“Don’t eat the butt.” ~ Kristen Lamb, master of the metaphor
If you haven’t yet met Kristen Lamb then I’m about to go out and do you a freakin service. Why am I dedicating an entire post to sing the praises of this gifted Texan? Because she’s that good and like C & C Music Factory I’ve got the power.
Ode to K-Lamb.
Kristen is one of the many great people I’ve met since getting Twitterfied. She’s been a great encouragement and is a remarkably gifted teacher. One of the biggest changes I made was to change my Twitter handle from educlaytion to ClayMorganPA. It’s all about branding. She had me put that cute little handle on it’s knees and pull the trigger. (Don’t worry, he still lives on here 
)
Oh yeah, she can also write her tail off. What’s that you say? She doesn’t have a tail? Looks like I just made my point.
How fabulous is Kristen? Well, one time she taught about risk taking by using mushroom eating, Indiana Jones, and puffer fish. The internet was abuzz that day with cheers to go after goals followed by warnings of “don’t eat the butt.” Sound crazy? Check out the story for yourself.
I was going to find her best posts for you but she’s so consistently awesome at teaching about writing, networking, and publishing that when I tried to find her best work my brain overheated at how good all her stuff is. Not that I’m jealous.
*bangs face off desk*
Well, she’s earned being that good, and from where I’m sitting (a chair with a grandma butt pillow) she’s also earned this list of 5 ways she rocks.
1. She’s hilarious
Even if she had nothing to say, Kristen cracks me up. She can get down and serious when the time comes, but this gal is gifted with a serious sense of humor. I once spit coffee on my dog while reading her post. Hey, it was him or the keyboard.
2. She’s brilliant
Am I getting a little hero sandwichy here? Maybe, but how often do I ever take a day on this site to give one person mad run? She’s that good, and I really appreciate the thought she’s put into how this world works and, even better, how people work.
3. She makes pop culture references
Too many to recount like Milli Vanilli, The Princess Bride, and The Dark Knight (and SNL and Fight Club and…). You get the idea. Anyone who knows how to handle a pop culture reference is aces in my book.
4. She shoots stuff
I’m talking both virtually and physically here. So what we have is a gamer who also shoots real weapons for fun. Then she goes home to hold her little boy and cook awesome food. That’s high marks on Morgan’s Scale of Super Coolness.
5. She wants you to succeed
Writers certainly get loads of knowledge from Kristen but some days are just about good principles for succeeding in life. And we can all use that.
By the way, Kristen’s also a best-selling author, and her latest book Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer just came out this week. You can purchase your Kindle copy through Amazon or choose from all available versions here. Maybe you’re a seasoned blogger. Well, your blog could always use more cowbell as Kristen told us not too long ago. Loved that one.
She recently established the new Twibe (Twitter group) #MyWANA which enables us like-minded folks to better meet and track one another. That’s a great way to build relationships that solidify networks. WANA stands for the title of her previous book We Are Not Alone and is a great start to establishing yourself as a writer in a social media driven world. You can pick up your own copy at Amazon.
If you’ve never encountered Kristen Lamb, hop over to her site to find out what being a warrior writer is all about.
What leaders inspire you?
Do you have a favorite Kristen Lamb moment?
Holy moly! This is the best blog I have ever read! Sheer BRILLIANCE. Every word like golden pools of intelligence. Oh, wait. Probably should do some false modesty here….NAH! Flattery will get you EVERYWHERE
.
Thanks for such an awesome post. I find it such a privilege that I get to help you guys. In writing and social media I spent a lot of time making some pretty dumb mistakes. I have been fortunate to have mentors like Bob Mayer who pulled me out of the literary mud and took pity on me.
Just working every day to pass on the blessing that was given to me. Bob found me alone, shaking, and crusted with adverbs. I’d lost my antagonist and was trapped in a corner by my own writing, afraid my prose might turn on me any second…
…where was I?
Oh, yeah. So anyway. I get a chance to give back and that feels pretty awesome. And the best part is I get to have the coolest peeps. Present company included of course.
Thanks for the praise and thank you even more for talking about #MyWANA. Unlike me, writers now don’t have to do it alone. We are part of a twibe, a team, committed to our success.
Lots of digital hugs to one of my favorite peeps on the Web.
May the force be with you,
Kristen
I’ve gotta go hop on a plane, but this comment is exactly what makes you so loverly. Rock what you got I always say. Can’t wait for more peeps to meet you.
I love her, too! She is Guru-Perfection!
Right on Ann. Thanks for commenting.
Clay:
I’m not surprised you like her. You are just like her. Minus the vagina. You are both talented and funny; you are both self-deprecating, and you both work really hard to spread the word.
Yes, you have your own stuff going on, but you also work to promote the work of others, which – of course – comes back to you threefold!
I cannot believe you even got her to post here. You are probably going to frame her text. You are, aren’t you?
I have honestly been afraid to connect with the amazing K-Lamb, even though I am totally stalking her on Twitter and following her on her blog. And you know, I don’t really DO afraid. I just think, she is such an icon, and I could really use her advice, and how the hell am I ever going to find an editor for my manuscript without having somebody read the first five pages and tell me the honest truth about it. But I don’t know how to ask and sound all needy.
But now that I see that she is hot (like me) and sassy (like me), I think I might just reach out and try to make a more direct contact with her. (Read: I am about to get way more stalkery.) What’s the worst that can happen? (Okay, she could block me. It could happen…)
She really does know her shizz. And I plan to get her new book “Are you There, Blog? It’s me, Writer.” Today.
Kristen is one of the friendliest, most approachable people I know. I’m sure she’d love it if you said hi.
Kristen is great and down to earth. She does know her stuff fo sho! Thanks.
I need to get all her books. Like, yesterday.
I could basically cut and paste Renee’s comment. She summed up all my thoughts, and a few others I should have thought but didn’t.
Brilliant post once again.
Thanks Annie!
I’ve been reading her blog for a few weeks now and even in just that short amount of time she has impressed me to no end.
She’s impressive for sure. Thanks Amy.
Just like Luke Skywalker, when Kristen Lamb says, “I care,” I really believe it.
You know that’s right Ellster.
She does care. She will talk to you. She does put her pants on one leg at a time – while standing on her head, blogging, tweeting and being a great mommy/wife!
K-Lamb is a really nice person.
It’s scary how much good content she writes. That doesn’t just happen! Thanks for stopping by Shellie.
I’m honored and privileged to say that Kristen is my editor, mentor, and friend. I met her at the 2010 DFW Writers Conference, and I knew right away that she was teaching something I needed to learn. What really blew me away was how, when I asked about blogging, she sat right down at a laptop and pulled up wordpress to show me. She was willing to set me up right then. When I gorked out on it, she backed up several steps and said, “Send me your bio.” The rest is history. Never ask her a question unless you’re ready for action. I am forever grateful that she pulled me out of the mud the way Bob did for her. Reposting this at my blog.
Sounds great Piper. Glad we all encountered each other. The repost sounds terrific.
I’ve been lurking on KL’s blog. Followed your trail (and Piper’s) to it.
You are so awesome at connecting people. I think Renee said it best. You are the best things you see in her.
Okay. Enough niceties. Don’t want you to think I’ve gone all soft.
Yes, TWSS. (I can hear you from Florida to Canada).
After reading KL’s book, I too have been thinking about shifting my Ironic_Mom handle on Twitter to Leanne Shirtliffe. As much as I love my name, it’s SO LONG. 16 characters (compared to 10 for IM). Sigh. Should still do it, though, right?
Leanne, I feel like you are already an icon. Like Cher. Or Madonna. Maybe you are the exception. Maybe you can be Ironic Mom. Forever. And we’ll still read your books. WWK-LambD?
I think so. Like she says, the name on the bookstore shelf is the one to pump now. And my sister’s fiance is a TWSS veteran. We’re laughing.
Kristen is a genuine person first and foremost. She isn’t unapproachable. You can direct message her with a question and she will take the time to answer it! Ask yourself how many authors, instructors, or anyone else for that matter, are vested in your success? Kristen, really believes that her success, lays in the success of others, and to that end, she works very hard to make it happen. I too believe that, and that’s my style. The clincher is that she is very humorous, a cut up of the nth degree. Which makes her far more approachable both online and off. Be forewarned, she gravitates to Star Trek more than Star Wars though!!! lol With her you will get the straight truth, not just what you want to hear, and that is something sorely lacking in writers groups and in the industry in general. But she crafts a bit of humor into all of this, makes her unique. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Of course, I’m the one who threw her into a well, gave her a notebook, and tells her daily “It writes the prose…or it get’s the hose.” And yes, I know all this because I’m married to her. =)
And supportive husbands make all the difference for writing wives. You rock, too, Shawn.
Hey Piper! All the best to you and yours. One day, I’m going to write my own book. How’s this for a title “THE 12 STEP PROGRAM TO COPING AND LIVING WITH AN AUTHOR” =p Hey, someone has to do it!!! lol
Hey Shawn! Great to have you stop by, and the Silence of the Lambs quote is cracking me up! I like the Star Trek direction more than Star Wars myself, something I’ve taken heat for from certain peeps around the net (ahem). Thanks for commenting.
Funny you should write this. I was just singing Kristen’s praises to another blogger and your comments are very much the same as what I was passing on. And she really does care. I can’t tell you how invaluable it has been to have her as a resource as I have struggled my way through this writing life. Thanks for honoring one of my heroes here.
You bet Ann. I’m glad you came by and shared some thoughts. Visit anytime.
As an old friend, co-founder of Warrior Writers Boot Camp and one who at times has had to remind Kristen with a gentle push just how good she really is, I can tell you she’s the genuine article. The praise in this blog is NOT flattery. It’s well-earned.
Well said, and thank you for always being there for her and keeping her to task when Im not around. lol
Great to hear you say that David. I appreciate you taking the time to say so here. Thanks.
Clay – this is great! KLTX is my Guru too! She has held my hand through social media, and I love her attitude on life in general!
The optimism is key for sure. Glad to know you Tiff, another connection made through the Warrior Writer crew.
So, I just bought the book (about 4 seconds after clicking on its Amazon page) and I am now in tears because I left my Kindle at home. I’ve officially started counting down the hours until I get back to the apartment so I can canoodle Kristen’s book all night.
Great to hear! I’m sure you’ll have plenty to go over again and again. Thanks for commenting.
This is incredibly awesome. Everything you said is true.
Thanks Terrell. I’m glad you stopped by. Come back anytime!
Kristen is a great person and always wanting to lend a hand to help anyone. Her blogs are funny and insightful, and I mean every one of them. If you aren’t following her and at #MyWANA, then you’re definitely missing out.
Here, here is all I gots to say to that Kerry.
Awesome tribute, Clay! Kristen is amazing! All I did at the writer’s conference is tell people to go check out her blog and how helpful she is to writers. She is amazing! And you’re right about all the internet buzz, how bout the time EVERYONE (even my newbie twitter self) was tweeting MORE COWBELL all because of Kristen. Awww.
You know she’s good when we’re telling stories about things that happened last month! Thanks Jess.
Well-deserved praise, Clay. I changed by Twitter handle per Kristen’s advice, as well. It was the first time I believed that I am the real tool in this writing equation, not a clever moniker or gimmick.
May have just called myself a tool.
Kudos to Kristen.
I’ve called myself worse.
Kristen boasts of having Bob Mayer as her mentor, well I can go one better and boast that I have Kristen as mine. She pushed me out of my comfort zone, made me thirsty for blood and, above all, brought me into the WWBC gang (Terrell, Piper, Nigel…you know who you are). PLUS, she cooks one hell of a mean steak…but beware – She’ll hold you at gun point while you do the washing up.
That’s great Donna! So glad you stopped by. And I def wouldn’t cross her
Wow, what a promo! I’ve been following Kristen on Twitter for a few weeks and am always encouraged or inspired by her tweets. Looks like I have a couple books to add to my must-read list.
You’re like the opposite of the marginally hot chick who hangs out with ugly girls to make herself seem hotter. I don’t really know where I’m going with this metaphor.
JButt, you always crack me up. Wait or is that crack you are smoking? Either way, I’m going to keep stalking KristenLambTX on Twitter and reading her blogs and books. She knows her shizz.
I wanna be that marginally hot chick who hangs out with uber-hot chicks so she can at least have the possibility of seeing some kind of action.
Please, Lord, let KLamb be my uber-hot chick.
Amen.
OMG….you guys are making me like all misty-eyed. What amazing comments! I just feel so blessed that I get to help all of you guys with your writing careers. I made so many retarded mistakes that will only, in retrospect, be seen for their full ass-hattery. At the time they seem really brilliant. Kind of like kissing ugly guys when you’re drunk…but the next day when he CALLS…?
Okay, I was going somewhere with that story.
Oh, yes! It has been wonderful to spare you guys the torment of being pinned under your first bad manuscript and choopsing to chew off your own arm rather than wake it.
Coyote Ugly WIP.
I adore all of you and thanks for taking the time to comment and praise. You have no idea how this has reenergized me. It’s great to see that the hard work does pay off.
xxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Still laughing and glad to hear you are reenergized. Keep rockin.
When life starts getting in my way, priorities shifting away from my goals, I open up my email and catch up on Kristen’s posts. The instant reset is like a Starbucks espresso super shot, and I’m back in the groove again. Thanks Kristen for all you do. Great post Clay, loved the Kristen moments section.
You bet Mary Jo and thanks for reading & commenting!