Kim Fielding's Blog, page 88
December 15, 2011
November 29, 2011
Cool!
Stasis is still only 99 cents on Kindle. Makes a great holiday gift. ;-)
November 24, 2011
Climbing out of the cave
Two days ago I finished the first draft of my NaNo novel, which will be the third book in the Stasis trilogy. My word count is rougly 70,000. Not bad for three weeks. I read it over yesterday and didn't hate it, which is good; now it's in my wonderful editor's hands and we'll see what she thinks of it.
Last weekend my family paid a visit to Moaning Cavern, an enormous cave in the Sierra Nevada foothills. To explore the cave you walk down 234 steps. The topmost part of the stairway was blasted into the rock by miners who decided they could make more money off tourists than gold. But most of the steps are part of a narrow spiral stairway that was built in 1922 from the wreck of a WWI battleship. They don't tell you that bit until you're at the bottom, however; the only way out then is to climb back up those 234 steps.
It occurs to me that writing a novel is a lot like ascending that stairway. You begin energetically enough, but somewhere near the middle you're getting more and more exhausted and it's beginning to seem like you'll never reach the top. To make things worse, people are already bounding ahead of you (in this case, those people were my daughters, who have lots more energy than I do). But you just continue to rise, step after step after step, because that's the only way. And suddenly you realize that you're almost there, and you haul yourself up those last bunch of feet. And then you're at the top. Worn out, needing a break maybe, but you made it. And that's a really exhilarating feeling.
I am pleased to be out in the sunlight once again. Now I can work on the edits for my m/m romance novel. I haven't thought yet of a good metaphor for the revision process.
Last weekend my family paid a visit to Moaning Cavern, an enormous cave in the Sierra Nevada foothills. To explore the cave you walk down 234 steps. The topmost part of the stairway was blasted into the rock by miners who decided they could make more money off tourists than gold. But most of the steps are part of a narrow spiral stairway that was built in 1922 from the wreck of a WWI battleship. They don't tell you that bit until you're at the bottom, however; the only way out then is to climb back up those 234 steps.
It occurs to me that writing a novel is a lot like ascending that stairway. You begin energetically enough, but somewhere near the middle you're getting more and more exhausted and it's beginning to seem like you'll never reach the top. To make things worse, people are already bounding ahead of you (in this case, those people were my daughters, who have lots more energy than I do). But you just continue to rise, step after step after step, because that's the only way. And suddenly you realize that you're almost there, and you haul yourself up those last bunch of feet. And then you're at the top. Worn out, needing a break maybe, but you made it. And that's a really exhilarating feeling.
I am pleased to be out in the sunlight once again. Now I can work on the edits for my m/m romance novel. I haven't thought yet of a good metaphor for the revision process.
November 15, 2011
Autographed Kindle books
There is now, apparently, a way to get author autographs for your Kindle books. If you'd like to have Stasis or Flux signed, just click here: Kindlegraph.
November 13, 2011
My Muse Loves NaNo
I find deadlines very, very inspiring. In fact, it's pretty fair to say that nothing in my life gets done if it doesn't have a deadline. I also enjoy challenges and graphs and charts. So it's no surprise, perhaps, that NaNoWriMo sends my muse into high gear.
Luckily, this year is no exception. My third NaNo novel, the sequel to Stasis and Flux, is currently over 41,000 words. Not bad for 13 days. It's also very clear that the book will not be finished at 50k words. Stasis and Flux are each around 67k; I have no idea where this one will end up. It depends on my muse, I guess.
Sometimes I picture my muse as a whip-weilding dominatrix, yelling "Write! Write more!" at me. She doesn't let me be. Even as I'm writing this novel, I have a file going with ideas for a half dozen others.
Don't get me wrong--I am extremely grateful for my muse. It's too bad she doesn't stoop to grading papers or writing academic stuff.
Luckily, this year is no exception. My third NaNo novel, the sequel to Stasis and Flux, is currently over 41,000 words. Not bad for 13 days. It's also very clear that the book will not be finished at 50k words. Stasis and Flux are each around 67k; I have no idea where this one will end up. It depends on my muse, I guess.
Sometimes I picture my muse as a whip-weilding dominatrix, yelling "Write! Write more!" at me. She doesn't let me be. Even as I'm writing this novel, I have a file going with ideas for a half dozen others.
Don't get me wrong--I am extremely grateful for my muse. It's too bad she doesn't stoop to grading papers or writing academic stuff.
November 6, 2011
Stasis on Sale
In celebration of NaNoWriMo, and in hopes that new readers will decide to give my books a try, the price of my first novel, Stasis, in Kindle format has been dropped to 99 cents.
I originally wrote Stasis during NaNoWriMo 2009. In 2010, I wrote the sequel, Flux, which is also available in print and Kindle versions. And I'm now in the midst of writing the third in the trilogy.
I donate 100% of my royalties to Doctors Without Borders. So maybe you'll give Stasis a try, and if you like it, read Flux and spread the word.
I originally wrote Stasis during NaNoWriMo 2009. In 2010, I wrote the sequel, Flux, which is also available in print and Kindle versions. And I'm now in the midst of writing the third in the trilogy.
I donate 100% of my royalties to Doctors Without Borders. So maybe you'll give Stasis a try, and if you like it, read Flux and spread the word.
November 4, 2011
NaNoWriMo
The first time I did NaNoWriMo, way back in ought nine, I wasn't at all sure I'd be successful. I was thrilled when I was. Last year I was traveling for 14 days in November, but still managed to finish Flux ahead of schedule and with a word count of 67,000. So I should be confident that I'll win again this year, but still I find myself writing ahead, because unless I'm well ahead of my word count goals I worry that I won't make it. As if the world will stop spinning if I don't reach 50k by November 30.
Anyway, I am currently at about 11,500 words and having to forcibly tear myself away from the keyboard. It's great fun to visit again with Miner and Ennek--who, of course, have already found themselves in trouble. At this point, I have a pretty good idea of what kinds of other troubles they'll face and only a vague idea how they'll fix things. I'm sure they'll manage somehow.
I just love logging into the NaNo page and updating my word count and looking at the the chart and all the fascinating stats. :-)
Anyway, I am currently at about 11,500 words and having to forcibly tear myself away from the keyboard. It's great fun to visit again with Miner and Ennek--who, of course, have already found themselves in trouble. At this point, I have a pretty good idea of what kinds of other troubles they'll face and only a vague idea how they'll fix things. I'm sure they'll manage somehow.
I just love logging into the NaNo page and updating my word count and looking at the the chart and all the fascinating stats. :-)
October 25, 2011
Where I write
I have a full-time (sometimes more than full-time) job, 2 kids, etc.
I don't know where other people write. I would guess that a lot of writers, like me, take their writing opportunities where they come.
Where I would choose to write: Hotel rooms. I find them very productive and with few distractions. And they have room service.
Where I usually write: On my laptop at the kitchen table.
Best place I've ever written: Ship's library on a cruise ship off Mexico, with dolphins cavorting outside the window. That''s where I finished Flux.
Other places I've written: cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, doctors' and dentists' offices, my office at work, my office at home, planes, trains, kids' gymnastics classes, during kids' slumber party, kids' school, waiting for a spelling bee to begin, sitting on a park bench while husband dirt bikes in the desert, sitting in parked SUV, airports, during meetings (shh! Don't tell anyone!), while my students are taking exams, balconies, in a lighthouse keeper's house, outside the San Francisco Ferry Building, on top of a mountain, 5 US states plus Washington DC, 12 countries.
I don't know where other people write. I would guess that a lot of writers, like me, take their writing opportunities where they come.
Where I would choose to write: Hotel rooms. I find them very productive and with few distractions. And they have room service.
Where I usually write: On my laptop at the kitchen table.
Best place I've ever written: Ship's library on a cruise ship off Mexico, with dolphins cavorting outside the window. That''s where I finished Flux.
Other places I've written: cafes, coffee shops, restaurants, doctors' and dentists' offices, my office at work, my office at home, planes, trains, kids' gymnastics classes, during kids' slumber party, kids' school, waiting for a spelling bee to begin, sitting on a park bench while husband dirt bikes in the desert, sitting in parked SUV, airports, during meetings (shh! Don't tell anyone!), while my students are taking exams, balconies, in a lighthouse keeper's house, outside the San Francisco Ferry Building, on top of a mountain, 5 US states plus Washington DC, 12 countries.
October 24, 2011
Getting things done
This will be my third NaNoWriMo year and my anticipation is high! I've been plotting away in my head and cursing the fact that November 1 falls on a Tuesday, one of my busiest days at work.
In preparation for NaNo, I've had a long to-do list in October, and I'm pleased to say that most of that list has been accomplished. Just yesterday I sent my wonderful editor a complete draft of the romance novel I mentioned in my last post. She will do her magic with it so that I can revisit the manuscript in December and then see about getting it published.
So now I'm just about ready for Miner and Ennek's further adventures, and I'm glad. I've missed the guys.
In preparation for NaNo, I've had a long to-do list in October, and I'm pleased to say that most of that list has been accomplished. Just yesterday I sent my wonderful editor a complete draft of the romance novel I mentioned in my last post. She will do her magic with it so that I can revisit the manuscript in December and then see about getting it published.
So now I'm just about ready for Miner and Ennek's further adventures, and I'm glad. I've missed the guys.
October 13, 2011
Priorities
I am about to begin writing the last chapter in the romance novel I alluded to in my previous post. It's already mostly written in my head. But while my fingers are itching and my muse is jumping up and down, I have a long list of other--way less fun--work that must be done first.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could put the rest of your life on hold when you really, really want to write?
Wouldn't it be nice if you could put the rest of your life on hold when you really, really want to write?
