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EricaBeale.com

An Erica in the Writing Wilds

Creativity Flowing like the Spice Melange

For real, though, I don’t know where this creative burst has come from. It’s been friggin’ insane in my brain for the last couple of weeks. I’m talking about writing, editing, making ebooks…My entire days have been filled with words. I hope they’re decent ones!

By the time you read this, I’ll be back at my day job. I’m expecting my energy to get zapped out of existence. I’m hoping not, but historically, that’s what has happened. But, with any amount of luck, my muse will stay with me.

But these last couple of weeks has been amazing. Even with the pain of my hidradenitis, I’ve been feeling spiritually fulfilled. I’ve loved every second of it, even the times when what I worked on frustrated the hell out of me.

(Ugh, don’t even get me started on the story I’ve been working on for the last three days. It’s done, just not edited.)

So, what have I been up to

I’ve been building my ebook catalog. Some of them were already available, but I wanted to go back in and get some editing done. Plus, they needed updated covers desperately.

If you’d like to purchase any of these books, most of them are available on both Amazon and Smashwords. Tools of his Trade is only available on Kindle Unlimited.

Also, I’ve joined Literotica and Medium for posting a few freebies now and again. So far what I have on Literotica is doing very well. Medium, it’s too soon to tell.

Imparting Knowledge (hopefully)

In addition to writing, I’ve been making videos about things I’ve learned since delving into these projects. So far there are two: Canva vs Snappa for free covers and a quick rundown of getting Premium status on Smashwords (that’s coming tomorrow at 10 AM. Check it out!)

Here is the Canva/Snappa video for your viewing pleasure.

Check out both my YouTube Channels:

I also have a Twitch channel where I stream Fridays at 9PM EST.

Making a more educational video was a struggle at first, but after I got used to recording myself speaking, it wasn’t too bad. The editing of the video took nearly a lifetime. Still, in the end, if it helps someone, it’s well worth the work.

Keeping up with my Mind

I doubt I’ll keep going at my current pace once real life starts kicking in again. Also, I never know when my body is going to be a total jerk and take me down for the count (AGAIN). With any amount of luck, I’ll still feel the creative buzz through me because it truly makes me happy. Writing brings me a lot of joy.

Come back and see me soon! Next week I’ll have another Hidradenitis post for you unless something changes the topic.

Until next time. Keep your Mind in the Gutter!

Here I Go Again on my Blog

That’s Right, I’m Back!

I know, I know…

I’ve been away a lot longer than I wanted to be. But, it’s not totally my fault, per se. There are three big reasons why I haven’t been around for the last few months:

  1. I got a promotion at work, so I was busier than normal
  2. I’ve been in a lot of pain thanks to a chronic condition I have (more on that later, though)
  3. Between these two things, my creativity and my energy have been totally wiped out

To be honest, I just couldn’t do it. Hell, I couldn’t do much of anything at all. Luckily, after being on medical leave and getting treatment, I’m feeling a little more like myself and I’ve been wanting to get back into some things I’d lost interest in temporarily. So, here I am, asking for forgiveness for being away so long. I’m back now. Hopefully for good! Unfortunately, I get flares from time to time, so it might not last as long as I like. Right now, though, I have a few weeks’ worths of content in my brain that I’m now working on.

Living with Hidradenitis Supprativa

I’ve dealt with this damn condition since I was nine years old. I didn’t know what it was until I was twenty-one, however. It’s a pain in the ass (lately, this is quite literal). A lot of people have never heard of it, including I doctor I saw recently for pain. I’m not mad at him. It’s rarely talked about.

My plan is to help change that. I want to start a series centered around understanding and living with HS. I’ve had a lot of experience in that area, plus it’s easier to point at my blog and say “This is what I’m going through” instead of having to explain over and over again.

Check back soon. The first post is already brewing.

If you need support right now for HS, check out the HS Foundation. It’s a great resource for information and help!

My Next Novel

The Last Fae needs a lot of editing, and so does its sequel, A Demon in her Skin (I love that title!). But, I need a break from that particular world. Lately, I’ve been really into another old story of mine. The tentative title is A Prince and his Dragon. It’s about a prince who is magically tied to a dragon trapped in human form. He has to go on the run from his kingdom after his family is betrayed by a foreign country. The bond between them is intensely sexual, though they both have mates and absolutely must resist. I’ll tell you more about it soon. I promise!

Your Smut Writer Plays Games

A girl needs something to get her going. I’ve always been a fan of games. Admittedly, I lean more towards things like Stardew Valley and House Flipper. But, a smut writer needs more! I’m perusing Steam to find free/cheap erotic games to play. I’m going to be Live streaming on Twitch on Fridays at 9 PM EST. I’ll also post videos to my two Youtube Channels: Erica B Writes Smut for a kind of review situation and Smut Writer Plays Games for the raw streams. They’ll be updated as I can.

Um….it’s not all going to be smut. I will also play whatever game strikes my fancy. House Flipper has become and addiction, and somehow the catalyst for getting me back into my creativity. Here’s a video for one of my oldest flips:

I’ve come a long way since then. I’ll update newer ones soon.

I’ll update my blog when I drop a video. Here’s my planned schedule as of right now:

  • Mondays for blog posts
  • Tuesdays for Erica B Writes Smut videos
  • Friday streaming on Twitch
  • Sunday uploading the raw streams to SW Plays Games

Of course, I may post things in between. Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date!

That’s where I’ve been and here is where I’m going. I’m going to keep moving forward as best I can. I hope you’ll take this journey with me.

Until next time!

I Have a PLAN!

I Guess we can Call it a Plan…

I’ve been trying to come up with some ideas of things to blog about. I mean, I can talk and talk, but I should give making some sense a chance once in a while, amirite? While Googling around the Internets, I came across an intriguing blog post on Mixtus Media. It’s 100 NEW Blog Topics for Fiction Writers.

Now that sounds like something a girl can work with!

I’m not sure I’ll get to the whole 100, but as long as I try, I’ll have some content to pump out. More importantly, It will be a load of fun.

So many good ideas…I barely know where to start. I’m legit excited about it. Especially since I’m trying to write a few blog posts in advance on the weekends to keep me up to date for some time.

A Little Something to Get Started

15. Share the best writing advice you’ve ever gotten.

I’m going to have to say, the best piece of advice I’ve gotten is to JUST WRITE. Don’t stop. Just keep going. If a section of your story has you stuck, skip it and go to another part that will flow. The rest will come in time. And your first draft is just your first draft. It isn’t meant to be a masterpiece.

Also, write what you’re into. Write a book you’d like to read yourself if you weren’t the one writing it. Someone out there will enjoy it just as much as you do.

Just don’t worry. Make it fun. It should be a good time. Will it stress you out sometimes? HELL YES. But that’s okay. All writers go through THE STRUGGLE. You’re in good company.

Going Forward from Here

Right now, I’m dropping a post at least Mondays at 10:00 AM, EST. I hope you stop by then and find out a little more about what I’m working on!

In the meantime, catch a bit of my ongoing work, The Last Fae, here. It’s a little bit I particularly enjoyed writing that I hope you have fun with, too!

Until next time.

A Bit of E.D.Beale History

Old Blog Stuff Getting a Second Go

Image by anncapictures from Pixabay

I mentioned before I’ve been blogging off-and-on for YEARS now. A lot of it has been forgotten. Some things I almost want to bring back. I used to do this thing where I’d write a Letter to a Hot Guy on Sundays that part of me wouldn’t mind bringing back.

Anyway, while poking around on my OneDrive, I found an archive of some of my old works. I think I’ll post one of those every so often.

And Today is THE DAY

Let me start off by saying I’m a huge Star Trek geek. My one and only tattoo (so far) is of the Starfleet insignia on my upper back. It was part of my whole “might as well have a mid-life crisis” phase. It looks great, though I’m told I overspent on it. Ah well. In these hard times, I’m okay with dishing out a little extra while I have it. People gotta eat.

Anyway, I was beyond excited for the 2009 Star Trek when it came out.

Told you, been blogging for a minute, now. Still, having fun when I do it, so why the hell not?

After the movie, this happened. Remember, this is 2009 Erica, not 2022 Erica. There is Star Trek fanny fiction included. Please forgive the errors!

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Here’s to Year 41

In Which a Smut Writer Grows Older

IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!! </Grandmaster> | Image by Kacumen from Pixabay

Today is my 41st birthday. I know what you’re thinking: girlfriend looks good for her age! Well, thank you so much. I’m pleased you think so.

At any rate, as my birthday approached, I realized something was missing. You know, other than that big Powerball payout I didn’t win. I will not lie. I’m still pretty bitter about it. I had plans for that money!

In the last few days, I’ve started planning for my next moves. During that time, I wound up having to take a peek at this poor, neglected blog. I decided the old girl needed more security, so I got to that (CloudFlare is pretty awesome and I knew nothing about it!). And then…in the doing, I thought I broke my blog.

Boy was I pissed with myself.

Luckily, it was just a delay of some sort, and everything was right as rain. After breathing a huge sigh of relief, I read my blog out of gratitude to the Internet Overlords Above.

I thought to myself, this stuff isn’t so bad. In fact, I found it funny and charming, if I do say so myself. Then I thought, why in the world did I stop blogging.

Lack of time? Exhaustion? Laziness? Lack of ideas? If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it’s all three.

But, you know, I really miss this side of my life. I enjoy writing, even if no one else is reading. It gives me a sense of purpose I can’t say I have during most of the day. More than anything, this is what I want to be doing. Just writing this little blurb is filling me with life and light.

My birthday will be a new beginning

I only got a quite few on my list of 40 Things to Do While I’m 40 done. The biggest one is I actually finished The Last Fae. It’s done. Still in need of edits. But it’s done.

For 41, there are only two things I want to do: blog and vlog. Little things that will make a big impact on my creative spirit and I desperately need it. I can’t say I’ll stick to a schedule, but my goal for right now is once a week. I’m ready to live what I think would be my best life. And it doesn’t matter if I’m the only one reading it! Hey, I’m people, too!

So check back every now and again. I have some stories to tell you.

(BTW: I’m working on a Quickie I’m going to call “Birthday Stuff.” It might be up later today!)

UPDATE: Birthday Stuff is LIVE

The Blog-Breaker

She who breaks the blog, remakes the blog

I broke my old blog. I am Blog-Breaker.

This is what I get for not paying attention.

I’ve been with Godaddy for years for my hosting. I know I probably should have switched a long time ago, but I had a nice cozy set up going and I was hesitant to change.

That’s the root of my problem this time.

Apparently, I had been grandfathered (I suppose that’s the right word) into their old hosting set up. The PHP was so old and crusty nothing really worked. When WordPress updated, it killed my original blog.

*sigh*

I reverted back to an old version of WP, thinking that would fix the problem. Keep in mind, I didn’t even know they had updated hosting with c-Panel. Yep, sad, I know.

Going back to old WordPress didn’t help. The old version of my blog was dead. How little I knew her!

I was at least able to back up what I had. Haha, just kidding. Shit was so broken I couldn’t do that. Of course I didn’t find that out until after I changed hosts (yes, still with Godaddy). My backups were completely empty. By that time, my old hosting was gone so I couldn’t do something smart like FTPing my files to my computer from before.

So here I am. Clean slate. Rebuilding. Giving my blog some vitality or some such. Just in time for NaNoWriMo.

This is still a work-in-progress. I’ll be uploading some stories I have hanging around in The Cloud and posting my adventure with The Last Fae, my project for Nano and the rest of 2019. My goal is to have it done by the end of the year. I have it all mapped out so maybe…

….maybe.

Check back soon and often for more fun with your favorite resident Smut Writer! If you have your own NaNo story in the works (and you need encouragement in the journey), let me know in the comments. Link yo’ shit, friend!

Quick update:

I published a couple of shorts on Smashwords. I’ve had a lot of fun with it. When you have time, check out my stuff.

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