Monday, March 7, 2016

Been Thinking - Can You Smell the Smoke?





 I’ve been writing a blog since 2010 when someone talked me into it. My first thought was, “Don’t I have enough to do already?” My second thought was, “Okay, maybe this will be fun.” And it has been.

The tricky part is coming up with new topics or a different spin on a topic that’s already been covered. Of course, it’s always fun to have Guest Bloggers.

My point is, I’m running out of ideas. I’ve been doing this on a weekly basis, with the exception of a recent “personal vacation” when I didn’t post for a few months.

I’d like to write every post about writing or promoting, but I have to admit that I’m not an expert. All I can do is offer an opinion and cheerlead for the rest of you. I try to make most of the blogs entertaining, but that’s not always possible either.

As I reread what I’ve already written, it sounds like I’m saying Good-bye. I’m not. I’m just sharing how it goes.

Right now I’m working on a time travel mystery, as I’ve mentioned before. I’m torn between two titles. The first is “Elsbeth’s Road” which would make sense when the book is done and you read it. The second is “Choosing One Moment”, which would also make sense when the book is read.

It’s not just the story that we sometimes struggle with, but also the title, the editing, the marketing and the promotion. If you’ve ever had anyone refer to your heartfelt writing as a “hobby”, or they’ve said it’s so easy that anyone could do it, just bite your tongue. They have no clue what’s really involved in the whole process. You do. Sometimes we think, “What was I thinking? I had no idea what I was getting into. This is hard.”

I must look like a grandmother or something because when I meet new people and they find out I’m a writer, many of them ask if I write children’s books. No, I don’t, although I do try to add humor here and there.

We’ve lost some talented writers over the past couple of years – some well-known and some not so well-known, but still talented. It’s sad when we have to say good-bye to an author who’s kept us entertained for so long, but life goes on and we move on to other writers. We discover new talent.

In some ways, reading almost seems to be becoming a lost art – a lost pastime for many. There was actually a time when people talked about the latest book they’d read rather than the latest movie they saw. Recently I heard someone say, “Why read a book? If it’s any good, it’ll be made into a movie anyway.” What they don’t realize is that there are so many changes that sometimes the movie barely resembles the book.

Also, a good book can take you away for a day or more, but a movie will only take you away for a couple of hours. You can read a book while dressed in your jammies or a sweat suit, or dressed up for work on your lunch hour. You can read in bed. You can watch a movie while in bed, too, but not until it’s out of the theaters. Of course, I’m sure I’m missing something here because I’m not very techie. There may be something you can do on your iPad or Kindle, or some other device.

Such is life.

So, it’s now 2016 and I’m sharing some thoughts with you. I guess I should think of this as my Thought Topic.

Anyway, until I think up something new, I hope this gave you some food for thought.

Until next time, read a good book, take a walk, or let me know some of the topics you’d like to read about. I’m fairly open to suggestions, the key word being “fairly”.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website
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20 comments:

  1. Marja,
    I'm pretty sure that most of us who write a weekly blog post, feel the same way from time to time. I know I do. But, I have to tell you, I look forward to your posts and I missed reading them when you were "absent."
    As to the title for your next book, I like an adaptation of your second choice, "One Moment." To me, that evokes thoughts of mystery and time travel, which I happen to know your book will be about. :) I can't wait to read it!

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    1. Thank you, Pat, for letting me know you look forward to the posts. I like your idea for the title, too. I'll consider it. Sometimes the ol' mind just goes blank when we try to think of new topics. Thank you so much for stopping in today!

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  2. I admire those of you who can come up with a different topic each week. I tried writing a blog each week several years ago but that didn't last. Now I can barely do one a month although I try. And I haven't always written about books or writing. Sometimes I wrote about travels and food and humorous incidents in my life. Good points to ponder, Marja.

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    1. Thank you, Pat! I always enjoy your posts, whether they're about writing or not. I wish yours were weekly, but I sure understand the challenge. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  3. I find it amazing that you come up with soooo many great topics. (Unfortunately, my blog sits for many weeks sometimes. Amazingly, wonderful people do come visit when I do post.) I think you're doing great on the blog front! Always enjoy. (and yes, reading is the "stuff" of life!)

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    1. Thank you, Mad! I sure hope I can come up with one next week. :) I'm so glad I've finally gotten back to reading. I've missed it. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  4. Always good to hear from you, Marja.

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    1. Thank you, Dac! Good to hear from you, too. Thank you for stopping in!

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  5. I've been reading your blogs since you've been writing them, Marja, and enjoying them. Whether you're writing about writing or life, you're always interesting and I enjoy the bits of humor you interject in the blog, just as you do in your fiction. The new time travel has captured my interest. Can't wait till you finish it. As for the title, I like Elsbeth's Way. The other one is good too but I think someone may have used it. Not that that matters.Your book, like all the others, is going to be unique.

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    1. Thank you so much, Dorothy. Mutual admiration because I enjoy your books, too. And I hope you're right about the story being unique. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  6. You've written a wealth of good reading, Marja, and I still think you should select your best posts for inclusion in a book. As for your WIP title, I like "One Moment," or "One Moment on Elsbeth Road."

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    1. Thank you, Jean! And thank you for your input on the title. Also, thank you for stopping in today!

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  7. I always love reading your blog posts. I often wonder where you find the time to write them, and how you come up with such interesting topics. I like, Choosing One Moment, or (and this is just a suggestion) A Moment in Time. Because that's how I think of things that have happened to me in the past. They were just a moment in time.

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    1. Thank you, Evelyn! I'm not positive, but I think A Moment in Time was used already. Knowing me, I may come up with a third title. LOL Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  8. I enjoyed reading this blog, Marja, and know I'll continue to enjoy what you write. I just know you'll come up with ideas. Everything around you, and everything you think of is an idea, as you surely know.

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    1. Thank you, Eileen! When I think back, it has been something surprising that gave me ideas for blogs. I sure hope something pops up this week. : ) Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  9. Hi Marja,
    It's one of your SheWrites buddies. Just want to encourage you to keep it up. Also, when I am feeling stuck for ideas I google 'top ways to keep a blog going' or things like that and there are some wonderful posts out there with excellent tips. Like everything else, there are ebbs and flows and this is true for creative work.

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    1. Thank you, Michele! Maybe I'd better do some googling. In all honesty, it seems like almost anything can trigger an idea to relate it to writing. I hope this week inspires me. Thank you so much for stopping in, and keep up the good work yourself!

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  10. Marja, I appreciate each time you allow me to read your current blog. Keep going as long as you can and we your faithful or okay so we miss sometimes (lol). But, we do pick you back up.

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    1. You gave me a chuckle this morning, Augie, and thank you for following the blog, no matter how often you do it. I appreciate your comments, and thank you for stopping in today!

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