Everyone has their dreaded bookish pet peeves. Something that annoys, or grates on your nerves when you’re reading or writing, or whatever.
My biggest pet peeve when reading: Books that are poorly edited. I used to waste my time wading through hoping it would improve. I’ve learned to just put it down.
My biggest pet peeve when writing: People who try to talk to me while I’m obviously writing. I would go so far as to put earphones in my ears, and for appearances sake, play music while I write, yet people will still try to talk to me! Okay, so I have learned to be more patient with people (family members specifically) but it still bothers me when I go to significant lengths to appear busy and people tend to think it’s the perfect time to start a conversation.
For more of my bookish pet peeves, I have a whole blog post on it right here.
Writing successes: At the moment, my first manuscript is under review by an aquisitions editor. Yey!
Writing insecurities: I’m seriously lacking motivation to blog. I’m finding it difficult to care about previous blog hops I was taking part in, and I’m finding it hard to begin new works-in-progress now that my 3-book series is mostly complete and in the revision stage (book 3 anyway)
Also, I’ve really been thinking about starting either an Author Fscebook Group or page or profile, and a newsletter as well, but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Thanks to the Insecure Writers Support Group for hosting these monthly get togethers, shall we say. If you’d like more information about the Insecure Writers Support Group, check out their page here.
Your turn: What are your bookish pet peeves? What are your thoughts on newsletters, author Facebook groups/pages/profiles? Any advice? Let me know in the comments. Don’t forget to leave me your #IWSG post link.
Congratulations on your success with the editor! Blogging is tough and I am like you, I find it difficult to do. What helps me is participating in all the blog hops. I like having a question to focus on or a theme. Have a great rest of your week!
Yes me too I really like having questions to answer, or something to adhere to. What blog hops would you recommend?? I’ve been apart of a couple of them in the past, but I’m finding a lack of motivation
I am a part of Raimey Gallants author toolbox blog hop once a month and then every Friday I am participate with Celebrate the Small Things. Lexa Cain hosts that one. 🙂
Yes! I know exactly what you mean. I can be sitting there with a stack of note cards, two notebooks, and noise cancelling headphones, and people will assume that means I want to talk about their kid’s toilet training RIGHT NOW! It’s tough being an introvert.
LOL. I’m not even an introvert. Maybe that’s the problem. Maybe because people (in my family) know that I like to talk, think that it’s cool to talk to me whenever. But when I sit down, put headphones on, and am typing away like mad, they used to think “oh this is the perfect time to ask her about her day.” Even though it’s frustrating, I laugh about it because it’s kind of ridiculous. I’m trying to be so obvious haha! But if you ever ride public transit, the same thing happens under different circumstances 😀 Thank you for dropping by!
Don’t feel overwhelmed, do one thing at a time. It seems like a lot all clumped together, but breaking it into pieces help.
About author pages, if you invite your friends to like your page, they are becoming your fan. A lot of my friends have roller derby fan pages, I do not like those pages because they are my friends. I rather be a friend than a fan. If they are just worried about me becoming their fan, are we really friends? I can be someone’s fan without “liking” their social media under their occupation or hobby.
I would say make one for your fans, but don’t expect your friends to join and don’t be upset if they don’t.
That’s great advice, thank you! I was thinking that too, and I’ve been learning how to network/connect with new people and build both casual friendships and fans as well. I think it’s interesting you mention that because I have a blogger friend who writes urban fantasy, not my thing, but she’s the most wonderful lady 🙂 It’s a fine line to walk 🙂 Thanks for dropping by.
Hey, one thing at a time. Don’t try to juggle too much or you’ll burn out, eh?
I hear you about the editing thing. There’s a certain point where you realize the entire book is going to collapse in on itself, and that’s definitely the time to stop reading. The problem is when the beginning is edited so well…but the rest of the book falls to pieces. *sigh*
YES I HAVE READ BOOKS LIKE THAT. The first 3 chapters are pretty good, but then the writing starts to slack off, and then it just gets worse and worse I”m like…WHY! I think it’s because when people submit the ‘first 3 chapters’ to publishers or critique persons etc. They work really really hard on those chapters only. Unfortunately.
It can be hard to write when people are forever distracting us.It breaks our rhythm and flow. I don’t think non-writers understand that.
Enjoy the rest of your week!
Elsie
oh yes, people who don’t write are oblivious. I think the best thing that helped encourage me was finding other writers who DID understand that we need our space and time! It took a while to find a good community though. I saw a hilarious video of a woman who was continually interrupted while reading a book. I relate to that too.
I’m just the same with poorly edited books. There are too many books out there and not enough time. I’m not going to waste my hours reading one that is unfinished.
Exactly. There are millions of books in the world. It used to be hard to put one down unfinished, but I’ve gotten over it lol
If a book’s not edited well, I find that annoying. I’m not perfect, but I try to be.
To me, it shows that the author either 1) Is not striving to put out quality work and 2) if they DID get it edited, then their editor needs to be fired. I think it also perpetuates a bad name for authors, particularly self-published authors, some of which are amazing. But they’re hard to find because there are a lot of them who don’t feel the need to endure quality editing
Getting interrupted while writing is the worst! Some people seriously think a person who’s writing isn’t actually busy. Best of luck with that manuscript!
Thank you so much! Thanks for dropping by!
Yeah, life’s too short to keep reading a book that’s too poorly edited. I used to always try to finish a book, but there’s too many other ones! Sorry to hear about your woes with interruptions. With kids, I get up before they do to write! Hope that editor likes your manuscript. Don’t have any advice about Facebook pages or newsletters – I need to do those things myself!
Yes, the dreaded newsletter. I’ve been reviewing other authors’ newsletters. Some are simple, some are elaborate. I’m thinking something in between, but the content of the letter is what I’m trying to figure out 🙂 Thanks for stopping by 🙂
This is my first time here, Sara. I’ll follow your blog and connect with you on social media.
Bravo to you for completing your 3-bk series. And Bravo to have a manuscript under review. This is wonderful. All the best to you, my dear!
http://victoriamarielees.blogspot.com
Thanks so much! Thank you for visiting 🙂
Welcome to the IWSG!
I’m not on Facebook, so no help there. But everyone says a newsletter is the best thing an author can have. Wish I’d started one years ago, but at least we have one for the IWSG.
I literally just figured mine out this last week. Sign ups should be up and running. I’ll be sending my first one out soon. Kind of excited 😀
If I’m at home, my kids are really good about understanding this is my writing time. But if I am out somewhere, I’ll go find a Starbucks that’s not my usual Starbucks to write just so I won’t see anyone I know! I even tried sitting at a McDonald’s one time to write since they have free WiFi, but the smell of the fast food around me was grossing me out. The library is usually a good place to be left alone to write,and again free WiFi, but their hours usually don’t match up with mine. Someday I have visions of turning my upstairs attic space into a writing nook/ yoga space. Someday.
That sounds lovely! I know I’ve seen a few people on laptops at my local McDonalds but the one I live next to has a play place and it gets loud. Libraries are nice. I usually rent their laptops 🙂
My boss often comes up to me on my lunch hour when I’m trying to write. Even if I’m goofing off, I still need some time to myself.
LOL! Writus Interputus, indeed. Two cups of coffee to get in the zen writing zone and one (or two or three) “When’s dinner?” “Are you going to the store soon?” “Have you seen the cat?” or “Are you almost done?” and you’re banging your forehead on the keyboard.
When I’m writing, I disappear. I don’t hear a thing and it makes family quite irate, but it’s really a blessing! Blogging is difficult when the book is demanding our full attention. Good luck!
A Facebook page seems to be a necessity since Facebook is how a large portion of people get their news/communication these days. Running one properly is tricky because you need a regular stream of interesting content (much like a blog but in smaller snippets), but if used well it works.
IWSG August
Welcome to the IWSG! I need to work on learning to just put the book down if it’s not well done. I have a tendency to believe I MUST finish whatever I start 🙂
You know I still do that sometimes. It’s hard not to when I like the author for example, and their previous books were good. Or when I like the genre, so I’m hoping it improves, when Id on’t like the writing style but the writing isn’t ‘bad’ lol