Summer Felix's Blog

Ok, I stumbled across this basic chart with character descriptions and I was suddenly gripped with the need to get back to basics. And I figured if I needed a visit back to a neat and tidy elementary school chart, that maybe the rest of you could benefit, too....

To read more and grab the tip, head to: http://summerfelix.com/2014/04/15/wri...

Whether I’m writing a script for The Draw Shop, fiction or my favorite kind of writing which is for you lovely readers, the one thing I have on the forefront of my writing mind is to have some sort of call-to-action for my readers. A bunch of written words is one thing, but words with enough emotion, power or feeling to compel the reader to accomplish something is a whole different experience.

Now I don’t mean this in a salesy, go buy something right now sort of way. I mean, sure that can absolutely be your angle and end game for writing whatever it is you’re writing. But rather, writing an article that can be life changing in a way. Think about your favorite food blog, for instance.....

Get the rest of the tip on: http://summerfelix.com/2014/03/25/wri...

Not sure if you’ve noticed but I have a new and very cool tab on my website. Go ahead — look up there, I’ll wait. Right there, between blog and contact is my shiny, new Writer’s Resources tab and I am beyond excited to share it with all of you.

So, here’s the deal. Writing a book is hard work. From the second you have the idea for your book, all the way through getting your book sold, there’s just so much to think about it. In hopes of helping you through this process, I have streamlined all of my favorite resources into one page for you....

Read on: http://summerfelix.com/2014/03/11/wri...

Writing Prompt: What is your perfect environment for writing? What gets in the way?

I’d be lying if I said I had one perfect environment for writing. Plain and simple I like variety. I thrive on being able to write in different settings. As a matter of fact, the thought of a new place to get some writing done sparks the creativity. Almost like a spontaneous combustion, the words just want to fly out when presented with a log cabin and fire in the winter or a boat in a marina in the summer and central park in the fall.
Want to know what gets in the way? Everything else. Like being thirsty or laundry or a marathon of My Strange Addiction or ...you know where I’m going here…..

To participate in this Writing Prompt head to: http://summerfelix.com/2014/03/05/wri...

Write a Book in 2 Days and Get Published?

Yes, you can.

Here’s how I know. I met a wonderful woman last year as I was making the transition of ghostwriting to strictly writing my own stuff. When I have a deadline for a client, I can get sh** done! But, when it comes to my own material – I get caught up in every imperfection and doubt.

When I met Donna, she and I bonded on this very issue that many writers have. She then shared with me some really great content that just about any writer would go crazy for.

If you are like me, you need structure and you like to know when something is going to be completed so that you have the celebration to look forward to. And you might also be like me in that you need to be accountable and you feel guilty when you don’t get things done that are on your list. (I hate pushing things to the next day.) Ok, back to writing a book in a weekend.

When she told me about her “Write a Book in a Weekend 2.0″ I was kind of blown away.

First of all, most people don’t think they could ever actually get published.....

Read the rest on: http://summerfelix.com/2014/03/04/rea...

You may have seen my posts earlier this week on Facebook and Google+ about Donna Kozik and her tips on how to write a book in a weekend. If you have any interest whatsoever in accomplishing this, you may want to consider checking her offer out!

Have you been downloading Donna Kozik’s free gifts for folks who want to become authors? She has been generously giving away her best stuff right on her site.

Head over to my blog to get the link for her free gifts:
http://summerfelix.com/2014/02/28/fre...

I’m going to let you in on one of my highly secretive and time-saving writing tips, so hold onto your socks! You know when you have a writing assignment due and you dread it while putting it off simply because you don’t want to have to pull your laptop back out and type 500 words onto the keyboard? Well, I’m ready to let you in on my dirty, little secret now....

To get the handy writing tip, click on over to my blog: http://summerfelix.com/2014/01/21/tha...

Here’s what’s interesting about this whole 365funny challenge that I have decided to take on. I find myself looking for the funny in everything.

Whether it’s grocery shopping in a jersey with too much make up on, running out of toilet paper when it’s already too late or going public with the fact that I have started coloring my hair… I feel an obligation to find the funny in it. Here’s to the first week of the challenge. My guess is that things are either going to get a hell of a lot more funny or my greatest fear will reveal itself… Nothing is actually funny at all and just tragic and mundane.

I can only assume that along this journey will come some insight. So, here’s what I got for this first week:

They say that when you put your mind to something, you start to see more of it. They also say when you’re looking too hard, you can’t often notice it. Now, I feel as if I am faced with the both.....

Read the rest on
http://summerfelix.com/2014/01/14/sha...

On Friday, I wrote about some ‘resolutions’ that I have set for myself in 2014 — A few more serious than others. One of those serious ones is #365Funny and dang it, I will stick this one out because I already feel it testing my creativity.

What on earth is #365Funny you ask? Well, I have challenged myself to post a funny picture everyday on Instagram (I feed it to FB and Twitter, too, so don’t worry if you aren’t on Instagram!) and I attach a little one liner to it. I truly believe this will help to expand the humor and creativity in my writing. Also? It’s fun.

But....

Read more on: http://summerfelix.com/2014/01/14/sha...

A snippet of today's blog:

....So here’s what I plan to do this year:

1. Allow myself to get obsessively frenetic about being healthy for at least a week. ‘Cause I am by no means immune to the influence of this New Year ritual. I am the sucker to the last degree.

2. Continue to worry. But, not worry about how much I worry. This could drastically cut down on worrying time, but still allow me the freedom of doing what comes naturally.

3. I will use “LOL” less frequently – challenge: don’t use it at all.

4. I will stop trying to discreetly check my own ass out at the gym and pretending that no one else can tell. Instead, I will be blatant about it. We’re all there for the same reason, who’s kidding who?

5. Definitely need to watch more tv on a daily basis. Last year I barely watched anything. How can I possibly induce the creativity with no tv?

6. Continue to compare myself to everyone – I’m convinced this is how I become a better me. Too easy to just compare to the yester me. Blah blah blah to that.

7. Don’t lose the fit bit! It’s barely a week into the New Year and I have already achieved a new obsession. I am not letting that shiny, demanding gadget out of my sight. Running up and down the stairs at 10pm to get in those last miles/steps and calories is quickly turning me into more of a neurotic control freak – I’m convinced this makes me a better person.

8. Complete this next novel so that I can become more comfortable with making others uncomfortable.

9. Get bigger wheels, black rims and tinted windows on my Jeep, so I can be gangsta proper style. (I’m not kidding.)

10. Here it goes. The biggest commitment of 2014. I will begin posting 365 days of funny. This means that every single day, I will take a picture and post something funny for that day. I am absolutely convinced that this will make me better than each yesterday....

Come read the rest of my blog and participate in #365Funny with me! http://summerfelix.com/2014/01/10/365...