Connecting Readers and Writers discussion
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What are you working on?
I am currently writing my third full length YA urban fantasy novel. I tend to write a book in four or five months and then spend the next six months editing. Oy. So...I raise a glass to all those in editing hell. To you, sisters and brothers, press on!
I'm working on the sequel to my last book, Extinction Point. Currently in the final phase of plotting ... also painting the eaves of my roof; it's nice and monotonous, which is always helpful when thinking, I find.
My primary project is to organize my projects. Here's what's cooking:a) Revise chapter one of "Along Side the Enemy", my first effort at a Sci Fi epic novel. I know the major events in the rise of Capt. Mercy Lyons, I just need to organize them into interesting episodes and get them on the page.
b) Write a short story for the WSS group here at Good Reads. Topic of the week: "The Stranger that knows all about you".
c) Write a short story for a magazine submission. Topic: Surviving the pending apocalypse.
d) Revise a short story set in the Queen's Fury world of project a. I'm not sure what I'm going to DO with said short story yet; probably shelve it as source material for a.
e) Continue to flesh out Romantic Comedy plot that I want to use for a Web-Novel to write over the summer. I don't want to launch it until I have some major characters figured out.
f) Write two more blog posts for next week. Topics? Hmm... well one is my squeeing over my first Amazon review. Not sure about the other.
g) Go back to a) and revise my revisions of how to plan my projects.
I'm working on trying not to drive myself insane.I've spread myself too thin with several works at once, and I think I need to backtrack and finish the first drafts of each one individually.
2 sequels to my first two books in The Wishes Chronicles - Romantic Suspense.
1 YA title where Dragons feature front-and-center, an integral group of citizens in that fantasy world.
Wondering how to/if I should fix the first novel I ever wrote - an Urban Fantasy with a Kick-Ass heroine.
You're in editing hell...
I'm in First Draft "where do I go with all this?" hell.
I think I've identified the problem I have - when I hop around the different works my voice gets diluted - the characters suffer because they can't THRIVE.
I just read a thriller. I'm editing a SF book, the third in Charles Millhouse's Jeremiah Talon Epic. I need to read and review my GoodReads book. Oh, and there's my physical Book Club here at home I need to read...
Elle, I think I need something stronger than tea to get me through all this.
Do you guys do this to yourselves too?
Paula
Paula haha you are making me feel better!!1. I have one book with an editor that will be last edits before printed.
2. One story with a friend before sending it out to my publisher.
3. Half way done writing the second book in a trilogy before starting the third.
4. Mapping out a sequel to another book.
And school work, but I might be missing a writing project...
I like to refer to it as editing purgatory. And yes I am there. haha
i'm working on three things:
1. editing - again - my current book "the connection," about two strangers who die in an accident, feel compelled not to go "into the light" and realize they have the proverbial ghost excuse of "unfinished business." together, they try to help each other figure out what that is.
B. preparing query letter for "the curse," the book in the ABNA quarter finals. then going on querytracker.com to get that going.
III. finishing reading roger ebert's memoir, and then reading books from nice people here.
4. maintaining blog site, which has recently gained a lot (ooh. a whole 35) followers, and reading other blogs because it's small writing assignments that keep my mind warmed up.
E. wine.
1. editing - again - my current book "the connection," about two strangers who die in an accident, feel compelled not to go "into the light" and realize they have the proverbial ghost excuse of "unfinished business." together, they try to help each other figure out what that is.
B. preparing query letter for "the curse," the book in the ABNA quarter finals. then going on querytracker.com to get that going.
III. finishing reading roger ebert's memoir, and then reading books from nice people here.
4. maintaining blog site, which has recently gained a lot (ooh. a whole 35) followers, and reading other blogs because it's small writing assignments that keep my mind warmed up.
E. wine.
writing nothing but thinking of a storey of the last two weeks of hell and lies. What characters!
Sonya wrote: "writing nothing but thinking of a storey of the last two weeks of hell and lies. What characters!"
feel free to share more and maybe we'll have thoughts to contribute. that's what i'm best at - listening to the ideas of others and helping enhance them.
feel free to share more and maybe we'll have thoughts to contribute. that's what i'm best at - listening to the ideas of others and helping enhance them.
these homeless people came into my house with their hideous cat Cuddles. I called the cat BitchKitty. It bit and scratched and was punished with time in my bathroom. The male has AIDS and possibly the woman too. They were a couple and she was preggo with twins. WTF?
I am working on a sequel to my first book. I was told writing in the first person is not advisable for someone with limited writing experience and have found out why. I just couldn't see any other way to tell this story. I am really pleased with the way my first turned out, so am just plugging along, having faith that I can tell a good story.
Sonya wrote: "these homeless people came into my house with their hideous cat Cuddles. I called the cat BitchKitty. It bit and scratched and was punished with time in my bathroom. The male has AIDS and possibly ..."
comedy?
comedy?
Richard wrote: "i'm working on three things:1. editing - again - my current book "the connection," about two strangers who die in an accident, feel compelled not to go "into the light" and realize they have the ..."
I'm mostly stuck on your "E." Richard, but I am working on a sequel to The Scene and a new novella that is giving me hell.
haha wine...yes...wine.
Rewriting draft of first novel - on chapter 7 now. I took a break from it a few months ago... I've stopped pulling out my hair for a while. Interesting take on marriage, if I may say :) - focus on the husband's life and point of view. I'll be starting a couple of short stories soon for upcoming contests. In between all this, I am still trying to read a novel! Faulkner, right now.
I agree with Paula, glad I'm not alone either with this. Great to see so many others doing what we love!
As long as I keep writing, I feel like I'm breathing.
I think I am the only writer who actually enjoys editing. I have been daydreaming since I was kid and I will often tell myself the same story over and over in my head, repeating it until it is just perfect. My writing is the same way, I love to just keep repeating it until's exactly what I want.I am currently on a second draft and fairly major re-write for a fantasy novel. It's part of a long series. Actually it's less of a series than it's a world in which there are several novels and more than one series.
the world is the Guilded Empire. It's a magical empire that spans many worlds. Powerful mages build doorways from world to the next and the world's are numerous and the setting vast. As the name implies the empire seems to be in it's golden age, but the cracks are already starting to show, which is what most of the stories are about.
The story is Mage Mary. Mary is a simple healer but she's got mage level magic which is rare. Her old teacher has sent her on a mission on behalf of the mage's council. Two minor nobles in some distant corner of the empire are fighting a war. Technically it's illegal and should have been stopped a long time ago. However nobody in the court system has intervened and they want to know why, so they send Mary. She discovers that there are some sort of new warriors, the Juggernaut, being used. Some say they are demons, or that they are invincible. The mages are afraid that the military is using the conflict to test these new soldiers. But Mary is a healer, not a combat mage, what can she do?
The second draft of part one will be finished within days, part two is mostly finished in my head, partly drafted on paper and not a bit written.
sorry for the long post, but you did ask what I was working on. ;)
I'm currently resting after finishing my fourth book - I have two weeks to go before I start editing for second draft.In the meantime, I'm just playing around. I've tried writing some erotica this week, just for a lark and something different. Kind of fun!
Don't diss on the Erotica. It's a growing market in the eBook region.Maybe some of us should all agree to put a short work together from here, trade them to copy edit, do a second round and put out an eBook collection.
Because you know.. .we all have that kind of time...
*hehe.. I said "put out".
~need more coffee~
Julie wrote: "I am currently writing my third full length YA urban fantasy novel. I tend to write a book in four or five months and then spend the next six months editing. Oy.
So...I raise a glass to all those..."
what is "urban fantasy"? i plead ignorance.
So...I raise a glass to all those..."
what is "urban fantasy"? i plead ignorance.
I'm currently writing the next book in "The Ties That Bind Series." I'm getting lots of feedback from the first book, "Running From Beige" and I consider editing to be ranked right up there with paying taxes. You have to do it. But I think Tony is right. You have to take some time off between projects, even if it's just for a few days. It is extremely hard for me to work on one story at a time. It's an addiction. Now, my biggest obstacle is getting other people to actually understand that writing is my JOB. I don't bug them at work, or barge into their office, or keep them on the phone forever. So along with writing, I'm working on a GTFO sign. Just kidding, well maybe not...
I'm working on too much and not enough.I'm working on the sequel to A Demon Love Story (Part Two: Domination)
I'm working on the editing of Soul Mates my first published novella.
I'm working on several short stories (all listed on my blog)
I'm working on my blog, trying to get followers
I'm working on Twittering
I'm working on Facebooking
I'm working on attempting to get reviews
I'm working on attempting to move up in the Amazon rank.
I'm working on reading books I promised to review.
I'm working on loving every minute.
Susan wrote: "I am working on a sequel to my first book. I was told writing in the first person is not advisable for someone with limited writing experience and have found out why. I just couldn't see any other ..."
if that was me who said that, i hope i said it politely. i'm currently "reading" on CD some stephen king short stories, mostly in first person. the current one is about a farmer in the 1920's. not a very educated man, but he just used the word "recommenced." i don't see that character using that word. that's why i think first person is difficult. you're not writing about someone else, you're writing AS someone else would write. it's hard enough to write just from within ourselves, but first person causes you to pretend to be someone else and then write what they would write.
when it's done well, it's wonderful. but it's not easy to do well. maybe i'm being picky, but the whole time i'm reading, i'm now focusing on whether or not that character would use certain words and sentences.
if that was me who said that, i hope i said it politely. i'm currently "reading" on CD some stephen king short stories, mostly in first person. the current one is about a farmer in the 1920's. not a very educated man, but he just used the word "recommenced." i don't see that character using that word. that's why i think first person is difficult. you're not writing about someone else, you're writing AS someone else would write. it's hard enough to write just from within ourselves, but first person causes you to pretend to be someone else and then write what they would write.
when it's done well, it's wonderful. but it's not easy to do well. maybe i'm being picky, but the whole time i'm reading, i'm now focusing on whether or not that character would use certain words and sentences.
Allison wrote: "I'm working on too much and not enough.
I'm working on the sequel to A Demon Love Story (Part Two: Domination)
I'm working on the editing of Soul Mates my first published novella.
I'm working on se..."
you're an ambitious girl. must be a lot of energy in that room with you. would love to be a fly on the wall.
I'm working on the sequel to A Demon Love Story (Part Two: Domination)
I'm working on the editing of Soul Mates my first published novella.
I'm working on se..."
you're an ambitious girl. must be a lot of energy in that room with you. would love to be a fly on the wall.
Richard wrote: "Allison wrote: "I'm working on too much and not enough.I'm working on the sequel to A Demon Love Story (Part Two: Domination)
I'm working on the editing of Soul Mates my first published novella.
I..."
Well I am horrible at time management so the list is more ambitious than I am. :)
then you need a coach to stand behind you and keep you focused. i'll fill out an application.
Laekan wrote: "I like to refer to it as editing purgatory. And yes I am there. haha"*wave* hello editing purgatory buddy. Oh, how I hate it! I never realised how much I use the word 'was' and trying to think of alternatives is driving me crazy!
Still, I started a new novel today so that cheered me up a bit. There's nothing like the buzz of setting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) when you start something new is there?
yes laekan. i have notes on four novels i'm dying to start, and i've asked friends their opinion on which should be first, and they all agree. however, i MUST hold off because i'm trying to write a third draft of a current project and i'm also working on query letters for a pretty much finished project. to start another now would be a thing of not-goodness. but i LOVE writing first drafts.
Richard wrote: "then you need a coach to stand behind you and keep you focused. i'll fill out an application."Hahaha! I may just take you up on that!
I'm thinking about re-writing a large proportion of a mystery novel I wrote 3 years ago. It has some significant flaws at the moment, but I loved the characters and story so much that it feels like unfinished business. I'm also writing short stories too - welcome bite-sized pieces as relief from thinking of over-hauling the novel.
Right now, I'm working on two things:1. I'm putting the final polishing touches to A TIME OF RECKONING, sequel to OF GOOD AND EVIL .
2. I'm polishing the first draft of the screenplay for OF GOOD AND EVIL.
Richard wrote: "then you need a coach to stand behind you and keep you focused. i'll fill out an application."I am also hiring for this position. Unforeseen events (btw shoot up some prayers for my pup) have hindered the writing process the last few days.
Coach, I need an inspirational monologue stat!
I'm taking a break from editing "Into the Deep" while some friends and family beta it. I've started writing it's sequel which I've yet to title, but am thinking about calling it "Out of the Blue". I'm just worried it's too cliche. I'm also beta-ing a YA Latin Historical fiction piece which I'm enjoying quite a bit. And, every now and then I find myself writing down notes for a dystopian piece about colonizing another planet.
I'm working on getting my first novel Quest into print with CreateSpace (still undecided on the final cover and have some tweaking to do). Then I've got quite a few different writing projects going... the sequel to Quest is first and foremost on my list, after which comes two other books (both fantasy) for which I've been writing first drafts whenever inspiration hits. And just today I got another idea, so I started jotting down some stuff for somewhat of a memoir, written under a pen name.
I'm currently heavily into writing my second novel, which is nearing completion. I'm now reviewing, re-reading, reviewing, re-reading, reviewing, re-reading etc. This is the second book of a planned series of five books.The first book of the series is called
, it was released on Kindle in January 2012 and paperback in March 2012.The second one which I am currently writing is called "Quest Two. The Cursed Nile".
It should hopefully be ready within a few months.
Cheers
Lauryn wrote: "I'm taking a break from editing "Into the Deep" while some friends and family beta it. I've started writing it's sequel which I've yet to title, but am thinking about calling it "Out of the Blue". ..."
how about just "the blue"?
how about just "the blue"?
Sonya wrote: "Richard, horror or suspense."
paranormal/horror/suspense. i'm not good with categories.
paranormal/horror/suspense. i'm not good with categories.
I'm currently fleshing out the sub-plots for my next novel, Reprisal: Vengeance knows no boundary. A good old fashioned revenge from beyond the grave ghost story with a Lovecraftian twist.
Just put down the first draft of a novella. Enter Night. About six friends who come face to face with their worst nightmares on a night that was to have been a celebration.
Plus a couple of short stories.
When one project starts to drag me down I shift gears into another to keep myself fresh.
Just put down the first draft of a novella. Enter Night. About six friends who come face to face with their worst nightmares on a night that was to have been a celebration.
Plus a couple of short stories.
When one project starts to drag me down I shift gears into another to keep myself fresh.
Mod
Richard wrote: what is "urban fantasy"? i plead ignorance.Contemporary setting with one or more magical or paranormal characters. Also known as "paranormal romance" if there's some hot action in it. (wink wink)
I know this because what I'm *supposed* to be doing right now is formatting my new book, "Seized" -- which is urban fantasy/paranormal romance -- for the paperback version. (It's currently #9 in contemporary fantasy at the Kindle store. This weekend's free promotion helped a bunch!)
I'm also in the middle of writing the first draft of the next book in the series right now. And generating ideas for the next two or three books, too....
I thought I was working on a lot...Let's see-Sequel to The Fall
-Going through The Fall again, thinking it's not good enough
-Organising my Cressida Widdershins short stories into an anthology
-Homework for my writing class
-A new dystopian/vampire/romance series
so paranormal romance = urban fantasy? there's the "urban" come in?
I'm on the last chapter on the first draft of a new detective series. And I'm about to start the third book in my Abigail Deane series.
I would define urban fantasy as something set in the modern world but containing elements of fantasy (magic, mythology, the paranormal). Read anything by Charles De Lint or most Neil Gaimon, for examples. Not all are romance novels by any stretch of the imagination.
Agreed, Rachel. I've never really looked into urban fantasy all that much, but just judging from the two words, that's what I gathered the genre to be about.
Richard,Compliments of Wickipedia: Urban fantasy describes a work that is set primarily in a city and contains aspects of fantasy. These matters may involve the arrivals of alien races, the discovery of earthbound mythological creatures, coexistence between humans and paranormal beings, conflicts between humans and malicious paranormals, and subsequent changes in city management.
I see Urban Fantasy as a Magical Frog in your garden, in the city, that most everyone in the story knows nothing about.Batman would fall into that class. Edward Cullen would, but Forks isn't really a city - if he were set in Seattle, then we could say Twilight was Urban Fantasy.
A better example would be The Immortals series by Cassandra Clare - her paranormal characters are set in NYC.
So, IF a paranormal romance is SET in a city, then yes, it would be an Urban Fantasy. (Forks, not so much...)
Paula
Richard wrote: "so paranormal romance = urban fantasy? there's the "urban" come in?"See my explanation - clear as mud :)
Connecting Readers and Writers
Books mentioned in this topic
Wander Home (other topics)Twin-Bred (other topics)
Reprobate: A Katla Novel (other topics)
Into the Deep (other topics)
Reassigned (other topics)
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So, that got me thinking, what are you working on right now?
I think that it is important to support each other, not only on what we have done, but on what we are trying to do. I know I need way more support when I am in editing hell, then I do when my stories come out.
I can't wait to hear!