The Healed Writer: Impervious to Praise by Alix Moore

Author Alix Moore

Writing Heals

Writing, like other forms of creation, is a vehicle for learning our life lessons. As writers, we must find the courage to speak our own idiosyncratic truths, and learn to stand in the limelight and be seen by others without flinching or trying to hide. If we are good writers, we are tempted to stand in ego, but ego is just puffery on a foundation of insecurity, and one bad review is enough to send us crashing down into discouragement.  One of the biggest gifts writing offers us is the chance to become convinced of the value of our work. Writing invites us to learn to love ourselves, to become so solid in our self-love that no one else’s opinion of us matters.

In the beginning, of course, those opinions do matter.  We show our words to our teachers, often when we are quite young, and we are lifted or dropped depending upon the response we get from them. As we age, our writing expands but so too may our insecurity about it.  Know any writers whose books end up in the desk drawer, attracting mice?  Know any writers whose books end up unwritten, bouncing off the insides of their heads? Continue reading “The Healed Writer: Impervious to Praise by Alix Moore”

Dear Santa: Christmas Fallout

Listen up Fat Boy:

Yeah, you got me.  I did it all:  sat on your lap, wrote you a letter, left you homemade cookies (HOMEMADE!! I don’t even bake!) and even farm fresh milk.  Yeah, I sold out.  I did it all so my Christmas wishes would come true.

Christmas morning, I ran down my stairs like a kid.  I jetted to my laptop, powered it on, and….  What?!  No, it couldn’t be!  Not even one new review on Amazon.com.  Santa, you had eight books to choose from and you couldn’t even get me one bloody review?  So I started thinking, well, this is because I’m Jewish.  Santa’s obviously a racist.  Then I calmed myself down and checked the Amazon.com pages of my fellow Indie Authors.  No new reviews for them either.  Hmmm.  Maybe Santa didn’t dislike Jews.  Maybe he disliked Indie Authors.

That’s okay, I thought, but not really.  My mind was too busy scheming my retaliation.  I would win one for Indie Authors.  Damn right I would. Continue reading “Dear Santa: Christmas Fallout”

Writing Exercises Return with a Twist!

Tenderness by K. S. Brooks
Photo Credit: K. S. Brooks

You may know by now that my partner in crime here at Indies Unlimited is K.S. “Kat” Brooks.   Not only is she an award-winning author, but she’s also a highly decorated photographer.  Way back in 1996 (did they even have cameras back then?) her photographic works began to receive much attention by winning multiple international awards from Kodak, and being featured in numerous one-man art shows at galleries in the Boston area. Her stuff has been featured in books, magazines, and even in the Boston Globe.

Since I am the Evil Mastermind in charge here, I’ve decided it would be a good idea to fully exploit all the talents of my minions.  Of course, I made it seem like it was Kat’s idea.  I’m tricky that way.

All kidding aside for a moment, Kat and I do a lot of brainstorming to come up with new and innovative ways to help indie authors spread their names and brand beyond their existing social network capacity.

We have come up with an idea which brings back the writing exercises – but with a special twist. Beginning Saturday, Dec. 31st 2011, we will post a weekly photo-prompt writing exercise/contest. Here’s how it will work: Continue reading “Writing Exercises Return with a Twist!”

Dear Santa: My Indie Author Wish List

Dear Santa:

K. S. Brooks with Santa
Photo Credit: EPS, Lowell, MA

Pay no attention to that menorah behind me. It’s nothing more than a fancy candelabra. Honest.

I’ve been a good girl. Hmmm. Can you be more specific as to the parameters you use to base your “naughty or nice” evaluation? I’m a little sketchy on that.

In any case, I’ve worked really hard this year. I managed to turn out 4 published titles, and all the marketing/publicity work that goes with them. That’s why I’ve finally given in to writing you this letter. I’m a little tired at this point. So I’m hoping you will be a stand-up kind of jolly dude and bring me what I want for Hanu…kuh…ristmas. Yeah, I meant Christmas. I noticed I’m developing a stutter…I think it’s all the stress. Continue reading “Dear Santa: My Indie Author Wish List”