Angela Verdenius's Blog - Posts Tagged "writing"
New Book started - ARGH!!!
So I started the new BBW romance yesterday. Wrote nine pages. Liked the first three and am ditching the rest today and re-doing. ARGH! I hate when scenes start off good and then spiral downwards after a few pages - it means the characters are not working with the scene. *shaking fist in exasperation*
Nothing for it but to scrap those pages and start again.
I have to admit, writing those first few pages is so hard for me. Trying to introduce new characters and situations without:
1. hurrying them
2. dragging the scene out
Never mind. I fortify mysef with a Diet Coke *sipsipsip*, put on the music (just loving 'Let It Go' from Frozen (yes, you heard me right...the animated Disney movie), and AxeMan from Resident Evil Afterlife.
What? I hear you say. Isn't that two extremes? Hey, you're looking at someone who loves zombie movies like Dawn of the Dead and Resident Evil, and who proudly rents the latest Tinkerbell movie when it comes out!
Nothing for it but to scrap those pages and start again.
I have to admit, writing those first few pages is so hard for me. Trying to introduce new characters and situations without:
1. hurrying them
2. dragging the scene out
Never mind. I fortify mysef with a Diet Coke *sipsipsip*, put on the music (just loving 'Let It Go' from Frozen (yes, you heard me right...the animated Disney movie), and AxeMan from Resident Evil Afterlife.
What? I hear you say. Isn't that two extremes? Hey, you're looking at someone who loves zombie movies like Dawn of the Dead and Resident Evil, and who proudly rents the latest Tinkerbell movie when it comes out!
Getting There!
So the good news is the book is 3/4 of the way done! I've set a personal deadline of the end of July...*gulp*...which is kind of stupid when you think we're in tax time Down Under, and my days off are all over the place so... But alas, I am a glutton for punishment!
So, I just wanted to keep you all updated on my punishment regime. Hmm...that sounds alittle kinky, but I assure you, it's just me and my computer. Cripes, that sounds worse!
So, I just wanted to keep you all updated on my punishment regime. Hmm...that sounds alittle kinky, but I assure you, it's just me and my computer. Cripes, that sounds worse!
Starting the New Book
So, inbetween working and having to study for a new competency for work, I have started book 2 in the Gully's Fall series.
I know a lot of people were hoping for Ryder and Dee's story next, but I decided to leave Ryder stewing and digging his hole deeper for awhile, because it'll make his downfall that much sweeter. (Did I say that out loud?!)
But, to clue everyone in, I'm working on Kirk. Wait, that sounds kinky. I mean, I"m working on Kirk's STORY. (Good grief, some of you have potty thoughts! Wait... maybe that's just me...)
Kirk is a nice bloke - I thought. I threatened to delete him when he wouldn't do as I asked - pleaded - begged - yelled! - but one look out of those calm eyes and I crumpled. I am such a sucker for calmness in a hot bloke. SUCH a sucker. Add to that a man in uniform and... *sliding dreamily off my chair* I think you get the picture.
But will Kirk remain calm for long when it comes to his heroine? Oh yeah, she came into town...they meet in quite an unsual way...
I know a lot of people were hoping for Ryder and Dee's story next, but I decided to leave Ryder stewing and digging his hole deeper for awhile, because it'll make his downfall that much sweeter. (Did I say that out loud?!)
But, to clue everyone in, I'm working on Kirk. Wait, that sounds kinky. I mean, I"m working on Kirk's STORY. (Good grief, some of you have potty thoughts! Wait... maybe that's just me...)
Kirk is a nice bloke - I thought. I threatened to delete him when he wouldn't do as I asked - pleaded - begged - yelled! - but one look out of those calm eyes and I crumpled. I am such a sucker for calmness in a hot bloke. SUCH a sucker. Add to that a man in uniform and... *sliding dreamily off my chair* I think you get the picture.
But will Kirk remain calm for long when it comes to his heroine? Oh yeah, she came into town...they meet in quite an unsual way...
Character Musings on Ryder & Dee
Ryder is killing me. I mean, I just want to hit him. Do I sound drastic? Possibly, but really...
Ryder was never going to be easy. Well, he's easy, we all know he's bedded a goodly number of women, but that's not quite the kind of easy I mean! I mean, he's difficult. He's a chauvinist, he's a playboy, he's funny, and he's a bit of a dick. He's smug and he can be a dummy at times when it comes to feelings and emotions. He's also hot and sexy. But face it, he's still a dick at times.
I'm just sayin'...
As for Dee, she has depths I never imagined. Not that she's a saint (Dee? A saint? Really? *guffaw*). She can be bitchy, hard, and a proverbial ball-buster, but she's got her soft side, and her reasons (for some things. Good reasons. Others are just that she's a ball buster).
It's not easy writing about two characters who are amusing as side characters, yet somehow I have to make them likeable without crushing the very things that make them so interesting. It's a fine line. I believe in making characters true to themselves, I can't just make her all sweet and him all noble, it just won't work. It never has. Characters are like people in reality, they are who they are, there're going to be things people don't like and things they do like. All I can say is that I keep writing, the story keeps unfolding, and I keep wanting to hit Ryder. (sorry, did I just say that last part out loud again?)
I have to say, I suddenly realized the other night that I was up to chapter 6 and I don't quite know how it happened. Chapter 6 already? Did a lot happen? Didn't it? Too much, too little? Do I need to delete something? ARGH!
If nothing else, it's an interesting ride!
Ryder was never going to be easy. Well, he's easy, we all know he's bedded a goodly number of women, but that's not quite the kind of easy I mean! I mean, he's difficult. He's a chauvinist, he's a playboy, he's funny, and he's a bit of a dick. He's smug and he can be a dummy at times when it comes to feelings and emotions. He's also hot and sexy. But face it, he's still a dick at times.
I'm just sayin'...
As for Dee, she has depths I never imagined. Not that she's a saint (Dee? A saint? Really? *guffaw*). She can be bitchy, hard, and a proverbial ball-buster, but she's got her soft side, and her reasons (for some things. Good reasons. Others are just that she's a ball buster).
It's not easy writing about two characters who are amusing as side characters, yet somehow I have to make them likeable without crushing the very things that make them so interesting. It's a fine line. I believe in making characters true to themselves, I can't just make her all sweet and him all noble, it just won't work. It never has. Characters are like people in reality, they are who they are, there're going to be things people don't like and things they do like. All I can say is that I keep writing, the story keeps unfolding, and I keep wanting to hit Ryder. (sorry, did I just say that last part out loud again?)
I have to say, I suddenly realized the other night that I was up to chapter 6 and I don't quite know how it happened. Chapter 6 already? Did a lot happen? Didn't it? Too much, too little? Do I need to delete something? ARGH!
If nothing else, it's an interesting ride!
Doing My Head In
Oh boy. Grant is another hero doing my head in. Like Simon, he's supposed to be easy-going. He's not a complex man, he's supposed to be an easy write.
Ha ha - it is to laugh! When has any of my heroes been easy to write lately?
For example, I'm writing away, when suddenly in the story Grant's hand slips and he touches - suffice it to say that I tried to tell him he couldn't do that, it was a sleazy move, and he countered by saying it was an honest mistake. And it was. But still...
On the plus side, I am halfway through 2 weeks annual leave from my day job, and writing almost all day every day, which has been great. I'm halfway through chapter 3 already!
Got Evie (cat) asleep behind me on the filing cabinet, Lily (cat) curled up on a chair by my side, Leo (dog) asleep on a mat beside me, Diet Coke on the desk, music going...this is the life!
As long as I don't choke it out of Grant first...
Ha ha - it is to laugh! When has any of my heroes been easy to write lately?
For example, I'm writing away, when suddenly in the story Grant's hand slips and he touches - suffice it to say that I tried to tell him he couldn't do that, it was a sleazy move, and he countered by saying it was an honest mistake. And it was. But still...
On the plus side, I am halfway through 2 weeks annual leave from my day job, and writing almost all day every day, which has been great. I'm halfway through chapter 3 already!
Got Evie (cat) asleep behind me on the filing cabinet, Lily (cat) curled up on a chair by my side, Leo (dog) asleep on a mat beside me, Diet Coke on the desk, music going...this is the life!
As long as I don't choke it out of Grant first...
I'm Loving Jason Again!
YES!!!! Against all odds, against all threats and blood and sweat and tears (okay, maybe going a wee bit far...but not too far), Jason's book is coming together.
I swear, his has been a roller coaster ride. I'd like to say it's because the book is a tear-jerker, a heart-rendering piece of fantastic fiction, but that would be going WAAAAY too far! *guffaw*
No, it's more that the book is finally coming together. I'm belting along, and am three quarters of the way through it! YES! I'm on that home run, baby! If I had a week off work and was able to write for fourteen hours a day, I'd nail it by the end of next week. Alas, I have to work for a living as well so that time is cut down. But nevertheless, I'm working on it before and after work, and on my days off. Today is a day off, so I'll be working on this book today.
Meanwhile, Evie is snoozing on the desk right in front of the computer screen, touching it with her paws and making things appear and disappear, the dog is sprawled in the kitchen, the cats are lying around inside (Abby is lying on her back beside my chair), there's a hot wind blowing outside, the wild birds are flopped under the Frangipani trees drinking from the water bowl and eating the seed Mum puts out for them, and I have an icy cold tin of Diet Coke by my side. Bliss!
Except for the heat. I prefer rain. Rain would be nice. :-)
I swear, his has been a roller coaster ride. I'd like to say it's because the book is a tear-jerker, a heart-rendering piece of fantastic fiction, but that would be going WAAAAY too far! *guffaw*
No, it's more that the book is finally coming together. I'm belting along, and am three quarters of the way through it! YES! I'm on that home run, baby! If I had a week off work and was able to write for fourteen hours a day, I'd nail it by the end of next week. Alas, I have to work for a living as well so that time is cut down. But nevertheless, I'm working on it before and after work, and on my days off. Today is a day off, so I'll be working on this book today.
Meanwhile, Evie is snoozing on the desk right in front of the computer screen, touching it with her paws and making things appear and disappear, the dog is sprawled in the kitchen, the cats are lying around inside (Abby is lying on her back beside my chair), there's a hot wind blowing outside, the wild birds are flopped under the Frangipani trees drinking from the water bowl and eating the seed Mum puts out for them, and I have an icy cold tin of Diet Coke by my side. Bliss!
Except for the heat. I prefer rain. Rain would be nice. :-)
Off to RWA 2016 next week!
So Monday I and my best friend fly out to Adelaide in South Aussie. The conference isn't until Friday, so we'll have 3 days and most of Friday to explore Adelaide and all it's wonderful places. We've even booked onto a ghost tour in the old Adelaide Gaol in the early night (7pm - 9pm). It'll be dark, cold, spooky (and freezing), but we're up for it! I hope LOL. I'm prepared to be spooked! We weren't brave enough to go for the other tour, which includes being locked down into the gaol, that's a little too much.
It doesn't help when my mother tells me she hopes nothing follows me and Rae back to the hotel...then all the way home. Seriously, I read where ghost hunters did have the ghost of a little girl follow one of them back home, she saw it on her staircase. Geez, now I've had goosebumps explode down my arms. Why did Mum have to say that and remind me of what I'd read? ARGH!
Wait, I know...I'll tell Rae that right as we arrive at the tour, freak her out before we start! ROTFL!!!! (Hey, that's what friends are for!)
I'm also homesick already, doing my usual 'I wish I wasn't going' and 'Why did I agree to go?' and 'I want to stay home!' This'll last until the plane leaves the tarmac. Seeing as I'm also a bad traveler and get air sick/bus sick/sometimes taxi sick, I'll be doped on travel sick pills that'll probably make me drowsy and sleep most of the way. Ah, the good times of travel!
Haven't had much time to write this week, trying to pack a lot of stuff into boxes and store in the back room, as Mum and I have so much to do when I get back that I'm trying to save some time and get the heavy stuff boxed. New lino going down the week I get home and we have to have everything out of the house ready for the men to shift the furniture and lay down the lino, then shift everything back in and empty the back room and repeat. So the week I get back, I'm not even going to make it onto the computer! So this week no writing, next week no writing as I'll be away, and the week I get back no writing as everything will be shifting and turbulent!
In between, the cats are wary of all the packing and not knowing what's going on - Lily is meowing earnestly at me every chance she gets, Evie is head first into any box she can get into, Theo simply retires under Mum's blanket while Fleur curls up near the pillow, Lacey is prancing around all agog and wanting to know what's happening, Polly has discovered one of the igloos she couldn't be bothered with before and declared it's HER ZONE and she's going to LIVE IN IT FOREVER and only comes out of it during the day to eat, drink and use the litter tray (then at night she sleeps on the sofa) while Abby takes off to the cattery and snoozes there all day, only coming in at tea time. Go figure.
So everyone, I won't be on-line for a couple of weeks. Have fun, stay safe, and I'll chat again soon!
It doesn't help when my mother tells me she hopes nothing follows me and Rae back to the hotel...then all the way home. Seriously, I read where ghost hunters did have the ghost of a little girl follow one of them back home, she saw it on her staircase. Geez, now I've had goosebumps explode down my arms. Why did Mum have to say that and remind me of what I'd read? ARGH!
Wait, I know...I'll tell Rae that right as we arrive at the tour, freak her out before we start! ROTFL!!!! (Hey, that's what friends are for!)
I'm also homesick already, doing my usual 'I wish I wasn't going' and 'Why did I agree to go?' and 'I want to stay home!' This'll last until the plane leaves the tarmac. Seeing as I'm also a bad traveler and get air sick/bus sick/sometimes taxi sick, I'll be doped on travel sick pills that'll probably make me drowsy and sleep most of the way. Ah, the good times of travel!
Haven't had much time to write this week, trying to pack a lot of stuff into boxes and store in the back room, as Mum and I have so much to do when I get back that I'm trying to save some time and get the heavy stuff boxed. New lino going down the week I get home and we have to have everything out of the house ready for the men to shift the furniture and lay down the lino, then shift everything back in and empty the back room and repeat. So the week I get back, I'm not even going to make it onto the computer! So this week no writing, next week no writing as I'll be away, and the week I get back no writing as everything will be shifting and turbulent!
In between, the cats are wary of all the packing and not knowing what's going on - Lily is meowing earnestly at me every chance she gets, Evie is head first into any box she can get into, Theo simply retires under Mum's blanket while Fleur curls up near the pillow, Lacey is prancing around all agog and wanting to know what's happening, Polly has discovered one of the igloos she couldn't be bothered with before and declared it's HER ZONE and she's going to LIVE IN IT FOREVER and only comes out of it during the day to eat, drink and use the litter tray (then at night she sleeps on the sofa) while Abby takes off to the cattery and snoozes there all day, only coming in at tea time. Go figure.
So everyone, I won't be on-line for a couple of weeks. Have fun, stay safe, and I'll chat again soon!
So Aaron is coming along...kicking and screaming...
So Aaron is coming along nicely, albeit kicking and screaming.
Wait, that'd be me. Let's start again.
Aaron's story is coming along! Just started chapter 5. If you'd asked me a week ago if I'd get this far, I'd have replied (quite rightly) I have no freakin' idea! But yes, we are up to chapter 5 and I haven't killed him off yet, so all's good!
Can I just say he's a little...intense? I'm up to a - wait, can't tell you. That'd be a spoiler (insert smirk - I mean big grin - I mean sympathetic and very kind smile here)
Day off tomorrow, I'll be hitting the book. I mean keyboard. I'll be hitting the keyboard with my fingers. I mean, I'll be writing. (Geez, it sounded good in my head...)
Wait, that'd be me. Let's start again.
Aaron's story is coming along! Just started chapter 5. If you'd asked me a week ago if I'd get this far, I'd have replied (quite rightly) I have no freakin' idea! But yes, we are up to chapter 5 and I haven't killed him off yet, so all's good!
Can I just say he's a little...intense? I'm up to a - wait, can't tell you. That'd be a spoiler (insert smirk - I mean big grin - I mean sympathetic and very kind smile here)
Day off tomorrow, I'll be hitting the book. I mean keyboard. I'll be hitting the keyboard with my fingers. I mean, I'll be writing. (Geez, it sounded good in my head...)
Writing & Hot Flushes
Writing and hot flushes...and if you thought that meant I was writing steamy sex scenes, you'd be wrong. (and I thought I was the only one with a dirty mind!)
Okay, you'd maybe be right >:-) but let's just split that title in two.
Writing - going well. Burning down the home run, getting ready to leap down the last few steps, call it what you will. I'm on the downward journey - meaning I reckon give it another two to four chapters and I MIGHT be finished Aaron's story!! Then, of course, once I do that it'll be re-reading and editing, but still...
It's cool tonight, 7:38pm Down Under in WA, not hot, not cold, got Sam Smith playing "I'm Not the Only One" and other love songs on the computer, (think Like I'm Gonna Lose You sung by Travis Atreo and War Paint sung by Kelly Clarkson and you get the idea of the playlist I'm writing to). Diet Coke on the desk, all is quiet outside, got the weekend off to write - perfect writing time.
Now the hot flushes. Peri menopause, anyone? Oh Lordy, the hot flushes! And the cold flushes! I kid you not - at night I get the full body hot flushes and spend all night throwing the one blanket on and off, the window sliding open and shut, the cats getting annoyed with me and shooting me glares over their furry shoulders in a silent WILL YOU FREAKIN' STAY STILL!!! To make it worse, during the day I get the hot flushes from the top of my head to my neck, combined sometimes with a cold flush down my arms that produces goosebumps big enough to use as speed humps, and my ears burn. So you get the (unattractive) picture of me.
I was told to try Promensil and assured by some workmates that it works wonders, but takes about 4 weeks to hit the system. I've had one packet and the flushes are burning me up. True, it has only been about 2 weeks. So I was at the chemist today about to buy the 30 tablet packet and happened to catch sight of a big-a***d packet of 90 tablets. So you guessed it - I went for the big-a***d packet.
Here's hoping!
Okay, you'd maybe be right >:-) but let's just split that title in two.
Writing - going well. Burning down the home run, getting ready to leap down the last few steps, call it what you will. I'm on the downward journey - meaning I reckon give it another two to four chapters and I MIGHT be finished Aaron's story!! Then, of course, once I do that it'll be re-reading and editing, but still...
It's cool tonight, 7:38pm Down Under in WA, not hot, not cold, got Sam Smith playing "I'm Not the Only One" and other love songs on the computer, (think Like I'm Gonna Lose You sung by Travis Atreo and War Paint sung by Kelly Clarkson and you get the idea of the playlist I'm writing to). Diet Coke on the desk, all is quiet outside, got the weekend off to write - perfect writing time.
Now the hot flushes. Peri menopause, anyone? Oh Lordy, the hot flushes! And the cold flushes! I kid you not - at night I get the full body hot flushes and spend all night throwing the one blanket on and off, the window sliding open and shut, the cats getting annoyed with me and shooting me glares over their furry shoulders in a silent WILL YOU FREAKIN' STAY STILL!!! To make it worse, during the day I get the hot flushes from the top of my head to my neck, combined sometimes with a cold flush down my arms that produces goosebumps big enough to use as speed humps, and my ears burn. So you get the (unattractive) picture of me.
I was told to try Promensil and assured by some workmates that it works wonders, but takes about 4 weeks to hit the system. I've had one packet and the flushes are burning me up. True, it has only been about 2 weeks. So I was at the chemist today about to buy the 30 tablet packet and happened to catch sight of a big-a***d packet of 90 tablets. So you guessed it - I went for the big-a***d packet.
Here's hoping!
Ryan's Story Progresses
So, a quick update on how Ryan's book is progressing. Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm nearing the middle of it! I know, right? So unexpected. For the last few days it's been unfolding nicely. Mind you, halfway isn't all the way, there's still a distance to go, a story to continue to develop. But it's promising!
On the negative side, the subject is...not nice. Not pleasant. The overall arc is romance, always has been, but the plot line is, well...sobering, I guess is all I can say.
Now I'm finally back at work (yay!), my writing time is cut again, but I keep pecking at it. In fact, I'm writing now at 10:48 in the morning (been at it since 8am,) but have to stop at lunchtime to have something to eat and get ready for work. I'll get home at 10 tonight, then up at 5:30am for an early morning shift - be there by 7am, knock off at 2:30pm if all goes well, then get home, shower and get some more writing hours in before I break to watch Midsummer Murders at 8:30pm. Sorry, have to watch my British Detective TV series!!!
So I'll continue writing, see it pull me along. I'm in one of those mad writing frenzies I get into when the book progresses LOL. I'll keep you posted!
On the negative side, the subject is...not nice. Not pleasant. The overall arc is romance, always has been, but the plot line is, well...sobering, I guess is all I can say.
Now I'm finally back at work (yay!), my writing time is cut again, but I keep pecking at it. In fact, I'm writing now at 10:48 in the morning (been at it since 8am,) but have to stop at lunchtime to have something to eat and get ready for work. I'll get home at 10 tonight, then up at 5:30am for an early morning shift - be there by 7am, knock off at 2:30pm if all goes well, then get home, shower and get some more writing hours in before I break to watch Midsummer Murders at 8:30pm. Sorry, have to watch my British Detective TV series!!!
So I'll continue writing, see it pull me along. I'm in one of those mad writing frenzies I get into when the book progresses LOL. I'll keep you posted!
