Metamorphosis

Writing takes a lot of dedication guys. It takes hard work and motivation. It takes the ability to work through procrastination which lets face it I have yet to master. I don't know how many times I have thought to myself "Oh I'll post tomorrow but that tomorrow turns into next week then next month and then you know the rest. No new content.I haven't' posted in a while and this one is going to be a little different than the previous ones. It is an introductory of sorts to what I hope to accomplish going forward.

I have been going through a pre-mid-life crisis recently. I've been trying to figure out what exactly I want to accomplish in my life and what will give me fulfillment. I know what my career goal is and what I want to do for the rest of my life but it is going to take me a long time to get there. And I have been asking myself what do I plan to do until then? Do I plan to just go to work? Work my “9-5” go home and pay bills and hope I have enough money to last until the next paycheck? Do I want to be jealous of everyone else and their lives? Their experiences? Their ability see the world? Their ability to truly live and love? Or, am I going to realize that instead wallowing in my self pity and feeding my internal envy monster I can get up off my feet and make it happen. I realized the only thing stopping me from living the way I wanted was me and hard work that I really wasn't willing to do until now. For the first time in my life this life has seemed worth living because I realized that I actually do have control.

 It got me thinking what do I want to accomplish? I love to write. I have always loved to write ever since I learned to read. I was eight years old the first time I tried writing a book and I remember the excitement and  the feeling of being able to put pencil to paper and create a world of your own. I've lost that feeling. I lost it in the pressure to write a novel for the wrong reasons. I lost it in a job that drained my spirit. I lost it after season upon season of depression and feeling like I couldn't accomplish anything. I lost it in procrastination and confusion and rewriting my story until it has changed so much and almost caused me to quit altogether. But I found it again. I found it when I began to enjoy reading again. I found it when I began to slowly let people in. I found it when I stopped letting everyone else define me and my life and my choices. I found it when I remembered how much I loved telling stories when I realized that writing is always going to be a part of my life.

I had to ask my self why I was writing. I am not writing to become famous or for my book to be the next big movie franchise. Sure that would be great but with that goal come so much stress and you lose sight along the way. I write because I love it. I love making something out of nothing. I love being able to express myself. For those of you that know me when I get upset or excited or nervous and I can't talk and when I do it just doesn't make sense. I am more honest when I write and more open. I also have a huge imagination that never turns off. I need a way to channel all of this and blogging is perfect. This was my first blog and I will always remember it fondly but its time for me to grow. And the next step of growth for me is to move my blog and start fresh. Writing is so important to me I have decided to take it more seriously.

 The title I have chosen for my new blog is Once upon a mermaid:Writing, reading and other musings. Here is the link: New Blog I plan for it to be up and running by next week if not the week after. It's going be about writing obviously but not just about my book. It will have writing topics, book reviews, favorite authors, new books coming out etc. I also want to get involved with top 5 Wednesday if that is something I am able to be a part of. The only times I will mention my books are for status updates such as finishing a draft or the publishing process. This isn't the end guys its an amazing, beautiful and exciting beginning. Who knows what the future has in store. I do know that I want all of you along with me. This will be my last post on this page. All new content will be found on my new blog at the link above I will also provide it on my blogs main page. Thank you so much for being patient and sticking with me during this inconsistent time. Have a great week I will see you soon!

Constructive Criticism Can Be Your Friend

Hello everyone. I hope life has been treating you kindly. I also hope you all had a great week. I am sorry I did not write last week I was spending time with my family for Easter Sunday.

This weeks topic is something that I and a lot of writers struggle with: constructive criticism. Like it or not criticism is something every writer has to experience. If you want anyone else to read your paper, story, essay etc, then it will be criticized. Some one else is going to read it and form their own opinion on it. It's inevitable, it's the way humanity is and always will be. Your job is to choose how you react.

Criticism comes in many different forms and from many different outlets. As writers we need to decide whose opinions matter. Why are they critiquing us? Is it to build us up or tear us down? Do they want us to succeed or do they just want to create controversy? What is their purpose? What is ours? These are all questions we need to ask ourselves to be able to keep ourselves strong in the face of criticism. To make our writing the best that it can be we can't do it alone. We need others' insights because they might be able to see what we can't.

My advice that I plan to follow myself would be to reach out to some one you trust. Reach out to the people who you trust to tell you the truth even if you really don't want to hear it. Contact the people that know what they are doing and have been where you are. Turn to some one you rely on to help you see the other side.

How believable are your characters? Is your story cohesive? Is it full of clichés? Are there any major plot holes that you might have missed? Are they able to understand the points you were trying to make. Are they laughing at a scene you meant to be very serious?  Are there any spelling mistakes? Are the sentences cohesive and error free? Sure this is something your editor will do but it doesn't hurt to work on that now. Seeing your writing from another's point of view can bring new life to your writing. Don't forget, if you want to publish any part of your writing  someone else is going to read it.

When someone reads your writing and they don't like it that's okay because everyone is different. I say when because some will read something you write and they will not like it. Some one else will though. If some one gives you pointers and advice and you don't like it you don't have to use it. You can but its not a requirement. Right now you have all the power. You know yourself better than anyone else. You know what your writing is meant to say but don't be afraid to get that second opinion.

The first time I received negative feedback I almost stopped writing altogether. It was hard I felt horrible. I wondered why I was fooling myself into thinking I could ever become a writer. It didn't matter that I got positive feedback too. All I saw was the negative. I stopped writing for a little while  and then went back to reread their critiques when I was less of an emotional mess. And you know what I realized? A lot of what they said was right. They never said I was a bad writer they just gave me areas to improve. They didn't do it out of malice or ill intent. They did it because I asked for an honest opinion and believe me I got it. Did I listen and follow everything they said? No but I did change things, and I realized how valuable there opinion was. Its scary but its worth it. It's how I feel every time I publish a blog post.

So how about you? How did you feel the first time some one read your work? Do you have any tips for staying strong and not giving up? Let me know in the comments.

Eventually I will be putting together a focus group for my book. I have a few people in mind but if anyone is interested please let me know. The only requirements I have is  that you have to like to read, you can be honest, and you will not plagiarize.

Have a great week and a great Monday guys I will see you next weekend.

Why are we writing

Hey guys long time no see. I have been busy with a lot of life changes but I am back and hopefully better than ever. Besides its a new year and a new me. A me that is determined to write faithfully and fearlessly every week. A me that is going to stay on track with my writing and hopefully have a published book by the end of this year. A me that is going to work to get better and better. I mean there is always room for improvement right?

My topic tonight is going to be about motivation. Why do we write? Why do we tell stories or paint pictures  with our words? Who are we trying to reach? What are we trying to say? Some one made me realize how powerful words are. Words are able to incite revolutions and change hearts. They are able to tell stories and paint beautiful pictures that can only be seen with your mind not your eyes. Why do we write?

I know why I write now. I forgot for a time but its coming back to me. I am not writing for fame or money or to be on New York Time's bestseller list. I am not writing because I want my book to turn into a a movie or a hit TV series, even though if I am to be perfectly honest with myself that would be nice. No I am writing because I have a story to tell that I think somebody else out there might just want to hear. And if it makes them feel something, if they see the world a little differently then I did accomplished my dream. I would love to have a  published book. I would love to hold a printed copy of my story in my hands with my name on the cover. I want it to be my proof that I can accomplish something if I work hard enough at it. If I sacrifice the time and give all my effort to writing this book that has been in the work for the past three years now I want to believe it will all pay off.

I started to write because I needed an escape. I needed to build a world where I felt safe. Plus I had an imagination that just wouldn't leave me alone I needed to use that creative energy some how. So my pencil hit the paper and my love for writing was born. I loved it. I loved coming up with new characters and new worlds. I loved imagining a life for them. I had the power to control every little thing. Writing also allowed me to become the person I am today.  I might be quirky and super flawed but I would also like to think I am strong as well. I can get my feelings across so much better on paper and feel more confident as well. Writing is my passion. I might not be famous, I might not be super talented at it. I might not be a singer or a dancer or a spy, those aren't my dreams. Writing is and I hope that some day I can introduce myself as Ruth Prophete the published author.

I do not know if I have a particular audience in mind. I suppose my book would be considered Young Adult but it could be for adults as well.  Its for anyone with an imagination and loves the fantastical. I write for the book lovers and the dreamers. I write for anyone that needs an escape. I write for the people that will enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

So what about you. Why do you write. What motivates you to put pen to paper? And if writing isn't our thing what motivates you to follow your dreams? Let in the comments! Talk to you soon. Have a great week everybody!