I'm a procrastinator that needs to read more

I don't know when it happened, but I have become a procrastinator. I got some feedback on my novel, The Amaranthine and instead of jumping in to rewrites, I am scrubbing the shower and doing washing with a big goofy smile on my face. For some reason I am giving my manuscript (MS) the silent treatment, which is strange for me, because usually I over think things and become obsessed with completing tasks and now I am hiding from my MS.

Also, I have decided to read at least one book a week, because I need to read more and broaden my horizons. I truly believe that knowledge is power, of course my mom will tell me to remember what happened to Eve for wanting more knowledge. Love you Mom! But if I miss the one week deadline so be it. In fact, maybe I shouldn't set a time limit. I should just get a pile of books and tell myself too read as many as I can in say a year?

What are you up to?

I'm just boring

Unlike most bloggers I don't have a writing or blogging schedule and my blog doesn't have a specific theme.I just write about whatever I am experiencing at that moment or whatever pops into my head, which is of course a big no no.

I wanted to enter the bucket list blog hop, but I couldn't think of one thing I wanted to do before I died. I am in a good place right now and at peace with what I have accomplished thus far in my life. Being published before I die is no longer an obsession and if I die, I die. I'm ready. Depressing words, I know.

I finally finished that large order of work I had, though my brother says there is more work on the way. He's leaving on a business trip for a few days, so I get to rest before more work arrives. I must say, having my brother for a boss is actually a lot better than I thought it would be. He is really professional and as long as his work gets done on time, he pretty much leaves me alone. No yelling or constant arguments like my previous job. I can proudly say he's the best boss I ever had.

Heard back from another critique partner, Katie Cross and her feedback was amazing. She pointed out exactly what I need to fix and she did it without being mean. I have a lot of work to do in fixing my manuscript and I am so thankful for her feedback. It is invaluable. Thank you Katie.

So that's it from me, boring I know. Are you doing anything exciting right now?

You are awesome

Thank you (blogger community) for being so unbelievably awesome. I don't think I tell you often enough how grateful I am for your kind words and friendship. Your comments encourage and help me so much. Thank you again. Each one of you is super awesome!

Just roll with it

The past few days I got some feedback on my manuscript from my sister (target audience) and like suspected, she had a lot of great feedback. Mostly that my love scenes were awkward and the wording used inappropriate and that I still have a tendency to info dump. Not to mention too much happening in too short amount of time. But other than that, she liked the story. Still, I was a bit bummed.

Then I approached a few editors for quotes and mostly I found out that my expectations of what editing costs and reality is out of proportion. The amount I have saved is not near enough and that I will have to keep saving for at least another year, (so goodbye September/ October 2015 deadline). So of course I felt a little bummed again.

This morning I spent some time in the cemetery with my mom and cousin, putting flowers on our relatives graves and the gesture lifted my spirits. The things I felt bummed about didn't seem quite so important and depressing anymore, especially after I saw how many unmarked graves there were, even that of children.

I still have to hear back from two other critique partners too, but I don't fear their feedback anymore. I will wait for all the feedback before making any changes.  I am also thinking of reworking my self-publishing deadline so that it suits me and so that I don't get unnecessarily stressed. I have learned that there is always a solutions, it might not be the one I always want, but there is always a solution none the less.

How did your day turn out? Anything happen that you didn't plan?

I'm afraid (IWSG

The past few IWSG posts I tried to post only positive messages and encouraging words. Today is the opposite, because I have to admit I am scared. By what? Pretty much everything. I'm afraid  of people, sharing or discussing my writing and asking for help. I'm afraid that no one (aside for myself) will ever like my writing.

Since becoming a blogger I have met so many great people and I want to thank you guys for always being ready to help me and offer advice. You help me to fight my fears everyday.


The Insecure Writers Support Group was created by the wonderfully talented Mr. Alex J Cavanaugh, so that writers can share the insecurities they have and/or encourage others who need support with their insecurities. You can visit Alex Here, or if you want to join us in discussing our insecurities on the first Wednesday of each month, you are welcome to join by going Here.

Oh snap, final editing is done

I feel kind of nervous and terrified at the same time. I have finished my self-editing and have sent my novel off to my beta-readers and I am shaking as I am typing this post. I was confident while editing, but now...at this stage not so much. My courage is hiding in my shoes. What if they hate it?

Anyway, I still haven't saved enough for professional editing services yet and will probably only send it off for editing next year only. I have stupidly given myself the publishing date of September or October of 2015. But I have no problem postponing it even further if I have to. The reason I chose September or October of next year was because I wanted to publish my first book before I was thirty. But it might not be a good enough reason. If everything goes according to plan, which it never does, I will probably make it. But I am not stressing about it right now.

At least I will have my brother's data to keep me busy for the rest of this month and next month. We have a mammoth task in front of us, but I know we can do it. To give you an idea, I have over 10 000 pages of scientific data to enter into a specific document and format, but I feel happy about the fact that I will be making my brother's job easier, as he doesn't have all that time to enter data.

Anyway, enough about me. How are you doing? What is going on in your life?

The Trouble with Flirting by Rachel Morgan

**NEW RELEASE**

THE TROUBLE WITH FLIRTING

by Rachel Morgan

Labelled a nerd for most of high school, Livi sees her first year of university as a chance to redefine herself. She can finally enter the popular crowd and maybe even land herself a super hot boyfriend. But Livi’s about to discover that the price of popularity may be more than she's willing to pay, and that what—and who—she wants most has always been right in front of her.

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Goodreads

Trouble Series Website

The Trouble Series

Forgiven (A Trouble Novella) *FREE*

The Trouble with Flying *OUT NOW*

The Trouble with Flirting *OUT NOW*

The Trouble with Faking *OCT 2014*

The Trouble with Falling *DEC 2014*

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa and spent a large portion
of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a
degree in genetics, she decided science wasn’t for her—after all, they didn’t
approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in
fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults and those young at heart.




She is the author of the Amazon bestselling YA fantasy series, Creepy Hollow, and the lighthearted contemporary romance Trouble series.

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