Eliza David's Blog - Posts Tagged "first-draft"
First Draft Foolishness: Part Deux
So...the good news is that the first draft of Cougarette in the Country is done. I took a long nap to celebrate it this afternoon.
The not-so-good news is that it is short.
Way short.
38K words. 94 pages. Jeez.
In my very novice opinion, it's better to be too short than too long, I suppose. When the rewrite happens in a month, I won't need to cut anything (here's hoping!) and I've already marked places that I can create dialogue and add to the tension level. I just can't help but to compare it to the first book. The Cougarette was nearly 55K, a short book by most standards but just fine for a first-time fiction release. I find myself trying to catch up with that number but where the hell am I going to find another 17K?
The story is told and it's as wrapped up as I will allow it to be for a series (cliffhangers will keep people reading about CeeCee and Company). The best thing I or any writer can do is to keep writing and hope that your finished draft is something your reading demo will want to purchase for $2.99 or less. I know that the best thing for me to do is to walk away from it and get unfamiliar. I need to come back to it with fresh eyes after a month so I can have a better impression of it.
I also need to stop getting caught up in a number...but 38K is too damn low.
The not-so-good news is that it is short.
Way short.
38K words. 94 pages. Jeez.
In my very novice opinion, it's better to be too short than too long, I suppose. When the rewrite happens in a month, I won't need to cut anything (here's hoping!) and I've already marked places that I can create dialogue and add to the tension level. I just can't help but to compare it to the first book. The Cougarette was nearly 55K, a short book by most standards but just fine for a first-time fiction release. I find myself trying to catch up with that number but where the hell am I going to find another 17K?
The story is told and it's as wrapped up as I will allow it to be for a series (cliffhangers will keep people reading about CeeCee and Company). The best thing I or any writer can do is to keep writing and hope that your finished draft is something your reading demo will want to purchase for $2.99 or less. I know that the best thing for me to do is to walk away from it and get unfamiliar. I need to come back to it with fresh eyes after a month so I can have a better impression of it.
I also need to stop getting caught up in a number...but 38K is too damn low.
Cougarette in the Country - Sneak Preview Kickoff on February 1st!
Readers, be sure to mark February 1st (this Sunday!) on your calendars!
HUGE announcements coming!
The sequel to The Cougarette- Cougarette in the Country - is developing day by day. The characters have grown, esp. CeeCee, Jay and Billy.
#CitC will introduce you to CeeCee's extended family, giving you another layer of who she is.
So I hope you'll join me here, on the Facebook page and on Twitter (@elizadwrites) on Sunday and enjoy some sneak peeks of #CitC. Can't wait!
Feel free to invite your bookworm buddies!
HUGE announcements coming!
The sequel to The Cougarette- Cougarette in the Country - is developing day by day. The characters have grown, esp. CeeCee, Jay and Billy.
#CitC will introduce you to CeeCee's extended family, giving you another layer of who she is.
So I hope you'll join me here, on the Facebook page and on Twitter (@elizadwrites) on Sunday and enjoy some sneak peeks of #CitC. Can't wait!
Feel free to invite your bookworm buddies!
The Day Before Kickoff
So - tomorrow is the big day!
It's not an 'official' book launch but I am about to share a part of my work that no one except a chosen few have seen. Cougarette in the Country is very important to me because it introduces the evolution of CeeCee Banks - a character I have grown to love very much.
When I wrote The Cougarette, I never expected people to read it. I certainly hadn't expected such a positive reaction - so positive that they would want to hear more about these figments of my imagination. In fact, I already had an entirely unrelated book idea in mind as my next project. (I'm still going to execute a first draft on that idea later this year but that subject is for another blog entry. I digress.)
So, I found myself tasked to deliver in this second book. I had to dig deep so that I could allow the characters to grow in directions I wasn't that crazy about, to be honest. While preparing the first draft, there was a period of two days where I was pissed at Jay. Like, REALLY pissed.
Then the next day, he'd be my favorite person in the world while I put CeeCee on timeout in my brain. It was so frustrating for two reasons:
1) It complicated my writing.
2) Being angry at imaginary people might be a diagnosis for borderline psychosis.
But write, I did. This book is going to have a different tone than the first. Where in the first book, CeeCee and Jay are new and fresh, Cougarette in the Country takes the reader a year into the future and shows us a relationship of familiarity. There is some crust to the bread at this stage. Some of it was hard to write. I won't lie - I cried a few times. I cursed several times. But overall, it incited emotion from me and I am hoping it does that for you, my precious readers.
I hope to read your feedback during the event tomorrow (link to the invite is below). I'm thrilled you are still on this ride with me. Mama loves you!
https://www.facebook.com/events/88134...
It's not an 'official' book launch but I am about to share a part of my work that no one except a chosen few have seen. Cougarette in the Country is very important to me because it introduces the evolution of CeeCee Banks - a character I have grown to love very much.
When I wrote The Cougarette, I never expected people to read it. I certainly hadn't expected such a positive reaction - so positive that they would want to hear more about these figments of my imagination. In fact, I already had an entirely unrelated book idea in mind as my next project. (I'm still going to execute a first draft on that idea later this year but that subject is for another blog entry. I digress.)
So, I found myself tasked to deliver in this second book. I had to dig deep so that I could allow the characters to grow in directions I wasn't that crazy about, to be honest. While preparing the first draft, there was a period of two days where I was pissed at Jay. Like, REALLY pissed.
Then the next day, he'd be my favorite person in the world while I put CeeCee on timeout in my brain. It was so frustrating for two reasons:
1) It complicated my writing.
2) Being angry at imaginary people might be a diagnosis for borderline psychosis.
But write, I did. This book is going to have a different tone than the first. Where in the first book, CeeCee and Jay are new and fresh, Cougarette in the Country takes the reader a year into the future and shows us a relationship of familiarity. There is some crust to the bread at this stage. Some of it was hard to write. I won't lie - I cried a few times. I cursed several times. But overall, it incited emotion from me and I am hoping it does that for you, my precious readers.
I hope to read your feedback during the event tomorrow (link to the invite is below). I'm thrilled you are still on this ride with me. Mama loves you!
https://www.facebook.com/events/88134...
Cougarette Sequel Online Kickoff - Hour One
Good morning, Readers! Thanks so much for joining me this AM! With this and the other announcements today, I encourage you to leave comments and feedback below.
Before we get started, I just wanted to thank you all for the support you’ve given The Cougarette this past month. All the FB posts, the Tweets and – of course – the Amazon purchases. My heart is full and I am so happy that you enjoy the antics of Ms. CeeCee Banks as much as I enjoy writing about them. (Although I’m sure a portion of you are strictly here for Jay, which warms my heart just as much!)
So – this first announcement is a twofer: I have a pub date and a synopsis to share. WOOT!
Cougarette in the Country will be officially released on Friday, March 20th. It will be available for pre-order soon so that it’ll just magically show up on your pretty device bright and early on the 20th - just in time for a lazy reading weekend. Stay tuned to the FB page and follow me on Twitter (@elizadwrites) for details on the pre-order date.
Now….*drumroll*…the synopsis of #CitC. Enjoy!
*****
CeeCee Banks is going down – South, that is.
While her budding career at Platinum Noize is booming, CeeCee’s relationship with the gorgeous Jay Weston is bombing. When Jay asks her to relocate to New York with him, CeeCee uses her time in Atlanta managing Billy BadAss’s latest event to get a fresh perspective before she makes a decision. However, with trying to tame the re-emergence of Billy’s reckless behavior, being offered a top-brass promotion from Platinum Noize’s Atlanta office and reuniting with her first love in the nearby country town of Pigcreek, CeeCee and her future with Jay become shaky.
With glimpses of a teenage CeeCee, we’ll find out if grownup CeeCee decides to come back to the country for an old love and a new opportunity or move to NYC for a future with Jay.
*****
So…yay. You likey?
Wait, what?
That’s not enough?
Oh, okay. Come back in an hour. ;)
Before we get started, I just wanted to thank you all for the support you’ve given The Cougarette this past month. All the FB posts, the Tweets and – of course – the Amazon purchases. My heart is full and I am so happy that you enjoy the antics of Ms. CeeCee Banks as much as I enjoy writing about them. (Although I’m sure a portion of you are strictly here for Jay, which warms my heart just as much!)
So – this first announcement is a twofer: I have a pub date and a synopsis to share. WOOT!
Cougarette in the Country will be officially released on Friday, March 20th. It will be available for pre-order soon so that it’ll just magically show up on your pretty device bright and early on the 20th - just in time for a lazy reading weekend. Stay tuned to the FB page and follow me on Twitter (@elizadwrites) for details on the pre-order date.
Now….*drumroll*…the synopsis of #CitC. Enjoy!
*****
CeeCee Banks is going down – South, that is.
While her budding career at Platinum Noize is booming, CeeCee’s relationship with the gorgeous Jay Weston is bombing. When Jay asks her to relocate to New York with him, CeeCee uses her time in Atlanta managing Billy BadAss’s latest event to get a fresh perspective before she makes a decision. However, with trying to tame the re-emergence of Billy’s reckless behavior, being offered a top-brass promotion from Platinum Noize’s Atlanta office and reuniting with her first love in the nearby country town of Pigcreek, CeeCee and her future with Jay become shaky.
With glimpses of a teenage CeeCee, we’ll find out if grownup CeeCee decides to come back to the country for an old love and a new opportunity or move to NYC for a future with Jay.
*****
So…yay. You likey?
Wait, what?
That’s not enough?
Oh, okay. Come back in an hour. ;)
Cougarette Sequel Online Kickoff - Hour Two
SPOILER ALERT – If you haven’t finished The Cougarette yet, the following excerpt may contain plot development and/or characters you haven’t read about yet. You can either proceed with reading the spoiler or come back to it after you’ve finished the first book. No worries – it’s not going anywhere. It’ll be here when you are ready!
Readers, here is your only sneak peek of #CitC until it is released on Friday, March 20th. Now, keep in mind: this is an unedited work in progress so content is subject to change (although I think this excerpt is akeeper). This also contains a little profanity so if you are under 18, this is a no-no for you. Enjoy!
*****
The clock struck 6. CeeCee shut down her computer and raced down the hall with her work tote on her shoulder. She was supposed to have met Jay at Pierre’s Bistro on Clark a half hour earlier. As she was texting him at a waiting elevator, Tad popped his head out of his office. “Cee, got a sec?”
“Not really but I guess.” CeeCee sulked into Tad’s office as she stuffed her phone back in her tote.
Tad snapped his fingers as he walked to his desk. “Pierre’s with Jay tonight, right? Ugh. Sorry, girl. I’ll make this quick. Just got a call from the ATL
office. To usher in Billy’s next single Homecoming, they want to have an exclusive performance at Philips Arena in his Atlanta stomping grounds. Club Excalibur will be the site for the afterparty. The ATL team was so impressed with how you handled his Chicago and Indianapolis post-concert events this spring that they asked you to come out for it.”
CeeCee perked up. She had only managed Billy’s Midwest events. This opportunity would open her up to a new market share and fresh connections among the artist management circles. “When does it start?” Tad sat down with a cringe on his face. “Next week, but you have to be down there in two days.” CeeCee took a deep breath. “This is really short notice, Tad.”
He folded his hands in a plea. “I know. This was a bright idea that the ATL team literally came up with yesterday. A last ditch effort to save the album from dying on the charts – and it is dying a slow, slow death, as you know. They really want you, Cee. Or shall I say, your personal Jesus really wants you.” CeeCee smiled, wide eyed. “Yvette Kingston? The VP?”
“The one and only. She asked for you by name. This is a fab opportunity to integrate yourself with Billy’s homebase team. I mean, I could ask Robin to take it…”
Robin Clark was the latest events coordinator to be hired at Platinum Chicago. 27. Single. Very ambitious. She had her eye out for any opportunity to be promoted to a Senior Management position. CeeCee couldn’t let Robin have a chance at hers. She exhaled. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Tad smiled and clapped. “Fantastic! Tickets will go on sale at midnight tonight. We’re hoping they’ll be all sold out within hours, but who knows these days with Billy’s current sporadic trending. The ATL media team is already flooding Twitter, FB and the Gram with alerts as we speak. You’ll be based in Atlanta for approximately ten days, covering the time for setup at Club Excalibur, media events and the party. You’ll have a condo and a rental, all on Platinum’s tab, of course,” He winked at CeeCee as he typed on his computer. I’m sending an email, copying you, letting the ATL office know that you’ll do it. And girl, you are officially late. Jay’s fine ass is gonna kill you! Skedaddle.”
CeeCee got up and ran to the elevator. Tad was right but not for the reason he thought. Jay would be more pissed about her accepting this Atlanta gig than being late for dinner.
After pulling up to valet and almost throwing the keys to her SUV to the driver, CeeCee rushed into Pierre’s. She was wearing a ruffled cream blouse, a red pencil skirt and a pair of nosebleed black stilettos. She spotted her man sitting in a candlelit back booth in a three-piece black suit – and he did not look happy.
“I know. I’m late. I’m sorry. Tad held me up.” She kissed Jay’s clenched jaw. He stared straight ahead, fuming. “So, what’s wrong with your phone? You can’t text me?”
“Uh, I did.” CeeCee pulled out her phone to see the text she intended to send still sitting in her box. “But I forgot to hit Send when Tad called me into his office. Again, sorry.”
Jay sighed as he looked at her. “We talked about this, Cee. Your career is coming before us. It has to stop.”
“I know. I’m sorry, baby. I’m a work in progress. Besides,” CeeCee trailed her hand up his thigh and to his crotch as she leaned into his ear with a whisper. “I’ll make it up to you at home, sexy. Wear that little thing you like. Hmmm…”
A smile grew on Jay’s face as he put his arms around her waist. “You are so lucky you are fine. Come here.” They shared a passionate kiss as they waited for appetizers to arrive.
As they finished dinner and started dessert, they cuddled and sipped Pinot Grigio in the booth. During their meal, CeeCee had replayed in her mind how she would bring up the Atlanta trip. Jay was having a rare drink tonight so he was relaxed. She was ready.
CeeCee sat up and picked at the crème brûlée with her fork. “So, like I said, Tad held me up because he offered me a great opportunity.”
“Word? What’s up?”
She took a bite of the caramelized treat. “Well, Billy hasn’t been doing so hot on the charts lately, so an exclusive concert is coming up to promote his next single. I’ve been handpicked to work the afterparty.”
Jay nodded as he ate a forkful of crème brûlée. “Sounds good. So, where’s he playing? Chicago? Detroit?”
CeeCee gulped down a mouthful of Grigio. “Atlanta.”
Jay’s fork clanked against the fine china. “How long do you have to be there?”
CeeCee winced. “Ten days. I have to leave in two.”
Jay’s shoulders dropped. “What about Lake Geneva this weekend? We have reservations at The Cove.”
Shit! CeeCee squeezed her eyes shut. “I completely spaced, baby. I’m sorry.”
“So you already told Tad yes? Cee!”
“It is a great opportunity! The label is going to start offering me more than regional gigs. The real moneymakers, not the onesie-twosies. For once in my professional life, I’m not being mommy-tracked. This is good!”
The waitress arrived with the bill. Jay handed her his Black Card as he replied. “Once again, Platinum comes before us. I have done everything within my power to keep my career based in or around the Chi so that we can spend as much time together as possible. Why can’t you do the same?”
CeeCee rolled her eyes. That was Jay’s trump card every time they had this discussion: his willingness to stay rooted in Chicago, even though his
agent Marty pleaded with him daily to relocate to New York.
“Look, I love Chicago, too. And I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made. But I need you to look at this from my perspective. For over twenty years, I’ve watched single women and virtually any man – regardless of marital status – get the chance to travel for work and expand their horizons. Not me. I was married with a kid, which meant I was overlooked for those opportunities. Now I love you, but it’s my turn to shine professionally now. You’ll understand one day.”
The waitress arrived back with the receipt. Jay scoffed as he signed off on it. “Oh, that’s right. I’m a kid so I wouldn’t understand. Wow,
Cee. Just…forget it. Enjoy Atlanta.”
Oh boy. The age thing - another one of his trumps. She rubbed his arm as she scooted closer to him. “We can still have a getaway, sort of. Come with me. Platinum’s hooking me up with a condo. We could make it just as romantic as Lake Geneva.”
He pulled his arm away from her touch and threw his cloth napkin on the table. “No thanks. I’m good. You ready to go?”
CeeCee shrugged as Jay walked out. She could never win with him when it came to her career. She followed behind him to the valet, handing the driver her ticket. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it in that way.”
Jay handed his ticket to another driver. “You always mean it in that way.”
CeeCee hugged him from behind, rubbing his chest. “Please don’t be mad. Let’s make up when we get home, okay?”
Jay released himself from CeeCee and turned to face her. “Stop tryin’ to fix this with sex. It’s a cycle! Just like with the marriage convo. We argue about your job, we fuck and then the matter’s closed until it comes up again. I am serious about you finding a better balance between your career and us or...”
CeeCee raised an eyebrow. “Or what?”
The driver arrived with his Jag. “Nevermind. I’m staying at my crib tonight,” Jay bent down and gave CeeCee a dry peck on the lips. “Good night, Cee.” He hopped in his ride.
CeeCee shook her head as she watch him squeal off into the night. Once again, Jay literally took his balls and went home when he didn’t get his way. She said to herself as her SUV arrived, “And he wants to get married? Pssh.”
All Rights Reserved
Readers, here is your only sneak peek of #CitC until it is released on Friday, March 20th. Now, keep in mind: this is an unedited work in progress so content is subject to change (although I think this excerpt is akeeper). This also contains a little profanity so if you are under 18, this is a no-no for you. Enjoy!
*****
The clock struck 6. CeeCee shut down her computer and raced down the hall with her work tote on her shoulder. She was supposed to have met Jay at Pierre’s Bistro on Clark a half hour earlier. As she was texting him at a waiting elevator, Tad popped his head out of his office. “Cee, got a sec?”
“Not really but I guess.” CeeCee sulked into Tad’s office as she stuffed her phone back in her tote.
Tad snapped his fingers as he walked to his desk. “Pierre’s with Jay tonight, right? Ugh. Sorry, girl. I’ll make this quick. Just got a call from the ATL
office. To usher in Billy’s next single Homecoming, they want to have an exclusive performance at Philips Arena in his Atlanta stomping grounds. Club Excalibur will be the site for the afterparty. The ATL team was so impressed with how you handled his Chicago and Indianapolis post-concert events this spring that they asked you to come out for it.”
CeeCee perked up. She had only managed Billy’s Midwest events. This opportunity would open her up to a new market share and fresh connections among the artist management circles. “When does it start?” Tad sat down with a cringe on his face. “Next week, but you have to be down there in two days.” CeeCee took a deep breath. “This is really short notice, Tad.”
He folded his hands in a plea. “I know. This was a bright idea that the ATL team literally came up with yesterday. A last ditch effort to save the album from dying on the charts – and it is dying a slow, slow death, as you know. They really want you, Cee. Or shall I say, your personal Jesus really wants you.” CeeCee smiled, wide eyed. “Yvette Kingston? The VP?”
“The one and only. She asked for you by name. This is a fab opportunity to integrate yourself with Billy’s homebase team. I mean, I could ask Robin to take it…”
Robin Clark was the latest events coordinator to be hired at Platinum Chicago. 27. Single. Very ambitious. She had her eye out for any opportunity to be promoted to a Senior Management position. CeeCee couldn’t let Robin have a chance at hers. She exhaled. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Tad smiled and clapped. “Fantastic! Tickets will go on sale at midnight tonight. We’re hoping they’ll be all sold out within hours, but who knows these days with Billy’s current sporadic trending. The ATL media team is already flooding Twitter, FB and the Gram with alerts as we speak. You’ll be based in Atlanta for approximately ten days, covering the time for setup at Club Excalibur, media events and the party. You’ll have a condo and a rental, all on Platinum’s tab, of course,” He winked at CeeCee as he typed on his computer. I’m sending an email, copying you, letting the ATL office know that you’ll do it. And girl, you are officially late. Jay’s fine ass is gonna kill you! Skedaddle.”
CeeCee got up and ran to the elevator. Tad was right but not for the reason he thought. Jay would be more pissed about her accepting this Atlanta gig than being late for dinner.
After pulling up to valet and almost throwing the keys to her SUV to the driver, CeeCee rushed into Pierre’s. She was wearing a ruffled cream blouse, a red pencil skirt and a pair of nosebleed black stilettos. She spotted her man sitting in a candlelit back booth in a three-piece black suit – and he did not look happy.
“I know. I’m late. I’m sorry. Tad held me up.” She kissed Jay’s clenched jaw. He stared straight ahead, fuming. “So, what’s wrong with your phone? You can’t text me?”
“Uh, I did.” CeeCee pulled out her phone to see the text she intended to send still sitting in her box. “But I forgot to hit Send when Tad called me into his office. Again, sorry.”
Jay sighed as he looked at her. “We talked about this, Cee. Your career is coming before us. It has to stop.”
“I know. I’m sorry, baby. I’m a work in progress. Besides,” CeeCee trailed her hand up his thigh and to his crotch as she leaned into his ear with a whisper. “I’ll make it up to you at home, sexy. Wear that little thing you like. Hmmm…”
A smile grew on Jay’s face as he put his arms around her waist. “You are so lucky you are fine. Come here.” They shared a passionate kiss as they waited for appetizers to arrive.
As they finished dinner and started dessert, they cuddled and sipped Pinot Grigio in the booth. During their meal, CeeCee had replayed in her mind how she would bring up the Atlanta trip. Jay was having a rare drink tonight so he was relaxed. She was ready.
CeeCee sat up and picked at the crème brûlée with her fork. “So, like I said, Tad held me up because he offered me a great opportunity.”
“Word? What’s up?”
She took a bite of the caramelized treat. “Well, Billy hasn’t been doing so hot on the charts lately, so an exclusive concert is coming up to promote his next single. I’ve been handpicked to work the afterparty.”
Jay nodded as he ate a forkful of crème brûlée. “Sounds good. So, where’s he playing? Chicago? Detroit?”
CeeCee gulped down a mouthful of Grigio. “Atlanta.”
Jay’s fork clanked against the fine china. “How long do you have to be there?”
CeeCee winced. “Ten days. I have to leave in two.”
Jay’s shoulders dropped. “What about Lake Geneva this weekend? We have reservations at The Cove.”
Shit! CeeCee squeezed her eyes shut. “I completely spaced, baby. I’m sorry.”
“So you already told Tad yes? Cee!”
“It is a great opportunity! The label is going to start offering me more than regional gigs. The real moneymakers, not the onesie-twosies. For once in my professional life, I’m not being mommy-tracked. This is good!”
The waitress arrived with the bill. Jay handed her his Black Card as he replied. “Once again, Platinum comes before us. I have done everything within my power to keep my career based in or around the Chi so that we can spend as much time together as possible. Why can’t you do the same?”
CeeCee rolled her eyes. That was Jay’s trump card every time they had this discussion: his willingness to stay rooted in Chicago, even though his
agent Marty pleaded with him daily to relocate to New York.
“Look, I love Chicago, too. And I appreciate the sacrifices you’ve made. But I need you to look at this from my perspective. For over twenty years, I’ve watched single women and virtually any man – regardless of marital status – get the chance to travel for work and expand their horizons. Not me. I was married with a kid, which meant I was overlooked for those opportunities. Now I love you, but it’s my turn to shine professionally now. You’ll understand one day.”
The waitress arrived back with the receipt. Jay scoffed as he signed off on it. “Oh, that’s right. I’m a kid so I wouldn’t understand. Wow,
Cee. Just…forget it. Enjoy Atlanta.”
Oh boy. The age thing - another one of his trumps. She rubbed his arm as she scooted closer to him. “We can still have a getaway, sort of. Come with me. Platinum’s hooking me up with a condo. We could make it just as romantic as Lake Geneva.”
He pulled his arm away from her touch and threw his cloth napkin on the table. “No thanks. I’m good. You ready to go?”
CeeCee shrugged as Jay walked out. She could never win with him when it came to her career. She followed behind him to the valet, handing the driver her ticket. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it in that way.”
Jay handed his ticket to another driver. “You always mean it in that way.”
CeeCee hugged him from behind, rubbing his chest. “Please don’t be mad. Let’s make up when we get home, okay?”
Jay released himself from CeeCee and turned to face her. “Stop tryin’ to fix this with sex. It’s a cycle! Just like with the marriage convo. We argue about your job, we fuck and then the matter’s closed until it comes up again. I am serious about you finding a better balance between your career and us or...”
CeeCee raised an eyebrow. “Or what?”
The driver arrived with his Jag. “Nevermind. I’m staying at my crib tonight,” Jay bent down and gave CeeCee a dry peck on the lips. “Good night, Cee.” He hopped in his ride.
CeeCee shook her head as she watch him squeal off into the night. Once again, Jay literally took his balls and went home when he didn’t get his way. She said to herself as her SUV arrived, “And he wants to get married? Pssh.”
Unpublished Work © 2015 Kellee Forkenbrock (a/k/a Eliza David)
All Rights Reserved
Cougarette Sequel Online Kickoff - Hour Three
Our last kickoff announcement – boo!
But I understand that Katy Perry, Missy Elliott and Lenny Kravitz are performing at some football game this afternoon so I won’t keep you.
Speaking of musical celebs, the synopsis mentioned that Cougarette in the Country will take us back in time to a teenage CeeCee. One of the best things about the summer of 1988 – the summer CeeCee Banks turned 16 – is the music. Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Bobby Brown, Janet Jackson – back when all you needed was a Walkman, headphones and a healthy pack of double A batteries.
I took a stab at what I imagined would be on a CeeCee Banks mixtape and created this playlist. All of the songs were released within 18 months of the summer of 1988 and are symbolic of the storyline in CeeCee’s flashbacks. This playlist provided me with hours of inspiration while I created the first draft. Enjoy and thank you again for joining me this morning!
http://open.spotify.com/user/mommydiv...
(Now go watch the Superbowl. Or back to sleep. I’m going to finish my final edits on this draft, lock it away and enjoy not writing for the entire month of February!)
But I understand that Katy Perry, Missy Elliott and Lenny Kravitz are performing at some football game this afternoon so I won’t keep you.
Speaking of musical celebs, the synopsis mentioned that Cougarette in the Country will take us back in time to a teenage CeeCee. One of the best things about the summer of 1988 – the summer CeeCee Banks turned 16 – is the music. Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Bobby Brown, Janet Jackson – back when all you needed was a Walkman, headphones and a healthy pack of double A batteries.
I took a stab at what I imagined would be on a CeeCee Banks mixtape and created this playlist. All of the songs were released within 18 months of the summer of 1988 and are symbolic of the storyline in CeeCee’s flashbacks. This playlist provided me with hours of inspiration while I created the first draft. Enjoy and thank you again for joining me this morning!
http://open.spotify.com/user/mommydiv...
(Now go watch the Superbowl. Or back to sleep. I’m going to finish my final edits on this draft, lock it away and enjoy not writing for the entire month of February!)
On A Break: The Post-First Draft Blues
Today marks my first day in over a month of not working on my first draft of Cougarette in the Country. As most writers know, finishing a first draft is a bittersweet moment.
On one hand: YAY! I finished my draft! Give me alcohol.
On the other hand: Now what the hell do I do with myself?
So here it begins for me - that lull between the completion of the first draft and the beginning of the rewrite process. My rewrite is scheduled to begin on March 1st but I already know that I'll return to my draft sooner than that. I can't help myself. I started a page in my journal to jot notes of where I want to change/add/extract text as they occur to me. It's still on my mind - CeeCee and Jay refuse to vacate my psyche.
Is this healthy? I'm not sure.
Will it change? Probably not.
I came across this blog entry by Isabel Sterling and retweeted it last night. The one piece of advice I grasped from it was simple: Keep reading and keep writing.
I dusted off my Kindle and started two new books. I'll continue blogging and fine tune another unrelated manuscript as I bide my time until I return to my draft.
At lest this is the shortest month of the year. February will go by just like that, right? *sigh*
On one hand: YAY! I finished my draft! Give me alcohol.
On the other hand: Now what the hell do I do with myself?
So here it begins for me - that lull between the completion of the first draft and the beginning of the rewrite process. My rewrite is scheduled to begin on March 1st but I already know that I'll return to my draft sooner than that. I can't help myself. I started a page in my journal to jot notes of where I want to change/add/extract text as they occur to me. It's still on my mind - CeeCee and Jay refuse to vacate my psyche.
Is this healthy? I'm not sure.
Will it change? Probably not.
I came across this blog entry by Isabel Sterling and retweeted it last night. The one piece of advice I grasped from it was simple: Keep reading and keep writing.
I dusted off my Kindle and started two new books. I'll continue blogging and fine tune another unrelated manuscript as I bide my time until I return to my draft.
At lest this is the shortest month of the year. February will go by just like that, right? *sigh*
Ways To Make The Rewrite Stressful: Beta Readers
I have completed the rewrite on the first eight chapters of Cougarette in the Country and now I am beginning to think about who I'd like to read them. Time to choose a beta reader!
It's an exciting time during the editing process because your ideal beta reader is someone that fits your target demo. They aren't looking for sentence structure or the overuse of adverbs - that's my job. The beta reader is there to make sure the story flows well and let you know if the narrative isn't captivating.
For The Cougarette, I had four beta readers. I think that was probably two too many. One of them was my mother and of course, she loved it. She's my mother. I'll still send her the first eight of CitC but I won't consider her a 'beta reader'. She just gets free shit because she gave birth to me, deservedly so.
It's my unrelated beta readers that worry me. What will be interesting this time around is this being Book Two. My beta reader has to have completed the first book and will go into these first eight with their own expectations of the characters. Also - as I've mentioned in previous blog entries - Cougarette in the Country has a very different vibe. It's very layered. There are flashbacks and every snooty literary snob will tell you that flashbacks are frowned upon and should be limited to one or two.
I have six.
I've found that beta readers are quite useful. It's fun to hear and read the reactions from them and it helps me to enhance my editing process. I've extended three invitations and will await their responses. Until then...back into the editing trenches I go.
It's an exciting time during the editing process because your ideal beta reader is someone that fits your target demo. They aren't looking for sentence structure or the overuse of adverbs - that's my job. The beta reader is there to make sure the story flows well and let you know if the narrative isn't captivating.
For The Cougarette, I had four beta readers. I think that was probably two too many. One of them was my mother and of course, she loved it. She's my mother. I'll still send her the first eight of CitC but I won't consider her a 'beta reader'. She just gets free shit because she gave birth to me, deservedly so.
It's my unrelated beta readers that worry me. What will be interesting this time around is this being Book Two. My beta reader has to have completed the first book and will go into these first eight with their own expectations of the characters. Also - as I've mentioned in previous blog entries - Cougarette in the Country has a very different vibe. It's very layered. There are flashbacks and every snooty literary snob will tell you that flashbacks are frowned upon and should be limited to one or two.
I have six.
I've found that beta readers are quite useful. It's fun to hear and read the reactions from them and it helps me to enhance my editing process. I've extended three invitations and will await their responses. Until then...back into the editing trenches I go.
Cougarette in the Country - Cover Reveal on February 21st!
Hi Readers!
The March release date is right around the corner and the last round of edits to Cougarette in the Country are almost wrapped up. One thing that is final is the cover art for the sequel to The Cougarette!
Stop by the Facebook author page, my Twitter page or GoodReads for the official cover reveal for Cougarette in the County - Saturday, February 21st at noon CT.
See you there!
The March release date is right around the corner and the last round of edits to Cougarette in the Country are almost wrapped up. One thing that is final is the cover art for the sequel to The Cougarette!
Stop by the Facebook author page, my Twitter page or GoodReads for the official cover reveal for Cougarette in the County - Saturday, February 21st at noon CT.
See you there!
Hello Muddah…Hello Fadduh…
You knew this was coming: I’ve decided to shorten my hiatus.
But – BUT! – before you give me the side-eye, it’s for a very good reason. For the first time in almost 30 years, I’m going to camp!
Camp NaNoWriMo!
Since NaNo was the birthplace of The Cougarette, I thought it was only right that I start Book #3 of the series during the event. If you are an aspiring writer or are even just thinking of starting a writing project, I encourage you to join the event in April. It’s a monthlong journey toward as many words as you like - 1K, 10K, 50K. You set your goal and run your race. As you’ll recall from previous blog entries, word counts are very important (read: too important) to me so the goal totally gets my literary motor revving!
I also thought this would be a good motivator because my current vision of Book #3 is going to be very dramatic. There will be crazy highs and deep lows. I think that of the four books, this will be the most intense. It represents the arc of CeeCee and Jay’s relationship, which – once again – is going to sail some choppy seas.
The NaNo community will be very supportive, especially since each participant can belong to a ‘cabin’ – an interactive group of fellow Camp NaNo writers within similar age, similar word count or similar genre. The introverts among us can opt out of the cabins but you know me: I love people until I’m sick of them or vice versa. I’m joining a cabin of fellow women fiction writers because I will need some support while I write these dramatic ass plots that only another romance writer can provide.
Click HERE to visit my profile for updates during my stay at Camp NaNo. I’m looking forward to writing again because Book #3 needs to get out of my brain.
The NaNo road to 50K begins at midnight on April 1st…
But – BUT! – before you give me the side-eye, it’s for a very good reason. For the first time in almost 30 years, I’m going to camp!
Camp NaNoWriMo!
Since NaNo was the birthplace of The Cougarette, I thought it was only right that I start Book #3 of the series during the event. If you are an aspiring writer or are even just thinking of starting a writing project, I encourage you to join the event in April. It’s a monthlong journey toward as many words as you like - 1K, 10K, 50K. You set your goal and run your race. As you’ll recall from previous blog entries, word counts are very important (read: too important) to me so the goal totally gets my literary motor revving!
I also thought this would be a good motivator because my current vision of Book #3 is going to be very dramatic. There will be crazy highs and deep lows. I think that of the four books, this will be the most intense. It represents the arc of CeeCee and Jay’s relationship, which – once again – is going to sail some choppy seas.
The NaNo community will be very supportive, especially since each participant can belong to a ‘cabin’ – an interactive group of fellow Camp NaNo writers within similar age, similar word count or similar genre. The introverts among us can opt out of the cabins but you know me: I love people until I’m sick of them or vice versa. I’m joining a cabin of fellow women fiction writers because I will need some support while I write these dramatic ass plots that only another romance writer can provide.
Click HERE to visit my profile for updates during my stay at Camp NaNo. I’m looking forward to writing again because Book #3 needs to get out of my brain.
The NaNo road to 50K begins at midnight on April 1st…
