Posted in Announcements, Chit Chat

Finally Published!

After years of procrastination, non-writer’s block “blockages,” dry spells of inspiration, struggles with depression and self-doubt, all coupled with a severe lack of ambition, the moment is finally here.
My first book has been published! About damn time, Janine.

So what was I busy doing leading up to now?

Well … way back in the fall of 2011, when I’d originally decided to seriously begin writing, I began diligently working on researching publishing info and how best to use social media to promote yourself and your ‘brand.’ Then, I went about creating various social media accounts, email addresses, blogs, etc., as well as, doing some preliminary story-building.

Only, I defeated myself before accomplishing much more than laying the groundwork, which, as it turns out, wasn’t all for nothing, and has proven to be beneficial going forward.

See, just writing ‘the book’ isn’t all the work you need to do when you’re an indie author who’s self-publishing their own material. There’s so much more to it. Always more needing doing.

And so, here we are!

I cannot put into words (ironic, no?) how turning all that inspired effort, into actual, practical, tangible proof of my hard work, truly feels. Seeing my book for sale online, holding a print copy in my hands, and ultimately being able to share it with you, is simply … humbling.

Staying an Extra Fortnight at Camp …

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Achievement unlocked! I’ve reached my writing goal of fifty pages, or rather, 50 poems during the month of April as part of Camp NaNoWriMo.

However, I’m nowhere near finished yet. There are more poems to write, and much work to do, to get this book of poetry organized, edited, and ready to publish.

In the meantime, I’ll just keep on writing, and if more poems happen, then so be it!

#CampNaNoWinner2019

A Camping I will go …

Yup. It’s a campers life for me. At least for the next month. Springtime in April means NaNoWriMo. And as hinted at in my previous post today, the project I’ll be working on is a long overdue book of poetry. Tentatively titled, “Meanderings.”

Posted in Chit Chat

All in Good Time

“Do or do not, there is no try.”

Well, no offense to Master Yoda, but the ‘trying’ can be a challenge in and of itself. And as long as you keep on trying, this very act is accomplishing something vitally important, in that, you’re steadfastly not giving up nor admitting failure.

Now, as for myself, I am fully committed to achieving my goals, have the conviction to succeed, and faith in my own ability; while also being able to honestly and fearlessly, recognize and acknowledge my own limitations.

Maybe some of you will know what I mean when I say that I spend too much time inside my head thinking, rather than just ‘doing’; which in my case is – getting my creativity on, so to speak. We’re our own worse enemy, are we not?

Setting goals is most assuredly important, but what if you do happen to ‘fail’ in meeting those lofty goals you’ve set for yourself? That can be incredibly disheartening, and cause you to second guess yourself, or worse, feel like giving up. But I, dear Yoda, will not. I shall keep ‘trying’; invariably ‘to do.’

And so, I have set myself new (and improved) goals, accepted what’s done is done, and decided quite defiantly, I WILL achieve that which I’m determined to accomplish…

All in Good Time.

Posted in Chit Chat

A Year Has Come, and Gone … ugh!

Hail and well-met! Come … stay a while.

Why is it the first post is always the hardest? Similar to the first line of a play or poem, or the opening sentence of the first chapter of a novel. Either the words just flow forth freely or the simple act of creativity presents a challenge. Sometimes our inner muse makes us work for it. 😉

And so, after abandoning the interim blog I’d originally made, I finally went ahead and bought my first two domains. (Both over a year ago!) One for my ‘official’ author website, and the other to be used to represent my “brand” – that which I want my writings and other works to be associated with or to be known by.

My intentions with this blog are many and varied. For now, it will be used as a makeshift website, until such time as a more traditional one becomes necessary. Although I shall endeavor to post regularly, my aim will be that of quality, rather than quantity. The tone casual, as if I’m carrying on a conversation with you, dear readers.

For now, we’ll leave it at that.

Posted in Chit Chat

Just Your Basic Intro

Greetings friends!

Welcome to my writer’s blog, “By Quill and Candlelight.”

I shall be using this site to better organize and document my writing progress, as well as, catalogue my self-published works.

You are invited to follow this blog, with my sincerest thanks. A variety of resources are listed in the sidebar, along with links to ‘author type stuff’ via the Blogroll.

Thank you!

~ Janine ~