Betsy is on a Quest. To reach the unreachable star. No matter how hopeless. No matter how far. In short, to write productively and well and to become a successful indie authorpreneur (“success” as defined by, well, Betsy). She has a Guide for her Quest – a white rabbit (who was once a white gerbil) named Harry. Join us as Betsy’s Quest takes over her blog and leads her down many a twisted and winding path. It’s turning out to be quite an exciting adventure, complete with villains and heroes. And perhaps a little coffee.
Following are all of the posts for the Quest gathered together on one page for your reading pleasure. They are in reverse order with the newest posts first, so you’ll have to start at the bottom and work your way up if you want to read them in order. Enjoy!
When we last left Betsy, she was busy facing her doubts and fears, pushing the boulder of her work in progress up the mountain of her ambitions. Harry, the white rabbit who is the Guide on Betsy’s Quest to become a successful independent author, is nowhere to be seen. The Muse is absent, too. It’s just Betsy and Boulder, mano a mano, as it were.
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When we last left Betsy, she had fallen while trying to climb the hill of her aspirations, tripped by an unexpected mundane world disruption. This was a disruption she should have seen coming—in fact, she DID see it coming—but she tripped on it anyway. And when Betsy face-planted on the hill, she dropped the boulder of her work in progress which she had been carrying to the top. The boulder flew into the air, … (read more…)

But then the blog went silent for a few weeks, and you know as well as I do THAT’S not a good sign. So now let us rejoin Betsy, struggling writer, Harry, the white rabbit who is the Guide on Betsy’s Quest to become a successful independent author, and the Muse, who needs no introduction, to find out … (read more…)

Last week the blog was silent again, but was that a good or a bad sign? Is Betsy still … (read more…)

But now, while Harry hopped off to get a salad, it seems that Betsy has frozen in mid-push. She is part way up the mountain, still, not moving forward, … (read more…)

As we join her and Harry, the white rabbit who is her Guide on her Quest to become a successful independent author, we find them standing at the foot of a tall mountain gazing up at an extremely heavy boulder. What is going on?
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Still, it’s been unnervingly silent around Betsy’s brain – the caverns and rooms echoing, the dust gathering. The Muse has conspicuously absent and even Harry, the white rabbit who is Betsy’s Guide on her … (read more…)

But then March happened, and everything changed.
Now things are quiet. But is this just a healing sleep? Or is it a sleep that will last for a lot longer? Will Betsy ever wake up again? The Muse has decided to take matters into her own hands.
Let’s see what’s going on…
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Betsy shifts on her bum and puts her hands deep into the grass so that she feels like she has something to hold onto. Honestly, she would much … (read more…)


But is that not the story of Betsy’s life?
Yes. Yes, it … (read more…)

On the other hand, her heart is also beating pretty rapidly. Which isn’t exactly…good. And … (read more…)

Uh oh. We’d better see what’s … (read more…)

Betsy strove mightily to put out a blog post at least once a week. But, alas, The Sickness had descended upon her and hit her and knocked her asunder for several weeks and so she flaileth.
And, lo, The Sickness had been a mighty and terrible foe, but Betsy had at last fought it into a corner and was now struggling to pick up her life again. Verily, she hath … (read more…)
However, Skipper, a chipmunk who is a Habit Implementation Specialist sent by the Muse Council to help Betsy develop and meet her goals, has asked Betsy to come see her in her office in Betsy’s brain. Whatever can she want? Isn’t she satisfied with the progress … (read more…)

Now Harry, Betsy’s Guide on her Quest, and a white rabbit, has asked her to meet with him for some reason. The last time we saw Harry he was (read more…)

Although the Dark Voice never really leaves, it often lies dormant, waiting. Betsy didn’t realize it was awake again, not right away. Not until the winds blew her off balance and the … (read more…)

However, Harry has had a problem with his situation. He was a white gerbil. Not a white stag or a white rabbit, as is traditional for Guides. … (read more…)


But today… today he seems different. Jaunty, even. And he’s dressed…weird. Whatever is going on?
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When last we left Betsy, she was riding high after publishing her latest book, having survived trials, tribulations, and the obsessive urge to press the “publish” button over and over again. She was even starting to think about taking control of the REST of her life. She was laughing, singing, and dancing in the privacy of her own home.
But now Betsy is sitting like a huddled mass in front of her computer screen, keening softly as she contemplates the … (read more…)

The short answer is—no.
Let’s join Betsy as Skipper, the Habit Implementation Specialist … (read more…)

Betsy has just published her third book, Believing It, and the publishing experience was more than a little stressful. Part of that has to do with the fact she decided to put the book out right when she was scrambling to finish her taxes.
But it was also stressful because Betsy can be something of an idiot.
Harry, the white Gerbil who has the unenviable task … (read more…)

As you may, or may not, know, Betsy is on a Quest to become a successful independent author / entrepreneur. Her Guide on this Quest is a white gerbil named Harry, who lives in her brain and annoys her on a regular basis.
Betsy has been known to yammer about goals and objectives here on the blog, but today she does not seem to be in her office. Her desk sits empty, the lights in her brain are dark. Where is she? What in the world is going on?
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Betsy, as you may know, is on a Quest to become a successful independent author. Harry, as you may also know, is her Guide on this Quest. He is a white gerbil with hopes of one day upgrading to a more traditional Quest Guide form. Maybe a white rabbit, or even a white stag. … (read more…)

Uh oh. We haven’t heard from Betsy in quite a while. That can’t be good. What in the world has been going on with her? Has she fallen down a rabbit hole again?
Let’s see….
*Betsy sits alone in an empty room* *A Dark Voice echoes against the walls*
Food…spend…eat…you know you want to…
No. *Betsy shakes head to clear it*
One more time. Trust … (read more…)

Whatcha doing?
*Betsy jumps* *Straightens in her chair* Muse? Is that you?
Who else? *Muse pets cats* *Cats do not claw, but purr and roll over to allow Muse to pet their bellies* *Muse walks over to Betsy* *Props hip against desk* So? What are you doing?
*Betsy … (read more…)

Betsy has been meeting with Skipper, a chipmunk who happens to be the best goldarned Habit and Goal Implementation Specialist the Muse Council has to offer. In the last post, Skipper broke the news that just coming up with the fuzzy, overarching objective of “I want to write a lot of books and have people … (read more…)
Although … (read more…)

Because Betsy is, well, Betsy, this is much easier said … (read more…)

He’s a white gerbil trying to climb the Quest Guide ladder and he needs Betsy to get moving towards becoming a successful … (read more…)

Let’s see….
Our … (read more…)

Betsy has announced that she is going to be publishing her next book on June 22nd. Harry, Betsy’s Guide on her Quest to become a successful independent author, has called all hands on deck to make sure Betsy doesn’t back out or screw up in … (read more…)

Betsy has made a decision. I know, but it’s true! She is going to publish her book and it will be out in eBook form on June 22nd! … (read more…)
As we rejoin our story, we find Betsy and Harry, the white gerbil who is Betsy’s Guide on her Quest to become a successful independent author / publisher, lying on their backs in the field of waving wheat that spreads across a portion of Betsy’s brain. They are watching the sky overhead. As they watch, stars form and splinter apart. Suns grow and burst. Dreams stir. (read more…)

When last we left Betsy and her Muse, it seemed they were making progress towards the ultimate goal of Betsy’s Quest. Betsy had completed the first draft of her next book, and even took the time to evaluate her writing process in a relatively thoughtful manner. But something appears to have happened since last we spoke. Betsy’s brain has been ringing with … (read more…)
In Part One of The Story of a First Draft, the Muse gave Betsy the beginning situation of her story and showed her a spotlight shining on the ending off in the distance in the darkness … (read more…)



Let’s see….
*Betsy pushes open door to Harry’s office in her brain* Hello! Is … (read more…)
Betsy suffered a bit of a meltdown on her path to indie authorpreneurship and was sidetracked by her deep and passionate love of baked goods. When last we met, Harry, the white gerbil who is the Guide for her Quest, lectured Betsy quite severely about the importance of maintaining her health. He was very stern.
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As we saw in the last post, Betsy has apparently fallen into the den of her own iniquity by eating inappropriately for her diabetic condition. Again. In a big way. When Harry, the Guide for Betsy’s Quest, and the Muse discuss this, Harry promises to have a little … (read more…)
When last we met, all seemed to be well with Betsy. She was happy, she was writing, and she was discussing newsletters with Harry, the white gerbil who is the Guide on her Quest. She’s on her way, right? Sure, there have been some bobbles, but there is no way in heck Betsy’s going to fall off her path again, not now that she is positive it is where she … (read more…)
In a meeting with Harry, the white gerbil who is the Guide for her Quest, and Skipper, the chipmunk who is a Habit Formulation Specialist, Betsy realizes her overarching life goal is to always … (read more…)
Skipper, the Habit Formulation specialist has returned. Betsy and Quest Guide Harry are meeting with her in Betsy’s brain to discuss how Betsy is doing in the initial implementation of her Good Habit Strategy, i.e. writing every day. The verdict has come back – okay so far.
But … (read more…)
Betsy and Harry, the Guide for her Quest to become a successful indie authorpreneur – and a gerbil – have been meeting with Skipper, Habit Formulation and Implementation Specialist – and a chipmunk. Skipper has given Betsy lots of good advice, but (read more…)
—–Intermission—–
The Muse was whipping my butt last night, so I didn’t have a chance to write up the next installment in the adventures of Betsy, Harry, Skipper, Muse, Dark Voice, Obsessia, Fake Harry, Coffee, Blogosphere, etc. because I was actually working on my book. However, since I hadn’t posted anything on … (read more…)
Betsy and Harry, the white gerbil who is Betsy’s Guide on her Quest to become a successful independent authorpreneur, have been spending quality time with Skipper, a Habit Formation and Implementation specialist sent by the International Muse Council to help Betsy develop goals and habits. After a long and arduous process similar to birthing an … (read more…)
Harry, Betsy’s Guide on her Quest (and a white gerbil) has brought Skipper, an expert in Habit Formulation and Implementation (and a chipmunk), to Betsy’s brain to convince Betsy that not only are goals and habits good, but she needs some. Betsy allows as how she doesn’t like goals because … (read more…)
Harry, Betsy’s Guide on her Quest to become a successful independent author / entrepreneur, has just done a stint at the International Muse Council to undergo psychological testing. But he’s back! Better yet, he brought a friend with him – Skipper the Chipmunk, a specialist in Habit Formation and Implementation.
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Harry, Betsy’s Guide on her Quest to become a successful independent author / entrepreneur, has returned from a short stay with the Muse Council and he’s ready to rock and roll! He wants to help pull Betsy out of the mire of her own neurosis, kick her in the butt, and lead her on her way down the path to success. But to do that, he needs Betsy’s … (read more…)
As you know if you’ve joined us for previous installments of The Quest, Betsy has decided to become a successful independent author / entrepreneur. Harry, a white gerbil, is her Guide on this Quest, determined to help her find her way as she navigates the confusing paths leading to her goal. Betsy is discovering (well, she already knew this, so it’s more like … (read more…)

Mavis, the ambassador from the International Muse Council, has come in search of Harry, Betsy’s Quest Guide, because he has not been answering Council summons. She finds him in the gutter of Betsy’s brain, swilling orange juice (an intoxicant for the gerbil family, of which Harry is a member), and basically falling into the dark well of Betsy’s mental depravity. … (read more…)

Although Betsy and the Muse have been hanging out regularly, Betsy hasn’t seen Harry, her Quest Guide, for a couple of days. In fact, she hasn’t seen him since he and the Muse came to her aid when she battled Obsessia and The Dark Voice. But Betsy’s been so busy, she didn’t notice Harry was missing until she received a summons from a familiar disembodied … (read more…)
Betsy and her Muse come face to face with Obsessia. Obsessia lives in Betsy’s brain, prodding her this way and that, directing her to travel down paths of pursuit that get her all twisted up and confused. As Betsy realizes what’s going on and tries to follow the Muse out into more productive pathways, Obsessia calls for her boyfriend – Compulsion, aka the … (read more…)

Harry, Betsy’s Guide on her Quest, has given her a list of things she will need to learn to be a successful indie author and she has gone off to think about them. Betsy being Betsy, her thoughts promptly swirled into a burgeoning tornado of confusion, indecision and doubt. But, wait – does it seem that Betsy is being prodded just a little a bit? … (read more…)

Betsy is on a Quest to become an Indie Author/Publisher/Entrepreneur. Harry, a white gerbil, is her Guide. When last we met, Betsy and her Muse were hopped up on writing good times and heading towards finishing the first draft of the second half of the redraft of the book Betsy is writing. While they got down to the … (read more…)

Harry, Betsy’s Guide on her Quest to be an indie author/publisher, has discovered that Betsy and her Muse are almost finished the first draft of her book. This is a good thing. What Harry finds a little disturbing is the fact that Betsy wrote much of the second half of the first draft of the book in longhand. Like on paper. With a … (read more…)
To sum things up as quickly as possible: there’s a Quest, there’s a Guide, he’s a gerbil (yeah, a gerbil), his name is Harry. The Quest is to indie publish, Betsy’s supposed to be writing and finishing her first draft, and the Muse is cranky about schedules. Betsy’s also managed to put together a “(read more…)

Betsy has set out on her Quest to become an indie author with the help of her Guide, Harry. Although in mythology, Guides for a Quest have traditionally been a white stag or rabbit, Harry is a white gerbil. Well, that’s just the way things go sometimes.
Thus far, Harry has proven himself to … (read more…)
Harry, Betsy’s Quest Guide, is afraid Betsy has become derailed in her Quest to be a successful indie author. This fear appears justified when he finds her lying in a slovenly heap in the temporal lobe of her brain, drowning her grief and sorrow in a sea of sugars, fats, and chemicals. He tries to snap her out of … (read more…)
When Betsy loses two of her beloved cats within six weeks of each other due to cancer, Harry, Betsy’s Quest Guide, leaves her alone for a little while to grieve. However, when he returns to Betsy’s brain, he’s disturbed to find molecules of sugar and chemicals flying around everywhere and Betsy’s Muse sound asleep on a ratty sofa pushed into a … (read more…)

Betsy and Harry, her Quest Guide, determined that the first step Betsy needs to take to become a successful indie author is to write more. They also discussed Betsy’s production schedule and decided Betsy would finish the first draft of her work in progress by May 11. Unfortunately, in the meantime Betsy experienced a (read more…)

Betsy has had several conversations with Harry, the mythical creature sent by the International Muse Council to guide her towards her dreams. Harry happens to be a white gerbil with aspirations for a promotion. Surprisingly, he’s also proving to be quite a bit of help. He has already helped Betsy identify the goal of her … (read more…)

Betsy met an albino gerbil named Harry, who just happens to be her official Guide for her Quest. The problem? She didn’t know what her Quest was! Although Harry was disgusted by this lack of self-awareness, he helped her weed through her writing goals to see what she really wants to accomplish. With Harry’s help, Betsy realized she wants to … (read more…)

Previously on Betsy’s Blog….
Harry, Betsy’s albino gerbil Quest Guide, has sent Betsy away to think about her writing. They need to identify the true nature of her quest before they set out. Otherwise how will they know when they get there? Now, after a short break for Easter, they’ve gotten together again and are sitting together on the Ikea sofa in Betsy’s brain … (read more…)
Mavis, Betsy’s inner Mary-Poppins-like career consultant sent by the International Muse Council, has determined that Betsy will be too much work. However, before she flies off into the sunset, she provides Betsy with another Guide – a white gerbil named Harry. Yes, whereas in mythology most seekers setting out on life-altering quests are led by a white stag or a … (read more…)

I…hello? Who are you?
I’m Mavis, dear.
No…I mean…it’s nice to meet you, but who ARE you? And why are you talking to me?
I’m a consultant, dear.
I have a consultant who’s a voice in my head.
Yes, dear.
Wow. I’m more screwed up than I thought I … (read more…)

Blogosphere?
*silence*
Blogosphere, I know you’re there. *touches door closed in her face*
*crickets chirp*
I had a good excuse for not blogging this time. I did. It was a very rough winter.
*wind whistles through trees*
I honestly didn’t have … (read more…)