Monday, August 28, 2017

The Woes of Moving



Well, we’re just putting our house up for sale and looking for another. I thought I’d be smart and repost an old blog, but… It seems I’ve already packed copies of my old posts. Guess I’ll have to come up with something new.
 
One nice thing about packing is that I’m finding things I’d forgotten I had. Nope. I can’t take the time to reminisce about the old days. I’ve got to keep on packin’.

The past couple of years have been life-changing for me and I haven’t done the marketing and promoting I should. Hopefully, once this move is over I can get back on track.

I’m sure most of you have had events that changed your initial plans. It happens. Get back on that horse? I think not. Sometimes it’s better to come up with a new plan. I sure hope that happens soon. I’m smiling because we make plans and God laughs. Maybe we’re too impatient and we need to wait for inspiration.

I’ve read a number of books about marketing and promotion, but I have to admit that I didn’t find any ideas that really put a hem in my skirt – if I still wore skirts.

I’ve talked about name recognition in other posts. Work on getting your name out there so if something changes, readers already know who you are. It’s really helped me, more than you can imagine. Fans! Love those people and they manage to make my day a good one quite often.

I started reading M.M. Gornell’s new book, Rhodes – The Movie Maker. I was really enjoying it, but now I’m packing and looking at houses instead of reading.

In fact, there are several things, in addition to reading, that are going to have to wait – like working on a new book. If I ever get back to it, and I will, it’s titled, Gin Mill Grill. How’s that for an interesting title?

My advice? Even when your life changes, don’t let go of your goals and ideas. Keep plugging along. Inspiration comes from the oddest places, so keep your eyes open and be alert, no matter where life takes you.

Life is a path with all kinds of crazy twists and turns, and left turns when you’re anticipating taking a right turn. Make the best of it. Roll with it. At the moment I’m tired and I can’t think of any other good clichés. Maybe next week.

No matter what else, get your name out there. Respond to the posts of others, leave reviews, create an Internet presence for yourself, and maybe build a website. Let people know who you are and what you do.  And most importantly, do what you do best – write.

Until next week, have a good, quiet week and enjoy yourself. Or, have an exciting week and see if your week presents some good story ideas. Ah, just have fun.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website
CLICK HERE for a  quick trip to Amazon.com

Here's a little promotion: Check out Entrance to Nowhere - A Sandi Webster Mystery. It involves kidnapping, hacking, cybersecurity and a few other current issues. 


12 comments:

  1. Marja, I can empathize with you about moving. I've moved more times than I like to think about.
    So many things in life (curve balls?) can take us away from our writing - temporarily. That's just how it is. As they say, "That's life." The important thing is that we get back to it as soon as possible. :)

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    1. I'm ready to get back to it right now, Pat, but there's way too much to be packed. Life hands us events and we simply have to to what has to be done. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  2. Wow--I am so far behind in everything right now that I didn't know you were moving, Marja, or thinking about it. I hope I don't have to go through that again but never say never. I wish you the best of luck.

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    1. Thank you, Pat. We're staying in the same area, just going from a two-story to a one-story. Unfortunately, this puts the rest of my life on hold. : ) Thank you for stopping in!

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  3. A little advice from one who hardly ever moved. Keep thinking about your new book while you're packing. Maybe when life settles down, you'll find that your subconscious has been working on chapters all along.

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    1. I sincerely hope you're right, Dorothy. You never know what you'll run across when you start packing. A dead body? Only a mystery writer would think that way. : ) Thank you so much for stopping in!

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    1. Same area, Marilyn. We're just going from a two-story house to a one-story house. I don't know how you feel about stairs, but they're getting to me. Thank you so much for stopping in!

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  5. Oh Marja, moving--Ahhhhh!!! I haven't completely unpacked/sorted/tossed from our last move 15 years ago. I still wince when thinking about that move. You're a strong lady!!!!! Fingers crossed you will find the "perfect" house. I like second floors very much, but we're one level and sure glad I don't have stairs to deal with these days. Thanks for the book mention--glad you're enjoying! Keep safe, Marja, and sending good moving thoughts your way!

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    1. Thank you, Mad! I don't care what happens, this will be the last move I'll ever make. I hope. I can't wait to get back to the book, but by evening I'm too tired to read. Oh well... Thank you so much for commenting!

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  6. Moving isn't fun, but sometimes you find things you put away when you first moved into the house, but afterward you couldn't remember where you put them. It's like an epiphany. "Oh yes, now I remember where I put that." LOL! Good luck with your move.

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    1. Thank you, Evelyn. I just hope we find another home soon. I'm already finding things I'd forgotten about. LOL Thank you so much for stopping in!

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