What? I Can't Write All The Time?

I spend an abnormal about of time at my computer desk and while my kids, Zoe and Cougar can't stand it, (sometimes they even protests) I can get a lot done at my workstation. I can write, play World of Warcraft, shop, watch cable or dvds, listen to my tunes, answer calls, etc.

It's not the healthiest lifestyle, I know and I often tell myself that as soon as x,y,z goals are met that I will get up and away from my workstation and do something more active. I often fail miserably.

This weekend I made it a point to go to a writer's workshop, mainly because Treva Harte, editor and co-owner of Loose-ID, was going to be there. Still, it felt so good to be able to get out, not just to talk about craft, but to get out an participate in something. I will admit that for the most part lately, I have become a bit of a hermit. I used to go clubbing, used to get out and exercise, socialize too...but I don't and writing and gaming are not the only reasons why. They are pretty good exucuses though.

As I finish up my current writing project, one of the things foremost on my things to do, is get more involved in outside ventures, a bookclub and a gym mainly. I have more stories to tell, so I need to be in good shape and fairly healthy to write them. But I can't write all the time.

Short Story Progress Meter

OMG!! What? No Meter is here? Oh because I finished it! I finished it! Mya can write a short story after all (now whether its good is a whole other ball of wax) but the renamed, MF paranormal, bondage tale heretofore known as "Higher Learning" is complete as 24,861!

Short Story Progress Meter

Perspective

Mya Can Write A Short Story...Really...or Else...

Lately I have been so obsessed with short stories and my seemingly inability to write one. Okay so there are a lot of things I can't write but I like to try. At one point, I used to be able to write short pieces but that has faltered over the past two years. I want to go epic and world build and build up and as I have found out that is not always a good thing. So after sending off my latest novel (btw that would make two novels that are looking for publishers) I decided that maybe something short would be in order and set up a personal challenge for myself. I have twenty days to finish a short story. I have to do at least 1k per day. Well this is day two and I'm doing fairly well on MF piece (sorry but heh, both novels are MM). It's about a sorceress with a gift for bondage and the sorcerer who is better at it. So far, I'm having a ball.... My aspirations may go up in smoke in a few days, but I am going to give it a shot. Here's to ShoStoWriMo...or Short Story Writing Month :\

Perspective

Hamster on a Wheel...

Okay, so I don't have any news about upcoming releases or anything, but I have been working away...wildly I might say. I don't know about other authors but I have been enjoying the writing/story telling process waaaay too much and need to discover where I left my inner editor. Short stories? I have forgotten what those are and things that should be 100 pages jump to nigh three hundred. To say that I get carried away sometimes is putting it mildly.

I will admit that I am no great wordsmith but I do love telling tales. Still I like being a published author too and by all means that entails creating a viable, edited, cohesive tale to readers. So...I have to slow down on starting new projects, which I would say that if I could edit and complete all the projects whose first draft, I have completed I might be able to get out 4 novels this year, but already the itch to move on to other projects is there, burning selfishly bright. There is some hot gargoyle loving, I'm feeling the itch for...waterwhip anyone? Okay...stopping the muse, right now!

Anyway, back to edit 4 of "Embraced by the Sun" and edit 2 of "Heart of Bast," and as for "Forever Guardian" the sequel to "A Guardian's Desire," I am already compiling the outline and notes for it...my other new project.

Ok...backing away from the wheel...

Series or Trilogy...All that I don't know...

There are smart writers who know the ins and outs of grammar, mechanics, word usage, tense and perspective, style and various other literary terms. Then there are story tellers. Unfortunately, I belong to the category of story tellers. Yes, I was an English major and did exceedingly well but only in the analyzing and debating of great works and the rambling, passionate composition of my essays...which always got graded down due to my complete stupidity in the aforementioned categories. Therefore, at no time ever will you read me complaining about how poorly a novel was written, edited or anything about the perspective and/or . (although James Joyce...)

Anyway, that drunken broad aka my muse, came to me this morning with an idea for the sequel of "A Guardian's Desire." (Which I am extremely grateful for, Ms. Caffiena!) After about two months of worrying and trying to recall the difference between a series and a trilogy--I had to look up the definitions of both--I have decided that "A Guardian's Passion" will maybe/definitely be...the second in a series. I want more of Freya and so do a lot of the readers, or so they have said, but then I also want to tell more than just her story...okay, i don't, I just want to write more battle scenes & sex scenes involving Freya and her boys but I think it will add a powerful edge to broaden the universe... That and I am no Tolkien or Lewis....

We shall see. I am wondering if there is a term for something in between a series and a trilogy? Yup, its back to the Literary Dictionary for me...Uggh

Outsourcing and Multitasking

Its been a busy week...Was there really a holiday? I don't know, but I do know that I made the right decision when I decided to hand over my website design and maintance to a professional. Rather than spending hours looking through and fixing codes, I have more time for the other aspects of my writing business, like promo.

I recently joined Bookworm Bags a promo based group and have been not only mailing out promo materials like mad, but I am also gearing up for a new contest, which requires locating prizes, crafting up a few prizes and ordering materials. If I could just outsource promotional responsibilites I would be in heaven.

I realize that if I want my little business (and if you're a writer, your pen name is your business) to grow then I am going to have to put in the work. Things that can be outsourced like websites, taxes, Vistaprint (because yes you can make your own postcards at home, but why) and Cafe Press, should be. I mean, one still has to make deadlines, submit new work, edit and revise, right? Then of course there's the sales figure and reciept for expendature tracking, conference planning and public assistant help that comes into play...Well, suffice it to say that I know NO writers who just write. So with that said, I don't feel so bad about the outsourcing.

Anyw...any suggestions and comments for are highly appreciated.

Progress and Non-Progress Reports

Most of the time, I am a multi-tasking fiend. I can watch movies, play a video game, chat and write. Sometimes I even eat too. I do it in the classic, multi-tasking ADD fashion, I bounce my attention between three or four tasks. (My editor may kill me if she knows this) But seriously, the more things I have to do at once, makes me happier. I get a rush out of it.

Focus...yeah right. I purposefully watch old action movies and B-movie monster flixs while I work because they don't hold my attention and I can write with the background noise. I can watch 'Transformers' or 'The Hulk' up to three times a day. I like the sound of carnage and occasionally, I look over to see Blackout or Ratchet on the screen.

What I cannot do however, is be productive during riveting, cerebral, engaging programs. I am currently in this small catchup with formerly ignored series mode. I watched all 9 episodes of 'True Blood,' five episodes of 'Sons of Anarchy' and a season and a half of 'Dexter.' Have 3 more episodes of Dexter to get through... Needless to say my word count has suffered a great deal. There is no way I can work while watching such attention-grabbing entertainment.

I want so much to finish the second season tonight, but I had to put my foot down and tell myself that there was work to be done. Currently, I have 43K written on 'The Heart of Bast.' I have 7 more chapters to write and with a personnal goal of completion set for mid-December, I keep telling myself the sooner I catch up on all my shows the sooner I can get back to business. I even put 'The Hulk' back into my dvd player to type this blog entry, but the urge....just one more episode...I need to be more disciplined, but knowing that I have a problem is half the battle, right?

World Building...Or Plain Gluttony

First off, The Sorcery of Shadows submission package was sent off this morning. While I am wishing it luck, I know that backer or no, it will have a sequel.

Second, I also got to work on The Heart of Bast, my ode to Zoe's favorite brand of cuisine; The Fancy Feast/ Elegant Medleys selections. She actually prefers the Shredded Fare over the Florentines and Souffles, but anyhoo, I'm looking forward to weaving in many different, delectable entrees for the werecats in my story. Ah, yeah, a werecat would like sushi as well! Hot damn, I get to write about delicate plates of beautiful, ornaments of seafood and seaweed.

There are a lot of books and writers who have opinions on world building and the importance of it, and I for one stress the importance of knowing your paranormal breed and how you want to breath life into them. My werecats are far bigger than their natural counterparts, the change is physical, there are many types, some that like civilization and some that don't. As a reader, I know that I always want details, small and big. It can even be fun.

I'm making a few flounder filets tonight for me and Zoe (and heh, it's baked so it shouldn't be too fattening for her) and plan on getting back to work :D

Giving Back, Research, Helping Out...Or Yum...

I don't know what to call it, when an author buys another author's work. Maybe it might depend on the motive. I know that before I was published, I bought a lot more books than I do now. I purchased a lot of books from publishers I hoped to court and submit to, if only to develop a sense of their style. Lately, I spend so much time writing, that I rarely get the opportunity to read and I must admit that when it comes to ebooks, I can not sit and read a book on a computer because the compulsion and feeling of guilt will not let me get through it.

I'll be honest, I ordered Jet Mykles two Dark Elves novels for one specific place. The Bathroom. I read on the train, in the car (if not driving), while walking and definitely when flying, but it is in the bathroom where I trully love to read. In the shower or on the throne, I love the peace and quiet I get in that room. Crass, I know, but true.

While I haven't been reading much erotica lately (as represented by my book reviews), I am so stoked to have picked up this series. Why? Because it is a smutty, easy-reading, gem of fantasy and because I am a notorious fan of the Drow, which may or may not have been an inspiration for the species of dark elves in this book. An ole' AD&D player, I could not resist the idea of hot dark elf sex...(ref. to post about Prince Nuada/Drizzt) . It's no secret, I love monsters and hot fantasy sex, hell I my favorite fanfic pairing is Legolas and Gimli, so this book definitely caught my attention.

I have read the first book (Part 1 & Part 2) already. Yup. It took all of 5 days of bathroom time and it was a saucy, sexy delight. Het/ MM...Menage... tis my kind of read and while I won't go in depth with a Review until I have completed the entire series (I hear tell of a 5th book) I am definatley a fan of the series...it's so wickedly, naughtay :D

Checklists, Outlines and Synopsis...Fun?

I find that during those few days of the self-imposed break, that I give myself between projects that scary things seem to happen, like...I get bored. After you've spent months of coming home to work on building a word count the lull of finishing a project is near painful. The real work soon comes into play, namely preparing the query letter and the synopsis (if you weren't prepared enough to have wrote the synopsis prior to the novel). This lull in creativity and excersize in business is ussually filled with questions such as: what promo am I going to do next, what project will I soon start, what updates need to be made to the website and where did my social life disappear off to?

In deciding to take a rest from my completed manuscript, I have a checklist that I have been working on. Although I am anxious to start the Hard Edit on "The Sorcery of Shadows" and even more anxious to start working on the numerous spicy sex scenes in "The Heart of Bast" I am forcing myself not to. One has to have time for the formal, business-type things, right? Like websites, polls, contests and *gasp* the actual submission process... and while I am getting things done (around the house too even), I am counting the days until I am able to edit...Sunday, August 17th...whoohoo...now when...oh when can I start writing hot werecat sex...Monday...maybe split my time between edit and free writing....I give up. I just need to get through my own self-imposed detox.

The Finished Line!!...Ok...The Final Countdown

"The Sorcery of Secrets" was finished last night around 10pm, while I watching disc 4 of 'Starship Troopers Roughneck Chronicles.' At 86,179K, I'm not going to say that its the longest thing I ever wrote, but it was the hardest by far. I have 2 Beta readers, gracious enough to take a look at it, but it narrowly fits into the romance genre...ok, very narrowly. I don't have a clue whether anyone will want to pick this up, but more than Guardian, this piece is slightly on the complex side and moreso than any other piece I wrote, this one screams sequel to me. But I am not going to think about it. Today is celebration day! Whoo Hoo.

Going to work on the dreaded 3-5 Synopsis and give myself sort of a mini-break. In preparation for work on my werecat story, I'm going to read the 30 or so pages I already wrote towards that project and kinda chill....if I can...

Earth, Wind and Fire...Um...and Water!

This weekend rocked in so many ways, the most important being that my muse sobered the hell up and really got busy. Not only did she give me the insight I needed to wrap up my current, monstrous novel, but she also gave me a more suitable title. Hawt Damn! Ok, so the novel formerly known as "Burned by the Sun" will hence forth be called "The Sorcery of Secrets." 3 cheers for the sibilant hiss. The muse seemed to think that the title should be a bit on the broad metaphor and metaphysical aspect, rather than focusing on just the heat aspect. In short, I wanted something that would focus on the many revelations that come to the main character rather than one specific point. I outlined (yeah, occasionaly I try) the last 3 chapters and lord willin' this puppy will be ready for launch.

At the moment the muse hasn't said anything about a sequel but then it is a part of a large universe and part of the story is untold deliberately. At nearly 300 pages, I didn't want to push the tale any broader than it already is. As it stands, I focus on only two types of sorcerers, fire and wind (In my sorcerer universe each has a specific element which they deal with). I can sorta see a sequel, focusing on different types, maybe a water sorcerer-- but I'm really not ready to put the cart before the horse.

Believe it or not, I actually have a set list and order of upcoming projects, now if I could just learn how to plot out a story, I might be able to produce things a bit faster and have to rely upon muse sobriety less.

Arrr...Matey! Treasure? Where...

Plot like a Map or FlySeat O' Da Pants? Damn I wish I could plot out a story. Really. Just sit down at the computer and do a bullet list of the potential story to be from start to finish. Do I? Nope. I just sit down at the computer and pray...seriously. My prayer goes something like this:

Muse, Oh my Muse

Vodka should not be neat

betwix such loose, but dainty fingertips

Spare a moment

Give me verse, just a small rivlet

Bigger ocean may it join

The clock hunts me, while you sit

twirling another olive

come, come, please come.

Ok, it's not totally like that but still, I am on page 268 of a novel that I need to wrap up and I haven't a damn clue how. Proper planning might have helped, but no...I've scrapped about three scenes already and well, I'm starting to sneak in a few extra words on other projects (will not work on yummy werecat story yet...uggh ok, anymore...) Some might say shelve it, put it away and come back to it, but if I have to grab that muse of mine and demand that she show me the ending to this story then I will.

I prepared to be rough >:-(

The Dream of the Beta Reader

Back in the day...ok, so maybe not that long ago, I used to write fanfic. I wrote Gladiator, LOTR, Harry Potter, Underworld and even X-Men slash. I decided to go Original around about 2006 and once I had my first release in 2007, I was hooked. So I hung up my fan fic pen. I enjoyed weaving my own tales, spending days, weeks and months in my own sandboxes and on my own worlds. I still do, but I find myself sometimes missing the community that immediately embraces the fanfic writer.

Now when you post a fan fic, you get comments, replies, praise and all of that fan interaction. Not so much when you're a begining Original Fic writer. (Either that or my readers don't have much to say good or bad) But what I miss the most and what I dream of mostly is....a beta reader.

Whoa, you want input on your writing style, on your story? Write a novella about Legolas and Aragorn or Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. You'll have to turn down beta readers, offering advice on everything from punctuation, sentence structure, continuity, pacing and then some! Whoa, I think. If I had a Beta reader that would allow me to embaress myself less when I turn manuscripts into my editor and would allow me some feedback.

An editor is not a beta-reader and you learn that when you submitt and get a rejection letter. However every once and a while you might get a thorough explaination and advice INSIDE of your rejection letter.

I guess back in the fanfic days, it was all pro bono, dealing in known-shared-and loved universes and done for the enhancement of the community. I know now that I am involved with monetary business, that it would be a bit much to ask for someone to give a free critique, but one can still day dream about the old days...

Conflict as opposed to PWP

I just got back from seeing Hellboy 2 a day ago and while it was a great movie, it was great because of one person. Prince Nuada. Now, while I would looovvvee to write some serious (PWP-porn without plot) fanfic, regarding a beautiful, dark elf, I have a backlog of original fiction that needs to be tended to. Anyway, back to Nuada, I saw him for more than he was...well, just now I did. The man is conflicted, he is the epitome of angst and he is more beautiful (especially when practicing or executing deadly martial arts) because of his convictions. His angst gave the piece depth, purpose and engaged me emotionally. Something that I want to try for in my pieces.

Hell, If I were to use Prince Nuada as inspiration for building better conflict, instead of just hanging his photo on my computer for day dream purposes, I would be better off. You see, I have a love/hate thing going with conflict as in I'm not the best weaver of it. I loose myself to the intro, the attraction, and the mad sex of a work, but unless it's a quickie (25pages) most publishers want conflict in their writers work. The more I think about it, I know that I have gone up against the beast several times and when mentioned earlier, namely in the first few chapters or as a reason behind the main characters hook-up, it goes better, than the wrench in the works process. Currently, I'm working on a piece, where I can not wholly define what the climax is. It might be an internal revelation, it might be a battle royale, but when I tell myself that I can end this piece (already 21 chapters) in 3, I worry that I might not.... maybe I should have just planned it better. I don't really know what the problem is. You see, I write like a mad bastard, but I don't study the technics enough, I think. Sometimes I feel that I need to plot more, daydream less, wait for the muse less as my muse drinks and is occasionaly unreliable.

Still, I love to read and watch conflicts: about vendettas and backstabbing, doublecrossing and revenge. I read thrillers, they're my favorite genre. Yet, once I write, I always think, that my stories could use more, more explosion, a bigger sense of crisis... and then comes another humorous, interaction scene instead. One of these days I intend to do some of those 'conflict in prose' workshops but realizing that there is a problem, I hear is half the battle.

Grinding and grinding...

I just got back from the post office, having mailed out all of the prizes from my recent 'Runaway' contest and am looking at several hours tonight spent on editing "A Guardian's Desire," which is slated for a July release...I have a self imposed completion date for "Burned By the Sun" of July 30, with a planned submission/fishing date in August. "Bulletproof," a gargoyle tale will be next on my list and then "The Petite Master" and then well...I'm grinding. I wish I could type a 100wpm, but I barely type 50 so I have to spend a lot of time in front of a keyboard, grinding. I suppose at some point I may need a newsletter and group, I may need to go to a conference or two and keep on expanding the back catalogue.

My point is that I don't know why other authors grind (churn out books at a fast pace) but my personal reasoning is this. At some point, I hereby vow that I will break into print, that I will get my name out into the public, that I will go to someone's pitching session and get an advance, that I will be able to comfortably put out one book instead of 3+ a year and will be able to quit my job and sell some movie rights.... [Ok, insert hysterical laughter here].

So, the odds are way stacked against me. While I may eventually have a back catalouge of over 20 pieces that doesn't necessarily mean I'll be writing for Kensington or Avon any day...but, one has to have goals doesn't one?