I have been busy organizing the final draft f my novel and getting it ready to pitch to publishers and literary agents. As well as doing this I am planning our caravan tour and a two month art sale. One of my readers who is in the business of selling quality street wear is interested in several of my art words and we are arranging a trade. So when it comes to reading I want to read something that is well written and not just cheap or even free. So you can see why I am sceptical about self published books given the fact that many of these would not have been worth publishing in the furst place and while there are some fabulous books amoungst themhow do you find them?  The star ratings mean nothing. People give friends five stars as there isn't any option to give them a 1 star and not offend.

They might be cheap but the investment of time isn't for most of us. What do you think?
I tend to read specific authors who made it though traditional publishing and so that is how I want to reach my readers even if it will be hard. I will not be self publishing my year's work and years in research, novel.
I will self publish novellas and short story collections and non-fiction E-Books. i think quality novels just get lost in the self published EBooks.
At least when you go into a book store you know if the publisher accepted it, it is probably going to be worth your time reading it - even if I do choose to then read it on Kindle but I rarely just choose to read a self published book unless it is an 'obligation' read - because I'm just too busy to sieve though the amount of not quite ready to be published books being published. 

In yesterday's Guardian, Ewan Morrison warned of the coming fall-out for writers and publishers when the 'self-e-publishing bubble' inevitably bursts. Here in Australia, the bubble has barely floated into view. We look at Morrison's argument and how self-e-publishing is playing out in Australia - ta..
In yesterday's Guardian, Ewan Morrison warned of the coming fall-out for writers and publishers when wheelercentre.com
_

_ Ha! The "I don't have writer's block" chalkboard made me laugh.
I spend a LOT of time writing.

Whether it's my blogs or my novel, an article for a magazine or newspaper, a press release, I'm ALWAYS trying to come up with interesting t...♥Top 5 Ways to Get Over Writer’s Block perikinder.com

Yes, You Do Need a Theme tells how writers need themes in their novel to make them powerful. You should be able to express one thought that says your theme  Yes, You Do Need a Theme | Live Write Thrive www.livewritethrive.com

I am very surprised but I have discovered that sexism is alive and well in the writing and book publishing industry.

James Tiptree Jr. was an interesting case. It was, of course, a pseudonym for a woman (I can never remember her real name) but she totally fooled a lot of well known authors -- Robert Silverberg, for one, wrote an introduction to her stories saying how they were clearly written by a man, and then later had the good grace to point out how silly he'd been to say something like that.

This 10 rules guide raises the difference between peoples attitudes to gender and writing.

10 Writing "Rules" We Wish More Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors Would Break io9.comScience fiction and fantasy are genres where almost anything can happen — as long as the author can make it seem plausible, and as long as it's part of a good story.

Today I set the 12 Month Action Plan up and it includes learning how to include fitness with being a creative professional.

My Novel Dreaming Billabong is back from the proof readers and is ready for submission to a literary agent or publisher and it is time to make the new twelve month goals which will see either the sequel written or a stand alone novel.

Now I am about to launch an ART SALE

Kathy Shell Artist/Author 12 Months and beyond, action plan.

FEB:, I list art for sale free shipping in Australia and internationally at cost.
Also Pitching my novel to publishers and agents - ongoing until success.

MARCH: I continue to sell any remaining unsold items but no new listings.

APRIL:Easter: Wind up - Sales CLOSED - Planning new Novel & Travels

MAY till January 2013 Write new Novel

FEB 2013 - Possible Second chance offer art sale -IF, I do another.

I had a great morning in the painting studio with the rep from Pack and Send who will be getting costings to me fairly soon of the shipping of my large Moorcroft Vase, Art Easel Kits, Metal detector, Framed ad unframed original Oils and watercolour paintings, Wholesale quantities of scrapbooking papers and prints.

I will be focusing the next fortnight equally dividing my time between pitching my novel and getting these 'out there' where people can see them on line.

I am heading straight out of spending summer in Victoria to planning to spend winter in the tropics.  Now while I love a good heated mattress pad for the cooler weather I will not be needing one this year.

I just completed my chapter 10 making the amendments following the proof read by Linda Morris. Thanks again Linda xx
The novel jumps forward three years at the start of chapter 11 and the setting and characters have all been developed it's a fairly active roll now though until the end of chapter 23. I will get back to writing the chapter synopsis again until I get more proofed chapters to work on . Heaps to do :-). It has been a good day.

I have added Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park to my favorites in the sidebar of my Kathy Shell Page. That will be our address from May though until the end of August 2012 and the three of us, Reg, Indigo the poodle and I are looking forward to it it looks to be one of the of the best locations for a longer stay that we have chosen. It is encouraging me to build up the laps in the pool at the gym and reg is living in fishing dream fantasy.
So close to a location called, 'Murdering Point,' the novelist is sure there is a surprise twist story in that. lol, I already have the opening and the back story.

_

I Bawled my eyes out watching the story of the woman who was trapped in the car for three days after a kangaroo jumped on her car and caused her to loose control and go down an embankment on Christmas Day. She had such a wonderful spirit. The experience has left her believing the life ahead of her will be better than ever and feeling closer to her daughter and grandchild than ever before.

I have seen that happen before when people have such life threatening experiences. It's not that we ever took life for granted before them it's just we treasure every contact we have with loved ones even more. As a grandmother myself I love seeing my grandchildren with their interests even the testors model paint, computer games, young adult novels and ballet performances. Families are so special. Just one more reason to be so very careful driving on the roads especially at dawn and dusk where there might be stray stock or wildlife.

About the accident:- Acting Sergeant Roy Elmes said the car could not be seen from the road.

"It's quite astounding and she's very very lucky. I'm sure she would have been quite relieved to have someone just happen to walk past and she's had someone to call out to and the rescue's been not too far away after that," Sergeant Elmes said.

"She does have some serious injuries. She's lucky though. I think the weather's been a bit cooler and we've had some rain, otherwise I think it could've been different circumstances."_

The story of the Woman trapped in car for three days.

I plan to achieve my long term results and reach my goals by making exercise & good nutrition and portion control a habit.
It takes 21 days to create a habit, after a month habits should take over and help push me into me regime rather than my having to motivate yourself to get to the gym I joined yesterday. Sometimes it helps if you promise yourself a reward like buy gold online for when you have achieved the action plan you set yourself.
Here are 10 tips to help you on your way:

1. Set Compelling Goals.
Fitness Goal.
I have decided I will get back to being able to swim 2 kilometers and run 5 kilometers on sand. No I do not expect to maintain that forever, I will be close to or at age 66 by the time I achieve that and then I will simply strive to maintain a reasonable level of fitness which will not require my proving I can continue to do that. It will simply be a measure of my having regained where I was set back and then striving to stay in reasonable health. 
.Setting yourself fitness goals each week will help you gain confidence as you achieve them.  Aim for a 30 minute brisk walk every day – and I plan to add three weight work out programs each week.  I have begun these working with weights in the hydro therapy pool.   The most important thing is to get moving and not use excuses, not allow inhjury or lack of fitness to be my excuse anymore.

Career Goal.
I wish to have my novel with a literary agent or publisher who I believe will be looking after its future.
I will be actively marketing my art work.
I will be developing my next major work in progress.

Tomorrow I will blog about my second top 10 tip on getting started with my goals.  What are your tips?

Writing Advice That Saves You in 5 Years | Jane Friedman

janefriedman.com
I just discovered this wonderful article, “Steal This List,” by Janis Hubschman (featured in the latest Glimmer Train bulletin).
It features advice that’s worth saving over a period of years—the kind of advice that’s critical to planning, writing, and revision.

I used so many aspects of that advice while improving my novel and making sure there was always action going on and the plot moving forward while my characters were engaged in duologue together.

When I first read this advice I realized I have my children laying in bed talking to each other at night. After reading that advice I had my children climbing out the window, for an adventure which was woven into the plot, while they talked to each other at night.  I know which moves at a faster pace when you read it.

I have come to realize where my son in law is concerned I always select the prefect gift if I get him something for his bar. He loves to entertain and you just cannot go wrong if people are the type to have barbeques and parties to buy drink coasters.

I have always found it harder to buy gifts for men than finding the right gift for a woman. However if they are entertainers it does make the choice of gift easier.  You can get gifts that will be of service and even have coasters custom made and personalized.

I use drink coasters around the house instead of saucers, They are easy to just wipe clean and leave in place to protect the furniture from marking. I even use them in the caravan. I don't like drink glass or coffee cup marks on furniture.