I really have no excuse for why I've been so quiet other than NaNoWriMo. I don't even think that's a good excuse, but I'm still using it anyway.
We are nine days into NaNo, and I am almost breaking 20k on Good Criminal Heart. Finally going to see this project come to completion after seven years of sitting on it.
At this point, I am standing on a finished novelette ("My Summer Vacation by Terrance Wade"), a finished novella (The Unanswerable), and three finished novels (RUHE, Where We Collide, and Rioss). Which means I need some realistic goals for myself in order to get these all published/shopped.
I'm still aiming for "My Summer Vacation..." to be self-published prior to the holiday season.
The next few months will be busy. After NaNo, I will get RUHE queried again and work on getting Where We Collide ready for querying.
How is everyone's November going? Are you participating in NaNo?
Also, side note, if you want to keep up with my NaNo progress, I'm posting Main Character Facts along with word counts on my Google+ Page.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
What happened to October?
There's this month. It's called October. I don't know if any of you have seen it, but I certainly missed it. What happened to all the goals I was going to accomplish? The days flew by, and I'm wondering what the heck happened to October.
Just to clarify it to myself, here's the story of October:
Last weekend I joined the army of the undead. That's right. My husband and I did the Run for Your Lives race. No, not as runners. Never as runners - are you kidding me? I couldn't run to save my life. But I can stumble around and scare the living daylights out of people. We signed up to be zombies during the race, and as you can see, our makeup was... delicious. Highly recommended for any zombie fans. It's a lot of fun being dressed up in goop with good people by your side.
This weekend, we got lost in a corn maze. By lost, I mean I kept peeking at the map so we wouldn't get lost because I hate getting lost. My accomplishment was peeking less this year than last year. Next year's goal is to stick the map in my purse and forget it exists.
We carved our pumpkins for the holiday. I almost thought it wasn't going to happen this year, because like I said, the month of October disappeared. Mine's the one with the moon and the cat. Last year it was an owl, this year it was a cat. I'm going to attempt to carve Jack Skellington at work tomorrow - we'll see how that goes.
Other than that... I did some critique partnering. I've been reading a lot of 2nd and 3rd books in a series for the "Let's Finish What We Started" Challenge by the MA-YA group on goodreads. On the fifth book now, Promised by Caragh O'Brien, and I still love the series even though that amazon review ruined the ending for me. (Thanks person who wrote a huge spoiler in the title of your review. You rock.)
My beta readers got me back Terrance so now I have to sit down and actually edit his story. It shouldn't be that hard, sitting at only 15k to edit, but editing is always taxing. I have one more person to send it to, but I want it to be polished to receive some final, last-minute insight - just in case I missed something huge.
NaNoWriMo is creeping up around the corner. I'm not ready for you yet, November! Stay over there!
Though, I must say, I've been outlining Anthony's story this week, and I love his character again. Everything that felt trite the first time around is getting knocked out. The biggest conflict is better than ever (his own self-consciousness) and the people in the story now accentuate it, instead of derailing it into another plot line entirely. Oh, and my husband likes the new developments. These all bode well, and I'm excited to get my hands moving across the keys again... But I still hope I can finish Terrance by the weekend, else I might not be able to finish him in time for Thanksgiving my absolute deadline.
How about you guys? NaNoing? Ready for it? Was October just as busy for you, or did you manage to find a weekend to breathe?
Just to clarify it to myself, here's the story of October:
Last weekend I joined the army of the undead. That's right. My husband and I did the Run for Your Lives race. No, not as runners. Never as runners - are you kidding me? I couldn't run to save my life. But I can stumble around and scare the living daylights out of people. We signed up to be zombies during the race, and as you can see, our makeup was... delicious. Highly recommended for any zombie fans. It's a lot of fun being dressed up in goop with good people by your side.This weekend, we got lost in a corn maze. By lost, I mean I kept peeking at the map so we wouldn't get lost because I hate getting lost. My accomplishment was peeking less this year than last year. Next year's goal is to stick the map in my purse and forget it exists.
Other than that... I did some critique partnering. I've been reading a lot of 2nd and 3rd books in a series for the "Let's Finish What We Started" Challenge by the MA-YA group on goodreads. On the fifth book now, Promised by Caragh O'Brien, and I still love the series even though that amazon review ruined the ending for me. (Thanks person who wrote a huge spoiler in the title of your review. You rock.)
My beta readers got me back Terrance so now I have to sit down and actually edit his story. It shouldn't be that hard, sitting at only 15k to edit, but editing is always taxing. I have one more person to send it to, but I want it to be polished to receive some final, last-minute insight - just in case I missed something huge.
NaNoWriMo is creeping up around the corner. I'm not ready for you yet, November! Stay over there!
Though, I must say, I've been outlining Anthony's story this week, and I love his character again. Everything that felt trite the first time around is getting knocked out. The biggest conflict is better than ever (his own self-consciousness) and the people in the story now accentuate it, instead of derailing it into another plot line entirely. Oh, and my husband likes the new developments. These all bode well, and I'm excited to get my hands moving across the keys again... But I still hope I can finish Terrance by the weekend, else I might not be able to finish him in time for Thanksgiving my absolute deadline.
How about you guys? NaNoing? Ready for it? Was October just as busy for you, or did you manage to find a weekend to breathe?
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Work in Progress Challenge
I was tagged by the lovely Brooke Johnson and thought that maybe I should talk about the work I am going to do for NaNoWriMo. I have written this before - but it is undergoing a complete rewrite. Half of it was in diary format (blech) and half was rewritten, but not as well as I would like.
Complete overhaul for NaNo, and here we go with the questions!
1. What is the title of your Work in Progress?
Good Criminal Heart - though this is pending.
2. Where did the idea for the WiP come from?
Honestly, most of it was inspired through my love of the show Queer as Folk. And I realized when I was younger that there wasn't much YA GLBT literature available. I read Blue Coyote and loved it, even though it was heart wrenching. And I invented this character that I blogged through, which people really responded to. He left the blog and started to come to life on paper.
3. What genre would your WiP fall under?
YA Contemporary. There is a twist of romance, but it is more of a coming of age story.
4. Which actors would you choose to play characters in a movie rendition?
My first instinct is to say Ian Somerhalder for Anthony, because he does dark really well. But, no offense to Ian, but I don't think he can pull off "16 year old boy" anymore.
This is really hard for me. First, Anthony is shorter. Second, he has darker features, but light eyes. And third, he's supposed to be attractive, but hard on himself for his looks because he doesn't think he's attractive... So, as far as looks now goes, I would say Brendan Meyer, especially since this obviously won't be filmed for a few years, and he's still young. Also in some of the modeling photos of him, he has that serious look that I think would be great for Anthony's character - but I've never seen him act, so... I really have no idea how he would work in the role.
5. What is a one-sentence synopsis of your WiP?
Abusive father, abrasive mother, sister that's a little too close for comfort, partying band members; check - what causes Anthony to go over the edge is the one thing he never expected to find: love.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I hope to find an agent for all my works. I have three other finished YA novels that are being re-worked/edited. I have one novelette that will be self published soon, which is more geared towards adults.
7. How long did it take you to write?
The concept of Anthony I've been working on for eight years. I've put him down numerous times only to come back and fall in love with him all over again. Hopefully this NaNo will see him get finished - or at least closer than he's even been to finished.
8. What other WiPs in your genre would you compare it to?
This is kind of like Rioss, my story about a rather angry werewolf who is trapped in a mental institution. Jeremy and Anthony are creatures of emotion - they hate to say it, but they both wear their hearts on their sleeve. Mostly because the rest of them is too cold to hold a heart anymore. As far as other books go? Possibly The Outsiders, but Anthony is more like Dallas than Ponyboy.
9. Which authors inspired you to write this WiP?
I adored S.E. Hinton when I was growing up. The darkness that she portrayed in people, the sad, terrifying situations her characters get into, only to grow at the end. Those kinds of work made me really want to write. I would like to think that Anthony's story does S.E.'s inspiration some justice.
10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest about this WiP.
This is my only YA book that actually has sex in it - though it might be open to interpretation by some. It also deals with some heavy hitting topics: homophobia, abuse, drugs, alcohol, depression, and religion.
I tagged Anthony Deaver and Sarah Rios.
If 1000th.monkey (K) sees this and wants to partake, I would love her to :)
Complete overhaul for NaNo, and here we go with the questions!
1. What is the title of your Work in Progress?
Good Criminal Heart - though this is pending.
2. Where did the idea for the WiP come from?
Honestly, most of it was inspired through my love of the show Queer as Folk. And I realized when I was younger that there wasn't much YA GLBT literature available. I read Blue Coyote and loved it, even though it was heart wrenching. And I invented this character that I blogged through, which people really responded to. He left the blog and started to come to life on paper.
3. What genre would your WiP fall under?
YA Contemporary. There is a twist of romance, but it is more of a coming of age story.
4. Which actors would you choose to play characters in a movie rendition?
My first instinct is to say Ian Somerhalder for Anthony, because he does dark really well. But, no offense to Ian, but I don't think he can pull off "16 year old boy" anymore.
This is really hard for me. First, Anthony is shorter. Second, he has darker features, but light eyes. And third, he's supposed to be attractive, but hard on himself for his looks because he doesn't think he's attractive... So, as far as looks now goes, I would say Brendan Meyer, especially since this obviously won't be filmed for a few years, and he's still young. Also in some of the modeling photos of him, he has that serious look that I think would be great for Anthony's character - but I've never seen him act, so... I really have no idea how he would work in the role.
5. What is a one-sentence synopsis of your WiP?
Abusive father, abrasive mother, sister that's a little too close for comfort, partying band members; check - what causes Anthony to go over the edge is the one thing he never expected to find: love.
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
I hope to find an agent for all my works. I have three other finished YA novels that are being re-worked/edited. I have one novelette that will be self published soon, which is more geared towards adults.
7. How long did it take you to write?
The concept of Anthony I've been working on for eight years. I've put him down numerous times only to come back and fall in love with him all over again. Hopefully this NaNo will see him get finished - or at least closer than he's even been to finished.
8. What other WiPs in your genre would you compare it to?
This is kind of like Rioss, my story about a rather angry werewolf who is trapped in a mental institution. Jeremy and Anthony are creatures of emotion - they hate to say it, but they both wear their hearts on their sleeve. Mostly because the rest of them is too cold to hold a heart anymore. As far as other books go? Possibly The Outsiders, but Anthony is more like Dallas than Ponyboy.
9. Which authors inspired you to write this WiP?
I adored S.E. Hinton when I was growing up. The darkness that she portrayed in people, the sad, terrifying situations her characters get into, only to grow at the end. Those kinds of work made me really want to write. I would like to think that Anthony's story does S.E.'s inspiration some justice.
10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest about this WiP.
This is my only YA book that actually has sex in it - though it might be open to interpretation by some. It also deals with some heavy hitting topics: homophobia, abuse, drugs, alcohol, depression, and religion.
I tagged Anthony Deaver and Sarah Rios.
If 1000th.monkey (K) sees this and wants to partake, I would love her to :)
Monday, October 8, 2012
Nightmare Fuel: Day One
I'm several days behind in Nightmare Fuel, but I really want to edit these flash fiction pieces and make them something worth reading. If I don't have any good ideas for a photo, then I'll move onto the next.
For those that don't know, Nightmare Fuel was started by Bliss Morgan. It is a daily photo prompt for the month of October (Hallo-month) and is horror based. If you do not like horror or dark stories, you probably shouldn't read these. You've been warned.
Link to day one photo prompt - you can also read other people's stories there.
---
They had done something to my eyes. The only thing I had left was the ability to shut my lids, to will it all away. Wish away all the madness of this place. But they did something. My lids were gone, vanished. All that I had left were scratchy eyes that used to stare upon beauty, upon a world so glorious and vast that I couldn't comprehend the end.
But stuck in this small, forsaken place, I still knew not what eternity meant, but if it was anything like this - I knew every minute would be worse than the last.
I toppled over onto a cross, no - a grave. A grave so aged and ruined that it almost toppled over under my weight. I couldn't weigh that much anymore; the lifeless, limp body I used to call my own. I couldn't possibly be more than a dead leaf, caught up in a hailstorm waiting to be pelted back down to earth.
I tried to blink again, more subconsciously than anything else. My eyes ached, all I wanted was one moment of blackness, one moment to forget this place.
My skin rippled along my wrists. I stared closely at it. Wasn't much more I could do than stare. My veins turned black and wiggled under my skin like snakes, snapping at the surface. I screamed as one of them burst forth through my skin. Blood pooled down my arms, the sight made me gag as my other arm wrenched itself open. My veins were crawling out of my skin, killing me for the hundredth time over. They pulled at themselves like long bits of yarn, tearing bits of muscle and pulling loads of blood out with them. Every synapse in my body shot off, lighting small fires throughout my core. This was the hundredth, no thousandth time they have killed me slowly. But this was the first time I couldn't shut my eyes.
For those that don't know, Nightmare Fuel was started by Bliss Morgan. It is a daily photo prompt for the month of October (Hallo-month) and is horror based. If you do not like horror or dark stories, you probably shouldn't read these. You've been warned.
Link to day one photo prompt - you can also read other people's stories there.
---
They had done something to my eyes. The only thing I had left was the ability to shut my lids, to will it all away. Wish away all the madness of this place. But they did something. My lids were gone, vanished. All that I had left were scratchy eyes that used to stare upon beauty, upon a world so glorious and vast that I couldn't comprehend the end.
But stuck in this small, forsaken place, I still knew not what eternity meant, but if it was anything like this - I knew every minute would be worse than the last.
I toppled over onto a cross, no - a grave. A grave so aged and ruined that it almost toppled over under my weight. I couldn't weigh that much anymore; the lifeless, limp body I used to call my own. I couldn't possibly be more than a dead leaf, caught up in a hailstorm waiting to be pelted back down to earth.
I tried to blink again, more subconsciously than anything else. My eyes ached, all I wanted was one moment of blackness, one moment to forget this place.
My skin rippled along my wrists. I stared closely at it. Wasn't much more I could do than stare. My veins turned black and wiggled under my skin like snakes, snapping at the surface. I screamed as one of them burst forth through my skin. Blood pooled down my arms, the sight made me gag as my other arm wrenched itself open. My veins were crawling out of my skin, killing me for the hundredth time over. They pulled at themselves like long bits of yarn, tearing bits of muscle and pulling loads of blood out with them. Every synapse in my body shot off, lighting small fires throughout my core. This was the hundredth, no thousandth time they have killed me slowly. But this was the first time I couldn't shut my eyes.
Monday, October 1, 2012
NaNo is Coming!
It's October 1, and as such, I am required to do the obligatory NaNoWriMo post. Anyone else out there participating? If so, do you know what you will be working on? Are you starting something completely new?
I'm still debating between three things. I think I'm in the mentality right now to write Olive's story, but I still really want to finish Anthony. He's been sitting in a box since I was seventeen because I didn't have the drive to rehash it. Though, these two stories would be rewrites. Complete rewrites, mind you. In the last year my writing has improved so much that I really need to clean out all the old writing on these two titles (both written well over two years ago, and then some).
Then there's 2042. Which is supposed to be a Douglas Adams like sci-fi comedy. Thing is, "Terrance Wade" was finished recently (currently rewriting for end of October self-publishing). Which is great, but it has that same comedic feel. Something tells me I'll want a change of pace.
It's really between these two stories: Olive is intense, raw, emotional, and sometimes hopeless. But her search and struggle to get back what she believes is rightfully hers is powerful and endearing. Anthony's is also intense... raw... emotional and sometimes hopeless (seeing a pattern?) but his story is about finding love for the first time and losing it. But having the strength to find himself in all the mess - to become a better person.
Both of them are very similar, and intensely different. Olive tries to be proper, nice, treat others with respect. Anthony doesn't care who he steps on, or who gets hurt in the process.
Which makes writing each of them taxing. I'm leaning towards Anthony. To finish it, to finally get his story out of my head so it can be done, done, done.
December will bring rewrites to Rioss, as I really - really - need to finish that.
How's your NaNo prep going? Do you have a weigh-in on which character I should choose?
I'm still debating between three things. I think I'm in the mentality right now to write Olive's story, but I still really want to finish Anthony. He's been sitting in a box since I was seventeen because I didn't have the drive to rehash it. Though, these two stories would be rewrites. Complete rewrites, mind you. In the last year my writing has improved so much that I really need to clean out all the old writing on these two titles (both written well over two years ago, and then some).
Then there's 2042. Which is supposed to be a Douglas Adams like sci-fi comedy. Thing is, "Terrance Wade" was finished recently (currently rewriting for end of October self-publishing). Which is great, but it has that same comedic feel. Something tells me I'll want a change of pace.
It's really between these two stories: Olive is intense, raw, emotional, and sometimes hopeless. But her search and struggle to get back what she believes is rightfully hers is powerful and endearing. Anthony's is also intense... raw... emotional and sometimes hopeless (seeing a pattern?) but his story is about finding love for the first time and losing it. But having the strength to find himself in all the mess - to become a better person.
Both of them are very similar, and intensely different. Olive tries to be proper, nice, treat others with respect. Anthony doesn't care who he steps on, or who gets hurt in the process.
Which makes writing each of them taxing. I'm leaning towards Anthony. To finish it, to finally get his story out of my head so it can be done, done, done.
December will bring rewrites to Rioss, as I really - really - need to finish that.
How's your NaNo prep going? Do you have a weigh-in on which character I should choose?
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