Things I love (and a few I hate)

Things I love (and a few I hate)

These are a few of my favorite things…

Like attracts like.

Create a simple post with things you adore, things that make you happy. You might also include (or write a separate post) things that annoy or piss you off (but keep them light, don’t complain or moan).

This could also just be an image gallery of pretty things that match your brand; things you covet, things you appreciate.

39 things you didn’t know about me

39 things you didn’t know about me

I’ve been meaning to write one of these for years – they are easy and can be fun ways to share information: make a list of lesser known, interesting facts about yourself and your life. Include some pictures if you want to. It won’t get search traffic, but it’s good content to share with your list later and engage them by asking them so respond or post one of their own secrets.

  1. I was the star of my highschool musicals
  2. I used to polevault
  3. I can understand Spanish and Chinese, but speak haltingly.
  4. I spent summers at scout camp as a goodwill ambassador and crafts instructor.
  5. I eat too many cookies
  6. I once bawled in public at the airport over a girl
  7. this is harder than I thought it would be
  8. I spent my Junior year of high school as an exchange student to Argentina, and fell in love with mate (tea), empanadas (the best kind are with meat and olives).
  9. I went to school in Malta for fine art and philosophy, then studied classical painting at the Angel academy in Florence for a semester.
  10. After that, I ran an outdoor school kitchen and taught kids about nature for a year.
  11. I moved to Taiwan to teach English, after getting a teaching certificate in Barcelona, and – after getting rejected twice, finally enrolled for a Masters, then a PhD program at Taiwan’s #1 school.
  12. My favorite places ever are Oregon, Argentina, Bali and Malta (maybe? It’s been a long time, I need to go back and revisit).
  13. I gave myself my first tattoos. They still look pretty good. They’re astrology symbols for Jupiter and Saturn: they’re my two ruling planets.
  14. I believe in astrology (though I dislike the term “believe” – I think there are measurable, repeatable effects with a statistical significance). It makes sense to me and interests me.

15. I have weak teeth, and after getting screwed by a crappy dentist, a very nice one gave me a bunch of dental implants without charging. I try to repay the favor whenever I see someone struggling.

16. Most of my early fiction is based on real places, mythology or history. I do a lot of research, and we’ve even spent time in Northern Ireland / Eastern Bulgaria for research trips.

17. I’m fascinated by ancient civilization, megalithic structures, and all things ancient.

39… I’m currently 39 years old, and still struggling with adulthood.

Writer Confessions

Writer Confessions

What is this post?

Writer confessions probably isn’t the right term, but the idea is – in this post you could talk more about your writing process. Describe your typical day; the things you wrestle with, the things you must have in your writing arena. Your writing space should be an extension of your author platform, not only to keep you inspired, but as a visual cue to readers.

Do we have to?

If your writer space is messy, just mention a few of the key objects you rely on; you can even use pics from the manufacturer’s website. You *could* also use affiliate links to products you recommend, but unless you’re driving tons of traffic, this probably won’t be a strong source of revenue – it’s better to get something done quickly than procrastinate because you haven’t added in all the fancy stuff.

 

My confessions:

  • Two characters in two different books quote the same passage from Keats in dialogue
  • I sometimes mix up my characters’ names – even across series
  • I need a plate of cookies and a cup of coffee or tea; or ideally a beautiful coffee shop with cake
  • Background noise distracts me (I can’t even have someone walk into my field of vision when writing) so I have a huge pair of noise-cancelling Sony headphones, my wife hates them because she’ll have to yell to get my attention. When writing, I listen to soft indie folk music or trans/techno music (all beat, no lyrics).
  • I’m much better at plotting and editing than I am at getting the first rough draft down into words, but I’m working on increasing my writing speed.
  • One time I hid under the table at the London Comicon rather than talk with readers.
  • I’m a cat person. We’ve had several small black cats named Xiao Hei (little black). One of them got sick, and I couldn’t bear to have the vet put him down, so he had two good weeks at home before dying in what I assume was agonizing pain in the yard. Still one of the big regrets of my life.
  • Sometimes I lie awake at night musing on all the stories I’ll never have time to tell.
  • I LOVE rain and thunderstorms, but only from the safety of a front porch with a nice view.

 

Now it’s your turn

What interesting details can you “confess” about your own writing process?