J.R. Pearse Nelson's Blog, page 24

Sunday Update: Finished an Outline

I hope it's been a productive week for all of you writers out there. I mostly had a week off as I await more feedback from beta readers -- and that's a good thing. I'm not always the best at giving myself time off, so occasionally it's nice to find myself without a project needing my attention. Still, my mind isn't awesome at vacation.

So as I wait for input on Queen Witch, my mind keeps returning to the next thing I'll write: Shield, the fifth and final Children of the Sidhe novella. I've known what happens at the beginning of this book for months, and I figured out the big BANG weeks and weeks ago. On Thursday, I pulled those two ends of the outline together by filling in all of the middle scenes to take me from point A to point B. It is shiny and new and calling to me, oh so seductively. I MUST get Queen Witch published before I put pen to paper on yet another book. MUST.

Since I'm still hoping to publish Queen Witch the week before Halloween, I'm thinking I'll write Shield during November. The other reason to do so is that if I'm not writing a book during November, I'll be sad. All of that NaNo energy swirling about, everyone else's exciting updates...I must write something during November. And a 25-30k project that finishes up a series I've been working on for years? Yeah! And if I don't finish it during November, that's okay, too. I have books three and four still to revise, edit and release. But it would be great to have book five on paper before I publish book three. I already thought of a couple of things to add to book three based on the outline for book five.

I have a bit to do to prepare for writing Shield, so that's my goal for this week: finish character profiles, determine the setting for a major piece of action, and solidify all of the characters' roles in the series conclusion.

I will also incorporate the first beta input I received on Queen Witch, and hopefully hear from my other betas in the next few days. I'm going to have some trouble getting a major block of time to work on incorporating that input, so I'd better get started in the next couple of days.

Good luck with the coming week, folks!

For Writers: Don't Let Fear Stop You

You're better than that.

Fear seems to be an ever-present bedfellow of the writer, but that doesn't mean it has to control you. Instead, learn to cozy up to your fears, figure out what makes them tick, and then kick them unceremoniously to the curb.

Here are some ways fear has worked its tendrils into writer me in the past:

What if I spend years writing a book, and it is still complete crap?

What if I like a book I've written, and it turns out I'm the only one?

What if people like my stories, but they don't like me?

What if I'm completely irrelevant in the scheme of things?

What if I never have success with my books?

What if people like my romance books because of the sex, and they hate my fantasy work?

What if people don't give my fantasy books a chance because they were turned off by the sex in my paranormal romance?

What if I've built the wrong audience by publishing paranormal romance first?

What if no matter how long I'm at it and how much effort I put in, people still don't know my name?

What if (something) happens and I can't write, or don't have time to write?

Guys...these are just examples. I've been devoted to the writing craft for nearly a decade, and I've loved story-telling since I was a kid. I have two books out there in the world, and another I'm about to release into the wilds. Still, every day I have to banish these sorts of thoughts. Some days that is harder than others. But every moment I spend stuck on fear is another moment I am not moving forward. Letting fear have the upper hand is not an option. Every day, I must try to choose success -- in the form of productivity -- over fear.

Every day I'm faced with that choice. Will I listen to the fear today? Say no with me.

Mid-Week Update: Taking Flight

Hello again, fellow ROWers. Hope it's been a great week for you. I haven't been up to much writing related, and probably won't be until the weekend. At that point I'm going to incorporate the comments from one beta reader. I'll probably be hearing from the others within the next week or so.

I did feel a glimmer of creativity on my commute yesterday -- I had a couple of great ideas for revisions to Flight, the third Children of the Sidhe novella. I've been worried Nathan isn't a strong enough character, so I'm trying to get him to tell me more about himself so I can polish him up on the page. Like I said, glimmers. So that's positive. :)
Some of you know that I commute twice a week to an office almost sixty miles away. However, I'm in western Oregon, baby. You don't go sixty miles in any direction without seeing a lot of farmland, trees, wildlife (the hawks are my favorite on this drive, and that's what got me thinking about Nathan, my hawk-shifter), gorgeous skies and the hills and mountains in the distance. So I'm not complaining. And it is often good thinking time. I usually listen to NPR, because there aren't any kids piping up, "Mom, I don't like news." Well, I do like the news. Fact is far stranger than fiction, and I've heard some of the weirdest things listening to NPR programming. 
But sometimes I switch the radio off. My husband told me he always knows when I drove the car last because the radio is either really quiet, or off. I didn't realize I turned it off that much. Like I said, good thinking time. Story ideas and plot connections often come to me in the car. 
The main places I get my great ideas are over chores (dishes and laundry, especially), in the shower, and in the car. It's like the editor shuts off -- her attention is elsewhere -- and creative me surges on without boundaries. I call these activities that distract in such a way as to make your creativity shine "complementary activities" for writing. If I can dash off a few hundred words, then go do the dishes, and then return and complete my word count for the day, I write faster drafts of higher quality. It is a strategy that has worked for me, especially with my schedule where I can often manage fifteen or twenty minutes at a time, but not much more than that. Give it a try, and let me know if you find it works for you. Or let me know if you already employ a similar strategy.

Sunday Update: Beta Readers, Attack!

I sent Queen Witch to three beta readers on Monday. One of them wrote me back with incredibly helpful comments on the first four chapters the very next day, and another returned the entire manuscript with her comments late last night. I am very excited to hear more about what the others think, pore through all of their comments and incorporate their edits. It's looking like Halloween week for a release -- maybe I can get it out the weekend prior to Halloween. That would be super!

All of my beta readers are awesome ladies, all of them have different strengths and they always point out different things. That's why having multiple people look over your book before you publish is definitely a good thing. One of my betas is an author of paranormal romance (we do a beta swap, and it works really well because we have complimentary skills and strengths), and the other two are hard-core readers. Something they all have in common is their taste for many genres of fiction. Just like me. That's helpful since I'm still not sure what to call Queen Witch. It's fantasy. That's for sure. :)

Early in the week I had this overload of energy -- it wasn't creative energy. It was more like panic energy. After I sent my book to betas, I didn't know what to do with myself. And truth be told, I've done virtually nothing writing related. My brain has touched on other plots I have waiting in the wings, but I haven't put pen to paper on anything. I'm good with that. I would have been fine with diving into research for an upcoming book, or drawing maps, or working on outlines...but the fact that none of that called to me meant my brain needed a break. I haven't even read anything. Ooh, actually, that isn't true. I started the Shadow Spinner stories by Andrew Leon. If you haven't met Andrew, you should stop by and check out his blog Strange Pegs. He's full of great resources, and he's taken an interesting approach to the Shadow Spinner releases. His writing is top-notch. I'm only on the second one, since even with short stories it's hard to find three seconds by myself to finish reading. (Seriously, my husband is out of town, and I've had to dive back to the office no less than eight times to write these three paragraphs. It would probably help if I did a better job limiting tangents.) I also had my thirteen-year-old niece read the first couple Shadow Spinner stories when I caught her bored at a family gathering yesterday. We didn't get to chat about them, but she's coming over today and I want to get her opinion since these stories are written for kids a bit younger than her.

What have I been doing when I snatch a little time to myself? Planning a birthday party for my youngest -- she'll be two next month. Working on yet another home refinance. And spending quality time with my kids. You know, the stuff of life! :)

I hope all of you ROWers had a great first week of the round. Keep on keeping on!

Queen Witch in Beta Hands

Hi there. I spent yesterday polishing up Queen Witch to get it to my three beta readers. My manuscript is now in their capable hands, and I'm left twiddling my thumbs a bit, with a lot of energy, and wondering what to tackle next. Only it can't be anything too absorbing, because as soon as I hear from betas...sigh.

This is what it's like to be a writer who likes multiple projects. I always like to have something to ponder...being in between projects has become an uncomfortable space for me.

Are you a worry wart? I am a definite worry wart. Sometimes I drive my husband nuts. He'll finally ask me, "What are you worrying about?" And it'll stop me in my tracks, and I have to admit: I'm worrying about things that aren't in my control. So I try to do that less. But my brain likes to work on problems. Constantly. I've found that worrying about the problems my characters face can absorb some of that energy, and leave me happier and more able to handle the every day stresses that do matter, and that I can control. It's quite possible that makes sense to no one but me. But there you go. Now I've shared. :)

I do have some administrative things I could take care of...like I need to learn CreateSpace, and start an account there, and figure out their formatting guidelines so I can publish Queen Witch in paperback later this fall. I also need to write a series of posts for writers that I've been thinking about, because there are certain questions I'm hearing a lot, that I actually have answers to. Finally, I want to work on the outline to the fifth and final Children of the Sidhe novella. Once I'm satisfied with the outline, I'll probably add it to my iPad for moments just like these, when I want to dive into my stories for a while...I hadn't realized what I stress release writing has become for me. I'll have to remember that. :)

Round of Words Goals Post

Hello there, and welcome to the final quarter of 2012! Can you believe it? The date is rockin' my world these days...I can't believe how time is flying. Anyway, on to my goals for this round:

1) Publish Queen Witch. This fantasy novel is going to beta readers this week. I'd like to publish just before Halloween.
2) Revise Flight, the third Children of the Sidhe novella. I wrote this book last winter, and now I need to edit and revise. I want to publish this very early in 2013.

I'm going to end it there. I'm tempted to add in a fresh writing goal, which would be writing the fifth and final novella in the Children of the Sidhe series. I'd love to tackle that in November, while all that NaNo energy is swirling about...but I anticipate life being rather hectic this round. Work is likely to be something else, plus the holidays, which always add a certain amount of crazy. I don't want to set myself up for additional stress. See, I'm learning! :)

How about you, writer friends? What have you learned from ROW80? Has it changed the way you approach your goals?

Queen Witch Cover Reveal!!

I am super excited to show off the cover for Queen Witch, designed by Tishia Mackey of Paragraphic Designs. Woot, woot! I love it!


This cover captures several of the essentials of the Foulweather Twins series -- the psychokinetic abilities of the witches (yes, they do fly), Sage's simultaneous innocence and darkness, and the raw natural power of sea and storm.

Queen Witch is headed to beta readers early next week, so it won't be long now! I'm hoping to publish the ebook in about a month; probably just before Halloween. A print version will come out later in the fall.

I Read The Hunger Games in Two Days

We returned yesterday from our final family vacation of the summer, in Sun River, Oregon. My husband's mom and a couple of his siblings were there, too. Much fun was had, and the time went incredibly quickly. We already have a cabin reserved for next year, and I'm already looking forward to it. :)

With so much family around to play with my kiddos, I got to read a lot! I picked up the Hunger Games Friday night, and read six pages that night before the kids needed me (awesome start) and another six pages in the bath the next morning before my one-year-old cried and subsequently joined me (luckily I wasn't totally absorbed yet). But as Saturday wore on folks mostly left me to myself to read -- baby girl also took a two and a half hour nap -- which I am very thankful for! I read about 270 pages that day. I haven't read like that since my last maternity leave.

What can I say about the Hunger Games? I know it has all been said. I refused to pick this one up during the fervor over the movie. I kind of detest hype, especially after Twilight, which sucked me in when I read it, let me tell you, but also kind of ruined me for hyped YA. Still, my good friend Brooke told me I HAD to read at least the first book, and promised I would really enjoy it, so I picked it up when we were at Powell's in downtown Portland a couple of weeks ago.

Tangent: If you're ever in Portland, Powell's bookstore is a must see. We also call Powell's the City of Books; it is the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. You can -- and will -- get lost among the sky high stacks and color-coded rooms. Their staff is also amazing, and the "staff pick" signs lead you from one book or author you love to new authors to check out. I've found some of my favorites this way...gosh, maybe I should do a whole post on Powell's. And I could go on a field trip first. Food for thought. :)

End tangent.

Back to Hunger Games. This is an amazing book. AMAZING. From the very beginning you want to know more about Katniss, to understand her world and why everything is so hard for these people. Katniss is a bad ass, but she also has a strong moral compass, and I think that's why I was on her side from the beginning. She's been raised in this dark world, and has seen the worst of it in some ways, but she sacrifices herself in an instant to save her sister.

As to the Games themselves...sick. This stuff was pretty disturbing, and it didn't seem there was great logic as to why the Games were needed. They exemplified the control of the Capitol, but they also exemplified what was wrong with the entire society. For me there were some things that just didn't stand to reason about the level of control the Capitol held over Panem. It's kind of chalked up to technology and the Capitol's super weapons (talk about creepy)...but I had trouble buying the complacency of an entire nation, or twelve disparate districts, to witness their people starving to death and to sacrifice their young. What did the districts get out of this deal?

Despite those questions, the book was incredible, and I'm glad Brooke talked me into it. Thanks lady! :)

The Power of Introverts

Writers and other creative types, if you're anything like me, you need to check this out. My husband introduced me to this TED Talk by Susan Cain on The Power of Introverts. He said I had to watch it because she was totally talking about me. I think she's talking about a lot of us writers.

Take my recent hiatus as an example. Sometimes I just need to "go into the wilderness" of my own mind. In our Twitter-driven world, I often feel guilty for that, though it's absolutely what my creative self needs if I'm to get any actual writing done at all. Or be happy. And I like to be happy. :)



If these quotes from her presentation appeal to you, check out Susan Cain's TED Talk on the Power of Introverts.
Solitude is a crucial ingredient to creativity.
We've known for centuries about the transcendent power of solitude, it's only recently we've begun to forget it.
There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.

Final ROW80 Check-In! Can You Believe That?!?

This is my first post in September. So, that's not awesome. I haven't known what to say. I've also been terrible about making rounds to any of my buddies' blogs. To be honest, I still don't feel like posting, but I know I'm going to get an email or two if I don't pop my head out of my blogging funk to at least say hi.

Hi.

I've been making headway on my goals for Queen Witch. It has just been a much slower process than I ever thought it would be. I have cover art, so I will post that soon. I now believe I'll be publishing close to Halloween. That's sorta fun. :)

The other major goal I completed this round was a first draft of Descent, the fourth Children of the Sidhe novella.

I had two other goals that didn't get touched. Flight, my third Children of the Sidhe novella, is still on the shelf, waiting for an edit. And I never got around to completing edits and publishing that short story collection. I might not get back to that this year, even. But I will be editing Flight in round 4.

How did this round turn out for everyone else?