Oh goody, it's confession time.
So the topic today is what my worst habit is. I am almost hesitant to admit this, but here it goes. My worst habit is.....
I'm a procrastinator.
Yup, I procrastinate about things. I'm not proud of this habit and I am trying to work on it, but I admit it's really hard. Especially when I'm really stressed out, I basically decide that I want to do everything....but spend my time on Facebook or reading stories online. I lose track of time and low and behold, by the time I get back into wanting to do stuff, it's really late at night and I have to get ready for work the next day.
I vow to end the plague of Procrastination!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Blogging 365 - Project Execution
Executing Projects has always been a battle for me. I do try and write down the steps I need to take to complete a project, but it never goes to plan. I have been and sadly always will be one of those people that just flies by the seat of their pants and figures things out as they go.
I, Samantha Drane have just admitted that I am a pantser. I will freely admit this, because it is true.
I admit I am a tad jealous of people that can plan a project out from start to finish....and Stick to It.
With being a mom, working two jobs AND writing, life tends to get into the way many a time and with kids, you have to put them first. But that's not saying that you can't get any projects done that you set out for yourself. There's ways to do that... It's called:
Late Nights, lots of coffee/red bull, and some really good music to keep you going :)
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Blogging 365 - Inspiration
If I had a dollar for everytime an author was asked: "Where do you get your inspiration from?"
I would be rich....insanely rich.
Thing is, I find inspiration just about anywhere. It could be from a piece of music that has just the right beat or a scene on a TV show to a line in a book. Anything in the world around you could become inspiration if you can just open your mind. You see, imagination and inspiration go hand in hand and it's very hard to have one without the other.
Take a rose for example. Most people would see it as a fragrant flower and very beautiful. To me, I could envision that rose as the insignia for a princess set to become Regent on her homeworld, or it could be a rare rose that has healing properties and there's a race to find it... You see what I mean.
I'm not saying that the inspiration is going to lead into a full fledged novel, sometimes it doesn't. But the next time you are out and around your house, or even walking around town and see something that strikes your fancy....let your imagination go!
Inspiration is just around the corner.
I would be rich....insanely rich.
Thing is, I find inspiration just about anywhere. It could be from a piece of music that has just the right beat or a scene on a TV show to a line in a book. Anything in the world around you could become inspiration if you can just open your mind. You see, imagination and inspiration go hand in hand and it's very hard to have one without the other.
Take a rose for example. Most people would see it as a fragrant flower and very beautiful. To me, I could envision that rose as the insignia for a princess set to become Regent on her homeworld, or it could be a rare rose that has healing properties and there's a race to find it... You see what I mean.
I'm not saying that the inspiration is going to lead into a full fledged novel, sometimes it doesn't. But the next time you are out and around your house, or even walking around town and see something that strikes your fancy....let your imagination go!
Inspiration is just around the corner.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Blogging 365 - Industry news & My thoughts...
Being a writer, people like to keep up to date about news and events within the writing industry. There's been a lot of news lately, from E-book piracy to the closing of major bookstore chains to erotica writers getting the snub from Amazon and Smashwords. On a whole, I really don't follow industry news unless it's something major. I do have some thoughts on the few issues that I just stated.
Piracy - I think a bunch of bad apples are spoiling the bunch. I can understand the one person who's not able to afford skyhigh prices for a book, but I despise the people who download novels and sell them as their own.
Bookstore Closures - This is very sad. I am of the mindset that E-books and print books can co-exist in this day and age. I know that for the price of a normal paperback book, you can have 2 or 3 e-books and that's cutting into the bottom line for the stores. I truly wish that the government would step in to assist here.
Erotica Writers Snub - This is just insane. I happen to know a few erotica writers personally and they are some of the nicest people ever. Amazon and Smashwords are just bowing to the masses and treating these writers and their works with little or no respect. They are writers just like the rest of us!
I know I may get some heat for my opinions, but oh well......
Piracy - I think a bunch of bad apples are spoiling the bunch. I can understand the one person who's not able to afford skyhigh prices for a book, but I despise the people who download novels and sell them as their own.
Bookstore Closures - This is very sad. I am of the mindset that E-books and print books can co-exist in this day and age. I know that for the price of a normal paperback book, you can have 2 or 3 e-books and that's cutting into the bottom line for the stores. I truly wish that the government would step in to assist here.
Erotica Writers Snub - This is just insane. I happen to know a few erotica writers personally and they are some of the nicest people ever. Amazon and Smashwords are just bowing to the masses and treating these writers and their works with little or no respect. They are writers just like the rest of us!
I know I may get some heat for my opinions, but oh well......
Monday, January 21, 2013
Blogging 365 - Niche Writing
Niche writing is a funny thing for me. I never know that I am doing it until I have finished writing.
I have noticed that with my published works as well as my WIP's, that my major niche is writing my female characters in the dominant roles and having their male counterparts as their equal or as the weaker character.
Now I'm definitely not a feminist, I do believe in equality between the genders. But in novels, I find that females are written to be the damsels in distress more often then not and they are very weak and helpless. Two of the stronger female characters that stick out in my mind in recent novels are Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games Trilogy and Amanda Deveraux from the Dark-Hunter Novels written by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Personally, I find it quite easy to write the main character as a female (aside from the obvious reasons LOL), because on a whole females have an easier time showing their emotions. For example, with Twist of Fate's main lady Jade, it was easy to get across her fear and trepidation when she was trying to deal with her ex-boyfriend stalking her.
Who knows? Maybe this is a start of an amazing trend in books? :)
I have noticed that with my published works as well as my WIP's, that my major niche is writing my female characters in the dominant roles and having their male counterparts as their equal or as the weaker character.
Now I'm definitely not a feminist, I do believe in equality between the genders. But in novels, I find that females are written to be the damsels in distress more often then not and they are very weak and helpless. Two of the stronger female characters that stick out in my mind in recent novels are Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games Trilogy and Amanda Deveraux from the Dark-Hunter Novels written by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Personally, I find it quite easy to write the main character as a female (aside from the obvious reasons LOL), because on a whole females have an easier time showing their emotions. For example, with Twist of Fate's main lady Jade, it was easy to get across her fear and trepidation when she was trying to deal with her ex-boyfriend stalking her.
Who knows? Maybe this is a start of an amazing trend in books? :)
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