Elizabeth Lynx's Blog, page 12

Day 15: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...Half way there!!!

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is my favorite blogging things. I guess it would have to be putting my thoughts out there. Sometimes I have an idea that’s bothering me and I want to write a little more than a Facebook rant, so I post it on my blog. It’s also nice to read other bloggers ideas or rants about what is bothering or exciting to them.

What I also like is posting deals on books. I haven’t done that much as of late, but that has to do with being so busy. I am starting to figure out my groove in the writing world, which doesn’t leave time to do fun things like seeking out deals (I think that’s fun anyway.).

NaNoWriMo : Didn't write anything again yesterday. Decided to rest more than do any writing. I am still a bit groggy today but I am hoping to get some writing in, though it’s looking doubtful. Both boys today are protesting against nap time. One by screaming loudly and the other by using any means necessary.

It is days like these I imagine that old 80’s movie Romancing the Stone. Where Kathleen Turner’s character Joan Wilder is sniffling in front of her typewriter, petting her cat and finishing her novel. She is a super successful romance writer (has to be to afford an amazing apartment in Manhattan) and gets to write in the peace and quiet of her home. I think of that moment and I usually sigh, jealous of the quiet life she leads

I love my kids, I do and I love my husband even though he has the cleaning skills of a five year old, but I am one of those people who crave peace and quiet. Sometimes I think I should just go to a coffee shop, lug my laptop with me and sit, drink and write. What stops me is the fact I would be surrounded by people and noise from those people. Quite peace is the never ending quest in my life, much like King Arthur sought the Holy Grail. I too will wander aimlessly clinking coconuts together searching for something that does not exist.

Day 14: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...I like you, I hate you, I'm Mad!

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is my ratings system. I will just explain my thoughts on what I like and don’t like in a book, and how I rate it accordingly.

Five Stars: This book is AWESOME! It has great, well developed characters and secondary characters. The characters seem real, like I might know them in everyday life. That means they aren't perfect (Anastasia Steele I’m looking at you), where they have no flaws and what flaws they have is usually just being naive or likes peanut butter too much.

The plot is always amazing. It doesn't have to be a story so unique I have never heard of it before, but the author should write it in a way that it seems fresh and interesting. I have read a lot of office romances, but not all the books are the same if you know what I mean.

Finally, the writing should fit the story. What I mean by this is I don’t want the author to write flowery prose about some young twenty-something, fresh out of college meeting her H of the story in a yuppie bar. That just does not fit. Perhaps there is an AMAZING writer out there that can pull that off, but I have a feeling I won’t stumble upon that book anytime soon. A good example of an author’s style fitting the story is CD Reiss. Her book Beg is set in LA and the story is very raw about a lounge singer trying to break in the biz, very LA. Her style comes across almost Noir in feel (at least that's how I saw it). It fits the story perfectly. When I read that book I was floored with how CD Reiss created such realistic characters that could have easily turned campy, but became alive. Even the city that surrounded them became a secondary character to me.

So, for an author to earn five stars characters are the most important to me (I think that’s from my theater and improv background), followed closely by plot and style of writing.

Four Stars: One of the above categories is lacking, not by much, but to some degree. Perhaps the main characters are good, but the secondary characters come across as one dimensional (or a caricature). Something has to be off, but usually if that one thing changed it could be a five star. So the book is very good, just not great.

Three Stars: One of the categories is terrible. Perhaps the book has great characters and the writing is to die for, but the plot is all over the place and has a ridiculous ending. That story would earn three stars. What would also earn three stars is an average book. The characters, plot, writing is mediocre at best. There is nothing great or stands out in my opinion.

Two Stars: I don’t know if I have given two stars on anything yet. I think that has to do with the fact that if I dislike a book enough to give it two stars, I am not going to finish reading it. So, I have a lot of books I have started but never finished.

One Star: I have never bought a book that is one star. How is that possible you say? Because I ALWAYS download a sample no matter what the reviews or word of mouth claim about the book. If I can’t even finish the sample it is so bad, I will not buy the book hence never giving one star. I did give a one star review once, but that was for a bakery that screwed up my wedding cake order, not once, but twice (for the cake tasting) and then shrugged their shoulders at me when I complained. But that is a post for another time.

NaNoWriMo : More meltdowns and busy doing everyday tasks yesterday. Thursday is my day off from the kids so it is when I get most of my writing done. I thought I would finish rewriting my novella, but life got in the way. Various appointments and running around doing errands for the home, no writing occurred. By night, this cold that I think is now a sinus infection has sapped all my energy and given me a monstrous headache.

I can’t say today will be much better, as both boys are home and my eldest is refusing his nap. My headache is still pounding and in addition to that the Nyquil still hasn’t worn off from last night. I am hoping this weekend my husband gives me a break and entertains the kids so I can get some writing done. Fingers crossed!

Day 13: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...She's melting...melting...

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is about my review process. I have decided to change this completely. Meaning I will no longer do reviews. I had decided a few months ago to do them, but realized that my schedule makes it very hard. With my writing, looking after the kiddos and all the other stuff that make up my life, I can’t promise people I will do a review of their book by a certain time.

I will still write reviews of books, but just as an everyday reader, not blogger.

NaNoWriMo : Yesterday I had a minor meltdown. Nothing in regards to be overwhelmed (which I usually am), but when it comes to the quality of my work. Since I mentioned that I will be seeking out a literary agent, I have been questioning my ability to write ever since. I even PM’d Penny Reid in my crazy meltdown and she was soothing, like a soft pillow after a long day. With my new found focus and drive from our back and forth PMing I set about looking up agents and do very little writing: 168 words total. But, I did find some agents I will contact in the future. Then I made the mistake of looking at the books of their clients. Which just sent me back down the pit of despair.

Yesterday was an emotional roller coaster ride to say the least. Then, on top of it, my editor told me I need to rewrite the end of my novella. So, to recap: turning into mad woman who PM’s authors, trying to write book only to have novella suck me back in, and can’t sleep due to fear she is fooling herself. Oh, did I not mention how I was up half the night coughing (from sickness that won’t go away-over 2 weeks-I’m thinking I might have Ebola), at 1 am decided to take NyQuil and spend half of today in a NyQuil fog.

I apologize for the rant today, but this is what happens when I doubt myself, it ain’t pretty.

Day 12: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...Live and learn, but grow a pair.

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is advice for newbie bloggers. I really don’t think I am in a position to give bloggers advice since I am fairly new myself. The only advice I feel adequate in giving is to write about things you like. Have your blog be about your passion, your hobby, something that makes you happy. You will have stumbling blocks and try things that will cause you to face palm at a future point, but you have to learn somehow.

The same holds true for becoming an author. I am just now finding my voice when I write even though I have had success, not sweeping accolades or thousands of fans success, but success none the less with my previous voice.

My reviews and feedback so far have been good and people are starting to buy my books without me having to do a major promotional tour (yay!). Despite that I am changing my writing style (just a bit) and what little success I have found may fade away. I am taking a big risk, but at the end of the day I will be proud of what I write whether people love it or hate it. Not that I’m not proud of what I have already written. I really like my Him Her Them Series and want to shake people and say, “Seriously, you need to read this, you’ll love it!”

In order to become a great blogger, writer or whatever you wish to be trial and error will be a key in your growth and future success.

NaNoWriMo : I wrote about 500 words yesterday. That’s because I came to a decision and it was all based on a bad review I got. Well, not bad, three out of five stars, but it pointed out things that I wondered myself. That, basically, my editor should have picked up on and didn’t. But, I can’t blame him; he’s done a great job. Books need multiple editors. That’s why when you pick up a book published independently verses one from a publishing company; there are so many typos in the independent novel. Most indie authors struggle just to afford one editor, let alone multiple ones. So, I set about searching for a new editor. Then I took it a step further and decided to head to a literary agent with this book.

I feel the quality of my work has grown to the point where an agent might agree to take me on. Plus, I have found my style. I think, and I may be totally off but if an author has a certain style of writing, a certain voice, the agent and maybe publisher is more willing to take them on and work with them. I have never submitted anything to anyone before, so I can only hope I don’t make a complete ass of myself.

With all that being said, if they do take me on the title might have to change. It usually takes literary agents a while to find a publisher and then a publisher takes months (sometimes a year) to get a book published. Who knows, in the mean time I will still refer to it as Why I Hate Valentine’s Day. I am sure I will be writing many posts on the process of getting a literary agent/publisher.

Day 11: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...Popular? No never been.

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is #Top10Tuesday – Most popular posts. I am starting to realize I don’t really fit into this Blogging challenge. I had a few (2 maybe 3) posts that got a lot of hits, but nowhere near ten. I have had my blog for about six to nine months, so I don’t know if that’s enough time to build up a following to have that many popular posts. But, I will list what I have.

My post about depression and how there are a lot of depressed comics out there got a lot of hits. This was in response to Robin Williams death. Having spent a large part of my life around comedians I knew both went hand in hand. I think it was popular due to the Robin Williams angle, though that wasn’t my intention. I have always felt passionately about comedy and seeing people jump to all these crazy conclusions about its relation to depression made me want to express what I have learned.

The next most popular post was the first of these BookBlogWriMo/NaNoWriMo posts. I think because it was the first post that’s what drew people in.

The third most popular post was Day 7 of the BookBlogWriMo/NaNoWriMo posts. Why day seven? I think because I put a pic of George R. R. Martin in the post. The post didn’t have any new information, other than I finished writing my novella. I just thought it was odd that post got so many hits.

That’s about it. The my other post got really low hits or about the same number as the others.

NaNoWriMo : I wrote almost 2000 words yesterday. I am already on the fourth chapter and things are moving smoothly. The only thing that isn’t running smoothly is my health. Nothing serious but I got the flu about two weeks ago, then as it started to go away I picked up a cold from my youngest which has now morphed into some sinus thing. As much as I want to write every chance I can I am so tired and run down from this never ending infection!

I want to write more when the boys nap today but I have a feeling my body will scream at me to nap myself. We’ll see how much writing I get done today, I am betting on not much.

Day 10: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...What did I forget this time?

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is memes you meme. Again, I really don’t know too much about this. I am learning, from writing this post it has to do with inspiration from another post on another blog and it becomes a ‘thing’ that a bunch of bloggers write about. The only thing I did remotely close to that was when Robin William’s passed. I had a lot to say on the subject of depression and how it relates to comedy. How everyone was shocked someone who made people laugh could suffer terrible depression. Didn't surprise me at all, but I have spent a good chunk of my life around comedians. So, I wrote about it.

Other than that post, and perhaps BookBlogWriMo (which is more of a challenge than a meme), I don’t really participate in memes.

NaNoWriMo :  My oldest son started a special preschool program at the local Elementary school to help him with his delays, so for five days a week until 12:30 pm he will be at school. Woo Hoo! Needless to say this morning was hectic to say the least (bus forgot to pick him up, I forgot my purse, etc.) But, I am home now and since today will be a bit quieter (only one screaming kid to deal with), I might get a little more writing done. You will find out tomorrow about the calm and my mad writing skills ;)

Day 9: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...Not much of a bad thing.

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is my workflow. My blogging workflow is sporadic at best. I post things when I want or when I signed up for a blog tour. I am usually inspired to post something, like when I went on a tangent about reviewers saying a book is ‘hilarious’ or ‘I laughed my butt off’ only to find out the book wasn't funny at all. What constituted funny to them was the characters calling each other bitch even though they were best friends. How crazy! How...not funny.

Needless to say I have to find inspiration in order to post on my blog. That’s also true for my writing. As I explained in previous posts my Him Her Them series was inspired by the lack of strong, sexually confident female heroines I found out there. Why is every other heroine in a romance a virgin? And why do women get turned on by that? I thought it was men who were excited about having sex with a virgin, not women. It any of you can explain it to me I really am curious.

My novel writing is much the same as my blog writing, I need inspiration. Most of the time a scene pops in my head out of nowhere. Usually I am driving in the car, in the shower, waiting in a drive thru at Starbucks, etc. Always out of reach of my computer, so I make a quick note on my phone, if available, and write it when I get to my laptop.

So, that’s my workflow.

NaNoWriMo :  So far I have not written a thing today. I woke up not feeling well today. Then by the afternoon, when I started feeling better, my husband started to get sick. So, my day has been recovering or running after two small kids, which does not leave much time to write. I’m not worried thought, as according to the NaNoWriMo chart I am ahead of the game!

I did think of some good scenes while I was lying around today, so when I do write again I think it will be a steady flow.

Day 8: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...Is it funny haha or just ha?

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is my blogging toolkit. Hmm, I have to say I don’t know what that means. Does that mean what other social media I use to get my blog out there? Basically just Facebook, Goodreads and Twitter.

Or does it mean some sort of resources. I don’t think I have or do anything that is a ‘great’ tool that I need to share it with the world. Even in regards to my writing, there isn’t much I do that is so different.

I am afraid this post isn’t going to be that involved with the challenge as I don’t have much to offer here. I’m not a professional or trying to be professional blogger, I’m just a writer who has a blog.

I can share what I think every writer should have in their toolkit, humor. Yes, it is obvious comedy is important to me, but laughter is everywhere, even in the most gut wrenching situations a little laughter can relieve some of the pressure. People need it or I think the entire human population would have offed themselves thousands of years ago.

So, readers need it too. Even if what you write is very dramatic, throw in a light hearted moment every once in a while to keep the reader going. They need relief too. Plus, it adds depth to your writing. When people know you can write comedy, they will respect you more. Not to say that comedy is the greatest art form, but let’s say you are this great writer of crime dramas. You have a following where people can’t wait to read your next book. Only the next book comes out and there are so many lows (depressing dramatic moments that add to the story) that some of your readers comment that they liked the book but it was a little much to take.

Let’s change it up and now when the hero finds out that his wife has run away with the milk man, instead of racing off to the bar to drink his sorrows away, he goes to the fridge and notices there is no milk. He thinks, “Great he stole my wife and never deliverd the milk, that’s two strikes. Can my day get any worse?”

While that may not be laugh out loud hilarious, it’s light hearted. Something to give a the reader a little smirk and lighten their mood before they continue on to find out his wife and the milkman were murdered and he’s been framed for it!

I may go on and on about comedy, but there is a reason. Because it’s needed in life and in literature.

NaNoWriMo :  Today I wrote over 1200 words, which was good considering I had both boys today. It was in my new book, but I felt like I struggled a bit. I have plotted out the first quarter of the book, so I know what should happen, but my game just felt off.

Then something happened, I rediscovered a past love, Monty Python. That’s right I am a big ‘ol Monty Python nerd (have I mentioned how I wrote my senior thesis on them, because I tell everyone usually several times). Another writer on Facebook needed some cheering up and asked people to post jokes and funny pics. Then someone posted a Monty Python reference and I thought, “Oh it’s on now!” I proceeded to post another ten Monty Python pics, then head over to Pinterest and make a Monty Python board. Yeah, it was a little sad on my part.

But what I noticed is when I went back to writing the words just flowed. I think when I get stuck again in the future I’ll do that, look at Monty Python pins or perhaps just funny pics.

Day 7: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...One Novella down, 50,000 words to go!

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is first design, but since I only changed the design of my blog once and the change wasn't that dramatic, I’m going to write about the change in my writing style. I started writing the beginning of the year. Yup, hasn't even been a full year since I started writing and what I can say is I have definitely grown as a writer. I am sure I have a lot more growth in my future, but I can only talk about what I have experienced.

My first book, Lights Camera Desire, was my very first attempt. It was sort of a ‘can I do this’ kind of book. I will admit I won’t look at it. I am sure it is full of rookie mistakes and cringe worth moments, but hey a writer has to start somewhere. We can’t all be J. K. Rowling where our first attempt is epic.

In fact, I don’t even promote that book because I am afraid of the reviews. That’s right I’m a coward. But I think I have mentioned that a few times in past posts of my cowardly ways.

On to my next book, or rather series of novellas, the last of which I just finished yesterday (surprise story I am coming out with in December). I have written many stories, starts of books and some I finished, but haven’t published them.

One day I got finished reading yet another book with an alpha male’s pursuit of a young, drop dead gorgeous naive virgin and I got pissed. Why can’t a female character be sexual confident and strong and it be sexy? I remember walking over to my computer, no plotting or anything and the first novella just flowed out of me. It was my response to the question I posed.

When I was nearing the end of my novella series I realized I had no idea what to write next, after the series was over. That’s when I discovered a really funny, sexy book called Play by Kylie Scott. It’s about a drummer and his love interest. I am not one for musicians (I know I am rare in the female species) but the characters were really funny and it was smartly written. So, I searched and searched for more smart, funny, sexy reads. Most were crap that I picked up (claiming to be funny when there was barely even a joke in them or going over the top trying too hard to be outrageous), but then I discovered Penny Reid’s series and N. M. Silber. Their stories were smart, funny and the guys were super, duper hot. Ha! Ha! I found my calling.

I decided then and there I would be one of those funny, smart, sexy writers too. I would still include my steamy sex scenes, but the characters would be complex in a humorous way. So, now I don’t just write erotic romances, I write funny erotic romances.

NaNoWriMo :  I finished my novella! Yay! Now I can continue writing the actual 50,000 word book for NaNoWriMo. I wrote about 7500 words yesterday (including a sex scene and those take me forever to write) and finished the little story I am publishing in December. So, now I can continue Why I Hate Valentine’s Day, my NaNoWriMo book. I reread the first chapter for the book that I wrote earlier this week and am still proud of what I wrote.

I have been through a bit of an emotional roller coaster ride in regards to writing my ‘funny’ erotic romance. At first I thought I was hilarious, and then I thought I was crap and then I thought I was trying too hard, with the emotions starting all over again every day.

I know comedy is a strength of mine, but can I write it? And if I can, will the story also come across as sexy at the appropriate times and not look like sex scenes thrown in randomly? So many thoughts and emotions coursing through my veins with this book and I have only written one chapter.

I have both boys today, so I might not get as much writing as I would like today. This book is important to me, so I don’t just want to write just anything to fill a quota. I am hoping I feel better tomorrow (emotionally) about my writing and the words just flow confidently. Fingers crossed!

Day 6: NaNoWriMo & BookBlogWriMo...To escape, to get away & write!

BookBlogWriMo : Today’s challenge is favorite childhood books. I had a favorite but I can’t remember the name. I can recall it was about a boy going to the dentist or doctor and there was a mirroring story line on the bottom of the pages about a little bunny going to the dentist. It was called something like Johnny does to the dentist. It wasn’t famous or beautifully written but for some reason I love the dueling stories.

Another book that brings a lot of emotion back to me when I reminisce is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I could relate to the little boy in it. When he was punished and sent to his room, he didn’t deem it fair and imagined he could run away. I felt the same way when I was little. In fact when they turned it into a movie a few years ago I cried when I saw the trailer. That’s right, I cried.

When I was little I would search for evidence that I was a space alien from some far away planet and not really my parent’s child. Not that my parents were horrible people, but I think I suffered from some depression as a child and didn’t know how to handle it. It’s not normal to suffer from insomnia in elementary school and cry at your own birthday party because you feel so alone. This book helped me realize that perhaps other kids felt that way too.

It’s also helped me as a mother. I remember quite well feeling that way as a kid, so when my three year old throws a tantrum for what appears to be no reason I stop what I am doing and ask if he needs a hug. I sooth him and tell him I love his hugs.  Once he has calmed down I try to talk about feeling angry and it’s okay to feel that way. Because I remember wanting that when I was little but rarely got it. My parents reacted like most parents, punishing me (sending me to my room for a time out) or something along that line. Children get frustrated the same as adults, but they are too young to understand why or to verbalize their wants and needs. My three year old has a verbal delay so it’s especially hard for him sometimes. This book, as odd as it may seem, has helped me remember what I needed as a child so that I can give it to my little boy.

NaNoWriMo :  No writing got done yesterday. Zero. Zip. Zilch.  Nada. Took my youngest to my parents for lunch. They live an hour and a half in the country, so I got to see a lot of nice rolling hills and beautiful foliage, but not much of my computer. By the time everyone was home and the boys were in bed last night, my mind was mush. I tried typing but every other word I misspelled and I realized it was time for bed.

Today is my ‘day-off’ meaning both boys are in daycare so (woohoo!) I have the day to write. It is in my contract as a child care giver, cook, maid and errand-girl that I would get one day off a week. And by contract I mean I promised not to walk out on my husband due to a mental breakdown.

I am hoping to finish my novella and finish plotting out my book. Yes, I still have not finished plotting out my book. I have most of it done, that’s why I could easily write the first chapter the other day. But, most of the scenes aren’t sketched out, just the major plot points (or the skeleton of the story).

Hopefully, after today I will write my book like a mad woman. I fantasize I get a lucky break and my kids take extra-long naps over the course of the week and I get the book done in two weeks’ time! Of course that is a fantasy, so it will never happen.