Do you find it difficult to ask for help?

Do you find it a challenge to ask people for help? Do you have to be able to do everything by yourself? Now let me share a little insight with you? People do actually like to help. I know... It was a revelation to me too. For some reason we think that we have to do everything alone, strive to demonstrate how great we are by 'going it alone.' The thing is - is it fun to go it alone? Erm no!

So what makes me  bring up this subject? Well it is something I noticed lately... When I first started writing books I was so proud that I had done it all by myself. Of course that is where my ego came in... I was 'so special' because I could write, design and edit. I made the cover, did the editing and basically created the whole bookie product alone. It was a great learning process; however, over time I realised that actually I wasn't the one who could do everything perfectly. I enjoyed writing a story; yet, working with an editor, an expert proof-reader, a proper designer and then audio producers was a far greater pleasure than going it alone. Everyone had developed their skills and was a specialist in what they did.  What's more, I realised that I liked my friends being involved in my creations. I asked them if they would like to give feedback or make honest reviews.  That is where I asked for help. I asked for honest feedback and for them to let others know about my new books. Also each one knew that it was not an expectation and I always gave them the option to say no.

In years gone by I would have never have done that. What is it that stops us asking? Is it because we think it is an inconvenience? Is it a sense of pride? What is the worst that can happen? Someone can say no and that it it! From that simple little step, I realised that I really liked helping others too. When people asked me for help I felt priviledged to be asked and to be able to give that help. There are even times when I actually ask people if they need help - imagine that taking place in current times. Of course there are people who take advantage and milk the need for help and that is when you have to be able to say no too. However, once you develop discernment and learn to work out who is genuine and who is not then it becomes a pleasure to help out.

So with this in mind, I would love to say a huge thanks to all of those who have helped me of late. It seems I didn't even need to ask because they all offered.

Enjoy my audio books at the following link:

http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_hp_tseft?advsearchKeywords=Ruby+allure&filterby=field-keywords&x=0&y=0

AUDIO LINK: http://www.audible.com/pd/Kids/The-Hairy-Legged-Mystery-Audiobook/B01H2HF0XU/ref=a_search_c4_1_2_srTtl?qid=1471619538&sr=1-2

A fantasy fairy fiction novel for girls aged 8 and older...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elora-One-Winged-Fairy-Last-Giggle-ebook/dp/B01KYHM1G4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472123774&sr=8-1&keywords=Elora+the+one+winged+fairy

Satisfaction...

Finding Satisfaction

The quickest way to lead yourself into dissatisfaction is to make comparison. If you think about it, all of us are unique and not one of us is the same so what is the point of making comparison?

One of my friends is working on her ‘grudges’ against people who have more than her. It has been an interesting insight into how she sees things. It seems that what makes her angry is those people who have miraculously large amounts of money arrive in their bank accounts as if by magic. Or people that get free luxury holidays. Obviously from the outside it is relatively amusing watching someone go red in the face over the fact that a friend has been given a free luxury holiday in Australia or Dubai; however, it did get me thinking. Why can’t people be happy for other people’s good? What is the point of jealousy? All of it is a waste of time and energy. When you are throwing yourself into aggravation over someone else’s good then you are not working on your own. I shared this with my friend and asked whether she could compare a bamboo to an oak or a tulip to a rose. She seemed bemused at first and then she realised what I was saying. There is no comparison; what’s more, there will always be someone richer, prettier, fitter, stronger, cleverer – so why are you comparing to them? You are unique and you have your own things that people are comparing to.

 

 

 

For me dissatisfaction is a sad experience, one that I have been working on for a while. It is learning what is it that makes a person feel dissatisfied and why? I realised I was causing my own dissatisfaction by comparing myself to some of the literary greats or the world’s most successful people (quite clearly I may have aspirations of grandeur) and through doing this I was ensuring that I felt bad. The thing is have you noticed that one is more likely to compare to people who have more than you rather than those who have less? Those who have less would be more than grateful for what you have? So how I combatted the comparison / dissatisfaction issue was to really focus on my stuff and when I caught that little voice in my head making comparison, I watched what it was saying and asked myself where the voice had originated. It is fascinating what the inner commentary tells you and what it drives you to do. It is almost manipulative ‘you will only be good enough when…’ 'If you do so and so... have so and so... then life will be so much better.' Then the next chase begins... 

 

 

So why compare? comparison was necessary in primal times to establish your hierarchy within a tribe. Maybe that is why we still do it. The thing is I do not intend to spend my life in a state of dissatisfaction that I have created for myself through comparison. The root cause of the dissatisfaction is comparison so therefore by not comparing and focusing on what you have and what you have achieved then you will experience satisfaction. Give it a try and see what happens.

 

 

 

 

You can find my books at the following link: Ruby Allure books on Audible:

http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_hp_tseft?advsearchKeywords=Ruby+allure&filterby=field-keywords&x=0&y=0

 

 

 

AUDIBLE BOOK AVAILABLE HERE:

 

LINK TO BUY ON AUDIBLE:

http://www.audible.com/pd/Self-Development/A-Short-Course-In-Creative-Writing-Audiobook/B012OVUKE8/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1443260320&sr=1-1

 

LINK TO PAPERBACK ON AMAZON.COM

A Short Course in Creative Writing
by Ms Ruby Allure
Link: http://amzn.com/1517234832

The Joys of Working on Your Audio Book Creation

The Joys of Working on Your Audio Book Creation

 

Spending the evening listening to an Audio Producer transforming your written words into an audio book is a pleasure that one can be likened to the experience of first tasting chocolate. This Sunday evening I am listening to another five chapters of The Ocean Callings being made into my next audio book. That will be my final audiobook created in a year. That means eight of my books will have been taken on by audio producers and made into audiobook creations.

I have to say that I am so grateful that ACX.com exists because it enables indies and professional authors to have their books turned into audiobooks. What's more, they distribute the finished books through Amazon, Audible and ITunes. Since I am an avid audio book reader the ACX process seemed logical to me. Although, what I had not expected was how professional the audio producers were. Each have all been amazing, hard working, stuck to deadlines and all of this without the promise of an income. Why would they do that? To get good books out there and to take on projects they feel passionate about... I know - I was stunned too.

So this evening I have a nice large glass of sparkling water, a homemade choc-jack and a multitude of accents that fill The Ocean Callings. I have to say that in truth that is bliss. The funny thing about it is that tomorrow I will be back in the world of corporation where ghosts, legends and mystical stories will be replaced by mathematics, metrics and the running of a social media team. That is the reality and the publishing world for me is that beautiful escape. I have to say I love this era where one can write a book, have it published, make their own small films and reach audiences without the arduous processes that existed in the past. We really live in the instant era and for that I am grateful. Also to have drawn the attention of such talented producers is also a real joy.

If you are an indie or a professional check out ACX.com and if you want to find a producer then put your books up for audition. Who knows you may find the perfect producer to give you books audio life!

Link to ACX.Comhttps://www.acx.com/

Link to Ruby Allure books on Audible: http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_hp_tseft?advsearchKeywords=Ruby+allure&filterby=field-keywords&x=0&y=0