Alex Cavanaugh’s Brain Child
Awesome co-hosts today are Allison Gammons, Tamara Narayan, Eva E. Solar, Rachel Pattison, and Ann V. Friend!
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
|
- You’re washed up before you begin.
- Nobody wants to read your stuff.
- The rejections come back before the send key is cool.
What’s so strange then about being just a little INSECURE?
Nothing, but to ease any tension–should any of these be nagging at you–I’ve come up with some alternative uses for you… and me. Don’t thank me, please. I’m preparing for all of these after this post goes live.
Inspect Keyboards
Do Line Edits
Generate Memes
Function as a Door Stop
Any other uses for Insecure Writers that you can think of? For heaven sakes share! But call me first because this was my idea. And read on because there’s some free books and a $100 dollar gift certificate waiting for you below.
Visit EVERNIGHT TEEN to see all of their books. |
By Carla Davis
I decided to give Double Negative a try because the sample dragged me in from the first paragraph until I had to read the whole thing! It’s so rare to see well done first person, but this book does it masterfully. Hutch has a real voice that must be rendered in the way the author has chosen. No lazy writing here!
By ltg584
I could tell within pages that this book was pure genius and it only became more apparent the deeper I was pulled into the story. I devoured it as quickly as I could… and now it’s over! 🙁 I wish there was some way that it could be a series, just so I could have more! I have already been perusing the author’s other works, debating over which one to read next.
By Night Owl Reviews
Double Negative is just amazing. Reading it felt like being on emotional roller-coaster.
I’m proud to be an EVERNIGHT TEEN author. Enjoy this tease from my book, Double Negative.
“My life was going, going, gone, and I hadn’t been laid yet. I couldn’t go into the slammer before that happened.” Hutch McQueen |
I see her before she sees me, but when she does, man, does she shoot lasers at me with her eyes. I walk fast and stop her at the edge of the lawn. “Look, I’m a sleaze, okay? I’m sorry, but that’s just the way I was made.”
“What do you need?”
“Nothing.” That’s pretty much the truth at the moment. By using one eye to read I’m doing more of the homework. If I hold one of them magnifying glasses over a page I can even look up words in the dictionary, so while it takes a lot of time, I can almost get through Deek’s assignments. Still I don’t want to take any chances. Nyla’s brain could be the difference between me staying a junior for a long time or making it to my senior year. I need to be on her good side.
She passes me and starts toward Larkston High.
“I said I’m sorry. Liz and me . . . well we kind of—”
“Just shut up.” She keeps walking, her eyes down.
“I came to try and—”
She wheels around so fast I run smack into her and have to back up.
I don’t expect her to sock me, so when her fist comes at me I take the full wallop on the left side of my jaw. One minute I’m there with the sidewalk under my feet and the next that sidewalk is pressed against my cheek.
I’m offering two eBooks of Double Negative during Evernight Teen’s super celebration. All you have to do is say you’d like a copy and leave your email in a comment. I’ll put your name in the “hat”.
J.H. Moncrieff says
Argh! I'm so sorry I missed this. It sounds great, Lee.
Hmm…how about cat sitter? Cats love writers…our laptops make a nice warm place to sleep.
C. Lee McKenzie says
At sitter! Of course. I'm saving that for next month.
Nas says
All the best with all your projects.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Kind of wild, but fun.
Michelle Wallace says
Function as a door stopper? Hehehe!
Thanks for the laughs, Lee!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Love to laugh!
Lexa Cain says
Hahaha! I'd function as a door stop but my ruby slippers are in the shop. Till they come back I'll just lie here and be a throw rug. Have a great weekend and Super Bowl if you watch. Gooo Broncooooss!! 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Whoop! They won. And what a game. Here's to getting those Ruby slippers mended and returned with sparkles.
Empty Nest Insider says
Is there a waiting list for the keyboard inspector and human door stop positions? This was fun, Lee! Congrats on your well-deserved reviews and Evernight's third anniversary!
Julie
Julie
Empty Nest Insider says
Sorry …I guess I'm seeing Double!
Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar! says
Hi human, Lee,
Pawesome pawst! Of course, I'm not an insecure writer. I do like your suggestions. I would suggest you might have an non-insecure writer's blog hop, or fest, or whatever you blogger gatherers call them these days.
Well done to Evernight Teen for reaching a third birthday.
Heck, well done on everything because I thoroughly skimmed through your pawst!
Pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses,
Penny xx
lorilmaclaughlin.com says
Happy Birthday to Evernight Teen and congrats on your great reviews! Thanks for the laughs, particularly inspecting the keyboard and door stop. Funny.
Ravyne says
Great ideas! I love the meme and the doorstop. Good luck with your projects!
Heather R. Holden says
Ooh, great excerpt. Love Hutch's voice! The tension between him and Nyla is so tangible…
Elizabeth says
You're right, those do ease the tension a bit 🙂 I think there have been some times I've functioned as a door stop. Double Negative sounds like a good read, Happy Birthday to Evernight Teen!
nashvillecats2 says
Loved the post and the pictures.
Yvonne.
C.D. Gallant-King says
Wait, getting rejections back before you hit the send key? That would be AWESOME. It would save so much time and anxiety, not having to wait around for a response.
DMS says
I have Double Negative and look forward to reading it. 🙂 Great excerpt.
Happy Birthday Evernight Teen! Thanks for the amazing giveaway.
~Jess
Medeia Sharif says
More rejections…that's a reality. Funny memes. Yay for Evernight Teen's birthday.
Pat Hatt says
lol some of those sound like they'd hurt a bit
Donna McDine says
Wow! You have me hooked. I feel the scene washing over all my senses. Well done!
Yolanda Renee says
Love Hutch's voice! And yeah, a good whallop too. I did that once to a boy for pulling my hair. Learned much later that it meant he liked me. Oops!
I'd love a copy! [email protected] Oh and those ruby slippers too!
Elizabeth Seckman says
Hire them to hand out drinks at a starving artist show? Just to prove we're in good company.
Happy Birthday to Evernight!! I still need to read Double Negative. It looks great.
Madilyn Quinn says
Oh jeez am I guilty of the meme search.. sometimes for a little too long.
Gwynn Rogers says
I TRULY loved your post! You 'nailed' the feeling of insecurity. But you forgot "Oh, my ideas are NOT good enough!" Or any other excuse we can come up with.
I do appreciate your comments on my blog. Thanks for being a great support~
C. Lee McKenzie says
That one might have to go to the head of the list. Thanks.
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Ha, ha, I do all those things. And I highly recommend Double Negative.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi, Beverly. We have to laugh at ourselves, don't we?
odell01 says
You're an interesting writer. The teaser does whet the appetite, I feel. The giveaway is a fun thing as well.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Glady to stopped by to leave a comment. Hope you'll come again.
Heather M. Gardner says
You can use an insecure writer as a crash test dummy!
Really great excerpt!
Heather
C. Lee McKenzie says
Brilliant! I'm adding that to my list.
Juneta Key says
Okay, I went on to listen to your podcast you have post and I grab a copy of Alligators Overhead. I love the title, the trailer and it sounds like a fun read. Your cover is gorgeous. The cover on the sequel is also great, Anyway just had to tell you. I have not been taken and surprised by something like that—you actually excited my Muse, since you are a writer I know you understand what I mean. I want to affect readers the way you affected me. Yup, you're awesome. Now I gotta go read the book.
Juneta Writer's Gambit
C. Lee McKenzie says
This is one of the best compliments I've had since I started writing and publishing. Thanks for taking the time to leave it, and thank you for buying Alligators Overhead!
Juneta Key says
What an excellent book trailer. It was one of the best I've seen. It hooked me and I'm an adult.
I also enjoyed your post. Love your writing/posting voice, very enjoyable. Loved your uses for insecure writers too, You are just awesome. Seriously I really had fun reading your post.
Happy Writing
Juneta Writer's Gambit
C. Lee McKenzie says
Good gravy. I haven't been called awesome since I was fifteen and might have been. Well, only in my own mind. But it felt good then and it feels good now. Great to meet you! Come back.
Bish Denham says
So that's where my magnifying glass went! I've been looking all over it. And of course I want to read Double Negative.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Sorry. I stole your magnifying glass for this post. I'll return it later. Maybe. Your name's in the hat!
Karen Lange says
Well, who knew there were so many uses for us insecure writers! Talk about turning lemons into lemonade! 🙂
A big congratulations to you! Excited for you!
C. Lee McKenzie says
If we don't laugh about our situation, we can't ever be happy. I want happy. Thanks so much for the visit.
Lynda R Young says
That's an awesome doorstop.
Great reviews too! Congrats!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Lynda,
So glad you liked my doorstop. Oh, and the reviews. Thanks.
emaginette says
Nope. Lee, I think you covered everything. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
C. Lee McKenzie says
Ah. At last validation for completion of a task. Thank you.
Cherie Colyer says
I liked function as a doorstop too. Cute! Great excerpt. Thanks for sharing!
C. Lee McKenzie says
It's one very practical use for those of us captured by the insecurity of writing.
Chrys Fey says
"Function as a doorstop." Haha! I want those fake legs and Ruby shoes sticking out from under my bookcase. 😉
Congrats on those great reviews!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm thinking I should find some of those and send them to friends.
H.R. Sinclair, Southpaw says
Inspecting the keyboard is beneficial!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I find tasty crumbs all the time.
Cathrina Constantine says
Well Deserved Reviews!!! I've said it before, loved Double Negative!!
I need to do more line edits. I was going over a finished ms and no matter how hard I try, I find silly errors….
Have a nice week!!!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks, Cathrina! Get those line edits under control, knowing you're not alone.
M Pax says
A great use for an insecure writer is to pour drinks for the rest of us. lol Great event by Evernight!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes. And I'll bring the glasses.
Sharon Himsl says
Wow, great reviews Lee. Thanks too for the laugh. My hair makes a great feather duster, and with rejects piling up,I'm ready to chew the keyboard.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I was thinking that I could make the big bucks if I supplied writers with tiny pills guaranteed to take all insecurity away. Or maybe just sell new keyboards to those who chew them or throw them out.
Tyrean Martinson says
Happy Birthday to Evernight Teen! And yay for those great bits about Double Negative – love that book!
I think I inspect the keyboard too often. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm an expert Keyboard Inspector!
Deborah Osborne says
Awesome memes. I feel inspired now. Evernight Teen sounds good too. I've not come across that before. Thanks for the tip.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for stopping in.
Patricia Lynne says
Haha. I love the grumpy cat one.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Like Diane said, why couldn't I have thought him up?
Christine Rains says
*LOL* I needed that laugh. I'm guilty of browsing memes!
C. Lee McKenzie says
They do tend to lead one astray!
Julie Flanders says
I think I'd be a master at the keyboard inspector job. Thanks to you I may have finally found my true calling.
Congrats on those excellent reviews!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I try to be helpful, Julie. Let me know what profession finally calls you.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – 'Learn to Study', I guess this should come first 'Learn to Read' … the Evernight Teen Blog Hop .. sure would love a copy of your book … and my email is … as you know …
All the best – cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
You're entered!
Pat Garcia says
Hi,
I hope I connected up successfully. I will drop in during the Evernight Teen Blog hop.
Shalom,
Patricia
C. Lee McKenzie says
That's great. Glad to have you.
L. Diane Wolfe says
Congrats to Evernight Teen.
Don't you wish you'd invented Grumpy Cat?
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes. He's perfect.
Jennifer Hawes says
Great excerpt! Congrats on the third anniversary! Yes, rejections will always come in many ways. Gotta get tough!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Skin of an alligator!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Doorstop – funny!
Get them drunk and let them loose at a party? Could be amusing.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think we writers should take ourselves less seriously. Seriously.