If You're About to Lose Hope, Remember...

It's always too early to quit. - Norman Vincent Peale

We've been told time and time again, genius = perspiration, overnight success comes mostly to those who've been toiling at their craft for years, but it's always easy to forget.

When I'm struggling to put one word after another down on the page, I think about quitting.  I think about giving up and writing something else, or trying another genre (that is currently big on the bestseller lists) or just leaving the writing altogether and focusing on my day job.

It's so easy to get discouraged when another rejection rolls in, because there are dozens of these for each acceptance I get.

It's so easy to quit.

But then I remember (or have to force myself to remember) that the easy path is usually the one not worth taking.  What does it matter if I "waste" my time writing stories that never see the light of day?  I'm honing my craft.  And so what if my story is rejected several times...it might one day be accepted by some other publisher or editor.

If I don't keep writing, I won't ever know if success is just around the corner.

Don't give up.  Don't quit.  It's always too early to do that.

Total-E-Bound: Call for Erotic Romance Submissions

My publisher, Total-E-Bound, released my first erotic romance story, Captive Angel, in April, and my second erotic romance, Country Hearts, in May.

Total-E-Bound produces incredible erotic (and other) romance e-books in a myriad of subgenres.  They even have free reads to check out before you commit!

Total-E-Bound accepts erotic romance manuscripts between 10,000 and 100,000+ words and has specific calls for submissions going on right now.  These include - At Your Service (short stories about domestic staff) deadline: November 1, 2012, Whip It Up (BDSM, obviously) deadline: March 1, 2013, and my favourite, Wanton Witches (Halloween themed for next year's season) deadline: April 1, 2013.

These deadlines give you lots of time to get started on your erotic romance story.  Take the plunge like I did...it's so worth it!

Just Joined Tumblr!

Hey all, I've just leapt into the future (that is, a few years ago) and joined Tumblr.

Check me out and, apparently, ask me anything: here!

Productivity in Art

Recently, I went to see the Picasso exhibit at my local art gallery.

This was my second time at the exhibit, which is in my city for the summer, and what struck me this time, aside from the sheer range of art created (and often pioneered) by this remarkable artist, was his prolific output.

The number of artworks Pablo Picasso was estimated to produce is fifty thousand.  Yes, fifty...thousand...works of art.  This ranges from paintings and drawings to sculpture and pottery.  He even made rugs (and wrote a play)!

Imagine a writer who creates fifty thousand poems.  Or short stories.  Or, impossible to imagine really, novels.  Well, Picasso would have been creating poems and short stories and novels.  Because that's just the kind of guy he was.  And he probably would have invented a new kind of poem while he was at it.

Picasso's dedication and talent, leaving aside what you might think of his artwork or his colourful personal life, is awe inspiring.

Seeing his work, which was really only the merest fraction of his total number of pieces, made me want to re-dedicate myself to my creative talent: writing.  Yes, very few are truly as naturally talented as a great artist like Picasso, but most of us who toil away at any creative art do it because we love it.  And can we ever do better in life than to do what we love?

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net