C’est Moi
Carrie Rubin
This blog represents my transition from sane, healthcare professional to tentative, unpaid writer, whose first novel will be released fall, 2012 (if that publishing contract means anything…). I figure I am not the only one making a life change so will share my journey and hopefully learn from others along the way. We have all heard the adage, “Don’t quit your day job.” And if not for a supportive spouse, I wouldn’t have. But I also would not have the time to finally pour myself into this endeavor. And as my mother used to not so eloquently say, do your business or get off the pot…
Oh, one more thing. Although reluctant, I suppose I should introduce you to my long-time nemesis, my personality imp, Mr. Nasty Pants. He will appear periodically in the posts, just as he does in my mind, and through verbal sparring, will do all he can to mire me in self-doubt and uncertainty. So be on the lookout for my poorly-dressed fiend. He strikes when least expected.
My personal Mr. Nasty Pants (image from Microsoft Clip Art)
Thank you so much for visiting. Please feel free to share your thoughts. I love hearing from you! And please, take everything I say with a wink and a smile. I make light, because there is too much heavy.
I’m sure you have been the recipient of many awards, but I’m adding one to your list–see http://fearnoweebles.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/my-first-blog-awards-and-first-award-giveaway, and thank you for a great blog!
Thank you so much! That’s very kind of you. I actually already received both of those awards, but the recognition is always a treat for sure! You made my day.
Carrie,
I’m passing along The Beautiful Blogger Award to you because you are my hero. Congrats, Nikki
Thank you so much! I appreciate the recognition. Is a lovely way to start my day. But I think you need to set your hero sights higher. I have blogged about dog poo, after all.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I wonder how you found me. It doesn’t matter because I am glad you did and it lead me to you!
I found you from one of your comments on someone else’s blog (can’t remember which one now). I enjoyed looking through some of your posts, many of which offer useful writing tips, or just thoughts on writing in general. Am looking forward to reading more! I also tracked you down on Twitter. But I’m not a stalker, I promise!
That is really cool! I like stalkers with such positive energy! I’m afraid I have ignored Twitter for some time. Do you have any tips for me on how to get more “into” it?
Sadly, I’m not too great with it myself. I try to log in every day and post at least one tweet and respond to those who’ve tweeted me. Then if I’m really energetic, I look through some of my lists and find something good to comment on or retweet. About 15 minutes tops. But maybe that’s a good thing?…
Oh Crubin, I need a shoulder to cry on and I know you are always there. I accidentally clicked the publish button whilst trying to create my ABC blogger award write up. AARRGGHHHH! Sob.
Marti
Oh, no! That happened to me with a post–well, I didn’t actually hit the publish button; I hit the tab button and all of a sudden the publish button was doing its thing. The next thing I know, I have an email saying “The Write Transition has just published a post.” Yikes! I didn’t have it finalized. So now that everyone received the email, I had to quickly finish a post I wasn’t planning to publish until the next day.
I feel your pain.
Yes, but you realize that your subscribers get an email post, which is fixed. It’s not linked to the WordPress server, so they would see half a post…..anyway, at least my hits for the day was higher than usual
Marti
PS thanks for shoulder
I know, but I was hoping they’d click open the site instead of read the post through the email, so that they could see my final form. I always write mine up in a Word document first and them copy and paste the text and add the images afterwards. But I realize that’s harder for you with your cartoons.
I think I know the answer to that, as one of your blogs said that you don’t do FB … nevertheless, if and when you do …
When I do, I will seek you out. Having to “friend” people sounds scary to an introvert like me, so I will take all the ready-to-go followers I can!
Carrie, where do you hail from? And do you have a Facebook profile? I should like to hook up on FB.
I am in Ohio, USA. And no, I am not yet on Facebook. Should probably do that someday, though. I am, however, on Twitter.
Carrie, hate to do this but I tagged you in a game of tag on my blog (sorry!), BUT I did give you a Good Apple award. Hooray! If you have time, check it out. If you don’t want to answer the crazy questions, I totally understand.
Why, thank you! The recognition is always nice. I will tuck it away for a rainy day blog post.
Hello! I have nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger Award because I think your blog is amazing! Please go to this page on my site to see the rules and to get the widget: http://desertmusepublishing.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/kreativ-blogger-award-passing-it-on/
Happy Blogging!
Why, thank you! I actually already received this mind-boggling honor, but thank you so much for thinking of me. Appreciate it!
Congratulations on the book! I’ve started the process of finding an agent/publisher for my novel. Just got the first rejection and trying not be downhearted. Thanks for stopping by
Thanks! Rejections are part of the process, though that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. I wish you great luck in landing a home for your book!
I love your blog! I’m wondering if I could ask you about your experience with getting your book published. I have also completed my first novel and am querying for an agent. Any advice would be great!
I actually detailed my journey in my first two blog posts from early December if you are interested: http://carrierubin.com/2011/12/02/who-am-i-kidding/ and http://carrierubin.com/2011/12/06/making-the-leap/
As I am still new to this myself, you might want to check out Nathan Bransford’s blog for writers: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/. He has posted entries on all topics relevant to writers including querying agents, writing tips, the publishing process, etc. It is one of the best out there. I really need to start a blogroll and put his on it.
Hope that helps. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Carrie! Am enjoying your blog and wanted to invite you to visit mine! All best, Kate
writingtheweirdwideworld.wordpress.com
Thanks for stopping by! Always enjoy looking at new blogs.
Hi Carrie,
Today is my turn to pass on the Liebster Blog Award. I really enjoy your blog and am happy to pass this on.
If you would like to accept, please follow these rules:
• Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog.
• Link back to the blogger who awarded you.
• Pick (up to) 5 other blogs who fit within the award parameters (less than 200 followers).
• Inform them that you have chosen them by leaving a comment on their blog.
• Post the award on your blog. You can take it from my post here: http://postcardfiction.com/2012/02/06/liebster-blog-award/.
Thank you, Janet! I have a couple more waiting in the queue to attend to, so I’ll have a regular red carpet event going on chez moi!
Interesting place… I’ll follow. Thanks for the humor and the great attitude you have. Plus, I am jealous that you were freshly pressed.. haha
Thank you! I enjoyed checking out your blog as well. Loved the “What you doing at the court house??” post: http://bowrag.net/what-you-doing-at-the-court-house/#comment-96. Truth really is better than fiction.
I appreciate your style… I’ve been a writer for years and love to hear a good “quit the day job” story! I’ve never really had what one would call a “day job” … more like a moonlight obsession with words… keep writing and congrats on the publishing deal!
“a moonlight obsession with words”–love that! Thank you for your comment. It took years to dare to take that leap, and now I’m asking myself why. It’s really been a wonderful few months. Thanks for stopping by!
Good morning!
You have been nominated for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I’d like you to know that your blog really is inspiring to me. You can find the details at http://jmmcdowell.com/2012/02/05/very-inspiring-blogger-a-special-post/
Have a wonderful day!
As always, thank you so much! I appreciate all of your support of my blog. You have helped fuel it from the start!
I find your writing refreshing. Congrats on the book. I will be looking for it!
Thank you! I’m still looking for my editor’s email that will tell me what he/she wants changed. I was told it would be soon. Tick tock, tick tock. That’s the sound of time passing and my anxiety rising…
A move from Arizona to Germany for my husband’s job has left me with lots of free time, which I’ve decided to partially fill with writing, something I never really thought I would do. It’s been fun so far, and I love seeing what other people across WordPress are writing. Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed – very cool!
Thank you! Glad you are getting some time to write. And now you can do it in German, too!
Thanks for visiting!
The writing in German might take a little more time – I still I have to develop a ‘German personality,’ you could say.
good for you.. keep writing!
Thanks! I intend to. It is so nice to finally commit to what I’ve always wanted to do but never before dared to take the leap. Thanks for visiting!
Hello Carrie, I like your blog.
Anytime I get a chance, I just read it…
I`m from Europe and I wondered if you would like to apear in my Blogroll?
How about it?
Wish you inspiration…
Best regards!
Dana
See? That is what is so great about online social media: having someone from Europe perusing my words! Very cool. I checked out your blog–beautiful photos, but this naive American does not speak the language (although I do speak some French so I’m not too egocentric!). Guess I’ll have to check out that translator tool. Thanks for stopping by and wanting to add me to your blogroll!
Thank you very much! Yes, it would be much easier if you try that translator tool…I look forward to post in English…
Have a great evening…or, day…here is evening!
Best regards!
Very cool! I will be looking out for your book
Sounds like an exciting life! Yay for writing!
Thank you! It’s taken me many years to finally bite the bullet and take the writing leap, but now that I have, I am having a blast!
Neat blog here! Congrats on your upcoming novel. I plan to take the test because Myers-Briggs scored me as a INTP.
Maybe I’ve changed.
I was scored as an INTJ, which didn’t really surprise me, but did land me in a category containing only 2.9% of the population!
Thanks for coming by and commenting!
Congrats on your book! and your courage. Loved your post–I said the same things– I get it. One can get lost in this electronic world for hours! Blessings, Arla
Thank you! And yes, since being freshly pressed, I have been a little lost in my laptop! But I will enjoy it while it lasts because I know all good things must come to an end
What you said about marketing and being an introvert really struck a chord, but you’re so far ahead of me it’s not even funny. A book actually in press (!!!), not to mention all the blogging and connections. By comparison, I’ve barely got my toe in. (Just started a blog on which I haven’t even confessed to writing fiction.)
Would love to know how you got that contract – It’s probably here if I look…
It took many years and a decision that focusing mostly on an e-book publication would be just fine. I discuss the process I went through in my first two posts. Of course, the news came to me just as I had put the notion of publication to rest, as so often is the case!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Thanks again for the nomination for the Kreativ Blogger Award. Sorry it took me so long to publish my nomination, but I wasn’t exactly sure what I had to do. Anyway, it’s up now. Thanks again!
You’re welcome. I continue to enjoy your blog and admire your ability to say so much with so few words–a skill I’m sure my sons wish I had…
I saw you are reading the Origin of Species. It is one of my favourite books. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet Nino Ricci twice through my writer’s group and he is a really nice guy.
Yes, I came upon the book through your recommendation on my blog post “Storytellers, Awe Inducers, and Caffeinated Chihuahuas”. I am about halfway done and really enjoying it. Very rich characters, and I can’t remember the last time I’ve read a book that takes place in Canada (other than Kathy Reich’s forensic novels). Thanks so much for the rec, and how nice that you have met the author!
Hi, I just nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award. I was nominated for it recently and you’re one of my nominations (http://sallypanayiotou.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/the-versatile-blogger/ ) Congrats!
The rules of this nomination are as follows.
1. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass this award along to 15 others.
4. Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award
Thank you so much, Sally! I look forward to putting something together and passing the award along!
Thanks for liking my post, Carrie, and good luck with your book. SUPER exciting!
Thank you! And thanks for taking the time to come check out my blog. I enjoyed reading some of your posts.
What’s your novel about?
It’s about a deadly outbreak (yes, I know, been done before, but in my defense, I wrote it several years before Contagion came out!) It has a little science fiction as well, so it’s different from a typical medical thriller in that regard. Thanks for asking!
Best of luck!
Hi Carrie,
Thanks so much for the nomination! Coming up with a list of things you don’t know about me will be hard, since I tend to bare it all on my blog!
Just subscribed to your blog via email. Should have done it sooner…
Now to go and check out all the other blogs you nominated!
You are very welcome. I always look forward to one of your posts. They inspire me to stay active and get off the computer and move!
Good morning!
I’ve nominated you for the Kreativ Blogger award. You can find the details at http://jmmcdowell.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/the-kreativ-blogger-award/
Love your blog, and I hope the award brings you even more readers!
Thank you so much! I appreciate the nod and look forward to continuing crossing paths with you in the blogging world. I will get started on my quest!
I have decided, Carrie, that you and I have some similarities. I too, have a very supportive spouse! But, no midlife crisis here. I have settled into my lifestyle. I decided life is short, and who knows, I might just write something important! (hahahahaha – I kid)
Still, I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. In a year I might be scrubbing toilets for minimum wage just to get by. Why not love these days I have to be exactly what I want to be! Now, go get on your treadmill and write something!
It’s funny how easily I’m slipping into my new life, even without the paycheck (yet, anyway!). Thanks for your wise and motivational words. I appreciate your comments.
Hi Carrie,
Thanks for visiting my blog earlier. Sounds like we might have a lot in common. I’m going to follow your blog – hopefully we can share some inspiration / tips. Best of luck.
Janet
As will I yours. I like the concept of your blog. Very original, which is hard to be in the blogging world
