Friday, November 18, 2016

Celebrate: Indecision & Giveaways


I sure was crowing about getting a lot done last week (working on both my WIPs and a new cover and formatting for Soul Cutter, and a bunch of stuff).  I was so busy patting myself on the back I didn't notice the hole in front of me until I fell in. 

This week's been Lexa's Productivity = 0; Confusion & Indecision = 1.

I got the book cover design finished, but I had to decide on the font for the title.  Easy, huh?  I researched the ones other dark fantasy authors were using. But who knew trying them all out would take me 5 days to see what does and doesn't work, what is free and lisensed, and that in the end I'd be satisfied with none?  Plus my CPs gave a thumbs down on my new chapters.  They're emotional ones.  I write chase scenes and plot twists like a pro. But gooey, emotional scenes? I write like a 5th grader and not one of the smart ones.

But as Cmdr. Peter Quincy Taggart says:

So I'll eventually decide on a title font, figure a way to weasel my way through the emotional scenes, and get more things done this coming week!

* I have an interview on Roadie Notes this week. Drop by and say "Hi" if you have time. :)

If you're a writer, are you better at writing action or emotion?  

If you're not a writer, do you ever have a project which seem simple but turns out to be anything but?


My kind and wonderful co-hosts of Celebrate the Small Things are:
L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge
Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog

Celebrate The Small Things Linky:



Grab the Linky html-code here:


** To see who’s posted for the hop look at my Celebrate The Small Things Blog Roll, left sidebar bottom **


 Celebrate the Small ThingsTo be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is visit the Celebrate page on Lexa's Blog for the rules, and then post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week.  It can be about writing or family or school or general life.  This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever! (Originated by VikLit)



Foxy's Friday Freebies!

Foxy has been nosing around the net
When she finds great FREE STUFF, she'll feature it on Friday Freebies posts -
  • Free short stories, novellas, and novels
  • Giveaways for books and swag
  • Free services for authors


Here are Foxy's suggestions for Nov 18, 2016:

Children’s Book Giveaways (‘Cause Christmas is Coming!)

Free $36 Value Children’s “Nuggies” Coloring Books – Win 1 of 5 Gift Boxes that hold 4 volumes of the Nuggies series coloring books, 24-crayon box, and a Nuggie plush toy. 20 additional winners will receive one new release Nuggies coloring book ($5.95 value). Enter via rafflecopter on the Children’s Book Review site. (ends Dec 1)

Free Non-Fiction Book for Children Ages 7-10 --  Win Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. “SOME PIG,” Charlotte the spider’s praise for Wilbur, is just one fondly remembered snippet from E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web. In Some Writer!, the two-time Caldecott Honor winner Melissa Sweet mixes White’s personal letters, photos, and family ephemera with her own exquisite artwork to tell his story, from his birth in 1899 to his death in 1985. Enter via entry form on the Children’s Book Review blog. (ends Dec 6)

Free 6 Classic Story Books – Win the Modern Master series of 6 Story Books by such authors as acclaimed American playwright Arthur Miller and Pulitzer Prize-Winning American Poet Richard Wilbur (value $60). Two additional winners get a 4 book prize pack (value $40). Enter via rafflecopter on the Children’s Book Review blog. (ends Dec 1) 

Free Children’s Books and YA Book – Win 5 books in 5 separate giveaways, including The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 1: Locker Hero by Rachel RenĂ©e Russell, Into the Lion's Den (Devlin Quick Mysteries) by Linda Fairstein,  Weird but True 8 by National Geographic Kids, Fablehaven Book of Imagination by Brandon Mull, and Rebel Genius by Michael Dante DiMartino. Enter via click-button for each book on DOGO Books. All giveaways have different expiry date between Nov 30 and Feb 15. 

For Foxy's other Freebies, go to the Freebie page.

If anyone has a FREE short story (for download or online at a free ezine), novella, novel, special giveaway, or author service, please let Foxy know so she can plug you here!  Write to: laura.6eg(at)gmail.com

32 comments:

Laura Clipson said...

Good luck with your font and emotional scenes! I find emotional scenes much harder to write than action.

The Cynical Sailor said...

I find action scenes really hard to write. I struggled with one quite a bit yesterday. It seems like the projects (writing and otherwise) that I think are going to be a snap never are.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sorry you still don't like your font. I think most house projects are like that - one thing leads to another and it ends up taking forever.
Action scenes hands down!

JeffO said...

I *think* I write emotion better than action. But I may tend to overdo it on the emotion, lay things on a bit thick. When it comes to writing, I tend to advocate for bludgeoning your way through when the going gets tough, but maybe this is one of those times (both for the chapters and the cover) where you need a couple of days. Enjoy your weekend!

Sue Bursztynski said...

Sounds to me as if you've done plenty! And editors are there to help you make your book the best it can be. But maybe it's time to try a beta reader. When they sob at the gooey buts, you've done it right. ;-)

Now you mention it I'm probably better at the action too, but I tend to write in first person, so you know how the hero is feeling all the time.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Good luck with the revisions. We all have those kind of weeks. And I love the Galaxy Quest quote. Such a good one.

messymimi said...

Many of my projects are like that -- "There's a hole in the bucket, Dear 'Liza!" type projects. You get into it and can't do x until you first do y, but you can't do y because x isn't done.

Tamara Narayan said...

Emotion or action? Hmm. Not sure if I'm better at one or the other. Maybe suck at both? Nah, that's probably too harsh. I guess it depends on the story.

I'm having trouble focussing on my work. Other things keep pulling me away.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

We all have bad weeks that bring us down, but you are a strong, successful lady who will be back on top of your game quickly.

Kate Larkindale said...

I know how you feel! Some weeks are just like that. I think I probably write emotion better than action. I certainly enjoy writing it more. Give me a deep black hole for my characters to fall down and I'll find a million ways to talk about their pain and despair.

stephen Hayes said...

I think action is easier to write than emotion.

Anonymous said...

Good luck with those emotional scenes. Kick their butts!

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

Some weeks are like that. The good news is, next week will be better.
Action scenes are tough for me so I guess emotional are easier.
Have a restful weekend.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I prefer to write action scenes because all I have to do is write down what they do. Writing emotions chokes me up, go figure. I choke up over commercials! Good luck on your fonts. Not an easy decision to make, I know.

kimlajevardi.com said...

Good luck choosing a font. We're opposites in skills. I write emotion and voice better than action. I wish I had a fraction of your skill in writing action.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

You're not the only one who can spend an entire day on what feels like a mundane task. Who was the writer who said- I'm exhausted. I spent the morning putting a comma in and the afternoon taking it out? I could google that, but...

May next week feel more productive. I say feel because finding the right font is important.

T.F. Walsh said...

Sometimes, I find deciding on the font and finding it is the hardest part of creative banners or anything else I create. I spent hours on it... so i completely understand your pain. But you will get everything done in no time :)

Michelle Wallace said...

I love writing twists and turns.
With regards to action scenes, I'm still trying to write convincing action, as in fight scenes...
with regards to writing emotions, I think I manage okay...I hope. There's always room to grow and improve.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

LOL I'm glad my illustrator is quick with font choices.

I do better with emotional scenes. I can make myself cry in a heartbeat.

Julia Thorley said...

The choice of fonts is always tricky. I would have done exactly what you did: look around and see what's trending, and then picked one. Sometimes gut instinct is better than trying everything on offer. Whatever you choice, someone will hate it.

Tonja Drecker said...

I hear you on those emotional things--action is so much more fun! (I'm horrible at emotional too :( ). Here's wishing you a better writing week!

Rhonda Albom said...

For me action is easier. Sorry about the thumbs down, I know that's painful. Especially when you think you have a winner.

DMS said...

Sorry about this week being more difficult than expected. I know the font problem will work itself out, but it is a struggle while it is going on. Good luck with the emotional scenes. I am so far behind where I need to be right now I don't even know what to do. Work (day job) has been so busy and so much is going on that I am simply trying to remind myself to take one step at a time and get done what I can. :)

Good luck and thanks for the giveaway info! :)
~Jess

Patsy said...

I'm better at the emotional stuff, I think.

Yvonne Ventresca said...

I like action and some emotion. The romance stuff is always hard for me to write.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I don't write romance well. It always comes across as a bit cheesy, lol.
Think positive: You're closer than you were with the big cover/font decision. :)

Rachel Pattinson said...

I am completely useless at writing romance scenes - it was something that all my beta readers told me let me down in my first novel. I much prefer writing dark, violent/action scenes, but I am determined to push myself in my current WIP and write some romance scenes too. I feel like your post summed up what it's like to be a writer - everything takes approx 100 years longer than it should! Don't worry, you'll find something you love soon :). Have a great week!

mshatch said...

Right now everything is hard for me to write but yeah, romance can be hard to write so that it doesn't seem sappy.

S.A. Larsenăƒƒ said...

Oh geez, you sound like we shared a similar week. That 'black hole' feel has stalked me all of 2016. Weird. Things have got to look up, right?

cleemckenzie said...

So you're the one who fell into the black hole with me! I couldn't see well enough or I would have said hi! Good luck on that revamping of Soul Cutter. Sounds like a worthwhile project.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

I learned the hard way that picking a book cover font aint easy. I feel your pain Lexa. Glad you're pressing on and we all have those unproductive days. The key is pushing forward until you're back on track.

Heather R. Holden said...

Just checked out the interview. Very cool! :)

And sorry to hear you've run into so many roadblocks this past week. My inner perfectionist always has a hard time settling on a font, too, so I know how frustrating that can be. Best of luck finding one that works with your cover!

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