All posts by NewEngland_Muse

I'm a traditionally and self published author. I write in the genre of children and YA at the moment but working my way up to adults. I'm a sports loving, photo taking gal who loves to sing/dance to my own enjoyment. I love to laugh even at myself. I am also owned by 8 birds and 2 hamsters, and yes they know it. :)
Authors, Pen names, Writing

Pen Names

9 Comments

2013-03-08 10.07.35

 

How many of us as writers have pen names?  A fellow writer friend who has done rather well for herself with her ebooks has several, one for each series she writes. As I am starting to get some of my work out there I wonder about the pros and cons to having a different name. Researching this online I came across the basic good and bad points from other authors.

Pros

-If your name is hard to spell

-You are shy and it is a way to hide behind a new name

-You are trying a different genre that is outside of your comfort zone thus giving you freedom

-Privacy

-You can write about any topic

Cons

-No one will know it is you

-You can get lost in the shuffle between social medias of your pen name versus your real name

-Less credibility as an author

-Confusion between the pen name and your name for family and friends. Especially if you have more than one.

These seemed to be the main reasons to have or not have a pen name.  When I approached one of my writing groups about it one of them said it plainly.

“You are just starting out. No one knows you or your work yet.”

But now that I think on it that could be in the pro list. As I go about the edits and book covers I realized though once they are released I would either have to inform people it is me through the social platform I have in place or start from scratch. But in doing that I might lose the contacts I have made over the last two years.  I am truly not sure what I am going to do. The thought of a pen name excites me it’s just so cool in my mind. I have even played around with what names I would use if it ever came to that.

I will have to think hard on this for I am honestly not sure at the moment.

Fuel tank, Gas, Life

Gas

2 Comments

2013-02-19 09.08.09

I had to take a picture. It is not every day that my fuel tank hits the big F lately with the ridiculous gas prices we have been seeing the last few years. My poor car did not know how to react. Normally I put in half and try to minimize where I go. But we all know there are those times you just can’t.  There are the days I go to my doctor in Winston Salem. That trip alone is close to three hours away. Due to my recent surgery I have gone up three times by the time February rolled on out.

Every time I drive up to the gas station the drill is the same. Put enough to get at least half so I feel that I have some breathing room. It is rare I have enough at one time to fill up the tank. I tend to logic it away why I should not fill it up.

For some reason beyond my control the minute that feat is accomplished is when hubby needs to use it for the space. Or rather events come up that requires we drive outside of our area. It just seems to know and the gate ways open giving me little option of saving my gas as long as I can.

It sucks for all of us. The reason for this momentous occasion was simple. I have redone my budget, an ongoing event for me, to where I earmarked money for gas. Since I have done so twice my car has been happily overfed and it is starting to enjoy that feeling. I would love for Jr. to get use to it. Time will tell.

For the moment I still get a tiny woohoo when I see the fuel gauge at F. Oh it is the small things in life that makes us smile right?

Book Covers, Book design, Writers

Choosing a Book Cover

6 Comments

2013-03-02 06.40.44

Every now and then someone will ask me to check out their book covers to give it a looksie and share my opionion on it. I enjoy doing this for in a small way I am helping a fellow author. Most of the time it is something small and nothing to write home about but that small change makes all the difference in world.

So why is it hard for me to look at a book cover for myself and feel totally lost? I am in the process of trying to further my work into the public eye. With the help of my amazing editor Nancy she has been helping me with book covers. Upon seeing what she came up with, I found something small. Asking me how would I like it, I had nothing. I mean I had absolutely nothing.

I know why it is easier for me to help others, I don’t have a stake in it. A book cover can be easily looked at and the little touch ups seem to just draw my eyes to them. Easy as pie for it is not mine. I see now why people ask me for my thoughts on this. To look objectively at one’s own writings and book covers is hard and the more eyes that see it the better to help this author in the best way possible

Asking my husband and son, and trust me I was desperate, they gave me some insight on what they thought. Even though they don’t get overly excited about my writings I felt they were the perfect candidates. People who were truly impartial and would tell me flat-out from yes this works to no.

While I am finally coming to a decision on what to tell Nancy I suspect this will repeat itself over and over again for me in the future. Well I hope so for that means my work is getting out there even if this little bit of frustration has to be dealt with to complete the journey.