I've been reading Darren Rowe's "How To Build A Better Blog..." and have been posting my thoughts and a little about the lessons learned on my personal, VERY ALL-AROUND INAPPROPRIATE, blog.

If the name (Nose Droppings) doesn't warn you away, then I have to say...proceed at your very own risk. And for heaven's sake don't touch the screen while you're there either. 

In any case Day # 12: Develop An Editorial Calendar For Your Blog gave me the guidelines to create a calendar. I've decided to do a weekly one and I'm posting it up here in hopes that it will help me stay consistent.

TRP BlogRoll:

Monday Marketing
Tuesday's Tools
Wednesday Whimsical
Thursday Publisher Process
Friday Fun

Monday Marketing:
Marketing, promotions, Kindle news, topics of news-worth interest and opinions about it.

Tuesday's Tools:
Writing Tools, Marketing Tools, Publishing Tools, Editing Tools. Everything and Anything that helps in daily writing life.

Wednesday Whimsical:
Book Reviews, book releases, anything funny...flow charts...anything that strikes.

Thursday Publisher Process:
These are things that involve the in's and out's of publishing a book. See tag for input.

Friday Fun:
Pictures, videos and stuff I find funny!


ACTION ITEM: Create your own blog calendar. If you need help with your blog...check out the 31 days of how to make your blog better!

Ohhh! Look at those pretty colors to write in!

Today's Toolbox shall be Wrting Tools. I've found some websites with some fantastic Creative tips for working writers.

First -- Wired "Top Tools For Creative (and Working) Writers" http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2007/02/top_gadgets_for/

Second -- Wordbitches "6 Reasons Why Scrivener Is The Best Writing Tool EVER" http://wordbitches.com/2013/04/26/6-reasons-why-scrivener-is-the-best-writing-tool/

My writing tool for the day is your phone.

Your phone has a microphone--or many of them do. I bet if you look, you'll find an app or recorder on your phone. I use mine all the time to dictate notes, blogs, passages of my short stories -- whatever.

Your ACTION ITEM for the day is to find that recorder, make it easy to get to and use it. Start a diary. Dictate your grocery list. Record a story idea.

Often times I'll go through my voice recordings every month. I even have it on my ORGANIZATIONAL To Do List.

~ Ducks flying tomato ~

I surround myself with a group of authors of like mind and this past week, they have been the awesome while I've been the suk.

It happens.

I'm not down because I have awesome sauce days and everybody's going to have the rain splatter on your burger days too.

If you read this blog regularly you'll see the Cover mishap, the Free Kindle Book splurge, the endless cover passover for a new authors cover. But what's been amazing is watching my author's soar. They have been inspiration, support and awesome sauce this past week. I'm amazed at their ability to scramble about and make it look effortless. 

Balancing life as an Author is much like having a dog. It needs to go for a walk. It needs food. It needs water. It paws at you for attention. It's not all writing.

Wait...what? Not all writing?

You have a life. That life requires balance. Sometimes you can't blog because, well, life happens.

What will help you balance life?

The answer is so easy that you'll prolly throw tomatoes at me.  Drum-roll...

Organization.

~ Ducks under counter ~

I use flash cards.

~ Ducks under counter ~

I use an app called Any.do

~ Ducks under sofa ~

Google calendar

~ Ducks behind refrigerator ~

and I have a To Do List Book that I use as well.

~ Splat. Wipes off tomato. ~

Organization is balance on schedule. My Ultrachron lite app is set to 45 minutes and every time that puppy barks at me I get up, walk around, take in some water and decide if I'm going to continue what I'm doing or go to the next item on the list. A side effect to this is I feel like I've done something. It feels good to cross off an item from the list.

ACTION ITEM: Try making a list, setting a schedule and seeing if that works.

I'm not working today. I'm remembering those who fought and died, fought and became maimed, fought and got forgotten.

I have a 91 year old grandpa, by proxy of my boyfriend, who served in WWI. He still talks about those times and every time I see him I look forward to his diatribes. He's one of those who fought and got forgotten--kinnda. But not really, because his family is there with him.

But there are others who aren't. To those I can only express a feeling of gratefulness and hope they feel it from beyond.

Recently, I guest blogged on the ASMSG site about my epiphany of being a writer. In my efforts to empower those that might not give themselves permission, I dub the...A Writer.

WHEN ARE YOU A WRITER?

The number one question from fans to writers: "Where do you get your ideas from?"

A forgiving, patient writer will smile and move on to the next question or give a vague complacency that won't make sense.

A rude, tired, hassled writer with no bed manners might quip, "How do you finish your homework?"

It's an amateur question filled with awe and amazement that I too think about asking my favorite authors.  But what the question really alludes to is, how did you build a world that is so real?

S.N.McKibben answers--daydreams. 

Letting your mind wander in the still moments you have, or sometimes don't have, gives me the pieces I need to complete the world, the characters and the story.

A book isn't finished until the author says it is. Sometimes I feel the reason why there are series is because both reader and writer don't want to let go of their characters. Exploring the world I've discovered can be too great not to delve into more.

Here are the top 3 amusing questions I've seen asked of authors:

1) What celebrity would you cage-match?

2) Tell me about the most inspiring place for your writing.

3) Do you write drafts with pen and paper or keyboard?

Writers will sometimes get questions they don't want to answer.  Heart rates go up, eyebrows drip sweat and hands literally shrivel up from the lack of moisture.

Top 3 questions you might want to stay away from (unless the author gives permission) and why:

1) What's your writing process?
Every writer has one.  They are all different. Some know what their process is. Some don't. But it's like asking, when you make love to your signification other, do you kiss? 

2) Where do you get your ideas?   
Well, if you're an erotic writer, ideas might be from real life. Yes, everyone wants to know your favorite sexual position! What? You can't tell from reading my books?

3) Who's your agent? Can you give me an introduction?
This one is great! Next time someone asks this question, I might ask them if I can date their boyfriend/husband. Because agent/writer relationships are very intimate, it would be a valid request.

Now go forth--and ask your favorite writer a question!

Choosing a book's genre is very important! Make sure your book makes friends and doesn't get attached by genre bullies!

I'd been critiquing manuscripts for three years, getting feedback on my own in exchange. So many good stories past over my eyes that I would inquire upon their progress to publication. Too often, I found those stories were put away in desk drawers because agents rejected the manuscripts to the point of the author's losing hope.

Not being one for conformity, I researched, a lot before I went into Indie Publishing. You could say I researched every day, at least two hours a day, about the craft of writing. I never got enough. I still don't. I love marketing and consume strategies as well as any 2 bit hussey envelops men. Every day I practiced methods of writing until I found I like to write in the male perspective--who knew I had penis envy? Publishing processes were fascinating. I shoveled all of it in. Briming with ideas about strategies, writing and editing, I set off to publish my own work. But when I was ready, I found I wanted it all. I wanted to say I was a publisher. MINE!

I discovered that, to be an Indie Author one needed to be their own publisher. I was overjoyed at the prospect. Yes! Everything was fitting in nicely. I am the controller of my destiny. If my first book is not something people want to read, then I will write another. I'll write another and inflict my creative soul upon you anyway! Wether you like it or not. I will improve. I will get better. Maybe I'll write something you'll want to read!

In the process of critiquing others, I found I wanted their stories published as well. These were stories I read and believed in. Their worlds, their creative souls bared, I found no other choice really, but to bring them with me in the world of the Indie Author.

In other words, I believed in their stories. I cherished their characters. I also wanted more of their writing.

So Troll River Publications was born.

TRP isn't a fancy publising house. But we believe in our authors to the point of taking the risk and putting their stories out there. Because these stories need to be available for those who need them.

That's the true purpose of TRP.