When I first aspired to become an author, I imagined my time would be spent filling a blank page with words to woo the masses… not taking into account the editing or marketing required, which is enough to drive a sane person to the brink of insanity. Write, edit, market, repeat. Over and over and over. See what I mean about the insane part?
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Depending on where you're at in your writing endeavors, this may be common knowledge. You may have listened to the multiple authors telling you the best practices to start. Unfortunately, I did not listen to them and learned the hard way.

A successful writing career comes down to 5% skill, 5% luck, and 90% who you know.

A crucial part of creating a profitable book is connecting with others. Marketing should come well before your book is even launched. It's easier to get your sale ranking up if you've gotten pre-orders at the ready and reviews already elevating the story.

Much easier than having the book be launched and having people give you a raised eyebrow, "Really? You actually wrote a book?" Even if your picture is on the back, it sometimes takes three forms of ID to convince a potential customer that you are, in fact, the author of the book in front of you. I sometimes wear a hat with the title WRITER on it to avoid confusion.

Why is skill so low? With enough money, you can pay someone to write your story. You could be a famous author and never type a word. I do want to point out that money should be spent on a good editor even if it is something like Grammarly pro.

Why is luck so low? Let's face it. Writing is hard. It takes getting your book in the hands of the right reader who will help promote your book. If those people grow exponentially, you have a fan base that will lift off the massive marketing load from you. But keep connecting with others.



I dabble in multiple genres.

The indie authors who can boast of their sales typically stick to one genre and write a series. I decided to experiment with my books and put together a collection of poetry to get my feet into the publishing pool. I tripped, fell face first, and discovered it was acid, not water. Okay, that may be an overstatement. A small press threw me a life preserver and helped me out of the deep end.

After publishing a non-fiction book, I released my first science fiction novel. At this point, it would have made sense to continue the series into space, which I plan to do. However, I then published my first book in a fantasy series. By now, any fans of my poetry are rightfully confused as I sprinkle in bits of verse in my novels. Don't worry. I'm working on a collection of short stories that will have some poems in it as well… it might be leaning more toward the horror genre, because, why not?



The marketing beast.

There's a healthy balance between too much and too little. It's easy for us to want to get all the swag for our story: bookmarks, pens, shirts, cups, tissue dispensers, etc. Unfortunately, it can lead to a surplus of supplies becoming more difficult to give away. If you have enough people you know, the merchandising can boost the profits for your book.

For me, I did radio interviews and became a feature in the newspaper for my home town. It might not be the smallest of towns, but rural Nebraska can be a hard sell for poetry books. If you're able to find an affordable marketing director, use that connection. If you are proficient in marketing, I like the outdoors, piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain.



Ignoring the fans is not a good idea.

Occasionally, I will have a reader comment on one of my characters or things they enjoyed about my book. It would likely happen more if I stuck with one genre and series. Listen to them. Find ways to work their ideas into subplots or suggestions. It's best to write for yourself in order to keep your passion for writing alive, but it's fun to entertain the idea that a character may be coming back in an upcoming story.



Writing alone.

Trying to write on your own is one of the quickest ways to lose your mind. Remember the scene from the Shining? It is easy to lose your motivation to write if you don't have people around to encourage your work. Writing is important. Your words are needed.

Finding a small critique group and having honest beta readers has been an invaluable blessing in my writing career. It is hard to take a book from draft to published. Even if the critiques and reviews are painful in this phase, you will be thankful for it once the book is in the hands of strangers.



A final note on publishing.

Being the first author for a small press, we learned a lot about publishing together. Countless businesses would be happy to print your book for you. Most of these require you to buy in bulk, and we had way too much bulk in poetry. If you're starting out, doing print-on-demand through KDP or Ingramspark becomes more affordable and economical.

I won't go into depth on either publishing company as there plenty of great articles on the topic. And we're talking about what I did wrong, like hardcover books. I've only had one book that was hardcover, and that was my poetry collection, which we bought in bulk. Needless to say, it did not sell as well as the softcover.



Hopefully, you have the opportunity to learn from other authors as you pursue a writing career. Although I became serious about my writing six years ago, I am at the beginning. The one question you should ask yourself is what you would define as success. Once you have a goal in mind, go out and tell others about your pursuit. Their support will save your sanity.

Do you have a book you've just published or are aspiring to get released? Let me know in the comments. I'd love to be one of your connections.

PILLAR 2: EXERCISE

Staying active can be an exciting challenge, and a way for you to get creative during your journeys. Here are some ideas I have on how to stay active.

NATIONAL GYM CHAINS
These are a great way to stay active, if you sign up for a membership at one location, your membership goes national and you can use any gym you come across. Some examples are: Anytime Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, and 24-Hour Fitness.

LOCAL GYMS/YMCAS
If you are going to be in one spot for a few weeks, ask around, stop in the chamber of commerce, there may be a local YMCA or health park you could use on a short-term basis.

DROP-IN CLASSES
Lots of yoga and exercise studios offer one time drop-in classes. This means if you are in town for the weekend you can take one or two classes and pay as you go, you don’t have to be a long-term member to participate.

GO FOR A WALK/RUN OUTSIDE
If you are camping, chances are you have great access to paths and trails to explore. Otherwise, you could walk around the downtown area, or walk from your hotel to a nearby destination. (Always keep safety in mind, and if in doubt about the safety of your particular area choose a different option).

DO YOGA INSIDE
There are hundreds of free yoga videos on YouTube. Just pack your mat with you, or leave it in the car like I do, that way it’s always on-hand. Yoga or stretching videos are great to do in the hotel and could help you relax and unwind before bed.

HOTEL AMMENITIES
If your hotel has a pool or exercise room, use it!  

GET CREATIVE
Find new ways to stay active. Walk around a historic landmark or museum. Turn up the music and dance around in your tiny home. If homesteading at friend’s house in the country, offer to walk or jog to the highway to get their mail. Do push-ups or sit-ups during the commercial breaks as you watch your nightly shows. Park at the very last spot in the parking lot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at the hotel.

There are lots of small “better” choices we can make every day while we travel and live on the road. I hope you find these tips helpful. If you have any questions or feedback to give let us know by commenting below.

Happy trails!

-Lisa “Story”

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​Henry's endeavors to collect exotic artwork seemed all but lost to his aging memory. His life and the fate of his art collection take a dramatic turn when the eccentric artist Paulo arrives with a portrait painted with a deadly toxin. On the eve of the exhibit's grand debut, Henry is attacked and the painting is stolen. Although an increasing occurrence of his collection, the venomous portrait vexes his curiosity. Due to Paulo's incoherent behavior and the local police's lack of empathy, Henry finds himself solving the mystery of the stolen paintings alone.
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Yet he discovers something unearthly while he investigates further into the enigma of Paulo's painting. The poison is not what it seems. Will this art lover remain safe on the other side of the velvet ropes, or is his wildest adventure about to begin? Find out in this story you will find difficult putting down. If a picture is worth a thousand words then there are a thousand reasons to discover the truth.

This short story was originally birthed during a random idea of an artist painting with poison. The work was then part of a collaborative work of short stories by other authors. Due to timing and other projects, I pulled the story from the collection to focus on other endeavors.
Meanwhile, my skills in writing improved. With the success of XR-404 and feedback from my incredible critique group, I had to enter this into the contest at Constellation NE. While there, I spoke to the incredible artist guest of honor, ​Arden Ellen Nixon, who went beyond my imagination for the spectacular cover art.
This work was inspired by my love of the classic Twilight Zone and Outer Limits shows. I hope you enjoy Paint Me a Picture of Poison and write a review of it on Amazon.
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I recently purchased a mandolin and have been able to pluck out a few songs. Some of the two-finger C, D, and G chords I can play with some skill. And though I am learning and having fun with it, there is one song that both my wife and I have enjoyed learning (you can only play "Constant Sorrow" for so long).

This is an ongoing work. I have pieced together some of the basic tabs for the melody. I will eventually get more of a completed tune as my skill progresses. You may even be able to hear me play it in the future... soon.
Here is my mandolin tablature that sounds a bit like the "Concerning Hobbits" song combined with a little of the "Misty Mountains" song from The Hobbit:
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~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~|~~~0~2~5~4~0~~~~~
~0~2~4~~~4~2~0~|~4~~~~~~~~~~~4~2~
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~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~|~~~~~0~2~2~2~0~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~0~2~4~~~4~2~0~|~0~4~~~~~~~~~~~4~4~2~0~2~0~
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~~~0~2~2~2~5~0~0~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~0~2~4~4~0~~~0~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~4~~~4~2~
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~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~|~~~~~0~2~2~0~~~~~~~~~
~0~2~4~~~4~2~0~|~0~4~~~~~~~~~4~4~2~0~
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~~~0~2~5~2~0~~~|~2~5~7~10~9~5~2~3~2~0~~~
~5~~~~~~~~~~~5~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~0~3~5~7~5~3~2~0~|~~~0~2~2~3~5~3~2~0~
~2~5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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~~~~~~~0~0~3~5~3~2~0~~~0~|~~~0~2~2~2~3~5~3~2~~~0~2~
~2~2~5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~~~|~2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~~~~~
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~2~3~3~2~~~0~
~~~0~~~2~~~0~~~~~|~2~5~~~~~~~~~5~~~
~5~~~4~~~5~~~2~4~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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~~~0~2~5~2~0~~~|~2~5~7~10~9~5~2~3~2~0~~~
~5~~~~~~~~~~~5~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~
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~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~0~~~~~~~
~0~2~4~~~0~2~4~|~0~2~4~~~0~2~4~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~2~3~2~0~~~0~
~0~0~0~~~~~~~0~|~5~~~~~~~~~5~~~
~~~~~~~5~5~5~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~0~2~0~2~3~
~5~4~2~2~2~0~0~0~2~|~5~~~~~~~~~~~
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~~~0~2~5~2~0~~~|~2~5~7~7~5~2~2~3~2~0~~2~
~5~~~~~~~~~~~5~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~5~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~0~
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This is a very basic song to pick out. It is for all of us who are learning. More little tunes from the movies may be added. Let me know what songs from the movies should be added to this.

(p.s. I will hopefully have a YouTube video of this soon...)

​During my time at Grace University, poetry became one of my passions. Many of the poems found in Musings of the Northern Poet came from my experience there. As such, one poem that I performed during a talent show became one of my favorite parody pieces. And so I give you my rendition of The "Grace" Raven, a parody of Edgar Allen Poe's classic.

Research has shown that it takes at least 2 months to develop a habit. So while the event tries to push you to write every day, it only does so for half of the time needed to make it a habit. Try as you may, the companionship and inspiration you acquired while doing NaNoWriMo will fizzle out. Even before month’s end, if you are like me, the green/purple bar blues can hit and kill your drive to keep writing. It may even hit you during the dreaded week 2, which claims the lives of many wrimo novels who fail to slug their way through it. But through the fire of those trials, the steel of a writer is resolved.

​There are as many ways to keep a daily writing routine as there are writers. If you enjoy adding to your word count, tweeting, snapping, checking a box, or any other means to give yourself a reward for the daily achievement; have at it. While you are giving yourself your daily rewards, let me suggest 3 things to motivate you to become a habitual writer.


1. Write Down Your Progress
One of the greatest motivators for NaNoWriMo is a progress bar that shows how many words you have finished (or need to write to catch up). In my hunt for a similar program, I discovered some great apps and websites that allow you to track your writing goals. You can use a similar spreadsheet or journal to create your own progress on each book you are working on. I use our publications page to update my progress. Tweeting your daily goals is another easy tool I like to use.


2. Embrace Inspiration
You’ve sat at the proverbial typewriter and it stares back at you, mocking your futile attempts to write. This is good. In fact, the more fights you overcome in your commitment, the more likely you are to keep the habit going. If you lose motivation in one story, start another. Do it in a different style (poetry, prose, screenplay, etc). Some have suggested working on another skill or craft that enhances creativity. For me, it is sewing and acting. I participate in many Renaissance Festivals and conventions in the Midwest. It is my inspiration hive.


3. Give Away Your Passion
Become an author groupie. Every new author would love the opportunity to share their journey with you. They can help support you as you battle through the first few months. You can help them by reviewing their books on Amazon and spreading the word of their stories. Word of mouth is the best way for new books to bloom. Not only will it help other authors, it will help you grow as they catch your passion for writing. I’ve yet to meet another author who doesn’t love new stories. A great place to find other authors is from those you may have connected with during NaNoWriMo. If not, look for local authors in your area or even a Facebook group.


I’m always excited to find my new favorite story and write a review for it. Let me know in the comments if it is yours. I only ask you to return the favor.

​Making a good story is a lot like making a good soup. You have to have the right ingredients to get things started. However, when it comes to mixing it together, everyone has a different approach. You may be the type to measure every pinch of salt or throw it all in the mix until it tastes right. Some can even do it on instinct, the magical grandma’s recipe. Whatever the approach, the food must get in the bowl.


This is first drafting—the process of mixing the words together in your story pot. Get your spoons and bowls ready, it’s going to be tasty. After all, it is your masterpiece*… Once it cools down a bit.

Aromatics are the bold flavors that set the basis of the entire soup. The need time to release their nuances to the mix. For writing, this is where we define our genre or setting. What is the atmosphere of the piece? Where are they? What are some of the natural or supernatural laws of the world?
I must admit, this section I harbor in my mind and not write out on paper. A lot of writers prefer to have these listed before they begin. It helps create the scenes in our plot and flavors the entire piece.
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If you’re a pantser, you may not take too much time here and just add water. However, I would suggest getting a basic 3-point story broth—beginning, middle, and end. This will give your characters a good goal in their world. Yet taking that path may depend on the flow of the story.
For plotters, this is where you spend time perfecting a unique broth. After all, it is what holds everything together. Some may go into great detail of each scene in their story. K.M. Weiland has a great guide to creating scenes on her site: Helping Writers Become Authors.
I tend to fall somewhere between a pantser and a plotter. I like to use my canned “Save the Cat” Beat Sheet and let my main character sit in that journey.

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​So in a normal recipe for soup, you would sprinkle on the herbs to top it off. My initial remark in linking this to writing was something about celebrating with herbs... but I digress.
You can use this time to add in any extra character arcs you want to explore further in your story. Plot holes can also be listed. I typically write these as I’m cooking through the words so it doesn’t look as fancy in the end.
Be sure to let your first draft cool down before you dig in. That’s some mighty fine story soup you got there.

I’ve included the recipe to one of my favorite soups—an easy and comforting chicken noodle soup by my aunt. What are some of your favorite soups?

2 qts. water
8 chicken bouillon cubes
6-1/2 C. wide egg noodles
2 cans (10-3/4 oz.) cream of chicken soup
3 C. cubed cooked chicken
1 C. sour cream
1 grated carrot
In a large pan, bring water and bouillon to a boil. Add noodles and carrot. Cook till noodles are tender. Heat through. Remove from heat and add sour cream. Enjoy.
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​Everyone likes free gifts, especially if it’s something you can use. And lucky for you, I know exactly the best gift you could ever want. See how cute and furry it is? Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you were allergic. What’s happening to your face?

Giving a gift in improv is exactly like the scene I painted in your mind. I gave you something cute and fluffy, like a kitten. I then gave something to help you react to the gift… literally. You became allergic to the pet I tossed in your arms and responded in your mind to the gesture. Sorry about the rash. It will clear up soon.


The three questions to ask when giving a gift are:

1. Is it meaningful to the scene?
2. Does it help build character or setting?
3. Can it be used later in the scene?

When doing an improv scene, specifically in the character build-up, it is important to establish certain quirks in each actor. I could have said, “oh, look at that kitten,” which would also add a small gift to the scene. However, with adding and not giving to the scene or your character, the weight falls on you to give it purpose to the scene. A good improviser could pick it up and run with it (and you’re smart so you would probably run out of the scene), yet it becomes more of a burden for you to continue.


As an improv actor, I must improve my partner and help them through the scene. By adding extra character development, and adding a gesture, I helped carry the scene to you. The dialogue becomes meaningful and fun in its own way.


Tossing kittens around may not work all the time (and you’ll get a call from the ethics committee), so that is why we Rolodex the best idea before we give the gift. Once I gave the gift, or threw it in this case, you must choose to accept it and give another. This is the basic concept behind the “Yes, and” rule of improv acting. By the way, here’s some ointment for that rash… ignore the poison logo.

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So what was one of your best gifts, or scene moments you shared with someone on or off stage?

I met Arden Ellen Nixon at a few conventions in the past. Her artwork always drew my eye toward the darker colors and details. She truly has a gift for paintings. In fact, she even did the cover art for my short story, Paint Me a Picture of Poison. This gift bled onto her typewriter as she crafted an incredible story. Here is my review of her book, Make-Shift Angel, available now on Kindle from Amazon.

​"It’s the simple pleasures in life that can bring us to our vice. But what happens when familiar passions are stripped from you? What happens when it’s stripped from an angel? Rand finds solace in those simple vices as he searches to answer the question of why such things were taken from him. Through his friendship with a medicated comic shop owner and another celestial, Rand searches for his purpose again. However, this is not so easy to come by for an immortal with insomnia.


Arden does an incredible job of bringing us inside one of her paintings. I found myself reading in awe at the masterpiece created by this author and artist. I hope you also enjoy the journey through the dark strokes of a celestial life created in this story. They say a picture paints a thousand words; yet through this story, a thousand images are formed."



I hope you get the opportunity to read it as well and vote up my review here:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R12X64QTTBV22/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01N5HS1B6&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text