Category Archives: A blog about the topics of writing

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing

Getting a bad review if you are an author: It will happen

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Bad reviews come in a few forms. One reason is it comes from a troll, someone who read it and didn’t like it to three, you read their book, and they didn’t get the review they wanted.

When my first book came out, I did receive a bad review. Now I have read enough where having a bad review is good. However, this review came one day after the book was released, and according to the site, it had been a print book.

Last time I checked, regular mail does not bring a book in one day. So I talked to Amazon, and over the following months, they removed it, the person placed it again, Amazon removed it, and so on. But finally, the review didn’t return.

But again, having a bad review can be a good thing.

How so?

It is similar to a child that has been told not to do something. But they
go about it anyway behind the parent’s backs.

When people see a bad review, but all the other ratings are high, it might make you take a chance on the book. I know that has worked for me anyway. The bottom line it is a review which means it is getting noticed.

Look, I get it. A bad review is not fun to get, but you know what every author deals with it, even the authors who are well-established. I have read a few books written by some best sellers to authors I know, and they don’t always hit a home run.

And as a writer, you must have tough skin, for not everyone will like your work. It happens to the majority of writers if not all. The sooner you can accept it will happen, the easier it will be. Spend your time and energy on your next novel.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing tips and ideas

Support for being a writer: Do you get any?

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What kind of support do you get from those around you and in your circle about your writing?

When I started on this path, my first encounter was with a new group out of a local library. There were seven of us, six being librarians. I even kid if I needed to be a librarian to be in the group.

But from that group came so much information, support, and help in a way I didn’t have before and didn’t know I needed until I met the ladies. It was eye-opening and amazing at the same time.

How many of us have such support? Do we get it from our friends who aren’t writers? Do we get it from our family members?

If we get any support apart from other writers, that is huge and just welcoming. Some of us get most of our support, if not all, from other authors.

But when our relatives and friends purchase our books and support us in any way, our mental and writing state is lifted.

There are so many ways to support a writer that you know apart from purchasing their books. You can share their website and their social platform. One can mention your books if a conversation arises that the topic is fitting. You can share when they are giving a speech or if they have a table at a conference.

Every bit helps to propel the writer you know or writers you enjoy reading. It might take a village, or it might just take five minutes out of your day.

As I have said repeatedly on this site, writing is a solitary profession. One has to have discipline and motivation, to name a few, to write when it is up to you to get it done. So, when one has support, regardless of where it comes from, that helps. In ways, you and the author might never know.

A blog about the topics of writing, Writing thoughts

Librarian, toes and zombies oh my: A story

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The leader of my writing group has been in the hospital for about three months. Unfortunately, she had a toe amputated.

Deciding to keep her spirits up, she challenged us to write a story about how she lost her toe. Whoever won would get a $20 gift card to Panera.

Thinking about how to proceed, the only thing that entered my mind was zombies. Yup, that was the only idea that would come. My son shot down the idea.

But I proceeded and had such a good time with it. It was received very well, and there were loads of laughter. It was a comedy overall.

I didn’t win, but after receiving edits from one of the members, I worked on getting it in better shape.

The more I work on it, the better I felt I could do more. It may sound conceited, but there are certain sections of the piece that makes me laugh out loud. The same areas that made the group laugh out loud.

What started as a short piece now has over 2000 words. It won’t be a book. I have too many WIP. I have a notebook with book ideas that will never come to pass.

But it felt good to write something light and different than what I used to work on.

It came to mind that perhaps I could enter this into a writing contest. I have not fully embraced entering stories in this format.

I have kept telling myself to enter more writing competitions. It is on my to-do list. I have just ignored doing that.

You have such a variety of competition, from those that are free to those that are not. You have cash prizes as well.

Will I win anything I don’t know. However, this is a fun project to work on if nothing else. It is freeing.