Kellyn Roth's Blog: Kellyn Roth, Author, page 38

Plot Bunny Into Story?

[image error]

Hiya, ladies and gents! Today I’m here to tell you how how to turn your plot bunny into a story (courtesy of me thinking about this a lot because that’s what I’m currently doing).

Now, I’m by no means an expert, but I do believe I can offer some advice based on my personal experience, and I’d love to hear your own tricks & tips in the comments!*

So, without further ado, let’s launch into the post!

*not that I’ll actually take your advice. #stubborn

[image error]

If you’re anything like me, almost every day you seem to come up with a random little seed of an idea that could someday be a novel … but isn’t yet. In the writing community, these are usually called ‘plot bunnies.’*

*I refer to them as ‘plot cats’ – they are as cute as they are deadly – but for the purpose of understandability**, I’ll call them ‘plot bunnies’ in this post.

**it is too a word …

[image error]

The thing is … plot bunnies aren’t developed. They are simply a teeny-eensy bit of a story. They may be the idea for a character, a plot, a theme, a setting … but it’s not much to go on.

How do you turn a plot bunny into a story? Develop it into an idea which you can actually use for a novel? Well, I’m here to tell you. Using a highly-questionable three-step guide.

[image error]

1: Let it simmer for a couple days.

Keep that bunny at the back of your mind. Relish its adorableness. And this is just a suggestion, but I wouldn’t write anything down. It needs to be a free plot bunny, hopping about the recesses of your twisted writing mind with plenty of room to go.

One idea for this step is to set aside some time to just daydream. Turn off logic for a bit if need be. And just imagine. Think about plot, characters, and setting … but with no perimeters.

2: Make a brand new document and write down what you know.

I use Google Docs to do this, though the program is up to you (and doesn’t matter at all … don’t even know why I bothered to tell you). After letting it simmer, more info about the plot bunny/story-in-progress may have appeared – probably will have! – so write that all down.

I’d suggest setting a timer for fifteen to twenty minutes and just writing – any little detail you can think that might go into the book this plot bunny with eventually become. Or just talk to yourself about the plot bunny! Either way.

Don’t organize or reason. Just get those ideas down!

[image error](For some reason doing this in a kinda outline-y format really helped me? I wish I could tell you why …) (I’m not gonna try to unravel the tangle of my mind.)
3: Make space for the details and fill them in as you go.

I divide that same document into different sections – plot, setting, characters, etc. Within those sections, I may make subsections (e.g. main character, supporting character, romantic interest). And … I slowly fill out each of those sections. I change it around. I don’t fill out some sections for days, but eventually I’ll get it together.

Slowly but steadily, it will develop into a basic story that you can turn into an outline (or begin to write, depending on your method).

[image error]Trying to pin down the details. The notes in the bottom right corner explain what all I’m doing here.

I know this sounds too easy, but it works! I promise! I made myself do this for Water on the Rocks, and I’m a lot closer to a story than I was before.

[image error]

And that’s it! Your plot bunny is turned into a story. Now all you have to do is write it! (HAHAHAHA, if only it were that easy!)

Now, I by no means mean to insinuate that this will be an easy process for you – or that writing (including the brainstorming and outlining portion) will ever be easy.

But I do think that the process is made easier by giving yourself time to brainstorm, to be creative, and then easing the story into structure.

Au revoir,

~Kellyn Roth~

Social Media | Website | Book Blog

p.s.

How do you develop your plot bunnies? Have you ever tried doing something similar to this? Did it work? What do you do with plot bunnies you aren’t ready to work on yet? (I have a great big binder full of them!)

AAWC: Challenge #3

Today it’s time for the third in a series of writing prompts in the Ardent Author’s Writing Challenge, hosted by the lovely Zielle at My Homeschool Notebook.

Like other writing challenges which I have participated in, I will be posting my entries on this blog, and … I may not always stick to the schedule. But I am today.

Team Forest is behind, but we can fix this! Write, write, write! And write  well, my friends!

Flowers is Published!

[image error]

That’s right! The short story sequel to The Lady of the Vineyard, Flowers, is now published on Amazon Kindle! You can read more about Flowers on my website. I made a whole page for it and everything.

Introducing “That Plot Bunny”

[image error]

Apologies for this post being so late! I’ve been having a busy last couple days, what with school and work and writing and editing, and I haven’t found a lot of time to blog! Plus I spent most of my blogging time working on AAWC instead of my regular book posts.

AAWC: Challenge #2

Today it’s time for the second in a series of writing prompts in the Ardent Author’s Writing Challenge, hosted by the lovely Zielle at My Homeschool Notebook.

Like other writing challenges which I have participated in, I will be posting my entries on this blog, and … I may not always stick to the schedule. Like today. *coughs* *grins*

And, just in case you were wondering … YES. THERE SHALL BE A POST ON WEDNESDAY.

(Also: TEAM FOREST IS AHEAD.)

|Getting Extra Points|

You can take photos or draw pictures to illustrate your story. You will get 2 points per photo and illustration.
Creativity. This is how creatively you use the prompts. At the end of each round I’ll select my favorite story and that person will earn more points for their team.
If you use the name of you team in your story, you can earn a point for your team.
You’ll get a point for each prompt you use, and a point for submitting your story/poem.

|Challenge Two Prompts|

The nearest star is 4.37 light years away from Earth. Which is why most wishes take at least 9 years to come true.

“Oh my, this would look so cute on you!”

“Be quiet! I’m trying to crack this safe.”

(For Zielle: I used one one of the three prompts as well as my team name (because … I ended up being a story-serving writer instead of a prompt-serving one? Sorry …). I also illustrated it. And I was creative and am an awesome writer, sooo … a zillion points?)

The Marvelous Machine, Part 2

[image error]

Peter slipped and slid as he followed Riley to his hideout in the middle of the forest once again. About six inches of snow had fallen since last evening, and though it was quite beautiful, it was still cold and difficult to walk through, especially with the layer of ice underneath.

Not that he wasn’t used to worse winters in Philadelphia. But still. Walking through the woods was considerably different than walking through the streets of a city. Still, the late afternoon sun made the snow glisten with colors from pink to blue, and he was in awe of the majesty.

[image error]I had no idea how to draw snow on white paper …

AAWC: Challenge #1

Today it’s time for the first in a series of writing prompts in the Ardent Author’s Writing Challenge, hosted by the lovely Zielle at My Homeschool Notebook.

Like other writing challenges which I have participated in (at least, I think I’ve participated in one before? I don’t know …), I will be posting my entries on this blog, and … yep. That’s about all you need to know! Let the games begin!

I’m on Team Forest, and I’m so excited! Because Team Forest is gonna win! *happy dance* WHY IS WE GONNA WIN!?!?!? BECAUSE WE IS AWESOME! GO TEAM FOREST!

Yes, I am posting on Friday evening. Don’t look at me like that. There’s a deadline ….

|Getting extra points|

You can take photos or draw pictures to illustrate your story. You will get 2 points per photo and illustration.
Creativity. This is how creatively you use the prompts. At the end of each round I’ll select my favorite story and that person will earn more points for their team.
If you use the name of you team in your story, you can earn a point for your team.
You’ll get a point for each prompt you use, and a point for submitting your story/poem.

|Challenge One Prompts|

And, without further ado, my Challenge #1 submission!

(For Zielle: I included the word ‘forest’ as well as two of the picture prompts (first and last). I also made a cover for my story as well as did some illustrating. *coughs* Do I get extra points for being a terrible artist and still showing my work?)

The Marvelous Machine, Part 1

[image error]

The branches hung low and bare as Peter and Riley hiked through the Virginia forest. Peter pulled his coat tight about his shoulders and coughed. He’d had a bit of a cold ever since they’d arrived home from college for Christmas, so Riley hadn’t pulled him out of the house until today.

But now he had, and Peter was going to see this ‘marvelous invention’ that Riley had started making last summer while Peter was in Philadelphia working at the Pennsylvania Herald.

“It’s just over this hill, really,” Riley promised.

Peter groaned. “You’ve been saying that for forever, Riley! I swear, if I come down with pneumonia -!”

“Don’t be such a worrywart,” Riley admonished. “We’re almost there. You see, it has to be remote, Peter. I can’t have people stealing my ideas, after all.”

Poor, delusional Riley, Peter thought. He was always trying out new inventions – but they never worked. He’d hoped he’d give them up now that they were adults, but so far, no such thing had happened.

To Peter’s surprise, when they mounted the hill, they did come upon Riley’s hideaway – an old, tumbledown shed, about the size of a small carriage house made of old, grayed boards, obviously patched in places.

[image error]This looks more like a warehouse, but oh well …

“It’s really quite brilliant this time, Penn. You’d be surprised.”

Peter rolled his eyes at Riley’s nickname for him, stemming from his Pennsylvania home which Riley thought was funny for some reason, but nodded and smiled. “I’m sure it is, Riley. Most of your ideas are brilliant … it’s just that … sometimes … um, they … don’t seem to get much past ideas!”

Riley glared at Peter. “That’s your nice way of saying I don’t follow things through, isn’t it?”

Peter shrugged guiltily. He didn’t want to say it, but …

“Oh, well. I’ll change your mind today!”

Peter ambled down the hill after Riley to the shed. Riley opened the small door to the side and ushered him in.

It was dark and smelled damp and musty inside. Peter put a hand on the wall and eased himself to the side as Riley entered. After fumbling around in the dark for a few minutes, amusing Peter by his vocal annoyance in the form of colorful but innocent expletives, Riley managed to get a candle lit and set on a shelf near the door.

“There!” Riley said. He gestured towards a large object hidden under a tarp. He approached it and ripped the covering off. Peter gawked.

[image error]Forgive Riley’s *coughs* handwriting …

It was unlike anything Riley had ever built, that was for sure. It was all metal and wheels and cogs and gears, but it was more than a plan on paper – that was for sure.

“What do you think?” Riley asked, rubbing his hands through his pale blond hair until it stood up on end. “It’s a mechanized flying machine.”

Peter arched his eyebrows. “It looks like a carriage to me … only with lots of extra parts.”

“Well, I haven’t attached the wings yet.”

Peter held back a laugh. “I see,” he said, tight-lipped. “Er … how does it work?”

“Well, I haven’t exactly got it to run yet. But it will run on steam, like a locomotive.” Riley jumped over various parts to the end. “Here’s the boiler, see?” He motioned to a large tank attached to what would have been the back of the carriage. “And you sit in the driver’s seat … and use those pedals to steer ….”

Riley’s voice trailed off as he made his way back to the front. “I know it looks awful now, but with enough momentum, I can get it off the ground. I’m thinking about taking it off the cliff yonder.” He motioned over his shoulder.

Peter choked and cleared his throat. “Er, Riley? That may not be the best idea. Perhaps test it on something smaller. I mean, you’re more than likely to end up with that contraption in a tree halfway down the hill. It really just looks like a metallic carriage, and no-doubt it was sink like a rock. And it will be stuck in a tree, and your body will be broken into a thousand bits.”

[image error]I imagine this flashing through Peter’s mind …

Riley shrugged. “Well, I’ll make sure everything works first. It’s going to take me a while to perfect, anyway. But … that’s all I wanted to show you. I have the blueprints at home – we can look at them after dinner, all right?”

“All right,” Peter said, trying to look positive about the prospect. He really wanted to be supportive of his best friend and cousin … but it was hard when Riley was likely to get himself killed in the process. “I’m sure Aunt Georgiana is wondering where we are, anyway.”

Peter helped Riley replace the tarp, and they started back to the house.

*****

Christmas was only three days away. It had been a long time since Peter had spent Christmas at his aunt’s home in Virginia, and he hadn’t remembered how much he loved these people.

Yes, his aunt could be a difficult person to get along with, but his Uncle Colin was a pleasant if serious man, and of course he loved his cousins. The only one who he had reservations about due to her strict bossiness – Sylvia – was spending Christmas with her husband and his family in New York.

His Aunt Georgiana was up in her room that day, complaining of a sick headache – though Peter secretly believed she was just hurting as she was approaching the anniversary of the death of her eldest son to a Yankee bullet. It had been over ten years, though, and Peter really hoped she’d find peace over it soon.

Downstairs, the house was all merry and bright, though. Trimmed with all kinds of firs and other greenery with candles tucked in every available corner, it was a sight to behold. His baby sister Dahlia was all wound up wondering what was in the parcels in the parlor. She was only five, and she wasn’t used to the grand scale of Christmases at his aunt’s home. He honestly didn’t know how they afforded it.

[image error]Christmas presents are hard to individually draw. So I didn’t.

His adopted sister, Maddie, was curled up in the parlor with Dahlia on her lap now – reading her A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Dahlia apparently thought it was very funny and was giggling loudly. Maddie laughed softly and eased Dahlia off her lap as Riley and Peter entered the room.

“I think they’re keeping dinner for you,” Maddie said. “We’d better hurry.”

“They are!” Dahlia piped up. “They’re awful mad! You’re gonna be in trouble,” she said merrily, ringlets bouncing as she danced about them in glee.

“Shame on you for being so glad over your brother’s downfall!” Riley scolded, scooping Dahlia up in his arms, causing her to squeal and shriek.

“My downfall?” Peter asked. “What about you?”

“No need to talk about such dismal subjects, Penn,” Riley replied. He set Dahlia down in the doorway and let her run off to the dining room. Peter followed, but stopped when he realized Riley and Maddie weren’t with him.

Turning, he discovered them still standing in the doorway to the parlor … just staring at each other. Maddie looked forbidding while Riley had on a half-embarrassed, half-amused expression.

“What’s going on?” Peter asked patiently. Maddie and Riley had had a catastrophic relationship ever since he threw one of her prized books into a lake at the tender age of eleven. They were always angry at each other over something – quite unusual for Maddie.

With an awkward chuckle, Riley pointed to the mistletoe above their heads.

[image error]This is what mistletoe looks like. No joke.

“Oh, come on, you know you don’t have to unless you want to,” Peter said, stomach dropping to his toes. “And it certainly wouldn’t be right, anyway. Come on!”

Maddie darted away and past Peter into the dining room.

“Why can’t you just leave her alone?” Peter asked, not knowing whether to hit his best friend or … no, there was really no other option. He wanted to hit him for putting Maddie in that situation.

Riley’s eyebrows arched and his blue eyes dimmed. “Penn … you didn’t tell me. If you and Maddie -”

“No. Er, no. I … there’s nothing to tell.” He swallowed. “Let’s go in and eat.”

[image error]

Shame on me for writing a Christmas story in January, but oh well. It happened. It’s my blog. I can do whatever I want with it …

Thanks for reading and happy writing!

~Kellyn Roth~

Social Media | Website | Book Blog

p.s.

Are you participating in AAWC? Have you ever participated in a writing contest like this one? What are your thoughts on my entry?

Finishing The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy

[image error]

This was a post I planned for just before the 12 Days of Christmas party, but I ended up doing other post and saving this one until later and whoosh! It’s January!

In this post I’ll be talking about my plans for finishing off the rather long and complicated series that The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy is … and how a small, over-achieving bit of me wants to do that this year.

(Also, before I forget, HAPPY NEW YEAR MA PEEPS. I hope 2018 is an amazing year for you! God bless!)

[image error]

As you know, I originally planned on making The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy a four -book series, then expanded to a six-book series, and now I have ideas for multiple spin-off stories.

Weeeell, I do eventually want to finish this series and move on, but at the same time I can’t just abandon all the little plot bunnies swirling around in my brain. (A book about Caleb? Ned? Mr. Knight as a young man? Ooh, Mr. Knight’s childhood best friend who never appeared or was mentioned in a book so far? It’s a sickness …)

At its basic level, I will be done with The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy this year. (Hopefully.) I didn’t say this before, but I’m really hoping I can finish Book 5 (Alice Unanswered) and Book 6 (currently titled Through the Maelstrom) before 2019. It’s a bit of a pipe dream, but I think I can do it.

But … the spin-offs? Well, here’s my current list:

Sail Away (novel)




All Made New (novel)




Let Heaven Wait (novel)




God Love a Yankee (novella-ish)


100 Facts About an Angel (novella/novelette)


The Casual Observer’s Guide to Matchmaking (novella-ish)

So … three full-length novels, a couple novellas, and a shorter novella? Yeah, it sounds pretty crazy.

(Of course, I wouldn’t necessarily call Let Heaven Wait a part of The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the other two will be stand-alones.)

(Annnddddddd, if you want to get technical, Lilli Strauss’s series will be related to TCOAAI*, but … let’s not talk about that. My brain is exploding.)

*not typing that out again, sorry …

[image error]

My Year In Writing

This year, I came up with a (very loose) schedule for my year in writing … and I’m going to try to stick to it. However, I can’t guarantee that that will happen.

Here’s what I have in mind:

January

Editing At Her Fingertips.
Working on Alice Unanswered (outlining/pre-writing).
Developing That Plot Bunny.
(ALSO, publishing Flowers on the 13th is still happening!)



February

Editing At Her Fingertips s’more.
Developing That Plot Bunny.
Plan revisions of Beyond Her Calling.



March

At Her Fingertips goes off to the editor.
Concentrate fully on Beyond Her Calling.
That Plot Bunny.



April

Proof-read and publish At Her Fingertips.
More revisions of Beyond Her Calling.
A little more Alice Unanswered.
That Plot Bunny.



May

Beyond Her Calling goes to alpha-readers (and I keep working on it).
Still writing Alice Unanswered.
That Plot Bunny.



June

Finish writing the first draft of Once a Stratton.
Also keep working on Alice Unanswered.
That Plot Bunny.



July

Finish Alice Unanswered.
Still working on Beyond Her Calling. Hopefully beta-readers in here.
That Plot Bunny.



August

Finish with beta-readers for Beyond Her Calling.
Maybe editor for Beyond Her Calling in here. (It depends on me and my editor both.)
Hoping to finish with That Plot Bunny.



September

Planning Through the Maelstrom.
Might work on another project in here, but haven’t decided.



October

Planning Through the Maelstrom.
Considering publishing Beyond Her Calling.



November

NaNoWriMo – Through the Maelstrom.



December

Start polishing Alice Unanswered.

Note: I haven’t set most of this in stone and probably won’t. But that’s my general outlook for the year!

[image error]

So, in summary, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy will never be finished because I am Star-Wars-ing it up over here.

How 2018 Will (Hopefully) Go

[image error]

Hello Ladies and Gents! It’s finally time to list my goals for the New Year (as well as my January 2018 Dares). Are you as pumped for 2018 as I am?!

However, before we begin, I’d like to invite you to beta-read At Her Fingertips! I talked about this at the end of the last post and gave more details. You can sign up using this form. The signups will be open until mid-January though beta-reading will begin as soon as I rewrite one last scene! (So pretty soon!)

Also, sorry for this post being a little late! I’m sick, and I just haven’t been able to pull myself away from editing At Her Fingertips, to be honest. And I have a couple other projects I want to finish before the New Year, sooo … yep.

[image error]

January 2018 Dares

[image error]

Reading

Read a classic.

THIS IS IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE I DO NOT READ ENOUGH QUALITY BOOKS.


Finish all those random books in your closet.

Seriously. There are still like two. And there will be more because I just ordered seven books* from Amazon.


Read a book on writing.

I want to read more writing-craft books.
Because I honestly need some improvement.
And anyway, it is something I enjoy. #notusuallyanonfictionperson

*I’m not ashamed. I’m just pleased that I got them all with a $40 giftcard. #usedbooks

Writing

Publish Flowers.

I SHALL DO THIS.
ON THE 13TH!
Y’ALL BE READY.
(Also, I’m thinking about putting together some sort of party? Any ideas?)


Start working with beta-readers for At Her Fingertips.

(You can sign up to beta-read here.)


Work on that other project that shall go unnamed.

I’ll talk about it later.
But there is a hint about the novel in the Life section. *whistles innocently*

Blogging

Stick to the schedule.

I CAN DO IT.
(Not I can’t.)
BUT I SHALL TRY AND BE A GOOD BLOGGER.


Get 520 Followers.

Why not?
(and yes, that is a random number … but it’s attainable? I think?)
(attainable is good)


PUBLISH. POSTS. ON. RR.

I MEAN IT THIS TIME.
IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN.
REVIEWS AND OTHER POSTS AND SUCH.

Life

Practice my clarinet and saxophone.

I feel like this will always and forever be a life goal???
But I’m going to be in two really good bands now, so I need to crack down on myself.


Work with Aubrey.

This is very important.
Because she is so intelligent, and she just needs fine-tuning to be a great, obedient dog.


Visit my grandparents – at least a couple times.

I know, same Dare as last time again!
But when I don’t do something one month, I have to do it the next month.
ALSO, I have a lot of questions about what my town was like in 1942 (#motivation). For reasons. *wiggles eyebrows*
(They weren’t alive during this time, but their parents were, and they probably remember a bit about Celilo Falls.)

[image error]

My New Year’s Goals

(and yes, there are purposefully eighteen … because it’s 2018 …) (and I’m not willing to do 2,018 *nods*) (that would be ridiculous)

Publish At Her Fingertips.

On April 22nd, more specifically.
*is over the moon excited about this*



Rewrite Beyond Her Calling.

THIS NEEDS DONE SO BADLY.
It’s terrible, guys. I honestly have no idea whatsoever how I’m going to fix it. It’s just … sickening. *sighs*



Publish Beyond Her Calling.

I don’t know if this will happen or not, but … dream big?



Write and begin editing Alice Unanswered.

*is mysteriously holding back many details about this book* *grins*



Finish writing Once a Stratton.

It’s at 42K now, which, based on all the stuff I have to cram into it before the end (not even exaggerating) will lead it to be about 70K finished.
Which is feasible.



Write two other full-length novels.

*mysteriously keeping this back*
*because I’m not sure what they will be*
(But one will be a NaNoWriMo novel, and I’m thinking I’ll write the other in the summer whatever it ends up being.)



Participate in Camp NaNo and NaNoWriMo.

I mean write at least 50K both times.
Oh, yeah!



Cut down on procrastination while writing, editing, etc.

I’m not sure how I’ll go about this, but I will. Somehow.
Perhaps just by not chasing every plot bunny in sight.
Let the plot bunnies plot bunny on.



Make a plan for your next couple years in writing.

Plans are good! Though lacking in my life at the moment.
THIS CHANGES NOW.



Practice the clarinet and saxophone.

Hahahahahahaha.



Graduate from high school.

My mom will not let me not accomplish this one.

How 2017 Went

[image error]

Hey there! It’s almost 2018! *much excitement/confusion/anticipation* Can you believe it? I sure can’t. It seemed like only yesterday I was doing that stupid video about New Year’s Resolutions that was super boring.

By the way, ‘Remembrance Day’ is apparently sort of the British ‘Veteran’s Day.’ Which makes that one British book I read called Remembrance make more sense. I was like, “This is a great book, but I don’t see anyone remembering anything?” *is a goof* *is unashamed of that fact*

NOW … let it be known that I have a ton to say in the introduction so that whole paragraph about “remembrance” was in bad taste as now the rest of the introduction will have to be bumped past the original introduction. *has rules about the numbers of paragraphs in the introduction* *shrugs*

Okay, here is a the post-introduction introduction. In this post, we’ll have a recap of December Dares, a recap of 2017, and an invitation to beta-read At Her Fingertips. (I’ll be talking about my January Dares and Resolutions for 2018 in the next post!)

So … it’s a full post.

But that’s okay! Fullness is good. It makes the post all … full. And has lots of info that you won’t be able to process. I feel like I should stop rambling and just get to it.

December 2017 Dares {Recap}

[image error]

Reading

Read three review copies. Check!

These review copies were Reuben’s Choice by Natalie Vellacott, Disowned by Sarah Addison-Fox, and Cries of Grace by Angela Beach Silverthorne.


Finish all those random books in your closet. Kinda.

Okay, so, there was Cries of Grace (^^) as well as To Wager Her Heart and A Lady Unrivalled , and I read those.
But then there are still three books (I think?) that I haven’t read yet which are rotting away in there.
And I added to that stack with Christmas this month – but those are already-read books, so I’m good.


BETA-READ THE BOOK YOU PROMISED TO BETA-READ. Kinda.

I’m not finished yet, but I hope to be by tomorrow, sooo?

Writing

Edit & publish Flowers. Kinda.

Okay, so, I edited it, but I decided to delay publication until the 13th of January, sooo?
It was a Dare I chose not to accomplish.


Get through At Her Fingertips twice. Check!

Well … okay, I went through it once …
And I’m almost through it again.
SO CLOOOOSEEEE.
But I’m giving myself the point just ’cause.


Make those formatting changes for TDS and IvIn. Check!

That was easy.


Write a Christmas short story. Failed.

Eh. I just couldn’t think of one.
I edited and published Esther Ashton’s New Dress , though …?
Extra points?

Blogging

Participate in the 12 Days of Christmas party! Check!

This post.
This post.
This post.
And this post.


Actually put out some quality posts that aren’t published at ten o’ clock at night. Failed.

I did put out some posts, but they weren’t what I had in mind, sooo?
Yeah, I’m calling it “Failed” even though I could have said “Kinda.”


And do some reviewing and such on RR. Failed.

This did not happen. That is all there is to it.

Life

Clean my fish’s bowl. Check!

Twice, actually. *wiggles eyebrows*


Practice my clarinet and saxophone. Check!

And the concert went super well, too, and I’m excited to start again! Even though you won’t catch me admitting it.
We’re having a jazz band this year, and I’m the band’s gonna be awesome. *coughs*


Work with Aubrey. Failed.

Aubrey is … um … a problem child. And I was distracted all month and ignored this fact. And she is even more of a problem child due to that ignoring.
I am a terrible person, but I’m gonna try to improve … I mean it!


Visit my grandparents – at least a couple times. Failed.

I mean, Christmas?
But that doesn’t count, even though it was loads of fun.
I AM A TERRIBLE GRANDDAUGHTER AHHHHHH.


Christmas shopping! Check!

I mean, I did some serious regifting, a bit of online shopping, etc. but I did go shopping once, sooo?
CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK CHECK!!!
THAT IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

[image error]

December Recap

Here is how my life went in December (besides what I already talked about in the Dares):

Read eleven books. Three of them were my own. *is not ashamed*

I’ve actually been struggling with reading a lot recently since I keep on running into books that leave me feeling unsatisfied.
CAN NO ONE WRITE A BOOK WITH A DECENT ENDING???


Sooooo close to being ready for beta-readers with At Her Fingertips! Just a little bit more editing to go.

On that note, here is my beta-reader sign up form!
I did most of this work in the last couple weeks.


For most of December, I was pretty depressed.

But Christmas made me feel better.
So I’m much happier now.
*whistles Joy to the World*


I had an absolutely fantastic Christmas!

Probably the best Christmas I’ve had in years.
We opened all our presents on Christmas Eve.

With our huge family. So, my two uncles and their families and my grandparents and my sister and her family.


I feel like I’m starting to grow up and realize that my family is cool. Y’know?

Like, I’ve been pretty much your average disgusted teen since I was 11 or 12, but … I feel like I’m slowly, slooooowwwwlllllly making my way towards adulthood, and my family is nice in adulthood.
Well, mostly.

Happy 2017th Birthday, Jesus!

[image error]

This is going to be short. It’s my last post for the 12 Days of Christmas party; after that, we will TRULY be back to regular posts*.

Right now, I’m going to talk about the most important birthday ever!

I’ve decided to add some brief authory updates at the end of this post just ’cause I can’t resist talking about myself. *is super egotistical* *as y’all know*

*I mean it this time! Really! Regular posts! (I bet I’m going to randomly decide to do a hiatus or something … hopefully not though …)

[image error]

Well, this year marks our Lord and Savior’s 2017th birthday. God sent His Son into the world to save us from our sins. Because of Him, we can have eternal life.

There’s not much else to say. That’s just about all there is to it.

I could talk a long time about the significance of traditions, about being models of Christ, about ways to make Christmas truly meaningful … But I won’t. Everyone has already said everything I’d want to say somewhere in this party.

We have so much to be thankful for. So much to celebrate. So much to talk about. So many reasons to be happy.

Remember that Christ died for you, you are loved and safe and pure.

And enjoy this Christmas!!!

[image error]

The Promised Author Updates

I finished the first round of edits of At Her Fingertips! I still have to input every single edit (all 900+ …) from my Kindle onto the computer, but … it’s gonna happen! Slowly but surely!

I’m going to try to skim my way through this second round of edits as fast as I possibly can, but I don’t know how fast I’ll be able to go. Hopefully I’ll get a lot of work done in the next couple weeks.

I’m still trying to decide what I’m going to write next. Here are a few ideas …

That One Story About the Civil War Which is Kind Of a Romance and Has Philip Knight in it Only Not as a Main Character But as the Hero’s Best Friend

(What? I don’t have a title yet …)

Right now I’m calling it Heaven Can Wait, which is essentially a random combination of words which has nothing to do with the actual story?

Southern belle Lynn McCullough only married Yankee shipbuilder’s son Clarence Hilton because of her parents’ threat of disinheritance. Exactly why she remained married to him when a simple way out was offered to her is something even she can’t fathom.

There are many other things Lynn can’t understand… like how kind Clarence is to her after being humiliated, insulted, and having personal items defenestrated. However, when Clarence goes off to war, Lynn finds herself missing her husband, and it doesn’t help to be living with a surprisingly non-irritating mother-in-law who keeps pushing her towards a faith she never dreamed of taking as her own.

God Love a Yankee

Another WIP title.

This is sort of a sequel to the other story, again linked to The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy as Philip Knight as well as Hazel Bailey are main characters.

Hazel Bailey has just buried her mother, received word of her father’s death, and has no idea where her brother is. She is more than ready to be done with this war. She doesn’t want play nurse to wounded soldier, even if he is particularly handsome.

Philip Knight has now been unlucky in war and unlucky in love and is about easy to give up. He’s a Yankee dressed in Confederate clothing under the care of an annoyingly optimistic Southern Belle.

As Philip and Hazel form an unlikely friendship, they do something which I have t decided on yet. But can their relationship survive the secrets in Philip’s past?

Alice Unanswered

This is the fifth book in The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy. I’m not gonna give a summary just yet …