I’ve only had two hours sleep because of Lilly and I’m obviously hardcore paying for it because I’m fucking delirious. See, the hubs deals with her during the week because I have to get up at o’dark a.m., so I return the favor on the weekends. It sucks because it cuts into my writing time in an epic way. Today, I needed to do more research on how to do a synopsis, even work on book two, but that shit didn’t happen. Instead, I give you my favorite reporter – bonus points if you get the reference.
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“Astrea, can you tell the readers of Horse and Hound why you don’t blog much about your writing, give writing advice, or even talk very much about writing in general?”
Because this isn’t a writing blog. This is me, alternately bitching about or reveling in my life while I’m writing. I’m no genius, no one needs to learn writing skills from me, and I don’t have the time, anyway. I have my way of writing, my own opinions on the matter, other people have theirs. It’s too much drama anymore to get into that shit. Plus, I have a full-time, very stressful day job, a bad-ass grown daughter in college, an awesome husband and way too fuckin many pets. I’m busy, bottom line.
This is for me to introduce myself as a human being to potential readers who happen to trip over my blog along the way. And for my friends to snicker and point at me.
Namaste, bitches.
~
“Why don’t you promote your blog, or ask participatory questions at the end of your blogs?”
Because I’m not a blogger in the true sense of the word and I’ve never wanted to be one. I’m not that good at it if I did. I have no hook, no mad skillz, no message I need to impart. It’s just me. Being me. And I kinda’ like the idea of that because when I visit the web sites of my favorite authors, I really don’t like to see FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS, BUY MY BOOK NOW!! plastered all over the page. It’s annoying as fuck. I’m gonna buy the damned book! I just want to see what they’re up to, rather than hearing about sales figures or the lack thereof. I’m just like that. My husband doesn’t understand it, questions it often, but that’s how I am. I wanna know the person behind the prose because I can read their books and see what they write, and draw conclusions from that, but I may never know the rest of the story unless they tell me. That’s what I want to see on someone’s blog.
*ETA And that’s what you’ll see on mine until the day I’m lucky enough to be some big shit author with a publicist who tells me otherwise. It’s just my preference for now.
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“Is that why you share so many pictures of your pets, etc.?”
Yep. Cute, ain’t they? Except Lilly – AKA, Gator – who is a holy terror.
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“Is it true you write mostly gay or bi-sexual supernatural characters?”
Yep.
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“And some of your writing is pretty damned dark.”
Yep.
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“Like… really dark.”
Yep.
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“But you share cute puppy pictures.”
I also have an extreme fascination with insects, particularly dragonflies and luna moths. I’m a total Trekker, a huge geek besides, love hockey, and I own a t-shirt that says “Babe With The Power” (that I wear every Friday) and routinely won’t speak to anyone while I’m wearing it until they sing at me first. What’s your point?
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“How can your writing be so dark at times and yet you seem so… not dark?”
Gods, it’s like you don’t even know me. Do you even read my blog?
Would it help if I just flat said that I have a morbid fascination with the Crescent City Connection and hurricanes?
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Well, no, because our readers would need you to explain that a little more.
Not all of them. But what if I don’t want to explain that on my blog?
~
You’d have to explain that.
I think you just made my point for me.
Wanna see a cute puppy?
~
Not…
*sigh* … really, no.
~
Too late.
this was great. i loved it and it made me snicker. i’m with you: i post about stuff that i’m experiencing. i don’t want to plug my book (or its germination) too often, but i suspect people are curious about it. rather, if i post anything about the book, it’s because i’m learning from the process and then i post what i’m leaning about myself in the process. but that’s not very often and then i feel like i’m being repetitive. so… i like what you’re doing. i haven’t written about my kids in a while and that’s ironic because i started the blog sort of as an homage to them, so this book writing process has become a distraction. or maybe it’s the blog that became a distraction from itself. who knows. all i know is that as this process of life evolves, i find very often that i’m not where i thought i’d be … meaning: no road map. so far i’m digging the journey. alice walker said, “expect nothing. live frugally on surprise” and i think i’ve taken that to heart. it’s easier that way. thanks for the diversion and the giggle.
I totally understand the repetitive thing. There’s only so many times I can discuss certain aspects of writing before it becomes tedious. I tend to come on here and tell a story to get the creative juices flowing. Sometimes it works, sometimes I just need a nap.
Just to be very clear – some people have great blogs, great platforms, and handle their business through their blogs very well. I just choose not to use my blog that way. Yet.
My blog is for my amusement only, and hopefully the readers are also occasionally amused.
I got more cute puppy pics….
Ya know she’s gonna out-grow that bed?!
She really already has.
I bought her a “pork femur” at the pet store. Yes, I bought the gator a pig leg. She loves it.
I love this so much!
“I really don’t like to see FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS, BUY MY BOOK NOW!! plastered all over the page. It’s annoying as fuck.”
I can’t even talk about my book as a book. It’s a WIP. A manuscript. Like Pinnochio, it will only become a real book one day when it grows a cover and binding. People on my Facebook page like o hear about it because they have been instrumental in helping me come up with some ideas when I got stuck! But besides that, I am keeping quiet until we are crowning.
My mood determines what word to call the MS. It’s damned close to not being a WIP anymore, so I’ve been avoiding that term.
Yesterday, it was a POS.
*ba-dum-bum-ching*
[...] August asks questions at the end of her blogs — which I’m sure I should do, but we’ve had that conversation — so allow me to answer them [...]
First of all, reference from “Notting Hill,” I believe.
And second, I think with blogging it’s all about what you enjoy writing about, because if you’re not having fun writing it, then what’s the point? I’m one of those who likes to ask questions at the end of a blog because I think the conversation can be fun, and I do talk about my WIP…however, since it’s not published or available anywhere I feel like it’s all in good fun and not pushing anyone to buy it. Maybe that makes it better? My justification, at least.
Keep up the cute puppy pictures – you can never have too many of those up!
AND WE HAVE A WINNER WITH ALL THE WINS RIGHT HERE! My faith in humanity is restored!
I love that movie. I’m really more of a Sci-Fi (or would that be SyFy these days?), horror, scare-the-crap-outta-me-please kind of girl that also loves epic historicals (a’la The Other Boleyn Girl or Elizabeth), but Notting Hill just gets me. I cried through Eat, Pray, Love, too. Sue me. Maybe I just like Julia Roberts? I dunno.
And you’re so right. On the cute puppy pics and talking about WIPs, or your work in general. If it fits my mood, I talk about it. Have I made mistakes? Sure. In the beginning, work was pretty much all I talked/bitched about. *erm* It got boring. The Month of Letters thing showed me how much fun blogging can be, so there’s gotta be a balance and I think I’m getting there. I’ve formulated a new plan on that, we’ll see how it goes.
Thanks for stopping by!
New visitors always make my day.