A bug in my ointment. A burr under my saddle. Blogger is not letting me comment, or go to my comments or look at my comments, or yours. I know Denise (L'Aussie) pretty much lost her whole blog due to some malfunction, and I hope that is not happening here. But, just so you know, I won't be commenting on your, or my blog until I can be assured, I'm not going to blow up. I can still read everything you say in my Google Reader so please keep posting, but know I can't comment.
I'm also going to disable the comment thingy at the bottom of this post so you can't comment either, just in case it's some kind of bug. And I really don't want you to catch that.
And for some crazy reason, the Anne Gallagher blog works fine. So if I can't post here on Monday, I'll post from over there.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
There's a Change in the Air
Good morning. And no, I'm not talking about snow, or the lack thereof. I'm talking about the blogosphere, the blogoverse, blogging, whatever you want to call it.
I've been picking up on these little threads lately, these little discussions, sometimes rants, often times questions, about what the hay-zoo is going on here. I remember when I started blogging, we were all in this together -- to write the best book possible, land an agent, a contract, and be published.
Then somewhere along the line, the publishing world shifted, Amazon became a god, and we found ourselves in new territory. The imposed taboo of self-publishing was magically lifted and thousands of books began appearing on this thing called a Kindle. We didn't have to query anymore. We didn't have to suffer through the agony of rejection. If we put our book out there, someone would buy it.
And the blogosphere changed. We were no longer looking for ways to write better dialogue, or find out where a hyphen truly belongs, we were looking for information in how to format, to upload, to write cohesive 400 character cover copy. We shifted our focus to meet the new demand. To jump on the bandwagon. To make a gajillion dollars as promised by the new gods of Kindle -- Konrath, Hocking, et al.
We somehow turned the blogosphere into a side show, hawking our wares, asking, telling, begging, people to buy our books, to read our books, to please just look at our books. We became singular in our attention. It wasn't about "us being in this together" anymore, it was about me, me, me.
I am guilty of this as well.
And I hate every freaking minute of it. I loathe it with a passion. Which is why I try not to do it. It annoys me. And I know how much it annoys you.
But the problem is, how the hell are we supposed to sell our books if we don't publicize, market, promote. For most of us, this isn't some little "hobby" we do late at night when the kids are in bed. Sure, it may be the dream we've finally achieved, but it's also our "job" now. We're writers, who sell books, which makes us authors, who need to make money, to put food on the table, to pay the electric bill, to maybe make enough to finally get the damn car fixed.
There's a fine line some of us seem to be walking now in the blogosphere. We have to promote, yet we don't want to annoy. But what can we talk about these days? Can we go back to being the same bloggers we used to be? Can we really discuss the merits of a semi-colon without sounding like some lame asshat? Can we actually have a decent comment thread on the nuances of close third POV? or does it all now revolve around how many we sell, what our rank is, what royalty rate is best?
I want to go back to the way it used to be. I'm sick of being an author already. And it's only been three months. I want to go back to just being a writer. Who's really stuck in the last third of her book and can't decide whether to make her hero love the heroine or hate her guts. I want the blogs to be fun again, where I can learn something, where I can help someone. Where I don't have to be Anne Gallagher - Author of Regency Romances.
I just want to be the plain old Piedmont Writer.
photo courtesy of Jimmy Emerson, AL 2006
I've been picking up on these little threads lately, these little discussions, sometimes rants, often times questions, about what the hay-zoo is going on here. I remember when I started blogging, we were all in this together -- to write the best book possible, land an agent, a contract, and be published.
Then somewhere along the line, the publishing world shifted, Amazon became a god, and we found ourselves in new territory. The imposed taboo of self-publishing was magically lifted and thousands of books began appearing on this thing called a Kindle. We didn't have to query anymore. We didn't have to suffer through the agony of rejection. If we put our book out there, someone would buy it.
And the blogosphere changed. We were no longer looking for ways to write better dialogue, or find out where a hyphen truly belongs, we were looking for information in how to format, to upload, to write cohesive 400 character cover copy. We shifted our focus to meet the new demand. To jump on the bandwagon. To make a gajillion dollars as promised by the new gods of Kindle -- Konrath, Hocking, et al.
We somehow turned the blogosphere into a side show, hawking our wares, asking, telling, begging, people to buy our books, to read our books, to please just look at our books. We became singular in our attention. It wasn't about "us being in this together" anymore, it was about me, me, me.
I am guilty of this as well.
And I hate every freaking minute of it. I loathe it with a passion. Which is why I try not to do it. It annoys me. And I know how much it annoys you.
But the problem is, how the hell are we supposed to sell our books if we don't publicize, market, promote. For most of us, this isn't some little "hobby" we do late at night when the kids are in bed. Sure, it may be the dream we've finally achieved, but it's also our "job" now. We're writers, who sell books, which makes us authors, who need to make money, to put food on the table, to pay the electric bill, to maybe make enough to finally get the damn car fixed.
There's a fine line some of us seem to be walking now in the blogosphere. We have to promote, yet we don't want to annoy. But what can we talk about these days? Can we go back to being the same bloggers we used to be? Can we really discuss the merits of a semi-colon without sounding like some lame asshat? Can we actually have a decent comment thread on the nuances of close third POV? or does it all now revolve around how many we sell, what our rank is, what royalty rate is best?
I want to go back to the way it used to be. I'm sick of being an author already. And it's only been three months. I want to go back to just being a writer. Who's really stuck in the last third of her book and can't decide whether to make her hero love the heroine or hate her guts. I want the blogs to be fun again, where I can learn something, where I can help someone. Where I don't have to be Anne Gallagher - Author of Regency Romances.
I just want to be the plain old Piedmont Writer.
photo courtesy of Jimmy Emerson, AL 2006
I'm Having Trouble
Good morning. I'm having trouble these last few weeks getting back into blogging. I was on hiatus from before Thanksgiving until last week. I missed a lot in the blog world by doing that, but it did get me back into what I needed to do -- spend time with The Monster and my books before the holidays.
But now the holidays are over, and I'm looking at the the next 5 months until I can take my next hiatus. (Part of my publishing goal was to only "work" while The Monster was in school, and when she was out for the summer and on vacations, so was I.) I need to get back to the blogs and come up with something snappy, some witty repartee, some fantastic mind blowing chatter.
Problem is, I've got nothing to say.
I mean, sure, I could talk about my books, but that's boring. You don't want to hear about that.
I could probably go crazy and read a couple of craft books and discuss those, but hey, you can do that on your own. You don't need me.
There's also the idea that I could just talk about The Monster but this isn't a Mommy blog, it's supposed to be a writing blog.
I don't know when the shift in my world occured. I would have to say, probably last summer when I decided to officially self-publish. But in doing that, I became someone new. I lost who I was. I'm not Piedmont Writer anymore, I'm Anne Gallagher -- Author of Regency Romances.
And don't get me wrong, I like Anne Gallagher, I'm just not sure what to do about Piedmont Writer. I liked being a writer. There was fun in that. I got to create new characters, test my wings in writing styles, and POV's, use my brain to figure out how to make good dialogue. Now that I'm an author, it's all about the next book. Traditional published authors will tell you that too. To find and keep an audience.
I hate that. I really do. There's so much damn pressure.
My aunt used to tell me, If I can't say anything nice to or about someone, don't say anything at all. I'm going to modify that concept.
If I can't find anything relevant to say, I won't say anything at all.
I hate the idea of giving up this blog. I really do. I've met so many wonderful people, made so many great friends, formed such solid bonds with other writers. I did miss you all when I was on hiatus, very much, but I've seemed to have lost my voice somewhere. And I really don't know how to get it back.
I'm going to try and only post on Monday for awhile, and see how that works out. I don't really know what else to do.
Tell me -- What do you talk about when you have nothing to say?
But now the holidays are over, and I'm looking at the the next 5 months until I can take my next hiatus. (Part of my publishing goal was to only "work" while The Monster was in school, and when she was out for the summer and on vacations, so was I.) I need to get back to the blogs and come up with something snappy, some witty repartee, some fantastic mind blowing chatter.
Problem is, I've got nothing to say.
I mean, sure, I could talk about my books, but that's boring. You don't want to hear about that.
I could probably go crazy and read a couple of craft books and discuss those, but hey, you can do that on your own. You don't need me.
There's also the idea that I could just talk about The Monster but this isn't a Mommy blog, it's supposed to be a writing blog.
I don't know when the shift in my world occured. I would have to say, probably last summer when I decided to officially self-publish. But in doing that, I became someone new. I lost who I was. I'm not Piedmont Writer anymore, I'm Anne Gallagher -- Author of Regency Romances.
And don't get me wrong, I like Anne Gallagher, I'm just not sure what to do about Piedmont Writer. I liked being a writer. There was fun in that. I got to create new characters, test my wings in writing styles, and POV's, use my brain to figure out how to make good dialogue. Now that I'm an author, it's all about the next book. Traditional published authors will tell you that too. To find and keep an audience.
I hate that. I really do. There's so much damn pressure.
My aunt used to tell me, If I can't say anything nice to or about someone, don't say anything at all. I'm going to modify that concept.
If I can't find anything relevant to say, I won't say anything at all.
I hate the idea of giving up this blog. I really do. I've met so many wonderful people, made so many great friends, formed such solid bonds with other writers. I did miss you all when I was on hiatus, very much, but I've seemed to have lost my voice somewhere. And I really don't know how to get it back.
I'm going to try and only post on Monday for awhile, and see how that works out. I don't really know what else to do.
Tell me -- What do you talk about when you have nothing to say?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Please Help
I know I never post on Thursday but I do hope you'll all see this, and help out if you can.
Matt McNish from The QQQE had a blog post that caught my eye, and you can read it here. As a matter of fact, I encourage you to read it. It's about a friend of his, Candace Ganger from The Misadventures in Candyland. Now, I've never met her, never even been to her blog, but I've been in her shoes, not so very long ago, I might add. She wrote a post, which you can find here, and I really hope you'll read it. It broke my heart is 17 places, and she said she was going to take it down, but I hope she didn't.
She needs help. She didn't want to ask for it, but she has no choice. There are just some things a mother has to sacrifice for her family, and one of them is pride. There should be no shame in that. We are such a supportive blogging communtiy, I hope you'll be able to donate at least a dollar to this family. It would mean a lot, and help out so much.
She listed a Paypal account on her blog, but if you don't have an account please write her and ask her for address to send something through snail mail. I know she will appreciate it. When we have so much good fortune, it's easy to overlook those who are struggling.
Please do help. She's one of our own.
Matt McNish from The QQQE had a blog post that caught my eye, and you can read it here. As a matter of fact, I encourage you to read it. It's about a friend of his, Candace Ganger from The Misadventures in Candyland. Now, I've never met her, never even been to her blog, but I've been in her shoes, not so very long ago, I might add. She wrote a post, which you can find here, and I really hope you'll read it. It broke my heart is 17 places, and she said she was going to take it down, but I hope she didn't.
She needs help. She didn't want to ask for it, but she has no choice. There are just some things a mother has to sacrifice for her family, and one of them is pride. There should be no shame in that. We are such a supportive blogging communtiy, I hope you'll be able to donate at least a dollar to this family. It would mean a lot, and help out so much.
She listed a Paypal account on her blog, but if you don't have an account please write her and ask her for address to send something through snail mail. I know she will appreciate it. When we have so much good fortune, it's easy to overlook those who are struggling.
Please do help. She's one of our own.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Quick Thank You Announcement
I'm at the dentist today with The Monster so I'm not really here, but I just wanted to let you all know, I put up my latest novella A HUSBAND FOR MISS TRENT for FREE on Smashwords. Just my way of saying thank you for all your support throughout this crazy self-publishing adventure. (Amazon has yet to post it free so please don't go there or you'll have to pay for it. (And I don't want you to have to do that.)
When a surprising invitation arrives in the post, impoverished spinster Miss Ophelia Trent wants to turn it down. With no funds for a new gown or even slippers, she’s afraid of becoming the latest laughingstock in Society. With her mother’s gentle insistence, and a borrowed antique gown, Ophelia decides to take one last chance to find a suitable husband.
The ball to which she’s been invited is everything she could have dreamed, including a marriage proposal to the "perfect" man. However, she longs to see the stableman whose easy smile and soulful eyes have etched a mark on her lonely heart.
Should she stick with "perfect" or let her heart take a chance at finding true love?
I believe if you go here, it will bring you to the book. (I'm hoping the link works. I've been having a lot of trouble with links lately.)
And do you not think the guy on the cover is just dreamy? I'm so glad this book is done, because I used to spend hours just staring at him....
When a surprising invitation arrives in the post, impoverished spinster Miss Ophelia Trent wants to turn it down. With no funds for a new gown or even slippers, she’s afraid of becoming the latest laughingstock in Society. With her mother’s gentle insistence, and a borrowed antique gown, Ophelia decides to take one last chance to find a suitable husband.
The ball to which she’s been invited is everything she could have dreamed, including a marriage proposal to the "perfect" man. However, she longs to see the stableman whose easy smile and soulful eyes have etched a mark on her lonely heart.
Should she stick with "perfect" or let her heart take a chance at finding true love?
I believe if you go here, it will bring you to the book. (I'm hoping the link works. I've been having a lot of trouble with links lately.)
And do you not think the guy on the cover is just dreamy? I'm so glad this book is done, because I used to spend hours just staring at him....
Monday, January 2, 2012
There's a Book Fair Today
There's a book fair today, my friends, hosted by the lovely Susan Kaye Quinn who put together the whole shebang. Eisley Jacobs designed the fantastic banner above. (And if you look realllllly close, you can see my book, THE DUKE'S DIVORCE in the top row, 3rd from the left.)
Now, if you want, you can click here and scroll down to see what I'm up to. I've only got one book offered on the actual fair site, but if you click on the above link, you'll get to see the second novella that will be available very soon. (Like maybe by the end of the day soon.)
If you click here, you can see who all is at the book fair. And let me tell you, if Santa surprised you with an e-reader this Christmas, I would definitely take a look see because there are some wicked cool books.
(I am sort of a little disappointed with Santa, but hey, my birthday is on Earth Day, and an e-reader saves trees, so I may just have to become ecologically sound, right? Sounds good to me.)
Anyway, I really do hope you'll all stop by at the fair. If not for me, for all the other great indie authors out there.
2:30pm I'm sorry, my links don't seem to be working the right way. Stupid blog. I'm going to see what I can do.
2:36 pm I think I fixed the problem. Sorry about that.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Everyone!
I hope 2012 brings us all we wish for!
The Harbor at Sakonnet Point
Painting by Nancy Isherwood.
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