What do writers and Lady Gaga have in common?

I’m a Lady Gaga fan. I was devastated when her tour went through Houston when I was nine-months-pregnant, BUT then my wonderful husband bought two tickets to her Monster Ball when it made it’s second pass through the city. To my writer-related point, what do writers have in common with Lady Gaga? I should have titled this post: What do great writers have in common with Lady Gaga? They are all different.

Whether you like Lady Gaga, her music, her unique style and all those costumes; everyone can agree on one thing—she is different. No matter if you are a writer, a singer, or in any creative field—being different is the key to success. Being different is what makes you stand out from all the good writers out there.

My senior year in college I wrote a very long paper on a book that inspired me. I wrote on Jim Collins’ “Good to Great.” I believe that Lady Gaga is a great example of this. Of course she is good but she is more than that. She takes each performance, each song, each costume that little extra step to make it great.

Sometimes it doesn’t take much to go from good to great. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking on this topic, as I prepare to pitch my fiction work at RWA Nationals. What makes my story greater than all the other good stories out there?

Only I can answer that question, like only you can know what will take you from being good to great. Lady Gaga has obviously figured out what works for her.

I may still be working on getting my fiction work published but I’ve made one step from being a good writer to a great writer by releasing my non-fiction book, “Caring for Your Special Needs Dog,” published by Who Dares Wins Publishing. I wrote what I loved. I wrote what I knew. I wrote about dogs. It won’t become a movie, but it means so much to me. I know I will make a difference with it.

The literature world all ready has a J.K. Rowlings and a Stephenie Meyer. So, I can tell you that I am not writing about boy wizards or a teen vampire love story.

Be different. That’s what great writers share with Lady Gaga.

What are you doing to take your writing, life, career, etc. to the next level? What are you doing to stop being good and become great? What are you doing to become the “Lady Gaga” of what you do? Work hard and go beyond the “Edge of Glory.”

Announcements:

To learn more about my non-fiction book, “Caring you Your Special Needs Dog,” out this month by Who Dares Wins Publishing click here. A percentage of the profits go to The Texas A&M Foundation to the benefit of the Neurology Section, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinarian Medicine.

Obviously, I love dogs. My fellow #MyWANA member, author James Rollins is holding a fundraiser over at his blog that will benefit The Humane Society of America. It’s fun and easy. Help spread the word of his upcoming novel, “The Devil Colony” by buying fun merchandise and ALL the proceeds go to benefit The Humane Society of America. It’s a win-win people!

I recently had the honor of being a guest on author Amy Shojai’s radio show, “Pet Peeves.” You can listen here.

I had the opportunity to write a guest column over at Pitch University. Click here to read about Finding Luck in Unforeseen Pitches (and Dogs!)

And to those of you that read the announcements.......enjoy my favorite new Gaga song from her new album, “Edge of Glory.”