Call Yourself a Writer Meme

I like doing these memes sometimes and Nick Daws Writing Blog tagged me for this one (here's the original). Please do add your own answers in the comments!

Which words do you use too much in your writing?

I use dashes too much – but I enjoy the space! I also use too many exclamation marks! For words, ‘actually'

What's your favourite piece of writing by you?

It is mostly the writing I do that is not public. I have so many diaries and notebooks from years of pouring my heart out. Some of these may see the light of day at some point and I do browse them for ideas periodically. Moleskine notebooks are the current favourite!

What blog post do you wish you'd written?

Nathan Bransford's Glossary of publishing. I have been working on one of my own and have now ditched it as he has done a great job. Brilliant link bait as well.

Regrets, do you have a few? Is there anything you wish you hadn't written?

I don't have regrets at all. Everything that has happened in my life has taught me something, and everything I have written has been a step along the way!

How has your writing made a difference? What do you consider your most important piece of writing?

I am very excited by this blog and the difference it has made, as demonstrated by emails and blog comments. I started this when I discovered a world beyond traditional publishing and wanted to tell people how exciting it is!

My personal aim is to “liberate” 1 million books from people who thought the publishing world could stop them. But the message is that you can self-publish, blog, podcast and be creative and no one can stop you! If people like what you are doing, they will buy your books and join in your conversation. You don't need gatekeepers anymore. THAT is exciting!

For me personally, my first book “How to Enjoy Your Job” was important. It changed my life and my husband's and also achieved a lifetime goal for me as well as kickstarting a new career in writing. That book burnt on my heart for around 8 years before I finally wrote it.

Name three favourite words

love, book, chocolate. Now make that into a sentence!

…And three words you're not so keen on

boring, listless, grey. Life should not be like that.

Do you have a writing mentor, role model or inspiration?

I aspire to be a self-help guru like Jack Canfield with my non-fiction books. Books that help people to change their lives and find a new path. I would also like to write fiction like James Rollins, Matthew Reilly and perhaps combine the thriller genre with parapsychology – like John Connolly without the horror. I would also like to be a spiritual/travel writer like Paulo Coelho‘s The Pilgrimage. I want to transcend genre or span multiple genres. Life is an adventure!

What's your writing ambition?

As above I want to write lots of books in many genres – Paulo Coelho seems to do this pretty well. I would also like to publish in lots of different ways i.e. self-publish (tick), e-publish (tick) and trad publish. I'd love to have a big bestseller novel that is made into a blockbuster movie, as well as write a spiritual places series of books. After all , “I am large. I contain multitudes” (What Whitman, Song of Myself) I don't like to be constrained and luckily, I don't have to be!

Plug alert!  List any work you would like to tell your readers about:

You can find my books here – ebooks only US$4.99 for writing, publishing, sales and promotion help. Print books available on Amazon.com.

Also, if you haven't got the Author 2.0 Blueprint, it's free here.

In the spirit of the meme, I tag:

Alan Baxter – author of dark fantasy novels ‘Realmshift' and ‘Magesign'

Tom Evans, The BookWright – brilliant writers block coach

Alexis Grant Travel writer and memoirist

The rules are on the original!

IMAGE: Flickr Creative Commons MBGrigby and my own.