Wednesday's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts

YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO REACH A STRETCH GOAL

I received great news last night! I was selected, out of 80,080 who applied, from the lottery to run the New York City Marathon and will join 50,530 other runners from around the world on November 1! 

This is both awesome and scary news. Training for a marathon takes time and commitment. So does writing a book, especially one that is as research intensive as a World War II story. I'm looking forward to the challenge. 

Running is 90% mental, and the rest is physical. It's that mental aspect of it that makes running so tough. If your mind isn't there, you won't get it done. The same is true for writing. It's the mental discipline to keep "butt in chair" and pound out the words. 

In 2012, when I ran my first marathon, I was also finishing The Last MacKlenna. It was a challenge to fight through injuries and write an emotional book. What that experience taught me was that as long as I stayed focused, I could accomplish both. (You can read about that journey on Boomer Cafe.) I'm three years older now, and next month I start receiving Medicare. But the sixties are the new forties, right? 

Scared? You betcha. But I'm always up for a challenge, even at 65! 

What challenges are you facing today? Whatever it is, go for it. Put your toe on the line and don't look back! 

~*~

If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again:

1. 3 Types of Bios That Every Online Professional Needs | Jane Friedman http://ow.ly/JSjQJ
2. Six Sub-Plots That Add Style To Your Story - Writers Write http://ow.ly/JSkcg
3. Do you make mistakes writing fight scenes? - Venture Galleries http://ow.ly/JSljA 13 Mistakes writers make...
4. The Perils of a “Dead” Genre | Jami Gold, Paranormal Author http://ow.ly/JSlvz
5. 3 Ways to Get Your Next Story Idea http://ow.ly/JSlEF
6. 10 Tips on How to Write Believable Crime and Murder Scenes | Live Write Thrive http://ow.ly/JSlLS
7. Author, Jody Hedlund: Reading is the Training Ground for Becoming a Better Writer http://ow.ly/JSlRM
8. 16 Ways to Use Social Media to Promote Your Event | Social Media Examiner http://ow.ly/JSm36
9. 11 Tips for Promoting your Book – Kobo Writing Life http://ow.ly/JSpla
10. Violence Vs. Sex In American Culture - A Writer's Journey http://ow.ly/JSqpa
11. Writer Unboxed » How Does Your Novel Grow? The Writing/Gardening Connection http://ow.ly/JSsOA
12. Fiction University: When Rejection is Necessary, or I Reject All the Fear http://ow.ly/JSsXM
13. A Big Storytelling DON’T: Messing with Timelines | Fiction Notes http://ow.ly/JSBks
14. What keeps you resilient as a writer? | Nail Your Novel http://ow.ly/JSBxl
15. Tips for Successful Blogging - Wheatmark http://ow.ly/JSBFL
16. Online Presence: Pros, Perils and Possibilities - The Writing Platform http://ow.ly/JSBMS
17. How to make your social media outreach successful | Articles | Social Media http://ow.ly/JSBTv
18. 18 Rules for Using Text: If There’s Text in Your Document, Follow the Rules http://ow.ly/JSC37
19. 6 Things Every Author Website Needs - Apt Design http://ow.ly/JSCbE
20. Goals for You and for Your Characters - Martha Alderson http://ow.ly/JSDaw
21. 12 Principles Of Social Media Marketing - Jeffbullas's Blog http://ow.ly/JT4KU
22. Pinterest Tips: Time to Pin for Mobile First http://ow.ly/JT5t7
23. Top Tips for Getting the Most out of Monetizing Brand/Blog Relationships: @ProBlogger http://ow.ly/JT5I4
24. How to write a great author bio that will connect with readers http://ow.ly/JTFZr

Happy writing and running, Kathy