Writers: A Blog You Should Really Read. Please.

Have you ever fallen in love with someone online?

I have. Twice.

My first cyber romance was with a pug named Tonka, a fat and jolly fellow whose picture I saw on the local Pug Rescue and he stole.my.heart. but Paul opposed adopting a second dog. It would take someone burning our house down and our little girl working her heart out  to get Paul to change his mind.

My second online romance was unknowingly match made by Michael Hyatt whom I follow on Twitter and Facebook. He wrote the book Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World which is a helpful guide for aspiring writers as well as those who are already published.

Mr. Hyatt advocates intentional leadership and constructs clear action plans for his readers. He’s very encouraging and upbeat but, for someone whose default action plan is: 1. Make coffee  2. Read  3. Slip into the fetal position, I have found Mr. Hyatt’s information—on occasion—to be the teensiest bit overwhelming.

If you keep up with the publishing industry, the news can be grim. Everything is changing and most will tell you, not for the better. Many blog posts from professionals in book publishing could be illustrated by  Edvard Munch and as much as I want to stay current and keep learning, it becomes disheartening.

Last year Hyatt retweeted  an editor who worked on Platform, Jamie Chavez, with a post titled, “Words I Never Want to See in Your Novel. Please.” It was the “Please.” that got me. Short story: I clicked on the link and fell in love with Jamie’s mix of brilliance, bossiness and fun!

I was expecting a list of 15 impossibles things to do today to make my writing dreams come true…maybe…probably not!—and instead I found language and LOVE. I read and read and then I tracked her down on Facebook—something I never do—and asked her to be my Friend…if she didn’t keep FB private—which I completely understood—not that she was asking for my understanding.

I’m so glad this made her laugh and she said yes because we’ve been having a good time online ever since.

Jamie is a developmental editor, a book doctor, if you will, someone who understands the art, as well as the craft, of writing and the lady knows her stuff. Her blog is full of helpful advice for writers and she’s a voracious reader so there’s so much for anyone who loves language and books.

Do yourself a favor and check out my lovely friend’s blog HERE.