Motivational Quote # 27

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller

When I first began blogging, I titled my blog, The Adventures of a Wife, Mother, and Aspiring Author. As if being a wife and mother aren't challenging enough, I had to add writing into the mix. I thought it even funnier when a friend who has spent decades in the entertainment industry told me that the publishing industry is just as competitive, if not more than entertainment.

Helen Keller was born in a small town in Alabama in June of 1880. A mysterious illness at a young age left her a deaf-blind mute. After consulting a specialist, they were put in touch with Alexander Graham Bell--the inventor of the telephone--who suggested they contact the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind, to find a teacher for Helen.

In March 1887, Helen was introduced to Anne Sullivan, a blind woman who had graduated from Perkins. This meeting would prove to be a turning point for Helen. Once the meaning of words was unlocked for Helen Keller there was no holding her back. She became a writer and public speaker, graduated from Radcliffe College, and traveled the world raising money for the blind.*

The life of Helen Keller is truly an inspiration to everyone. How a young girl triumphed over seemingly insurmountable odds and left behind a legacy that is talked about to this day, surely proves anyone can achieve their dreams.

Your life can be an adventure too...if only you dare to live it.



* Information on Helen Keller can be found at this site.

Motivational Quote #25

Who would have thought that the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger would ever appear at this blog? But here is the man who made the line, "I'll be back" famous, sharing some very important motivation for aspiring authors.

"Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strength. When you go through hardship and decide not to surrender, that is strength." - Arnold Schwarzenegger

Writers must be very strong people because they deal with rejection and criticism so often. How many times have you poured your heart and soul into a piece of work only to be told by your critique group where it fell short? What is the number of times you've submitted a piece to an editor only to receive a form rejection letter?

Writing is not an easy gig, and anyone who thinks so is fooling herself. But, as Schwarzenegger reminds us, those struggles develop our strength, and after a while, critiques and rejection letters get easier to handle because we realize that they make us stronger and better writers. Perserverance is what will win the game.

Keep these words from California's governor in mind this week as you work toward your goal of becoming a published author. Go through the hardship, and never, never surrender.

Motivational Quote #22

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step."- Martin Luther King Jr.

I saw this quote and just had to use it for today. But first, a story.

Last week my youngest daughter won tickets to see Disney on Ice at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston. The tickets arrived in the mail this week and they could only be used for one of two performances: Thursday, February 19th or Friday, February 20th.

The girls are on school vacation this week, so that worked out well. But, I hate driving into Boston and my husband was working, so either I had to take the girls or we wouldn't go.

Actually, when I say I hate driving into Boston, I actually mean I don't like driving alone anywhere, but especially not to a big city. I'm happy in my little suburb where the worst trouble I can get into is getting lost in the woods behind our house--which I've done, in case you were wondering. The hubby thought it would be a great idea for me to take the T (commuter rail) into Boston, but again, it's not something I really like doing and I had worked myself up into such a fit by last night that I figured I would just find something around here to do with the girls today...even after my son's fiancee agreed to come with us.

Well, I did it. It really wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be. I drove to the Riverside Station, we took the T to the North Station--which is where the TD Banknorth Garden is--watched a great show, spent a bit too much money, stopped for lunch on our way back, and made it home in one piece. I'm exhausted, but I did it.

This story works really well with Martin Luther King Jr.'s quote. I had determined without giving too many valid reasons that I just couldn't make it to Boston and back with the girls. No matter how many times my husband told me how easy it was, I put up every fence to avoid going. And when he provided a solution to a problem I had stated: provided me with a link and directions to the Riverside Station, gave me his Charlie Card for the T, had his friends from work tell me exactly what I needed to do and how to get to and from where I needed to go, I still came up with every excuse as to why I couldn't do it.

But I could...and I did!

Writing is the same way. Too often we convince ourselves that we don't have what it takes. We don't try because then we can't fail. There are classes we can take to hone skills that might be lacking, there are tons of websites for aspiring authors, and there are so many published authors offering to help those of us who haven't quite made it yet, there's really no reason we can't try. But we have it in our minds that we can't.

What is your trip to Boston? What is it that stops you from working toward fulfilling your dreams of becoming a published author? What excuses do you use so that you don't have to try?

As King says, you don't have to see the whole picture to get started, all you have to do is take that first step in faith. Have faith in yourself. You have the power to make your dreams come true. Use it!

Motivational Quote #21

Since tomorrow is Valentine's Day and the start of the girls' winter vacation from school, I figured I would post this today. Besides, it really caught my eye this morning and considering how true it is, I couldn't wait to share it.

"People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing."--Dale Carnegie

I doubt I have to tell anyone who Dale Carnegie is, but some interesting facts that I didn't know about him follow:

* Carnegie was born the son of a farmer in 1888
* He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York but found little success as an actor.
* The Dale Carnegie Course evolved when he began to teach public speaking at the YMCA where he had to live because he was unemployed and broke.

The above mentioned facts add depth and meaning to Carnegie's quote about having fun with what you do. As writers, we may not achieve the status of Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Anne Rice, or Tom Clancy, but if we're having fun doing it, why stop?

Let this fun motivate you and push you forward to help you acheive your dreams. Yes, writing is a business, but do you have to approach it seriously all the time? I don't think so. Some of the most well received pieces I've written, are ones that I've done totally for fun.

If you have fun being a writer, then do it. As Carengie says, it can help you succeed.

Kim Smith Discusses What She's Learned about Writing and Publishing

One of the best things about virtual book tours is that authors spend time sharing their advice, wisdom, and insights into the world of publishing. Kim Smith stopped by Murderby4 today. Here's the lead-in of her article:

"When Marta asked me to write something for this article, I had to think, and think hard. I really wanted to say something that would matter to you as a reader or a writer.

Since embarking on the journey as a published author, I’ve learned so much about myself! For example, although I am a pretty meek and mild kinda gal, I can take the bull by the horns and wrestle with him a ways. I can face adversity and stand tall. That’s a great thing to find out about yourself, in case you wondered."

You will find the rest of the article here.

Phyllis Zimbler Miller Talks about Branding

Why are we talking about this here? Well, you're not planning to stay an aspiring author forever, are you?

Fiction Scribe had another interesting guest blogger last week. Phyllis Zimbler Miller, author of Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel stopped by to talk about branding.

Here's the lead-in:

What Is Your Brand as a Writer? What Sets You Apart From Other Writers in Your Same Genre?

John has written a YA novel, Francine a chick lit, Martin a thriller, and Dolores a romance. While the titles of their respective novels may be different, their “brands” may all be the same – another YA novelist, another chick lit novelist, another thriller novelist, and another romance novelist.

Given the huge number of novels published each year and the large array of choices of what people can spend their leisure time doing, novelists are even more hard pressed to distinguish themselves from the pack. And how do they do this?

You'll find the entire article here.

Why You Should Hire A Professional Copy Editor

Fiction Scribe had an excellent guest blogger today. Author and editor Sigrid Macdonald spoke of the reasons you need to hire a copy editor.

Here's the lead-in to the article:

Many seasoned writers, myself included, balk at the idea of hiring a copy editor. We’ve been writing for years; we know grammar and sentence structure. Why put out good money to have someone else do exactly what we can do? Or worse – the editor may want to change our voice, our style and our tone. Who needs that? You do!

Whether you are brand-new to writing or you’re an old pro, there are two very good reasons why you shouldn’t edit your own work.

You can find the entire article here.

Motivational Quote #17

I thought I would try to be early this week. Time is so precious lately and I didn't want to disappoint anyone by not posting on Saturday.

In November 1855, Lincoln wrote a letter to Isham Reavis. In this short letter Lincoln advises Reavis to get the books (law) and read them until he understands them. The last line of this letter includes the quote below:

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing."- Abraham Lincoln

The letter was then signed, "Very truly Your Friend A. Lincoln"

Lincoln's letter was in response to an earlier one from Reavis, who had requested a student's position in Lincoln's firm--which Lincoln declined because he was gone too much to be helpful to Reavis. In this letter Lincoln advises him to study on his own and is telling Reavis that his own determination to succeed is more important than anything else.

That can also be said of the aspiring author. Nothing can hold you back if you are determined to succeed. Now, that might mean you have to push yourself to ask for critiques from fellow writers. It might mean you have to actually submit your polished manuscript to an agent or publisher. It could also mean that you need to take some classes to hone your craft before you're ready to move any further.

But whatever it takes, you have the power to do it. And if you don't believe me, won't you at least take Lincoln's word for it?

Aaron Paul Lazar on Rejection

A writing friend, whose latest release, The Devil Can Wait had me staying up way past my bedtime, directed me to this guest article on rejection by Aaron Paul Lazar found at the Murderby4 Blog.

Rejection. Oh, how it stings. Most of us have been through it - plenty. Seeking jobs, seeking love, seeking publication for our books. It hurts. Destroys our self image. For a while, anyway. And it tears at the thin fabric in which we cocoon with our fragile writer's ego, protecting the inner belief that our work is valid.

A new writer recently emailed me after receiving a flurry of rejections from big agents. With a crushed spirit, she wrote:

"It makes no sense to me. If someone has written a book that is a good read, then why in the world would it not be recognized, published and read? The only answer that makes any sense is that it's not a particularly good read after all."

Alas, if it were only that simple. Let's step back and take a look at the situation.

You can read more here.

Marta Stephens Gives Tips to Writers

The following is an excerpt from another of Pump Up Your Book Promotion's December clients. Marta Stephens if the author of Silenced Cry and The Devil Can Wait--the latter of which I will review at The Book Connection on December 10th.

You can find Marta on the web at www.martastephens-author.com.

"You’ve written an amazingly brilliant novel. Your tension is excellent, the suspense is fantastic, your subplots are beautifully woven together--every word, every phrase is sheer perfection.

In the begin, the reaction from your friends and family to your writing may range from curious amusement to mild enthusiasm. Months pass, your family begins referring to you in past tense. You friends call less frequently -- eventually they quit, your kids stop setting your place at the table, and dog you’ve raised as a pup begins to bark and growl every time you shuffle your feet from your desk into the kitchen for another cup of coffee. The only television you “watch” are the infomercials at two in the morning only because you’re so wound up from working out complex plots that you can’t go to sleep. But that’s okay, because this is your goal, right? You’ve raised the bar a notch higher and now you have to roll with the punches. You have no choice but to push yourself to the brink of exhaustion and push you will!"

To read the rest of this article, please visit The Writer's Life.

Great Advice for the Aspiring Author

When I logged onto my Google homepage this morning I saw this quote:

"If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"--John Wooden

Wooden is a retired American basketball coach and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Winning 10 NCAA Championships in 12 years, Wooden has been honored in many ways. While I have to admit to not knowing much about basketball, Wooden words of wisdom should also be heeded by aspiring authors

I've had the opportunity to interview and network with several editors over the past few years. One complaint that comes up often when discussing manuscripts and whittling down the slush pile is that there are many writers who don't follow submission guidelines. Every time I hear that, I shake my head in disbelief.

Why would you go through all the trouble of submitting a manuscript that you spent numerous hours creating if you aren't going to take the time to review the guidelines?

You can save yourself the time and energy because that has given the editor his first reason to reject your manuscript. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that your manuscript is so brilliant that an editor will overlook that you can't follow directions. If you can't even be bothered to comply with submission guidelines, then why would you be any more acceptable of suggested changes to your manuscript?

Wooden's words can also be applied to editing. As a book reviewer, I am amazed at what I've seen over the past couple of years. If a book is filled with typographical errors and sloppy grammar, it can take away from the enjoyment of the reader. Don't think that you'll find every error yourself. At bare minimum, have another writer read your work; but it is ideal to hire a professional editor to review your manuscript so that it is polished when it arrives on the editor's desk.

Remember, you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. Make sure you do it right the first time!

Lloyd Lofthouse and My Splendid Concubine

Lloyd Lofthouse is the author of the historical fiction novel My Splendid Concubine.

In the video below, Lloyd discusses the challenges of research for historical fiction writers. If you're considering writing an historical fiction novel, you'll want to listen to what Lloyd has to say.



About the book: No Westerner has ever achieved Robert Hart’s status and level of power in China. Driven by a passion for his adopted country, Hart became the “godfather of China’s modernism,” inspector general of China’s Customs Service, and the builder of China’s railroads, postal and telegraph systems, and schools.

But his first real love is Ayaou, a young concubine. Soon after arriving in China in 1854, Hart falls in love with Ayaou, but his feelings for her sister go against the teachings of his Christian upbringing and almost break him emotionally. To survive he must learn how to live and think like the Chinese.

He also finds himself thrust into the second bloodiest conflict in history, the Taiping Rebellion, where he ends up making enemies of men such as the American soldier of fortune known as the Devil Soldier.

During his first years in China, Robert experiences a range of emotion from bliss to despair. Like Damascus steel, he learns to be both hard and flexible, which forges his character into the great man he is yet to become. Full of humanity, passion, and moral honesty, My Splendid Concubine is the deeply intimate story of Hart’s loyalty and love for his adopted land and the woman who captured his heart.

You can visit Lloyd's website at www.mysplendidconcubine.com.

The MY SPLENDID CONCUBINE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on December 1 and end on January 30. You can visit Lloyd's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in December and January to find out where he is appearing!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. A winner will be announced at the end of every month!

Grit for the Oyster by Suzanne Woods Fisher et al.--Book Review

Filled with helpful advice and inspiration, Grit for the Oyster 250 Pearls of Wisdom for Aspiring Writers by Suzanne Woods Fisher, Debora M. Coty, Faith Tibbetts McDonald, and Joanna Bloss is a must read for all aspiring writers.

Broken down into four sections, not a single page in this book is wasted. Readers can expect to find motivational quotes from successful writers, Biblical Scriptures, anecdotes from the authors, prayers tied into each pearl of wisdom, and questions to reflect upon.

More than just a book that will help you move your writing career forward, Grit for the Oyster will change not only how you pursue your writing career, but also your perception of that career. A powerful motivator that will increase your self-confidence and draw you closer to the One who has called you to write, this book should stay close by your computer and lift you up when you need it most.

Grit for the Oyster will help the aspiring writer to get started, to find her voice, to handle interruptions, to deal with rejections, fear of failure, moments when she feels like giving up, and so much more.

An excellent daily devotional for every writer who seeks to glorify God with the written word.


Title: Grit for the Oyster
Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher et al.
Publisher: Vintage Spirit
ISBN: 978-0-9815592-2-3
U.S. Price: $15.99

Advice for Aspiring Authors from Robert Greer

Robert Greer is a doctor and author of the CJ Floyd Mystery series that I spotlighted on my blog, The Book Connection. Robert offered a short advice article for aspiring authors today at Scribe Vibe. Here is an excerpt:

The best advice I can give to anyone who thinks they want to be a writer, has always been the same. The key to writing excellence is, as my good friend and best selling mystery writer, Stephen White, always says is, “To glue your butt to the chair.”

You can read the entire article here.