Writing Projects - 2015

[Kim]

Now that 2015 has started, what are you all working on for writing projects?

I've got the following planned:

- finish revising Maybe Tomorrow (follow-up to Maybe Baby), get it edited and publish it
- finish revising Maybe Forever (follow-up to Maybe Baby), get it edited and publish it
- finish three short stories
- finish three novellas (two set in Snowbound universe, one set in Maybe Baby universe)
- start a new novel (standalone, was originally short story, Linger)
- finish a novel I started five years ago and set aside

[Ines]

Writing Goals
-Publish one unique work (ebook, print, or audiobook) each month.
-Make three figures by the end of Spring 2015.
-Make four figures by the end of the year.

Writing Projects
-The Pleasure Hound Book 1 -working on print and audio book
-Pumpkin: a Cindermama Story -out March 2015
-The Valiant Stallion (wt): a Pleasure Hound novel -out May 2015
-The Clever Fox (wt): a Pleasure Hound novel -out August 2015
-Rumpeled: a Cindermama Story -out October 2015
-Bright: a Shadow Hunters novella -out December 2015
-work on two short (possibly serialized) stories

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

Thanks for starting this post Kim!

[Michelle, Mod with the Bod]

I meant thread......

[Kim]

Ines wrote: "Writing Goals
-Publish one unique work (ebook, print, or audiobook) each month.
-Make three figures by the end of Spring 2015.
-Make four figures by the end of the year.

Writing Projects
-The Plea..."

Wow, Ines! Sounds like you will be busy! :D

I was planning on publishing one unique work per month too, but now my work schedule is so hectic that I know I won't be able to do that.

I'm considering doing another serial novella again, with publishing the chapters on my blog and then, once complete, releasing it as an ebook.

[Kim]

Michelle wrote: "I meant thread......"

You're welcome! :)

[Ines]

Kim wrote: "I'm considering doing another serial novella again, with publishing the chapters on my blog and then, once complete, releasing it as an ebook."

I love this idea! I don't have enough followers yet to make it worth my while. Gonna go and follow your site now in anticipation.

Most of the books on my project list are already written. I was possessed by a scribe muse last year and wrote about 250K words. Now, I'm polishing the individual manuscripts and sending them off to editors.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I've had a few ideas floating around. I need to finish a couple of manuscripts in progress (old NaNoWriMo stories and a challenge story) and I have a couple of newer ideas I want to work on.

[Ines]

Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "I've had a few ideas floating around. I need to finish a couple of manuscripts in progress (old NaNoWriMo stories and a challenge story) and I have a couple of newer ideas I want to work on."

Two of the books I plan to publish this year are NANO WRIMO's from 2012 (Pumpkin) and 2013 (Bright). After hours of workshops, critiques, and now a huge dose of courage and a spoonful of delusion, I'm putting them out there.

Maybe we can also use this thread for accountability in polishing off WIPs?

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Good idea. I suck as far as accountability. I mainly just do NaNo, and then my writing drops off dramatically during the year.

I was also thinking about writing a MG/JV book, so may I'll brainstorm on some plot ideas this year.

[Kim]

I make myself get up early every morning with the intention of writing. Some mornings I get loads done; other mornings I just sit there and feel completely at a loss but I still try to write.

[Ines]

What about a "laughable" goal that you know you can get done. Like 250 or 500 words per day?

I'm in editing mode for the next couple of months, but I've committed to 500 words each day for a short story that just might turn into chapters that I release on my blog (thanks Kim!)

Let me know if you're down? You can count brainstorming and plot work towards your daily word count.

[Kim]

I usually aim for around 500 words a day and I usually try to tell myself "this is what I am going to write today" before I sit down. But it depends on how tired I am when I wake up. Sometimes I get much more done in the evenings when I come home from work or at the weekends.

Always good to have a brainstorming partner! Will keep you posted. I may need a beta reader soon for a project I am revising, so let me know if you think you'd be interested.

[Echo]

Wow! You guys are all set.
My goals...
1. Complete draft one of Nano novel SKIN. I'm keeping at it even if progress is slow.

2. Edit and submit a novella SARTYRFIELD that I just got back from beta reader.

3. Write two novellas series, both M/M that I'm working on now.

Focusing mainly on my M/M stories as first did better than I expected. I kind of just fell into it and enjoy it so I'll keep going.

[Vanae]

Kim I am so glad to read that you plan on releasing this year. I'M SO EXCITED, the "Maybe" series is one of my favorite collections. Ever since Snowbound I've been keeping watch for new works by you. I'm never disappointed,and I love the characters you develop.I pray that you have a never ending supply of inspiration, because good reads are hard to find...smile.

[Ines]

Kim wrote: "Always good to have a brainstorming partner! Will keep you posted. I may need a beta reader soon for a project I am revising, so let me know if you think you'd be interested. "

I'd be happy to beta. I like reading treatments too. Plotting and all of its intricacies gets me giddy. I teach screenwriting at an art college. I just gave a plotting lecture to my new students today. I heard one of them say as he was leaving "Man, you know its gonna be a good class when the teacher gets excited."

[Ines]

Echo wrote: "Focusing mainly on my M/M stories as first did better than I expected. I kind of just fell into it and enjoy it so I'll keep going.
"

That happened to me as well. I had no intentions of writing MM. But two of my characters, who happened to be male, told me they were in love and I said ok. Then I discovered a whole world of men in love. My favorite to date is Mr. Jaguar. I can't stop thinking about that story.

[Echo]

Ines wrote: "Echo wrote: "Focusing mainly on my M/M stories as first did better than I expected. I kind of just fell into it and enjoy it so I'll keep going.
"

That happened to me as well. I had no intentions..."
. It's aurprisingly when writing can just take you in unexpected directions. My first M/M, never published, occurred writing a standard fantasy and the couple were the only interesting thing worth keeping after the draft.

Your classes sound marvelous! Wish I could take them....

[Kim]

Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "Good idea. I suck as far as accountability. I mainly just do NaNo, and then my writing drops off dramatically during the year.

I was also thinking about writing a MG/JV book, so may I'll brainsto..."

Danielle, what's MG/JV?

[Kim]

Vanae wrote: "Kim I am so glad to read that you plan on releasing this year. I'M SO EXCITED, the "Maybe" series is one of my favorite collections. Ever since Snowbound I've been keeping watch for new works by yo..."

Thanks, Vanae. :) I was so certain Maybe Tomorrow would be done in October but real life got in the way--I'm a union rep at work and the company I work for is going through a huge reorganisation, which has meant extra work on my plate.

I love the Maybe series too. I know Laney & Mads aren't everyone's cuppa tea, but I love them together and it's fun writing about Stockholm and Copenhagen.

[Ines]

So ladies (any gents?),

If there's enough interest, I'm going to start a new thread in this folder for writing accountability. It can be a space for you to post your daily word count, your daily editing page count, a space to moan and groan about the process, or a space to get encouragement.

We know that readers are hungry for IR and POC characters and stories. Let's support each other in getting these stories out there.

So, if you're interested in daily sisterhood (again, any brothas?) and support in your writing, help me figure out a name.

Daily Writing Accountability
WIP it good

[Echo]

Ines wrote: "So ladies (any gents?),

If there's enough interest, I'm going to start a new thread in this folder for writing accountability. It can be a space for you to post your daily word count, your daily e..."
sounds good to me.
Daily Writing Cheering Squad

[Ines]

Echo wrote: "Daily Writing Cheering Squad "

Nice one!

[Kim]

Echo wrote: "Ines wrote: "So ladies (any gents?),

If there's enough interest, I'm going to start a new thread in this folder for writing accountability. It can be a space for you to post your daily word count,..."

Sounds perfect! :D

[Ines]

All right ladies, here's the link. Can't wait to know what you've been up to on today's pages!

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Kim wrote: " Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "Good idea. I suck as far as accountability. I mainly just do NaNo, and then my writing drops off dramatically during the year.

I wa..."

MG/JV= middle grade/juvenile (9-12 year olds)

[Kim]

Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "Kim wrote: " Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "Good idea. I suck as far as accountability. I mainly just do NaNo, and then my writing drops off dramatically during the..."

Ah! OK! For some reason I wa thinking "Mighty Girl" when I saw "MG" and thinking,"How cool! A genre for books with strong girls as main characters."

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I like read books for this age. They are fun and interesting. They have to keep the story going because kids can tend to have a short attention span, not unlike myself at times. :)

[Pygmy]

Hi,

I'm a bit of an off/on lurker here, but this year I decided I wanted to finish a WIP that I've had going for several years now, inspired partially from all the IR books I read. My mind is boggled how one of the posters here could write a book a month. Utterly amazed! How long are your books? If I have a whole day to myself, I could maybe right 1600 words, but with work, I'm lucky if I get 300 words, and that's if I'm transcribing something I handwrote. I have tendonitis issues too, so I can't write or type too much in one sitting either...

[Kim]

My novel's first draft was 52,000 words. With rewrites, it will probably be more like 70,000 words. I planned it out: wrote a plot outline, so I knew where I wanted my story to go and then followed it (for the most part). I wrote every morning for an hour before I went to work and then wrote until I hit my word count goal every evening. It's possible to do it if you stay focused.

[Ines]

Hi Pygmy! That was probably me writing all those manuscripts. I took a Fast Drafting workshop with Candace Havens, called Book In a Month Club: http://www.candacehavens.com/index.ph...

And I also swear by this book: 2k to 10k: Writing Faster, Writing Better, and Writing More of What You Love.

You can train yourself to do it. Join us on the Daily Writing Cheering Squad and we'll cheer you on!

[Pygmy]

Thanks for the references! I'll have to check those out. Are both of you (Kim/Ines) really into planning things out? I've read some writers swear by detailed outlines, and some can only write by the seat of their pants. I'm probably a mix; I write with a vague idea/outline and whatever I'm inspired, but then once I burn through that initial inspiration, it becomes a very slow slog because I have no idea where to go in the middle. Several years pass that way...but this year, I finally pulled out my post-its, rearranged all the scenes I did write in proper order, and suddenly it became super easy to fill in what new scenes needed to be written to bridge the gap between the old scenes.

[Ines]

I love to plan. I'm Type A. I used to do a very detailed treatment. Nowadays I only do scene outlines because I've learned that once I sit down the characters take over and often ignore my outline! They always know best so I listen to them -yes I listen to the voices in my head;-)

Here's another great reference for the muddle-middle: Write Your Novel From the Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between

[Pygmy]

Wow, I just read a ton of blog posts by the author who wrote the 2k to 10K book, and my eyes feel so opened! Thanks so much for recommending her, I'm pretty tempted to buy her self-published book now ( )! I love her discussions of the industry, Kindle sales, etc as well. I was waffling between traditional and self publishing, but it's not like I plan to make a living as a writer (I like a steady paycheck too much), so my family recommends trying to submit the old-fashioned way, and if nothing happens, then go the self-published route. What do you think?

[Ines]

I think that's a good plan. Try to submit the traditional way, then if you get no bites try out indie publishing. As a writer who writes characters of color, I don't get any attention from traditional publishers. That's why I went the indie pub route. There are tons of readers out there who want these stories. The publishers just don't see it. Their loss is my gain;-)

[Xio]

Great thread, Kim! Let's see.

Currently, I am...
- Writing Calum Me Maybe (the follow up to The Calum)
- Editing Falling Stars (formerly part of my web serial Starstruck)
- Revising book one in my Salivate series (erotica)

I have four novellas and three novels planned for release this year. Add to that the stuff I am submitting to publishers, and it will be a busy one.

[Xio]

Ines wrote: "I love to plan. I'm Type A. I used to do a very detailed treatment. Nowadays I only do scene outlines because I've learned that once I sit down the characters take over and often ignore my outline!..."

I wish I could do outlines. The most I can do without ruining the story for myself is chapter titles. Weird, right? If I outline, it kills the story in my head. LOL

[Ines]

I'm surrounded by pantsers!

@Xio, I can't do chapters until just before I send it to the editor! I come from the world of screenwriting. So my "chapters" are all scenes. Once all the scenes are written, I go back and look for the tension point and put a chapter break there.

When people tell me that they are in chapter three of their draft I'm like, how do you know its chapter three?

I wish you many words this chilly weekend!

[Xio]

I can relate, @Ines! I write in scenes too, only I let the characters have several 'takes' in my head before I commit the words to screen. Because of that, my chapter lengths can vary wildly, lol.

Thank you for the word-ful wishes. Same to you! =)

[Kim]

And I am one of those writers who writes sample scenes and then rereads them and reworks them until it's something I like. :)

[Ines]

@Kim, here's a potentially stupid question. Does Sweden have weekends? Its snowing here on the east coast of the US. Does it perpetually snow there?

Snow and rain bring out my Muse. Its doing both right now. I'm hoping for a big word count day today!

[Kim]

Ines wrote: "@Kim, here's a potentially stupid question. Does Sweden have weekends? Its snowing here on the east coast of the US. Does it perpetually snow there?

Snow and rain bring out my Muse. Its doing both..."

Yup, we have weekends. :) Our trade unions are strong here, so they make sure we have 30 days of paid vacation, weekends, overtime compensation, etc.

We have seasons here--a very long winter, longish spring, short summer and autumn. It doesn't snow all the time--though Hollywood seems to think we *always* have snow. Up in northern Sweden, they get tons of snow and it's dark for 18-24 hours per day for a while, then they have sunlight for 24 18-24 hours during the summer. I'm in central Sweden, so we don't get as much snow during the winter. In fact this year has been a mild winter--it's rained more than it snowed. But we did recently have three straight days of snow.

I usually get a lot of writing done in the winter. Once the weather is good here, you just want to be out having a good time and enjoying it while it lasts. :)

[Ines]

@I meant winters not weekends! hahahaha

[Kim]

Ines wrote: "@I meant winters not weekends! hahahaha"

Heheh! I've had weirder questions about Sweden. ;)

[Xio]

Kim wrote: "Ines wrote: "@I meant winters not weekends! hahahaha"

Heheh! I've had weirder questions about Sweden. ;)"

I'm sure I've asked a few, Kim. =)

[Ines]

Is it in anyone's plans to attend RWA this year in NYC?

[Xio]

Ines wrote: "Is it in anyone's plans to attend RWA this year in NYC?"

Xio Axelrod Yep, I'll be there. How about you, Ines?

[Ines]

Yeah! I get to meet you! I'm going with my critique partner, who's also my old college roommate and one of my best friends. You two have met, Xio. Here names Leslye, her pen name is L. Penelope. She wrote this: Song of Blood & Stone.

We have to meet up there. Let us know if you need roommates, too. We're getting a room at the conference hotel.

[Xio]

Ines wrote: "Yeah! I get to meet you! I'm going with my critique partner, who's also my old college roommate and one of my best friends. You two have met, Xio. Here names Leslye, her pen name is L. Penelope. Sh..."

Sweet! It will be awesome to meet you. I'll check out her work. =)

[Kim]

Ines wrote: "Is it in anyone's plans to attend RWA this year in NYC?"

Keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to take vacation in July so that I can attend. I have a meeting with my boss later this week to discuss vacation situation. :)