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Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Muse Therapy: To The "Rescue"
Happy Tuesday, D. D. Scott-ville!
With the next Muse Therapy Online Session about to kick-off this coming Saturday, October 1st...
I'm over the moon to be givin' ya a Sneak Peek at some of the superfab new Muse Therapy Tips, Tricks and Treats I'm now using to keep my muses crankin' out pages with gusto!
As many of you know, one of the ways I keep my muses full of energy and always ready to dance like nobody's watching is by living an organic and all-natural lifestyle.
I'm close to being complete vegan in my approach to healthy eating, and I dable in yoga a bit as well as use all-natural remedies when it comes to healing.
I can't believe the difference in my energy levels just because I watch what I put into my body.
I really do think there's a ton of truth to the harm preservatives and chemicals like growth hormones and additives do to our bodies.
That said, many of u ask me:
"D.D., what are you putting in your coffee and cocktails, Girlfriend?! You always have sooo much energy and are sooo happy!"
Well...I drink my Keurig-made coffee, extra-bold and black, or sometimes with just one all-natural sugar packet added. And as far as my cocktails, I have Happy Hour every afternoon with either a glass of wine or a Black Russian, Hot Apple Cider with Brandy or a martini.
And here's another fun way I now treat my muses too...
My latest discovery:
Made in Switzerland, this flower based homeopathic remedy is made from clematis, impatiens, elderflower, orange and beeswax. http://www.bachflower.com/
I stumbled across these little gems in InStyle magazine as something Salma Hayek and her daughter use while flying. And Salma also uses them to keep calm on crazy busy days.
Thanks sooo much for the superfab tip, Salma!
I really do think these pastilles work, and they're such fun to show your peeps too!
I recently took them to our local County Council meeting, which is definitely an occasion for much-needed stress relief!!! LOL!!!
Healthy bodies - as stress-free as we can get 'em - make for happy and productive muses too.
See y'all "in therapy"...Muse Therapy that is...LOL!
You can sign-up anytime right here:
http://www.ddscott.com/muse.html
And now, thanks to my new Muse Therapy Online Community, you no longer have to worry about class beginning and end dates...we're there whenever you need us!!!
Cheer to learning how to rein in and reign over your creative divas and dans
and
Sexy Sassy Smart Muse Therapy To The "Rescue" Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Being a Gutsy Girl, Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Muse Therapy Extras: Tude-Torial #1 Miss Piggy Knows Best
Happy Tuesday!!!
Here in D. D. Scott-ville, and my Muse Therapy Kingdom too, it's all about the attitude...
There's no better way to rein in and reign over your muses than to “show” 'em some attitude!
Starting with this post today, that’s exactly what we’re gonna do!
I’m calling these little Muse Therapy feature-ettes “Attitude Tutorials” or “‘Tude-torials” for short.
So here we go with the first of many, superfab fun Muse Therapy ‘Tude-torials’:
“Only time can heal your broken heart, just like only time can heal his broken arms and legs.” --- Miss Piggy, the Queen of Sassy Swines
Fun and super-sassy stuff, right?
Nothin' beats Goin' Miss Piggy when you need to make sure your muses are feelin' all kinds of Sexy, Sassy, and Smart-Ass energy!!!
Okay...that does it for our first Muse Therapy ‘Tude-torial.
I’d luuuvvv to hear your fave Attitude-Extraordinaire Quotes and Anecdotes too!
Leave ‘em in the Comments Section below for all of us here in D. D. Scott-ville to enjoy and put to great use as we struggle to rein in and reign over our creative divas and dans.
Sexy Sassy Smart Muse Therapy 'Tude-torial Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Being a Gutsy Girl, Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits, Writing Quotes and Anecdotes
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
MUSE THERAPY and The Dash: What Are You Doin' with "The Dash" In Your Life?
Happy Tuesday, D. D. Scott-ville!
Every part of life is a cycle...
Some moments see us flying high while others catch us lower-than-low. And at each point, we know the other will soon cycle around once more.
While on my Writing-for-Publication Roller Coaster Ride, I've been thinking about this a ton lately.
I've had these huge "up's" in the superfab building of my reader and fan bases and sales numbers. But those up's, however, have caused some large holes to open-up in my Meet the Focker's style "Circle of Trust". LOL!
What do I mean by that?
Many of you know - from my MUSE THERAPY book and my online classes and live workshops - that I'm a huge fan of Julia Cameron's THE ARTIST'S WAY.
Like Cameron, I refuse to allow life's Wet Blankets and Crazy-Makers to rain on my life and/or my success.
Wet Blankets and Crazy-Makers are people who constantly bring you down. Some, do it on purpose, and are truly very dark souls who only make themselves feel better by hurting those around them or those they think are doing better than they are. Other Wet Blankets and Crazy-Makers are just plain nuts (LOL!) and don't even realize they make those of us around them doubt our sanity too!
Anyhoo...
The point is...life is just too short to let your Wet Blankets and Crazy-Makers reign.
I can't believe the difference in my muses' productivity and all-around happiness quotient since I've taken back my life and no longer allow those kind of people to rule my world.
So what does all this have to do with "The Dash" and for that matter, what is "The Dash"?
About a month ago, my family lost a dear friend. This was the kind of guy who you always felt sooo wonderful and happy to have spent time with. He was a guy I call "A Warm and Fluffy Heated Towel" vs Cameron's Wet Blankets and Crazy-Makers.
At his funeral, his brother, who is also a pastor, told us about a poem called "The Dash" by Linda Ellis, which is based on that little dash or hyphen between the years that will someday mark your life on your tombstone.
As the poem explains, it's not about when you were born or when you died. It's about how you lived your life in between those years....during your "dash".
So...what are you doing with your "dash"?
Are you letting your Wet Blankets and Crazy-Makers wreak havoc on you? Or are you surrounding yourself with Warm and Fuzzy, Fluffy Heated Towels?
And hopefully, you're also a Fluffy Heated Towel.
The Best of Muse Therapy and The Dash Wishes --- D. D. Scott
Labels: Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits, My Writing Process or Lack There Of
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Muse Therapy Extra Tip: Life Ain't Always a Beach...So Go Sit On One!
Happy Tuesday, D. D. Scott-ville!
It's been awhile since I've treated y'all to a little bit of Muse Therapy...so how 'bout a Muse Therapy Extra Tip?
For those of you new to D. D. Scott-ville, you can check out all-things-Muse Therapy right here:
http://www.ddscott.com/muse.html
For this Muse Therapy Mini-Session, think...
Life Ain't Always a Beach...So Go Sit On One!!!
That's right. It never hurts to find a gorgeous spot, then get comfy in your fave beach chair, and just veg...or, in my world, simply watch the boats come in.
***Note: U can of course do this the cyber way too - right from your laptop or PC - but if you can get outdoors, even if it's not onto a beach, get out and soak-in some sunshine and Vitamin D and Mother Nature's Magic!***
If you're a writer, it's sooo easy to get mired down in the business-side muck of writing-for-publication.
Even though, I've found part of the solution to that by the incredible feeling I get Paying It Forward to other writers on my grog The WG2E - The Writer's Guide to Epublishing, sometimes still...my muses just need a break.
And if you're not a writer, but rather a superfab reader, you may need a break from life and often find that by escaping into a book, right? And if you happen to be on a beach while reading too?! Well...how darn fantabulous is that?! LOL!
Sometimes you've just got to bask in whatever it is that soothes your soul.
For me, that's the beach, where I swear I can feel my chest open-up and my spirit soar with the seagulls.
I somehow find there, in my parcel of sand, the ability to put my life and career in perspective, then accept my reality and its constant changes, hassles, and advances along with the ebb and flow of the tide.
Listen to your muses - those voices in your soul - that whisper to you exactly what your body, mind and psyche need to survive and thrive.
Then find your "beach"...and sit on it!!!
It's Your Turn, D. D. Scott-ville: Where do you take your muses to help 'em get back into their groove? In other words, how do you escape life's bits of crazy?
Sexy Sassy Smart Find Your Beach and Sit On It Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Being a Gutsy Girl, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits, My Muses (The Carrie Squad), My Writing Process or Lack There Of
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Memetastic Results and Muse Therapy
Happy Thursday, D. D. Scott-ville!
Sooo...no longer shall I make you wait to see which of my Memetastic Award "5 Things About Me" is actually a for-real Truth...
For those of you who guessed Number...
2. I've met and worked with, plus arranged for a doctor to see - because one of them had an awful case of the flu - one of my fave all-time musical duos Air Supply. (P.S. Their costumes were quite smelly after being on tour for awhile...but damn, they can still sing the songs just like I used to sing with 'em on my Mr. Microphone.)
You are right-on!
And damn, those costumes were really really, very very smelly. I mean seriously, during their performance, they knelt down beside me and sang to me, and I damn near passed-out. I held my breath for so damn long, it 'bout did me in. People thought I was blown away by the opportunity to be serenaded by my Mr. Microphone Muse Faves...but no, I was blown away by the smell of said Mr. Microphone Faves.
Anyhoo...
What else gets my Muses in gear...
One way to find out, is for you (and your muses too) to come along for my MUSE THERAPY Online Classes which start-up again this Friday, April 1st!
That's right, this April Fool's Day - tomorrow, as a matter of fact - it ain't gonna be your muses foolin' you any longer. It's time you took back the throne of your Muse Kingdoms and learned how to rein in and reign over your creative divas and dans.
There's still time to sign-up right here from my website http://www.ddscott.com/muse.html !
For this April Class, we'll not only go through many of the sessions in my MUSE THERAPY: UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SYBIL bestselling book, we'll also touch on Spring Fever and how you can harness all the creative powers of Mother Nature to get your muses dancin' across your pages like nobody's watching...even if there's a strong stench coming from the 80's era-duo serenading you.
I'm looking forward to meeting you and your muses too "in therapy"...MUSE THERAPY that is!
Sexy Sassy Smart Memetastic & Muse Therapy Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Finding Fabulous Readers, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits, Readers and Fans
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
MUSE THERAPY Extra Tip & Tidbit: Defying Gravity
Happy Tueday to all of you and your muses too!
If there's one thing I've learned in my ten plus year writing-for-publication journey, it's that, in order to survive and thrive, you've got to harness your inner Elphaba and Defy Gravity!!!
But here's the secret...you've got to Defy Gravity in your own way, whether that's the "normal" publishing industry approved way or not.
One of my very fave lines in Elphaba's wonderful Wicked world is when she says:
"well we can't all come and go by bubble!"
while referring to Galinda/Glinda the Good Witch.
And how true is that powerful tidbit?!
Especially when we all know that the traditional publishing bubble has now burst.
That business model just ain't workin' anymore, right?
So here's a little MUSE THERAPY secret that will keep you and your muses happy and sane on your writing-for-publication journey to Publishing Oz:
The journey - and each path you're on during that journey - is yours alone. So skip to your own beat. Conquer the big-ass, apple-throwing trees and deadly poppy fields by educating yourself on all the Wicked Witches' tricks. And remember...be your own Wizard.
The traditional publishing world's Wizard-ly curtains have been yanked back by E-reading Toto's.
So follow you and your muses' hearts across your pages...that's the only way you'll make it home to the publishing success of your dreams.
Sexy Sassy Smart Defying Gravity Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Being a Gutsy Girl, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
The Changing Over of The Collage
Happy Tuesday, D. D. Scott-ville!
I'm sooo excited to share with you one of my all-time favorite rituals of my writing process...and that is what I call The Changing Over of The Collage.
And here's the scoop...
Last week, I officially took down the collage I created for BUCKLES ME BABY - Book Three of my Bootscootin' Books Series - and started the collage I'll make - as a WIP of my new WIP - THUG GUARD, Book One of my new RomCom-Cozy Series The Cozy "Cash" Mysteries.
Here's what I've got so far on the new THUG GUARD Collage:
That's it...that's all I need to jump into the new pages of this new, fabulously fun series!!!
I've got my Rachel Zoe-inspired heroine Zoey Witherspoon on the board,
along with her very own, Walker Texas Ranger -
albeit an international cover model Jimmy Thomas-style Texas Ranger -
my new hero Roman Bellesconi.
Oh, and how 'bout the buzz-words I'm using to kick-off the story:
"...for an instant...surrender...why not"
Have no idea yet how-all I'll use those words...but they will be central to this uber exciting thrill ride that's to be my Cozy "Cash" Mysteries.
How fun is all this?!
For a complete explanation and accompanying collage exercise for you to try to get your muses dancing across your new pages, check out my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book MUSE THERAPY: UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SYBIL .
MUSE THERAPY CHALLENGE QUESTION: How do you get your new ideas in focus for your next WIP?
Sexy Sassy Smart Changing Over of The Collage Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Buckles Me Baby, Collaging, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits, The Bootscootin' Books Series, The Cozy Cash Mysteries, Thug Guard
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Behind & Beyond My Books: Rachel Zoe Is My RomCom-Cozy Muse
Happy Thursday, D. D. Scott-ville!
I'm hard at work on my new, RomCom-Cozy, Cozy "Cash" Mysteries, and havin' sooo much fun!!!
In Book One - THUG GUARD - you'll meet my new heroine Stylist to the Stars and Recently-Licensed P.I. Zoey Witherspoon, and her Bad-Ass, Sometimes-Partner-Against-Crime, U. S. Marshal Roman Bellesconi.
Actually, you were first introduced to this nutty, opposites-not-yet-attracting duo in Book Three of my Bootscootin' Books Series - BUCKLES ME BABY.
But now, in the Cozy "Cash" Mysteries, Zoey and Roman are the "it" couple...well, they're supposed to be, but they've got a long, long way to go and several, super-bad guys to catch first.
Here's the scoop:
Think a wanna-be-Plum - yeah, as in Stephanie Plum, who’s far, far from Plum in her Rachel Zoe-esque world – meets a Ponzi-scheme king Bernie Madoff-type and “lit-erally”, as the Rachel Zoe loves to say, the double agent out to destroy the cozy cash, feeder fund world that makes Wall Street sing.
It’s Charlie’s Angels – Mom Squad style – meets the new SEC’s Walker, Texas Ranger.
So...who's my muse inspiration for Zoey Witherspoon?
Check this out...
Rachel Zoe - as in The Zoe Report Rachel Zoe, Hollywood Stylist and Star of the Hit Show The Rachel Zoe Project
And you betchya my Zoey Witherspoon is gonna be dressed just like this - fabulous, faux fur vest included - when she gets her first bad guy!!!
Sexy Sassy Smart Muse Inspiration, Behind & Beyond My Books Wishes --- D. D. Scott
P.S. Next week, I'll fill y'all in on who inspired my Cozy "Cash" Mysteries hero Roman Bellesconi!Labels: Behind and Beyond My Books, Muse Therapy, RomCom-Cozies, Thug Guard, Zoey Witherspoon
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Behind & Beyond My Books: BUCKLES ME BABY Release Day is Valentine's Day!!!
It's finally just about here...the release of Book Three in my Bootscootin' Books Series - BUCKLES ME BABY!!!
On or around Valentine's Day, you're in for double the fun…and more than double the trouble…in book three of my bestselling series The Bootscootin’ Books. It’s Chick Lit, Gone-Country. Think paparazzi-hell and Ponzi-scheme fall-out meet home-shopping and Babies “R” Us.
Following BOOTSCOOTIN' BLAHNIKS - Book One in the Bootscootin' Books Series - and then Book Two - STOMPIN' ON STETSONS - I'm takin' y'all back to Music City, where Sex and The City meets Urban Cowboy, but this time with pregnancy, paparazzo hell and Ponzi-scheme fall-out mixed into my romcom, farcical mess!
What I'm most excited about with this BUCKLES ME BABY book is that I'm able to give you a fabulous peek, right between this book's virtual covers, of what's next in D. D. Scott-ville.
And here's what I mean by that...coming straight to you from the "Note From D. D. Scott" at the back of BUCKLES ME BABY:
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A NOTE FROM D. D. SCOTT
I sooo hope you’ve enjoyed my Bootscootin’ Books Series – first, BOOTSCOOTIN’ BLAHNIKS, then STOMPIN’ ON STETSONS, and now BUCKLES ME BABY.
But there’s no way the fun nor the buck stops in Music City.
Not a chance.
I’ve had sooo many readers write me and beg, yes beg, for more of the Bootscootin’ Books way-zany characters. So I’ve decided to treat y’all to a ton more of their farcical adventures...but with a little twist, that without, my muses just can’t seem to dance across my pages.
And here’s the twist...
My muses are gettin’ “cozy” as in Cozy Mystery “cozy”.
They’ve got some wild, wild adventures in the works, and here’s a hint who and what they’re crazy about:
Think a wanna-be-Plum - yeah, as in Stephanie Plum, who’s far, far from Plum in her Rachel Zoe-esque world – meets a Ponzi-scheme king Bernie Madoff-type and “lit-erally”, as the Rachel Zoe loves to say, the double agent out to destroy the cozy cash, feeder fund world that makes Wall Street sing.
It’s Charlie’s Angels – Mom Squad style – meets the new SEC’s Walker, Texas Ranger.
So sit tight ‘til this coming May 2011 when I debut my Cozy “Cash” Mysteries beginning with Book One THUG GUARD.
I’ll follow THUG GUARD with Book Two LIP GLOCK (August 2011) then Book Three SMOOTH CRIMINALS (November 2011).
Oh, and I’ll also have a special holiday treat for you - a Cozy “Cash” Mystery Novella - included in the 2011 Naked Hero Christmas Anthology GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN...MT. OLYMPUS THAT IS.
What?! You can’t sit tight that long? Fine. I’m including a THUG GUARD teaser chapter following this note.
And...if you still need some more D. D. Scott-ville “therapy”, check out my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book MUSE THERAPY: UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SYBIL where you’ll discover how I, along with many of your favorite authors, come up with our way-out-there ideas then keep our muses crankin’ out pages for y’all to enjoy.
In the mean time, you’re always welcome at any of my online homes, and here’s the scoop on those:
My Website
My D. D. Scott-ville Blog
Twitter @ddscottromcom
Facebook @DeeDee Scott
The Naked Hero
The Writer's Guide to Epublishing (The WG2E)
Goodreads D.D. Scott
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Sooo can't wait to share BUCKLES ME BABY with you! See you with the live links to the book on or before Valentine's Day!!!
And talk about double the fun...BUCKLES ME BABY gives you not only Audrey and Damian's story, but you'll also meet my new Cozy "Cash" Mysteries' hero and heroine Roman Bellesconi and Zoey Witherspoon!
Sexy Sassy Smart BUCKLES ME BABY & Romantic Comedy-Cozy Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Behind and Beyond My Books, Bootscootin' Blahniks, Buckles Me Baby, Muse Therapy, Stompin' On Stetsons, The Cozy Cash Mysteries, Thug Guard
Thursday, January 27, 2011
MUSE THERAPY Extra Tidbit: Commitment
Happy Thursday, Muse Queens and Kings To Be!
My MUSE THERAPY Kindle Nation Daily Debut "Push Day" is here!!!
Both today and this Saturday the 29th, my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book MUSE THERAPY: UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SYBIL is one of "the" featured books on the hugely popular and well-read Kindle Nation Daily!
Here's the scoop on what KND is and why this kind of "push" is sooo very vital to sales success for every new, Indie Epubbed Author...
The WG2E - Kindle Nation Daily Is The Place To Be!
In honor of my KND Debut, I'm giving y'all another MUSE THERAPY treat right outta the pages of my book...
**************************************
Today's Muse Therapy Extra Tidbit is all about "Commitment" --- oh, and not the
neurotic writer-nut type my DH thinks I may need to be committed for...LOL!!!
We're talking "commitment" as derived from a question a past student asked me.
She inquired:
"I'm curious when you became serious enough to commit to getting up at ungodly hours of the morning. Is that something that came once you felt like you were
really close? I battle this in my own mind because sometimes I think I AM
working hard and then other times, I think I'm a major slug compared to other
people. So maybe I don't want it enough or I'm not truly willing to do what it
takes to get published."
First, for me and my commitment level -- and I'll preface this by saying that's
why my DH thinks I'm a neurotic writer-nut and may need to be committed - enough
is never enough!
I'm always, always, ALWAYS asking myself "what else can I be doing to bring that next deal and the next one after that and the next one...?"
But that's just me and what works for me and my Carrie Squad. I've just got
tons of ideas always flowing (which I jot down on whatever is around me at the
time...you don't even want to go there...LOL!...I'll scribble on ANYTHING!!!)
because I never stop thinking about producing my ideas. Even when I try to shut
it off, I can't. Except when I go to bed...LOL! I'm completely out in less
than five minutes! LOL!
Your commitment - whether it's getting up wayyy early or staying up late or just writing one hour each day or less - is serious enough WHEN YOU'RE READY FOR IT
TO BE. It's really that simple and almost that harsh and beyond difficult at
the same time.
I have NEVER waited for any bit of success (winning a contest, finding an agent,
getting a great critique) to catapult my desires to another level.
I've always "Acted As If" I'm already there...
Because why you ask...
Debbie Macomber told me to do just that at RWA in Reno in 2005ish (not sure that's the right year but close). That's how she (and Allison Brennan too - she's been a great personal example to me as well --- luv them!) made it...because they never stopped to let the doubt that they weren't there yet stop 'em!
I've never slowed down or looked back since!
If you're ready NOW then NOW is the time to step-it-up!
That being said...I'm going to challenge you to MAKE MORE OF YOUR TIME CENTERED
ON PURSUING YOUR WRITING-FOR-PUBLICATION CAREER. You all may be doing tons of
fabulous things for the writing world and beyond but how is YOUR WRITING
PRODUCTION when you look at pages produced or ideas firmly in place and ready to
go?
We're actually going to be doing a time study of sorts in one of the sessions in
this book. So hang in there with me.
And please don't think I'm telling you to quit any of the wonderful things you
do IF THEY'RE MAKING YOUR MUSES DANCE AND HELPING YOU CRANK OUT YOUR OWN
PAGES...but and that's a huge but...we're going to make sure you really WANT AND
NEED to do these things for YOUR production level and goals.
It's great to be BUSY but is your "BUSY" GETTING YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO? If
not, we'll find a way to get you there!!!
Sexy Sassy Smart MUSE THERAPY Commitment To Your Writing-For-Publication Career Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Kindle Nation Daily, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
MUSE THERAPY Extra Tidbit: Do What Works Best For You
Happy Tuesday, D. D. Scott-ville!
I'm counting down the days 'til my Kindle Nation Daily Debut!
Just 2 days left - Thursday the 27th and Saturday the 29th are the big, big days - and if you're not sure what that means, here's the scoop at The WG2E
To celebrate my KND Debut "pushes", I'm continuing to give y'all little MUSE THERAPY Tips, Tricks and Tidbits right outta the pages of my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book MUSE THERAPY: UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SYBIL
So here's today's MUSE THERAPY Extra Tidbit:
Do What Works Best For You!
I read in the January 2010 RWR (in Ann Aguirre's "Staying Productive" article) the
following quote from agent Laura Bradford and thought it was sooo very appropos
for Muse Therapy...
"Be realistic about yourself. Analyze the conditions that allow you to do the best work and try to give yourself a space to recreate them."
Wow! Now that is truly the heart of Muse Therapy! That's sure as heck what
it's all about here in Muse-ville D. D. Scott-ville!!!
And here's one way I do that for me and my muses...
To give myself "a space to recreate" the "conditions that allow me to do the best work", I surround myself with fabulous little collections of "stuff" that inspire my muses. Here are a few of these gems right on my writing desk:
Super fun inspiration, right?!
And throughout my MUSE THERAPY book, I give you the scoop on how each of these gems inspire me to keep crankin' out pages.
These are the kinds of inspiration that work best for me.
How 'bout you?
What works best for you and your muses?
In other words, what can you put on your desk that will keep your ass in your chair and your fingers flying across your keyboards...simply because you sooo enjoy spending time with these little treasures?
Sexy Sassy Smart Muse Therapy - Do What Works Best For You - Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Kindle Nation Daily, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits
Saturday, January 22, 2011
So What Is a Kindle Nation Daily Push?!
Happy Weekend, D. D. Scott-ville!
And yes, I've teased y'all enough about my MUSE THERAPY Kindle Nation Daily Debut Push coming up this Thursday (the 27th) and Saturday (the 29th).
So what is a Kindle Nation Daily "push"?
C'mon over to The WG2E today where I'm givin' y'all the scoop along with the real numbers to back it up...
Sexy Sassy Smart Kindle Nation Daily & MUSE THERAPY Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Being a Gutsy Girl, Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl, Kindle Nation Daily, Muse Therapy
Thursday, January 20, 2011
MUSE THERAPY: Being Holly Golightly "Lovely"
One week 'til my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book MUSE THERAPY: UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SYBIL
makes its
Kindle Nation Daily Debut!!!
Can't wait 'til January 27th and 29th!!!
And to celebrate that amazing opportunity, as promised, I'm treating you with another MUSE THERAPY Tip and Trick right from the book!
So here we go...from MUSE THERAPY Chapter Eight - Muses & Misplaced Aggression: Kick Your Own Ass Not Somebody Else's
*******************************************
What constructive actions can we take after we’ve ruminated about our beyond frustrating writing-for-publication journeys?
Me personally?
Well, I use my other main lifeline outside of anger management therapy and rumination – Audrey Hepburn.
There’s just something about singing Mancini’s “Moon River” – just like Audrey did for her Holly Golightly in BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S - that is the cud I’ll forever chew-on while ruminating about how to handle Evil-Editor-Turds everywhere.
Since not all of us are (a) New York City playgirl escorts like Audrey’s Holly (who gets fifty dollars every time she goes to the powder room while trolling for a millionaire to marry) or (b) if you’re a guy, a “sponsored” playboy writer (like Capote’s George Peppard-played Paul), we’ve got to be like the real Audrey Hepburn. We’ve got to know ‘how to be lovely’ in the face of wanting to misplace our aggressions after each rejection letter we receive.
And unless you live in New York City, and perusing Tiffany’s windows with a coffee cup and Danish, are but a cab ride, subway trip, or walk away, you’ve got to rely on other means to soothe your muses.
Audrey herself gave us many brilliant tips on how to make the most of where we’re at in life right now. She said:
“We are all grown-up children, really. Our lives are made up of adulthood and childhood, all together. So one should go back in search of what was loved and found to be real.”
So as does Julia Cameron in her ARTIST’S WAY, Hepburn looks to her inner artist child and her childhood itself for relief from the disappointments and frustrations of career and adulthood.
Audrey took long walks, read books, listened to music and arranged flowers (Hellstern, HOW TO BE LOVELY), finding peace in the solitude of these activities.
“I have to be alone quite often. I’d be quite happy if I spent Saturday night to Monday morning in my apartment. That’s how I refuel.”
“When the chips are down, you are alone, and loneliness can be terrifying. Fortunately...I love to be alone. It doesn’t bother me one bit. I’m my own company.”
I’m the same way in that often I take refuge and find comfort in being alone with my inner self/child. But even though I resort first to dealing with my fear on my own, I also use Muse Therapy – yep, you betchya, the very same “therapy” techniques I’m teaching you – to finish getting a grip on my writing fears and frustrations.
And Audrey supported “getting a therapist” too. She said to “just get on with it” if that might do the trick for you. She realized the alternative meant misplaced aggression in that you’d end up “blowing your top” and “having to go around apologizing” after the fact.
For Audrey, the most important part of being able to accept life’s insecurities was learning to live with herself. In Muse Therapy-speak that means part of the success secret is learning and discovering then accepting what makes you, your soul and your muses tick plus what ticks them off.
“The greatest victory in my life has been to be able to live with myself, to accept my shortcomings and those of others. I’m a long way from being the human being I’d like to be. But I’ve decided I’m not so bad after all.”
***************************************
So "Go Holly Golightly" in your writing-for-publication journeys!
Decide, like Audrey did, that despite all the industry rejections, that you're "not so bad after all".
Sexy Sassy Smart Being Holly Golightly Lovely Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Behind and Beyond My Books, Being a Gutsy Girl, Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
MUSE THERAPY: The Butterfly Effect
Today, in D. D. Scott-ville, we're starting the countdown to
MUSE THERAPY: UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SYBIL
making its
Kindle Nation Daily Debut!!!
On January 27th and 29th, MUSE THERAPY, my #1 Amazon Bestselling Book On-Writing will be the featured book for millions of Kindle owners around the world plus the millions more who follow the Kindle Nation Daily Blog in its online format!!!
Thank you sooo very much, Stephen Windwalker of the fabulous Must-Read KINDLE FREE FOR ALL, for being my latest MUSE THERAPY Champion!!!
So in honor of my debut Kindle Nation Daily "push" - which means Kindle Nation Daily is giving me an endorsement, if you will, as well as providing a free excerpt of MUSE THERAPY, to be "pushed" or in effect emailed, to every Kindle owner around the globe who subscribes to Kindle Nation Daily plus all their online viewers too - I'm treating y'all to a blog series of MUSE THERAPY Tips and Tricks included in the book.
To begin, let's talk MUSE THERAPY and what I call The Butterfly Effect...
Here you go, right from the pages of my MUSE THERAPY: UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SYBIL...
To have “the right book at the right time for the right editor”, every writer’s muse arsenal must be fortified with perseverance. To build then secure the foundation of their creative castles, writers must hoard and utilize that vital tool.
A sure-fire way to beef-up our perseverance reservoirs is to study and implement many ideas first proposed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. Jung theorized that humans rely too much on science and logic. We certainly know by now that those ideals sure aren’t found in our writing-for-publication journeys, right?
Jung’s approach to psychology – known as Jungian psychology – explored human behavior by studying dreams, art, mythology, religion, Eastern and Western philosophies, alchemy, astrology, sociology and literature. Instead of science and logic, Jung advocated we pursue personal goals of discovering and fulfilling our deepest, innate potentials and rely on spirituality to guide our journeys.
He believed our journey’s purpose was to meet our “selfs” through the various disciplines listed above. Then, he taught, we can transform ourselves into our essential being, a process he called individuation. (Wikipedia)
Individuation – what a beyond powerful tool for writers to harness!
Let’s examine how you can make the concept work for you and your muses.
Jung said that it’s not just ‘okay’ to follow our individual journeys and goals. He argued rather that it’s our most basic and natural purpose as human beings to pursue our own unique journey. By transforming ourselves into that special, one-of-a-kind individual we hope, dream, desire and struggle to become, we persevere.
Wow! Jung really ‘got’ what it is to be a writer. We so struggle to find our voice, our words and stories. We so want to be accepted by the Universe for our unique take on the world and human life at-large. We so have a hellacious struggle to make those dreams come true. Struggles definitely defying science and logic.
Being a writer is my Jungian deep, innate potential. Writing is a spiritual experience essential to my well-being, regardless of whether I ever become a bestselling “butterfly”.
And here’s the writer’s “butterfly” dilemma.
Most caterpillars, but not all, are pre-destined by Mother Nature to become butterflies. Writers have no such pre-determined guarantee that either by nature or nurture they’ll become published aka butterflies, let alone best-selling butterflies.
Jung does give us hope, though, that we can affect our destiny. He brought to the forefront of possibility that coincidences can be meaningful enough that they appear to be meant to be. In other words, things can happen for us as if Mother Nature and/or fate, sweet serendipity or synchronicity were the masters of our Universe.
By bringing people, events and opportunities together, Jung theorized that the Universe allows for that awe-inspiring Law of Attraction in which things just seem to fit into a plan as opposed to remaining mere random events.
To make the Law of Attraction (LOA) and Synchronicity work for you, though, you’ve got to have a plan and work it like a crazed, over-driven nutcase.
So then...
***Do you have a plan for your writing career?
***Are you working that plan like a crazed, over-driven nutcase?
If so, thanks to today's new and exciting Indie Epublishing world plus sites like The WG2E - The Writer's Guide to Epublishing - a site I created with a few of my best writer friends and business associates - Tonya Kappes, Misa Ramirez, and L. A. Lopez - your writing-for-publication caterpillar journey can turn you into a butterfly.
Sexy Sassy Smart MUSE THERAPY Butterfly Effect Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Kindle Nation Daily, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Extra Tips and Tidbits
Monday, January 10, 2011
My Inaugural WG2E Real Numbers Post Is Up!!!
Happy Monday, D. D. Scott-ville!
And what a fabulous kick-off to the new week it is!!!
My inaugural WG2E Real Numbers Post Is Up!!!
Check it out at The WG2E !!!
I'm ecstatic with my sales numbers, and I'm thrilled to share 'em with you at The WG2E.
Keep in mind when you're reviewing my numbers that unlike the traditional publishing world of old where you had to have a huge push by a major publisher to sell well, I didn't have that.
I'm totally self-made via Indie Epublishing.
And I'm here to tell you - then show you how - it can be done.
I'm right on track - as you'll see comparing my numbers to other Bestselling Indie Authors - to selling my own multiple thousands of Ebooks by the end of 2011.
How?
By making some of the same tough but great decisions that they did too! (More on that in future posts both here and at The WG2E.)
So check this out...here's a teaser at the numbers you'll find today at The WG2E:
*** Super cool stat here...I've sold 47 BOOTSCOOTIN' BLAHNIKS books in 4 months - 35 MUSE THERAPY books in just 2 months - and 18 STOMPIN' ON STETSONS books in 1 month!
See what's happening with each book I add to my backlist?!
*** My first royalty check was $32.66 (for August 2010 sales). The second check was $53.65 (for Sept/Oct sales). A 62% increase!!! Yesss!!! - I went from selling 17 books in the first check to 31 books in the second check!
*** Two of my books - MUSE THERAPY and STOMPIN' ON STETSONS - have made several of Amazon's bestseller lists (again...more on that in another post)
Not bad for a writer who's made absolutely nothing for the last ten years!!!
That's right...as I've mentioned several times and will continue to slide in here whenever I can - LOL!...it took me ten years of struggling thru the traditional publishing world to get here, the last two of those years having been lead by a fabulous agent who is now right there with me on my Epublishing journey (more from her later too)!
For the complete analysis of my first set of Real Numbers, go to my post today at The WG2E .
I'm looking forward to your comments and questions, and I'm looking forward to sharing all my future sales numbers.
Only by sharing today's Epublishing Real Numbers can writers Pay It Forward and help those that are considering the Epublishing route but have yet to take that leap.
Sexy Sassy Smart The Real Numbers Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Bootscootin', E-Book Country, E-Book Country Experiments, Muse Therapy, Stompin' On Stetsons, The Real Numbers, The WG2E
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
STOMPIN' ON STETSONS Is Now An Amazon Bestseller Too!!!
More Happy Dancin' today in D. D. Scott-ville!!!
STOMPIN' ON STETSONS - book two in my Bootscootin' Books Series - has hit two different Amazon Bestseller Lists!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Stompin-Stetsons-Bootscootin-Books-ebook/dp/B004DI7N32/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=books&qid=1291820140&sr=8-1
Here's the scoop...
Last week, STOMPIN' made the Bestseller Lists (in the top 25 titles) for books with cooking and entertaining elements as well as for books with sex therapy and aphrodisiac twists. And we're talking not just Kindle's Bestseller Lists, but Bestseller Lists for all books on Amazon - both Print and Kindle Editions included!!!
How fun is that?!
And I'm still hangin' in there!!!
WooHoo!!!
So outta my first three books on Amazon and Amazon Kindle, I've made Bestseller Lists on two of the three!!! (My MUSE THERAPY: UNLEASHING YOUR INNER SYBIL is also still on two Amazon Bestseller Lists...as of early this morning!!!)
http://www.amazon.com/Muse-Therapy-Unleashing-Inner-ebook/dp/B004774LN4/ref=pd_sim_kinc_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2
How have I done it?! And how do I keep 'em on those fabulous lists?!
Well...those are fun and fabulous tidbits I'm going to be sharing with y'all real soon...as well as a ton more All-Things-EBook Must-Knows.
Stay-tuned...as 2011 in D. D. Scott-ville is gonna be The Year of the E-book and then some!!!
I'll be making a huge announcement in January with all the glorious details!!!
Sexy Sassy Smart Thanks Bunches for Helping Me Hit the Bestseller Lists Again and Happy Holiday Reading!!! --- D. D. ScottLabels: All-Things-Kindle, Bestseller Lists, E-Book Country, Muse Therapy, Stompin' On Stetsons
Saturday, November 27, 2010
How To Use Your Favorite Bitchy Signs!
Happy Holiday Weekend, D. D. Scott-ville!
R U'All still eatin' turkey and the rest of the leftovers too?! We just finished ours last night. Talk about Yuuuummmmmy!!!
Anyhoo...I thought for a Bitchy Sign Friday a Wee-Bit-Late, I'd show you "how to use your favorite bitchy signs"!
Bitchy signs are not just for collectin' and/or perhaps hangin' in your offices. Oh No! Why not use them in your every day decor or holiday tree-trimming adventures?!
Here's how I used two of my favorite Bitchy Signs in our "Cow-Bell & Cracker Barrel Christmas"-themed Extravaganza...
How fun is that?!
Okay...and here's one of Sweet Man and I's favorite signs of all-time...the Cracker Barrel logo...
telling us a fabulous Cracker Barrel Restaurant is close-by...and yes, it's certainly not bitchy, but it's "the" place to feed my muses. It sure makes 'em dance...and salivate too!!!
But it doesn't just stop with eating at Cracker Barrel...no sir! My muses wanted to bring a bit of the Cracker Barrel ambiance home...so they did:
And yes...those are for-real Cracker Barrel Menus that I made into part of our tree topper this year!!!
Fun stuff!!!
Sexy Sassy Smart Usin' Your Bitchy Signs Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Bitchy Signs, Holiday Mayhem, Muse Therapy
Friday, October 29, 2010
MUSE THERAPY: Bitchy Sign Friday!
Ohhh yeahhh! It's here! Another beyond fabulous MUSE THERAPY Bitchy Sign Friday!
So here's the scoop...
The next time someone or something makes you sooo damn mad you're seeing stars, go to stars like this to help you put your angst in perspective:
I've got an entire collection of these priceless, gem-colored stars all over my office, and here's how they got there...
Several years ago I met the beyond fabulous writing instructor Margie Lawson of http://www.MargieLawson.com .
After taking several of her online classes as well as participating in two of her live workshops, I learned a fabulous tool for continuing to rein in and reign over my creative divas.
In her live workshops as well as in the Goody Rooms of all the conferences she attends, Margie gives away these fabulous, little colored stars with beyond wonderful motivational quotes printed on each one.
For the last couple years, I’ve collected these stars and have them all over my office. Then, when I’m down, down deeper than the bottom rung on my next ladder to success, I hone-in on those puppies and often say the words aloud...almost in mantra form.
So to kick-off our weekend on the perfect Smart Ass note, I’m sharing my Hemingway Shock-Proof Shit-Detector star to encourage you to always continue to reach for both your personal and career aspirations, despite the shit piling-up in your path.
For a peek at a few more of my Margie Lawson stars, head-on over to http://chicklitwriters.com/2010/10/20/tude-torial-3/ - It's all in the stars, Baby!!!
Sexy Sassy Smart Shock-Proof Shit Detector Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: All-Things-Muses, Bitchy Signs, Muse Therapy
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
MUSE THERAPY: How To Write Thru Anything...And I Mean Anything!!!
Good morning, Creative Divas and Dan!
Happy Hump Day!
And yesss...some of life's humps are much bigger than other...so Buckle-Up!
Oh...and also grab your Waffle Iron & Fluffy Heated Towels.
Why waffle irons & fluffy heated towels...as today's new Muse Arsenal Tools?
I'll give you the scoop today in my Hump Day Goddess Blog at
http://thenakedhero.com
Then I'll shore-up your 'Tude as in Attitude at
http://chicklitwriters.com/blog/
Today, I'm showing you - MUSE THERAPY-style - how to write thru anything...and I mean Anything!!!
Sexy Sassy Smart Write Thru Anything Wishes...Even Life's Rather Big-Ass Dismal Moments --- D. D. Scott
P.S. My Naked Hero Hump-Day Goddess Blog is up now...The Chick Lit 'Tude-torial usually takes a bit longer to show-up so use that one for your Lunch Break pick-me-up!!! My treats to you and your muses too!!!Labels: All-Things-Muses, Being a Gutsy Girl, Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl, Guest Blogging Today, Muse Therapy
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Meet The Muses: Melissa Bourbon/Misa Ramirez - style
Happy Weekend, D. D. Scott-ville!
I've got a beyond fabulous treat to kick-off our weekend with tons of gusto and super sweet inspiration...and her name is Melissa Bourbon - aka Misa Ramirez, one of my favorite authors and new BFFs.
Here's the scoop on Melissa/Misa:
Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.
And here are her fabulous books (the first four all available now at Amazon):
***I'm a huge Lola Cruz Mystery fan, and am getting ready to dive into these next two books...
And boy-oh-boy, I can't wait for this new series in 2011...
So now you've met the amazing and talented Melissa - aka Misa - and for more interesting tidbits on her and her books, visit her website http://misaramirez.com as well as her wayyy cool Community of Readers Under One Roof
http://booksonthehouse.com
And how 'bout Misa's muses?
It's time to Meet the Muses, Melissa Bourbon/Misa Ramirez-style:
It wasn’t until recently when I was writing the first book in a new cozy mystery series that I began to think of my muse, or muses as the case may be, as something really tangible that I could summon at will, or that would betray me by being absent when I needed her/them most. In fact, I can’t say that I thought about my muses --because as I’m writing this, I’ve had an epiphany and do believe that I have more than one-- much at all.
But they’ve shown their true colors. I’d begun to think of them as fickle girls, but I’ve changed my tune. I’ll never look at them in quite the same way or take for granted the beauty of having them on the job, fully engaged in my creative process, or the power of their insight.
I have new respect for my muses and what they offer through song, practice, and memory.
It often takes a big shake up and the absence of something to really appreciate what you have. That’s how it happened for me. You know what they say about absence making the heart grow fonder and all that? It worked. They left, I was melancholy, and they returned with a new light for me to follow.
How very poetic, I know.
I’m not a metaphysical girl. My feet are firmly planted on the ground. Let me be clear, I don’t, like, sit around thinking about cliches and how they apply to my life. But cliches are cliches because there is truth in them and sometimes that truth is more palatable when taken in a pithy dose. The absence of my muses is what helped me recognize them in the first place. It also helped me appreciate the creative energy they bring into the my writing equation.
They deserted me several times while I was writing Pleating for Mercy, but it was through that desertion that I came to appreciate what they are to me and what they do. I can pinpoint exactly when they left, almost down to the very minute. My creativity had dried up. I had writer’s block. I was panicking, thinking I’d never finish this book, and if I did, it would suck.
But I can also look back and see when them returning--after I’d taken much needed time away from my project, had recharged, and had allowed my mind to open up, let fresh idea in, and see things in a new way.
What I realized was that those clever girls didn’t abandon me,. I’d temporarily shut them out. I was on overload and completely unable to feel their creative energy flow into me. And so they stepped aside and led me away from my writing and back into reality where I could and did regain perspective on my characters and plot by doing the opposite of what I always think I should do. I always think I should keep going, push through the writing pain, persevere and give myself permission to write crap and revise later (which I do whether I give myself permission or not). I never think that stopping and taking precious time away from my writing is the answer.
But it is! I’ve completely changed my thought process on this idea and it’s been so freeing. If only I’d listened to the girls in my head sooner I might have staved off some gray hairs and wrinkles and the divot in my forehead from banging it against the wall.
Better late than never, right?
So my muses, yet to be named (though Lola and Harlow come to mind), are alive and well, ever-present, and an important part of my creativity. Thank God I realized it!
Sounds like the MUSE THERAPY lesson here is that you must always be open to the epiphanies your muses are ready to nourish and bless you with...right?
So Misa's wondering...and I am too...
How about you? Have you ever felt that your muse(s) has abandoned you? Did you have an epiphany like I/she did?
Sexy Sassy Smart Meet the Muses Bourbon Ramirez-Style Wishes --- D. D. Scott
P.S. You can also connect with Misa by visiting her and the other Naked Hero Goddesses at http://thenakedhero.com !!!Labels: All-Things-Muses, Muse Therapy, Muse Therapy Guest Bloggers
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