Get up swinging

As I sit here in the middle of the night, unable to sleep (obviously Ha. Ha.), I started looking over my recent blog posts. I gave more than a little thought to ... well, my thoughts.

It's time I stop complaining and worrying about things I can't control. No matter what I do, I really can't control sales. I can't control the reactions of other people, personally or professionally. Those things are out of my hands just as much as the weather. Well, I do know a pretty good rain dance, but you get what I'm saying.

The only thing I have complete control of is me and my reactions. I'm tired of worrying and complaining. It makes me feel weak and I don't like that either. If there's one thing I'm not it's weak. I'm a fighter. I've said it before and I'll keep saying it as many times as I need to in order to remind myself to get off my ass and get back to work.

A new story idea came to me yesterday evening. I made a few notes, but this new idea won't shut up. I'm going to put my current book on hold (because I've made notes through the ending already) and I'm going to work on this. The new idea looks like (from my notes) that it might be a novella. I've got some pretty sexy things going through my head, and I'm going to write the shit out of them.

One of my trainers, years ago, taught me something very important. Well, he taught me a lot. But this one thing has so many applications besides combat. He said that if you hit the ground for any reason, whether you're knocked down, or you fall down to avoid a hit, you better get up swinging. You never know when one of your punches is gonna land. And you never know when that one hit will be all it takes to finish the fight.

I've had some books that have sold and continue to sale very well. But I'm still looking for that one hit. The book that takes me and my work to the next level. Here I go again, getting up swinging.

It's okay to get your hopes up

If you're like me, you can't write when you're in a bad mood or feel discouraged. For those who haven't been writing/published long, I should warn you, you will often feel discouraged. This is a discouraging business.

There will be both big and small things to bring you down. For example, I've had several reviews comparing my books to another author. Now, she's an excellent writer and very famous. The first time, it was flattering. The third and fourth time, not so much. I want to be known for ME, not because someone THINKS my work sounds like somebody else. Especially, since I don't read the other author's work.

Another example, (don't worry, this is not a rant) my short story Eaten by The Wolf. Even though the description says it's a short erotic story, 10 pages in length, people still leave bad reviews. Their only complaint? The length. It's one thing if they didn't know. But when you're told upfront (not to mention the story is FREE) then why leave a bad review?

I shared that (not just to complain) but to share this. I plan to turn Eaten by The Wolf into a full novel. Not only that, but it will be the first in a trilogy. I'm making notes on the project right now. What did ANOTHER bad review do for my ideas? I'll tell you, it shot them straight to hell for another afternoon.

But I can't let it do that or this awesome story I've got in my head will never be told! And it's worth telling. I've read enough to know a good story when I hear one and I've been hearing this one in my head for weeks now. It may be the end of the year before I get to actually begin work on it. I've got a lot lined up this summer. We'll have to wait and see.

My point is, I can't let what people say influence me to the point that I give up. I know other writers that will get a bad review and want to give up. Just because someone decides to be a jerk (and probably did so LOUDLY) they think all their work is crap. (I'm guilty of this too.) But you can't think that way! (On a side note, I'm not calling everyone who leaves a less that perfect review a jerk. Having a valid point is well, a valid point.)

Do lots of other people like your work? Have they told you so? How many times have your books been downloaded? And out of all those times, HOW MANY people complained? If your story has been read by thousands of people and only a handful complain, maybe they are too picky. Or if one person writes a REALLY nasty review, maybe they're just an asshole.

It doesn't mean you suck. Your books aren't crap. Every writer needs to hear this, regardless of the genre you write. Storytelling is how we communicate so much about life. Fiction has the power to make you see the real world differently. Maybe someone is going through a rough time in their life and they like to read romance. They get to read about someone who overcomes their problems and finds love in the end. Yes, it's only a story, but it has the power to make that person who read it feel better. Encouragement is a good thing, no matter what form it comes in.

There's no telling how many people your work may have encouraged. It might have brightened their day, made them laugh, made them smile. You can't quit. This is what you were meant to do with your life.

So, get up and get encouraged. Tell the stories you've got inside you. People do want to hear them. Maybe not those jerks who wrote the bad reviews, but they aren't the only people in the world.

You are unique. You are valuable. You have something to offer that no one else has YOUR WORDS.

Stay positive

I have trouble with this sometimes myself. So, it occurred to me that writers (and many others) might be going through the same thing. You can't please everyone no matter how hard you try. This goes for the stories you write and the dinner you made last night. People will always find something to complain about. If you serve the dish to enough people, eventually someone is going to complain about the flavor.

Forget it. That's right, wash those old dishes (so to speak) and start cooking something new. Yes, I'm talking in metaphors and I've had too much coffee, but you know what I mean. Everyone cannot be pleased, it's not possible.

Someone will always think the story was too long, or too short, had too little plot, or too much plot, blah, blah, blah. The list goes on. It also depends on which day they read the story. Maybe they had a bad day or were too tired to follow the story, etc.

Now, if everyone has the same complaints about your book, then you may have a genuine problem. However, if random people crop up with random complaints (and they’re bound to), just forget it. I would say do your best to focus on your next project and move on. But, there is no such thing as try. Yes, Yoda would be proud. There is only do and do not.

DO NOT let negative comments get you down. DO move on to your next project with enthusiasm and a positive attitude. Remember, you've got something valuable to contribute that no one else has, YOUR words.

No one in the world can tell a story the same way you can, and people are waiting to hear what you've got to say.

Words of encouragement

I just got through observing an argument and it makes me sick. Don't worry, I'm not going to bring it here. That's one of the reasons I don't like reality TV. (Or reality blogging for that matter. LOL) Reality for most people seems to be arguments and general strife with the whole world. Sure things don't always go my way. But I make an effort to look for positive things. Admittedly, they are sometimes hard to find, but they're out there. To believe otherwise would make me feel like shit on a regular basis and I don't like feeling like shit.

Anyway, the following words were forwarded to me in an email by a dear friend of mine and they meant a lot. If you ever read this Kimber, I saved it to my hard drive. LOL Thanks so much. I hope they will inspire someone else and lift their spirits the way they did mine.

EXCELLENCE can be attained if you...
CARE more than others think is wise...
DREAM more than others think is practical...
EXPECT more than others think is possible.

If that be the case, then dear God help me to achieve excellence. I look for ways each day to encourage other people. There's enough negativity in the world without me adding to it. No, that doesn't mean I'm perfect and it doesn't mean I'm always nice. I can be the Big Bad Bitch when I want to be and sometimes just for fun. What it means is, I try ... and I wish more people would.

My Happy Dance:)

As promised, like you were waiting for it (LOL) here's my happy dance! At first, I wanted to post this to celebrate my new book contracts, but now it's more of a celebration to have my computer working properly again and to be recovering from the flu:) Either way, life is good and here's my happy dance.

Resolutions? Not exactly.

For the most part, I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. I mean, if you are going to make a positive change in your life, why wait? If you think you would benefit from changing your diet or not smoking anymore, then why do you need to wait for the New Year?

I bet there are more people working out today (just the second day of the year) than any other time all year long. Hey, if you can stick with it, I'm all for it. I'm all for people feeling empowered enough to make positive changes in their lives.

Here's my suggestion, take it or leave it. Don't think of whatever you would like to accomplish as a "resolution." Think of it as a goal. Doesn't that sound better already? Goals don't necessarily have a time limit. They are something that we stretch ourselves to reach. Say, (for example) that you want to lose 100 lbs. and by the end of the year you've only lost 50. Does that mean you haven't met your goal? Hell no! It means you're halfway there! Congratulations, that's wonderful:)

If you haven't accomplished everything you thought you should have in 2007, so what? Don't focus on what you didn't do. Focus on what you did do. What did you accomplish? What steps did you take to bring you closer to your goals?

Please don't take this the wrong way, because I don't say it to brag. But, I had two books published this past year. I am thrilled! Those are two steps closer to me becoming a full-time author. That is one of the goals I have set for myself, to be able to pursue my dream full-time. That is a life goal, not a resolution. Each day (and month, year, etc.) I try to come one step closer.
So have I set any new "goals" this year, even after saying that I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions? I sure have. I want to be better. That's it. That's all there is to it. I want to be better. A better writer, a better spouse, a better parent, a better friend, and confidant. I simply want to be better.

So, how about you? What goals do you hope to accomplish or to take another step toward in the New Year? Whatever they are, I wish you success.