Day 103..Meet Abbie...

Welcome to Day 103...

Let's call it recovery day.  The event is done...well done may I add.  Lots of money raised, a great time had by all...and for the folks that worked so hard to put it all together?  Well we're still standing...kinda.

As far as recovery day...well it's a relative concept.  My initial plan was to lay on the couch all day, my reality was something different.  Remember...it sure is a #busywriterslife...

Instead of kicking back on the couch, I ended up on a college visit with my son...

6 hrs in the car...

3 hrs on campus...

And a very special side trip to pick up our new puppy...

Meet Abbie...

First day home and just 3 months old...

And today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Here's to New Beginnings..."

And Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 

Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife

Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net

Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins

365 Days & Counting...

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Day 102...For today...

Welcome to Day 102..

Today is a very #busywriterslife...I'm running a fundraising event for my son's school...a few hours from now 300+ people will be walking through the doors waiting for a fabulous nightto begin...and we'll be ready for them.

It's going to be a great night...

For today...some thoughts to share...




Here's today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Find Your Best You & Be All That & More..."

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 

Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife

Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net

Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins

365 Days & Counting...

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Day 101...Why This May Not Matter...

Welcome to Day 101...Quite honestly I still have a hard time believing we're in triple digit territory on our posts...let's keep it moving...let's keep writing, editing, marketing. 

That said I'm having a very "off" week with regard to  work on my own book.  Less than 28 hrs to go until I'm through this fundraiser and then hopefully some normalcy will return to my days...though normal is a relative term...#busywriterslife.

Anyway...I've written a few times about what to do with not so great reviews on your book.  

A while back, one reader had written a review that my characters weren't believable.  She alluded to how their background and some of their traits were a bit over the top.

Interestingly enough her review didn't bother me.  In fact not one bit.  For one thing I had received a lot of nice reviews on the book (including how much some other readers really liked the characters) and for another, making my characters a bit 

I like the idea of my readers getting lost for a while in someone else's fabulous life, a life filled with private islands, amazing homes and expensive cars.

Obviously you have to strike a good balance...a well developed character, a fun, interesting and sexy relationship between the hero and heroine, a great plot line...that all needs to be in play.  But there's something to be said about suspending your reader's level of disbelief for awhile.  

Because there's really nothing better than escaping into a good book.

Here's today's Takeaway Lesson...

"If You Change the Way You Look at Things, the Things You Look at Change..." WD

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 

Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife

Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net

Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins

365 Days & Counting...

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Day 100...Another Day, Another Milestone...

Welcome to Day 100...100 days...100 blog posts...100 opportunities to think about writing, marketing and moving my writing career to the next level.

I have to be honest, there are some days it's incredibly hard to fit any or all of it in...editing a section of the book, developing a new plot line, getting creative about ways to increase my book sales.  And...try to fit the rest of my crazy life into the whole process.

But hard can be good.  It means I'm challenging myself.  It also means I'm committed to my writing and publishing goals.  The whole idea about doing the 365 Days of Writing Marketing & E-Publishing blog means I'm in the game - everyday.  It means that even if I didn't get much done, even if I fell a bit short, I was still thinking about it, working at it...inching my forward in this journey.

So if you haven't committed to something bigger than yourself lately, why not start today?

Here's today's Takeaway Lesson...

"All I Know Is That My Best Work Has Come Out of Being Committed & Happy..." WH

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 

Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife

Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net

Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins

365 Days & Counting...

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Day 99...Two Things Your Readers Deserve...

Welcome to Day 99...

With this fundraising event just days away, I've resolved myself to the fact my book will be taking a back seat.  Which is making me a bit twitchy to say the least, but I'm so bogged down in final emails, wrapping gift baskets and seating set ups for 300+ people, that's just the way it is.  Though I'm trying to remind myself there's an end date in sight.  I'm actually looking forward to when I can just stressed over my writing and nothing else.

Yes it is a #busywriterslife.

Anyway I was thinking the other day about my books and what exactly it is I want to share with my readers.

A great story? Twists and turns? Memorable character? Sizzling romance?  Yes, yes, yes and yes. And for me I can really sum it all up into the 2 big goals I try and reach for when I sit down and craft my story...

Two things I believe my readers deserve...to be surprised and satisfied.

Here's the thing about a great book...when it really pulls you in, you just can't put it down. You're on a journey of intrigue, wonder, expectation.  A surprise at every turn. When you do finally finish, there's an amazing feeling, something between a perfect calm and a perfect thrill all rolled up into one.  Simply put, it's pure satisfaction.

So how do you know if you're hitting the mark?

Read those reviews on Amazon or Goodreads.  For me I find them encouraging and validating and it helps me know if I'm on the write track.

Here's some examples of just that kind of review for my book Be Still My Breath...

"Read the book in one sitting. Highly recommend if you like action and romance. Can't wait until next one! Hurry up Ms. Collins."

"This book was so good! The characters were well drawn and sympathetic, the action was thrilling, the chemistry between the two main characters scorching and the romance heartwarming.."

Achieving both elements of surprise and satisfaction?   It's like reaching for the stars every time I write and my readers deserve nothing less.

Here's today's Takeaway Lesson...

"The Sky is Not the Limit, Reach For the Stars..."

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 

Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife

Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net

Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins

365 Days & Counting...

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Day 98...A Writing Rule to Remember...

Welcome to Day 98...

Today I wanted to share a good rule to remember when your writing...the difference between affect and effect.

Affect is a verb and it means to have an impact on something or to produce a result.

Here's an example... 

That bad test score really affected my grade.
Don't let my decision affect what you are going to do

Effect is usually a noun.  It means a result or a consequence.

The effect of her bad cooking meant I was up sick all night.

Her decision to run for office will have an effect on the whole family.

The difference can sometimes be confusing to remember, so here's a trick that was posted on-line...A comes before E in the alphabet and you need to Affect something before you can have an Effect.

Every once in a while, it's good to review writing rules and basics.  It'll save you time on edits going forward.

Here's today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Going Back to Basics Strengthens Your Foundation..."

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 

Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife

Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net

Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins

365 Days & Counting...

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Day 97...Sweet Redemption!!

Welcome to Day 97...

Sometimes the secret in life is to stop focusing some much on the problem and to just jump in and fix it.

I've been a bit crazy all week - lots going on at work, working hard on my son's school fundraiser, busy week for the kids and all week long I just felt like I was falling short.  

It is what it is.  Some weeks, it's like you're simply half a**ing it.  I wasn't working out, wasn't eating well, wasn't putting enough time into my writing...

And now heading into weekend mode, I could have spent the next few days in my crazy but not-really-getting-anywhere, mode but I knew the madness had to stop... 

So...got up early...did 2 solid hours of editing...walked  3 miles, drank my apple cider vinegar and my kale shake...did some work on the journal for the fundraiser (actually it was a re-do...I inadvertently deleted a bunch of the info - yes it was that kind of week)...had a conference call with my day job about an up coming project...and got a bunch of laundry done.  Later, there's plans for a family movie and out to dinner.

Getting back on track feels good...real good and with all this positive momentum I'm ready to slay some goals.

Now if I can only keep it going...Stay tuned...

Here's today's Takeaway Lesson...

"Stop Waiting for Things to Happen, Go Out and Make Them Happen..."

Here's to Being All In,

Maggie 

Follow me on Twitter @AuthorMaggie #busywriterslife

Visit my website @ www.maggiecollins.net

Like me on Facebook Maggie Collins

365 Days & Counting...

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