Whether it’s traveling to a new place, trying my hand at a new hobby, or hopping in the car and seeing where the road takes me, I figure life’s too short to stay in your comfort zone. So earlier this year, when my agent suggested I try making the switch from writing romantic suspense to women’s fiction, I thought…eh, why not? I like a challenge. Then reality set in, along with the usual writerly nerves.

What if I can’t do it? What if I’m wasting my time? What if I suuuuuck? 

To combat my inner critic, I decided to draw inspiration from my experience working in the cruise industry. What’s more comforting than setting your story in an industry you’re familiar with and the places you’ve traveled?

Thus, The Un-Cruise was born. And man, has it been fun bringing this brain baby into the world. Not only because I love my characters (a workaholic marketing manager, a smokin’ hot nemesis, and a wild sister with a secret), but because I get to write about one of my favorite places on earth: the Galápagos Islands.

As a happy bonus, the The Un-Cruise has been selected as a finalist in four RWA chapter contests so far in 2018: Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Awards, NEORWA’s Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest, Rose City Romance Writers’ Golden Rose Contest, and Tampa Area Romance Writers’ TARA Contest. Cue the confetti…take that, inner critic!

Thanks to the positive feedback I’ve received from early readers, I’m looking forward more than ever to ultimately sharing The Un-Cruise with the world.

Here’s to new adventures!

*****

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The post New Year, New Outlook, New Genre (…plus contest finals, huzzah!) appeared first on Angie Hockman.

Why? Because that’s the point: you’re comfortable. It’s a wearing-your-favorite-sweatpants, sipping-your-favorite-wine, reading-a-book-by-your-favorite-author kind of feeling (aka, my usual Friday night). Familiar. Safe.

Boring.

Making the most out of life means taking deliberate steps to leave your comfort zone. Is it difficult? A lot of times, sure. Sometimes it’s even pants-shittingly scary. But mostly it has the power to change your life.

Case in point: I’m not a water person. I like going to the beach and boating and all of the ancillary activities surrounding the water, but I’ve never been great shakes at swimming. I had a near-drowning experience as a teenager plus I watched Pinocchio and Jaws waaaay too young and had nightmares for years about murderous whales and sharks and big, scary things in the ocean that wanted to eat me. Consequently, my feelings about swimming in open water amounted to a whole lot of nope.

This uneasiness with deep water stayed with me into adulthood. So when an opportunity arose through work last September to go on a sea-based expedition to the Galapagos Islands, which involved deep-water snorkeling excursions every day, I had to stare those fears in the face and tell them to buzz off.

How could I not fully engage with the marine environment of one of the most unique places on earth? I’d miss out on swimming alongside curious sea lions and endangered Galapagos penguins. Getting up close and personal with tropical fish. Basically, I’d throw away a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

So I did it.

And the darndest thing happened. I loved it.

It turns out the world beneath the waves is just as vibrant and beautiful as the one on dry land. And I never would have experienced it had I stayed in my comfort zone.

I went on every single snorkeling excursion offered on that trip despite my initial fears. Even when the water was 63 degrees and choppy, I dutifully schlepped on my wet suit and fins and braved the conditions so I could witness underwater wonders.

Everything was going swimmingly (pun intended) when, on the last excursion, one of my nightmares came to life.

Yes, I saw a shark.

A white-tipped reef shark swam past me not fifteen feet away from where I floated along the surface. Somehow, I remained calm long enough to snap a couple of quick pictures and watch it disappear into the murk. Then I beat fins back to shore, shaky but exhilarated. And completely in awe that I had shared the same patch of ocean with such a beautiful prehistoric predator. And it didn’t even attempt a nibble.

What did I find through this experience? Courage. If I can face down one of my most deep-seated, visceral fears—including a mother-flipping shark—what else might I accomplish?

Fast-forward to today.

I find myself stepping outside my comfort zone yet again. This time, it has nothing to do with water or travel or sharks. I’m challenging myself with my writing.

Right now I’m working on The Mercenary, the second book in my romantic suspense trilogy. Despite being my second romance novel, this one includes a lot of firsts: a trope I’ve never used before, a setting I haven’t personally visited, and characters whose ethnicities are different from my own.

In essence, there’s a lot about the story that places me firmly outside my own experience, aka my comfort zone. But you know what I say to that?

Bring. It. On.

I’ll inform myself through research. Talk to people to learn more. Find beta readers who can set me straight when I get it wrong.

There might be a few elements about this book that make me gulp, but I’m ready to tackle them head-on. I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone before and I’ve seen how it can change my perceptions and help me achieve success.

You know what they say about comfort zones and where the magic happens…

What will you accomplish outside your comfort zone?

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But what if, like me, you don’t do resolutions?

Not that I have anything against them. I’ve made resolutions in the past—I’m going to lose 20 pounds this year! And then I do the inevitable join a gym thing, like everyone else on the planet, go obsessively for a couple of weeks, and within a month, fall off the wagon. A mini-funk filled with boatloads of chocolate follows, and by Valentine’s Day, forget losing weight, I’m adding more cushion.

So yeah, resolutions aren’t my jam. Because it’s too easy for me to create big starry-eyed hopes that only set myself up for failure. Resolutions are nothing but commitments to change something about your life, and the best kind of change, the kind that sticks, is accomplished one deliberate step at a time. So instead of resolutions, I set goals.

Lots and lots of goals.

Little ones, so that each time I achieve a goal I can set another one that’s a tad more ambitious. In the end, it’s like climbing a staircase. If I tried to jump to the top in a single leap, I’d fall. But by taking smaller steps, eventually I reach the pinnacle.

So what are my goals for 2017?

1. Write every day. Even if it’s only 500 words. 100 words. Anything. On days when I’m feeling inspired? Write as much as I can, let the pages fill up with words like air in a balloon. On days when the last thing I want to do is stare at a blank page? Stream-of-conscious something. Just so the page isn’t blank anymore.

I set the same goal for myself in 2016, and I’m super proud to say that I nailed it. The result? I wrote & polished my first romantic suspense novel, The Hustler, won several RWA chapter contests, and signed with my dream literary agent. Now that I’m writing my second novel, I’m back to this first step. But that’s okay. I’ve seen where that one step can get me if I keep climbing.

2. Read at least one book each month by an author I’ve never read. Confession: when it comes to expanding my reading list, I can be quite the chicken shit. I tend to burrow in my safe, little comfort zone, surrounded by authors I already know & enjoy. That needs to stop. I’m firmly opposed to living a boring life, and goodness, is that boring. So, my new goal for 2017 is to read at least one unknown (to me) author every month in addition to my stable of favorites.

For January, upon the advice of a friend, I picked up Sally Thorne’s The Hating Game. And holy sexy banter, Batman, was it phenomenal. It’s my new obsession—seriously, stop what you’re doing right now and read The Hating Game. Go on, I’ll wait…

SEE! Completely, utterly brilliant writing. I don’t normally read rom-coms, but this one rocked my world. And just think…if I hadn’t taken the chance on a new author, I never would have had all of these happy, cartwheeling, butterfly feelings of joy at reading such a fantastic book.

3. Set aside an hour each week to enjoy a hobby. Balance isn’t just that thing I’m missing that makes me fall on my butt in hot yoga. It’s kind of important to, you know, life. As much as I strive to spend every free waking minute writing, in truth, I’m not a happier person for it. Committing to setting aside at least one hour to myself each week that doesn’t involve working, parenting, writing, adulting, or heavy brain activity will give me some sorely-needed time to recharge my batteries.

My hobby of choice? Cross-stitching. I flippin’ love it. Brightly-colored threads, little patterns like a puzzle, pull the needle through, tighten, poke, pull, repeat. Count the stitches, watch a lovely design emerge. Sigh. I can already feel my blood pressure lowering.

Plus, do you know how many times I’ve read characters in books say, “I’m going to get that [witty spot of banter] embroidered on a pillow?” Well I can actually embroider that. Boo-ya.

4. Hug my husband every day. Because in our harried, modern lives, romance is often all too quickly the first item on the chopping block. And because my husband is a hoss and I like getting a handful of those sexy muscles. Plus there’s the health benefits—gravy.

5. Forgive myself on days I fail. Out of the whole list, this goal is the most crucial. The make-or-break goal that defines me as a person.

Because perfect is the enemy of good.

I’ve discovered over the years that my factory default settings tend toward the following: try something, fail, wallow in feelings of failure, give up. I have worked very, very hard to change this mindset, but it can be a struggle. The key, I’ve found, is forgiveness.

Maybe I skip a day of writing. Okay, forgiven. Today is done, tomorrow is a fresh opportunity to meet my goals. Stumbling on the path to success is natural and NBD as long as I Keep. Moving. Forward. You only truly fail if you give up, after all.

And those are my goals for the new year—ta da! Do you set goals or resolutions? Share in the comments.

The post 2017: Resolutions, Out. Goals, In. appeared first on Angie Hockman.

“Why can’t that be me?” I whine to my unsympathetic cat.

Then I read accounts from authors who struggled. Who wrote book after book, queried again and again, and didn’t give up until they landed an agent and made a sale. Those are the stories that fill me with a glowing sort of energy. Like the feeling you get when you listen to a Queen song.

The other day I happened to read just such an account from YA romance author Katherine Fleet. In her piece on Writer’s Digest (check it out here), she talks about the years she spent honing her craft, overcoming cancer, and finally landing a fabulous agent through sheer perseverance. Plus she lives in Curaçao, which is totally baller.

What made me really sit up and take notice (as though all that wasn’t enough) was the fact that she referenced my all-time favorite nonfiction book: Mindset by Carol Dweck.

I read it several years ago when I was still teaching, and to say it changed my life is not an overstatement. I knew I was afraid of failure—it had led me to take fewer risks when I was younger, and, as a result, I harbor regrets—but I didn’t know why.

Cue Mindset. After reading the book, I realized that my core problem was in fact a “fixed” mindset. I unconsciously believed that my talent was a set, static thing, and if I failed at something then it was a statement about my abilities and worth as a person.

WRONG.

Talent is just the starting point. Anyone can grow their abilities if they’re dedicated and willing to put in the effort.

To take an example from the book, it’s like the difference between John McEnroe and Michael Jordan. One relied solely on talent. When the going got tough, instead of buckling down and working through challenges, he fizzled out and became better known for his epic temper-tantrums than his tennis skills. The other built on his talent through unparalleled work ethic and became the greatest basketball player of all time.

Failure is just a speed bump on the road to success. If you adopt a growth mindset—in your writing pursuits and in life—you are more likely to push through setbacks and achieve your goals. Just got your 20th rejection? Or your 50th? Okay. Time to assess what’s wrong with my query/first chapters/full manuscript, rework what needs reworked, and try again.

But don’t quit. Never quit. Because rejection doesn’t equal failure; you only fail if you give up. You may need to adjust your definition of success (not everyone can write a NYT Bestseller, after all), but if you have a growth mindset, you can find a measure of success that’s meaningful to you.

So it’s with this fresh dose of inspiration that I’m approaching my own journey to publication. I’ve had a very exciting week with promising developments, but if things don’t happen to pan out along the way? Back to the grindstone.

The post Striving for Success? Apply a Growth Mindset to Your Writing appeared first on Angie Hockman.

I needed to get away.

My salvation came in the form of an unexpected work trip to the Galápagos Islands (perks of being an independent contractor for an eco-adventure travel company, yo).

Before I continue, there’s one thing you should know about me: I love to travel. It’s an essential part of who I am. There’s a whole, wide world out there and I only have one lifetime to see it. And I want to see it and experience it all.

I crave experiences that change my perception of the world, allow me to engage with people, learn about geography and history and culture, and appreciate the sheer beauty of our planet.

Travel feeds my soul. And for the past year and a half, I’ve been starving.

My recent trip to the Galápagos happened to dovetail with the completion of a major rewrite on my novel, The Hustler. I’d been cranking it out at warp speed for the past nine months with barely any breaks and I needed some breathing room.

So I saved my manuscript, sent it to a couple of trusty beta readers, packed my bags, kissed my husband and son, and set off for South America.

What did I find when I got there? An exquisite, utterly unique environment unlike anything else on earth. And my own restoration.

The Galápagos, in case you aren’t familiar, is wholly unique. A volcanic island chain 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos is home to creatures that came there millennia ago and evolved to suit their environment. Like the finches, for example.

Sound familiar? Yep, this is where Charles Darwin conceived of his theory of evolution by studying the finches on various islands. What a thrill to see evidence of that theory in person.

The Galápagos is also at the confluence of three ocean currents, so there are creatures from what seems like all of the world. There are penguins from the south, sea lions from the north, and birds, reptiles, and tortoises from mainland South America. And because the islands are so remote and the wildlife evolved largely free from predators, animals there show no fear of humans, only curiosity.

Can you imagine walking among sea lions or colonies of seabirds, and none of the animals are afraid of you? It’s an astounding experience.

And seriously, there’s nothing more restorative to the soul than swimming with mother-freaking sea lions. And penguins. Oh my god, the penguins. So adorable it hurts.

Over the course of a week, I immersed myself in this unique environment, appreciated the beauty of nature, and reveled in the wildlife. When I left, I was refreshed.

Now that I’m home, my life no longer feels like a hamster wheel. Sure, the household chores, work, and family obligations are still there, but my attitude has changed. I’m challenging myself to find the joy in the little moments.

And by taking a break from writing and focusing on me, I’m returning to my projects with a renewed sense of purpose and some much-needed perspective.

Life can be overwhelming sometimes, and we all need to take time for self-care. It won’t always be a trip to the Galápagos (but if you can go, do it!); even if it’s just taking a few hours to do something you love, you need to relax once in awhile and find your slice of wonder in the world.

In other words, don’t do what I did. Don’t wait until your soul is starving before you feed it.

The post Recharge, Renew, and Don’t Forget to Feed Your Creativity! appeared first on Angie Hockman.

THE HUSTLER placed 2nd in OCC RWA’s Orange Rose contest and 3rd in Central Ohio Fiction Writers’ Ignite the Flame contest.

These two awards came at just at the right time. I’m more than two-thirds complete with a massive second round of manuscript edits. My thoughts about it range daily from “OMG this is awesome!” to “why am I wasting my time with this garbage!” Recently, as I’ve been working through some difficult scenes, it’s been more of the latter than the former. While depending on external affirmation to keep you motivated is a recipe for long-term failure, sometimes it’s just the temporary boost we need to keep opening that document rather than turning on Netflix.

Beyond that, I now have two more rounds of feedback on my work to consider and possibly apply to my writing. The feedback I’ve received from all of the contests I’ve entered have been invaluable to shaping my work. While contest feedback is subjective, and some is more valid than others, if several judges tell me the same thing, i.e. to clarify a character’s motivation or cut an unbelievable scene, I take it to heart. And I like to think my manuscript is better for it.

There’s also the positive feedback I’ve received, which zaps me with little blissed-out jolts of happiness (“You like me! You really like me!”).

So I’ll just be over here, contest certificates pinned to my cork board, polishing this manuscript with my eyes on the biggest prize of all: publication.

For a complete list of THE HUSTLER’s contest wins, click here.

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