I started a photography site showcasing my photos - I hope you'll stop by!
www.lisalange8.wix.com/clickandgo
Monday, February 15, 2016
Click and Go Photography
I have always enjoyed taking pictures, but never had the right camera to do it. My dad, an aviation photographer, recently gave me a Nikon D3000 - a fancy camera like nothing I have ever had before. I love it! And even though I always knew how being able to take my own high-quality photos would enhance my writing, I didn't really know how much photography would ignite my creativity. I've only had the camera for a month, but have I ever enjoyed playing with it! There's a saying: creativity begets creativity. How true that is! And as with anything, learning and improving is never-ending. I hope to take a photography course, and I look forward to learning the countless ways of tying photography and writing together. My dad and my two sisters both enjoy photography; for fabulous nature and life-stills, stop by www.tmill760.wix.com/photographers-portfo and if you're into aviation, be sure to visit www.ranger02.wix.com/myphotography
I started a photography site showcasing my photos - I hope you'll stop by!
www.lisalange8.wix.com/clickandgo
I started a photography site showcasing my photos - I hope you'll stop by!
www.lisalange8.wix.com/clickandgo
Saturday, January 30, 2016
Happy Birthday Evernight Teen!
EVERNIGHT TEEN books feature fresh teen fiction that is raw, gritty and real. Whether paranormal, contemporary, sci-fi or suspense, their books are about real issues and pack a strong emotional punch. You’ll find cutting edge fiction that today’s young adults can relate to and will keep you turning the pages long into the night.
Be sure visit each stop on the BLOG HOP for more chances to WIN the GRAND PRIZE of a $100 Amazon Gift Card. You’ll receive bonus entries for commenting on each blog!
Visit Evernight Teens' blog to enter and good luck!
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Write Like No One’s Gonna Read It
By the end of 2015, I was kind of…exhausted. It was a long year, but technically it was no different than any other year; it wasn’t like extra days were added, or anything. But health and general life challenges seemed to drag out the year for me, and despite it all I managed to keep writing – slice-of-life essays, novellas, blog posts, and a novel I started in 2014 – which was all exhausting in itself! But I had a goal to finish various projects by the end of the year, namely my novel, and the harder I tried – the more I focused I became on what to/what not to write coupled with the dream of publication pushing me to keep writing – the more stifled I became. My writing became less authentic – less ‘me.’ I was slowly starting to feel that whatever I wrote was becoming stilted, censored, stalled and basically STUCK.
Frustration led to reflection and I realized I had to take a step back and change how I write and WHY.
So I made a writing-related resolution/goal for the New Year – or at least until I could get myself kick-started and back on track. I decided not to worry about my works-in-progress for the time being. Instead, I decided to “write like no one’s gonna read it.”
I have been a writer most of my life, and most actively in the last fourteen years. And like many other writers aspire to, I have primarily focused on writing for publication, hoping my work is liked by an editor or publisher enough for them to publish my carefully sculpted words. I’ve always written to be read by someone else, hoping my words would entertain, inspire or help. I have been fortunate to have had the professional and personal satisfaction of seeing my work in newspapers and magazines, internationally selling anthologies, and now single title fiction novels. And most importantly I have had readers write to say how much they enjoyed something I wrote, how it made them feel, and how my words – my thoughts and experiences – inspired, helped, or encouraged them.
I know a writer’s job is never done – never fully learned – so watching the markets and trends in the publishing world and learning about what readers want and focusing on writing for the readers I want to reach out to, is needed for the publishing world.
But constantly doing so, although I am not complaining about the readership I HAVE had, has stifled and stalled my writing a bit, I think. That’s not to say my readers don’t come first, but if I don’t sometimes write simply for me, seemingly and selfishly putting ‘me’ first in my writing, how can my writing be authentic, pure, real and raw for my readers I want to reach out to? I realized that I had been trying too hard. I knew I had lost the freedom to just let go and…write.
I knew I had to take a step back and do something to kick start my writing, and get out the writing slump I was slowly finding myself in. So I came up with a plan. I realized that to write, I had TO write.
I had to write like no one was gonna read it. Yup – that was my resolution: to write like no one was gonna read it.
Using Judy Reeves’ book “A Writer’s Book of Days,” I came up with a new writing routine for myself. I am a big believer in routine, but with life’s challenges throwing my routine RIGHT OFF, I had to get back on the horse and get back to writing FOR me if I was gonna kick start my writing for the new year. Sure there are many writing prompt books out there, but this one, for me at least, was perfect. Quick, short prompts, listed by day starting at January 1, along with an accompanying inspiration, advice, encouragement and suggestions for the prompts for that week, were just what I needed.
So on a WORD document I typed out the dates and the prompts for two weeks at a time (to add more as I followed along in the book), and every morning for 15minutes ONLY, and with the mindset I wasn’t writing for anyone else but me and with no editing, no backtracking, no over-thinking, and no plans for sending any of the work out there, I got busy. But I took it easy on myself; I gave myself a break. If I only wrote two sentences – fine. If I only wrote a paragraph – fine. If it was more than a paragraph – fine. It didn’t matter what or how much I wrote, but just the fact that I wrote SOMETHING for no other purpose than writing it, was the intention.
If I continue this little project through to the rest of the year – fine. If this is only intended to be what I need to fuel my other writing and I eventually stop doing it – fine. NOT that this was ‘bad’ writing, or non-worthy writing, but with my writing time always at a premium, I have to make the most of the time I DO have when I write. I truly do hope I can do both, but I won’t make promises to myself I will worry about not keeping. I don’t want to end up back to where I was – putting more pressure on myself.
So here we are, 20 days into the New Year, and I’m still at it. I don’t know what will happen in the future, of where this project of mine will go. So far, though, I think it was just what I needed. I’m feeling creative, re-charged, re-energized, and re-inspired. And heck, I wrote this didn’t I? I won’t go back to my other fiction writing projects just yet, even though I'm itching to. I know I can’t leave them for too long, but at the same time this is the time I need to nurture my writing self. My daily prompt plan might just be the kick start I need if I'm going to write better, freer, and more authentically. I just have to learn to write like no one is gonna read it.
For more information, please visit Judy Reeves at her website here.
(Author's note - I haven't 'given up' writing - oh no, not never - just getting a recharge!)
Frustration led to reflection and I realized I had to take a step back and change how I write and WHY.
So I made a writing-related resolution/goal for the New Year – or at least until I could get myself kick-started and back on track. I decided not to worry about my works-in-progress for the time being. Instead, I decided to “write like no one’s gonna read it.”
I have been a writer most of my life, and most actively in the last fourteen years. And like many other writers aspire to, I have primarily focused on writing for publication, hoping my work is liked by an editor or publisher enough for them to publish my carefully sculpted words. I’ve always written to be read by someone else, hoping my words would entertain, inspire or help. I have been fortunate to have had the professional and personal satisfaction of seeing my work in newspapers and magazines, internationally selling anthologies, and now single title fiction novels. And most importantly I have had readers write to say how much they enjoyed something I wrote, how it made them feel, and how my words – my thoughts and experiences – inspired, helped, or encouraged them.
I know a writer’s job is never done – never fully learned – so watching the markets and trends in the publishing world and learning about what readers want and focusing on writing for the readers I want to reach out to, is needed for the publishing world.
But constantly doing so, although I am not complaining about the readership I HAVE had, has stifled and stalled my writing a bit, I think. That’s not to say my readers don’t come first, but if I don’t sometimes write simply for me, seemingly and selfishly putting ‘me’ first in my writing, how can my writing be authentic, pure, real and raw for my readers I want to reach out to? I realized that I had been trying too hard. I knew I had lost the freedom to just let go and…write.
I knew I had to take a step back and do something to kick start my writing, and get out the writing slump I was slowly finding myself in. So I came up with a plan. I realized that to write, I had TO write.
I had to write like no one was gonna read it. Yup – that was my resolution: to write like no one was gonna read it.
So on a WORD document I typed out the dates and the prompts for two weeks at a time (to add more as I followed along in the book), and every morning for 15minutes ONLY, and with the mindset I wasn’t writing for anyone else but me and with no editing, no backtracking, no over-thinking, and no plans for sending any of the work out there, I got busy. But I took it easy on myself; I gave myself a break. If I only wrote two sentences – fine. If I only wrote a paragraph – fine. If it was more than a paragraph – fine. It didn’t matter what or how much I wrote, but just the fact that I wrote SOMETHING for no other purpose than writing it, was the intention.
If I continue this little project through to the rest of the year – fine. If this is only intended to be what I need to fuel my other writing and I eventually stop doing it – fine. NOT that this was ‘bad’ writing, or non-worthy writing, but with my writing time always at a premium, I have to make the most of the time I DO have when I write. I truly do hope I can do both, but I won’t make promises to myself I will worry about not keeping. I don’t want to end up back to where I was – putting more pressure on myself.
So here we are, 20 days into the New Year, and I’m still at it. I don’t know what will happen in the future, of where this project of mine will go. So far, though, I think it was just what I needed. I’m feeling creative, re-charged, re-energized, and re-inspired. And heck, I wrote this didn’t I? I won’t go back to my other fiction writing projects just yet, even though I'm itching to. I know I can’t leave them for too long, but at the same time this is the time I need to nurture my writing self. My daily prompt plan might just be the kick start I need if I'm going to write better, freer, and more authentically. I just have to learn to write like no one is gonna read it.
For more information, please visit Judy Reeves at her website here.
(Author's note - I haven't 'given up' writing - oh no, not never - just getting a recharge!)
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Winners from the Blog Tour
I was on a blog tour with my book 'THAT NIGHT'(Evernight Teen) in early December and what fun! It was great to have the chance to talk about writing, books (and not just my book), as well as interview the characters in my book, Luke and Jessica. So many great people stopped by the various review sites and I greatly appreciate all the participation, comments and kind words. A big shout out goes to Bridging the Gap Promotions and to all the blog hosts who were kind enough to have me.
The winners were:
Brooklyn H. won an eCopy of THAT NIGHT
Donna S. won a $10 Evernight Teen Gift Card
Thank you to all who entered and I hope our paths cross again soon!
Lisa
The winners were:
Brooklyn H. won an eCopy of THAT NIGHT
Donna S. won a $10 Evernight Teen Gift Card
Thank you to all who entered and I hope our paths cross again soon!
Lisa
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Books, books and more books!
I've been home for the last few months recovering from surgery, and during this time I've been busy - despite supposedly convalescing. For the first while Netflix was my friend - I couldn't get my fuzzy brain to do much else - and then I gradually got back to writing, sometimes knitting, and reading, reading, reading. During this time my young adult book, THAT NIGHT, was released by Evernight Teen, and promotion along with a book blog tour kept me extra busy.
So as I get ready to go back to my 'day job' (oh how I wish THIS, what I'm doing right now, WAS my day job), I am reflecting on the last few months of health challenges (on track now), and where did all that time go?!
Here are just a few of the books I read. Some I remembered to post and give a brief review on my Goodreads Author Page - hope you'll stop by!
'Unteachable' - a new adult novel by Leah Raeder. A page-turning emotional roller coaster.
'Hit and Run' a young adult novel by Lurlene McDaniel. A gritty novel for teens tackling extreme moral and ethical issues.
'November 9' - a novel for adults by Colleen Hoover. Another page-turning emotional roller coaster the premise being they meet every year on the same date.
'You Know Where to Find Me' - a young adult novel by Rachel Cohn. Another great teen read by this prolific author has you on a journey with the character as she finds her place in the world after the death of her cousin.
'Loud Awake and Lost' - a young adult novel by Adele Griffin dealing with post car-accident amnesia. I loved following the character's journey as she wades through healing along with flickering memories.
'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte. I read this book in highschool and I loved it then as I love it now. I have read this countless times since then, and will likely read it countless more.
'Echo Burning' by Lee Child. Another fast-paced, action-packed Jack Reacher story. These books have been a fave of mine and they never fail to entertain me.
Wow! I guess my tastes are more varied and eclectic than I realize!
So on these rainy days leading up to the holiday season, I hope you find time to grab a book - any book - and get reading!
So as I get ready to go back to my 'day job' (oh how I wish THIS, what I'm doing right now, WAS my day job), I am reflecting on the last few months of health challenges (on track now), and where did all that time go?!
'Unteachable' - a new adult novel by Leah Raeder. A page-turning emotional roller coaster.
'Hit and Run' a young adult novel by Lurlene McDaniel. A gritty novel for teens tackling extreme moral and ethical issues.
'November 9' - a novel for adults by Colleen Hoover. Another page-turning emotional roller coaster the premise being they meet every year on the same date.
'You Know Where to Find Me' - a young adult novel by Rachel Cohn. Another great teen read by this prolific author has you on a journey with the character as she finds her place in the world after the death of her cousin.
'Loud Awake and Lost' - a young adult novel by Adele Griffin dealing with post car-accident amnesia. I loved following the character's journey as she wades through healing along with flickering memories.
'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte. I read this book in highschool and I loved it then as I love it now. I have read this countless times since then, and will likely read it countless more.
'Echo Burning' by Lee Child. Another fast-paced, action-packed Jack Reacher story. These books have been a fave of mine and they never fail to entertain me.
Wow! I guess my tastes are more varied and eclectic than I realize!
So on these rainy days leading up to the holiday season, I hope you find time to grab a book - any book - and get reading!
Monday, November 30, 2015
Blog Tour November 30 - December 4th!
I also want to send out a big thanks to Bridging the Gap Promotions for their support! So greatly appreciated!
Tour Schedule
Nov. 30
3 Partners in Shopping - Spotlight
A Passion for Romance - It's All About the Book
Margo Bond Collins - Spotlight
Books Aim for the Heart - Spotlight
Dec. 1
YA Book Report - Spotlight
Dec. 2
Harlie's Books - Character Interview/Review on Dec 16
Cover 2 Cover - Spotlight
Dec. 3
Maine Book Momma - Review
Bitten, Shifted...the not so Normal - Hero Interview
Dec. 4
Liz's Reading Life - Spotlight
Librarian Lavendar - Guest Post/Review Pending
Giveaway:
$10 Evernight Teen GC & 1 ebook copy of THAT NIGHT
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, November 20, 2015
Book Release day!
You can also find it for sale at Amazon.
It's only available in ebook format right now - in a month it will come out in paperback - so thrilled!
Added to that, I will be on a blog tour talking about the book, how I write, and so much more! Stay tuned!
It can take a whole day to figure out what happened....that night.
On what was to be just another Monday morning at school, Luke’s girlfriend Jessica is nowhere to be found. Names like ‘psycho lover’ follow Luke to his locker, even from his best friend. Luke soon learns Jessica tried to kill herself at a party from the previous Saturday night, and she’s blaming him. With posts on FaceBook feeding the rumors of what happened that night, the school has to investigate.
Torn between worry, guilt, loyalty, priorities, and an urgency to clear his name and protect hers, he has to find her—he loves her no matter what. The teacher in the middle of the investigation is also the same one to provide academic and character references for Luke’s college applications due by the end of the week. Luke knows he’s not to blame, but with no contact from Jessica and everyone blaming him for what happened, he’s at risk of losing everything—Jessica and his dreams of being a mechanic—all because of what happened that night.
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