robbme: Reactivated my account in hopes to help jump start my writing career and gain some valuable feedback. Sundays are my reviewer days and I am glad to be back. Check me out on Patreon for more wonderful material!


robbme: Well back to the drawing board. Think I'll work on some incomplete work that I currently have on my computer and see what comes out of it.
    evilynne: All the works in this contest were quite exceptional and yours was fantastic. The winning entry was quite deserving but I do not think there were any losers, at all. -
    robbme: Thank you evilynn. I was quite impressed with the work in this contest as well. It provided a lot of inspiration for me to come up with some new material so I was happy to be able to participate and read. -


robbme: Thank you Poets & Writers Magazine! I just discovered a game that we all need to try here. It is called Elegy for a Dead World. It is a game where the only goal is to write a story! It sells on the online platform called Steam and I am so buying this next payday!


robbme: My goodness! It would seem I have a backlog when it comes to reviewing. I've done quite a bit today and am quite happy to have the time to do them! Here's to hoping I can get my office back soon so I can do many more thoughtful reviews/critiques!


robbme: Fanstory account back up and running-check
New and (I don't mean to toot my own horn here but) gorgeous fb page devoted to my work up and running-check

Now all I need is a decent work space in my new pad, and as much time as I can devote to writing, reading and research to get my voice heard! On a roll!
    Dean Kuch: Right on, and write on, robbme! :) -
    evilynne: We're waiting to hear your voice or read your writing! -


robbme: Since I was a small child I have had serious problems with extremely vivid nightmares that continues to this day. Many times they disturb my sleep and lead to things such as sleep paralysis and the like. I don't know why I didn't think of it before but if they are going to continue to plague me, perhaps I should make use of this. Turn my nightmares into horror stories. Any thoughts?
    pipersfancy: Well, sure - when life hands you lemons... make lemonade. Write the dreams out in story form (and, as a natural consequence of physically putting them out into the 'real world' through writing, you may actually see a decrease in the frequency and severity of the nightmares, allowing for more restful nights.) On a side note, you may be experiencing night terrors, a diagnosable and treatable sleep disorder. Perhaps you might want to discuss it with your primary care doctor, and ask for a referral to a sleep clinic. Best wishes ~ PF -
    Kingsland: Before you go to sleep at night. Tell yourself to look at your hand when having a nightmare and you will awaken right away... -
    michaelcahill: For sure write them down. It changed my friends perspective of them and reduced her fear by using them creatively. Also, great advice above. -
    Oceanna Sands: That is where Stephen Kings gets many of his ideas.

    Oceanna -


robbme: Wow! I must give fanstory kudos for the revamp! This is nice!


robbme: Wow! Just read one of the most amazing pieces of work I've seen in a long time! Follow your dreams people! Follow them to whatever end they may lead you to; for you will be truly happier in the end.


robbme: Doing everything I can to avoid fb right now. It is not only a horrible distraction but a place where family goes to hurt me. Need to do some reviewing anyway, been absent far too long.
    Imogen JH: Pay attention at the back William. Fb means Facebook. -
    William Walz: Oh. I thought it was short for flabbergasted bohemian. -
    robbme: I very well might unfriend them when I feel like getting onto FB again. For now I feel it is best just to distance myself from where the drama is right now. -


robbme: Getting chapter one of my novel "Immortals" ready to post here shortly. Just might tweak it slightly before I do. Feels like I'm getting a lot done. I have decided to set myself a loose writing schedule so that I get work done but it does not feel like a chore. I figure I will start with a goal of 5 hours a week and after a couple weeks-especially if I go over that quota-up the anti a bit. How do you all feel about schedules and when do you find you get the most writing done?


robbme: Woohoo! Two more pages added to a fully revised chapter in my book! I know it isn't much but progress is progress. At this point I will take what I can get with the minimal time I have to spare. It would seem I am feeling quite inspired lately.


robbme: So facebook went completely Chinese on me for a bit. Weird. I checked my language settings and those said English (United States). I then checked to be sure I put the address in correctly and that looked fine. Weirdest part is that it was just facebook, no other website. It's normal now but has anyone else had that problem before?
    adewpearl: facebook better not go Chinese on me - I still am procrastinating about learning Spanish ;-) -
    robbme: I'm supposed to be learning French via doing my homework I'm so dutifully procrastinating on. -
    granny goes viral: Facebook just does stuff. Moves stuff around. Moves family to friends, or lumps them all together. Gives you a whole family of strangers. Asks you to buy crap you don't want. They have gremlins working there. -
    robbme: And apparently they thought I somehow teleported to China! I don't think I made that move while I slept today. At least I'm pretty sure I didn't... -


robbme: Entered four pieces into contest. Should know the results before December 31st. I'll be amazed if I place but it's worth a shot! Wish me luck!
    michaelcahill: Good luck. That's the thing I hate about those contests. The long wait. But, then it could be a big surprise after you've almost forgot you entered! -
    robbme: These are for writers digest magazine. Thank you all for the support. Really excited about finally taking my writing to the next level. -


robbme: Fell off the radar there for a while. Been super-busy and by this I mean off on trips, working on my novel, going to school, plus my 24/7 job. Exhausting! Anyway, back to being an introvert because I would like to post my prologue and perhaps first chapter soon. :)


robbme: While I hate to do this I am extending last weeks challenge by one more week. This has been a difficult week and I have not been able to concentrate on my writing as much as I would have liked. Now that the long week is through however, I should think I will be able to write something quite satisfactory for next week. I do apologize for this negligence.

If anyone is interested a new challenge will be issued by next week at 9 a.m. For now the message in a bottle challenge stays open for one more week.
    robbme: michaelcahill just looked into writing the prompt but will be unable to do so for a little while.

    Until then I do have the challenge posted below and also on my fb page DoubleFUB.
    -
    Michaelk: So we're still doing 'message in a bottle'? -
    robbme: For this week yes. I haven't been able to concentrate as much on it this week as I would have liked-been just a crazy week. I don't think it fair to not participate in my own challenge when asking for others to participate, therefor I am keeping it open one more week. The whole point is to inspire others and to get myself thinking and writing as well. -


robbme: Started writing on my novel. Too bad it'll take a while to get through just the first chapter. That's where handwriting becomes a pain, but it definitely helps to organize my thoughts when it comes time for edits. Does anyone else have a personal preference on how to start a work? Straight through a word processor or handwritten first?
    michaelcahill: It took me a looooong time to trust typing into a computer. I'm still not sure that I do. But, it saves time and this is advantages once you get the hang of it. You can put alternate versions in a file to reference later or have a seperate file of notes and ideas. It does take getting used to though. Try it. Just be sure to back it up! Losing data doesn't happen with handwritten copy unless your David Copperfield. -
    robbme: I have a lot of random thought on my computer and a separate USB. The only thing that tends to bug me is that I'm constantly away from my computer. I tend to think more clearly writing by hand first and one of the advantages is that I can take a notebook with me wherever I go so I can write when I have a spare minute. Would love to set up a more conducive environment in my apartment but not sure how that is going to happen. -
    Linda Engel: hand write, carry notebooks, think better in car with music (muse likes to go for rides in the T-Bird) lots of space on the page to make notes and scratch out words (makes muse think I'm really working hard) -
    Mystic Angel 7777: I carry a digital recorder with me to keep thoughts gathered as I have them since you never know when inspiration will strike. Otherwise it is all done on a word processor and backed up nightly to an external drive. -


robbme: robbme: Question? If I were to begin posting my weekly challenges here would anyone be interested in participating? I usually post a new one every Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. along with closing the previous weeks. Just wondering if anyone else would be interested?
    shelley kaye: sure. maybe create a contest sometimes, too? :)
    -
    adewpearl: I read so many lost muse poems that it seems to me lots of people's main writing problem is coming up with ideas, so I'd guess they would welcome your challenges. -
    Michaelk: I've never tried a challenge. I'm game. How long do we have to come up with a story? -
    robbme: The rules of the challenge are that I present a random topic that can be any person, place, or thing and you can write anything you want to as long as it is on topic. I post a new challenge every Friday at 9 a.m and close the previous weeks challenge so you have exactly one week to come up with something. It is mainly a way to get myself to write but I love to see others get in on it as well.

    If anyone is interested this weeks challenge is message in a bottle. Think about who might pick yours up and read it. What would it say? Would you ever pick one up and read it yourself? What do you think it would say coming from another person? -
    robbme: If all goes well Shelley I may try making a contest out of them. -
    Michaelk: Poetry or prose? Word count limit? -
    robbme: No limitations. Just write whatever the challenge inspires you to write. poetry, prose, short story, anything you feel michaelk. -


robbme: Been wondering how best to get my name put there and perhaps build a fan base. Not necessarily to be famous but to try and do something with my writing that has been such a huge part of my life ever since early adolescence. I am so grateful for the opportunity here to have so many people read and provide insight that I may never have considered.
    michaelcahill: This is a good way. And then have someone go read your work and say: Hey everybody, go read her work. She is an awesome writer!! -
    mrsmajor: Well, I guess you have to start by reading the work of others...especially those that you enjoy, after a while you will begin to add to your fan list...and so more reviews...just keep reading, it may take a little time, but you can do it! -
    robbme: I fully intend to read as much as possible. I find I enjoy reading and rating others as much as I enjoy writing the work on which others review. I am thankful to all of my reviewers and hope that some day I can inspire others. -
    Twilightspire: Share a link on Twitter every time you post. I get a lot of people from off-site read and comment on it. Even get a crap ton of new Twitter followers as well, which publishers love. -
    robbme: Fantastic suggestions all. However, I do not have a Twitter account, does anyone know how facebook is as far as promotion? I have a page up there but I am considering making a different one seeing as I am having trouble spurring interest and participation with the original. -