Mary Karr on reality and royalty checks

I read an interview with one of my favorite authors -- Mary Karr, and I feel an overwhelming sense of relief from her words. Especially the part where she says she supports herself as a college professor -- not as a writer, and that she couldn't pay the mortgage on the revenue from her books.

Why would this give me a sense of relief?

Because the truth is always better than fiction.

The most important truth is that regardless of the day job, if you're a writer you will find a way to write.

Here's a the article:  Why We Write: Mary Karr on the Madness and Magnetism of the Written Word.


Keep writing. It saves lives.

Debbie Millman on Robert Frost

This is my new favorite thing right at this moment: 

"Heed the words of Robert Frost.  Start with a big, fat, lump in your throat, start with a profound sense of wrong, a deep homesickness, or a crazy lovesickness, and run with it.  If you imagine less, less will be what you undoubtedly deserve.  Do what you love, and don't stop until you get what you love.  Work as hard as you can , imagine immensities, don't compromise, and don't waste time.  Start now, not two weeks from now.  Now."

It's from an amazing talk Debbie Millman gave. 

Check it out:

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/05/15/debbie-millman-look-both-ways-fail-safe/

I hope you find something in there to help get you unstuck.

Keep writing. It saves lives. 

First draft complete

Now that my novel is with the editor, I have time to focus on the marketing plan portion. I'll keep you posted on the publishing process. And if you're interested in learning more about the book, you can go to my other website under my other pen name: Simone Pond.

Here's a very happy me after I finished my manuscript (that's Burt Reynolds in the window glare):

Keep writing. It saves lives.