Comments on: What To Do With This Blog? https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/ Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:57:09 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 By: Sally Clements https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4319 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:57:09 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4319 Jackie, the decision about what to do with the blog is totally yours. You must do with it whatever feels right for you, and remember it can change, and change back again if you want it to!
What I’d love you to do is sit down with your manuscripts and synopses. Decide which of them you love and know are ready. And draw up a list of 5 other publishers to sub to and sub them. The feedback you’ll get will be quicker, and positive. And then you’ll have no doubt that you are a writer to be reckoned with.
Not only will you be published, but you will then have a great boost, confidence wise. You will also then know that if you sub again to M&B, if they don’t want it someone else will be begging for it. Which tilts the equation in your favour and will make you feel great!
I saw this today…
http://www.avonromance.com/impulse/?hc_guid=981205e4-43b8-4483-a9e6-c6a6958b1263
may not be M&B but its Harper Collins…
Lots of Love, Jax.

]]> By: Jackie Ashenden https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4303 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:56:16 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4303 Aideen – Love you, mate (as they say in Kiwi land) even though you made me cry just now. 🙂 Though I’m not sure I can forgive you for planting that song in my head. Still, you like my hair too and anyone who likes my hair is all right in my book. 🙂

Jane – thanks for the faith. It really means a lot at this point in time.

Jill – yep, that pretty much sums it up. I want to be there already. I think a long slow build up would have been better for me rather than a rush to the heights then a dizzying crash back to earth. But I guess what I want or deserve doesn’t really have anything to do with real life and I need to just settle in for the ride. 🙂

]]> By: Jill https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4302 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:18:19 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4302 I think everyone has already made such wise comments. I am unpubbed author and I think what you say DOES have value, but like Heidi, I think there’s nothing wrong with taking a break if it’s what you need.
I was whining (sooking, whinging, chose whatever is culturally appropriate) to my husband last night about how I just want time to move faster, I just want to be “there” already. I’m not even talking about the Call (but I can dream!), but I just want to feel close, like I’m getting better and not worse. I’m a patient person in most areas of my life, so it’s surprised how impatient and down right frantic I feel at time.
And my husband pointed out that I’m at the point in my learning called “conscious incompetence.” (no I didn’t hit him).
I’m past the raw beginning where everything seemed wonderful no matter what I wrote but I’m not yet at the stage where fixing it is easy or even possible. I now know how much farther I have go.
I’m not saying you are there!! It sounds like subbing elsewhere is definitely an option. I’m just saying I can sympathize with that feeling that the road to publication is more winding and longer than expected.

]]> By: redwriter https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4301 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:05:02 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4301 Hi Jackie

I’m another one who would like you to keep going with the blog, and glad to see I’m not the only one with useful bits printed out in a file 🙂 And whilst m&b may be the golden chalice, who knows, maybe there’s a platinum one waiting around the corner somewhere you just haven’t looked yet. Katie Fforde was mentioned yesterday when my CPs and I (hello Julia :p) talked about it, as someone who subbed to M&B for years then found the fit elsewhere, and very successfully too.

If you need to take a break to clear some headspace, we’ll be back following the blog as soon as you’re back writing it.

The path is there, even if you can’t see it right now.

http://www.lizhodgkinson.com/lh/pages/journalismArticle/romantic_novels_katie_fforde_interview

Jane

]]> By: Aideen https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4300 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 09:36:53 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4300 For some reason I can hear Chicago playing in my head while I read this. You know, that annoying song, ‘If you leave me now….’? I hate that song. But boy do I love your blog! It’s raw, it’s honest, it’s inspiring, it’s funny, it’s clever, it’s wickedly informative. So would I like if you popped out for a while? Sure, but only if you promise to come back. I think I know you well enough to realise that you couldn’t physically stay away from here because first and foremost Jackie, you’re all about other people. You love to help and even if you feel like you’re of no help at all, you still get up every morning and take a good stab at trying.

You work harder than anyone I know at this writing busines and you deserve a very shiny medal of sorts for effort alone. You rock Blog Land. Your insecurties as a writer are all of our insecurities but you choose to share and that takes courage. I don’t possess such courage so I come here and agree with everything you write.

Your blog works for so many reasons but I suspect the real reason for its success is simply because you are you. And we love you. And in case I haven’t mentioned it lately, you’ve got the best hair out there!!!

Hugs from a frosty, yet surprisingly warm Ireland,
Aideen.

]]> By: Jackie Ashenden https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4298 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:02:33 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4298 Amanda – thanks for the hugs and the virtual wine. I’ll be having both thanks. I love the Thomas Edison quote. Currently I’m at attempt 8. Only another 992 to go!

Lacey – Thanks on the hugs too. No, perhaps not creepy stalker. But great all the same. 🙂

]]> By: Lacey Devlin https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4297 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:41:46 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4297 I definitely want to keep reading! But like others have said if you need a breather you should have one 🙂

I’d also love to follow you wherever you go! Possibly not in a creepy, stalker-like way, but maybe… 😉

((HUGS))

]]> By: Amanda https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4296 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:53:07 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4296 It’s been said that before Thomas Eddison made the first light-bulb work, he also discovered 999 ways of how not to make it work. I think one of his quotes was – I never failed once. It was just a 1000 step process.

If you give up now, Jackie – you will never have that light-bulb moment that will catapult you into Published Author’s Heaven 🙂

I’ve heard it’s a pretty cool place to be – and one day I hope to join you there – but in the mean time just remember – being published is one-tenth talent, nine-tenths determination. By my reckoning, you’re almost there.

And yes – I looooove your blog and while I would understand if you needed a break from it, I’d also be sad to see it go.

Luv, hugs and a virtual wine 🙂

]]> By: Jackie Ashenden https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4295 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:49:45 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4295 Nina – thanks, I love the honesty you guys give me in return. It means a lot to have you all there as support. No, I can’t push the door open. Yet. I really need to take stock before I do that. But this blog may help me keep going. So yeah, a good pressure.

Kerrin – thanks! I don’t think I’ll give up writing. I just need to figure out my new direction. But so pleased it’s been helpful to you.

Aimee – you know having you around means a lot. And I love that it’s your water cooler. 🙂 I’m still thinking about the pressure part of it.

Jo – love ya! And that’s the best question – do I want to keep writing it? Yes, I do like writing it. I always have. But do I like sharing my failures? Not really. I love the support I get when I do share though. But you see, being honest about them is part of what people love. There are people who don’t think it’s a good idea either. Hey…blog post alert! 🙂

Rach – you are wonderful! Blaze? Hmmm, I’m keeping my options open at this point.

Jennifer – thanks for the support! It’s really awesome. I do like writing it. And on balance I like writing it more than not writing it. If that makes sense…

Louise – yeah, that’s it exactly. Sharing the journey does make it that much more pleasurable. Hugs back to you. Still thinking about it…

]]> By: Louise https://www.jackieashenden.com/what-to-do-with-this-blog/#comment-4294 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:36:10 +0000 http://jackieashenden.com/?p=341#comment-4294 Jackie – do what’s right for you. If you need a break, take it.

But know this – when you come back we’ll all be here cheering for you, laughing with you and sharing your lightbulb moments.

This writing milarkey is a damned rough ride, it’s hard and there’s so many unexpecteds just when we think we know what we’re doing. But sharing the journey with you makes it much more pleasurable.

Hugs, Louise
ps, oh and just quietly – I agree with Rachael 😉

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