A.B. Keuser's Blog, page 58

About the Super Secret Project of Awesome

Sooooooooo…. the blog has been quiet lately aside from the Monthly update that kind of writes itself. There’s been a good reason for that…

MY BEST FRIEND’S BIRTHDAY!!!

(It’s today! Happy Birthday Natalie!)

And because of many reasons I did not go the conventional route for her Birthday present this year. Usually we do something fun… and tea. ALWAYS TEA. (We are tea fiends)

Anywho…

So, if

Jan/Feb Goals

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Things I should be doing

My post calendar tells me I should be talking about outlining today... but I'm sooooo not prepared for that. I've got myself on some hefty deadlines (and being my own boss means I can't really complain about it - except that I do... to you) but! I've got to get at least 2k in a day on a SUPERSECRETPROJECTOFAWESOME, and then I'm pushing for 4k/a day on the next book in my space western series.

Absent

I didn't do a week's update last Friday mostly beause it was a day all about Elana and her new book & Cover.
But it was also, partially because last week didn't see  much progress. Other than drinking a load of tea, I didn't get much done - at least not much that was quantifyable.
I'd like to blame that all on a big desicion I made about publication schedules. I do think that indecision played a

Elevated by Elana Johnson & a Giveaway!

Today is a little different from most Fridays, no update (maybe a special Saturday post). No! Today we're joined by a GORGEOUS cover from Elana Johnson for her new novel! I'm honestly smitten. I don't know which I like more, Eleanor's pants, her adorable little smirk, the awesome arrows... or ALL OF IT.


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Favorite Five: Steampunk Couples

1. Alexia Tarabotti & Conall Maccon
Parasol Protectorate Series by Gail Carriger


Honestly, this is mostly for her. I love how stubborn and argumentative she is. And he's great too. But he's an itty bit commonplace in the world of romances.


Soulless, Changeless, Blameless, Heartless, Timeless

2. Wellington Books & Eliza Braun
Ministry of Peculiar Occurances by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Revising: where is the love?

I spent last week finishing up some revisions. It’s a process that can get quite involved.But they’re a necessary part of creating a decent story. Today, I decided I wanted to talk about the different types of revisions.






(First passes can get quite messy!)

The Colorful Chaos (Pictured above)
This is a process that is best done with a first draft. It gets major issues out of the way as

Writing Tips Round-Up: Revision Edition

So! I just finished a revision, and as I dive into the next draft and the book is off in edits, I decided to jot down a few revision resources to share with you.


Gayle Forman - Doors and books and doors to books

Laini Taylor - Dollhouse Metaphor
Beth Revis - Revising to a Deadline
Veronica Roth - A Strictly Objective Critique Partner
 Maureen Johnson - How to revise a book
Kristen Cashore -

First Draft of the Year, Done!

Words Written:    13,865
This week was about getting things done... okay, it was about getting that one specific draft done. But, I spent most of the week staying on track. I'm pretty good about keeping to any schedule I set for myself, but this week was the second of the year, so I stuck with a slow start. Every day started the same, with a requirement for Book 2 in the Flynn series. When that

Pinterest as a Storyboard Tool

(I apologize in advance for the forthcoming screen shots.)



So, I have quite a few friends who see I use Pinterest and get disdainful… until I explain to them why.

I’ve found that pinterest can be an amazing storyboard tool. I’ve got boards for just about everything I’m working on at the moment… and quite a few things that, well, I’d love to start and the boards just keep getting bigger!