Top Six Best Things About Being On Crutches

I broke my foot a few weeks ago—nothing exciting, I missed a step, came down on the side of my foot and snapped the fifth metatarsal. It hasn't been too painful, but being dependant on crutches to get around has notably changed certain things.

Besides getting A LOT of writing done, there are some other unseen and pleasant advantages to hobbling around.



Me and my new best friends, Righty and Lefty. It's important to make sure your toe nail polish matches the color of your cast.



Top Six Best Things About Being On Crutches

1. People find me 62% more interesting, especially strangers and little kids.

2. In regards to the airport, I no longer have to wait with the able bodied schmucks. It's front of the line for me!

3. Everyone I come across suddenly turns into Carson from Downton Abbey, eager to wait on me by offering me drinks and a lap blanket.

Mr. Carson.
photo credit, townhallblog.com

4. I can't help but build up my upper body strength. This not only increases my chances of landing that deodorant commercial, but finally I stand a chance at the arm wrestling competition coming up at the Fall Fair.

5. People congratulate me for completing mundane tasks, making me feel like a frickin' genius. "Wow, you handled those stairs so well. You're really good with those crutches."

6. Each time someone asks how I hurt myself, is an opportunity to make up a fantastic story thereby increasing my 'genius potential' (see #4). So far I've taken down a purse snatcher, tumbled out of a sweet trick in the skate park, been the victim of sabotage from a jealous competitor during auditions for Dancing With The Stars, and of course the classic, 'banana peel on the sidewalk'.

Hopefully, I'll be hobbling around soon without Righty and Lefty, but until that day I guess I'll keep enjoying the perks.


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Cover Reveal for ABANDON!!!!

seduced by power,

broken by control,

and consumed by love...

Vi has made her choice between Jag and Zenn, and the Resistance may have suffered for it. But with the Thinkers as strong as ever, the rebels still have a job to do. Vi knows better than anyone that there's more at stake than a few broken hearts.

But there is a traitor among them...and the choices he makes could lead to the total destruction of everything Vi has fought for.

Vi, Jag, and Zenn must set their problems aside for the Resistance to have any hope of ending the Thinkers' reign. Their success means everything...and their failure means death.

Elana Johnson: Author of the Possession series, which includes POSSESSION and SURRENDER, and short stories REGRET (ebook only) and INSIDER INFORMATION (free!). The third and final book in the Possession series, ABANDON, is coming in June 2013.

Thank you to AToMR Tours for hosting this kick off!

Elana is running a Pinterest contest for the cover. She wants to get 500 pins (or repins) over the next two days. If we can get that many, she'll pick someone who pinned the cover to win a $50 Amazon gift card.

It's so easy to do this. All you have to do is click over to Elana’s blog for details.

Yay! Elana!

Reader Appreciation Award

 

I was nominated for a Reader Appreciation award. Whoo! 

 

I want to thank Meredith Joyce for this unexpected honor. Check out her awesome blog here.

 

In order to participate in this award, there are a few rules that must be followed.  

- Identify and show appreciation to the blogger who nominated you
- You must add the reward logo to your blog.
- Tell your readers 7 things about yourself.
- You must nominate 5-10 of your favorite bloggers for this award.
- Inform your nominees that you nominated them.

7 things about me:

1. I'm totally lazy and instead of listing seven things I will send you here and here.

And finally, for my nominees (in no particular order!)

 

Laura Marie is a writer and a singer. She writes short stories and is working on her first novel. She also has one of the prettiest blogs around.

 

Donna Hosie has a YA urban fantasy novel on amazon and always has a new post up every week. Check her out here.

 

Christina dos Santos not only has a cool name to say but she's almost finished her WIP! Hooray. Stop by and give her some love.

 

Jessica Salyer is a writer and also loves THE PRINCESS BRIDE. That makes her cool in my books.

 

Jane LeBak is my agent sibling and has a book coming out September 28th. THE WRONG ENEMY. She's witty, a regular contributor to Querytracker, and blogs about how to juggle family life with writerly obligations like deadlines and cover design. I can only wish I had these problems.

So I spread my appreciation out to these wonderful ladies, and to bloggers everywhere!

 

I Wave The White Flag

I'm usually a pretty upbeat kind of chick. My motto is, "Hey, it could always be worse." It could also be a whole lot better, but that's not my style.

Most of my posts deal with getting through the yucky times of publishing. You know, the constant rejections, the feeling no one will ever, EVER publish your book, and how everyone else on the planet is not only getting book deals, but movie rights as well.



That's it! I'm outta here.
photo credit, ereads.com

It's enough to make a girl rethink her motto.

*Le sigh*

This week my cheery outlook has been challenged, but that's what makes you stronger, right?

Well, actually no.

I've been mucking around in a gloom of submission for sometime...one book is clocking in at over a year—that's a lot of waiting for nothing to happen.




Also, I've been laid up with a broken foot, hobbling on crutches, and spending most of my time on the couch. It's been great for my Pinterest boards, but it's also allowed me to reflect on my specific goals for writing.

Why do I want to write?

Because I love creating characters and sharing those stories makes them real for others.

Why do I want to be published?

Because more people would read my stories, plus I might get more twitter followers.

What is the best thing about being on submission?

Knowing there is a chance I might get published, therefore more people will read my stories.

What is the worst thing about being on submission?

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Rejection. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Rejection.

I want my stories to be read, not stuck in someones in box for another year.

So, I'm taking a break.

I'm turning away from my e-mail.

I'm raising the white flag.

I will be wattpad's best contributor.

I will write more. And I will share more.

No more waiting.

Enjoy the stories...

Best Ways To Survive Submission

Okay, just to clarify, this is NOT the kind of submission in Fifty Shades of Grey, but thanks for stopping by the blog anyway.

Submission is when you and your agent agree that your novel is in the best shape possible for editors to brood over its lovely pages. It's also a lot like being at a high school dance wishing the cute guy on the other side of the gym would notice you.



*Giggles*
photo credit, clarification.blogspot.com



At first, it was exciting to have people who are in charge of turning stories into real books, reading MY story.

Then the rejections came. But that was okay, I told myself, it's a subjective business, right?

Then months passed.

Then the calendar year turned.

Um...all right. Let's buckle down and send out another story.

Then more rejections came.

Then more months passed.

See the pattern?

Each path to publication is different. Mine feels like it's uphill and in the dark. And even though I realize my path may not end with a book deal, I keep moving forward—mostly because I'm a sucker for a happy ending.

Incredibly, after all this time, whenever the phone rings my first thought is that @rivetingrosie is calling with amazing news!

I still hit emotional potholes of doubt along the way. I've posted about it here, and here. But I've learned a valuable lesson while being on submission these many eons—It doesn't matter if you think you'll never be published or if you're the next J.K. Rowling...rejections still roll in.

And I've discovered it's more fun to dream while I wait.

Here are the top five things that help me survive submission.

1. Instead of waiting for a book deal to celebrate, treat yourself each time you get a rejection. It doesn't have to be expensive or elaborate, just enough to make you smile.

2. When you're reading the latest deals in Publishers Marketplace, remember all of those success stories were years in the making. Did you hear that? YEARS.

3. Keep writing. The best decision I recently made was to enter a short story contest on  @GeekChic42's website. Creating a story with a beginning, middle, and end in less than 1000 words, was an excellent exercise. Also, I discovered I love making book covers and trailers.

4. Step away from the computer. Engage in the life around you. Family and friends are the best balm after a rejection and they're a reminder your happiness shouldn't only be determined by your writing successes.

5. Cupcakes. See number 1.

And here is the bonus.  DREAM BIG!

So hold the shampoo bottle while reciting your Oscar speech for 'Best Screen Play' in the shower. Create a Pinterest board with actors who will star in the movie adaptation of your book. Smile secretly when the guy at Starbucks looks exactly like your MC's love interest. And always, ALWAYS pick up the lucky penny you see on the sidewalk.

Consider New Radicals, "You Get What You Give", substitute 'music' with 'stories' you've got the perfect writer's anthem.

What are some tips that help you through submission?

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How To Find Love In The Bookstore

 

The self help section, obviously.
photo credit, weheartit.com

Listen up, potential Romeos! 

Some men think the club/dance bar is the best place to find the next potential lover. However, since I haunt the aisles of my local bookstore and the library on a regular basis, I've noticed a lot of flirting going on.

If you're in the mood for love between the covers—see what I did there? Between the covers. It could mean bed sheets or the pages of a book.

*Clears throat* Ahem, sorry.

Anywho, here are the top ten ways to help any guy find love in the bookstore.

1. "I think you dropped this copy of Pride and Prejudice. I know it's not mine, I own the first print edition.

2. "Excuse me, do you know where I can find, Decorating Your Mansion For Dummies?"

3. Don't say anything. Walk around with Fifty Shades of Grey tucked under your arm while making eye contact and biting your lip.

4. "That's quite an impressive stack you've got. Can I help carry your books?"

5. "I wish they sold these bookcases. My library at home already takes up two rooms."

6. "Can you recommend a good read for a newly divorced millionaire?"

7. "Let's get a coffee and talk about how Katniss is way more awesome than Bella."

8. "You're a writer? Just for fun, let's list who you'd want to cast in the movie version."

9. "You know, I feel sad for kids who watch the Harry Potter movies without reading the books."

10. "I'll buy you any book you want, which I promise to also read. Then I'll treat you to a Trenta sized Caramel Macchiato while we discuss the character development in detail."

Which one would work on you?

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