• About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Dyslexia
  • News and Events
  • Writing Resources

Angela M Caldwell

~ Author

Angela M Caldwell

Tag Archives: #dontgiveup

Be the Gatekeepers

07 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by Maiden Ink in writing

≈ 37 Comments

Tags

#author, #authors, #books, #creativity, #dontgiveup, #gatekeepers, #indieauthor, #indiebooks, #indiebooksbeseen, #indiepublishing, #nevergiveup, #publishing, #readers, #whyindiebooks, #writers, #writetip, #writing, #writingproces, artist, ceative, depression, ecouragement, esty, lovetoread

While doing some research online, I discovered an article that lumped all indie authors and their books into one category: a waste of money. The author’s goal was to inform the public on how to avoid buying a horrible indie book. No, I will not share the link because there was only a dash of truth in his rant. He was wrong for the most part because he forgot about so many writers who invest in their work.

This blog got me thinking about creativity in general and how much creative people struggle in silence.

credit: mollyflatt.co.uk

credit: mollyflatt.co.uk

Writers and Artists pour their souls into their projects for months or even years. Sleepless nights become common as their minds continue to spin wanting to make their creation the best it can be. They are dedicated souls and most people have no idea the angst creative people go through to create. Most of them struggle with ever sharing anything, knowing deep down that it will never even be close to the perfection they seek.

Even the brave ones are easily discouraged when they attempted to share their work. Without connections, a platform, or the money they need to advertise, their treasures will go unnoticed and many artists will even become depressed. Their art will no longer bring them joy, but pain. What once was something that helped them through dark-times will become the reason they live in the darkness.

Nothing pains me more than to see an artist who has fallen to the beast of bitterness. They no longer enjoy that part of their being, and they wish they could kill the creativity inside that reminds them of failures and only brings pain. This is not an uncommon story. Many great artists were never recognized as such until their bones were buried. I don’t even need to name their names because you know them. Most likely, friends have even told you how the best never get attention until their dead. And that’s just what you needed to here. (sarcasm)

Credit: spring.org.uk

Credit: spring.org.uk

The world has changed some for artists though. Esty has opened up a platform for artists sell to their work to others.  Tons of talented jewelry makers, designers, painters, and others fill the Esty marketplace it’s overwhelming. Film Festivals and digital cameras have allowed independent film-makers to compete where money once stopped them. And some have thrived. E-books and POD has done the same for authors, but masses of people upload files daily that never were invested in. This has created a stigma against self-published and indie authors. Just think about Esty and all the wonderful things you find from people sharing their creative projects.

But, the publishing word is still trying to exclude the independent presses and authors by pointing to the sloppy, unedited, poorly written, debauchery ridden, books and dismissing all who are independent of large publishing companies.

I believe this stigma can be undone. The indie world needs some kind of gatekeepers to make a difference. The answer to this problem seems quite easy. There are readers all around us. They can be the gatekeepers by supporting authors who have invested in their work. Some readers have already begun to find well done indie books that can compete with mainstream publishing houses. When an author chooses the independent route, the worry of them being lumped in with the stigma of self-published inspires them to invest in every aspect of publishing in hopes to set themselves apart.

Credit: spring.org.uk

Credit: spring.org.uk

Honestly, there is a ton of sub-par art out in this world. Films, art, music, and so on are released on a weekly basis because have they received a stamp of approval some company who had the money to produce a product. Not all gates are kept well. The wonderful thing about indie authors is that there are jewels among the swine. And finding the treasure is not as hard as you think. Let me challenge you to seek out the authors who are investing in their own work. You are a Gatekeeper for independent writers.

encouragementyou're

Credit: http://kevinmartineau.ca

You don’t have to love their story, or their genre, to realize they have talent. Art is subjective. But, what you can do is watch for authors who invest in themselves. Watch for the writers who are working hard to improve no matter what is thrown at them. Encourage others when you see them working hard. Share positive reviews with others; it’s a boost that will help that creative soul continue their plight.

Being around creatively minded people most of my life I’ve seen very talented people who continue to go unrecognized, but would recognition fulfill them? No, but the words and support of truthful friends can be enough to keep them moving forward. Creative people don’t want the whole world to love what they create, most would settle for a few people to be moved by their work. Your support could be enough to keep them going.

One of the hardest things experienced in my life is a loved one who quit writing and doing anything creative for the most part. I spent years trying to encourage them to not. One of the reasons I started writing again was I wanted to inspire them. After years of misery at the thought of creating anything, they wrote this past week and they enjoyed it. This was my Christmas miracle. Let’s support artists and encourage them to keep creating. The world we live in has offered you, the reader, a great opportunity to be Gatekeepers of the independent artists.

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

An Unforeseen Author

11 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by Maiden Ink in writing

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

#angelacaldwell, #author, #authors, #books, #debutauthor, #deubt, #dontgiveup, #dyslexic, #dyslexicwriter, #fangirl, #indebooksbeseen, #indiepub, #nevergiveup, #writers, #writetip, #writing, #writingproces

I didn’t grow up reading like many authors. I grew up on films. I loved movies and not just current films. I watched films from the black and white era, mysteries, musicals, and more. I made my parents rent the film The Labyrinth every time we went to the video store. (Some of you have never rented from one of those. They’ve become extinct.) Instead of reading stories, I was watching them. I learned about plot and character from film.

Even though I didn’t read much, I liked the idea of books. The first book I read, other than children’s books, was a Nancy Drew mystery. I sat in my room on a Saturday and read the whole book. After that, I didn’t read for a long while. But eventually C.S. Lewis and Frank Pertetti caught my attention with their stories. My lack of reading had to do with my endurance. I would lose my place on the page and daydream if I got bored.

To this day, I have difficulty finishing books if they don’t draw me in.

So how does a non-reader become an author?


There is no doubt I loved stories. I even earned a BA in video production, and became photographer as well. I’ve lived behind the camera for years.
But about 7 years ago, I stared reading young adult novels and I never quit. Over those years, I didn’t keep count of how many books I read. However, I read so much that it inspired me. And over two years ago, I started writing once again.(See my blog post: Why I stopped writing.)

Now, the girl who couldn’t focus long enough to read one book will release her first book The Last Order on Feb 3rd, 2015.

My biggest hope is not that people will love my book, although a few fangirls would be nice. Instead, I hope someone like me, who lost their passion for something they enjoyed, will find their way back and create something that surprises them.

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Parody of Shake it off, for writers only

11 Tuesday Nov 2014

Posted by Maiden Ink in writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#angelacaldwell, #author, #books, #dontgiveup, #dyslexia, #dyslexic, #dyslexicwriter, #grammar, #indieauthor, #indiebooks, #indiepub, #indiepublishing, #nevergiveup, #pardoy, #rejection, #shakeitoff, #writers, #writing, #writingproces

This was too fun not to share. Google an instrumental version of Shake it off and have fun with these new lyrics.

I don’t have the pipes to pull off the singing or I would have made it into a video. This was just for fun. No Haters…

But, we all already know what they do! So, shake it off.

 

WRITE IT ALL

I make a ton of mistakes. Got there in the wrong place.
That’s what people say…mmm mmm
That’s what people say…mmm mmm

I study grammar books, but they don’t help looks.
At least that’s what people say…mmm… mmm
That’s what people say….mmm…mmm

But I keep writing, can stop won’t stop writing. It’s like I got these stories, in my mind, saying you just got to write.

Cause the Editor’s gonna edit, edit, edit, edit, edit
And the agent’s gonna rep, rep, rep, rep, rep, baby

I’m just gonna write, write, write, write ,write. Write it all. Write it all.

The blogger’s gonna blog blog blog blog blog

The Publisher’s gonna pub pub pub pub pub

I’m just gonna write write write write write. Write it all. Write it all.
I never my miss hook. My betas love my book.
And that’s enough for me. mmmm-mmmmm
Yes, that’s enough for me. mmmm-mmmmm
I’m writing everyday. (writing everyday) My MC won’t go away (MC won’t go away)
That’s how my story goes, mmmm-mmm
That’s how my story goes mmmm-mmmm
But I keep writing, can stop won’t stop writing. It’s like I got these stories, in my mind, saying you just got to write. Cause the Editor’s gonna edit, edit, edit, edit, edit
And the agent’s gonna rep, rep, rep, rep,repI’m just gonna write write write write write. Write it all. Write it all.
The blogger’s gonna blog, blog, blog, blog, blog

The Publishers’ gonna pub, pub, pub ,pub ,pub

I’m just gonna write, write, write, write, write. Write it all. Write it all.

I’m just gonna write, write, write, write, write. Write it all. Write it all.

Write it all. Write it allWait. Wait. Wait.

Just think while you’ve been crying in your corner over there about your rejections, query letters, and agents who won’t read your story.

You could have been writing, the next best seller.

My twitter friend got a new agent.
She’s like “OMG!” but I’m just gonna write.
And the author over there with the new indie book says
Come on over girl and we can Write, Write, Write

Editor’s gonna edit, edit , edit edits, edit
And the agent’s gonna rep, rep, rep, rep, rep

I’m just gonna write write write write write. Write it all. Write it all.

The blogger’s gonna blog, blog, blog, blog, blog

The Publisher’s gonna pub, pub, pub, pub, pub

I’m just gonna write, write, write, write, write. Write it all. Write it all.

I’m just gonna write, write, write, write, write. Write it all. Write it all.

Write it all. Write it all.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

What ifs

15 Wednesday Oct 2014

Posted by Maiden Ink in writing

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

#angelacaldwell, #author, #authors, #dontgiveup, #dyslexia, #dyslexic, #dyslexicwriter, #grammar, #indiebooks, #indiepub, #indiepublishing, #nevergiveup, #rejection, #whatif, #whatifs, #writers, #writetip, #writing

what if
What if I never get published? What if I never get an agent? What if no one buys my book? What if someone hates my book and slanders me? What if all my twitter followers unfollow me, because they think the cover sucks? What if….?

Negativity is damaging to your creative juice, your muse, your mojo, whatever you choose to call it. And what ifs apply to more than writing. What ifs can really mess up your thinking.

whatifswillmakeucrazy

Every successful writer I’ve chatted with has something in common. They never gave up. They pushed past the negative what ifs, and keep moving forward. One writer in particular now comes to mind. She wrote for 20 years before she landed an agent and a book deal.  She kept writing, because she loved it.

So what if, these things never happen. If you love writing, it won’t really matter. You will write because it’s your air, and without it there is no breath. So today change your what ifs.

What if they love my book, even though I’m an indie author? What if readers create fan art. What if readers demand more? What if that agent loves my next novel? What if my twitter followers stick by me during the ups and downs?  What if my story can help somebody else keep writing?
What if…?

whatifsohwells

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

THE YELLOW HOODS: Along Came a Wolf (Book 1) and The Hero’s Journey

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by Maiden Ink in writing

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

#AdamDreece, #alongcameawolf, #angelacaldwell, #archetypes, #authors, #books, #BreadcrumbTrail, #dontgiveup, #dreaming, #dyslexia, #dyslexic, #dyslexicwriter, #freechapters, #happygilmore, #JosephCampbell, #monomyth, #Steampunk, #theherosjourney, #theyellowhoods, #writers, #writetip, #writing, #writingproces, #youngadult

On my resource page, you’ll find, The Hero’s Journey, or monomyth, which was devised by Joseph Campbell. The Hero’s Journey suggests the idea that all great stories have the same characters. When I started reading THE YELLOW HOODS: Along Came a Wolf (Book 1): An Emergent Steampunk Series by fellow twitter writer, Adam Dreece, I realized within the first few chapters his characters fit within the Hero’s Journey archetypes.

THE HERO: Tee
THE SHADOW: Andre LeLoup
THE HERALD: You’re going to have to read the book to find out.
THE MENTOR:Nikolas Klaus
THRESHOLD GUARDIANS: LeLoup’s henchman
SHAPESHIFTER: There is one
TRICKSTERS:The Cochon Brothers
ALLIES:Tee’s friends

Click photo to buy on Amazon

I really enjoyed Adam’s book because he has a knack for storytelling, and he followed Joseph Campbell’s archetypes by instinct.

Photo credit

Photo credit

 

What book or movie do you love? Does it follow the Hero’s Journey? If you’re a writer does your current work in progress follow this model?
My favorite example of the Hero’s Journey is Happy Gilmore.
Here are some links that use this example.

The Hero’s Journey-Happy Glimore Prezi

The Hero’s Journey-You tube video featuring Happy Gilmore

Young Adult written for everyone

Book 1 – Along Came a Wolf at Amazon, Amazon.ca, Kobo, Smashwords, The Yellow Hoods Store
Book 2 – Breadcrumb Trail at Amazon, Amazon.ca,  Kobo, Smashwords, The Yellow Hoods Store
3 Chapter free samples available
Blog: AdamDreece.com
Twitter: @AdamDreece

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

*Leaps*

22 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by Maiden Ink in writing

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

#angelacaldwell, #bookcover, #bookpublishing, #bookreleasedate, #books, #contest, #debutauthor, #deubt, #dontgiveup, #dreaming, #dyslexic, #dyslexicwriter, #indie, #indieauthor, #indiebook, #indiebooks, #indiepub, #indiepublishing, #nevergiveup, #publishing, #selfpublishing, #vote, #voting, #write, #writing

 

©AngelaCaldwell

©AngelaCaldwell

I’m going to become my own publisher. #indebooksbeseen After months of querying very few people, and waiting on decisions from full requests, I’ve decided to publish my debut YA fantasy novel on my terms. Well kind of, here comes the crazy, insane, ridiculous part.

I’m offering you, my followers and fans, some control over things. You’ll make use of your powers for good and vote on the release date, cover, and more. You now think I’m officially crazy. Welcome to the club.

one does not simmply publish on amazon2

I struggle making final decisions. I can’t choose favorites. But, you guys are very good at those things. And with your help, my book will be judged by the cover you choose! The fun will start next week with your very first choice-the release date.

I will choose 3 dates and give you reasons why I chose each date, and you will pick my release date by voting. Please follow this blog, my Twitter (I follow back awesomeness) , Goodreads or Facebook account to make sure you don’t miss out on voting.

And yes, I am officially hyperventilating. And want to thank you all, my writer friends, and avid readers who have already signed up to read a book that isn’t available. You guys remind me to be fearless everyday.

 

 

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Do you have the writing blues?

13 Saturday Sep 2014

Posted by Maiden Ink in writing

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

#angelacaldwell, #angelacaldwellphotography #LorenNeal, #art, #author, #authors, #ballandchain, #books, #dontgiveup, #dreaming, #dyslexia, #dyslexic, #dyslexicwriter, #editing, #figment, #grammar, #gustaveflaubert, #melindahaynes, #nevergiveup, #photoessay, #photography, #rejection, #thewritingblues, #writers, #writetip, #writing, #writingproces

What are the writing blues? I’m not sure. I just made it up. I wanted to address the blah I feel from time to time about my writing. You know when the passion and excitement seem to have disappeared and you don’t want to even open the story you’ve been working on? I’ve found out part of the problem. I’m not writing for me.

 

celebratewritinghayes

 

Maybe you’ve been querying and gotten a few rejections and it’s made you second guess yourself. Or maybe you’ve worked on a novel for over 2 years and you’ve become burnt out. Why is that? Art needs to be seen. Take my photography for example, I get the most joy when someone views a photo and it touches them. It makes all the hard work worth it.

 

©AngelaCaldwell from my photo essay Ball and Chain.

©AngelaCaldwell from my photo essay Ball and Chain.

 

But, with writing, it may be years before more than a few people read your manuscript. Writers want to be read. They write to share the stories, feelings, ideas, adventures, mysteries, and fears. 
What does this have to do with the writing blues? 

If no one’s reading your writing, that defeats your purpose, right? You wish to be read. And if you’re like me, you try to make people feel something or take them on an adventure. And if you’re constantly getting rejections to have agents or editors read your writing it’s like slowly taking all the air out of your balloon. Or for me it drains the passion from my soul.
How do you overcome the writing blues?

 

write for yourself quote

Write for you. Write what you love, a story that you can’t put down. Do not seek to follow trends or what’s popular. For me, that means I need to quit trying to please an imaginary person that may or may not read my work. However, what I need to do is make my story the best story possible. Sharing with trusted critique partners and beta readers to challenge me.

 

As for getting your work out there, develop a plan for your novel. Self-publishing is one option that many authors are considering. However, if you don’t want to self-publish you can join sites like Figment and share your work. Various writers on there will swap stories and give feedback. There are some really serious grammar people on there too, who are willing to contribute too. Figment is where I tested the first chapter of my novel. The feedback I received gave me the push needed to finish writing my the novel. Do not forget to be professional, no matter where you are talking and posting work. 

Have you ever had the writing blues? What do you think caused them and what changes can you make to protect your writing from joy thieves?

 

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

It’s your story

28 Thursday Aug 2014

Posted by Maiden Ink in writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#angelacaldwell, #angelacaldwellphotography #LorenNeal, #art, #author, #college, #dontgiveup, #dreaming, #dyslexia, #dyslexic, #dyslexicwriter, #hollywood, #photography, #rejection, #writer, #writetip, #writing, #writingproces

Fast forward to my college years, I’m studying Electronic Media Production because there isn’t much writing required. It’s how I chose to cope with my dyslexia. It was cameras, editing machines, teleprompters, and even a TV studio on campus. I hung with people from the theater program and helped on plays. My husband, Joe, saw me having a grand time and became interested in writing screenplays. Not a surprise, because he always showed an interested in reading and writing. In the evening, I would work at the theater and dream of making films. But, what was going to happen once we both graduated?

wik

My degree was in film and the technology, but the equipment I was trained on was its way out. At the time, we figured that our options were limited to either going to film school together, or moving to Los Angeles. After visiting Los Angeles we decided to pack up and head west. I got a little taste of working in the “business” while I was out there. I worked as an assistant for a talent agent, but that didn’t end well. I was on the night camera crew for a game show called CRAM. You can Google it. I also worked as a background actor, until I had to get a real job with a finance company. I never really tried to get another job working in the industry until I saw an ad to produce commercials. I took the job because I could work from home. I had 2 kids by this point. I ended up producing about 20 local commercials for tattoo parlors for about 6-8 months.

 

Click here to watch my first commercial: Southbay Tattoo

During this time, Joe was going through his own struggles while working with a couple of producers on different screenplays , but they never worked out. He also got a certificate in screenwriting. I always saw him as the writer and me as the one running the cameras. Sometimes I helped with story lines and ideas, but I never wrote anything. When I produced the commercials, he wrote the voice-overs. During this whole time I would wait on Joe to write a short film or come up with something we could make for fun. And before we moved back to the east coast, we sunk our money into a short film called Open Season. It was in a few festivals, good for our very first attempt at producing a short film. And you’re only as good as your next film, book, or art piece. Am I right? But as filmmakers know, it costs to make a film. It cost a lot and it takes an army.

©angelacaldwell

©angelacaldwell

LA was a bust for us because we couldn’t survive, raise a family, and be in the “business”. So when Joe’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, we chose to move back so we could spend time with his Dad. In some ways it felt like a failure, but it wasn’t. It brought new opportunities and we made a film the summer we moved back. Joe was hired as a teacher, and I was hired to teach photography, a position in program that lost it’s funding after the first year. We haven’t given up making our films and our next goal is a feature.

However, after all these years I realized I couldn’t wait on Joe anymore. I was putting too much pressure on him. For years, I had nagged Joe to write the story I dreamed up while working at that movie theater in college. I was so persistent. He used the idea in a screenwriting class through UCLA. Sadly, he never completed it. I still have the thirty pages he did write.

In March 2013, I began scribbling down the first rough chapter in a cheap college ruled notebook. Writing this story began stirring a passion in me. After so many years, I really wanted this story to be created. But, I had to do it.

Me, the girl who, at one point in her life, could not focus long enough to read through one page in a book without daydreaming was going to write. The girl who believed a lie and had run from the written word for years was about to attempt an impossible task.

But, maybe I wasn’t the same girl. I had now read over 100 YA novels, a key to writing. Day after day, I found myself drawn to write more, it was exciting creating a story in this way. For years, I had only worked with my cameras making films and taking photos. I had been writing about a month when Joe confessed he could never write this story, because it wasn’t his to write. “It’s your story,” he said.

My story? It was mine because I had the passion and the drive to create the characters and see it through to the end. Thank you, Joe, for saving my story for me.

A little over a year later I have about an 80,000 word manuscript. on its 15th draft or more. I’ve lost count. It’s out there in the query trenches, which encourages me as a storyteller. I still have the notebook with the first chapter I scribbled down, and all the little notes and papers that turned into a novel. And if I am blessed to partner with a press to publish this work, I will let you know. But, for now I’m writing. I’m writing the stories that are inside me. The ones that are intertwined in my life in mysterious ways only God knows. They are puzzles inside me, demanding to be finished. And I am driven to work on them until every last piece is in the right place.

What story are you called to write? The one only you can tell with your swirling thoughts. It’s your story to write. Now go write it.

Edited by Loren Neal find her on twitter @LorenNeal4

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • August 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014

Categories

  • #TheLastOrder
  • authortip
  • Blog tour
  • book marketing
  • brave women
  • Fun lists
  • Giveaway
  • mondayblogs
  • Photography
  • Uncategorized
  • writing

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Angela M Caldwell
    • Join 10,825 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Angela M Caldwell
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: