Category: Writing Updates

General Updates, Writing Updates

Changes Abound

Janis I. Soucie

Recently I have picked up a book by Joanna Penn called How to Make a Living with Your Writing. I enjoyed the book and got so many pointers and ideas. Now I am working on revamping my writing a bit, especially how I publish and I plan on using IngramSpark. I bought four journals to use as writing journals for articles, short stories or novellas, and novels. Who knows, maybe I’ll get some poetry out of it too. Or song lyrics. I just feel like the opportunities are endless, so long as I keep an open mind.

But then I have to think about whether I want to be an author entrepreneur like Joanna and really pursue getting my books out there and making a lot of money. Or do I just really care about getting my books out there just to share them with others. Do I care about the money or don’t care that much. Her book has really made me ask myself some questions as far as what I really care about being an author. I think if I just wanted to share my stories I could do something like Wattpad.com or writing.com or maybe there are other sites I just don’t know about.

But if I cared about making money, or extra income to save up, then I would go the IngramSpark route to start and then see where I would have to go after that. Something I also use for editing is ProWritingAid.com. I find it catches more mistakes than Grammarly, which I had been using.

I have to think about my health and how this plays in with my writing. I have chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia and Bipolar II. But what really eats into my writing is the fatigue.

I have a lot to consider. The first thing I’ll do is pray about it and then just start plugging away.

If you have questions, leave them in the comments or email me at jisoucie@hotmail.com.

Have a splendid day and happy writing!

Writing Updates

Break

Janis I. Soucie

I hate to say it but I have decided to take a break from writing and concentrate on my family. It’s just been hard trying to find time to write or edit my work when my time has been demanded by other means. I’m still here however and I will be reading up on the writing world and I’ll share what I find interesting so please don’t think I have stop blogging.

Thank you all for your support. You have been a loyal group and I pray you will still hang in there while I go through this lull. I am always here if  you have something you want to talk about just feel free to leave a comment or email me at jisoucie@hotmail.com.

General Updates, Memoir, Mental health, Sackets Saga Book 1, Writing Updates

Update

Janis I. Soucie

Lately, I have been working on Sackets Harbor Saga Book 1. I don’t have a title for the book yet, but I know it will come.

The story I was working on about my mental health really turned out to be article length after I scrapped most of the idea I had. So no book there like I was hoping.

But I am happy to be working on Book 1 in a series. This is based in historical Sackets Harbor, NY. I went to school there and know the history pretty well so thought I would write a story based in that area but in a different time period. So that is what I have been working on as I can. I have been struggling emotionally for several days and just started a new medication. I only hope it helps and that I’ll be able to do more writing in the morning.

What have you been working on lately? Making any progress?

Please let me know in the comments.

Writing Challenge, Writing Updates

Writing for Kids

Janis I. Soucie

Okay. So I have been told time and again that I should write children’s stories.

There’s just one problem. I haven’t been reading children’s books to know what’s out there even how to go about writing one.

So if you read children’s stories from like grade 5 or 6 on  up to young adult please leave the name of the author or authors you most enjoy and I’ll be happy to check them out.

I’m very excited to be venturing into this area of writing so I can’t wait to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment or send an email to jisoucie@hotmail.com

Let me know where your emailing from. I’m curious to see where in the world my readers are located.

So send me your requests today! I can’t wait!

Mental health, Writing Updates

Writing and Depression

Janis I. Soucie

I haven’t been writing for a few days. I must admit that depression has rolled in and I don’t feel like doing anything. I struggle to think straight or care about anything. I’m really indifferent, or numb to what goes on around me, or what I do during the day. I could stare at a wall or just sleep all day and it wouldn’t matter to me.

But there is a part of me that is still thinking about writing. Even thought during a depression I struggle to physically write, my mind is still working on projects, or trying to at least. This is when my depression hits its deeper levels.

There are times I’m depressed but not deeply, so I can still function enough to write something. Those are the days I go easy on myself when I do decide to write and just try to get something down. I don’t force myself to do a lot because I know it won’t take much to make my depression worse.

Writing and depression…how do I make it work? Well, it’s tough. When depression is bad and I am so exhausted I just sleep or stare at the TV I don’t bother to write on those days. I have to wait for the depression to abate a little to a point where I have more energy and more clarity of though and then I sit myself down at the computer and type out a blog post, or try something that isn’t so labor intensive. Then on days where I’m feeling really good, I’ll dive right into my latest project. It’s about working with my body and its illness and trying to make things work. So I have to really be receptive to how I feel, which I’ve been told that I am anyway so it works out.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to ask. I’m happy to hear from my readers. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Writing Updates

Cold with Fresh Powdery Snow

Janis I. Soucie

I look out my sliding glass doors and see a few inches of the white stuff. Yep! I’m talking about snow! My daughter will be so happy when she sees it’s snowed! She will want to go outside and play I’m sure.

My writing has tapered off lately. In my last post I wrote about preparing for NaNoWriMo. Well, that didn’t happen this year. Third trimester pregnancy fatigue and gall bladder attacks have plagued me. Trying to nurse my gall bladder with non fat foods and “gut rest” in which I only drink ginger ale when it acts up. Docs are hoping to limp me through the rest of the pregnancy so I can have the baby first and then have my gall bladder removed. Yippee! What fun!

I haven’t been working on a lot. Preparing the home for the baby and taking care of some clutter. But the writing desire remains strong. It’s always there whispering, “Hey, write something, will ya?” Oh, how I’d love to. Part of me is still trying to figure out just what I want to write. Do I want to write novels? Or stick with shorter works like poetry, articles, and short stories? I really have to stop and think about the time I have on my hands and I certainly don’t have time or physical stamina (right now) for writing a novel. So for now I think I’ll stick with shorter works. I’ve also been writing in my journal just trying to keep up the writing skills.

Writing time this week may be scarce as my daughter is off from school this week as well as doctor’s appointments and oh yes, preparing for Thanksgiving dinner and dessert. But I’m going to try to get a few minutes in, most every day on something even if it’s just in my journal. That’s something!

I always find this week challenging especially with NaNo. This week always was the hardest to get the word count in with so much going on. For those of you doing NaNo this year, how do you cope when your children are off school for vacation, or your schedules are hectic?

I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to comment. Have a great day!

Writing Updates

Crisp Cold & Hiding Away

Janis I. Soucie

Many of you may be asking: “Where have YOU been?”

Ah yes, where have I been? Good question.

I am still here. Looking back I can’t believe my last post was in November. Yikes! My plan was to post a LOT more often. Life has given us a few hiccups which are stressful and my part time job as an editor has kept me away from my own blogging and my own writing. Between all that has been going on I haven’t been able to keep up with my work, hence, the amount of posts I’d like to make have diminished.

Christmas is almost here. I have Christmas music playing and I may wrap a few presents today. But then I have to get back to my editing job. I’m almost finished going through the book so my job is almost done. (sigh) That’s the way of it though. You have a project and can make a steady income for several months and then when the project is complete, it’s back to relying on one income, which, let’s face it, this day in age, is very hard to live on. But, looking at the bright side, I’ll be able to get back into my own writing. I’ve had ideas spinning in my head for months for like three different books. Question is: which one will I work on after this job is finished? Isn’t that always a stumbling block for us writers? Do you ever struggle with which project to work on? I’d be surprised if you didn’t. I swear if it’s not deciding which project to work on, it’s having chosen a book and once you’re into it, getting strong ideas for another book! Ugh! lol A writer’s mind is never quiet, always thinking, dreaming, scheming.

The three books I’m thinking of have to deal with the following topics: 1) discovery of having celiac disease (how it affected me, what had to change, and how I’m doing now), 2) discovery of having fibromyalgia (how it’s affected my life, my family, and how my faith has helped me deal with setbacks) 3) losing my mother at the age of 17 (how I was her caretaker, the effects it’s had, and how my faith helped me as a teen to get through that difficult time and I wish to inspire other teens who have lost parents.)

Okay, so there is a fourth about having PTSD, but, even if I wrote that one, I’m not sure about publishing it. So that one I’ll probably write for myself, at least for now.

I just have so many ideas and insights for those four topics and I feel being brave and sharing my experiences will encourage others.

That is my update for right now. I don’t have much to say about my writing because of the editing job, but I will keep you posted as this job winds down.

Have a great day!

Uncategorized, Writing Updates

“Once Within A Lifetime” Book Formatting

Janis I. Soucie

Wow! I cannot believe how long it has been since I have posted something. I have been so busy helping an elderly friend format her book Once Within A Lifetime into Kindle and paperback forms via CreateSpace. I also worked with her ideas to create the cover of the book. A few days ago I finished the book cover and yesterday I finished formatting the book for Kindle. I have learned many lessons along the way just about publishing on Kindle.

When I first started publishing my own books on Kindle, I just formatted them the way a book would be formatted to go to a traditional publisher. I had no idea at the time that there was a specific way to format books to look there best on a Kindle. So this time, I used my PC Kindle Reader and used the book: Building Your Book For Kindle

Wish I had known of this book when I published my first Kindle books. I know I will have to go back and redo at least one of them.

Today I finished formatting Once Within A Lifetime for CreateSpace using a 6×9 book template from the CreateSpace website.

I finished the book cover using images from www.morguefile.com and the software programs Picasa and Gimp.

I still have a lot to learn in the book design and marketing/promotion area but I know that will come in time as I continue reading on the subjects and practicing.

Once Within In A Lifetime is available in Kindle format and soon to be in paperback format. The next format after that would be audiobook through www.acx.com.

God bless, and may God guide you through all your writing and publishing adventures!

 

Writing Updates

Indie AuthorArtist Book Catalog

Janis I. Soucie

Okay I had this idea of creating a catalog of books created by Indie Authors. This idea just popped into my head today.

So far the catalog would include:
Author biographies (brief)
Author pictures
Book covers
Book information including formats they are available in, price, page length, summary
Links to books
Links to author site/blog
Who created your book covers

If you have any ideas to add to this, or would like to take part in this, please feel free to contact me via email with all of the above information. Please, don’t forget to tell me what genres your books are in.

I look forward to hearing from you!