Camp NanoWriMo April 3, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in Around The Literary Blogosphere.Tags: Camp NanoWriMo, literature, NanoWriMo, writing
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"this one time, at writing camp..."
I have an issue with challenges. I take them on (as long as they don't include jumping off bridges or parachuting) with a zeal and determination so strong I'm often looked at as being crazy.
Translation: I'm stubborn and driven.
In November 2011 I joined Nanowrimo and, after several sleepless nights, brain fatigue, and--according to staff--a car that continued to roll as I jumped out each morning (I ALWAYS managed to make it to the clock on time.
How to Starve a Troll March 28, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in Around The Literary Blogosphere.add a comment
For as long as there have been blogs, there have been trolls. A troll is a commenter who hangs around your blog for the sheer purpose of annoying and goading you and your other readers.
Trolling is quite different from merely being critical. Obviously, not all of your readers are going to agree with you about everything, but a troll's comments will rarely have anything to do with the topic at hand.
First Ten March 12, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in The Write Journey.Tags: C. Hugh Hollman, Chinua Achebe, Ian McEwan, Leo Tolstoy Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Maxine Hong Kingston, Pat Barker, Samuel Pepys, Willa Cather, William Harmon, William Shakespeare
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Yesterday, I went to the Central Branch Library and took out some really cool reads. A couple of the books are classics and others are lesser known to me.
These selections are from an academic reading list that I created for myself using university and college English curriculum breakdowns. The books and authors/poets/playwrites listed are eclectic and there are many to sort through. However, I believe the reading list will only aid me in this here thing called a writing career.
As I walked around, list in hand, I picked books from groups within the list such as collections, memoirs, fiction, and plays. It was interesting maneuvering the stack I was compiling as I walked around the large building.
Once I had chosen ten of the books on the list I made my way to the check out line. Well, there wasn’t a line, but I filed over to the desk as if there were folks ahead of me.
My check out receipt marked ten books and read as such:
- The Woman Warrior – Maxine Hong Kingston
- The Tempest - William Shakespeare
- The Diary of Samuel Pepys – (edited) Richard Le Gallienne
- The Professor’s House – Willa Cather
- Things Fall apart – Chinua Achebe
- The Death of Ivan Ilyich – Leo Tolstoy
- The Ghost Road – Pat Parker
- Atonement – Ian McEwan
- Purple Hibiscus – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- A Handbook To Literature – William Harmon, C. Hugh Holman
I even got a brand new library card, since mine was due to expire. Lucky for me, this one never expires.
So far, I’ve begun A Warrior Woman by Maxine Hong Kingston. It is very intriguing thus far. There will be a book report coming soon. 
I will be sure to let you all know how it turns out. Also, I will keep you posted as I dive through my new extensive list.
I’m really excited.
Until next time.
The Millionaire Mind March 5, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in Lovely Randomness.Tags: business, how do you acquire wealth, literature, The Millionaire Mind, Thomas J. Stanley, what makes a millionaire
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Like anyone else, I have always been intrigued how others acquire their wealth. The best practices of people who make millions yearly, is something that I have been widely studying.
Recently, I picked up New York Times Best Seller “The Millionaire Mind” by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D. The book is very interesting and enlightening. Dr. Stanley shows, through hundreds of surveys conducted, what millionaires accredit to achieving their financial freedom.
To my surprise, integrity is one of the leading reasons why these millionaires have their wealth. Within the integrity realm, being honest with all people is at the top of the list. This squashes many folks’ theory that to acquire wealth you must be dishonest.
Another whammy for me was the high concentration on getting along with people – or being a people person, to acquire wealth. You can make money not being nice to people, but it is harder and takes longer. Who wouldn’t want to work for or with someone who naturally and generally gets along with others?
The last fact that I found very interesting was the majority of millionaires surveyed also certify being physically fit as a reason for their wealth. Being in good shape helps you in business. The reasoning behind this is that it keeps a person energized and on their toes. It also is a tactic that makes all the haters (critics) upset.
There are many other things accredited to the millionaire’s wealth, but these three factors; integrity, social skills and physical fitness, were the most interesting to me.
These things, among others, made me realize that being wealthy has absolutely nothing to do with GPAs or SATs. It also made me realize that you don’t have to be an heiress to get there. Many of the millionaires surveyed started from ground zero to make the millions they now have today.
I know you’re probably saying to yourself, “what does this book have to do with you as a writer?”
It has everything to do with me as a writer.
Many statistics say that unless you are the Stephen King’s or James Patterson’s of the world, the odds of you making hundreds of thousands, let alone millions, is highly unlikely. Many writers don’t even earn enough to make ends meet.
It’s not all about money because anyone who knows me knows that I honestly love to write and love to be a part of the literary world. That just brings me to another point made by the survey, a very high percentage say that you must love your vocation in order to truly acquire wealth from it.
When it comes to me, my career, and my business; I have never wanted to be like everyone else, lost in the fray of things. I have never liked being average. And I would like to be the anomaly of the writer’s statistics.
What this book is showing me, is that I can become wealthy as a writer because by the survey’s standards of the book, I actually have a “millionaire mind”. The only thing I need to do is to execute the intellect that I already have and use it to bring my words into fruition.
So with all that being said, I must get back to work. 
Until next time.
Working for Self February 25, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in The Write Journey.Tags: business, determined, organized, schedule oriented, self-employed, working for self
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Many people believe that because I work for myself that I have all the time in the world to do whatever I want. They also believe that I have to answer to no one and my job should be a cake walk. Boy, do I wish.
When you work for yourself it is no different from working for someone else.
You should be:
- Organized – Your work area should be clean and clear of clutter. A cluttered work area can clutter the mind. All your supplies should be within arms reach, or at least within the same room. No need in scattering things everywhere, because you will get nothing accomplished.
- Schedule Oriented – This is very important. Create a schedule of things that need to get done within a day, week, or month. Try to stick to it as much as you can. Successfully having a schedule can help you get goals accomplished quicker, and it can help you structure your work into your life without too much hassle.
- Determined – Determination is key to any endeavor. If you aren’t determined at what you do, you will fail. When you awake in the morning, one of your first thoughts should be about your work. If it’s not one of the first things you think about, you may want to try something new.
These three things should be a part of your work ethic. I could definitely name more things you should be or could do, but these are the most important. (At least to me)
The other thing is that when you work for yourself, you are not actually working for yourself.
I mean, of course you are the driving force behind the product or service you offer. However, when you are digging your nails into the world of business you find that to stay afloat, you have to work with and for others – even if the company is run by you.
For example: To create a bigger buzz, as well as to hone my writing skills, I freelance.
Which means, I work for other people within working for myself.
Working for yourself may seem like the easy thing to do. I will tell you that being self-employed takes more effort than working for an outside company.
Remember:
- You are responsible for your product/services (Which means creation and promotion)
- You are who consumers will contact if they have questions or concerns.
- You are the one who makes each and every decision (Remember one decision can make or break your company)
Now if this small amount of information still has you believing that what I, or any other self-employed person, do is easy – I invite you to hang with me for a day and see the amount of work that goes into being your own boss.
Working for myself is a true dream come true, but it is the blood, sweat and tears that make it all worth while. There is nothing EASY about it either.
Until next time.
So you want to have a writing business February 25, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in Around The Literary Blogosphere.add a comment
If you have a flair for writing and want to make it your profession -- on your own terms -- I say, Go For It! I did. And I haven't regretted a moment of it. (Nope, not even those lean periods.)
It can take a while to get established as a professional independent writer, but like any goal, it all starts with taking the first step.
Transformations February 21, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in The Write Journey.Tags: blogging, I Mean Really Dude, writing
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Transformations are always interesting to watch. Many people don’t like change and are wary of even the slightest alteration. I can tell you that change is always hard for me, if I can be totally honest. However, sometimes change isn’t so bad.
I Mean, Really Dude is transforming, and I am so proud of the website. Growth, no matter how small, is always good.
First off, there is no longer .blogspot in the web address. Last week I proudly purchased the domain name in the hopes that this site becomes more than just the blog I started to air out my worldly grievances.
The layout has changed to allow more posts to be on the front page. The background is different too. I am not completely satisfied with the result but it will have to do for now.
As time progresses I Mean, Really Dude will be able to compete with other websites that highlight news and issues not widely talked about. At least that is my expectation.
I hope you all check out the changes that I Mean, Really Dude has gone through lately. There is also more to come if I can help it.
As usual, your support is humbling and it keeps me writing for all of you.
Until next time.
Climbing To The Top February 5, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in The Write Journey.Tags: I Mean Really Dude
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Reaching the top of any mountain involves a lot of effort. Just like mountain climbing, you must display patience and persistence to reach the pinnacle of any goal.
Recently, I stated that I wanted I Mean, Really Dude to reach 10,000 views by the end of January. At the time the number of views that IMRD had acquired was a tad under 6,000.
As of today, I Mean, Really Dude has reached a modest 7,022 views all-time. Granted, it’s not 10,000, but it is a grand accomplishment.
Am I a little upset I didn’t get to the mountaintop of ten thousand views? Sort of, but honestly I’m more concerned about the fact that I was able to do two things in the month of January.
1. I Mean, Really Dude received more views in a month than I have received on this site in its total life span.
and
2. The amount of posts put up in January was the exact equivalent to the amount of posts I put up all last year for I Mean, Really Dude – 42.
These two things show the potential growth of a site that was created as a joke as a way for me to air out how I feel about the world’s shenanigans. Never did I think it would get to the point that I would actually add I Mean, Really Dude to my writing work schedule.
Climbing to the top of this mountain may take some time, but it is well worth the effort. I can only hope that in the upcoming months I Mean, Really Dude can continue to rise up the viewership ranks and become an often visited place on the web.
And when I do reach 10,000 all-time page views, you all will be the first to know.
Until then.
Peace & Blessings
On The Write Track January 28, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in The Write Journey.Tags: freelance, I Mean Really Dude, literature, writing
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The past week has been very exciting for me as a writer. So many new opportunities have come my way and I am so thankful for all of them.
For starters, I Mean, Really Dude reached an amount of readers per day that I have never reached before across any of my sites. On average, the site is getting about 65 views per day, but the highest amount I’ve received is 244. Now, I know that doesn’t seem like much but it is a huge accomplishment for me.
~Any attainment, no matter how small, is still a great achievement.
Another awesome thing that has happened is the freelancing side of my writing career is booming. I’ve received a couple new jobs of all different calibers. These gigs are allowing me to exercise so many aspects of my writing. It’s actually quite a rush.
The last thing that is making me giggle with excitement is that my novel, Model Citizens, is pretty much complete. It’s not quite ready for publishing yet but the fact that I’ve finally finished a book I am proud of is awesome.
I would like to thank all of you for your words of encouragement and constant support. You make me better and without you, I don’t know where I would be with this writing thing. YOU ROCK!!!!
As more things happen, I’ll try to keep you posted. Until then keep the optimism coming my way.
It's easy to get published . . . January 22, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in Around The Literary Blogosphere.add a comment
It’s easy to get published, but hard to be read.
Advances in technology have made it possible for anyone with access to the internet to self-publish. Unfortunately, finding readers is not as easy – especially for those writers who do not have a specific audience in mind. Worse, the ease with which one can rush work into public on a blog, eBook or even print-on-demand (POD), can easily compromise the quality of that work – so that no one will read it.
5 Tips for Writing Great Book Marketing Copy January 22, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in Around The Literary Blogosphere.add a comment
Sometimes I over-explain. When I work on a project, I usually think of plan A, plan B, plan C,… Often, this serves me well. I’m able to catch potential problems or can evaluate which solution would be best. Other times I just confuse people.
Do you struggle with this? Does it trickle into your marketing efforts? Because it is a problem that I often hear authors complain about or see in their marketing materials.
Ten Thousand January 16, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in The Write Journey.Tags: I Mean Really Dude, Letters to Her, ten thousand
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All of you know that I have been diligently working on my 2 blogs for a little over 6 months now. Letters to Her and I Mean, Really Dude are doing amazing on the web as far as viewers.
Letters To Her has a readership that is subtle, commanding only a few views a week, but allowing for conversation amongst women. It is a learning and teaching opportunity that I am glad to have created.
I Mean, Really Dude has a readership that is more widespread. As the days pass and the posts come more rapidly, the blog has accumulated almost 6,000 views. Just recently, the page views went from 6 – 10 per day to 50 – 80 views per day. And of course I’m trying to keep that momentum going.
As of last week I have been fighting to reach an amazing number on IMRD. Ten thousand views by the end of January has been my goal. If I accomplish this amount of page views it will actually be the first site since I started my career that has made it to this awesome number. I’m really excited about it too.
So stay tuned for more updates and by all means follow I Mean, Really Dude along with Letters to Her and share them with your friends, family, and/or fans.
Until next time.
Peace & Blessings
7 Things Every Author Should Do Before Their Book Release January 15, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in Around The Literary Blogosphere.add a comment
by Guest Blogger Lynn Baber
Launching a book is like planning a wedding; you begin with the event date and work your way backwards. Authors who achieve success within their own lifetime get their books into the hands of readers, obtain feedback, and use reader comments to fine tune promotional plans.
The first step toward your book release is high quality photography.
Determination January 10, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in Lovely Randomness.Tags: determination
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Today, I want to talk briefly about determination.
Any idea you craft or goal you set is nothing without determination. The amount of fire and desire that runs through you is what propels you to new heights.
- A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. ~Colin Powell
If you lack determination, your work will lack boldness. Being strong in your convictions will push you to limits you never dreamed possible. If you are not purposeful, things will crumble around you.
Nothing great was ever made without hard work and, of course, determination.
- If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that amaze you. ~Les Brown
So when you set your mind to doing something, stay vigilant and you will see that things will work out in your favor. And just maybe you will become something great.
- Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough. ~Og Mandino
still January 10, 2013
Posted by trinalynne in Around The Literary Blogosphere.Tags: poetry
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as long as there are
two hearts beating
he cries
cellophane vouchers
and galaxial light
concentrate
upon the most verdant eyes
the lips from which
all truth and beauty
the voice which causes
tides to cease
causes the eternal
the procession
the season of sowing
the time which we reap
as long as there are
two hearts beating
he rages…
