JB Lynn

Hijinks, Hilarity and Heart

writing advice

A Week in this Writer’s Life…Monday

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Someone asked me what a writer’s week is like. Usually they ask about our days, so I figured I’d keep a running log to show what a writer does over the course of a week.

Posted on IG. Smudge did not want to get off my lap so I could get to work this morning.

Eventually I got to work:

Communicated with Virtual Assistant (also known as She Who Keeps Me Relatively Sane — SWKMRS) about changes/corrections to website, updating back matter of books, what’s on tap for the next couple of months.

Felt swamped by overwhelm about how much I have to accomplish over the next couple of months. Considered curling into a ball and pulling the blankets over my head. Thanked SWKMRS for the acknowledgement and mini pep talk.  I CAN DO THIS.

Dealt with a cover artist about a couple of things. (Cool things but can’t reveal them yet.)

Checked out a new marketing resource recommended by a reader. (Put it on my running To Do list to get to eventually.)

Wrote until I reached my word count goal for my secret project. (I’ll tell you about that next month.)

Reread the letter from my story editor regarding The Hitwoman Owes a Favor. (It’s 10.5 pages long.) 

Worked on story edits for Favor through Chapter 15. (This is my 3rd pass on story edits after receiving the letter and editor’s manuscript comments.)

Sent VA a quick email about Favor marketing.

Paid cover artist. Downloaded art.

Had a small nervous breakdown about Dropbox.

Emailed VA re: covers

Wrote a couple pages of Hitwoman 26

A whole flurry of emails to VA. (Some business, some just friendly (often these revolve around food, lol).

Wrote a couple more pages of Hitwoman 26.  (Only wrote 1031 words total, not the 1500 I’d planned for.)

Wrote a page of my passion project. (This is different than my secret project.)

Sketched out what I need to write for Hitwoman 26 tomorrow.

Wrote out tomorrow’s To Do list.

Posted this blog, lol.

The Magic Formula?

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I was talking to an acquaintance the the other day who asked me what the magic formula for writing is.

After exerting ALL my self-control to not roll my eyes or scoff at her (in times of pandemic, I’m thinking scoffing is crueler than usual) I managed to tell her that the “magic formula” is work. Usually hard work that no one can even see that you’re doing until your “magical” success when you finish a manuscript, publish a book, or hit a list.

There’s no magical formula, but there IS some writing advice I give to everyone who asks.

Years ago I saw this advice from author Bob Mayer (or I heard him say it at a workshop…either way he gets the credit): I would do anything to succeed at _______, just don’t ask me to _________.

Most people can fill in both blanks pretty easily.

“I would do anything to succeed at skydiving, just don’t ask me to jump out of a plane.”

“I would do anything to be covered in great tattoos, just don’t ask me to face a needle.”

Those might seem like extreme and/or silly examples, but we’re not always the most logical of beings.

For writers they might look like:

I would do anything to succeed at writing a book, just don’t ask me to give up playing video games to make the time to actually write.

or

I would do anything to succeed at landing my dream agent, just don’t ask to face the rejections that result as part of the querying process.

Right now my personal statement is: I would do anything to finish this latest Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman book, just don’t ask me to be funny in the midst of all this worldwide suffering and turmoil. (If you haven’t read the books, “funny” is a prerequisite and I’ve been struggling mightily with this manuscript.)

What about you? What are you dreaming of? What are your goals?

Take a second to fill in those blanks for yourself.

I would do anything to succeed at ____________, just don’t ask me to _________.

If you can force yourself to actually do whatever the second blank is, you’ve got a decent chance of creating your own magic.

Writing Talismans

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Do you believe in talismans?

Here’s the definition according to Merriam-Webster:

I love calling the objects I use “talismans” not because I believe they’re magical, but because they connect me to the magic of writing. They serve as a constant reminder of what I’m trying to achieve.

So what are my writing talismans?

For the first few years my talisman for my CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN series was a lizard necklace. Now it’s this guy, given to me by an amazing friend to celebrate the sale (or maybe it was the release? Can’t remember it was a long time ago, lol) of the first book in the series. Godzilla hangs in my kitchen so that I see him every day.

For the Psychic Consignment Mystery series, I wore these crystal bracelets (that represent items that figure heavily in the books) and this little fella who is the inspiration for one of the characters was my constant writing companion.

It’s Pim!!!

I had to search for quite a while to find the perfect talisman for the upcoming spinoff series of the Hitwoman books. It’s too early to show you that, I don’t want to jinx it, lol.

I believe that a physical reminder of what you’re trying to achieve (it doesn’t have to be writing related!!!) can be a potent tool for achieving your goals.

Do you use talismans?