Jeff Kohmstedt's Blog, page 2

What's in a name?

I'm on the cusp of revising Comet Becky. I have been for a few weeks now, but there's a giant elephant in the room.

I've had several comments back from beta readers suggesting they think it sounds like Comet Becky takes place in the 90s. Even though characters use the Internet, Facebook, smart phones, and tablet computers, something sounds off. One friend asked, "Have you thought about rewriting Comet Becky as though it was in the same sphere as The Fifth Kraut?"

The Fifth Kraut was set in...

Revising Comet Becky

In the next couple of weeks I hope to get started on a Comet Becky revision. Back in October, I put out a call for beta readers seeking feedback on the story, and I've gotten some really good responses. People told me what they liked and what they didn't, what needs improvement and what confused them. All of it is very helpful!
For those of you who might not remember, here's the back cover of CB:

Jacob Meister is just an ordinary sixteen year-old nerd with a messy life. His parents are divorced...

The Fifth Kraut Sale

You're running to the mall. You're stuck in traffic. Maybe there's a Santa you're just dying to talk to, but the crowds are ENORMOUS! He's not gonna hear how you're dying for a copy of The Fifth Kraut. Well, here's your solution!

Get your Black Friday Kindle copy of TFK today for FREE! That's right. Today, Black Friday (and Saturday), TFK is available for free on Amazon.com. If you're interested in a hard copy, you can also purchase that on Amazon.com, or...

There is a GoodReads.com contest ong...

Sidewalk Dancing Launch Party

I went to my friend's book launch party yesterday, and it was amazing to participate in such a wonderful event. I think you truly get a sense for how many friends someone has when a local gallery is filled to capacity. It was fantastic!


The book is Sidewalk Dancing by Letitia Moffitt. My review of the novel is here.


An event like this is inspiring, but it's also intimidating. Inspiring because it lit a fire in me again to soldier on. I'm working on Comet Becky, and I'm waiting on comments from...

The Great Midwest Book Festival

Well, there is good news out of the midwest this week as The Fifth Kraut received honorable mention in the young adult category at the Great Midwest Book Festival. That was a pleasant surprise for sure. There was some stiff competition with We are Savages and Gadget Girl: The Art of Being Invisible rounding out the winner and runner-up respectively.

This is a great showing for TFK!

Whew! Comet Becky revision done!

That was a surprise.

In August I set a goal of working on Comet Becky and, Bam!, I did it. Back in August, I wrote about how I'd reached a breakthrough. Well, it turns out the trick was revising the story in reverse. By starting with the final chapter and working my way forwards, I was able to get through the Chapter 11 block I'd been facing for months.

Writing a story is the easy part. It really is. Anyone can make up a bunch of stuff and call it a story. Revising all the apples, oranges,...

Who is Ricky Alvarez?

Yesterday’s training called for a two mile warm up, six by 800m with a 400m rest in between, followed by a two-mile cool down.

I’m outside minding my business. I’ve just finished my third 800m on the bike path heading into Savoy, doing my quarter mile rest, when this guy pulls up alongside me.

“Hey, marathoner!” he says cheerfully.
“Um, hey,” I reply.
“Wow, good job!”

Fist bump.

Weird, I think in my head.

“Thanks?”
“You’re doing awesome,” he says.
“What’s your name?”
“`Something’ Alvarez. You?”
“Je...

A breakthrough

This is one of those times where you take a step forward in writing a story that might have major implications to where things are going, and unfortunately, you can't say a damn thing to anybody about it.

Why's that?

Because progress has been made in revising the last chapter.

I've been struggling with Comet Becky for a while. Mostly, it's because I've been hung up with the ending. I had one in mind, and some alpha readers of the first draft gave me some really great feedback. So good, in fact,...

Serving sweat sandwiches

I'm training for the Chicago Marathon (CM). I'd like to say that training for the marathon began on June 23rd, but I'd be lying. I never stop training. I've run basically three to six days a week for the last year and a half. Sure, there was that week when I had sinus surgery where I couldn't run even though I really wanted to. And after I finished the Arizona Rock n'Roll Marathon in January, I gave myself a week off. It was deserved.

I guess what I'm saying is, I know what I'm doing and I kno...

Six weeks

Back in June I wrote about how I was stuck on Chapter 11 in several stories I'm working on. In Comet Becky, I hit a wall on reading through my initial draft. In Ancestor Sword, I slapped right into too much work to overcome.

I wish I had good news that I've broken through the other side of that writer's block, but I can't. Comet Becky still sits there; although, I've opened the file every now and then only to read a chapter and get disappointed with myself over how much work needs to be done....