Tag: writers

Friday Morning FYI – 2/17/2017

Ron Delaney JrLeave a comment

Welcome to your Friday Morning FYI (more than two weeks late – a new record – edition) – my chance to share observations/wisdom/rants in short, easily consumed form.

Yeesh! I’ve been busy. Writing, reading, beta reading – it’s a wonder I even have time to remember to write these little posts (yes I always remember, but sometimes push them off, obviously). A lot going on (and I have two of these to write to catch up), so let’s keep it simple. In honor of Presidents Day, for this FYI I’m just going to drop some general well-wishes here for everyone from one of my favorite movies:

Be excellent to each other

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}

Friday Morning FYI – 2/3/2017

Ron Delaney Jr2 Comments

Welcome to your Friday Morning FYI (posting Saturday because reasons edition) – my chance to share observations/wisdom/rants in short, easily consumed form.

Everybody knows artists are emotionally fickle people. I’m lucky in that I rarely feel the stab of doubt/fear/”I suck” writers frequently experience (not because I think I’m the second coming of Hemingway or anything, I’m just thick-skinned), but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate hearing something positive about my writing. A good friend who’s reading my new book was very complimentary when I saw her last weekend, and another beta reader messaged me this last night:

“I straight missed my stop reading your book”

Obviously you could interpret that a few ways, but I’m going to take it as him saying he missed his stop because he was into what he was reading. What a cool thing! (not that he missed his stop, but that he felt the need to tell me) Let’s make that this week’s FYI:

Every so often, if you like what someone’s doing, tell them. That might rejuvenate them if they’re losing steam, pick them up if they’re feeling down, or simply act as reinforcement that they’re not wasting their time. In any event, they should appreciate it 🙂

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}

Friday Morning FYI – 1/27/2017

Ron Delaney Jr3 Comments

Welcome to your Friday Morning FYI (oh we’re gonna start being late on this again, huh? edition) – my chance to share observations/wisdom/rants in short, easily consumed form.

Writers love to talk about rejection. That’s because we all experience it at one level or another (or all of them), so it’s nice to know you’re not the only one hitting bumps in the road. Bumps stink, but the fun thing about them is every now and then you hit one that’s kind of fun. I had one of those this week, when I received a query rejection that was complimentary and referred me to a half dozen agents who might be interested in my book. Some might see that as just another rejection, but I thought it was great, understanding most agents don’t have the time or energy to do that. Let’s make that this week’s FYI:

Ever drive over a bump just a little too fast? It doesn’t wreck your car, and gives you that little tickle in your tummy that makes you smile. You might not have even seen the bump until you were a few feet from it, so you get that heart-popping adrenaline boost, too. After the initial surprise of it, how do you react? Do you laugh it off or do you curse whoever put that bump there? Do you let the event roll off your shoulders or do you swear to never drive down that street again? Whichever you choose, understand that bumps don’t stop you, only you can do that.

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}

Friday Morning FYI – 1/20/2017

Ron Delaney JrLeave a comment

Welcome to your Friday Morning FYI – my chance to share observations/wisdom/rants in short, easily consumed form.

A few weeks ago, I teased potentially having good news related to a short story I’d submitted for inclusion in an anthology. Unfortunately, my story didn’t pass the final cut. I was disappointed, of course, but not two days later I sent my latest novel out to beta readers. While they have it I’ll work on a query letter and craft synopses. That brings us to this week’s FYI:

Perspective is important. Too often we take bumps in the road and blow them up to Mt. Everest, with us standing at the base, looking up, pre-defeated. In truth, life is just as full of little defeats as it is little victories. When one of those defeats darkens your door, accept it’s OK to feel bad and then get back to work. Those little victories are out there waiting for you.

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}

Friday Morning FYI – 1/13/2017

Ron Delaney Jr2 Comments

Welcome to your Friday Morning FYI (internal darkness edition for Friday the 13th) – my chance to share observations/wisdom/rants in short, easily consumed form.

This week, I sent a story to some writer friends whose opinions I value. The responses were all positive, each picking up the cold and sinister vibe I was going for (serial killer-y goodness). One response was an observation on me, which is great to get, and made me think. It started:

“Sh!t, dude, you’re dark!”

Here’s the thing: I am dark (insert sinister laugh). I’m also very positive, light-hearted, and an all-around decent human being. I love ridiculous, over-the-top deaths in horror movies, and give to various charities. Seeing someone fall down makes me grin (unless they really hurt themselves, but by the time I learn that the grin is already grinned, if I’m honest), and I do yoga and meditate. Like most people, I’m multi-layered. That brings us to this week’s FYI:

One of the great advantages to being an artist (yes, writers, you’re artists) is having an outlet to express all the sharp angles of you. If you keep hearing your characters all sound the same, you’re holding back. Maybe it’s fear of what people will think, or maybe you just don’t think you have “that” in you. Nonsense. We’re all capable of imagining (there’s the trick – going to places in your head is not the same as acting) joy/sadness/mania/horror/relief/loss/etc.. We just have to be willing to type it out and see where it goes.

 

Thanks for reading,

{RDj}