Rejections and You Rock!

Special treat today! But first, don’t forget a certain wizard movie comes out today. You didn’t forget, did you?

And special thanks to Budd at SciFi Media for the surprise review of CassaStar!

The Fantastic Friday Writers topic today is handling rejections. Fun for all!

Nobody likes rejections, but they happen to everyone. I think it’s easier when you don’t place your life’s value on acceptance. Earlier this week, Karen Walker had a guest post on expectations, and it really resonated with me. I didn’t have high expectations. Writing a book wasn’t the only thing I wanted to do with my life, either. So, those initial rejections didn’t kill me. I decided if it wasn’t going to happen, I would be all right. (Thus, I was really surprised when it did happen!)

Check with my FFW partners Elizabeth, Anastasia, J. D., Deirdre, M. Pax, and Jeffrey for their take on handling rejections.

I created the You Rock! Award last year to honor some very special blogging buddies who’ve made my life awesome. Of course, everyone who reads this blog is awesome! (Even if you’re just humoring me.)

This year, I’m giving it to five more bloggers who rock…

Jeffrey at World of the Scribe
We can’t do this alone, and Jeffrey has been one of my biggest supporters. His words of encouragement and assistance appear when I need it the most. I can always count on him. And I’m ready for his series to be unleashed on the world. Jeffrey, you rock!

Gail at Familiar Spirits
She’s my blog sparring partner – we try to out-snark each other. But she has a sweet spirit and a kind heart. I was so honored when she read my book, although I’m sure she questioned that purchase at first. Thank you, Gail – you rock!

Rusty at The Blutonian Death Egg
This dude needs to realize he rocks! Rusty is an awesome blend of ideas, humor, and encouragement. I had the honor of helping him with last minute edits when a publisher requested his full manuscript – he thinks it was a sacrifice, but his story is awesome. Rusty, you rock!

Chuck at Apocalypse Now
He’s genuine – a rare trait these days. Dedicated to his blog, followers, and friends, I can always count on Chuck for a boost and a laugh. His blog has really morphed and grown over the past year, and it’s been cool to watch. I want the best for you, Chuck – you rock!

George at CineMarvellous!
He reminded me earlier this week about the real meaning of friendship – we stick by one another no matter what. We’re a kindred spirit when it comes to movies and it sucks that he lives on the other side of the world. Appreciate the friendship and support, George – you rock!

You guys pass this on to a friend or two who rock your world.

Now, any thoughts on rejection? Friendship? A certain wizard movie perhaps?

GL, SyFy's SS, and Awesome Guest on Critiquing!

Before I unleash my awesome guest, I need to give you a movie update.

Green Lantern – It was fun! Glad I went. Dialogue was a bit cheesy at times, but hey – it’s a comic book. The film wasn’t Shakespeare, but thank God it wasn’t Catwoman, either. So while it wasn’t the perfection of either of Nolan’s Batman films, I still had a good time.

Swamp Shark – Entertainment Weekly gave it an F. Can’t imagine why. Oh wait, that’s because it SUCKED! At least Sharktopus was cheesy bad fun. I suffered through long enough to give you a short play-by-play this coming Friday. I better get some Hot Tamales for my effort…

Now to my awesome guest, Rusty Webb!

Rusty’s blog is The Blutonian Death Egg and he’s one of my amazing critique partners. The dude also has a great sense of humor. His critique comments are snarky, random, and sometimes go off on wild tangents – and fused with humor, they’re perfect! I couldn’t ask for a better critique partner.

I asked Rusty to share his thoughts on critiques…

Alex, the nicest guy on the internet, gave me the opportunity to talk for a few minutes about the art of critique. Funny that he would ask me, since the notes I sent to him after reading his most excellent sequel to CassaStar were rants about why I think Stargate ruined the SciFi (SyFy) channel and attempts to draw him into a debate about the physics of a fictional energy source. But ask me he did, and if there is anything I've learned in life, it’s to never turn down an opportunity, even if it’ll only serve to expose me as a fraud.


Once, earlier in my life, after much blood and pain, tears and heartache, I produced the greatest piece of written fiction the world had ever known. Still aglow with the glory of my achievement, I delivered it by hand to a friend to read and sat back to wait for the praise to come. They took a glance and said, “This is a mess.”


A piece of me died then. Right there, at that moment.


It wasn’t possible. I worked so hard, so long. How could they not see the brilliance? Did they even read it? Well, no. In fact, they said it was so bad they couldn’t get past the first page.


The first page? But the first page was awesome. Geez.

In the years since, I’ve managed to come to terms with the need for a critical eye – maybe not one so crushing as my first experience. But in the hands of someone you trust, someone who wants to help you make the story be the masterpiece you know it is, and not someone who wants to turn it into their story, or is venting because they’re frustrated by their own issues, then it doesn’t have to hurt so much.


Because here is the truth of it: Almost all the stories out there that any of us feel compelled to write are great, it’s just that sometimes the way we choose to tell the tale gets in the way. We emphasize the wrong parts, or forget to tell about why a character behaves the way he does. Writing is how we translate the story from the mind to the page – and sometimes it can lose something in the translation.


So here's to critiquing, the art of helping understand the human mind.

Rusty, if you understand Byron’s mind, you’re light years ahead of me.
Thanks, dude!

Any questions? Comments? Snarking? Thoughts on SyFy Craptastic movies?

Critiques, Revision Joys, and Secret Revealed

Revision joys. Now that’s an oxymoron!

I have three awesome critique partners and two great test readers. And as I read their suggestions and corrections, one thought comes to mind – maybe I should just stick to guitar playing for my creative outlet? No wait – I suck at that as well! Can one dig ditches creatively?

Anyone else feel like this?

However, as I go through detailed critiques pointing out overused words, wrong tense, and sucky dialog, there are moments when humor restores my sanity...

From Jeffrey at World of the Scribe -

“and that’s Senior Officer Byron to you…” – “…the acronym from these words spell out S.O.B. It almost makes me want to retract those earlier comments I made about excessiveness.”

From Rusty at The Blutonian Death Egg -

“We’ll have to play when you’re not rusty then.” – “Hey! That’s my name! Woo hoo! I’m in your book.”

Mevine all but inhaled his meal. – “Go ahead. He inhaled it!”

Her brows furrowed… – “Okay, I’m looking this up."
"It’s ten minutes later, thank you internet.”

“You deserve a prize if you are still reading my comments.”

And my critique partners and test readers deserve a prize if they’re still reading my manuscript!

What are your critique partners like? Hope everyone involved has a sense of humor!

Oh, and the secret? Remember the female lead I’m introducing opposite Byron? The mysterious, as of yet unnamed woman?

Her name is Athee.

Happy Friday the 13th everyone!

A to Z Challenge - K (and Critique Partners)

For the A to Z Challenge, I am featuring some awesome bloggers. These individuals have offered so much support of my book, CassaStar, and me on my blogger journey. Of course, I’ll be keeping up with the world of movies, music, and pop culture stuff as well! Ninjas are just talented that way...


Kelly Polark
Kelly is a delight! In every picture, there’s that big, beautiful smile, and her joy bubbles over into every post and comment. Need a shot of happiness? Want to hear her sing? Visit Kelly today!


I want to thank everyone who answered my call for critique partners. Clarissa, Ellie, Stephanie, and Matthew, I really appreciate your offers. And any of you who need a first chapter critique – Clarissa is powerful! She’ll whip your work into shape in a heartbeat.

After much debating and deep Ninja thoughts (those hurt!), my new critique parters are Jeffrey at World of the Scribe and Rusty at Blutonian Death Egg. Jeffrey has a great sense of where I’m going with my words, and Rusty knows how to catch things I miss. Plus the dude has a great sense of humor – I about died laughing while reading his critique comments!

And Anne at Piedmont Writer will be helping me with the relationship stuff. (Translation – the man/woman stuff!) She’s a fantastic writer – I’m in awe of her use of language in her Regency romance. (And yes, this Ninja DOES know the difference between Regency romance and the Hyatt Regency.) Thanks guys!