J.R. Pearse Nelson's Blog, page 35
August 14, 2011
Outline Schmoutline
Hi there! It's been an exciting week in my little corner of the world, with the release of my first book, the paranormal romance novella Tribute. (See my last post if you're interested in a free copy from Smashwords.) I've had a lot of fun talking to folks about this project this week.
The book I'm writing, however... I have yet to get into the flow. I wrote a solid outline, but I'm struggling with every scene, and it's bringing up doubts. Did I start the book at the right point in time? Why are my characters feeling so flat? Was I cut out to write fantasy at all?
This last question comes after releasing a paranormal romance. When I started writing it was fantasy... but I have yet to finish a fantasy book (and I've started five over the last several years). I still see potential in each of these projects, but they are so hard. The paranormal romance Tribute and the sequel Vessel, however, were so much fun to write. And I'm hearing folks are enjoying Tribute and waiting for Vessel.
Yesterday, after struggling to put in another 1,500 words on the urban fantasy this week, I started to wonder if I aught to switch gears and get back to the paranormal romance series. Or maybe sneak that work in on the side just to boost my confidence? (On the side? Where would that be?) Right now I'm spending my precious writing moments staring at a cursor and wincing a lot. So much for my outline, schmoutline.
The book I'm writing, however... I have yet to get into the flow. I wrote a solid outline, but I'm struggling with every scene, and it's bringing up doubts. Did I start the book at the right point in time? Why are my characters feeling so flat? Was I cut out to write fantasy at all?
This last question comes after releasing a paranormal romance. When I started writing it was fantasy... but I have yet to finish a fantasy book (and I've started five over the last several years). I still see potential in each of these projects, but they are so hard. The paranormal romance Tribute and the sequel Vessel, however, were so much fun to write. And I'm hearing folks are enjoying Tribute and waiting for Vessel.
Yesterday, after struggling to put in another 1,500 words on the urban fantasy this week, I started to wonder if I aught to switch gears and get back to the paranormal romance series. Or maybe sneak that work in on the side just to boost my confidence? (On the side? Where would that be?) Right now I'm spending my precious writing moments staring at a cursor and wincing a lot. So much for my outline, schmoutline.
August 9, 2011
Tribute Available on Amazon & Smashwords
I've finally gone and done it. At this moment I am filled with extreme pleasure and pride as I tell you my first book, the paranormal romance novella Tribute, is available for purchase at Amazon and Smashwords!
Thank you all for your support and advice as I've worked through this process. I am continually amazed at the awesome indie community, not to mention the wider community of writers in general. I am blessed!
Here's an excerpt from the first chapter of Tribute:
Getting her oil changed wasn't exactly Hazel's idea of a fun chore for Friday afternoon, but the sixteen-year-old drooling over her made it nearly unbearable this time. Literally, drooling.She shot him a short-tempered look as she put on her sunglasses, the Portland sun requiring it for once, though a deep gray line of clouds already clustered along the western horizon. "Can you just finish with the car already?"He gulped. "Hey, when I'm done do you want to go to dinner or something?"Hazel sighed and cast him a sweet smile. "You don't want anything to do with the likes of me, kid."He just smiled at her and nodded, his brain obviously addled."So that's a no. No dinner. Just finish my car. Thanks."Confused and deflated, he shook his shaggy hair into his face so she couldn't see his profile as he worked. He called out to his pit crew, his tone wistful and sad.Gods. Wouldn't it be great to be normal? Crushing men wasn't Hazel's idea of a good time. It was just that many of them had no control over themselves when she was around. The drooling was not attractive. But they didn't know that. They didn't even realize how silly they looked. It was part of her draw; men tended to be totally focused on her, unable to string together more than a sentence, much less keep her entertained for a date. They were compelled to look, to touch if she'd let them, hovering over her the entire time.She'd heard she was lucky. Some Sidhe drew humans to madness, despair – even violence. They just wanted to love her.Still, it was annoying.A buzzing from her purse cast a wave of relief over her. Blessed distraction. She looked up and caught the boy staring again, and frowned at him as she reached into her purse.Checking the number that had just flashed on her cell phone, Hazel sighed. The age-old question: to answer, or not to answer? Swallowing, she hit send."Hello?""Hazel. Glad I caught you. Got a little problem I could use your help with.""Thankfully, your problems don't have anything to do with me anymore.""They do when they're not mine specifically, but more, you know, ours.""Great," Hazel said. If he meant what she thought he did, her hope of getting out of whatever this was had just faded fast."There's a human over here who needs to get in touch with the Fomorii. Has to pay a tribute of some kind, but hasn't been able to get through. Think you could take him?""Can I take him?" Like she didn't have enough to do. "Drake, this is your job. You know I was never into this stuff.""You're missing the point. He needs to go. I can't take him, so I thought of you.""Why can't you take him?" Drake was the obvious choice. After all, he worked for the Sidhe Authority, taking care of the Otherworld government's business in the human world. Hazel had as little to do with Otherworld affairs as possible. "Let's call it a little interpersonal issue between me and the Fomorii contact. I'm waiting another decade at least before I meet up with that guy again, for everyone's sake. I'm supposed to be smoothing relations, remember?""See, that's what I'm talking about. When we were together, I dealt with your interpersonal issues. Now that we're not, I don't see what this has to do with me.""You're Sidhe, so you're in. Our problems are your problems, and this falls into that category. Just think, what would Aunt Brigit say?""Damn," she growled. He had to bring her aunt into it. Of course she knew what Brigit would say. You get the benefits; a certain amount of dirty work comes with it. Help your people. "Tell me what I'm supposed to do again?"
###
Tribute on Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80123
Tribute on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GL6AES
I'd be happy to give any of my blog readers a free copy of the book. Use coupon code VN26Z at Smashwords to download your free copy now! All I ask is that you leave an honest review on Smashwords and Goodreads, and tell your friends!
Thank you all for your support and advice as I've worked through this process. I am continually amazed at the awesome indie community, not to mention the wider community of writers in general. I am blessed!
Here's an excerpt from the first chapter of Tribute:
Getting her oil changed wasn't exactly Hazel's idea of a fun chore for Friday afternoon, but the sixteen-year-old drooling over her made it nearly unbearable this time. Literally, drooling.She shot him a short-tempered look as she put on her sunglasses, the Portland sun requiring it for once, though a deep gray line of clouds already clustered along the western horizon. "Can you just finish with the car already?"He gulped. "Hey, when I'm done do you want to go to dinner or something?"Hazel sighed and cast him a sweet smile. "You don't want anything to do with the likes of me, kid."He just smiled at her and nodded, his brain obviously addled."So that's a no. No dinner. Just finish my car. Thanks."Confused and deflated, he shook his shaggy hair into his face so she couldn't see his profile as he worked. He called out to his pit crew, his tone wistful and sad.Gods. Wouldn't it be great to be normal? Crushing men wasn't Hazel's idea of a good time. It was just that many of them had no control over themselves when she was around. The drooling was not attractive. But they didn't know that. They didn't even realize how silly they looked. It was part of her draw; men tended to be totally focused on her, unable to string together more than a sentence, much less keep her entertained for a date. They were compelled to look, to touch if she'd let them, hovering over her the entire time.She'd heard she was lucky. Some Sidhe drew humans to madness, despair – even violence. They just wanted to love her.Still, it was annoying.A buzzing from her purse cast a wave of relief over her. Blessed distraction. She looked up and caught the boy staring again, and frowned at him as she reached into her purse.Checking the number that had just flashed on her cell phone, Hazel sighed. The age-old question: to answer, or not to answer? Swallowing, she hit send."Hello?""Hazel. Glad I caught you. Got a little problem I could use your help with.""Thankfully, your problems don't have anything to do with me anymore.""They do when they're not mine specifically, but more, you know, ours.""Great," Hazel said. If he meant what she thought he did, her hope of getting out of whatever this was had just faded fast."There's a human over here who needs to get in touch with the Fomorii. Has to pay a tribute of some kind, but hasn't been able to get through. Think you could take him?""Can I take him?" Like she didn't have enough to do. "Drake, this is your job. You know I was never into this stuff.""You're missing the point. He needs to go. I can't take him, so I thought of you.""Why can't you take him?" Drake was the obvious choice. After all, he worked for the Sidhe Authority, taking care of the Otherworld government's business in the human world. Hazel had as little to do with Otherworld affairs as possible. "Let's call it a little interpersonal issue between me and the Fomorii contact. I'm waiting another decade at least before I meet up with that guy again, for everyone's sake. I'm supposed to be smoothing relations, remember?""See, that's what I'm talking about. When we were together, I dealt with your interpersonal issues. Now that we're not, I don't see what this has to do with me.""You're Sidhe, so you're in. Our problems are your problems, and this falls into that category. Just think, what would Aunt Brigit say?""Damn," she growled. He had to bring her aunt into it. Of course she knew what Brigit would say. You get the benefits; a certain amount of dirty work comes with it. Help your people. "Tell me what I'm supposed to do again?"
###
Tribute on Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80123
Tribute on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005GL6AES
I'd be happy to give any of my blog readers a free copy of the book. Use coupon code VN26Z at Smashwords to download your free copy now! All I ask is that you leave an honest review on Smashwords and Goodreads, and tell your friends!
August 7, 2011
#ROW80 Update
Hi, everyone! Hope your week was super productive. I took a vacation. I thought I'd get more writing done during a vacation from my day job, but camping with four kids under the age of four (don't worry about me, only two are mine) wasn't as relaxing as I expected. It was a blast, and the kids came home happy and exhausted... I am just not sure where the time went. :)
Still, I was able to incorporate changes from beta comments on my paranormal romance novella Tribute. I expect some more comments in the next couple of days, but those will be the last before publication day!! I told my husband that I may just pull an all-nighter one night and get 'er done. But I love to sleep when that's possible, so we'll see. The excitement is taking over! If anyone has tidbits to share from their own first publication day (self-pub, that is), I'd love to hear them. I have no idea how long I'll be at the computer to publish on Smashwords and Amazon. Is this a two-hour project or a ten-hour project?
I also wrote 1,200 words on Queen of Peace, the urban fantasy I'm currently writing, in the last two days. I am officially changing my goal for that writing project to 30,000 words by 9/22. I have 5,500 words now, so that means I need to write 4k to 5k each week to make this reduced goal. Write, write, write!
Still, I was able to incorporate changes from beta comments on my paranormal romance novella Tribute. I expect some more comments in the next couple of days, but those will be the last before publication day!! I told my husband that I may just pull an all-nighter one night and get 'er done. But I love to sleep when that's possible, so we'll see. The excitement is taking over! If anyone has tidbits to share from their own first publication day (self-pub, that is), I'd love to hear them. I have no idea how long I'll be at the computer to publish on Smashwords and Amazon. Is this a two-hour project or a ten-hour project?
I also wrote 1,200 words on Queen of Peace, the urban fantasy I'm currently writing, in the last two days. I am officially changing my goal for that writing project to 30,000 words by 9/22. I have 5,500 words now, so that means I need to write 4k to 5k each week to make this reduced goal. Write, write, write!
July 31, 2011
#ROW80: Life Happens
So, it's true, the whole idea behind ROW80. Sometimes things happen you really weren't expecting. Someone close to me, an alcoholic, hit rock bottom this week. I've been dealing with fallout, and feeling pretty emotionally drained.
I managed about 1,500 words this week, squeaking through the 4,000 mark for total word count on this new book. Terrible. And Monday I go camping for a few days. Maybe I'll take the manuscript I need to edit with me -- might be a nice change of pace. But no new words on the urban fantasy until next Friday at least, unless I can get a few in today.
I'm going to wait a couple of weeks to see how this affects my overall goal, but I'm thinking I might reduce my word count goal to 30,000. I still need to publish Tribute, and edit and revise Vessel. I don't want to let stuff I've already written sit on a shelf.
I managed about 1,500 words this week, squeaking through the 4,000 mark for total word count on this new book. Terrible. And Monday I go camping for a few days. Maybe I'll take the manuscript I need to edit with me -- might be a nice change of pace. But no new words on the urban fantasy until next Friday at least, unless I can get a few in today.
I'm going to wait a couple of weeks to see how this affects my overall goal, but I'm thinking I might reduce my word count goal to 30,000. I still need to publish Tribute, and edit and revise Vessel. I don't want to let stuff I've already written sit on a shelf.
July 24, 2011
Tribute Cover and #ROW80 Update
I've mentioned the cover for Tribute, which I'll publish next month on Amazon and Smashwords, several times. Here it is! My friend Kate Bateman designed it with help from another buddy of ours, Erin Kelly Brown. They're awesome!
As for ROW80, things are going pretty well at the moment. I finished the outline for Queen of Peace, the urban fantasy I'm writing in the last two months of the challenge. I probably won't be able to complete the draft by September 22; I expect it might turn out around 60,000 words. My original goal was 40,000, but I thought I'd get started a bit sooner. Revisions to Tribute took longer than I anticipated, and I know I'll spend more time on it when beta comments start rolling in, and on publication day!!
If I write 5,000 words on Queen of Peace each week, I can still make my goal of 40,000. And maybe I can sneak in a little extra. Yesterday I was totally sneaky and wrote on the iPad, getting in a few minutes here and there while the family played around me. Wrote the first scene: 1,166 words! Today my darling husband plans to take the kids out for a couple of hours so I can get some quiet time. Can I hit 3,000 for the weekend?
As for ROW80, things are going pretty well at the moment. I finished the outline for Queen of Peace, the urban fantasy I'm writing in the last two months of the challenge. I probably won't be able to complete the draft by September 22; I expect it might turn out around 60,000 words. My original goal was 40,000, but I thought I'd get started a bit sooner. Revisions to Tribute took longer than I anticipated, and I know I'll spend more time on it when beta comments start rolling in, and on publication day!!
If I write 5,000 words on Queen of Peace each week, I can still make my goal of 40,000. And maybe I can sneak in a little extra. Yesterday I was totally sneaky and wrote on the iPad, getting in a few minutes here and there while the family played around me. Wrote the first scene: 1,166 words! Today my darling husband plans to take the kids out for a couple of hours so I can get some quiet time. Can I hit 3,000 for the weekend?
