Twisting Minds One Word At A Time...: "Why Indies Rock' Blog Tour

Welcome everyone to my stop on the Why Indies Rock Blog Tour!

I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into when I signed up to be a part of this whole deal, but as I read the posts of others on this tour with me, I have had a chance to see and experience exactly what it is all about.

To be honest, I never set out to be an author. As a kid, I always wrote things, but I never put much stock into it. What I dreamed of being was a veterinarian. I cared for hordes of animals of all species and I still have that tendency to this day. I eventually traded that dream in for indie car racing, which turned briefly into a desire to be an Air Force fighter pilot, then settled into wife and mother. Today, I dream of becoming an editor. Notice that writer still isn't on that list of dreams.

I kind of fell into this job. One day a close friend of mine decided to get back to writing, so I thought it might be fun to see what I had in me too. I created a trilogy that has since been locked in a vault where not a soul except my own will ever find it.

The thing is, writing is so unbelievably hard sometimes. Ideas come and go so fast that I can't even write them all down, but executing them is sometimes a torturous affair. I agonize over every single word, revise until my brain aches, and take frequent breaks to recharge my batteries. Yes, I am a perfectionist.

During my journey, I have met some amazing people, but I have also met a few scrooges who try to diminish my work because I don't have the backing of a House. I have had countless people ask me if I would ever want to be published. A novel idea to be sure. I mean, who wouldn't want to have the recognition a House brings? Who wouldn't want to be told your work is so good, someone wants to represent you? In fact, when I first started out, I took that path. I contacted all the houses and agents I could, sent out countless letters and even got some hopeful feedback, but it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. It took some soul searching, and one day I came to the conclusion that the answer to that question is a big fat no. I don't want to be anything other than an indie author. Why? Because I love setting my own pace. I am a rule breaker. I don't like walls around me, I don't like guidelines, and I don't like time frames. I work at my own pace, I develop my own ideas and I write what I want to write. I don't ever want to be the person who has to watch the market trend and try to capitalize on it. I want to march to my own drummer. Doing it my way ensures that I never get bored. I create my best work when I listen to to what I want. I can be closer to my audience, hands on, if you will. It is hard work. Such hard work! But for all the times when it isn't, it is rewarding.

Today I write and I know I will never stop. I can't. I love creating and I love what I have created. It is a challenge, and I have always enjoyed a good challenge. Each time I create another person, another world, I see myself getting better and I love that. I also know how important it is to have praise and feedback and a constant stream of support. That is why I give back. Not only do I share my work with others, I work to share other indie's work with the world. Because who are indies but another Anne Rice or Donna Grant or some other popular author looking for recognition? It's not the path but the journey that matters.

Schedule

November 1st- Tamara Beard http://theindieshop.blogspot.com/

November 2nd- Amber Garza http://ambergarza.wordpress.com/

November 3rd- Alli & Laura http://sparringstepsisters.blogspot.com/

November 4th- Lori Parker http://contagiousreads.blogspot.com/

November 5th- Jennifer Bogart http://remembernewvember.blogspot.ca/

November 6th- Coral Russel http://alchemyscrawl.com/

November 7th- Supagurl http://www.supagurlbooks.blogspot.com/

November 8th- Jo Michaels http://jomichaels.blogspot.com/

November 9th- Tammy-Louise Wilkins http://tammy-louisewilkins.blogspot.co.uk/

November 10th- Matt Gannon http://www.mattwgannon.blogspot.com/

November 11th- Brianna Lee http://www.briannaleereviews.blogspot.com/