This has been a great year for me. I thank everyone who stops here. I discovered Google Analytics and realized I’m not talking to myself. That’s a nice thing to know. Last year I wrote a 2010 wrap up – I think…it may have been after I’d completed a year of blogging…my days run together. It’s a writer’s life. What can I say? I judge time by what book I was reading or what chapter I was writing. I’m a mess.

Anyway.

2011 has come to a close and this is what my meager reading/writing/and online efforts have to show for themselves:

Writing!

I have written and contracted three 25K word sweet romance novellas for the Turquoise Morning press’ new Honey Creek line (launching next month). Together they form my new Seeds of Love series. Bloom comes January 29th, Love Blossoms will arrive in September and the final book  comes this time next year — I’m having title fails, but it really does exist LOL

I managed to get short stories published in two anthologies as well. Fireworks in the Summer Shorts Anthology and Faith, Love & a Coast Guard in the Men in Uniform a Tribute Anthology.

I have also contracted a series of darkly humorous women’s fiction novels. The first title, Death by Chocolate will release late in March and kick off my Killer Confection Saga with kNight Romance Publishing.

Social Media!

The minute I signed my first contract – which was February 2011- I set up an author page on FaceBook and also an author website, JulieAnneLindsey.com (where absolutely no one ever goes LOL).

I have a GoodReads author account now which as it turns out isn’t super cool because I go there to see what everyone’s reading. I’m a greedy reader and HATE to miss anything!! But many people have security in place to filter authors out. I find that sucky because I’m not like a REAL author-author. I’m an obsessed reader who also writes stuff. I wanna be your friend!!! Let me INNNN *pounds on friendship door* I HAVE BROWNIES!!!

Anyway

A First for Me:

I attempted NaNoWriMo for the first time ever in 2011! I lost, but whatever. It was a valiant effort, I promise.

Fabulous Excersions:

I attended the 2011 Lori Foster Reader & Writer get Together in Cincinnati, Ohio! 400 romance authors in one place? Wah? It made for some incriminating photos. I had a blast.

I also had the opportunity to attend the Central Ohio Fiction Writer’s Conference for the second year in a row. It was fabulous of course.

I highly recommend going to any conference you can if you’re a writer. It’s such a bizarre and thrilling feeling to MEET like in the flesh MEET people you read or chat with online. SO much fun.

Bloggy Deets

In 2011 I discovered the fun of stalking analytics. I found some interesting people visiting this place. My blog was visited by the Federal Trade Comission, the Federal Communication Commission, ColdWater Creek (I go to their site a lot too LOL), McMillan Publishing, lots of colleges and library systems, Amazon.com <– LOL right?, Nordstrom…I have an online shopping problem when the shops start checking me out too : / I’ll move on from this now.

25,000 unique visitors

from 121 countries <– OH-EM-GEE. Am I right?

100,000 page views

That’s a wrap! If you’re still reading this then THANK YOU!!! I can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for all my writing buddies and tweet-peeps and friends.

Happy New Year!

I am often asked how I deal with writer’s block. I haven’t had to. No, I haven’t been writing long – only about 3 years- BUT never once have I lived the movie portrayal of a writer…sulking, swigging whiskey and living in a bathrobe while staring at a blank page. I’m a firm believer in making things happen. Where there’s a will there’s a way and all that.

I HAVE known plenty of authors who don’t write for months or more because they are embracing the block.

Give me a second to pull on my rain gear before the cyber tomatoes hit. I’ve noticed most of those writers suffering from “writer’s block” also claim to be pantsers. *ducks* *runs for cover* *lifts megaphone from safe distance*

I am NOT suggesting pantsers are wrong, not as good, ALL going to have writer’s block or any other thing like this. I, myself, frequently pants a story line. Pantsing is fun. Mama likey.

BUT.

You do see how that method of attack leaves a writer open to chin tapping and head rubbing, right? If you’re making it up as you go then any point in the story can leave you baffled and at a loss. After all, every writer knows how unruly and random our characters can be. This is why I fully support outlining and preparations of any and all kinds for serious projects ESPECIALLY those under deadlines.

Here are some ways to do yourself a favor and set a little (or BIG plan before you pants your pants off).

Be a Mini-Planner

This is a good option for those die-hard pantsers who refuse to betray their style. Mini-planners write up a blurb, a paragraph, a page perhaps of their new concept. Give it a running title. Jot down the basic plot or point of the story – the concept. Then maybe using X’s for names, list the major trials, stumbling blocks etc and the ending.

Any details you have now can help later when the blank page stares back and it’s been too long for you to remember where you were planning to go with the story.

OR

Be a Planner-Planner

This is where you sit down and thoughtfully write your synopsis now, before you start. Tell the story in a book report style hitting all the major points and sub plots. Make it a little story in itself and you know you’re done when reading it makes you smile and want to know more. Now you have a thorough layout for guiding you along and less chance of writers block.

OR…hang on to your headbands kids…

Be a Planner with a Plan

This is how I write when the story when I need to stay on task till the end. I start with a plan that matters. I spend a few days in preparation before I start writing the words of the story and it makes a huge difference. This is how I prepare:

I open a Word doc and title it Concept. There I write the general idea of what the story will be. I create a quick query style blurb hitting the key points and draws of the new story.

I open another doc and call it Synopsis or Overview. There I begin to build on the concept, adding details and maybe character names and sub plots.

I open another doc and call it Outline.

I decide how many words minimum I need to meet my required length for the story and then I break that down into 8-10 page chunks (I love short chapters). Most of my 75-80K word stories need about 30-35 chapters. My novellas are 25K, I know they need 25 chapters – give or take.

Then I write them in my outline

I. Chapter One

II. Chapter two

Then I think…what needs to happen in Chapter one? and I drop down a space and add things I need to cover in each chapter. For example, if I’m writing a romance, I want to be sure both the hero and heroine are found in chapter one – preferably they need to meet or share a moment somehow. I need to make their connection, show they will meet again etc.

When I’ve created a few sub points under each chapter, I will often go back and add clues or ties in the chapters. I will scan through the points I’m hitting on and see a place in chapter two where I can say something that will come back in chapter 15 and 28. You see what I mean? Not only mysteries use these little threads. Readers like seeing things early and wondering if it will return. I do that all the time. Themes and reoccurring points, songs, phrases, concepts make the end feel complete, like a proverbial bow has been pulled tight and fluffed with love.

When this part is finished – and really- seriously- don’t go bazonkers over this. It takes like a day or two of your writing time to get set up and if you tend to suffer from the block <– am now nicknaming it – then this will save you days or weeks or months in the future. You will have a cheat sheet to help you along. Even when characters go off the mark, it’s easier to compensate and get things on their new track without walking away. “A stitch in time saves nine” right?

That’s how I roll around the block

Thoughts?

Merry Christmas! One of my favorite things to read every year on Christmas morning is the famous letter to the Sun Times from dear little Virginia.

This year, I wanted to share it with you. So, enjoy your coffee or cocoa and take a quiet minute to be inspired before heading into the Christmas chaos. (But when you do, know you are in good company Enjoy!

Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

Dear Editor,
I am eight years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says “If you see it in the Sun it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon.
115 W.95th St

Answer:

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank GOD! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! *Hugs & Christmas cheer from my snowy little home in Ohio all the way to each of you*

Julie

In case someone out there is searching or a believer is feeling low, I’ve copied the story that changed the world and will leave it here a couple of days. This story, this birth, changed my course, my heart and my destination. Because of Jesus Christ, I’m only passing through and I’m loving, laughing and enjoying the fleeting time here, trials, tribulations and all, for one day soon, I will truly be home.

Merry Christmas.

Luke 2:1-14

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

² ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.