How Much is Too Much Support?

Today, someone at work told me about something that had happened to them, and ended with the words “You should write about that.”

I also have non-writer friends who suggests titles and character names and plot points.

Although I love the support and interest I get from my family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and total strangers in the line at the grocery store–I sometimes wish they weren’t quite so enthusiastic. Especially when they are offended when I don’t immediately start writing what they suggest. (Yes, many follow up later asking me how “their” book is coming a long.)

The best way to deal with frustration, is to laugh about it.  So, from xkcd.org, my favorite comic on the web:

Posted in Humor, When Life Happens | 4 Comments

Writing the Book of Your Heart

Today when I was farting around on the internet…ehr, doing my research, I stumbled across YA writer Christa Desir’s blog about getting “the call.” It’s such an inspiring story, and even more so because the book she sold is one that she had to write, a true book of her heart.

So do you all remember when I blogged about the book that will never be published? The one that I was inspired to write after the survivor testimonial writers’ workshop I attended last April. The one that was too short, too dark, too graphic. The one that I HAD to write even though it sliced up parts of my soul to do so.

She posted the query the readers of her blog helped her craft and it made me cry. Then, I watched the movie of The Voices and Faces Project she also posted and I cried some more.

I don’t know Christa, have never met her, and don’t generally read YA, but when this book comes out, I’m buying it. Not just because it’s obviously a fabulous book, but because Christa’s blog inspired me. Her success of selling a book that was labeled a hard sell gives me hope, and her courage makes me want to write from my heart.

So for your own inspiration, head over to her blog and read the query. Here’s the beautiful video:

Posted in Authors I Admire, Inspiration | 4 Comments

Hanging out with Brooke Moss Today

Want to know how writing a fan letter to an author led to my very first major publishing credential?

Interested in knowing a little more about writing for anthologies?

Want to win a free copy of FEMALE NOMAD AND FRIENDS: BREAKING FREE AND BREAKING BREAD AROUND THE WORLD?

Then head over to Brooke Moss’s blog today where I’m guest blogging. Hope to see you there.

http://brookemosswriter.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesdays-houseguest-asa-maria-bradley.html

Posted in Authors I Admire, Firsts, Inspiration, Non Fiction Writing, Tales of Breaking Free... | Comments »

For Your Friday Laughter. Happy End of the Week!

There are many reasons for why I love Fridays: Friday Free Nook Book, no classes to teach, and catching up on emails and social media.

This Friday, after I downloaded Don’t Know Much About Mythology: Everything You Need to Know About the Greatest Stories in Human History but Never Learned to my Nook (free book, squee!), I discovered that no less than eight people had tweeted and emailed me the same link.

I’ve blogged about Jim C. Hines funny stuff before. The man makes me laugh often, but today he’s outdone himself.

There is so much we can say about how women are depicted in the media and in our culture in general. Mr. Hines decided to take on how women are portrayed on book covers. As the master author he is, he did it by “showing” rather than “telling.”

After trying to strike the pose  of his own female hero, he investigated the body positions of several other urban fantasy books. The result is a hilarious photo essay, but also a great social commentary and criticism through humor.

You are my hero Mr. Hines!

Enjoy and Happy Friday!

Posted in Essays, Humor | 2 Comments

Visual Inspiration: The Joy of Books

One of the reasons I love the internet is because it exposes me to artists and writers who inspire and amaze me.

Today, someone sent me a link to an amazing video about what the books do in the bookstore after the customers go home. Then I remembered that I’d seen something similar before and after some googling, it turns out that it’s the same guy who made both movies.

Artist Sean Ohlenkamp does some amazing creative things with graphics, photography, movies, play-doh. After going through his whole  portfolio, I’m now following his blog just to see what he does next. He tries to create something every day, which inspires me to make sure I write every day.

Here are the two movies that started my obsession. Be amazed!

Posted in Inspiration | 2 Comments