Problems about following well known people on Twitter

Following those with a lot of followers is a waste of follows. They never follow you back unless they have something to sell you, then they might. As a writer, I tend to reach out to a variety of different people hoping they might take a look at your writing and think about using one of your stories in their circle of contacts. I guess all writers except those that have had a best seller or two that everyone wants to jump on their bandwagon. I know I'm doing a little ranting today, maybe because the mood I'm in. I went to twitter earlier and noted I had 13.1k followers whereas I follow almost 14k. I guess that is not bad considering I have only been active on social media for less than five years. What can I expect in the next ten years, hopefully I will triple my followers but who knows?

I put the top portion of the cover of my first book instead of the usual writer's photo. That book is still doing well on Amazon Prime and was the first book I ever twitted or blogged about. Sort of an anniversary posting. Remember to Talk back, I'm listening and have a great week. Catch you on the down side.  

Music calms you and allows you to focus.

Today I had a five hour drive and listening to music made it bearable. Not headbanging stuff but songs where you can hear the lyrics and feel what the singer is singing about. I never could get into rap or songs with cussing in them. Just not my style.  I go for soft rock or old style rock. Old style country is acceptable as well. I know most people don't discuss the type of music that mellows them out without drinking or smoking something but I thought it would be a good subject as I am back home and sitting at the keyboard. What brings you to a state of calm, I know fighting traffic is not one of them.  Everyone seems to be in a hurry to get somewhere. I laugh when someone passes me by whipping in and out of my lane, then I catch up to them without driving like a idiot, exceeding the speed limit and I'm courteous by allowing others to merge in without cutting them off.  My wife didn't go with me, I drove alone because she has been living in a small town so long now that she gets tense and stressed whenever we go into a high traffic area such as found around and in large cities. Do you have a stress free time while driving? How much time to you drive each day? 

Talk back, I'm listening and have a great weekend. 

Swollen wrist prevents typing for three days

My wife thinks I had a couple of spider bites that was the reason my wrist swelled up and my fingers wouldn't move. So I had three days of no computer work. Writing was out of the question. So I spent that time I normally used to write by writing the rest of "Saddle Spur" in my head. Then today I went to type it into the computer and found the story as it flowed in my head was way ahead of what I had actually typed before my wrist refused to work. I expected to be behind on my typing but not that far. It seems I wrote three chapters in my mind. Now, I had to backtrack to pick up where I left off. In my mind I wrote some good stuff, I just hope I don't forget it by the time my typing catches up with my mind.  My wrist is still not 100% yet but functioning enough for me to get a little work done, such as this blog.  Has that ever happened to you that you write a book ahead of your actual writing? I was unable to take notes so unless the lost chapters come back when they are needed, I'm S.O.L. How is your week going. Read any good books lately, go ahead and comment on them at the bottom of this post. I always like good books.

Talk back, I'm listening. Have a great rest of this week.

What do you do when you don't feel like blogging?

Some weeks it just not in me to blog. I read two books last month and still haven't given my review. I still can't seem to focus on what I need to do. Like post a review. I just can't get in the mood, now I have to reread the stories to give a proper review. I don't know what is causing me to feel so unfocused. I've been battling a sinus problem for the past few weeks. The Doctor said my earaches are caused by my sinuses draining down into my ears building up liquid behind the ear drum. Maybe that is what is making me half the time be in some sort of funk where I find it difficult to concentrate. I don't know. I thought also it could be my drinking, I have drank more in the last few weeks than I have in all of last year. I'm giving it up for a week or tow, maybe longer if my concentration returns. You never know, it just might work. Right now, I am typing and not knowing what I really want to say. I guess it is bedtime.

Like always, talk back, I'm listening. Have a great week! 

Sudden death, illness skews your normal life.

The sudden death of my brother caused my life to change. I thought I could blog to get through it but when my two younger sisters stopped by my place on their way to Oklahoma to attend my brothers services, one became very ill, blood sugar of 598 and running a 104 degree temperature, she ended up in the hospital near me. She had an infection in her leg that was what led to her being incoherent and being rushed to the hospital. Today is day eight for her being there. She is expected to be released later today or in the morning to go back home to North Carolina. Her husband came to get her and be with her until she is released from the hospital. During these eight days she was in the hospital, my other sister and her husband stayed with us.  All this commotion has stopped me from blogging like normal. So for all those that have missed me blogging and waiting on their book review, I will get to them later this week when my house empties out and things can return to normal.

Talk back, I'm listening as always. Have a great day!   

Bad weekend all around.

It started out with me deciding to rewrite "Saddle Spur". That wasn't that bad but then on my shuffleboard games, we were almost blanked in both games. My brother was found dead, I got the call right after I got home from shuffleboard. Then my Super Bowl team played terrible. I'm concerned about what else might go wrong. I can't wait on the weekend to get over. The only good thing going for me is my book "Lightning in the Tunnel- In the Beginning" is still being downloaded on Amazon Prime and being read.  take a look for yourself what everyone else is enjoying. It won't cost you a cent to read it for yourself. The reason I am posting this is to get my mind off the death of my brother. This makes three of my bothers and sisters that are gone. Sorry about the post but I am in a down mood and wanted to post something that will lift me up.

Talk back, I'm listening as always.

Focus on writing

The past few days, I have been focused on writing with a break in my volunteer work. I was almost finished writing the draft of my first western "Saddle Spur" when my mind told me that it needed to be scrapped and rewritten. So that is what I am doing. Rewriting the story to engage the reader better instead of telling the story, I am showing it. For all you newbie writers out there, one thing is clear or at least you must make it clear. Not just tell your story, show it in an way that makes the reader not want to put it down until the last page is read. I pulled up "Saddle Spur" the other day and started reading, Ho-hum it didn't engage me, hence the rewrite. Writing is a endless process that strives to improve from one book to another. For those writing their first book, it is not enough to get it done, you must go back and rewrite and rewrite until it is the best it can be then engage an editor. Every set of eyes that can look at your book before it is published, is great. Each reader will see the little things that you may get wrong before the book is published. Just remember there is millions of books out there crying for the readers attention. I know it is hard to stand out above the crowd but with a lot of hard work, it can happen.

Talk back, I'm listening and have a great week.