Sustainability (IWSG)

Sustainability is something authors must strive for if they want to achieve the creation of a body of work. It's something I struggle with as Rayne Forrest. When I began, it was easy. Now it's not. 

I still have the desire to write, but I'm no longer willing to spend hours sequestered with the computer as my only company. There are simply too many other things that require my presence. 

At this writing, I have seven books that need to be published as second editions. I didn't set out to be an indie author, but there's really very little choice these days as I no longer trust publishers. Based on sales numbers, I even wonder about the last one I was with. That's number of units sold, not dollar amounts, by the way. 

In less than five years I plan to "retire" from the workforce. That doesn't mean I'll sit on my ass all day. I'm looking forward to some traveling, expanding the work on my genealogy, and applying for DAR membership. And yes, being able to write. Until then, I fear I will continue to grapple with sustainability. 

I can't change much of what is happening in my life. I can only ride it out and make time when I can. But what I can do, and will do, is not whip myself over those things I can't control. 

Perhaps that's the real key to sustainability. Accepting the ebb and flow of life and time, and making the best of every opportunity. 

Rayne
Rayne's bookshelf

Across Time - sci fi romance available at Amazon

IWSG: Voice

Insecure Writer's Support Group

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

The writer’s voice. We read about it, talk about it, angst over it, and yet we struggle to define exactly what it is. I once read where voice is a literary term that describes a writer’s style (style being defined by the use of character development, dialogue, syntax and diction).

I’m a simple girl. For me, voice is where the ‘telling’ of the story and the ‘showing’ of the action blend. The more seamless the blend, the better the finished story. Voice is each author’s unique and individual style of bringing the reader inside the story to the same place as the author.

A writer’s voice will show some of their inner character and personality. The characters created often reflect some of the writer’s attitudes. How can they not? Laying yourself bare for the reader isn’t easy. It’s a gradual process, one you can move through at your own pace.

When a writer is just starting out, everyone encourages her/him to develop their voice. The only way to do that is to write so the voice can emerge and develop. The time it takes to do that is another reason aspiring writers get so frustrated with the industry. It takes as long as it takes, so be patient. Remember - there are no worthwhile shortcuts to success.

Over the years, my voice has matured. I see it as a matter of gaining confidence - I’m no longer afraid to sound like myself. Having the reader come and sit in the same spot from where I wrote the story is no longer scary.

Whether it’s conscious or not, everything we do as authors strengthens our voice. Making each story better than the last is ingrained in our psyche. We constantly strive toward that goal, collectively and individually. We nurture our voice, and our ultimate reward has nothing to do with money.

It’s reading a book and, at the end, saying, “Wow. I wrote that.” 

Rayne

rayneforrest.blogspot.com

IWSG: We Must Respect Our Own Worth

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com

When I first got into this crazy business of publishing, as opposed to writing, I was stunned by some of the ideas put forth as “truths.” But being a newbie, I ducked my head and kept writing. It didn’t change the real truth, one that too many writers either forget or never figured out. One very serious problem I’ve witnessed over and over throughout my years of being a published author is that too few of us realize our own value. This must change - and it is changing.

There is no one more important to the publishing world than the author.

The entire publishing industry rises and falls with those authors willing to publish their intellectual property. 

Without the author, there are no stories.

Without the author, there are no books.

Without the author, there are no readers.

Without the author, there is no publishing.

Each and every one of us is absolutely vital to our industry. There are no exceptions.

Each and every one of us has something so unique to offer that only the individual can provide it.

Each and every one of us is deserving of the respect of our peers and our publishers. We are created equal and that equality has nothing to do with sales numbers.  

Each and every one of us is entitled to the protection of copyright.

It’s 2016. Publishers need authors far more than authors need publishers.

Let us always remember: Authors are the publishing industry.

We must respect our own worth. 

Rayne
Website

Z is for Zest

It’s the last day of 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge! It’s been great fun to bring Rayne Forrest to the challenge, and I come to this last day quite pleased I’ve completed it as both Rayne and KC, every day on time. But I will admit I'm also looking forward to a bit of a blogging break. 

While I had this entry up at a different blog a few years ago, it's still appropriate for today and for a new audience. 

I appreciate meeting so many new people through both blogs. Each person brings something to my life even if it’s just a fleeting comment on the blog. It’s still a connection to someone else’s world and that’s the point of all. 

Now on to ZEST.

Zest: a noun

1. lively excitement : a feeling of enjoyment and enthusiasm

2. a lively quality that increases enjoyment, excitement, or energy

3. small pieces of the skin of a lemon, orange, or lime that are used to flavor food

A new acquaintance once asked me if my apparent zest for life was for real. A deeper friendship with this person never developed, which is a shame. When we encounter each other we always speak, but her world has too many gray corners for us to be bosom buddies. I fear she’d suck the zest out of me if I let her in too far.

I do have a certain amount of zest for life. The small things around me are a source of enjoyment, and often wonder. Every year I eagerly await the first green tips of the bulbs breaking ground. It’s a ‘wow’ moment when I realize the mountain has taken on a reddish blush as the maples prepare to bring forth their leaves. I feel the energy of the changing seasons on a molecular level. It’s who I am.

My late grandfather lived every day until a month prior to his death with a zest for life. He was born on the cusp of WWI and lived through WWII and the Great Depression. He buried his wife, his parents and all his younger siblings. And yet, until his eyesight failed, this man lived every day and looked forward to tomorrow. This was my shining example of having a zest for life. I hope I learned well the lessons he so lovingly taught. 

I wish for all of you reading this that you also may have a zest for life. I wish that you experience joy, no matter how small, no matter from what source, in every day of your life.

Thanks for being a part of my world in the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge.

Rayne
http://kckendricks.com/RayneForrest_bookshelf.html

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

Y is for You, the Critical Ingredient

I have a very brief post for this next to the last day of the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge.  It’s for every writer out there, published or not. 

YOU are the critical ingredient.

Without you, the writer, there is no publishing industry. There are no books, be they print or digital. Without the writer we begin to lose knowledge. If we lose knowledge, the whole human experiment begins to unravel. 

Never forget that you, the writer, has the power to change the world.

 

Rayne

http://kckendricks.com/RayneForrest_bookshelf.html

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

W is for Work

 Work is a four-letter word. I’ve been working for someone else since I was sixteen. It’s not always fun, but I’ve decided it’s not all that difficult to get out of bed and go to work when I get paid to show up. 

My idea of fun is writing full time. That day is coming but, until then, I work. According to my retirement countdown counter, I still have one thousand days to go until I can tap my heels together and proclaim, "there's no place like home!"

Working outside the home is a good thing on many levels. It gets me out of the house. Time out in the world is something I’ll have to plan for once I become a full time writer. Working in general keeps the mind engaged and sharp whereas as being idle allows everything to atrophy.

I’m enjoying the idea of working for myself. Whether or not it will actually be as sweet as I imagine is yet to be proven. But for now I can envision myself working in the garden in the morning when it’s cooler and working on a story inside on hot afternoon.

What I can’t imagine is not working at all.

Strange, isn’t it?

Rayne

http://kckendricks.com/RayneForrest_bookshelf.html

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

U is for Unique

 When I first started to write, newbies were told to celebrate their unique voice. I wasn’t sure what that meant. After being in the publishing industry for thirteen years, I still don’t know what it means.

Back in the day, and it's still heard today, that publisher want “unique new voices.” Only thing is, no, they don't. They want what and who will sell and sell BIG.

If the rise in indie publishing proves one thing, it’s that the unique voice is determined to survive. I remember in 2005 pitching an idea for a sci-fi story where on some distant planet the males had multiple wives. That got an immediate NO from a publisher.

Enter the era of the ménage in 2006. (I called that one right and I should have persisted.)

Don’t be afraid to be a unique voice. Write your story. I wrote mine and the time is upon me to tighten it up. I can apply all my years of experience to the story and set it free to be as unique as it wants to be.

It’s a wonderful time to be a [unique] writer.

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com
http://kckendricks.com/RayneForrest_bookshelf.html

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

S is for Sticking With It

Nothing I have ever done in my entire life has called for more determination and dedication than writing.

I have never worked so hard and put in so many hours for a purely personal satisfaction.

Every day I wonder why I’m doing this to myself because writing romance can make the soul bleed.

Each new release opens the author up to unimaginable levels of criticism from jealous friends all the way to jealous reviewers.

And yet I keep writing, and I’ll keep on writing, under one name or another, until I can no longer sit at a keyboard or speak into a headset.

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

http://kckendricks.com/RayneForrest_bookshelf.html

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

R is for Renewal

 When my alter ego shanghaied me into the A-Z Blogging Challenge this year, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. Then again, I’ve been busy getting some of my stories back out into the world so this is a good way to get the Rayne Forrest brand more visible. So here I am, and it’s turning out to be a very good thing. 

Writing under two names means, unfortunately, that one brand gets shortchanged. That’s generally the Rayne Forrest brand. I confess I wish I’d not used one of the family names. It has lead to “discussions” over the years. The last time I was involved in one of those “discussions” I told no one in my family and disappeared into the alter ego. I tend to remove myself from situations and people rather than argue.

I’ve been thinking, and wishing, I could find the right time to be Rayne again. Like love, the moment I stopped looking for it, it found me.

Getting my completed title out is the beginning of a renewal. Finishing a few projects for release is the next step. I have no set timeframe for this renewal. My sense of it is this renewal is something that cannot be forced, or rush. For it to happen, I must be content and let it proceed knowing it will come to fruition in its own time.

I’m good with that. 

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

Q is for Question

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Most days I have more questions than answers. It used to bug the heck out of me that I didn’t have all the answers. As I’ve gotten, ehem, more mature, I find I don’t like the answers so I’ve stopped asking some of the questions.

Some, but not all.

I believe it’s my constitutional duty to question those in authority over me. I believe I should question what doctors tell me. I believe I have the right to question any and all companies that manufacture food, drugs, drinks, and anything that touches my person and the world I live in if its products are safe.

That doesn’t mean the questions should be asked with disrespect. Questions are how we learn. They help us assimilate information. Questions tend to keep people from thinking they can harm us, or use us.

Don’t be afraid to ask a legitimate question. The answer might be just what you need to know.

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

P is for Pride - have some

This past autumn, there was an article in the Romance Writer’s Digest about “taking back our writing.” I’m not going to lie and say I read the RWR from cover to cover, because I don’t, but I did pause to read this article.

In this article, the author admits to being caught in the vicious cycle of meeting deadlines. Publishing is a dog-eat-dog world and a lot of small press pubs rely on volume. Too many live and die by the short story. The art of writing a full-length novel is dying, choked out by the need to produce, produce, produce. The writer of the article acknowledged this. And then she impressed me. She said it’s time to step off the treadmill.

I agree with her. I want to write a story I’m proud of. I decided quite a while back I could no longer churn out story after story to meet the needs of a publisher. My alter ego did that for a bit and it’s too exhausting to sustain. My library has a few books that suffered because I met the deadline. Those stories got short-changed, both by the writer and more so the editor. I think there are more writers besides myself putting out indie-published books for that very reason. If an editor doesn't have time to do justice to your book, you need to take another path. 

Take the time to write a story you can be proud of. Check for typos, passive voice, missed words and continuity errors. Will you find all of them? Probably not. And trust me - neither does an editor. You may be a novice but your work doesn’t have to look like a newbie wrote it. When it comes to finishing your story, speed is not your friend.

It’s YOUR name on the cover of your book. This is one instance where being prideful is a good thing.

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

O is for OOPS!

“Oh, oops….”

That’s a favorite saying of mine. It’s a lot more ladylike than some expressions that fall out of my mouth. Really.

I’ve made of a lot of “oops” in my life. I look at my earliest manuscripts and I see “oops” all over the pages. Instead of being embarrassed, well, overly embarrassed, I generally use the moment to remind myself of how far I’ve come.

There is no escaping the “oops.” You can live in denial if you want to, but if you live you’ve got a few “oops” in your closet. (Like the proverbial skeleton in the closet.) Instead of beating yourself up over them, use them as opportunities to learn. Remain positive about the learning experience. Fix it, if it can be fixed, and move forward. If it can’t be fixed, tender what apologies are necessary and move forward.

Trust me. It’s highly unlikely you’re the only person to ever do that particular “oops.”  Don’t let it define your writing career. 

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

                      

J is for Jerks

 When I was shanghaied by my alter ego into decided to participate in the 2016 A to Z Challenge, I filled out a calendar page with topics. That was a while ago and now I’m staring at J is for Jerk and wondering what the heck my original thought was.

Maybe I was thinking about those published authors who believe they are God’s gift to the written word. Could be. I’ve come across a few. They don’t think they have to abide by any form of etiquette. They beg promo spots and then refuse to follow the rules. 

They’re published. They don’t have play nice. They’re full of themselves and full of an annoying attitude. I could refer to some of them as bitches but jerk is a bit milder so we’ll go with that.

To the aspiring writers out there - THIS is not a moniker anyone wants to earn. Be fair in your dealings with others, even online. If someone offers you a promo spot, on a blog, for example, follow their rules. Thank them. Return the favor, if you can. Pass it on.

Cyberspace has a long memory. The memory of other authors is even longer. Don't be a jerk.

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

http://kckendricks.com/RayneForrest_bookshelf.html

                      

I is for Invest in Yourself

Any writer who’s gone out on the Internet searching for advice has likely found this: invest in yourself.

Without the writer, we have no stories. We lose shared experiences and insights. We lose access to the dreams of others. Publishers and critics will come and go, but writers and readers will remain constant.

These days, a writer needs a good computer. Invest in one. Who cares if it’s a desktop or a laptop? It has to please you. If you like techie toys, get them. I love having a wireless keyboard that I can use with both a desktop and a laptop.

If you want to go indie and want to make your own covers, invest in good photo editing software. If you feel you need to improve your basic language skills, take a class. The better your skillset, the faster the words hit the page.

It sounds simple and I know sometimes it’s not. Sometimes it’s baby steps all the way, but take them. The goal is a better you, and a better you means a better story.

Invest in yourself.

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest
http://kckendricks.com/RayneForrest_bookshelf.html

H is for Hello/Goodbye (2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge)

Today marks the completion of one-third of the 2016 A to Z Challenge. I wasn’t sure how “Rayne” would do in the challenge, but so far so good. Plan the work and work the plan, or some such saying.

One of the things I find most odd about authors online is the “hello/goodbye” relationships that are formed. With no hard feelings, I must firmly stress. Whenever our paths cross, stranger or not, there’s the shared experience of being a writer. We blunder into each other, chat like good friends, and then move on without animosity. It’s fascinating and I love it.

Hello, goodbye. Thanks for stepping into my world today.

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

http://kckendricks.com/RayneForrest_bookshelf.html

G is for Good Grief! ( 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge)

It’s a little strange that the familiar saying “good grief” is a censored form of “good God.” I suppose it dates back to when 1) saying “good God” could get you staked for blasphemy and 2) the times when folks believed God punished us with grief. 

And then there’s poor Charlie Brown. I like Charlie. He’s one of the good guys. On the surface nothing seems to go his way, yet in the end, he makes it through. When Charlie gets annoyed over the stupidity of his friends, he declares, “good grief” and he keeps chugging onward.

That became one of my writing rules. When annoyed by my own stupidity, or that of others, I simply say “good grief” and keep moving on. 

And on. And on…..

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

F is for Freeze Frame (2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge)

Back in 1981, there was a song out by the J.Geiles Band called Freeze Frame. The focus of the song was a split second in time when a man sees a woman’s red lips and is so turned on by it the image freezes in his psyche. He thinks he’ll lose his mind if he can’t have her. The song is funky, upbeat, funny and reflects the human condition.

I get freeze frame moments all the time. The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is very true. A single image can inspire a sixty-thousand-word book.

I’m always on the lookout for the freeze frame. I never know where they’ll lead me, but as long as they lead, I’ll follow. 

Getting there is just too much fun to quit.

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

I suppose now would be a good time to say F is also for friends who let you piggyback on their website.
http://kckendricks.com/RayneForrest_bookshelf.html

E is for Evermore

2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge

Insecure Writer's Support Group

Thanks for stopping by Twenty-six Keys. Today’s blog is doing double duty with both the 2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge and the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

Poe’s Raven was a miserable creature and the greatest nay-sayer of all time. The wretched bird knew but one word - “nevermore!”

What a serious downer.

Writers tend to be an introverted and insecure sect. We need positive reinforcement on a daily basis. The word "never" should not be a part of our vocabulary. 

So to all the insecure writers out there, with apologies to the Poe devotees, I think it’s time for the raven to quote another word - EVERMORE.

Evermore is faithful and being a writer means being faithful to your craft. There’s no halfway measure to being a happy writer. As the writer’s knowledge and abilities increase, they’re evermore willing to put in the time. And little by little writing will overtake the writer’s life. This is really not a bad thing. It's helpful to be immersed in the creation of the story. 

So, yes, I have a new watchword. Quotes this old writer, “evermore.”

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

D is for Doubt (2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge)

There are different ways to look at doubt. The word itself means both “hesitation” and “misgivings.”

Hesitation can stall you, and misgivings can save you. Neither is necessarily a bad thing.

Trusting the voice of doubt is not only a writing rule, for me, it’s a life rule. Many times my instincts have made me doubt, and hesitate, and never once did it turn out badly that I did. The good things always remained a viable option while the not-so-good for me things faded away, untouched.

If you’re an aspiring writing, not every option available to you is good for you. Remember, in the writing world, good for you is good for your career, and bad for you is bad for your career. You may try and fool yourself the two are separate, but they are not.

So listen to your instincts when you have doubts. In this business, it can save you a lot of heartache.

Rayne

rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest

C is for Cat (2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge)

2016 A to Z Blogging Challenge

C is for Cat. Is that a groan I hear? Is that zero stars for originality you’ve given me as part of your review? Cut me some slack. It’s freakin’ Monday, okay?

What does “cat” have to do with writing? Every author needs a familiar. How better to be aware of the world around us than to mimic the cat? Cats know everything around them, even when sleeping. They observe more keenly than we writers. We should watch them and learn.

We could trade stories about our felines every day and you’d be right there with me. And being a cat lover I’ve discovered the Internet is full to overflowing with cute cat/kitten pictures and videos. So for my entry today, I thought I’d share a few of the pictures that made me laugh on this otherwise dull Monday. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Rayne

http://rayneforrest.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/rayneforrest