Joely Sue Burkhart's Blog, page 63

Fast Draft Day 013

I've lost a few days in there somewhere, so "013″ is a guess.

As if 5:00 AM on a rainy Monday isn't enough fun, my brain decided to dream that the alarm was going off at…. 4:45 a.m. instead.  I didn't want to fall back asleep for fear I wouldn't get up again, so I went ahead and crawled out of bed.  Of course my programmed coffee pot hadn't gone off yet, so I don't know that I really gained any time – but at least I didn't lose any either by oversleeping.  (My backup alarm wouldn't have gone off until 6:15 for That Man.)

We were incredibly busy this weekend and I've lost all sense of accomplishment.  I can't remember how many words I had Friday.  I did get up D&E but never posted.  I'm guessing I had about 1K.  Saturday I slept in and then hauled the monsters all over town preparing for Easter.  We had company that night until almost 10:00 pm and finally watched Inception.  That Man had to work both days this weekend, and I didn't want to face the horrible crowds at church without him Sunday, so we stayed home for Easter.  He ended up getting off early and was home by 11 AM, so we had a nice late breakfast together.

Then he decided we should try to run all the errands that we hadn't had time to run earlier over the weekend, so out we went.  Of course nearly everybody was closed.  We came home so I could continue laundry…only to realize the dryer was broken.  Again.  Second time this year, same problem.  I think it's got a wiring/short out problem that keeps blowing up the heating element.  So instead of dumping another repair bill into the machine, we bought a new one.

The Easter Bunny is delivering a dryer today, and somewhere in between the Evil Day Job and cooking dinner tonight, I need to get two wet loads dried.

Needless to say, I didn't get much writing done yesterday at all.  I don't have any idea of the breakdown by days, so I'll just report my total:

23,000 words right on the nose

And we'll continue from there for the rest of the week.

"In dreams, you could do whatever you wished with me, and on the morrow awake and go about your life as though nothing had happened.  Now I'm real, here, in the flesh.  You will have to open your eyes when you awake and see that I am there beside you.  You must then acknowledge what we have done.  I'm a dream no longer, where you were free to be what you want without worry of judgment or misunderstanding."

Guest Blogger Giveaway: Heather Massey

I Blame Ted Danson For My Erotic Sci-Fi Romance ONCE UPON A TIME IN SPACE

Quite a few years ago, I watched an interview with Ted Danson, the actor best known for his stint as Sam Malone on the 1982 sitcom Cheers. The interview was on some kind of celebrity-oriented show, possibly Entertainment Tonight (back in the day when it was helmed by Mary Hart and John Tesh). Anyway, this interview is when I first learned that the actor was also an environmental advocate.

At one point during the interview, Ted Danson remarked something along the lines of (and I'm paraphrasing here) "whenever we flush the toilet, it becomes somebody else's problem."

Well. Well. Talk about a massive guilt trip! I hopped right on that one, let me tell you. I don't know if it was my upbringing or Ted Danson's rebuking tone or the way he seemed to look right into the camera—right at me—but that moment was the first time I developed real insight regarding the monumental task of keeping Earth healthy.

Unfortunately, I was too naïve at the time to make a connection between my thoughts about his statement and my behavior—meaning that my behavior could change. But his words stayed with me, replaying in my mind even decades later. Naturally, this tended to occur most often when I had to use the toilet. Ugh! I kept agonizing over whatever harm I was causing the environment every time I had to pee or poop.

Eventually, I got wise about the fact that the only way to relieve my sense of unrelenting guilt was to start doing my part to help Earth. I began with easy things, like shutting off lights when leaving the room. Reusing items whenever I could. Keeping the water off while brushing my teeth. Recycling. Composting. I'm not as consistent as I could be, but I'm actively working on retraining myself and ditching maladaptive environmental habits.

Ted Danson's words were so powerful that they had a particularly unexpected repercussion. When I decided to write my erotic sci-fi romance Once Upon a Time in Space (Red Sage Publishing), I channeled my experience with his message into the narrative. On one level, my book is about a hawt futuristic explorer who tangles with a sexy, ruthless space pirate during his quest to find a new world. But on another level, the story explores the consequences (albeit in a very fantastical way) of pollution allowed to continue unchecked on planet Earth.

Don't get me wrong: my story is pure unabashed entertainment all the way. I intentionally avoided pulling a "Ted Danson" during the course of the story—no preaching allowed. But, given my encounter with his interview and its subsequent impact, I couldn't help but speculate about the relationship between flushing toilets and a dying Earth. Are we really heading toward a time when we'll be flushing our planet away for good? I shudder to think so.

Since writing the story, I've been working even harder on flushing away my harmful habits. In fact, as I write this, I'm awaiting delivery of a Fiskars 6201 18-Inch 5-Blade Momentum Push Reel Lawn Mower. Even though I'm hardly a lawn mower expert, I can't wait to start using this baby. The exercise ain't exactly gonna hurt me, either—take that, Ted Danson!

And now for a giveaway!  To help celebrate Earth Day, I'm giving away a $10.00 Red Sage gift certificate to one winner (because going digital with books is another way I've gone green, and I'd love for you to join me, even if it's just for one book). To enter, leave a comment telling me one way you've gone green or plan to do so.

Bio:

Heather Massey is a lifelong fan of science fiction romance. She searches for sci-fi romance adventures aboard her blog, The Galaxy Express.

Heather's debut erotic sci-fi romance novel, Once Upon a Time in Space (Red Sage Publishing), features the last living descendant of Christopher Columbus on a desperate quest to find a new world. Standing in his way is Raquel, the deadliest space pirate in the galaxy.

For more information, visit her Web site at www.heathermassey.com.

Story blurb:

In the sea of stars, an epic love story is about to begin…

Earth is dying. Nick Venture, the last living descendant of Christopher Columbus, embarks on a dangerous mission to find a new planet and save humanity. This places him on a collision course with Raquel Donovan, the deadliest space pirate in the galaxy.

Raquel lives for one purpose: revenge against a horrible demon from her past. When an attempt to hijack Nick's starship backfires, Raquel becomes his protector in order to avoid capture by the tyrannical Space Defense Corps. Nick and Raquel are irresistibly drawn to one another despite the forbidden nature of their attraction. But the conflicted pirate's deepest secret could tear the couple apart even as humanity's time runs out….

Addition:  I'm going to match Heather's giveaway!  So we're offering TWO $10 Red Sage gift certificates!

Fast Draft Day 010

Oh, so hard to get up this morning.  But I made it.  I set a goal of reaching 20K.  And I made that too.

Today:  1,666

Total:  20,026

Snippet:  Tecun living and breathing in our world for the first time.

I cringed at the volume of Natalie's voice.  When she got scared, she got loud.  And cursed.  A lot.  She'd taught the paramedics a few choice phrases as they resuscitated me.

The creature slammed against the door, rattling the opaque glass in its frame.

"What should we do, lady?"

Stunned, I stared at Jose.  He expected me to do something about that walking corpse?  What could I possibly do but kick off my ridiculous heels and run?  I hadn't turned into Lara Croft overnight.

"She should stand aside and allow her warrior to decapitate the demon and send it back to Xibalba."

Guest Blogging at RT Book Reviews

Please stop by the RT Book Reviews erotica blog for my post "The Lady Always Gets Her Men."  I'm talking about why I don't like love triangles—-and would rather read a menage instead!  I don't have any comments and I'm feeling rather lonely.

Fast Draft Day 009

You know it's going to be a long day when you finally wake up to the alarm…and realize it's been going off for four minutes.

This morning's D&E was sporadic at best.  I got up slightly late.  The family had to be up earlier than usual, and since Mom = official timekeeper and wake-up call, I had to stop every 15 mins or so to make sure they were up.  I got involved in writing between wake-up calls, so I actually got That Man up 10 mins late.  Oops.  Then I made the mistake of checking on my blog post - I'm over at Here Be Magic today talking about Barbarians Do It Doggie Style (in reference to Game of Thrones!) – and then I got involved in Twitter.

All classic mistakes during D&E.  I shouldn't have even opened an IE window.

So while my daily count may look respectable, it's actually padded by 500 words I got last night and didn't report.  *sheepish*  As I said yesterday, I'm in a BIG sex scene – the first big fully explicit on page in the "real" world scene – and it's slow going.  Writing good, interesting, non-skippable sex scenes is hard work, let me tell you.  I might have to skip ahead and get some of the action scenes done, and then come back, because I'm tired.  (More tired than the characters, evidently.)

Today: 1,128

Total:  18,360

Snippet:

He sighed, his arms tightening about me.  "There's always great danger whenever I return to your earth.  A purpose awaits me.  Beware until I'm at your side.  You reek of my magic to anyone who can sense it."

Darkness tried to claim me.  I fought that slow slide to loneliness, even though it was a losing battle.  Anguished, I cried out, straining to stay with him.

"Remember," his voice echoed inside my head like thunder.  "I come again as called, but this time, I come for you."

Fast Draft Day 008b

I got all messed up on my days after taking Sunday off, and then posting twice yesterday.  I didn't bother changing "day 008″ last night because it was late and I was tired — so I'll just flag this as 008b and go from there.  It's not important in the end, other than helping me determine my average word count.  This really is the 8th day I've been working on Fast Draft, putting my average (with this morning's words) at 2,154.  Not bad.  Although I'd be far from upset if I could bump that up closer to 2.5K a day.  *winks*

So up D&E this morning despite the later night.  I actually woke up at 4:30 and almost got up then, but I figured even half an hour could do me some good later today.  I'm in another smex scene – gee, these characters are like bunnies!  (Although to be honest, this is the first full-blown non-dream scene — everything else has been lead up to this, so it needs to be GOOD.)  So it's been a bit slower than I'd like.  It's one thing to have a plot laid out on paper, but another when two people must get intimate between the sheets.  It takes me awhile to get the feel for each scene.  What's at stake?  Why is she uncomfortable?  What does he risk losing?  etc.  All things that make a powerful, transformative scene.

Speaking of plot on paper, I did a gut check this morning to see how closely I'm sticking to my outline and how far I am.  I've reordered a few things — the fountain scene was supposed to come later, but it made sense to move it up.  I also didn't allow more than 1 little block for the big smex scene I'm working on, which is stupid because it's big!   The first full-on-page all-the-way I'm-not-dreaming-any-longer  intimacy. 

I've only completed 9/20 scenes and I'm over 17K.  That means unless the final two pages of outlines go by very quickly, I'm looking more like 40-50K than 30-40K like I'd hoped.  Sigh.  We'll see.  I could still finish this by the end of the month if I keep up this pace.  I really think the last few scenes will go extremely quickly…although the "sacrfice" at the top of the pyramid will be a killer!!  In more ways than one.  *evil*

Speaking again of killing…I had a terrible thought occur to me yesterday of a character's possible death.  Not sure if that will happen yet or not.  I think I could get a sequel out of it, which I didn't plan at all, so I may do it, even though it's terribly mean!  (For The Bloodgate Guardian readers, think the "caged heart.")

This moring's words: 1,059

Total:  17,232

Snippet:

I wrapped my hands in his hair and jerked his head back so I could see his eyes.  "How will I recognize you?"

Eyes heavy lidded, he lowered his voice to that bone-shaking whisper of menace that curled my toes.  "You will look at me and not be able to breathe.  You will remember my taste and your body will fountain with desire at the memory of me inside you.  If you allow me to mark you with my teeth, your skin will catch fire at the sight of me.  You will carry my magic within you.  You will always know me, in whichever age and world we meet.  We will forever be drawn to find each other, whether on earth, my world, or even Xibalba.  If you give me a taste of your blood, then not even my death or a locked gate will ever keep me from you again."

Fast Draft Day 008

Oooh, I'm so going to regret staying up this late tomorrow, but I had to watch the first episode of Game of Thrones! Loooooooved it.  I'd forgotten how much I love this series (I read book 3 when home on maternity leave with the youngest — who's now almost 8!)!  I did manage to break 16K though and finish the naughty scene in the fountain.  *fans self*

Tonight: 1,013

Total:  16,173

Snippet:

He rose up out of the water with a massive surge like a dolphin powering toward the surface.  Water streamed and plumed around him frantically, celebrating his arrival.  I don't know how deep the water had been through the gate, but he stood in the pool before me, and now, the water only reached his knees.

Leaving him magnificently, dripping nude.

Head back, shoulders broad and square in that warrior stance that they'd managed to capture in his statue, Tecun closed his eyes and breathed deeply, his hands fisted at his side.  His nostrils flared wide and his head slowly turned toward me. 



Fast Draft Day 007

Technically this is "day 8″ because I decided to take yesterday off.  Days off during Fast Draft (or NaNoWriMo) can backfire by breaking rhythm.  I definitely do better when I'm in the story every single day.  However, That Man had to work yesterday, so getting the monsters up and out the door by 8:30 am for church took a lot out of me.  Then we did lunch out and I took them shopping at Wal-Mart (what was I THINKING?!?!?) and by the time we got home, Mom was done.

I ended up playing games instead (thank you Big Fish Games!)

Getting up D&E this morning was doubly hard, then, because I was still tired from getting up early yesterday plus getting off to a possible slow start, so I primed the pump as much as possible last night when I went to bed.  What does that mean?  I deliberately put the story in my head before I went to sleep.  It doesn't always work — if I'm extremely tired, I fall asleep too fast to make a difference.  But I had enough time last night to mull over the story before I dozed off, and I realized that I was getting a little stuck on Sat. because the scene was unfolding too quickly.

I needed some tension BEFORE the big event in the scene. *winks* 

So I got busy this morning with some tension and delay.  I had to re-write a little — the cardinal sin of Fast Draft — but I had to fix where I was going before I could continue.  Finally broke 15K this morning (Saturday's goal, but I'll take it) — but I'd be even happier if I ended up with 16K by the time my head hits the pillow tonight.

Today so far:  1,242

Total:  15,160

Snippet:

Throwing the blankets back, I started to get up, but a turquoise feather lay beside me.  Over two feet long and slightly curved, it had to be a quetzal feather.  If I'd found it on the floor or on top of the bed, I could have tried to reason with myself that it'd surely just fallen into my bed by accident.  But under the blankets? 

It hadn't been there last night when I came to bed.  Natalie had laughed at my nightly ritual of throwing back all the blankets and sheets to make sure no creepy crawlies waited to snuggle with me…until she found a massive cricket licking her leg one night.

The windows were shut.  My door locked.  So how had this phantom feather made its way into my bed?

Fast Draft Day 006

I hoped to break 15K today but it just didn't happen.  I slept in this morning, which I needed desperately, but that put me behind.  Between fending off starving monsters, climbing Mt. Laundry and destroying the kitchen for dinner, I just didn't get as much done as I hoped.

Today: 1,882

Total:  13,918

Snippet:

The damned quetzal started screeching again.  My ears rang with the sound, and his world suddenly wavered, thin and insubstantial.  I clutched him desperately, slipping further away, fighting to stay in the dream.  Sleek hair slid through my fingers, and I tore brilliant feathers loose in my effort to stay with him.

"Bring me back to life."  He whispered inside my head, but I couldn't feel him any longer.  I couldn't smell his tropical scent, but I could still taste him.  I'd never be able to eat another guava or passion fruit without remembering, aching for him.  "Wake me.  Call me to your side.  Not even Alvarado himself could keep me from you once the gate is open."

Fast Draft Day 005

I slept in this morning, so I didn't have any words until late (after work).  Luckily, we took the kids to the community center to swim tonight after dinner.  I sat out by the cafe with my laptop and got 1.5K words, and finally hit the other 500 tonight.  (My goal was to break 12K.)

I'm still following my outline pretty well, but a few things popped up today that were surprising, including a tattoo and a zombie.  Woot!  I love zombies.  However, I'm not really sure this last scene is working very well.  It's not happening quite like I expected, which would be okay…as long as it's not boring.  I'm too tired to tell.

A decent day, though, and nothing I can't fix in revision. 

Today: 2,608

Total:  12,036

Snippet:

"It doesn't matter what you know or believe when you can see me with your eyes, touch me with your body, taste me with your mouth.  Am I not real, Cassandra Gonzales?  Do I not breathe?  Didn't you feel how much I ache to take you again?"