J.R. Pearse Nelson's Blog, page 13
January 22, 2014
Mid-Week Update: Good Week So Far
When I last checked in I was down to two scenes left to write (or rewrite) in Chaos Calling.
My current goals are:
-Get up at 5 three days a week, walk the dog and write before the kids get up.
-Write 5,000 words of new fiction each week.
-Finish the first draft of Chaos Calling, have it printed, and complete paper edits by mid-February.
I've rocked it so far since Sunday. With sick kids/husband, I had to sneak out to a restaurant on Sunday evening for happy hour to get my writing done. Tough life, huh? :) Wrote 1,100 words in between beers and snacks. It was super.
Monday was a holiday, but I still did the "rise and write" routine. Then my parents took the kids for a few hours in the middle of the day, and I was able to really tackle the novel, with a quiet house. Something wasn't working at the end, and I think that's why finishing this novel has taken me so long…but it took getting all of the rough stuff down on the page before I could tell what was wrong and how to fix it. Oh, bother! I went from needing to complete two scenes, through slight rewrites of three other scenes, and ended up Monday with 1,200 new words written. However, I finished the day needing to complete three scenes. Argh! But it's more progress than it seems, because it means this draft will actually be clean -- no major rewrites facing me as I head into editing. That's a coup. Seriously. And I'll take it. :)
Today I'm staying home with sick kids (again). I did the "rise and write" thing, and got in 700 words before I had to crack my work laptop and get the minimum editing tasks accomplished for those folks. I only need one to two hundred more words on the current scene, and then I'll be back to two scenes to complete…where I started the week.
Being 3,000 into my weekly 5,000 goal feels great, though. And I've already done my "rise and write" two out of three times. YES! :)
How are you doing with your writing (and/or life) goals as the new year continues? Did you know we're through 6% of 2014 already? lol
My current goals are:
-Get up at 5 three days a week, walk the dog and write before the kids get up.
-Write 5,000 words of new fiction each week.
-Finish the first draft of Chaos Calling, have it printed, and complete paper edits by mid-February.
I've rocked it so far since Sunday. With sick kids/husband, I had to sneak out to a restaurant on Sunday evening for happy hour to get my writing done. Tough life, huh? :) Wrote 1,100 words in between beers and snacks. It was super.
Monday was a holiday, but I still did the "rise and write" routine. Then my parents took the kids for a few hours in the middle of the day, and I was able to really tackle the novel, with a quiet house. Something wasn't working at the end, and I think that's why finishing this novel has taken me so long…but it took getting all of the rough stuff down on the page before I could tell what was wrong and how to fix it. Oh, bother! I went from needing to complete two scenes, through slight rewrites of three other scenes, and ended up Monday with 1,200 new words written. However, I finished the day needing to complete three scenes. Argh! But it's more progress than it seems, because it means this draft will actually be clean -- no major rewrites facing me as I head into editing. That's a coup. Seriously. And I'll take it. :)
Today I'm staying home with sick kids (again). I did the "rise and write" thing, and got in 700 words before I had to crack my work laptop and get the minimum editing tasks accomplished for those folks. I only need one to two hundred more words on the current scene, and then I'll be back to two scenes to complete…where I started the week.
Being 3,000 into my weekly 5,000 goal feels great, though. And I've already done my "rise and write" two out of three times. YES! :)
How are you doing with your writing (and/or life) goals as the new year continues? Did you know we're through 6% of 2014 already? lol
January 19, 2014
Sunday Update: Nearly There! (On One More Book)
Writing goals are so funny. My husband stopped trying to keep track of the stages of all my projects long ago….not for a reason of disinterest, but because there are so many STEPS to completing a book. When I cheer "I'm DONE!" or "Finished!" he assumes I'm about to hit the publish button….but it's usually one of the previous steps I'm congratulating myself about. :)
Let's see…there's:
Concept development
Outlining
FIRST DRAFT (aka -- the ACTUAL writing)
Paper edit
Incorporating paper edits (more ACTUAL writing)
The Editor
Incorporating The Editor's edits (more ACTUAL writing)
Beta Readers
Incorporating Beta Reader edits/comments
Final formatting run through
….and finally PUBLISH
The very cool thing is that over the years of practice I've gotten speedier at each and every stage. I trust my writer self a lot more now, but I'm also more brutal with her -- after all, the point has changed.
When I began, the point was to prove to myself I could finish a book, a publishable, fun to read book. I've done that repeatedly over the past couple of years, and that's no longer the point.
Now the idea is to finish a story with a minimum of futzing around, and move on to the next (in my list of well over 50 tales I want to tell….and growing).
On the other hand, I realized late in 2013 that I had to appreciate and enjoy the ACT OF WRITING more: that remains a major reason I pursue all of these tales, the challenge and exhilaration of setting the words of a story to the page. (Go back to my list above and note the stages at which this happens…I've discovered they're stages I'm constantly seeking and want to stay in ALL the time…which is one of the reasons for the many projects; I'm always WRITING something.)
How do I accomplish both goals? Improved efficiency and enjoyment of the craft -- are they compatible? Yes. Here's how I'll do it: In 2014 I'll reclaim my morning writing from the days prior to babies. There was a time when I began my day in the way I chose. When you get your dream, your big life goal, accomplished first thing in the morning, it opens up all sorts of space in the mind for other things. I'm excited about both the practice and the ramifications, but now I have to get into the swing of it.
One time this week I rose at 5, walked the dog, poured a cup of coffee, and got in 500 words before the kids woke up. My goal is three days a week at this practice (two more days are in-office work days, and my office is a 60-mile commute away so I get out the door ASAP; and I'm not getting up uber early on the weekends).
My three days of rising early and writing won't replace the writing I fit in between things in 10 and 15 minute sprints (the way I've accomplished much of my writing while raising babies) or writing in the evenings. But the desire to get more of my writing done has finally started to outweigh the desire for more sleep…it should be a productive year.
I wrote just under 2,800 words this week (getting un-stuck on this book in the process) and finished one of the three remaining scenes in Chaos Calling, the next novel I'll publish. I plan to write at least 2,000 more in the next two days as I write the remaining two scenes.
This week's goals:
-Rise early and write (after walking the dog) Monday, Thursday & Friday
-Write at least 5,000 new words of fiction
-Finish the first draft of Chaos Calling, have it printed, and begin editing -- FAST! I want the paper edit completed in two to three weeks. This is an area where I've let manuscripts just hang out in the past, and that can't happen any more. This baby needs to be free. :)
Best of luck to my writer friends. Thanks for all of your support, and for your tolerance as I've been fairly quiet, working things out in my own mind. ROWers are a great crew. Best of luck this week!
Let's see…there's:
Concept development
Outlining
FIRST DRAFT (aka -- the ACTUAL writing)
Paper edit
Incorporating paper edits (more ACTUAL writing)
The Editor
Incorporating The Editor's edits (more ACTUAL writing)
Beta Readers
Incorporating Beta Reader edits/comments
Final formatting run through
….and finally PUBLISH
The very cool thing is that over the years of practice I've gotten speedier at each and every stage. I trust my writer self a lot more now, but I'm also more brutal with her -- after all, the point has changed.
When I began, the point was to prove to myself I could finish a book, a publishable, fun to read book. I've done that repeatedly over the past couple of years, and that's no longer the point.
Now the idea is to finish a story with a minimum of futzing around, and move on to the next (in my list of well over 50 tales I want to tell….and growing).
On the other hand, I realized late in 2013 that I had to appreciate and enjoy the ACT OF WRITING more: that remains a major reason I pursue all of these tales, the challenge and exhilaration of setting the words of a story to the page. (Go back to my list above and note the stages at which this happens…I've discovered they're stages I'm constantly seeking and want to stay in ALL the time…which is one of the reasons for the many projects; I'm always WRITING something.)
How do I accomplish both goals? Improved efficiency and enjoyment of the craft -- are they compatible? Yes. Here's how I'll do it: In 2014 I'll reclaim my morning writing from the days prior to babies. There was a time when I began my day in the way I chose. When you get your dream, your big life goal, accomplished first thing in the morning, it opens up all sorts of space in the mind for other things. I'm excited about both the practice and the ramifications, but now I have to get into the swing of it.
One time this week I rose at 5, walked the dog, poured a cup of coffee, and got in 500 words before the kids woke up. My goal is three days a week at this practice (two more days are in-office work days, and my office is a 60-mile commute away so I get out the door ASAP; and I'm not getting up uber early on the weekends).
My three days of rising early and writing won't replace the writing I fit in between things in 10 and 15 minute sprints (the way I've accomplished much of my writing while raising babies) or writing in the evenings. But the desire to get more of my writing done has finally started to outweigh the desire for more sleep…it should be a productive year.
I wrote just under 2,800 words this week (getting un-stuck on this book in the process) and finished one of the three remaining scenes in Chaos Calling, the next novel I'll publish. I plan to write at least 2,000 more in the next two days as I write the remaining two scenes.
This week's goals:
-Rise early and write (after walking the dog) Monday, Thursday & Friday
-Write at least 5,000 new words of fiction
-Finish the first draft of Chaos Calling, have it printed, and begin editing -- FAST! I want the paper edit completed in two to three weeks. This is an area where I've let manuscripts just hang out in the past, and that can't happen any more. This baby needs to be free. :)
Best of luck to my writer friends. Thanks for all of your support, and for your tolerance as I've been fairly quiet, working things out in my own mind. ROWers are a great crew. Best of luck this week!
January 6, 2014
Round of Words Goals for Winter 2014
Exciting times! Winter has arrived. :)
My goals for this round are very simple. Write 5,000 words of new fiction per week, and edit for two one-hour blocks each week.
I'm hoping to exceed that editing goal, because I'd like to have Chaos Calling, the sequel to my fantasy novel Queen Witch, published by April. That's ambitious with my history when it comes to editing novels. But I'm trying to get over my perfectionism. I've come to believe it doesn't actually help a story to rewrite a lot -- at least not once you've had sufficient practice with crafting stories. I actually completely messed up my first novel in the editing process, and it's still sitting in a box today.
Good books come from writers who know story. Story is the root of what touches people in fiction.
My first drafts are getting better and better. Trusting that is hard. And it's also hard to let go of so many years of the editing mind-set. (I edit as part of my day job and believe firmly in the value of multiple sets of eyes.) However, my best fiction is written fast, flowing from my creative side with my subconscious piping up and adding crucial tidbits I'd never know to employ. At times I feel almost meditative, euphoric, as the words just come. If you haven't gotten to this feeling in your writing yet, keep practicing, because it will happen if you train your brain. Let go of critical voice, tune out your internal editor, and tune into the flow of story.
Okay, enough about my developing writing philosophy. :)
I have about 6,000 to 8,000 words to add to Chaos Calling before it's ready for my editing side. That should take me about two weeks (because I always play around with other stories during the week; I won't lie and say my whole 5k will go to the major thing I'm working on). At that point everything will be there, every scene complete. Editing will consist of activating language, spotting typos, adding in anything I need to look up from past books or elsewhere, checking transitions, and possibly jazzing up the ending, if needed.
After Chaos Calling is complete, my major writing project starting in February is Shield!!! The fifth and final book in my Children of the Sidhe fantasy romance series. I can't wait to dig into this story -- it's been waiting a long time! I hope to have the first draft complete by the end of March.
And then I'll take on The Unseen Mirror, the final book after Chaos Calling.
In recent months I haven't felt up to tackling the big stories; birthdays, holidays, and two deaths in the family have meant a roller-coaster ride. But I'm through the swinging gate and on to better things, I'm sure. Meanwhile, I started several short stories just for fun that I will publish over the coming year, as they're ready. Just for fun.
Best of luck with your winter writing, fellow writers and ROWers!
My goals for this round are very simple. Write 5,000 words of new fiction per week, and edit for two one-hour blocks each week.
I'm hoping to exceed that editing goal, because I'd like to have Chaos Calling, the sequel to my fantasy novel Queen Witch, published by April. That's ambitious with my history when it comes to editing novels. But I'm trying to get over my perfectionism. I've come to believe it doesn't actually help a story to rewrite a lot -- at least not once you've had sufficient practice with crafting stories. I actually completely messed up my first novel in the editing process, and it's still sitting in a box today.
Good books come from writers who know story. Story is the root of what touches people in fiction.
My first drafts are getting better and better. Trusting that is hard. And it's also hard to let go of so many years of the editing mind-set. (I edit as part of my day job and believe firmly in the value of multiple sets of eyes.) However, my best fiction is written fast, flowing from my creative side with my subconscious piping up and adding crucial tidbits I'd never know to employ. At times I feel almost meditative, euphoric, as the words just come. If you haven't gotten to this feeling in your writing yet, keep practicing, because it will happen if you train your brain. Let go of critical voice, tune out your internal editor, and tune into the flow of story.
Okay, enough about my developing writing philosophy. :)
I have about 6,000 to 8,000 words to add to Chaos Calling before it's ready for my editing side. That should take me about two weeks (because I always play around with other stories during the week; I won't lie and say my whole 5k will go to the major thing I'm working on). At that point everything will be there, every scene complete. Editing will consist of activating language, spotting typos, adding in anything I need to look up from past books or elsewhere, checking transitions, and possibly jazzing up the ending, if needed.
After Chaos Calling is complete, my major writing project starting in February is Shield!!! The fifth and final book in my Children of the Sidhe fantasy romance series. I can't wait to dig into this story -- it's been waiting a long time! I hope to have the first draft complete by the end of March.
And then I'll take on The Unseen Mirror, the final book after Chaos Calling.
In recent months I haven't felt up to tackling the big stories; birthdays, holidays, and two deaths in the family have meant a roller-coaster ride. But I'm through the swinging gate and on to better things, I'm sure. Meanwhile, I started several short stories just for fun that I will publish over the coming year, as they're ready. Just for fun.
Best of luck with your winter writing, fellow writers and ROWers!
December 7, 2013
Gifts for Girls
If you have a little lady between the ages of 3 and 6 on your Christmas list, I have you covered with a few gift ideas in this post. I've been thinking about shopping for this age group a lot (and time is short, so I need to quit thinking and actually SHOP. lol). My two daughters are ages 3 and just about 5, and I have several nieces ranging from 3 to 6. Not to mention two nephews, and most of these ideas would work for them, too. It's such a fun age!
Vigorous Indoor Play
It's winter time. That means too much time to kill indoors. While kids need to play outside no matter the season, it's obviously less common in winter. Luckily there are plenty of fun alternatives for energy busting play inside.
Hop balls.
Toddler bowling. This year monster bowling looks super fun, but we already have a bowling set.
Learning Resources floor mat games.
Encouraging Little Smarties
Try to stay away from electronic gifts -- kids get FAR too much screen time with the variety of gadgets already in the household. Their senses and brains need stimulation they can touch and manipulate.
Bob Books and other early reading books. Bob Books are great because they're tiny, bite size books that exercise a certain sound or word group -- very much first reader books. But kids like variety in their reading selection, so go crazy.
Activity books. Coloring is awesome. But at about 4 connect the dots and color by number are great additions. Maps, matching activities, and writing activities can keep a kiddo occupied, and learning, on a rainy winter afternoon.
Board games and other games. Hey, we can have fun and learn at the same time, you know. Board games are a great chance to connect with kids and help them learn without seeming teachy and preachy. Here are some GREAT ones. The Spot It! games, the Ladybug Game, and of course the classics like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders. All great stuff! :)
Imagination, Imagination, Imagination
Kids are super at making the most of the tools they have. Stimulate their imaginations with some props and you'll be surprised at the variety of games they make up. It's a great chance for them to stretch their limits and if they're playing in a group, a great opportunity to develop social skills. Imagining and making up rules together is fabulous for growing brains.
Dress up stuff. So many options for girls in this area, from fairy wings to princess dresses. If you can find outside the box outfits that's even better; role playing and role creating is the key to this sort of play. And accessories are always in.
Craft supplies. Anything. And everything. At 3 they seem to like to cut or take apart whatever you give them and re-assemble to their own nifty designs. At 4 and 5 they take a more orderly approach, but WOW do they come up with some cool stuff when they have a bunch of supplies to go wild with. We go multimedia, using colored glues, markers, crayon, stickers, cotton balls, colored paper….and creating.
Melissa and Doug products….they're just the best. Each of their toys is an intriguing START, that kids can make their own. Try out the Latches Board for a 3 year old. On the sticker side, Play House Reusable Sticker Pad, Make a Face Sticker Pad, and the Jewelry and Nails Sticker Pad have been some of our favorites. But as I wrote this I saw several I added to my own shopping cart…eek! New toys! (Sorry, geeking out for a moment. I love to play. :))
Okay, so I've let you in on some of the fun stuff we play with at my place, and some stuff on my Christmas list for nieces and nephews. Have a blast!! And a wonderful holiday season!
Vigorous Indoor Play
It's winter time. That means too much time to kill indoors. While kids need to play outside no matter the season, it's obviously less common in winter. Luckily there are plenty of fun alternatives for energy busting play inside.
Hop balls.
Toddler bowling. This year monster bowling looks super fun, but we already have a bowling set.
Learning Resources floor mat games.
Encouraging Little Smarties
Try to stay away from electronic gifts -- kids get FAR too much screen time with the variety of gadgets already in the household. Their senses and brains need stimulation they can touch and manipulate.
Bob Books and other early reading books. Bob Books are great because they're tiny, bite size books that exercise a certain sound or word group -- very much first reader books. But kids like variety in their reading selection, so go crazy.
Activity books. Coloring is awesome. But at about 4 connect the dots and color by number are great additions. Maps, matching activities, and writing activities can keep a kiddo occupied, and learning, on a rainy winter afternoon.
Board games and other games. Hey, we can have fun and learn at the same time, you know. Board games are a great chance to connect with kids and help them learn without seeming teachy and preachy. Here are some GREAT ones. The Spot It! games, the Ladybug Game, and of course the classics like Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders. All great stuff! :)
Imagination, Imagination, Imagination
Kids are super at making the most of the tools they have. Stimulate their imaginations with some props and you'll be surprised at the variety of games they make up. It's a great chance for them to stretch their limits and if they're playing in a group, a great opportunity to develop social skills. Imagining and making up rules together is fabulous for growing brains.
Dress up stuff. So many options for girls in this area, from fairy wings to princess dresses. If you can find outside the box outfits that's even better; role playing and role creating is the key to this sort of play. And accessories are always in.
Craft supplies. Anything. And everything. At 3 they seem to like to cut or take apart whatever you give them and re-assemble to their own nifty designs. At 4 and 5 they take a more orderly approach, but WOW do they come up with some cool stuff when they have a bunch of supplies to go wild with. We go multimedia, using colored glues, markers, crayon, stickers, cotton balls, colored paper….and creating.
Melissa and Doug products….they're just the best. Each of their toys is an intriguing START, that kids can make their own. Try out the Latches Board for a 3 year old. On the sticker side, Play House Reusable Sticker Pad, Make a Face Sticker Pad, and the Jewelry and Nails Sticker Pad have been some of our favorites. But as I wrote this I saw several I added to my own shopping cart…eek! New toys! (Sorry, geeking out for a moment. I love to play. :))
Okay, so I've let you in on some of the fun stuff we play with at my place, and some stuff on my Christmas list for nieces and nephews. Have a blast!! And a wonderful holiday season!
December 4, 2013
Mid-Week Update: Let's Call it a Holiday Flop
It's been a rough couple of weeks. We celebrated two birthdays (hubby & younger daughter) at the beginning of November, took a trip to the Oregon coast with a bunch of family for my father's 60th -- all happy stuff, but busy. And then the day after we got home my grandmother (Dad's mom) passed away. Since then we've had Thanksgiving and a funeral. Next up is the Christmas stretch… things are very hectic, and life a little overwhelming at the moment.
I've done some writing, but on projects far enough in the future that I'm not really talking about them. Definitely not making my goal of 4,000 words a week right now. I do hope to finish Chaos Calling over the next couple of weeks, but I need a couple of solid blocks of focused time to accomplish that, and they are SERIOUSLY LACKING at this point. I'll get there!
I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Let's remember some cheer and to treat our fellow humans well over the coming weeks -- and beyond!
I've done some writing, but on projects far enough in the future that I'm not really talking about them. Definitely not making my goal of 4,000 words a week right now. I do hope to finish Chaos Calling over the next couple of weeks, but I need a couple of solid blocks of focused time to accomplish that, and they are SERIOUSLY LACKING at this point. I'll get there!
I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Let's remember some cheer and to treat our fellow humans well over the coming weeks -- and beyond!
November 21, 2013
Neko Case Continues to Delight
Few artists can reach into my chest and hold my heart in their hands -- but Neko Case seems to get in there repeatedly. I've been a fan for many years. I even saw Neko in concert (in the intimate setting of the Crystal Ballroom in Portland) while pregnant with daughter number two; a cherished moment knowing my tiny one was experiencing this beautiful voice, this intense and radiant spirit.
I adore Neko always, and she continues to evolve and delight me.
I've been listening to this new song on repeat. Night Still Comes -- from her recent album, The Worst Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You. (aka one of the longest album titles in history. Ha! Probably not.)
I adore Neko always, and she continues to evolve and delight me.
I've been listening to this new song on repeat. Night Still Comes -- from her recent album, The Worst Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You. (aka one of the longest album titles in history. Ha! Probably not.)
November 13, 2013
Indie Life: Indie Author Conundrums
Welcome to another month with Indie Life, where we take an opportunity to reach out to other indie authors sharing tips, advice, encouragement -- and anything else that comes to mind related to life as an independent author. If you'd like to join, visit the Indelibles Indie Life page.
If anyone's told you the indie life is filled with heap upon heap of decisions to be made, they weren't kidding. If you haven't published a book, you can bet you're not prepared for the multitude of items you'll add to and check off your to-do list. But what about those author conundrums, when it seems there's no right answer -- and in fact, no LOGICAL answer to be had?
For instance: I experimented with KDP Select for my Children of the Sidhe fantasy romances this year, but I'm in the process of pulling my books out. Exclusivity doesn't really appeal to me, and the beneits weren't worth having my books unavailable elsewhere. Books one and two are done and I'm in the process of re-uploading to all retailers. However, book three is still listed with KDP Select -- exclusive to Amazon -- until December 20th. Meanwhile, I just published book four in the series yesterday. Author Conundrum #1: Do I publish book four EVERYWHERE, like books one and two, even though book three won't be available outside of Amazon until Christmas?
(My preliminary decision on this is to wait. Thanks to hubby for listening to me whine about it until he decided to throw caution to the wind and give me his 2 cents.)
And another example, this one completely different:I'm almost done writing the second novel in my Foulweather Twins fantasy series. It's written in first person -- that's how I planned and envisioned it for years before I started writing. Of course, as I've written, new points of view have slammed me in the face with their own stories. When readers like a series they always want more, and these additional stories would enrich the world I've created with Foulweather Twins...Author Conundrum #2: Once a first-person viewpoint in a world is established, is it possible to tell stories outside that viewpoint within the same world? Is it completely disjointed to have those other viewpoints be third person? Should I make additional viewpoints first person? Should I avoid the confusion entirely?
The first conundrum I presented is very much about the business of being an "author entrepreneur", planning publication and promotion opportunities, etc. The second conundrum is completely a writer concern. Sure, there's a marketing aspect, but the part that bugs me is the incongruity -- it's an artist concern, not really a business concern.
These conundrums illustrate how many trains of thought and chains of action we have to keep in progress as independent authors. Of course, if you have advice for me, I'd be happy to hear it in the comments. :)
If anyone's told you the indie life is filled with heap upon heap of decisions to be made, they weren't kidding. If you haven't published a book, you can bet you're not prepared for the multitude of items you'll add to and check off your to-do list. But what about those author conundrums, when it seems there's no right answer -- and in fact, no LOGICAL answer to be had?
For instance: I experimented with KDP Select for my Children of the Sidhe fantasy romances this year, but I'm in the process of pulling my books out. Exclusivity doesn't really appeal to me, and the beneits weren't worth having my books unavailable elsewhere. Books one and two are done and I'm in the process of re-uploading to all retailers. However, book three is still listed with KDP Select -- exclusive to Amazon -- until December 20th. Meanwhile, I just published book four in the series yesterday. Author Conundrum #1: Do I publish book four EVERYWHERE, like books one and two, even though book three won't be available outside of Amazon until Christmas?
(My preliminary decision on this is to wait. Thanks to hubby for listening to me whine about it until he decided to throw caution to the wind and give me his 2 cents.)
And another example, this one completely different:I'm almost done writing the second novel in my Foulweather Twins fantasy series. It's written in first person -- that's how I planned and envisioned it for years before I started writing. Of course, as I've written, new points of view have slammed me in the face with their own stories. When readers like a series they always want more, and these additional stories would enrich the world I've created with Foulweather Twins...Author Conundrum #2: Once a first-person viewpoint in a world is established, is it possible to tell stories outside that viewpoint within the same world? Is it completely disjointed to have those other viewpoints be third person? Should I make additional viewpoints first person? Should I avoid the confusion entirely?
The first conundrum I presented is very much about the business of being an "author entrepreneur", planning publication and promotion opportunities, etc. The second conundrum is completely a writer concern. Sure, there's a marketing aspect, but the part that bugs me is the incongruity -- it's an artist concern, not really a business concern.
These conundrums illustrate how many trains of thought and chains of action we have to keep in progress as independent authors. Of course, if you have advice for me, I'd be happy to hear it in the comments. :)
Mid-Week Update: Big Happenings
It's been a big couple of weeks here. I have progress to report in a bunch of areas.
One of my goals this round was to publish Descent, the fourth Children of the Sidhe fantasy romance book. I'm happy to report that it's done! Out there in the world! Or on Amazon at least. Book three is still exclusive to Amazon...so publishing book four elsewhere is also on hold at the moment. Fun authory decisions.
I'm writing the novel Chaos Calling again. I don't like measuring in word count right now, because I'm so close to finishing that I'm doing some cleaning up along the way...so I'm spending more time on it than my word count shows. I added 1,000 words this week. I also hand-wrote a peculiar little scene while coloring with my kids one night. I love how differently my brain works when I'm holding a pen (or a crayon, in this case). Sometimes if I can come at a difficult scene in an "out of the box" way, I have a break through. That isn't in my word count, because it isn't in the manuscript yet. I'll add to it as I incorporate it into my draft.
In another coloring session with the kids, I drew out a mind-map of Shield, the fifth and final Children of the Sidhe romance. Once again, I wasn't expecting to accomplish anything -- I was just playing around -- but I learned a few things that will help me in a couple of weeks when I start writing the book. I actually wrote the bare bones of the opening scenes with each character this week, too, for about another 1,000 words.
So in total I wrote about 2,000 words in the past week, instead of my goal of 4,000. However, since I both published a book and took care of a bunch of peripheral business stuff (did you notice the new blog look?), I've essentially cleared the mental deck for a solid final five weeks of this round. I will finish my first draft of Chaos Calling in the next couple of weeks, and I hope to have Shield drafted by the new year. Sweeeet!
ROW on, people. Have a great one. Let me know how your goals are progressing in the comments. :)
One of my goals this round was to publish Descent, the fourth Children of the Sidhe fantasy romance book. I'm happy to report that it's done! Out there in the world! Or on Amazon at least. Book three is still exclusive to Amazon...so publishing book four elsewhere is also on hold at the moment. Fun authory decisions.
I'm writing the novel Chaos Calling again. I don't like measuring in word count right now, because I'm so close to finishing that I'm doing some cleaning up along the way...so I'm spending more time on it than my word count shows. I added 1,000 words this week. I also hand-wrote a peculiar little scene while coloring with my kids one night. I love how differently my brain works when I'm holding a pen (or a crayon, in this case). Sometimes if I can come at a difficult scene in an "out of the box" way, I have a break through. That isn't in my word count, because it isn't in the manuscript yet. I'll add to it as I incorporate it into my draft.
In another coloring session with the kids, I drew out a mind-map of Shield, the fifth and final Children of the Sidhe romance. Once again, I wasn't expecting to accomplish anything -- I was just playing around -- but I learned a few things that will help me in a couple of weeks when I start writing the book. I actually wrote the bare bones of the opening scenes with each character this week, too, for about another 1,000 words.
So in total I wrote about 2,000 words in the past week, instead of my goal of 4,000. However, since I both published a book and took care of a bunch of peripheral business stuff (did you notice the new blog look?), I've essentially cleared the mental deck for a solid final five weeks of this round. I will finish my first draft of Chaos Calling in the next couple of weeks, and I hope to have Shield drafted by the new year. Sweeeet!
ROW on, people. Have a great one. Let me know how your goals are progressing in the comments. :)
November 12, 2013
New Release: Descent Available on Amazon!
Descent is available now on Amazon! It's the fourth out of five books in my Children of the Sidhe fantasy romance series, full of magic, monsters and a whole lot of action! I just posted the description and an excerpt in my last post, so I'm not going to repeat myself. Check it out here if you like.
You may notice I also have a new look here and on social media sites. Kellie Dennis at Book Cover by Design, the cover artist responsible for the cover above, created this for me after I found the awesome pic of the castle with the city spread out below. Once I found that picture, I couldn't wait for the redesign to begin -- and I LOVE what Kellie did with it. It's beautiful, and just what I was after. Yay!
Here's the new profile pic you'll see popping up all over the place.
You may notice I also have a new look here and on social media sites. Kellie Dennis at Book Cover by Design, the cover artist responsible for the cover above, created this for me after I found the awesome pic of the castle with the city spread out below. Once I found that picture, I couldn't wait for the redesign to begin -- and I LOVE what Kellie did with it. It's beautiful, and just what I was after. Yay!
Here's the new profile pic you'll see popping up all over the place.
November 9, 2013
Descent Cover Reveal & Release Date!
Descent is coming to e-readers near you next Tuesday, November 12th! Here is the lovely cover and a brief snapshot of this fourth (out of five) Children of the Sidhe romance.
Descent
When Rosa Elizar thinks of her ex, they aren’t kind thoughts. Mikhail left her, pregnant and alone, four years ago. She can take care of herself; she’s the Guardian of Dubhros and quite skilled at doing so. But Mikhail’s sudden reappearance comes with ill tidings of an Otherworld war – one Rosa is, by birthright, right smack in the middle of. After all this time, can Rosa trust Mikhail with her precious daughter…and her heart?
Mikhail Anndrais has carried his regrets like another sort of armor, every single day since he left Rosa beyond the veil, to raise their child alone. At a time of great danger for his people, the Sidhe, Mikhail must convince Rosa to bring their daughter to Otherworld. Only there, together, will they be able to keep her safe.
Children of the Sidhe
The Sidhe dwindle. Slow to breed and quick to war, the ages have worn away their numbers. An old enemy threatens Otherworld, fearsome in numbers and in newfound magic. The Sidhe’s unloved part-human children strewn about the mortal world are suddenly their greatest source of hope.
A sneak peak inside the latest Children of the Sidhe novella…
Rosa Elizar halted uncertainly on a trail she’d known all her life. What her eyes told her just couldn’t be. She was only half a mile from the Tree of Dubhros, her ward as Guardian of Dubhros, and she knew every inch of the surrounding forest. This world’s bland gray shades couldn’t hide the richness of the forest life from her eye. That was her duty.
Rosa flicked a blade from its scabbard, just in case. The knife she’d chosen was only four inches long, suitable for close-up contact. It was one of a dozen blades she had on her person today. A Guardian had to be prepared. You never knew what you’d come across in Echtge – this shadowy forest dimension that Rosa tried to protect along with her ward.
Case in point…Rosa examined her alarming find for the day.
The creature before her hadn’t been seen since times of legend. She moved cautiously, unsure what to expect from the being that used to be a pixie. Now it was llaiadian, the dark pixie. She’d never seen one – not even a picture, as she hadn’t learned the lore from books – but she knew what it was.
It stared at her, dark eyes unblinking, skin rippling with shadow. Creepy. Losing patience, she flung her short blade without warning. The creature skittered off, and Rosa lost sight of it. She retrieved her knife and slipped it into its accustomed place.
Rosa watched for signs of more of them as she hiked closer to her ward, but she didn’t see any. As she neared the spot where the Tree of Dubhros stood, her heart thumped in her chest, faster and faster as anxiety gripped her–
The Tree of Dubhros stood unmolested at the edge of the clearing.
Rosa allowed herself a single breath of relief, of wonder that this being should depend so wholly on her, faulty and half-human as she was.
“Are you alright, child?” The Tree of Dubhros spoke, a creaking sound like a loud whisper that seemed to fill the clearing.
Rosa smiled. “As always, I am happy to see you, my friend.”
“And I, you, Rosa.” Du’s limbs shuddered, as though he were stretching after waking from a doze.
She nodded. “All is well here?”
A deep rumble she knew for his chuckle sounded around her. “Little changes here. Yes. All is well.”
“Some things do change.”
“What do you mean?” Now his tone was curious. She worried she’d hear fear there next.
“I saw a llaiadian.”
A hush fell all around. Rosa hadn’t realized how much chatter was going on in the underbrush among the small creatures of Echtge. After all, the Tree of Dubhros only had one home. A tree can’t travel portals. It has deep roots.
That was something Rosa knew about. Her mother had fostered deep roots. She’d been human, with a half-Fomorii daughter, and the future Guardian of Dubhros at that. She prayed for Rosa every day, clutching her rosary beads in the local cathedral. She lavished her only daughter with love, games and laughter. Rosa had it good as a kid, despite her differences from others. She’d never had a real human friend as a child. As a kid she was strong. Very strong. And quicker than she should have been. Enough that it alarmed other kids, not to mention their parents. Her friends had been trees. It was probably for the best.
“What is it?” she finally asked, breaking the eerie silence.
“Where did you see this creature? And are you sure it is llaiadian?”
“It is exactly as you have described to me. Small body, wingless, mottled and bluish-gray. It looked as though a storm cloud crept under its skin – like a pixie, yet not at all like a pixie. It is llaiadian. And it was close. About a half-mile from here.”
The hush deepened, if that was possible, and then the creepy silence was broken as chatter erupted in the forest.
“Yes. The creatures of Echtge confirm it. The llaiadian has stepped from legend into reality.” A sadness deep as his ancient roots filled the tree’s voice.
“What does it mean?” Rosa knew if Du was this upset, it was not good.
“A time of darkness is coming. The dark pixies are a sign...that all is not right between the worlds.”
Descent
When Rosa Elizar thinks of her ex, they aren’t kind thoughts. Mikhail left her, pregnant and alone, four years ago. She can take care of herself; she’s the Guardian of Dubhros and quite skilled at doing so. But Mikhail’s sudden reappearance comes with ill tidings of an Otherworld war – one Rosa is, by birthright, right smack in the middle of. After all this time, can Rosa trust Mikhail with her precious daughter…and her heart?Mikhail Anndrais has carried his regrets like another sort of armor, every single day since he left Rosa beyond the veil, to raise their child alone. At a time of great danger for his people, the Sidhe, Mikhail must convince Rosa to bring their daughter to Otherworld. Only there, together, will they be able to keep her safe.
Children of the Sidhe
The Sidhe dwindle. Slow to breed and quick to war, the ages have worn away their numbers. An old enemy threatens Otherworld, fearsome in numbers and in newfound magic. The Sidhe’s unloved part-human children strewn about the mortal world are suddenly their greatest source of hope.
A sneak peak inside the latest Children of the Sidhe novella…
Rosa Elizar halted uncertainly on a trail she’d known all her life. What her eyes told her just couldn’t be. She was only half a mile from the Tree of Dubhros, her ward as Guardian of Dubhros, and she knew every inch of the surrounding forest. This world’s bland gray shades couldn’t hide the richness of the forest life from her eye. That was her duty.
Rosa flicked a blade from its scabbard, just in case. The knife she’d chosen was only four inches long, suitable for close-up contact. It was one of a dozen blades she had on her person today. A Guardian had to be prepared. You never knew what you’d come across in Echtge – this shadowy forest dimension that Rosa tried to protect along with her ward.
Case in point…Rosa examined her alarming find for the day.
The creature before her hadn’t been seen since times of legend. She moved cautiously, unsure what to expect from the being that used to be a pixie. Now it was llaiadian, the dark pixie. She’d never seen one – not even a picture, as she hadn’t learned the lore from books – but she knew what it was.
It stared at her, dark eyes unblinking, skin rippling with shadow. Creepy. Losing patience, she flung her short blade without warning. The creature skittered off, and Rosa lost sight of it. She retrieved her knife and slipped it into its accustomed place.
Rosa watched for signs of more of them as she hiked closer to her ward, but she didn’t see any. As she neared the spot where the Tree of Dubhros stood, her heart thumped in her chest, faster and faster as anxiety gripped her–
The Tree of Dubhros stood unmolested at the edge of the clearing.
Rosa allowed herself a single breath of relief, of wonder that this being should depend so wholly on her, faulty and half-human as she was.
“Are you alright, child?” The Tree of Dubhros spoke, a creaking sound like a loud whisper that seemed to fill the clearing.
Rosa smiled. “As always, I am happy to see you, my friend.”
“And I, you, Rosa.” Du’s limbs shuddered, as though he were stretching after waking from a doze.
She nodded. “All is well here?”
A deep rumble she knew for his chuckle sounded around her. “Little changes here. Yes. All is well.”
“Some things do change.”
“What do you mean?” Now his tone was curious. She worried she’d hear fear there next.
“I saw a llaiadian.”
A hush fell all around. Rosa hadn’t realized how much chatter was going on in the underbrush among the small creatures of Echtge. After all, the Tree of Dubhros only had one home. A tree can’t travel portals. It has deep roots.
That was something Rosa knew about. Her mother had fostered deep roots. She’d been human, with a half-Fomorii daughter, and the future Guardian of Dubhros at that. She prayed for Rosa every day, clutching her rosary beads in the local cathedral. She lavished her only daughter with love, games and laughter. Rosa had it good as a kid, despite her differences from others. She’d never had a real human friend as a child. As a kid she was strong. Very strong. And quicker than she should have been. Enough that it alarmed other kids, not to mention their parents. Her friends had been trees. It was probably for the best.
“What is it?” she finally asked, breaking the eerie silence.
“Where did you see this creature? And are you sure it is llaiadian?”
“It is exactly as you have described to me. Small body, wingless, mottled and bluish-gray. It looked as though a storm cloud crept under its skin – like a pixie, yet not at all like a pixie. It is llaiadian. And it was close. About a half-mile from here.”
The hush deepened, if that was possible, and then the creepy silence was broken as chatter erupted in the forest.
“Yes. The creatures of Echtge confirm it. The llaiadian has stepped from legend into reality.” A sadness deep as his ancient roots filled the tree’s voice.
“What does it mean?” Rosa knew if Du was this upset, it was not good.
“A time of darkness is coming. The dark pixies are a sign...that all is not right between the worlds.”
