm not going to call my breakfast Wilbur.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm back to creating. As in, blank Word document and no freaking idea where this story is going next.

I have never been one to outline. I know many people it works wonders for, but my brain works well enough when I think of my characters and just say, "Go." Unfortunately, it doesn't "go" very often, as is evident in my huge gaps between blog posts. You can bet if I can't make myself sit down long enough to write a post, I'm probably not doing anything more worthwhile in the writing arena.

But I'm back to writing, and hopefully back to blogging. I have an invitation to be a regular contributor to another blog, and I am seriously considering giving it a go. I'll let you know when I get the details ironed out, but that pretty much means I'm going to be running rampant on the internet.

Muahahaha.


-Liz

Almost Stranger Than Fiction

That's my life these days. 'If you wrote it as fiction, no one would believe it.' A therapist told me that, so you know there's some truth to it.

I'm hesitant to say I'm back on the horse, mainly because I fall off horses all too often. I am definitely petting the horse, though, and trying to win her good graces by bribing her with treats. If all goes well, the 1300 odd words I've written in the past week won't be the last of the year.

A lot can happen in a year. And when I look back at my last post, it seems unreal. I remember where I was when I wrote that. So much has happened since then. So much has happened since I had that conversation with a therapist. But I'm still around, lurking in the shadows.

There are days when I feel like some sixty-five year old man sitting at the bar at four in the afternoon saying, "I used to be a writer!" There is some truth in it. Not that I'm a lush, though there are days when I feel like that as well. It's hard to believe it's been years since I've done any serious writing. What the hell happened? Life happened. Death happened. Heartbreak happened. And a lot of bad decisions as well.

I can't promise I will be updating regularly. If you've followed this blog in the past, you know better than to ask for such a thing. I will promise to try. My best friend and award winning author, Cyrus Keith, is of the mind that if he bugs me enough, eventually I will start writing again. I think getting some of my followers on my case might help as well.

So, you know, feel free.


-Liz

NaNooo

It's October 28th. The countdown is on. NaNo is fast approaching and writers all over are preparing for the grueling race to the finish line. The prize? A novel built on blood, sweat, and tears, and a whole hell of a lot of determination. And typos.

I wish I had time to participate in NaNo. I love NaNo. Even if I don't reach my goal, I still love the support and the push to bring new ideas to life. The community is amazing. I'm sure that anyone who has participated in the past has spent a good deal of time updating their word count on the website. Those graphs are depressing though.

Sadly, I'm working two jobs at the moment and dealing with a family member in the hospital, so I don't see NaNo working out this year. But who knows? I might surprise myself.



-Liz

Let's Do the Time Warp Again

Is anyone else amazed it's nearly November? When the hell did that happen?

Not only did I not realize it was nearly November, I completely forgot November is NaNoWriMo. What is wrong with me? I'm and author for Christ's sake! It's shameful.

Bad Elizabeth...

That being said, I'm not sure I'm up to NaNo this year. I haven't been in a while. I try, but seldom succeed. Of course, last November I was working twelve hours a day at a horse ranch, so I kind of understand. I don't really have an excuse this year, unless you call a life of complete and utter chaos a reason.

I'm convinced that I should write a book about my life. It might be more interesting than some of my other novels, and I write Sci-fi/Fantasy.

That should say something about the state of my life these days.

Oh well. Life happens. There's not much any of us can do about it, save collect material to mold imaginary people who will do things that we'll never be able to do.

Sometimes that's good enough.


-Liz