There Might Be Dancing . . .

I love to get books - and gift cards for them! - as gifts. When books I request from the library are ready to pick up, I want to rush over, scoop them up and bring them home. And I probably get waaaaay too excited when a favorite author has a new book coming out. (There might even be some dancing involved. And not by the tortoises.) 

But I thought of those things as a reader, not so much as a writer. Until now.

In Natalia Sylvester's post, "18 Writing Lessons to Carry Over into 2018," at Writer Unboxed, she says - 

WHEN YOU THINK OF YOUR AUDIENCE,

DON'T THINK ABOUT WHO'LL BUY YOUR BOOK.

THINK OF WHO WILL READ IT

AS IF IT'S THE GREATEST GIFT.

It shifts the focus. It's no longer about what we as writers can get from our readers but becomes more about what we can give to our readers. And what can we give them? So. Many. Things. In the pages of our stories, we offer adventure, romance, new friends, mysteries to solve, trips to the past and to the future and to places incredibly different from our own. 

And in my case, I (hopefully!) give my readers goose-bumps and heebie-jeebies. (Okay, the real gift is that no one has to see me dance. Other than the tortoises, and they just hide in their shells until it's over anyway.) 

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So, what do you give your readers? Do you get excited about books? Are you a good dancer? 

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I'm taking a short blogging break. I'll still check in, but no new posts until Wednesday, February 7, when I will once again be co-hosting IWSG. 

Introverts Unite! *

* But, don't worry, we only have to unite in spirit. We don't actually have to go outside or talk to people or anything. 

I am an introvert. My husband not only accepts this but also celebrates it. He wants me to appreciate myself and all my eccentricities the way he does. Because, for a long time, I thought there was something wrong with me and the way I moved in this world. So, when my husband recently presented me with Introvert Doodles by Maureen "Marzi" Wilson, it was with the best of intentions and a heart full of love. 

Here are a few favorites from her book:

I don't know Marzi, and the only thing I get from promoting her here is the knowledge that by sharing her work, we'll all get a laugh or two, along with the realization that we're not the only ones curled up in yoga pants, binge-watching Big Little Lies and eating chocolate chip cookies. Right? Right? Oh, come on, I can't be the only one . . . .

Available on Amazon

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Are you an introvert? Do you know one? Married to one? Did these cartoons make you chuckle and nod your head in recognition? Plan on checking out Marzi's website and book?  

Do You Have a System?

Pretty much every person I exchange gifts with during the holidays is getting at least one book. At least. (The only exception is my friend's little boy who is getting an awesome dress-up train engineer costume. I figure there are plenty of books in their house already since I've been giving his sisters books since they were young.)

When I come across reviews of picture books my little niece and nephew might enjoy, I make a note and then check out those books closer to birthdays and holidays. For the older kids I know, I look back at the MG and YA books I read. This is a little harder because I mostly read "dark" YA and that's not really their thing. I usually get them each a gift card to a bookstore and put it with one book I read that I think they might like, usually a classic, like the first Little House Book, or an award winner, something they might not have picked on their own. 

During the year, whenever I read a book I think someone might like, I jot down the title. It's usually no problem to find a book for my sister and my aunt since we tend to lean toward similar stories. My mother is a little harder because she tends to like "lighter" books but I usually have a few go-to authors for those. My husband guides the choices for my Dad since they like a lot of the same things. I would have to say my brother-in-law is the toughest to buy for, only because he likes more literary novels and I don't read as much of them as I probably should.  

Some recent/previous hits included:

* Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell. My sister is a big fan of historical fiction and she really enjoyed it.
* The Help by Kathryn Stockett. My mother is loving this. I actually gave it to her ages ago but she's just getting to it now.
* City of Thieves by David Benioff. My brother-in-law liked this one so much, he went and read Benioff's other novel.

Do you all have a system for giving books as gifts? Anyone have recommendations for any of the people on my list? Or for me to read? You know I'm always open to suggestions...even if my to-read list is almost as long as Stephen King's newest novel.

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

The other day, C. Hope Clark wrote a post called "Why Bother?" and it was about the doubt a lot of writers often experience.  My favorite part was where she talked about readers taking the time to let writers know how much the writers' words meant, how that one comment could be the thing to keep that writer going.

I experienced this myself just the other day - in two different ways.  I'm in between writing projects, feeling a little lost and unsure and uncertain (big surprise!) when my husband tells me I better get a pen and my signing hand ready.  Someone he used to work with made a special trip to his new office to drop off three (yes, three!) copies of Hint Fiction: An Anthology in 25 Words or Fewer for me to sign for gifts she was giving to some big readers in her life.  In that one moment she managed to make my day - probably the rest of my year, too.

Over the last few evenings, my husband had barricaded himself in his home office, working on a secret Christmas gift for me.  All I knew was that scissors and tape were involved.  (This worried me because neither my husband nor I are very artsy-craftsy but since no blood was shed, I figured it was okay.)  Well, he couldn't wait until Christmas so I got one of my gifts - one of the best gifts! - early.  My husband had made me a Hint Fiction collage!  It had quotes from some of the reviews, pictures of the book's cover and of my story and of where we saw it on the shelves in two bookstores.  It also had a picture of Larry and Mrs. Larry reading/eating it.  Now, every time I look at it, I not only see my husband's love and pride, but I'm also reminded of something I am truly proud of accomplishing. 

This holiday season, I wish all my fellow readers the joy of great stories and the knowledge that you too have the power, the gift, of using your own words to make the day/week/month/year of a writer whose work you enjoy. For all my fellow writers, I wish you the joy of acknowledgment and encouragement and support. 

Happy Festivus, everyone!

The Crafty Writer

Over the weekend, my husband and I wandered around a couple of craft fairs. I am always amazed at how creative people are: how they can take a piece of wood and turn it into a sculpture or a funky box with a secret drawer; how they can take a piece of cloth and turn it into an adorable little girl's reversible sunhat; and how they can take pieces of glass and bits of stone and turn them into unique earrings.

I admit it: I'm jealous. I don't carve or sculpt. I don't draw or paint or take pictures. I don't knit or embroider. Most of what I attempt looks like something a first grader would make. (Okay, actually, I think the first grader's would probably be better.) I would love to be able to make things with my hands. But, as my husband likes to remind me, I make things with words. That's a gift of another sort.

Maybe I should set up a writing booth at a craft fair. I could display some pretty poetry, some zingy dialogue, some unique character description. I could frame them and hang them - a gallery of words! - and people could wander around and look at my words the way they look at other people's wood sculptures and homemade quilts.

Hmm, I'm not sure how much of an audience there'd be for my word gallery. But then again, who knew there'd be such an audience for cold neck packs for pets?