Why Writers Are Like Golfers by Betsy Ashton

I was with a group of writers last week who bemoaned their lack of New York Times best seller status. All had talent, some more than others. None were willing to invest enough time to promote their books. Forget promoting other writers' books. If they didn't see an immediate return on their investment, like sharing a FB post or retweeting for another author, they couldn't be bothered.

I was struck anew how like writers some golfers are. Yes, I said golfers. Earlier this month, my husband and I were lucky enough to go to The Masters. All the great, once great and upcoming golfers who'd qualified were there. So, there we were, sitting in a grandstand, when a foursome came up. Mind you, this was Tuesday, a practice day, when golfers are more interesting in getting used to the course than anything else. In this foursome were Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and two younger golfers I didn't recognize. Phil hit his drive offline into the pine straw. His path to the green lay up and over a tall pine. He studied the ball, its lie, his clubs. He selected a club and lofted the ball onto the green a few feet from the hole. Again, mind you, he couldn't see the green, and he knew what he had to do to get there.

Dustin Johnson walked up, marked his ball on the green and looked up at the tree and Phil's ball. Phil stepped onto the green and shrugged. For him, it was all in a day's work. For Dustin, it was, "How the heck did you make the shot?" Phil held court for a few minutes teaching the other golfers how he made the shot. This may have been a practice round, but these four guys were playing for money. More important, they were playing for fun.

What this has to do with writing is simple: some writers write for the love of the craft, others write in hopes or anticipation of large payoffs. We all want people to read our books. We also are happy when readers buy our books.

I don't know what it would be like to be a best selling author. I'd like to think it would spur me on to write better, to put out another book, to continue to study the craft. I'd hope to be more like Phil Mickelson, who is beyond the peak of his game, who still plays and who gives the crowds what they want: him. We love a golfer who is gracious and shows he's having a ripping good time at what he's doing.

I love a writer who puts out another book, a better book, after one bombs. Those 1-star reviews are spirit-crushers, but writers I respect learn from them. The next book is often better.

I wonder if golfers would quit the game and writers would quit the craft if they thought they couldn't make another penny for their efforts.

What do you think? Would you quit if your books didn't sell? Or would you go back to basics and revisit the craft?

###

Betsy Ashton is the author of Mad Max, Unintended Consequences, and Uncharted Territory, A Mad Max Mystery, now available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Please follow me on my website, on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

Growing and Shrinking in 2013 by Vonnie Davis

Making the leap from a technical writer to a romance author five years ago should have been easy. After all, I certainly knew how to craft a sentence. Sadly, what I didn't know was the craft of writing. I've been working hard ever since to catch up. And, boy oh boy, has there been a lot to learn. In these last five years I've written a book that will never see the light of day--for good reason, too. I've also secured an agent, have three full-length novels either published or waiting to release and four novellas contracted. I should be happy and I am--to a degree. I'm also eager to improve some more. There are just so many pesky weaknesses in my writing. Bad habits I can't seem to overcome. Like repetitive use of words or phrases, to name one. Oh, and there are so many more. Sigh, folks. Just sigh.

So one of my goals for 2013 is to grow as a writer.

 

I'm also the heaviest I've ever been. Glucose tests show I am pre-diabetic. I'd like to say I contacted this from Calvin, who has diabetes, and NOT from the candy, pies and pastas I consume. But Calvin's not having any of it and neither is my doctor. Drats! And it was such a lovely excuse, too. 

 

But I have to lose weight and build muscle mass. I promised Calvin I'd try my best. So, I'm pleased to announce our stationary bike and I are on intimate terms now. I'm adding a minute to my ride everyday.

 

The excersize I can handle. It's the food cravings that wear on me.

 

I haven't eaten garlic bread in nearly a year. Now that I'm trying to cut down on carbs, I'm craving it like a pregnant woman craves ice cream and pickles. What is it about diets that make us crave foods we normally don't eat? I want a foot-long from Subway, something I haven't had in six years. I want fried rice and donuts and coconut pie. Heck, even fruitcake sounds good right about now. Why do our bodies do this, I wonder? Someone, quick, wire my jaws shut!

 

Another goal for 2013 is to shrink as a person.

 

We've all heard the expression--I don't know if I'm coming or going. Well, I'll be struggling through 2012, not knowing if I'm growing or shrinking. But those are my goals. Tell me. What are yours?

 

Vonnie writes most sub-genres of romance. Her most recent release, Mona Lisa's Room is a romantic suspense set in Paris. Check out her website at http://vonniedavis.com

New Roses of Prose Member: Margo Hoornstra

Margo Hoornstra

Hello everyone and thank you for inviting me to become a member of The Roses of Prose. First of all, I have to tell you how much I thoroughly enjoyed your A Holiday to Remember free read. Reading the next chapter was the first thing I would do every morning and, though I loved the HEA, I was very disappointed when the story came to an end. It’s going to be fun to be a part of whatever this group thinks to do next.

My personal history in a nutshell is pretty simple. I’m a wife to one; mother to four—seven if you count in-law children which I do—and grandmother to four so far. My work experience includes public relations specialist, magazine editor, television producer, and script and speech writer. I’m also a founding member of Mid-Michigan Romance Writers of America. A group I left for a number of years, but more about that later.

I was born and initially raised in a big city in the Midwest. During my lifetime I have moved to progressively smaller towns and, with the kids and grandkids near, now reside in a rural area with my husband, a dog he rescued a while back and any number of critters who call our yard home.

Like many of us who create and market our stories, I figured someday I would write a book. But only when the time was right, which meant after I earned a formal education, launched and sustained a successful and rewarding career, married then raised a family and became financially independent.

The basics of writing for publication were no mystery to me. It’s how my father earned his/our living when I was growing up. While he concentrated on script writing—Manhunt a radio show in Detroit that was the forerunner of a popular police show on television—some of his friends wrote books that were published, one or two even made into movies. I learned the drill of submission, rejection and eventual success at an early age. I guess I just didn’t see myself taking a true run at it, though I did have some short stories and articles published nationally.

But to paraphrase the song lyric, life happened while I was making plans. Proof of the education is in a frame on the wall, the career came and went, the husband is still with me, but the children are grown, and our accumulation of wealth turned out to be—well, you know—not exactly what we had hoped for or expected.

A few years back I came to my senses, rejoined my local RWA chapter and started to seriously pursue publication of contemporary romance. The result is a number of short stories, novellas and a full length novel, so far, published by The Wild Rose Press.

That first story sold was Forgotten Alliance. The novel is Honorable Intentions. Here’s a peek at their covers.

 

My goal now is for many more to come.

When I was first asked to write this introduction, I brainstormed with my husband for the best way to present myself. His suggestions give some insight into his perspective of what I do. First and foremost, he mentioned pursuing my dream, followed by planting positive memories in people’s minds and providing enjoyment to others through my writing.

Pretty significant stuff, don’t you think? And something all of us as writers, specifically romance authors, strive to do over and over again.

As I said at the beginning, thanks for having me here as a member, working member I understand, of The Roses of Prose. Oh, one more thing. I’m extremely challenged when it comes to the technical aspects of posting and commenting. Please be patient while I learn. And I apologize in advance if, through error or omission, I offend anyone or hurt their feelings.

However, there is hope. Given those limitations, I use the services of My Girl Friday - Virtual Assistant to help me and my web presence look good.

If you’d like to learn more about who I am and what I do, visit

my Website or my Blog.