Which Comes First?

June 26, 2017August 14, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 5 Comments

Which comes first? No, not the chick or the egg debate; although, I’m certain it’s a fascinating subject. I’m talking about craft versus platform. As a writer, I’m sure you read as many articles as I on the importance of having a healthy and engaging platform. After all, if no one knows you’re a writer, why would anyone be interested in reading your stories or books.

After all, if no one knows you’re who you are or what you do, why would they be interested in reading your work?

I struggle with this issue all the time. I try to keep up with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest – on and on it goes, but it’s like a time-sucking vortex. And, it doesn’t help when you have the attention span of a gnat, as I do of late.

Which brings me back to my first question – Which comes first? Craft or Platform? Want to join the debate and get a few helpful tips in the process?

Check out 4 Ways to Beat Frustration in Your Writing Career by Dan Blank over at Writer Unboxed and let me what you think. Craft or platform? Which is more important to you and how do you manage without sacrificing one over the other?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Join the conversation. Talk to me or tell me your story. I’m all ears.

Four Lessons I Learned From Giving My Novel Away

June 19, 2017August 14, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / Leave a comment

As one who is in the process of releasing my short story collection, this article from J.U. Scribe came at the right time. Thanks to Ryan Lantz for sharing it with us.

Happy Father’s Day

June 18, 2017August 13, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 7 Comments

Unfortunately, I lost my father when I was five year’s old; and, although I have few memories of my childhood, some of the most vivid are of my daddy.

What I remember most is his smile and the laughter that often rang throughout our home. He was an engaged and loving father.

Me helping daddy was the car!My daddy died at the young age of 32. The loss of him left a void I have felt my entire life. He was taken from us, far too young, but in the short time God gave us together, I had a glimpse of what life might have been. My daddy made me feel loved and safe; for that I am grateful.

If you’re blessed to have your father still in your life – celebrate the day with him. If, like me, you have only memories – honor him.

Mother’s maybe the glue that holds a family together, but father’s are the foundation on which strong families stand firm. Click to Tweet

To all Dads – Happy Father’s Day!

Fun Facts about Father’s Day: First celebrated on June 19, 1910, but did not become a national holiday until 1972 – 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a national holiday.

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood, Pinterest, Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilamgood, Contently, and Instagram. You can follow my reviews on Amazon and Goodreads

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Writing Your Memoir

June 6, 2017August 14, 2017 / Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 2 Comments

Whether it’s one of those significant, life-altering events, stories of adventure and excitement, or a life well-lived, many people want to share their personal story. Reasons for writing a memoir are as numerous and individual as the people writing the stories, but knowing where to begin and how to organize memories into a workable page-turner can be a bit daunting.

“Autobiography is the story of your life; memoir is a story from your life.” – Samantha Dunn

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Where do you begin?

The most obvious place to start is with memories. Most of my childhood is blank and pulling memories from the abyss of my mind is like panning for gold in my backyard -hard to find. Memories come to me in spurts and flashes often triggered by a scent, or item found in an antique shop, but not every memory needs to go into our memoir. The key is retrieving and organizing our memories into a story worth sharing.

Invaluable Resources for Memoir Writers

Guest Author, Mary J. Breen, on WOW’s Friday Speak Out, offers up her own simple process for how to organize those memories in her post, A Card Trick for Memoir Writers.

And to get into the nitty-gritty of memoir writing, check out the exclusive author mentorship program from the Write Your Memoir in Six Months Blog.
This site not only offers a series of courses on writing memoir but mentors are also available to walk you through the process. Here, you’ll find 15 Tips for Mining Your Memories, Memoir Categories , and How to Craft the Beginning of Your Story, and much more. This is one site you should bookmark and read from end to end as you begin the journey of writing your memoir.