Category: writing

It’s called FICTION

by Karen, posted in The write words at the write time, writing
In case you haven’t heard, I’ve written a novel, One Brave Thing.  My novel is (of course, by definition) a work of fiction. BarneyIn case you haven’t heard, fiction is a work of the imagination. Like Barney the beloved dinosaur before her, Bebe is an imaginary character.
I have included a definition here for your reading pleasure (of fiction, not of Barney).
I hope you will also read–and enjoy!–my novel. 🙂
fic·tion
ˈfikSH(ə)n/
noun
literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary events and people.
  1. synonyms: novels, stories, (creative) writing, (prose) literature;

    informallit
    “the popularity of South American fiction”
    • invention or fabrication as opposed to fact.
      plural noun: fictions
      “he dismissed the allegation as absolute fiction”
      synonyms: fabrication, invention, lies, fibs, untruth, falsehood, fantasy, nonsense

      “the president dismissed the allegation as absolute fiction”

Poetic license, people! Heard of it?

by Karen, posted in author, books, quest for the best, The write words at the write time, writing

writers thesaurusI have been reading and reviewing books for years.

Years.

I haven’t loved all of them, but with only one (to my knowledge) notable exception*, I was not ever unkind to the author in my review. If I liked or loved a book, I said so. If I didn’t, then I moved on. Just because it wasn’t for me didn’t mean it was okay to ruin it for anybody else.

So, I was not prepared to deal with the negative feedback I got about one word that I chose to use in my book, One Brave Thing: ‘fleusy’. The first objection was to my repeating the word. Repetition is a tool that I use in my writing. I like to have my characters repeat words for emphasis. I am fairly sure that I am not the first writer in history to use this technique.

The second objection was to how I chose to spell ‘fleusy’. She wanted me to spell it ‘floozy’. I thought about spelling it that way, but I didn’t like how much it reminded me of ‘boozy’, so I decided to spell it differently. ‘Fleusy’ reminded me of ‘fleur‘ and I liked that better.

Hello? I am a wordsmith. If a word doesn’t work for me in my writing, then I change it up or make up a new word, if necessary, to get the feel that I want.

So, shut up. I can.

*The notable exception: Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper. I wasn’t critical of her actual writing. I just hated how she chose to end the book. Just an artistic difference of opinion.

My first book signing

by Karen, posted in author, books, writing

I found out at the last minute New England Authors Expo having an author event last Friday night. Fortunately, it wasn’t too late to participate! I had fun and met some very nice people!

Izzy and Me at NE Authors Expo

I brought my books and my daughter came to help me.

Highlights:

  1. One woman said my book is “exactly the kind of book she loves to read” (unfortunately, she said she had already spent all her money before she got to my table! Oh well. Maybe she’ll buy it on Amazon. Maybe you will too! Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/One-Brave-Thing-K…/dp/1523347899)
  2.  I got to see how the more experienced authors set up their tables and how they talked to the customers. I got to talk to other self published authors about their process compared to my own.
  3. I also tested out my second (not yet published) book’s title out and got some great responses.
  4. Everyone loves chocolate. 🙂
Overall, a wonderful way to have spent a Friday night!
My book is also available in Maine at Annie’s Book Stop in Wells, Nonesuch Books in Biddeford, Longfellow Books in Portland. In New Hampshire you can find it at RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth by 3/25/16.

My book is published! (part 3)

by Karen, posted in author, books, writing

longfellowYes! My book One Brave Thing is now available at Longfellow Books in Portland, Maine! YAY!

Please share this link with your friends!

My book is also available at Annie’s Book Stop in Wells and Nonesuch Books in Biddeford.

Book Review: SARK has a new book: Succulent Wild Love

by Karen, posted in author, books, family, Life's too short to read bad books, no fear, relationships, writing

I am writing today about the new book SUCCULENT WILD  LOVE by SARK and Dr John Waddell.

Succulent Wild LoveSARK’s books are lovely, bold, and vibrant celebrations, and this collaboration is no different. It’s as visually gorgeous, vibrant, and engaging as all of her prior offerings.  In the past, she has written about being soulfully single and marrying herself, but in this book SARK is happily coupled. So happily coupled that she wants to share her ‘joyfull-ness’ with us (I am a wordsmith myself, so I especially appreciate SARK’s reconfiguration of words to suit her purposes).

SARK and John share six habits, which I think of as tools, to help us reach this joy-full state with our own partners. Because, as SARK tells us on page 25, “You can do what I have done.” 

One of these is our Inner Wise Self. You know those voices you hear in the back of your head, chatting away all day long, mostly telling us untrue and unkind things about ourselves? Those are NOT your Inner Wise Self. They are your Inner Critics. But our Inner Wise Self is in there too! She is patiently waiting to muscle those other chuckleheads out of the way.  

  • Hello, Inner Wise Self? HI! Long time no hear! It sure has been a while!
  • Um, oh, you’ve been here all the time? Duh. Time to start listening, huh?

Because you can consult your Inner Wise Self about anything. And everything. Can and should. You will receive loving, kind advice when you do. Let yourself listen to it. Let yourself act on it. Even if it’s scary. Especially when it’s scary.

Another of the six valuable tools they teach in this book is the one I’ve come to think of as the “Perfect Person” tool. John tells us on page 155, “Susan was being the perfect Susan, and any way that I was not able to see that was my responsibility.” Wait, what? Your partner is already perfect? So they do not need any fixing? So they do not need any fixing! They are already just fine! You are free! You can work on yourself, instead! As excellent this tool is to use in a relationship with your partner, I think it is equally as powerful, maybe even more so, to use in relationship with one’s children. Try it. Let me know what you think.

I have so little free time. I don’t waste it reading (or recommending) books that are not worth reading. This book is WONDER-FULLY worth reading!

If you are interested in buying this book, here’s a link to the product page on the New World Library website: http://bit.ly/1WdRY6c.  You can also find it Succulent Wild Love on Amazon.

Enjoy!

 

NaNo Midway

by Karen, posted in NaNoWriMo, writing

Often, in years past, when I am in the thick of NaNoWriMo, I am (of course) writing a lot. I have often found that the bestsellermore I write, the more I write. Period.

Not so this year. It has been a struggle.

After a strong start on November 1, I slacked off and (OMG) didn’t write for four days.  I have never done this once, in all my years of NaNo’ing.

I recovered, fortunately. I spent a weekend writing a million (it felt like) words until I was at goal. After that, I had too much invested. If I didn’t finish, then I wasted all that free time not going to the craft shows I wanted to go to, not reading the books I wanted to read, not watching the movies I wanted to watch.

I am keeping up with my 2000 words per day goal most days, but am not writing much else. I realized that my blog was languishing last week, but it took me until today to actually do something about it!

I will finish my NaNo 2015. I will publish a book this year.

The End.

NaNoWriMo 2015 is underway

by Karen, posted in NaNoWriMo, writing

I have been participating in NaNoWriMo  since 2010 and have always finished. I signed up again this year, fully Printconfident that I would finish it, since I always have.  After all, I had a foolproof formula. I know how many words I have to write each day to make sure that I have some breathing room and finish on time. Every other year, every day, I sat down and wrote my 2000 words. Every year.  I usually finish a day ahead of time

Well, this year is different. This year, I am way behind.

What the whaaaaat?

I know. I don’t know what’s up. Of course there are things going on, things to deal with, but still.

I am making an all out effort to get caught up this weekend. If I don’t reach my word count number that I have set as the line drawn in the sand, I might be done for.

Fingers crossed.

My one word, 2016 preview

by Karen, posted in friends, my one word, The write words at the write time, writing

January is coming fast. The past several years I have participated in the My One Word project. In a  nutshell, you choose breathea word that ‘will inspire you all year long’. It’s sort of like making New Year’s Resolutions, but simpler. And harder.

It’s not too early to start thinking about your word. You may already know what it is! A word may have sprung to mind the moment you read the phrase. If so, great. Go with it. Trust your gut. Otherwise, you can start paying attention. A word may present itself to you over and over, and then you will know. Yes. Yes, that’s my one word.

This year, my one word is Brave. I have to say that I have pushed myself to try things and go places that I never would have if I wasn’t being brave. Looking back, I am truly amazed! And there are still more than two months left to 2015!

You can keep your one word private, or you can tell some friends. I will say that having told my friend Sheila this year, she reminded me (when I needed to be reminded-you know, whenever I was trying to talk myself out of doing that hard thing? She reminded me I was Being Brave this year, so I had to do it).

If you choose a popular word, like BREATHE (this is NOT going to be my word for 2016; just an example!), you can find plenty of things to keep around you to remind you after January comes and goes that you are doing this.

Need some help choosing your word? Go to pick your word.

Simplify: Who, me?

by Karen, posted in education, local fun, the beach, writing

IMG_4542I went to a class at the Wells Public Library this week. Lisa Luken of Simple Joy Living, LLC spoke to us about simplifying our lives by streamlining (as well as getting rid of) our stuff. Her tagline is “Simple. Joyful. Organized. Intentional. Living.”

Great, right? Who wouldn’t want that?

I had a ton of ideas fill my monkey-mind within the first fifteen minutes of Lisa’s talk. Some were related to organizing my clutter and some were about…other things. Still, they were GOOD IDEAS! There’s something about the energy of a group that can stimulate thought processes that lie dormant when one is home. You know. Sitting on the couch. Eating ice cream. Watching The Good Wife.

I returned home with renewed enthusiasm to rid my home of clutter. I bagged stuff up. In this case, it was mostly books. And then, some escaped! Two of them went back to their original places on the bookshelf when I wasn’t paying attention!

Not good. I have to do better. Because, as Lisa pointed out, if I am not home dusting, rearranging, storing, and otherwise picking-up-and-putting-down my clutter, I could be doing something that I really love to do. Like going to the ocean. Or walking the labyrinth at The LoveLight Center. Or revising my second novel (working title: How to Stay Married in Midlife).

Or, you know. Sitting on the couch. Eating ice cream. Watching The Good Wife.

🙂