Wednesday, February 5, 2014

IWSG: Blog Stress


If you haven't checked out the IWSG, you really should. Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for the group. 
(BTW...be sure to get your .99 cent sale copy of Alex's book CassaFire!)
And thanks to this month's IWSG hosts,
Jamie Ayres, and Mike Swift!

Right now I am suffering from bloggy insecurity. I am currently blog touring for my new release, Fate Intended. Blog tours always give me a good degree of worry. People are kind enough to invite me over, I want to send them something that is worth reading...and on time. I sent this post to Nicole Zoltack and then worried it was too long.
And Crystal Collier was kind enough to have me over for Writerly Wednesday. Crystal is all sorts of organized awesomeness. She can make a schlep like me feel like an insecure baby blogger.

On any day though, blogging can be stressful. Stress can wear a body down and lead to that beast insecurity.

BUT!

Like all things in my life. I have over-analyzed the condition and have a solution.

Might I suggest...


Drum roll, please!!!


Charlie's Scribes!
       Have you ever mused on your lost muse – and wonder is she coming back? 
Do you need a break – after yet another epic fail? 
Ever yearn to relearn that writeous feeling of fingers flying and keyboards smoking?
We may not be professional Hulu dancers, but we know what you’re feeling!
And, by gosh, we are here to help!
Charlie's Scribes is a new (and say it loud and proud, people) FREE service featuring the angelic smiles of Mark Koopmans, Elizabeth Seckman and Tammy Theriault.
The professional women of Charlie’s Scribes (and Mark, too) have only one goal: To fight writer's block and fill empty post slots throughout the blogosphere – or your next post is free!
At Charlie’s Scribes, our motto is “You Snooze, We Muse.” To begin, our free services will focus on guest posting for people on vacation or anyone needing a bloggy break. (E.g. we send over the complete post, you schedule and we’ll manage comments.)
If you have a need, we can do the deed – with speed, indeed.
Charlie’s Scribes are the chocolate to your sweet tooth. We are the filler to the soon-to-be cavity. And best of all, we are the wig to Mark's shiny lovable head.
 (If you don’t need us now – that’s okay. Feel free to print this page and pin it to your fridge next to those other emergency contact numbers.)
And now for some awesome fine print in 12-point Times New Roman.
·         Meant as a fun, pay-it-forward endeavor, the Scribes will, at first, focus on only one project at a time.
·         Requests are on a first write, first served basis. The more time we have to be funny, the wittier we are. (Mark often requires a ten-year lead-in time.)
·         All Charlie’s Scribes posts will be light, fluffy and non-pasteurized. No meaning of life posts will be considered, written or submitted (for fear of blood seeping from the Scribes’ eyes.)
·         Requests for specific topics are encouraged, but please note who you are dealing with. (Seriously!)
·         Should the Scribes continue to get along (and not have a strong, adverse desire to build a voodoo doll of other Scribes,) hosted interviews, co-hosted Cover Reveals/ Book Launches and more free services may be added.
·         Question? Suggestions? Please reply via comments and one of the Scribes will reply within 364 business days.
·         The Request Line for Charlie’s Scribes help is now OPEN and all requests should be made to charliesscribes@gmail.com
Adam Foster | Codefor
via photopin cc/div>

38 comments:

  1. Aloha:)

    Hey, with your mad writing skills, I bet you'll have nothing to worry about once the blog tour is done - and don't forget the wonderful achievement that you have your THIRD book out there.

    (Jumps up and down wearing full Lord of the Clones uni - complete with pom-poms - and chants, "Go Liz, go Liz, it's your book birthday, it's your book birthday!!")

    Bring on the Scribes :)

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    1. You always know what to say...and wear when you're chanting. Hugs Mark. You're a good guy.

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  2. I love Charlie's Scribes. And I hear you on the blog insecurity problem! I saw your post and realized it was IWSG day! EEEEEEP! (so yeah, I had to go write that and come back here. Thanks for the unintended reminder!)

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    1. You're welcome. I'm sooo glad it's not just me who forgets about things! We get overwhelmed, right?

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  3. Charlie's Scribes is a great idea! Love it. And, like Rena, it was seeing your post this morning that made me realise I was late with mine!

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    1. I'm being a reminder? The universe might be tilting the wrong way!

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  4. This is like the brightest idea I have read. I am sure you will rock the blogsphere. I might use your services soon. Best of luck!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Yay! We wanted to help our fellow bloggers. Make sure none of you leave us!

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  5. I like the idea of Charlie's Scribes! Because yes, it can be stressful.
    Thanks for mentioning CassaFire's sale and picking up the book!

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    1. My pleasure. Both book one and two or your series is on my list.

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  6. When I was first starting my blog tour (back in November) I was beyond stressed. If you can believe it, I would forget to eat lunch and wasn't drinking enough water so I actually came close to dehydration. It's important to take it a month at a time (if your tour is long), prepare posts as soon as you get scheduled, and I like to send them 2 weeks - 1 month ahead of time.

    Good luck with your blog tour!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. That's good advice Chrys. Procrastination is a curse. That and having a big family. I'm always waiting for that proverbial shoe to drop. Whenever I think I am getting my stuff together, someone has a crisis.

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  7. I just get so far ahead that no stress comes due, then i can hop about and just enjoy it.

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    1. That is my goal Pat. I'd really love to get back to being organized and leave the mess in the past.

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  8. Best of luck with your touring! I will pop over to check out the posts- and I am sure you have done a wonderful job. Don'y be too hard on yourself. :)

    ~Jess

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    1. You're a sweetheart Jess! Thanks so much for the encouragement.

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  9. What a wonderful way of giving back to the blogging community. That's awesome! And I wish you nothing but success with your blog tour.

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  10. You guys are too funny. Here's to the start of something good.
    Stop worrying about the tour. Take control of what you can and do what needs to be done. Everything else will fall into place.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. It's so good to know so many wise and educated bloggers. People like you do save my sanity!

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  11. Hahaha! Too funny, Elizabeth. Love the idea of Charlie's scribes and hiding the glare from Mark's head. ;)
    By the way, I love what you wrote in the comments on Chrys' blog. Letters after a name don't mean anything if the person's a narrow-minded, sharp-tongued twerp.

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    1. Honestly River. I don't think I have learned half as much from any classroom as I have from experience. It's a piece of paper that shields me from the sharp tongued twerps, but every bit of what I believed has moved me forward in my life has come from having the wisdom to go to people for help, and realizing the best and brightest can come from many different paths. (And that gem of advice I learned from a career waitress I worked a summer with!)

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  12. Bloggy insecurity, I totally hear ya. I freaked out during my tour, and then when it was over I was all, "that wasn't so bad" lol

    I love Charlie's Scribbles: great idea and awesome crew :D

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    1. I woke up at 5:00 am wondering what I've forgotten. I'd relax more if I knew I wasn't good at forgetting!

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  13. Hi Elizabeth,

    Luckily, I'm not insecure about my blogging. Then again, I'm under no pressure and just do whatever. If I'm really struggling, and yes, blogging can be exhausting, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar takes over my site.

    I wish you well with that endeavour with Tammy and Mark. I don't know of blogger's block. All I would have to do is an article about blogger's block and that's proof I don't actually have it.

    Try to go at your own pace without put too much pressure on yourself. The one concern I have is that I spend so much time commenting back to each person on my site that I don't get around to other blogs as much as I would like. The balance is a tough one.

    Gary :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Once again, I believe your wisdom is solid. I think the key to enjoying blogging is to relax and have fun with it. I'll have to keep reminding myself of that!

      Penny is such a good dog to have. I wonder if I could teach Grizzly to type?

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  14. I like the idea of Charlie's Scribes! This is a really great post.

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  15. Charlie's Scribes is a brilliant idea! What a great way to pay-it-forward! With the perfect team!
    I have NO DOUBT you will rock that blog tour Elizabeth!
    With that bubbly personality, you just can't lose!
    Writer In Transit

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    1. Thanks for the vote of confidence Michelle! When you say it, I almost believe it. And I do try to stay positive. Why not? The world offers us enough bad to deal with without creating more with a bad attitude.

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  16. LOL! I wish you could see my house and desk. You'd feel much better about your organizational skills, which are plenty awesome.

    Wow. What a SUPER cool service. I totally need to (lock you in my basement...) hire you when my brain dies at the end of this next revision. Kidding, kidding. Maybe. I hope. ;)

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    1. You can lock me in your basement. Is there wi-fi there?

      Some days I am well organized and some days it just all goes to pot. My goal (for my own sanity!) is to get my stuff caught up before taking on more, and scheduling a certain number of hours a day to work. And making it a priority.

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  17. You should have no bloggy stress...I love your blog (when I can make it over). Been a lazy boy, lately. Well, actually busy with non-bloggy things, so I've not been making rounds as I'd like.

    I saw the Charlie's Scribes promo on Alex's blog. What fun! Y'all are a hoot—the picture cracks me up. I'll keep you in mind.

    Have a great weekend!

    M.L. Swift, Writer

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    1. Thanks Michael! I have had to be busy with non-bloggy things. We have to take care of life, ya know?

      I think the Scribes will be fun. Tammy and Mark are a hoot!

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