Guest Post

HAVE A BOOK TO PROMOTE? Lyrical Pens welcomes guest posts. Answer a questionnaire or create your own post. FYI, up front: This site is a definite PG-13. For details, contact cjpetterson@gmail.com cj

Sunday, February 27, 2022

A fear if failure

cj Sez:  An excerpt from my archives: What was the first thing you wrote? A poem? A memoir? A little piece of fiction? Journaling in a diary? If you’re like me, you kept it and every once in a while, you resurrect it and wonder, “What was I thinking?” Or, and I applaud you if true, you think, “Did I really write this? It’s actually pretty good.”

  James Patterson once said that his first novel was rejected thirty-one times before it was published. Even after publication, it didn’t “do all that well.”* Failure didn’t discourage him; it encouraged him. He wanted to write.

 (* Not sure what he meant by that because when first published in 1976, THE THOMAS BERRYMAN NUMBER earned him the Edgar Award for “Best First Novel By An American Author.” He must have been referring to lower sales numbers.)

  So, where did his worldwide success come from, besides having a natural talent telling stories? He studied and analyzed the genre he wanted to write. Like many authors (I think the generalization is true), he started out writing part-time because he had a day job. Today, his books have sold more than 300 million copies worldwide.

  From bios I’ve read, many, if not all, successful writers have some fear of failure, especially at the beginning of their careers. They have an idea they get excited to write about. The words flow from their minds and fingers like magic, but the farther they get into the story, the more they may second-guess their abilities. Doubts creep in: Someone’s already told this story, better. No one is going to read this drivel. It’ll never sell. (Sounds like me)

King on writing
  In his 2001 memoir, On Writing, Stephen King writes: “I had been playing with the 
idea of writing a little book about writing
for a year or more ///but had held back because I didn’t trust my own motivations—why did I want to write about writing? What made me think I had anything worth saying? The easy answer is that someone who has sold as many books of fiction as I have must have something worthwhile to say about writing it, but the easy answer isn’t always the truth.” 

(p.s. The book was reissued in 2012 and again in 2020.)

  Those possibilities exist for all authors, even Patterson and King, and every so often they do have a book that doesn’t “do all that well.” Fortunately for their millions of fans, they continue to write wonderful stories.

  Like Patterson and King, to reduce the chances of failure, writers who aspire to become published authors must take the time to study the craft. Participate in workshops, conferences, writers’ groups, read-read-read, and get their manuscripts professionally edited before being published.

  I suggest that you write for yourself first. When you’re the only one you have to please, it reduces the stress of arranging coherent sentences into a story arc on a blank page. Write something then put it away for a few weeks or months before reading it again. You’ll be surprised at what you find.

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Etcetera and P.S.A.

  Calling all mystery, suspense, thriller, and crime writers. Sisters-in-Crime is an international organization of several hundred authors ready and willing to encourage and applaud your work. And they do not hesitate to share their expertise. The next time you’re on Facebook, drop by their page and see what’s happening.

March 2022 Hallmark Publishing Open Submissions
  Hallmark Publishing will be open to unsolicited and unagented submissions of wholesome and uplifting adult romance and women’s fiction novels between the dates of Tuesday, March 1 (12 a.m. Pacific) and Thursday, March 31 (12 p.m. Pacific.) For this open call, see important guidelines here: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/hallmark-publishing/were-taking-submissions?fbclid=IwAR3pA2fKBWDrl7WO2tZy1tKc9jdvq-5r8iA5-ru7J7MwrkNcIDcjfRm0xv8

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Reading Suggestions:


  Still sale priced at $1.99 at the time of this post, this Fat Tuesday anthology is chock full of short stories that are entertaining to read all year long:

LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER

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  That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.  

cj

P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

➜ Follow me . . .     
➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

  

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Once upon a Mardi Gras

 
cj Sez:  The photo taken at a parade pretty much describes the craziness of Mardi Gras in Mobile…fun and chaos in the streets.



  I admit I’ve never been to a Mardi Gras parade—too peoply for me—but here’s my favorite Mardi Gras story from a few years ago.

  Once upon a Saturday morning, I booked the authors’ writing room at The Haunted Bookshop and was thrilled when I found a parking space just around the corner from the bookstore. 

  I spent almost two hours working on story outlines,  proud of myself for being quasi successful at outlining—I call myself a pathfinder when I write.

  Just before noon I thought, “Okay. Time to leave.” Instead I meandered around the shop. I left the Bookshop at 12:30, and, blink, when I turned the street corner, my minivan was gone. I’m thinking who in the world is desperate enough to steal a 10-year old minivan?

  A bit of investigation revealed that a Mardi Gras parade was scheduled to roll down that street at 2 p.m., and the parking spaces had to be cleared two hours before it began. I was thirty minutes late.

  I explained to a friendly, motorcycle police officer (looking handsome in his uniform, astride that Harley) that I had accidentally overstayed my welcome at the parking space and wondered if he knew where my van went. He said it had been towed to a temporary impound lot, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly where on the map/documents he was carrying. Another motorcycle cop rumbled up (I do love the throaty sound of a Harley engine) and pointed. My vehicle was, he said, “That way. Just go straight. You can’t miss it.” I tightened my grip on my briefcase and spent the next twenty or so minutes weaving through increasing crowds and around barriers as I walked half a mile “That way.”

  I paid $125 to be reunited with my vehicle. (A bargain since this year I’ve read the recovery fee has inflated to $150.) I guess I should have taken the time to read the temporary, fluttering, yellow paper sign with small lettering that listed parade parking hours. 

  By the by, Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday, is March 1 in 2022. However, the floats start parading in Mobile in January. Each float carries a costumed krewe* throwing parade goodies to the crowds. Each krewe has a unique history, name, and an annual theme for their floats.

(*What does krewe mean in Mardi Gras?

A krewe is a group or organization of revelers who band together to host an annual Mardi Gras ball, ride on a Mardi Gras parade float, and participate in social events throughout the year. There are more than 40 krewes in Mobile.)

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Etcetera ...

COVER REVEAL...my latest cozy mystery short, "Firebug," is included in this charity anthology. Tentatively scheduled for release in April.

 It's Harbor Humane's first book - "THE BIG FANG" Anthology! A 22 story piece, from 22 different authors, this anthology is full of mystery, murder, love, humor and more; and always involves an animal of some shape or form!  It will be available for purchase on Amazon and in person at the shelter and our Harbor Humane Resale Store


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Reading Suggestions:

This Mobile Writers Guild anthology, ebook priced at $1.99, is chock full of short stories that are entertaining to read all year long: 

LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER

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That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj
 
P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my books in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

➜ Follow me . . .     
➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Pat Conroy loved his Enlish teachers

 cj Sez:  Author Pat Conroy credited his English teachers . . . no, make that lauded the “genius of” his English teachers for instilling in him a love of the English language.  As he is quoted on Goodreads (http://bit.ly/1ldfCg2 )
“I've been in ten thousand cities and have introduced myself to a hundred thousand strangers in my exuberant reading career, all because I listened to my fabulous English teachers and soaked up every single thing those magnificent men and women had to give. I cherish and praise them and thank them for finding me when I was a boy and presenting me with the precious gift of the English language.” 
  Me? I was too business-oriented to get that inspired by my high school and college English teachers (who were, nevertheless inspiring, wonderful, and quite funny).

  Despite my apparent lack of interest in writing during those years, I was, am, and will always be fascinated with words and syntax. I love, love, love the task of putting words together to create a story full of pictures and emotions. I especially like to lure readers into conjuring up the images of characters and places in their imaginations. My goal is that they make each of my stories their own. Deep point of view is my preferred style. Though sometimes I'm not quite where I need to be when I'm in the angst of creating the story, I revise, revise, and revise again.

  Still, calling myself a writer is a grand title I long hesitated to give myself despite being an author published in several genres (and being paid for it) for several years.

  But what really draws me to Mr. Conroy today is 
something he wrote in his memoir My Losing Season: A Memoir: 

“Do you think that Hemingway knew he was a writer at twenty years old? No, he did not. Or Fitzgerald, or Wolfe. This is a difficult concept to grasp.  . . .  But they had to take the first step. They had to call themselves writers. That is the first revolutionary act a writer has to make. It takes courage. But it's necessary.”

  That’s what it’s all about. We have to learn to call ourselves “writers.” Now that I’ve claimed the title, guess what? It feels good.

  Whether you’re a published or not-yet-published author, you should say it: “I am a writer!” Try it. Celebrate it. I bet you’ll like it too.

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Etcetera and P.S.A.

  Readers: If you’re looking for something to add to your ToBeRead pile (in addition to the suggestions I’ve listed below) but don’t connect with BookBub, here’s a link to get you to some wonderful books and specials … www.BookBub.com  

  Writers: Passing along a link to Jane Friedman’s popular blog and a guest post https://www.janefriedman.com/use-telling-details-to-connect-description-to-character/

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cj's Reading Suggestions:

  The following themed anthology ebooks priced at $1.99 are chock full of short stories that are entertaining to read all year long:
 





  



LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER

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  My suspense/thriller novels, THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA, are priced at $2.49 through Feb. 19. These Jane Bond-ish adventures with a touch of romance are available at your favorite eBook seller and print copies are available locally in Mobile and via the internet at The Haunted Bookshop.

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  That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

 
cj

P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my stories in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us

➜ Follow me . . .     
➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6

 

Sunday, February 6, 2022

And the winner is . . .

cj Sez:  Congratulations to Sherry Zehner Ney on winning the MARDI GRAS PIECES ebook in Lyrical Pens’ contest. Sherry already had MARDI GRAS PIECES on her Kindle (thank you very much) and chose to receive VALENTINE’S DAY PIECES instead.
  
 
Enjoy, Sherry, and thanks for playing along.

 
VALENTINE'S DAY PIECES  Buy Now  $1.99 at the time of this post  https://amzn.to/3J7CsD8
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   I’m still going to school. This past week I earned my Certificate of Completion for Hillsdale College’s online lecture course on “Mark Twain: Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and Selected Short Stories.” Watched nine videos followed by nine exams, then a final exam. BSP:* I aced the final and two of the exams (got 90s and 80s on the others). Next on my scholastic agenda and sitting in my inbox is Hillsdale’s course exploring C. S. Lewis’s writings. Best of all, their courses are in my price range: Free!

  My motto: If I’m lucky I’ll get another year older, so I might as well try to get smarter, too. I love learning new things. I recommend it.

(*BSP = Blatant Self Promotion)
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Etcetera and P.S.A.

  Readers take note... Excerpt of a quote from John Steinbeck: “///… a story has as many versions as it has readers. Everyone takes what he wants or can from it and thus changes it to his measure. Some pick out parts and reject the rest, some strain the story through their mesh of prejudice, some paint it with their own delight. ///” — John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent
 
   Writers: Passing along a link to Jane Friedman’s blog and a guest post by editor and author Joe Ponepinto Maybe you’ll find a helpful tidbit or two. I did.

https://www.janefriedman.com/use-telling-details-to-connect-description-to-character/

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Get your Mobile Mardi Gras stories here: 
 

The eBook is still $1.99 at the time of this post  https://amzn.to/3IuTYkM

 

LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER

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You-all are so lucky . . . It’s a perfect time for great values on Valentine’s Day ebook gifts for your sweetie and yourself. 

  The $1.99 anthologies I mentioned above are chock full of good short stories.

  Plus I lowered the prices of my suspense/thriller Jane Bond-ish novels THE DAWGSTAR and DEATH ON THE YAMPA to $2.49 through Feb. 19. Available at your favorite eBook seller.
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  That’s it for today’s post. You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same. 


cj

P.S.  The Haunted Bookshop has signed paperback copies of my stories in stock. TO ORDER my author-graphed books or any book of your choice on-line from a favorite, indie bookstore, contact The Haunted Bookshop here: https://www.thehauntedbookshopmobile.com/contact-us 

➜ Follow me . . .     
➜ on Amazon:    Amazon Central Author Page
➜ on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3fcN3h6