Interesting article  Are female writers asked how they manage to create strong male characters?


Greg Rucka: Why I Write Strong Female Characters

Don't Be A Douche

It seems to me that this is a fairly easy rule to follow.  Treat others as you'd like to be treated.  Give respect, be humble, show gratitude.  This is a concept my mother taught me when I was quite young and it has stood me in good stead my whole life.  If I treat others well, they (generally) do the same to me.  Even when they don't, at least I know that I did all I could to show them proper courtesy, and I can come away from an encounter feeling good about myself.

I  have to wonder if this guy feels good about himself.  Sadly, I'm afraid he does.  He's probably patting himself on the back, congratulating himself for the canny marketing and public awareness "campaign" he just pulled off.  Unfortunately, he's also earned himself a permanent spot on my Will Not Read EVER list for his behavior.

The Man Who Thought He Was King


Pretty sad, I think, that some feel they have to resort to bragging and jeers to make themselves look better.  Even sadder that it just makes them look worse.

Writers, don't be douches.  Accept criticism with grace.  Have a sense of humor about yourself and your work.  I promise you'll have a much easier time getting and keeping an audience for your books.

There are days, maybe even a week or more, when I just can't find it in me to write.  I used to beat myself up over that fact.  "I should be writing!  I'll never find an agent or a publisher if I don't finish this book!"  Etc.

But you know something...all that did was add to my stress levels.  Yes, I do try to write every day.  It helps to get into a groove and keep it going.  But I also have four children, a big dog that needs a lot of attention, and a horse.  Oh, and did I mention the severe chronic pain?

Sometimes something has to give.  As long as the kids, dog, and horse are fed, and the kids have clean faces and hands, there are days when I have to call it Enough.  And I won't apologize for that.  If that means I never get published, well...my family really is more important, as much as I would hate to give up on this dream.

However, in the spirit of Mother's Day, I give you this.  I only have one son, but I grew up with three brothers.  It's funny cuz it's true.

It's been a hectic couple of weeks for me.  I managed to get Finding the Path finished, the cover art done (and oh so beautiful it is!) and published to Amazon.  Initial sales are good, as are reviews.  This makes a wee author happy.

Amazon link to Finding the Path  (Check out that cover!)

Goodreads link to same

Doing that has meant that I haven't had much time to blog.  I also have gotten busy on another book - well, technically I have three in various stages right now, but I am concentrating on one in particular right now.  It involves shapeshifters, and I think it's going to be pretty good.  No post-apocalypse in this one; it's set in modern-day Austin, TX.

1300 words today, hopefully twice that tomorrow.  I think I've cracked what helps my hero defeat the villain, if I can just get it laid out properly.  About halfway done - 35,000 words total.