Ah, the writer’s life.

 

The joy of getting out of bed when you want, grabbing an aromatic cup of freshly-perked java, and still decked out in comfy pajamas and fuzzy slippers, sitting in front of the computer tastefully situated in a beautiful office with a glorious view and immediately typing away on your next book. No hassles. No interruptions.

 

Words flowing. Ideas flowing. Creative energy flowing. Like a dream, the story writes itself, and before you know it, another book is written.

 

A perfect day. A perfect life. The writer’s life.

 

Not!

 

This scenario, unfortunately, is a fantasy. The way we wish it would be, especially when we’re most frustrated with our writing. The reality is me dragging my still-tired self out of bed way earlier than I really want, feeding the cat, making the coffee that may or may not be aromatic or any good, and then schlepping my way over to my computer to wade through the mass of stuff I have to do before I can get to my book.

 

Once I’m writing, it rarely goes smoothly. Sometimes the words flow, sometimes they don’t. And if they don’t then I live in hell until I can work my way out of the corner I’ve probably managed to write myself into, until I finally, finally, figure out where the blasted story is supposed to go. This scenario is especially true if you’re a pantser like me.

 

As if that weren’t enough, then the editing process begins. This is where I continually go over and over and over my manuscript, fleshing it out, adding in layers and depth, agonizing over word choices and sentence structure, and generally cleaning up the mess I fondly refer to as my first draft. All in an effort to make said manuscript as perfect as I possibly can. And when you’re a perfectionist by nature like I am, and even if you’re not, it’s a lot of hard work. And despite all that effort, the end result still isn’t anywhere near perfect. Is it all worth it?

 

Absolutely!

 

Because when you sell your book, the feeling of elation is like no other. And when that book’s release day arrives, the excitement is phenomenal. The absolute icing on the cake is when you hear back from readers who love your book. It’s wonderful. It’s a dream.

 

It’s perfect.

 

~*~

 

Anara Bella

www.anarabella.com

www.myspace.com/anarabella

Halloween is just around the corner. Is there a local ghost story from your part of the country that you want to share? Have you or anyone in your family had an encounter with the paranormal? Readers and Authors come share those ghostly encounters with us….and on halloween we will come in and pick some winners for some free reads from our RJ book vault. Just participate with a ghostly tale to be entered in our things that go bump in the night chaoscat shout out blog contest

We asked the RJ reviewers what were your top reads last month?

Here is a list of RJ Reviewers Blue Ribbon Favorites for Sept:

A Scot’s Honor by C.H. Admirand

Along for the Ride by Michelle M. Pillow

Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand

Bird in a Gilded Cage by Christy Poff

Caressed by Ice by Nalini Singh

Cinda and the Bounty Hunter by Paige Tyler

Derailed by Rhiannon Neeley

Everyday Spectres: Gates of Hell by Willa Okati

For Her Pleasure by Maya Banks

Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann

Free Fall by Fern Michaels

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Highlander’s Bride by Michele Sinclair

Holidays are Hell by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu, Vicki Peterson

Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward

Meagan’s Chance by L.C. Monroe

Mind Games by Christine Feehan

Mining Evermore by Kathleen Rowland

Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Raw Silk by Lisabet Sarai

Royal Harlot by Susan Holloway Scott

Servant: The Awakening by L.L. Foster

Shadow Whispers by Linda Conrad

Silver Master by Jayne Castle

Someone to Love by Jude Deveraux

Tanner’s Scheme by Lora Leigh

The Forever Summer by Suzanne MacPherson

The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

Trouble by Sasha White

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

Whose Number is Up, Anyway? By Stevi Mittman

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Wolf Tales IV by Kate Douglas

*****

Lucia Nelson   &  Christina Rodriguez

Blue Ribbon Favorites Coordinators           

Introduce yourself and tell us what you are reading.