Where'd the summer go?

Anyone else blink and it's gone? I hope everyone had a great one, even if it always is too short. And that you really do get a 3-day weekend this Labor Day.

I plan on going to the beach, even if it is mobbed. Generally, I don't like crowds. All those people jostling for the same place, wandering without looking where they're going...not for me. But it's supposed to be gorgeous this weekend, and it is the so-called last weekend of summer. But that might be a consumer gimmick. Eh, maybe I'll go next weekend, too. Just because I can.

As for writing, yes, I'll write. Sordid Games, maybe get back to poor Morganna's story. Something.

Savannah

Sure, Sordid Games is set there, but I decided to visit it a couple months before the plot happened. And actually, the setting for it came out of the fact that my 3 days down there was already planned. Don't you love how things happen like that?

The end of September I'll be in Savannah, soaking in all the sights and history. And sun - unless there's a hurricane. Which might happen, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I'll be taking pictures and soaking in the atmosphere and relaxing. Is it possible to relax on a 3 day jaunt that includes sight seeing, writing, and research? Probably not, but I'll be in Savannah, and not home, so that's got to count for something. And who knows, I might be able to finish that story while down there! Keeping my fingers crossed on that, too.

Accidential scenes

Here I was, driving down the road the other day and a scene popped into my head for Sordid Games. Luckily, it was a back road, and I was nearly to a red light. Unluckily, I could only find a pen -- no paper! One frantic scrounge later, and I had the bar scene scribbled in mostly legible notes on the back of a business card.

Of course there was a car behind me, and the light was one of those sensor ones that actually works like it's supposed to. Typical. Still, I got it written down.

The plot to Sordid Games is a mix of Cruel Intentions, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and good ole fashioned family secrets. Oh...and sex. You doubted that? This scene has Catherine spying on her lover at a trendy restaurant while he's out with another woman. However, it's the bartender that really makes the scene. Dennis has some interesting tidbits for Catherine about her father, and his dining companions.

Snark

I've started reworking Who Needs Mistletoe? and have noticed a trend within the first page already. Snarkiness. I'm perfectly fine with that, I adore it myself, but I usually try to tone it done in a character. Not sure why, just do. It isn't working in this case. Nope, the snark is flying, the scarcasm is thick, and the cops are on their way.

Poor Regina, she's snarky to the hilt. Of course when she wakes up on Christmas morning to find a naked man underneath her Christmas tree, what's a girl to do?

Yes!

No that's not a 'yes!' someone wants to publish me, it's a YES I managed to trim Warrior Heiress to the necessary length for Ellora's Cave's anthology. Phew. For a while, I added more than deleted, but it's amazing how a sentence can be retooled to eliminate 3 or so words. Do that with enough, and all those words add up until I'm doing the dance of joy and giggling to myself. Luckily, no one saw me.

Tomorrow, it's back to writing.

The Warrior Heiress

Seems I've decided. Might change, you never know. I'm finicky like that.


I also need to cut 40 more words from the story. I'm submitting it to Ellora's Cave for their anthology series, and since it's a short story it has to be between 10K and 13K words...I had 14, 237. I've cut and cut and cut and still need to cut 40 more words. It's rough, let me tell you.

I've read through the story twice already, and need to leave it be for a day or so before going through it again. I really love it, and would hate to be rejected solely on the basis that I didn't follow their rules.

Today is the more mundane aspects of daily life, chores. Tomorrow, word cutting. *Sigh*

Research Blogs

I spend a lot of time online researching. Books are great, but when I want something specific I find the internet much more helpful. Not always, not everything's online, but the majority of the time. I also find people knowledgeable about certain topics I need to know about and have no compunction in mining them for what I want.

Two such places I've found are Slip Into Something Victorian and Unusual Historicals. In the Victorians case, I love their site because I do a lot of writing in that era (Birthrite). They always have something interesting to read. (And wonderful pictures!)

In the Unusual case, it covers such a broad time, and so many aspects of history you usually don't hear or read about, I can't help but love it.

If you get the chance, check out their blogs, I'm sure you'll find something over there.

Choices

With the help of a wonderful critiquer, Jenn, I have 2 titles! It's a toss between The Warrior Heiress and Daring Dynasty. Not sure which one goes better.

Shinii (the last 2 is are pronounced long - Shiniiiiiii) is a warrior and heiress to her family's lands and holdings. She's been kidnapped as a bride for the rival country, but it turns out it's her old lover, Gavin, who didn't know the marriage ritual he was forced into involved her. Neither have a choice in the matter, and they mate, completing the ritual.

Hot monkey sex ensues.

They escape the temple and head back to Shinii's lands; he promising to join his lands with hers, and she promising to protect them as she would the rest of her territory.

Hot monkey sex ensues.

Still debating on the title...

This & That

Still no word on Birthrite - Raven. I'm not a patient person by nature, and I know it'll take 2-12 months (yes months, your computer screen is clear, your eyes aren't blurry, and your brain isn't playing tricks on you. I thought the same thing when I first read that little disclaimer). But I dutifully check my email every day just in case today's the day they decide to let me know something. Of course with fingers crossed, I'm hoping it'll be that they want the entire thing!

As for other writing news, I've polished that title-less short story about a mythical planet with medieval-like rules and settings. It's hard to explain, but it's got a lot of sex! Not that that helps. If I had to pick a genre, I'd say...paranormal? It's got magick. Futuristic? Sci-fi? Not really, but it's a different planet, so who can say? They don't have lightsabers or phasers, though. Fantasy, probably. I'll be submitting this one within the week. AS SOON AS I THINK OF A TITLE! *sigh*

Who Needs Mistletoe? was on hold this past week, but I fully intend to pick it up tomorrow for all those lovely rewrites I know I need. Just reading what I had made me cringe. It so needs work. And a synopsis.

Finished!

Still no title, but the short story is finished. Ahhh. As, I say with a smug grin, is the synopsis.

Now onto Who Needs Mistletoe? I could take a couple days' break before tackling that one. Just because...or maybe a nap.

Another new one

I was going through old files, cleaning out my computer, when I stumbled across an uncompleted Christmas story. It's only about 10 pages, but as I read it over (and cringed, oh boy do I have some rewrites ahead of me!) ideas flowed and the muse was pleased.

*sigh*

At least this one has a title (Who Needs Mistletoe?). I'm still title-less on that other one. Nothing seems to work, and it's very frustrating.

Weather

I enjoy writing and don't mind doing so anyplace I can. If it's raining, I like the sound of it beating on the ground or my roof. If it's sunny, I like being outside to enjoy it. Given a choice, I'd chose outside every time. Given the freedom, I'd own a nice house on the beach and spend my days and nights on a deck absorbing the sights and sounds of it all. My laptop goes everywhere, it's a wonderful thing.


The East Coast is inundated with rain this week, and in between other mundane things life requires (laundry, dishes, sleep), I managed to enjoy both the rain and finish about 1500 words on my new story. I decided against Til the End, but have yet to come up with a better title. I did manage to name everyone, though. Big accomplishment there!

Tentitively titled...

Til the End...No not too sure about that, either.

But in a true break from my usual writing style, I've completed the synopsis rather than the story first. Since it's a short one, I thought I needed that structure and guide. And am totally amazed that I managed to do that, first. But I really like the synopsis, and plan on taking the rest of today to finish the story.

That there story

I've definitely decided this is a short story, 10K ish or so. I have 5,000 words now, and a nearly finished synopsis. That part is nearly unheard of for me - synopsis writing? HA! The bane of my existence, the dread of my writing. I think the world might be askew or sun spots flaring too close or something.

However I still don't have a title for it. Why are these things so difficult? I can't very well call it Untitled I...since I'm positive I'll have Untitled II shortly. And how enticing is that? Think, think, think...