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Monday, January 4, 2010
Snap Plan 2010
Happy New Year!!!
I just finished my 2010 Snap Plan and wanted to share a bit about it!
What is a Snap Plan?
It's the D. D. Scott way - thanks to tips from fabulous YA 2010 debut author Kay Cassidy (http://www.kaycassidy.com)- of getting my intentions and goals on paper so I can then go for the gusto of achieving 'em.
After having big-time discussions with my SweetMan over the holidays, I've come to the conclusion that I'm driving myself nuts (I know...what a shock...LOL!) and probably my SweetMan too (also not much of a shock) by worrying beyond worrying about selling my manuscripts.
So here's the new year, new me, going for the gusto D. D. Scott Snap Plan 2010 Mission Statement:
"I'm focusing on my writing process and not my products.
I'm not fixated on the need to have something to show for my work. To sell...I must first write. So I'm not going to worry about selling my work...I'm just Julia Cameron-style "filling the form" by writing and building our AVON business (http://www.youravon.com/dawnwagner)
I always rush to the edge of the cliff. Not this year. 2010 is about taking the baby steps to our D. D. Scott dreams. My 2010 conceptual change is to respect and bask in where we are now - our present moment, not the big change that may/may not come. I'm not going to wallow in the big questions 'will/when will I sell' and 'when will/will we move to TN'. This year - 2010 - is all about honing my craft, filling the form, focusing on my writing process and inspiring others to do the same via Muse Therapy and growing our AVON business.
No trumpets will be sounding in 2010 to announce/herald our destiny. I'm not going to focus on grand change, but rather creatively husband our present - our home, our relationships, and my jobs (as a full-time writer, Muse "Therapist", and AVON Representative-Sales Leader)."
Sounds pretty fabulous, doesn't it? And you betchya I'm on it and on my way to making it my (and SweetMan's too) reality!
How about all of you?
What is 2010 all about for you?
Sexy Sassy Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott
P.S. I'm kicking-off my 2010 Snap Plan with a Muse Therapy Online Class for http://www.coloradoromancewriters.org/ Sign-up today!!! Class starts tomorrow - 1/5/10!!!Labels: Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Here It Is...My D. D. Scott "Promo Ho" Bag!!!
The wait is over!!!
Here she is...my D. D. Scott "Promo Ho" Bag!!!
Isn't she a beauty?!
All you gotta do is find me and my bag in D.C. at the RWA National Conference in the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, and you'll be the owner of a fabulous D. D. Scott tchotchke!!! And if you sign up for my mailing list between now and July 22nd, you're entered to win a chocolate martini set and/or a Muse Therapy Class.
So don't be shy. Come on by and say "hi".
And don't forget to check out the gallery of the terrific Teri Partridge...the fantastic artist who painted my bag. Here's the link: www.peartreegallery.com
Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl
Friday, July 10, 2009
The D. D. Scott "Promo Ho" Bag Is Here!!!
Oh yeahhh!!! It's finally here!!! I'm officially debuting the D. D. Scott "Promo Ho" bag.
That's right. You heard it straight from the word witch's mouth. Find me and my bag the next two weeks between Lake Michigan and Washington D.C., introduce yourself and demand a fabulous bookmark!!!
Here's a hint...right now, we're in Pittsburgh PA resting up for our journey tomorrow into D. C. for the RWA National Conference. 'Til Monday July 21st, you can find my SweetMan and I in the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel and/or out and about in our fabulous nation's capitol.
If you sign up for my mailing list when you see me, you'll also be entered to win a chocolate martini set and/or a paid-for spot in one of my Muse Therapy classes beginning in September.
So don't be shy. Say hi.
Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott
P.S. Tomorrow, I'll help you by posting a few pixs of my bag to make spotting me a bit easier!!!Labels: Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A Gutsy Romance Writer Girl Digging Deep Then Deeper Still
There are times in a writer's life when digging deep just doesn't cut it. You gotta dig deeper still and force that gutsy romance writer girl to get your muses out of self-pityville and back onto the red carpet, you-know-you-got-it-in-ya road. Well, this week was one of those aha moments from Hell.
It went something like this...and trust me, I'm saving you bunches of drama in this brief recap: I wrote an article on which I'd worked my butt off brainstorming the concept for and gave it my all and then a bunch more. I polished that puppy 'til my voice ricocheted off every word. I nailed the humor...well, for my intended audience, and here's where the aha moment from Hell reared its Medusa-like head. Evidently, so my not-so-gracious non-fans told me, I had the audacity to toss my work out there.
It's funny how the same article meets such vastly different reactions. The same words both annihilated and revered. The same day, as a writer, you feel horrified and glorified.
But aha from Hell be damned. You've just discovered the proverbial lining in your doubt cloud. When you create something that completely polarizes the opinion pool, you've got a hit in your ingenious hands. Here's why: the comments garnered by my article went from extremes like 'I've never been more appalled and disturbed' to 'This is great stuff. So fun and a sure hit. Your voice is a riot. Could you give us more to put in our international newsletter?' When the predominance of comments are along the great stuff line and that audience is not only cheering you on but anxious to read more, you've nailed your natural voice and style.
Which brings me back to the intended audience bit...here's what I learned (the beyond tough way) and hope to pass along to other writers who haven't yet hit this big ass bump in their journey to best-sellerdom and red carpet premieres.
As a writer, no matter what it is you write or how you write it (meaning your voice and personal style on the page), know your intended audience. Accept that the people who don't 'get you' never will, and that these same people will not only not 'get you' but will be highly offended by your voice. And once you get all this...Get Over It...Move On...Stay with the Audience Who Loves You and Gets You...and Keep Producing More in that Voice of Only Yours that Makes Many People LOL. Don't discourage your muses with your detractors. Rather encourage them to keep going for the gusto with their fans.
So, as a gutsy romance writer girl, I sucked up the harsh criticism, shored up my sexy, sassy, smart muses and let them keep bootscootin' to their own beat.
After being on the hurtful receiving end of an aha moment from Hell, I'll never stomp on someone's muses like the stiletto spikes I sustained in this battle.
I found my fans -- my intended audience. Those are the readers I'll continue to write for and laugh with.
Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl
Thursday, October 16, 2008
So You Say You're a Romance Writer...
One of my favorite amusements in life is telling people that I'm a romance writer. If you've been there, done that, you know what I mean. Now that's some fun stuff!!!
At first you get this 'no-kidding' twinkle in their eyes as if their cognitive wheels are already fast-forwarding or rewinding r-rated scenes of the type they imagine all your books are based on.
Now some writers get a bit peeved by this, but not me. I think it's terrifically naughty and a sexy, sassy, smart place to get them hooked to at least hear my quick pitch about my stories. Let's face it...in today's multi-media, blurb intensive world, the fact that we, as romance writers, have an immediate hot button hook is fabulous!!! Oh, we got their attention...you bet your sweet behind...now we just have to hold it and massage it for a bit.
Another funny observation is what happens next if your Sweet Man is next to you when you're filling someone in on your career path. They look at him next...their faces saying, without so much as a peep from their mouth, 'lucky guy'. LOL!!! This is usually followed by some reference to how much fun and interesting the research for my books must be...and again, I'm loving it, because they're still hooked and want to hear more.
Yes. I take my work very seriously. I work my mind to its maximum overload capacity to crank out great stories. Yes. I have a passion to create wonderful characters that take you with them long after their last page in my book. Yes. I learn all the craft and story-telling techniques I can to ensure my readers' journeys are fantastic in every book. Yes. I'm proud of what I do and love every minute of the process. And yes. I'm thrilled that people find a tad of mischievous humor and intrigue in what I do. It's terrific to me and warms my heart and everything I am knowing that I can provide a sexy, sassy, smart escape through my books.
Sexy, Sassy, Smart Wishes --- D. D. Scott
P.S. I'm curious to get Sweet Man's take on this...Labels: Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl
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