By W. J. Howard

I’ve Been Thinking

W J Howard — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:38:12 +0000

I was up kinda late last night, thinking about what I’d write about today. No…make that over thinking about what to write. So I didn’t actually fall asleep until around midnight. After the fact, I probably should of gotten up and just wrote this damn post, but I didn’t, and now it’s 9:30 A.M. and I’m finally writing it. Let me warn you in advance that you might get snared in the babbling a bit.

So what did I think about. Mostly about not writing in this blog anymore. Lately I’ve seen a lot of posts in other blogs with advice on what to write in a blog. Number one (or maybe two ), don’t write about yourself. I have to say I can’t argue with this way of thinking. I also have to say I glance over other blogs where people rant on like I was or just talk about themselves. This includes writing about the struggles of writing. It’s what I do for a career, right? So by writing about writing, I’m essentially writing about myself. Except of course if I’m writing about writing from a technical perspective, and guess what? There are lots of other people who write about writing and publishing, and I love reading their blogs, but I personally have no interest in doing it myself.

So I thought about how much time I spend blogging, yet again. If you’ve read my blog in the past, I’ve been complaining about this for awhile. And the answer is TOO MUCH TIME! I get sick to my stomach when I think about the amount of time lost on blog posts when I could be writing fiction. But, I’ve decided not to dwell on it. Reason? I also thought about popular writers who’ve written over ten books. Not many of them feel the need to blog regularly, yet here I am with three blogs. Well, technically two. The Courier’s blog is the actual book. Another reason I’ve decided to not sweat it is because I’m a toddler when it comes to fiction writing. I’ll admit I don’t like to always think of myself as such a youngling because I wrote nonfiction for so many years, but they are completely different animals. So trying to portray myself as a seasoned author or give advice about fiction writing really seems absurd considering I’m not even published.

I really sorta figured it out last night while finishing up the parts of Mary Kay’s book I wanted to read. These are some of the wisest words I’ve ever heard:

“We fail forward to success.”

I’m not a professional blogger. I’m a fiction writer. I want you readers out there to read my fiction, not my life story. So, struggling every week to add content to this blog is one of my failures because I’m not producing what I want you to read. Admitting your failures is a huge step, and so now I breath a sigh of relief and give up this blog. Well kinda. The whole format will basically change/return to a home base with links to my fiction accomplishments. Sorry, but this also means the Writer Wednesday Blog Hop ends, although I’ll add influential links as I find them.

So, in closing, I leave you to go do what I long to do…write fiction…

Filed under: About W. J. Howard, On a positive note... Tagged: Author, blogging, fiction, thinking, Writer, writing

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #24

W J Howard — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:00:29 +0000

Every week I weed through over 100 blogs, looking for writing advice and new and interesting books to read. Considering how time consuming this is, I share the posts I find the most interesting here every week. If you’d like me to add your blog to my feeder or a link from my weekly tour, leave a comment on the most current tour or send me a link via Twitter @by_wjhoward.

All About Writers

On Dance on Fire, Hitting 50 …and more, James Garcia Jr., on his four month journey through publication.

All About Books

On Overbury Ink, Number 38, part 7 – by Ian Eliot LeWinter
On Farm Lane Books Blog, White is for Witching – Helen Oyeyemi
On Fantasy Literature’s Fantasy Reviews, Who Fears Death: A book I will never forget
On Bookgasm, Strip AND Blood Guts & Whiskey
On Marissa Farrar’s blog, The Strain by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

All About Writing & Publishing

FAV! On Wordplay: Helping Writers Become Authors, Use All 5 Senses to Bring Your Setting to Life
FAV! On Copyblogger, Charles Bukowski and the Secret to Immortal Writing
On Vamplit’s Library, Artwork A Personal Story of Jekyll and Hyde
On the Wicked Writer’s blog, Internet Writers Resources – free for the taking!
On Rachelle Gardner’s blog, How to Become a Better Writer
On a Newbie’s Guide to Publishing, The Difference Between Sales and Fans
On Wylie-Merrick Literary Agency’s blog, Has Your Ship Sailed?

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford’s This Week in Publishing
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week’s Where Stories Are Made: Paul Magrs over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Blogging Events

July 16 – 18, Book Extravaganza
September 13 – 17, Book Blogger Appreciation Week

Join the Hop

Are you highlighting writers and books in your blog for Writer Wednesday? Then add your blog to my new blog hop link group. Powered by Linky Tools Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…

Filed under: Weekly Blog Tour Tagged: books, fiction, publishing, reading, writers, writing

You Can Do It!

W. J. Howard — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:59:01 +0000

A few pages into Miracles Happen, The Life and Timeless Principles of The Founder of Mary Kay Inc., Mary Kay Ash tells a story about the responsibilities she had to take on during her childhood as a result of her father’s illness. At the age of seven she had to take care of the household while her mother worked long hours outside the home. I don’t know about you, but at the age of seven my greatest worry was the next outfit I’d put on Barbie. So reading her words, that her mother would “go through every step, one at a time, trying to think of everything I need to know. I hadn’t been raised to be a complainer, but I’m sure she knew that my job sometimes seemed overwhelming. Because when she was through with her instructions, she always added, ‘Honey, you can do it.‘” was inspirational in so many ways. Hearing those four words over and over again, day after day, how could she grow up and not succeed?

When I read that excerpt, I highlighted the text and marked the page. I’ve gone back and read her quote at least fifty times in the past couple weeks. I especially find it helpful during editing, when I’m ready to walk away from a paragraph I just can’t get right. I go back and give it a tenth or twelfth try and eureka, it comes out right.

Filed under: On a positive note... Tagged: inspiration, Mary Kay

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #23

W J Howard — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:00:25 +0000

FYI… Bloodleggers begins today. In honor of our first release, we’re holding a drawing to win a free eBook published by eBookUndead. Leave a comment and you’re entered to win. Hope you’ll drop by Blood Reads to read.

All About Writers

FAV! On A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing, Konrath Kindle Stats
On Kiki Hamilton’s blog, Inspiration, Advances and How to Write the Breakout Novel

All About Books

On the Overbury Ink, Steampunk Novel Review: Soulless by Gail Carriger
On Fantasy Literature, reviews of Killswitch: Even more exciting than the first two books!
Also on Fantasy Literature Thoughtful Thursday: Reading is not a spectator sport
By The Cajun Book Lady, Review: Firefly Island by Daniel Arenson
FAV! On Bitten by Books, 45 Plus FREE Books! FREE Friday! Woot!
Over at Something Wicked This Way comes, Marissa’s Top Ten Horror Novels AND Nicole’s Top Ten Scariest Reads!

All About Writing & Publishing

On Pub Rants, One Possible Peril Of A Multi-book Deal AND Talk About the Money
In the Wicked Writer’s blog, From One Medium to Another
On Fangtastic Books, The Popularity of Vampires with Tom Olbert and Unholy Alliance Giveaway
On Wordplay: Helping Writers become authors, Should Stories Be Soapboxes?
On Mysteries and Margtaritas, Mary’s Rants – Take the whine out of writing
On Writers Gone Wild, Thoughts on Editing by SarannaDeWylde
Thank you Rachell Gardner for Short and Not-Always-Sweet Answers AND Really Not That Complicated
FAV! On Writing in the Crosshairs, How Can We Know talks about the buzz about agents charging for readings.

The Goals Thicken

W J Howard — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:00:53 +0000

Sorry everyone, but no more whining and complaining on Mondays, which means the Weekly Whine has officially retired. I have to thank Mary Martinez on Mysteries and Margaritas in her post Mary’s Rants – Take the whine out of writing. Basically, complaining gets us nowhere, so I’m shifting my Monday focus to the positive.

What better place to begin that looking to the future. Now that half the year is essentially over, I’ve decided to focus on my goals for the remainder of 2010. I did a crappy job of following through on ‘em the first half of this year and don’t want a repeat for the second half. So I’m sharing with you the start of the goals I’ve set.

#1 – Finish releasing book #1 of The Courier by July 31st. I actually have the damn thing done, but it needs some minor editing for the first release on Twitter and the website.

#2 – Finish editing The Courier by October 31st. I’d prefer to get this done by September 30th, but added in another month just in case.

#3 – Complete Bloodlegger parts at least one month prior to its release on Blood Reads. R. J. and I made this promise together so that we don’t get stressed out with each new deadline and release. FYI, the first part, written by R. J., releases in a couple days, on June 30th, and I’m pretty excited. The part I wrote release on July 14th.

#4 – Enter the 3 Day Novel Contest and write the second of The Courier novels. I know, I know, I said no more contests. This is different though. I’m doing it to get the first draft of the novel written and could care less if it places in the contest.

I’ve got a few others I’m still working through and will share them next week.

Oh, I’m also starting a blog hop support group for us crazy writers to help each other reach our goals. More to come tomorrow.

Filed under: About W. J. Howard, On a positive note... Tagged: goals, publishing, Writer, writing

Four Kinds of People

W J Howard — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:39:15 +0000

With the end of the first half of 2010 rapidly approaching, I’ve decided to change my mindset for the remainder of the year. So first of all, I’m setting new goals for the next 6 months. Second, I’m pulling out the inspirational books to give myself a much needed pep talk. The first book I pulled off the shelf is Miracles Happen by Mary Kay Ash. No I’m not a Mary Kay Lady. I had used their products for years until my soy and gluten allergies got worse. Enough said. Anyways, the first thing you read in chapter 1 is this:

There are four kinds of people in the world:

those who make things happen

those who watch things happen

those who wonder what happened

those who don’t know that anything happened!

For this later half of the year, I will be one of those people who makes things happen.

Filed under: Question of the Week Tagged: books, inspiration, reading, writing

Writer Wednesday Blog Hop #22

W J Howard — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 11:00:01 +0000

Spotlight

Over on Fools & Sages, a personal friend of mine struggles with her love/hate addiction to the Twilight series in They Sparkle
I also chuckled when I read The Spork Theory on Jim C. Hines blog

All About Writers

On Blood Reads, Interview with C.J. Ellisson, Author of Vampire Vacation
On Lexington Vampire Examiner, Interview with Mike Duran, Christian vampire author part 1

All About Books

I’m seeing a lot of the same books over and over again, so I don’t have much to add here this week. I also need to clean out my book review feed folder. Too much paranormal romance and I’m slowly giving up on this genre.

In Vamplit’s Library, a review of Drawing Blood by Poppy Z. Brite A Review

All About Writing & Publishing

On Working Stiffs, Let’s Play — The First Five Lines
On A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing, The Time Is Now
FAV! On Wordplay, Why No Writer Knows What He’s Doing
Loved R.J.’s post, Crunch Time on our Bloodlegger’s blog.

Weekly Features

Literary Agent, Nathan Bransford’s This Week in Publishing
Win on Wednesday on All Things Urban Fantasy
This week’s Where Stories are Made: Keri Arthur over at Book Chick City
On Book Lovers Inc., Around the Bookish World: News Week-in-Review

Join the Hop

Filed under: Weekly Blog Tour Tagged: authors, publishing, reading, reviews, writing

Weekly Whine: Busy, Busy, Busy

W J Howard — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:00:32 +0000

No time to whine this week. Gotta finish up Bloodleggers part one early this week. Actually need to finish up part one and two before the end of the week. YIKES! We’re trying to get ahead by at least a month, and I’m holding up progress.

But just for fun, what would an event like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre be like if the gangsters were vampires?

Filed under: Weekly Whine Tagged: bootlegging, gangsters, St. Valentine's Day Massacre, vampires, writing

How Do You Spend Time Relaxing?

W J Howard — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:00:21 +0000

Relax? Who has time to relax? Who needs to relax? Me, that’s who.

Today I’m blogging all for myself as a reminded to relax. Like exercise and diet, it’s something I seem to fall off the wagon about doing every now and then. So I already know what I should be doing. Here are five on my list:

YOGA: I plan to do an hour of yoga after I finish this post. I woke up in pain this morning, and that’s my #1 indication I need to relax a bit. Yoga is amazing for releasing the tension from the muscles.

MASSAGE: The yoga reminded me of another amazing release for tension, massage therapy. Hot stone therapy. Sea salt scrub. AHHHHHH!!! I just realized I haven’t gotten a massage in over a year. I’m adding make an appointment to get felt up to my to do list.

BEAGLE TIME: I walk the boys daily, and between the three of us we get over twenty miles a week. And we don’t even have to travel far to do it. Highlands Ranch did some amazing planning on trails, so we’re really close to paths that get us into the park and chasing rabbits. I could sit and pet the dogs for hours too. Nothing better for the soul than cuddling up with our pack.

MEDITATION: This is one I need regularly but is the first to get put aside. When I meditate I clean my Chakras and my 5th and 6th are all backed up and nothing new is coming through the 7th. I can physically feel it from my chest up. This always happens when I haven’t been writing enough. No room for anything new from the “Great and Powerful Universe.”

COMEDY: Laughing really is the best medicine. When my illnesses got out of control, I forced myself to sit and watch comedy on television for hours. It did wonders for my health. I think this is why dark comedy started to show up in my writing.

What do you do to relax? I need to add to my list.

Filed under: Question of the Week Tagged: beagles, comedy, dogs, hiking, meditation, yoga

Guess the Real Life Monsters

W J Howard — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:30:42 +0000

What real life serial murderer wrote this letter?

**Warning: Violence towards children**

On Sunday June the 3, 1928 I called on you at 406 W 15 St. Brought you pot cheese—strawberries. We had lunch. Grace sat in my lap and kissed me. I made up my mind to eat her. On the pretense of taking her to a party. You said yes she could go. I took her to an empty house in Westchester I had already picked out. When we got there, I told her to remain outside. She picked wildflowers. I went upstairs and stripped all my clothes off. I knew if I did not I would get her blood on them. When all was ready I went to the window and called her. Then I hid in a closet until she was in the room. When she saw me all naked she began to cry and tried to run down the stairs. I grabbed her and she said she would tell her mamma. First I stripped her naked. How she did kick — bite and scratch. I choked her to death, then cut her in small pieces so I could take my meat to my rooms. Cook and eat it. How sweet and tender her little ass was roasted in the oven. It took me 9 days to eat her entire body. She died a virgin.

Filed under: Funny Stuff Tagged: monsters, murder, serial muderers