Category: Guest Posts

Who’s your fall guy?

Author Vickie Johnstone

by Vickie Johnstone

Fall guys… ah, we all know about those. Growing up watching Star Trek (my dad’s fave – and he looked a bit like him!) with William Shatner forever getting his shirt ripped diagonally (in the exact same place every time – was there magic tape?), I knew that whenever someone we didn’t really know beamed down to the spooky planet of the week, he wasn’t coming back. But that was okay because we hadn’t really got to know them, and sometimes their death saved the life of someone more important or much fitter, and it was always much better than one of our heroes – Kirk, Spock or Bones – getting squished.

I was thinking about this while watching an episode of the second series of The Walking Dead. I love this show – it’s my latest addiction! Anyway, a character that I really liked got… well… how can I put it? He got dead-ed. Kaput. Squished. Therefore this person (I won’t give it away) won’t be appearing again. I went to bed thinking oh no! I liked this character. He had personality. I’d gone through nearly two whole series with this person, sharing his laughter, sadness, struggles, battles with the yucky looking undead-ed people, seeing what he had for dinner… the whole kaboom. And now… well, you-know-who was zombie spam. Continue reading “Who’s your fall guy?”

How to Make a Living as a Writer by Stacy Mantle

Author and Freelancer Stacy Mantle
Author and Freelancer Stacy Mantle

I’ve got good news. It is possible to make a living as a writer. I’ve done it for nearly 20 years and while it hasn’t all been sunshine and rainbows, I have managed to eke out a fairly comfortable life, keep my animals fed, and once in a long while, save up enough to go on vacation for a few days. So, how do I accomplish this amazing feat? I operate on a simple premise:

Writing is a numbers game.

Making a living as a writer is not about how good you are. It’s not about how much raw talent you have. It’s about getting your name out there enough times that people start to take note of you – even if it’s only on a subconscious level.

In order to succeed, writers must operate on the same principles as a company launching a new product: Get it out, get it seen, and get it sold.

There is an old marketing adage called “The Rule of 7.” The theory behind this rule is that the average consumer needs to see a product seven times before they consider purchasing. The actual number may vary according to which article you read, and I’ve seen it range from anywhere between 7-20. But, the principle remains the same: Visibility means (eventual) sales. Continue reading “How to Make a Living as a Writer by Stacy Mantle”

Multi-tasking on a Tightrope by Sherri Cook Woosley

Author Sherri Cook Woosley
Author Sherri Cook Woosley

The laundry needs to be moved to the drier in about three minutes and I haven’t checked Facebook – I should be working on my author platform. I’m also kind of thirsty. Egads! Only sixty-four minutes until the school bus drops off my two older, wonderful, loud, children and I still have three hundred words to go. Uh oh. Twins just ran out the back door. Does the babysitter know? I should check. But, the rule is to stay in my chair during scheduled writing time. Just gotta stay. On one occasion when I NEEDED to pace I stood up, held the chair to my rear, and paced that way. No use having rules if you aren’t going to follow them. Here are six more suggestions: Continue reading “Multi-tasking on a Tightrope by Sherri Cook Woosley”

Story Time: The Chronicles of Nurse Noelle — Double Duty at St. George

Author Karen Devaney

by Karen Devaney

As my car sputtered into the nearest garage spewing whitish gray smoke, I knew I was doomed for another week of nursing nightmares. I’d have to jam my latest manuscript back into the file labeled “edits” don my scrubs and stethoscope and fly to the nearest hospital resurrecting Nurse Noelle. Being a registered nurse desperate for cash reminded me that my life resembled that of a scullery maid. By definition a scullery maid’s duties included– “the most physical and demanding tasks.” Hoisting obese patients and giving enemas to clear came to mind. A scullery maid also was responsible for cleaning and scouring various areas—does armpits and anuses count?

The mechanic whirled me back into reality when he announced my car needed a new tube here, a radiator there, and some other outrageously priced part that I couldn’t afford. I tuned out and called the office for work.

By seven am the following morning, after taking a bus laden with perfume and various body odors, I found myself stranded on the scariest floor yet; the transplant unit at St. George. St George was known for their influx of organs coming and going like a fish market bustling with the latest fresh catch. The place was impacted with patients desperate for livers or kidneys or new bionic feet of some sort. As far as my eyes could see there were swollen scrotums, distended abdomens, and general zombie like folks scattered about. Continue reading “Story Time: The Chronicles of Nurse Noelle — Double Duty at St. George”