3 Tips For Serious Writers From A Writer Who’s Just as Serious---

---at least about doing the writing work.

So what ‘rules’ am I going to show you? What rigid ‘do it this way’ ideas will I present? 

I’m going back to basics and nothing is written in stone, ever. I read tips all the time and I admit I’m guilty of writing them. Rules though, even suggestions are tricky. What works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another. But, there are some strong basics I suggest. Simple, but powerful. 

1.      Wake up and bring energy to the time you write. Really, face the day with enthusiasm, joy and energy and you’re going to write much better. So, how do I do this you say? It’s a mental thing (yes you can add caffeine) and a body thing. Maybe take a walk before you write (I walk even when the snow is knee-deep and the chill considerable). It wakes the body and stimulates the mind. If that’s not for you, just move, maybe walk up and down stairs a couple of times if you have them, play with the dog, do some stretches, whatever it takes to get the blood flowing a bit. If you have challenges and can’t do that kind of movement, THINK about it. Seriously, picture yourself doing it. Wake up, center, really feel enthusiasm for what you’re about to undertake. Creativity is dampened by boredom, exhaustion and low energy. Act first to bring yourself up to speed. You’ll see a definite difference in your writing.

2.      I’ve found more and more that a to-do list or some sort of planner really does smooth the way. It helps me keep organized and know what’s up next on my calendar of projects that need to get done. And, planning out the next day or at least the beginning of it means when I sit down (or stand up) at my desk I know exactly where to start and am far less likely to find myself cruising the web or checking endless email and social media. Those are fun, yes, but they can be terrible distractions.  Also, if you have recurring deadlines of any kind a simple ‘month-at-a-glance’ calendar is a great help. I have both on my desk, the calendar and a simple list of things that are coming up that I need to get done. Try it, see how much more you get accomplished.

3.      Finally do the most important things first. If you want to get some wordage out there, do that first. Write.  If you’ve promised a guest blog post somewhere, get that done. Whatever it is, prioritize. I keep a highlighter handy in a couple of colors and when I create my list for the next day’s launch, if there’s something that really needs my immediate attention I highlight it with one of the colors. There may well be more than one, so I keep one color for the most important, highlighting that most important with one color and something of less importance with another. Then I check things off as I get them done.

Try out these three tips and you’ll find the simple approach with propel you forward in creativity as well as productivity. 

Give it a try. And if you already do these things, post below if they help you and how they do. Comments always appreciated. 

And don't forget to check out the new comic series we're creating - see more on www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs as well. 

A Writer’s Life – The Comic Series Planet Of The Eggs Continues

Yes, work on the Comic Series, Planet of the Eggs (written and illustrated by Peggy Bechko and Charlene Brash Sorensen), continues with the release of our second installment; Grimoire: Book of Spells.  

Oh, and heads up blog readers, Grimoire will go free Nov. 25 and 26, 2015 so be sure to stop by then and download your copy.

Meanwhile we’re busy developing new characters, new looks and new story lines.  Number three, Mummified Egg is already underway. The portal has taken our Egglanders to a new land of sand, storms, wolves and other inexplicable creatures as they attempt to puzzle out what has brought them here.  But there is an evil rising, something dark and controlling. Will the brave eggs find their cause and rescue the mummified egg? What is the mystery behind the egg? Hmm, watch for it here, release is planned for mid-December. Hey, just in time for those digital holiday stocking stuffers for comic lovers of all ages.

Visit our site at www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs for the chance to sign up for our newsletter and get the PDF of first in the series, Planet Of The Eggs – Cracked Open free.  You’ll also be signed up for our free newsletter (a not-too-frequently-published paper) that will let fans be the first to know when the next release is coming up, info about the characters, sneak peaks at new characters and teasers for the next installment. We’ll be offering giveaways, getting to know the authors, and more fun bits and pieces.

The whole project is great fun, but it’s also a tremendous amount of work. Not only do Charlene and I write the scripts and develop the mythology of the Egglanders, but we research backgrounds, create characters via any means that come to hand, blowing out egg innards, painting eggs and photographing them so we can photoshop them into valiant little beings. Many many of the background shots are photos we’ve taken on trips or around where we live. Some are gleaned from photo sites.

 

The egg creations are all ours. Both of us have a great time creating characters from all angles and tweaking them into existence, but Charlene has a particular gift in their creation. She has a great brain for storylines as well and my strength is in that area having published numerous novels and optioned screen scripts over past

years. We come up with dialogue and frequently I take the lead for a short time in helping to create more strength in the dialogue. We collaborate beautifully, each contributing strengths where the other isn’t as strong.  The Planet Of The Eggs continues on! Watch for Mummified Egg soon!

Then there’s the software with which to create the comics that we had to learn to use – and indeed are still learning shortcuts and work-arounds. And, since we publish right now with Amazon there’s the conversion of the completed comic to the kindle publishing format we've learned - sort of (we usually have to dink with it). And, now, we’re looking into reformatting so the comics can be put out in print format as well. More expensive than Kindle, but folks ask for print as well and we’re going to do our very best to give folks what they want. We’ve both had a crash course in Photoshop and Powerpoint as well. One heckuva learning curve.

So that’s a writer’s life, and now I guess we're illustrators as well – busy up to the eyeballs. Admittedly it’s a very fun busy and one we will keep up for the foreseeable future.

Charlene and I hope you’ll join in the ‘Eggciting’ ‘Eggventure’, give us reviews, tell us where you might want to see the Egglanders head out to next, who’s your favorite Heroic Egg or character, and what you think of Eggland.

Come on along. It’s a HOOT!

Halloween for Writers and Readers

Let’s face it, Halloween has gone way beyond horror and scary, though there’s still a lot of that. I mean look around.  How many Star Wars characters do you see? Princesses? Disney characters, not to mention people using their own imaginations to come up with get-ups like the forest floor and egg beater (I leave the last to your imagination).

Seriously. So, I thought for this post I’d thought I’d spread the net wide.

How so?  Well, how about a site with Halloween prompts for the Writers out there? 

or 

 

 (click on the pics for the links)

In West Hollywood CA?  Check out the annual Halloween Carnaval. 

Maybe you just want to kick back and read a bit.  Grab a good book and hunker down with a bowl of popcorn or candy corn at your side. If that’s the case check out a couple of authors that might be right up your alley.

Mary Pax, aka, M Pax in the Sci Fi book universe, has a great steampunk series out, The Rifters. The first one is permanently free on Amazon. She’s an excellent writer and the series sucks you in.  There’s a book two, The Initiate and a book three to release soon.  Watch here for info on that. I'll have an interview and a heads up.  And go ghost town hunting with her.

 

 

Another great writer to consider for this scary/fun season is Robbie Cox and his book Reaping The Harvest. Gargoyles, fun and lots of action. 

There also Michael Eging’s Annwyn’s Blood for a sort of a horror fantasy. 

Or maybe you’re going to spend some time with kids and want to read with them or maybe give them a few pages to color  - then check out reading with kids’ offerings.

 That’s it for this round. Have a fun and safe Halloween.

ANNOUNCING - NEW RELEASE - Planet Of The Eggs- Grimoire: Book Of Spells

Waiting for the second installment on the great egg adventure?!  

Well here it is - announcing the release of Planet Of The Eggs Vol.1, #2, GRIMOIRE: BOOK OF SPELLS. It's on Amazon and yes its on Kindle Unlimited.

As they tumble through yet another portal the intrepid band of eggs and Hooter find themselves in the land of Shadowgate, lair of the Sorceress Sina and her minions. 

The portal also spits out Parker, little brother to Eight Hooter, an untried young warrior.

After the kidnapping of Smudge the Learned and Twilight the Medic by the Sorceress’ minions, the remainder of the bold band of eggs split up and venture into the dark bowels of Shadowgate Castle.

When our heroes go into battle, new powers are revealed which aid in the rescue of Twilight and Smudge. While retrieving the lost Grimoire, Book of Spells, from the dragon’s lair, Skink’s emerging ability surprises both himself and the fierce dragon – guardian of Shadowgate’s treasury.

With Sina and her minions on their trail, her need for the Book of Spells intense, will the gang escape her wrath with the Grimoire? Can they find a Portal before falling victim to the Sorceress? Will they elude her dragon’s fiery breath?

******

We're so excited! Reviews welcome, encouraged, delighted in. 

Tell your friends. Tell the world. 

Get your own copy today. Oh, and watch out for the Dragon!

What? didn't get the first in the Planet Of The Eggs comic series - Cracked Open?  Then head over to www.facebook.com/PlanetOfTheEggs and scroll down.  Join our mailing list and get the FIRST ONE FREE in PDF.

Writers and Readers Websites Wednesday - dropbox

I know, I know, this feature has been on hiatus a few weeks and I have to admit it may be a bit sporadic as I continue work with partner Charlene Brash-Sorensen on Planet Of The Eggs Comic Series.  

But, I made it through today with a new website Writers and Readers might appreciate. 

It's called Dropbox. If you don't know what it is, it's a way to share and store large files. It just saved me a couple of days ago when I had to get an uber large file containing lots of illustrations to a writing partner.  The basic service is free - and you can upgrade if you need to.

Don't just read this - go on over and see what I'm talking about. And don't forget to click on the Egg Planet council member above to get your free PDF copy of the first in the comic series, Cracked Open, absolutely FREE!