author-mandi-bean

[author-mandi-bean]

Refreshing for NaNoWriMo

It’s November. It’s National Novel Writing Month. But I am not as excited as I should be. Despite the optimistic tones and clear message of perseverance in my more recent blog posts, I have to admit: the rejections are getting to me. I’m trying to remind myself that it’s all part of the process and yadda, yadda, yadda, and blah, blah, blah. But I’ve also been wondering if I should change the…

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#Beta Readers #Chinese food #Completed manuscripts #Constructive Criticism #Creative Writer #Creative Writing #Edgar Allan Poe #Endings #fortune cookies #fortunes #Gen Z Publishing #Gen Z Publising #Halloween #Honest feedback #Literary Agents #Manuscript #Michael Flanagan #Mike Flanagan #Moody Blue #NaNoWriMo 2023 #Netflix #November #Querying #Readers #Rejection #Shitty endings #The Fall of The House of Usher #Writer #Writing Community #Writing Life

[author-mandi-bean]

How Do You Prepare for NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month, and it takes place every November. The next time I update this blog, it will literally be the first day of November and the first day of NaNoWriMo! Last year, this month helped me make real progress with my novel, and I’m confident that participating this year will help me really flesh out my story idea and get to some serious writing. And the website…

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#Author #Blogger #Creative Writer #Creative Writing #Her Beautiful Monster #Mandi Bean #Moody Blue #Nano Prep #NaNoWriMo #NaNoWriMo 2023 #Writer #Writing Community #Writing Life #Writing Problems #Writing Resources

[author-mandi-bean]

Is 100 Rejections a Crazy Goal?

Rejection can, in fact, lead to opportunities. In being rejected by agent after agent, and thereby writing about rejection and doing research in order to write about rejection, I've completely changed my way of thinking about rejection.

Fail, fail again, fail better. Samuel Beckett Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com Not to beat a dead horse, but I’m still writing about rejections. However, it’s not all doom and gloom; rejection can, in fact, lead to opportunities. In being rejected by agent after agent, and thereby writing about rejection on this blog and doing research in order to write about rejection, I came across this Lit…

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#Anne Lamott #Art & Fear by David Bales and Ted Orland #Author #Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott #Blogger #Gen Z Publishing #Her Beautiful Monster #Kim Liao #Lit Hub #Literary Magazines #Mandi Bean #Martin Sisters Publishing #Moody Blue #On Writing by Stephen King #Poets & Writers #publishing #Rejection #Samuel Beckett #Stephen King #The Write Life #Tom Strelich #Why You Should Aim for 100 Rejections a Year #Writer #Writer Problems #Writing Community #Writing Fellowships #Writing Grants #Writing Life #Writing Residencies

[author-mandi-bean]

What's the Newest Trend in Publishing?

There might be something very exciting on the horizon, according to an industry insider… Recently, I received yet another rejection for representation for my completed manuscript, Lightning Strikes. But I’m handling it well (or at least better than expected) for two main reasons: That Lit Hub article by Emily Temple that I wrote about last week clearly states: “If you’re a writer, here’s an…

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#Author #Blogger #Chuck Palahniuk #Editors #Emily Temple #Her Beautiful Monster #Industry Insider #Lit Hub #Literary Agents #Mandi Bean #MFA Program #Moody Blue #Newest Trend in Publishing #publishing #Rejection #rejections #Substack #University of Limerick #Writer #Writing #Writing Community

[author-mandi-bean]

How Much Rejection is Too Much?

I’ve been thinking A LOT about rejection lately; generally because I haven’t landed a literary agent yet, and specifically because I recently received the tersest, apathetic rejection I have ever received. It was one line. All it said was, “Not for me–thanks anyway.” I suppose I should be grateful I even received a response, but it felt like a punch in the gut after all the work I spent in not…

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#Author #Blogger #Dick Wimmer #Donal Ryan #Emily Temple #Gen Z Publishing #Her Beautiful Monster #Ireland #Irish Wine #James Joyce #Literary Agents #LitHub #Mandi Bean #Martin Sisters Publishing #Moody Blue #Query Letters #Querying #Querying Agents #Rejection #Samuel Beckett #Stephen King #The Spinning Heart #William Golding #Writer #Writing Community #Writing Groups #Writing Life #Writing Problems

[author-mandi-bean]

How Does Music Shape Our Memories?

I didn’t freak out about turning 35. I know this blog’s absence for a week and my protestations seem to prove otherwise, but I promise. I was really okay about turning 35. I don’t know why I’m using past tense because I am still okay with my age. But, that being said, I think the greatest part about my birthday was the day after, when I felt 15 again. I know there’s already been a plethora of…

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#35 #Alzheimer&039;s #Author #Birthday #Blogger #Brain #Death Cab for Cutie #Hippocampus #Madison Square Garden #Mandi Bean #Memory #Millennial #Miracle Maddie #Music #Rick Moody #The Paris Review #The Postal Service #The Washington Post #Transatlanticism #We Looked Like Giants #Writer #Writing #Writing Community #Writing Life

[author-mandi-bean]

What Can Be Learned from Chuck Palahniuk?

A whole hell of a lot, actually. I’ve written about Chuck Palahniuk before on this blog. He’s an enormously talented writer who has had a profound impact on my personal and professional life. He just published a new book, Not Forever, But For Now, and is currently on what is sure to be one hell of a book tour. What can I say? I love the man. As a result, I subscribe to his Substack. Let me tell…

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#Anne Rice #Author #Chuck Palahniuk #Creative Writer #Creative Writing #Dangerous Writing #Gen Z Publishing #Interview with the Vampire #Mandi Bean #Moody Blue #Substack #Tom Spanbauer #Writer #Writing #Writing Community #Writing Life

[author-mandi-bean]

Was Jack Kerouac Full of It?

I used to think I'd wanna drive and travel forever. For a long time, nothing sounded better than hotels and fast food and logging miles. Life would be one big adventure composed of entertaining anecdotes and scenic routes. But coming home felt so good.

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#Author #Bruce Springsteen #Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band #compliments #Constructive Criticism #couch surfing #Creative Writer #Creative Writing #Friends #Her Beautiful Monster #I&039;ll love you with all the madness in my soul #Jack Kerouac #Literary Agents #living space #Mandi Bean #Meadowlands #Metlife Stadium #Moody Blue #New Jersey #On the Road #Querying #rejections #rental #Tattoos #transient #transitory #Travel #Where there&039;s life there&039;s hope #Writer #Writing

[author-mandi-bean]

It's Tough Times for Writers

And there’s proof. I’ve been receiving rejection after rejection after rejection from literary agents. It’s been tough; it’s been a litany of defeats without even the smallest victory. I’ve been open about my journey via my blog and other social media platforms, so a lot of my friends and colleagues know what I’m going through, and all of them are so supportive. One such friend, a writer named…

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#Author #Blogger #Book Publishing #Brandi Parsons #Determination #James Baldwin #Lauren Spieller #Literary Agents #Mandi Bean #Perseverance #publishing #Querying #Querying Agents #rejections #Self-publishingschool.com #Writer #Writing Submissions

[author-mandi-bean]

How to Get More Readers for Your Blog

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com A little less than a year ago, I signed up for Sprout Social. It’s a social media tool that will schedule posts across all of my social media platforms at optimal times. I’ve seen results; there’s been more engagement with my posts, but there hasn’t been an increase in readers. How can I increase traffic to my blog? Ways to Get More Readers to Your…

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#Author #Blogger #Mandi Bean #Readers #Readership #Ways to Get More Readers on Your Blog #Writer #Writing

[author-mandi-bean]

How to Have a Productive Writing Session

Photo by Leah Kelley on Pexels.com As you know, I’ve completed the manuscript for Lightning Strikes and I’ve been querying (and being soundly rejected by) literary agents ever since. I’m trying to stay positive and one of the best ways to do so, in my opinion, is to start working on a new project. I’ve done all the research so I just need to get writing. That’s the trick to all writing, isn’t…

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#Author #Blogger #Creative Writing #How to Have a Productive Writing Session #Mandi Bean #Writer #Writing Life #Writing Tips and Tricks

[author-mandi-bean]

How to Get a Literary Agent

Photo by Rodolfo Quirós on Pexels.com On this day six years ago, two literary agents requested full manuscripts of my novel Moody Blue, which ended up being published by GenZ Publishing. That publication journey took at least five years and that should be a lesson in patience and perseverance for me, but I’m still impatient and rejection still stings. I’ve sent 95 query letters to literary…

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#Author #GenZ Publishing #Gillian McAllister #Literary Agent #Mandi Bean #MasterClass #Moody Blue #Publishers Marketplace #publishing industry #Query Letter #Querying #QueryTracker #Rejection #Writer

[author-mandi-bean]

I'm Back in the States :)

Miracle Maddie Maddie Girl completed her treatment at NeuroCytonix and we landed safe and sound just after 11:00am in Miami. It was a long, difficult month, but I’m sure it’s going to be all worth it in the end. Writing Life I recently was rejected by two more literary agents. BUT I wrote over 2,000 words for my new project. So I guess it’s really all about balance. I’m sorry this post is so…

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#Author #Creative Writing #Literary Agents #Mandi Bean #Miracle Maddie #Monterrey #NeuroCytonix #Rejection #rejections #Writer #Writing #Writing Life

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I'm Ready to go Home

In a week, I’ll be back on American soil and I’m really, really looking forward to it. Being in Monterrey for a month has not been easy. I’m not here on vacation, but for my niece to receive treatment for her severe, anoxic brain injury. Her mood determines everyone else’s mood. She’s been tolerating treatments well and there’s been plenty of laughs, but we miss the family. Everyday is the same…

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#Author #Creative Writing #Florida #Her Beautiful Monster #Mandi Bean #Mexico #Miracle Maddie #Monterrey #Moody Blue #Traveling #Writer #Writing #Writing Life

[author-mandi-bean]

Random Bits

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#Author #Mandi Bean #Mexico #Miracle Maddie #Monterrey #Moody Blue #NeuroCytonix #Research #Truck Drivers #Truckers #Writer #Writing #Writing Life

[author-mandi-bean]

PSA: On Internet Trolls on Reddit

I want to begin this post with a disclaimer. I know that it is so easy to forget that not everything is about you. More and more, I’m realizing that next to nothing is actually about me, especially when people are treating me less than kind. Our behaviors are responses to stressors and lately, life has been incredibly stressful. It’s been stressful for so long and we’re all anxious for a victory,…

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#Alternative medicine #Alternative treatments #anoxic brain injury #anoxic brain injury survivor #Aunt #Author #Be kind #Blogger #Internet #Internet trolls #Mandi Bean #Miracle Maddie #near fatal drowning #near fatal drowning survivor #Reddit #traumatic brain injury #traumatic brain injury survivor #Writer

[author-mandi-bean]

Updates

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#anoxic brain injury #Author #Blogger #Literary Agents #Mandi Bean #Mexico #Miracle Maddie #Monterrey #near fatal drowning #NeuroCytonix #NFD #Querying #Research #Survivor #TBI #traumatic brain injury #warrior #warrior princess #Writer #Writing