Monday Musings

Contemporary thriller? Historical paranormal?

Those are the questions I have this week as I attempt to construct a new story. Trilogy really. Shorts, 25,000-30,000 words.The questions is...thriller or paranormal...contemporary or historical?

Monday Musings and new directions

I've recently thought about where I want my writing career to be. I have several (FOUR) stories that have yet to find a publisher. Apparently it's not the writing or even the concept, but the marketing aspect I guess traditional publishers don't understand that as an e-pubbed author I've been doing my own marketing for years already!

To that end, I've decided to dig those stories out, polish them off, polish them edit-wise, and see what's what. I may go the self-publish route, I may trash the stories, not entirely certain--it depends on how they read.

But all in all, I think it's time to re-think Isabel and where I want to be.

When do you give up?

I don't mean giving up writing, I mean when do you give up on a story?

I have 2 stories-one is a stand alone 1792 Regency and one is a 1860s paranormal historical series. I have the first plotted down to each scene. I have the series planned for the overall world as well as the first 2 books' overall arcs.

But I'm not writing them. I'm not even close to writing them. In fact, I cannibalized the Regency for parts. The paranormal is one I'd love to get to, but how far back can I push it before I lose interest? Or it doesn't work? Or a whole slew of other things?

What do you do? Do you lovingly tend to a story you know you're not getting to any time in the foreseeable future? Take it for parts? Forget it and shove it in a metaphorical drawer-folder?

Happy New Year!

2011 is upon us. Still no flying cars, trips to the moon, or the complete eradication of poverty. On the plus side, also no World War III, nuclear destruction, or all out annihilation. Have to look on the bright side, eh?

This coming year I'm devoting to my 1922 Prohibition series, finishing up my Dark Regency story (and plotting the 2nd in that series) and possibly finally getting back to that Egyptian Contemporary Paranormal.

Anything beyond that is a bonus, though I also want to plot out a semi-traditional Regency (meaning no paranormal, no erotica, but plenty of sensuality and twisty red-herrings).

You? Plans, plots, ideas, goals? Hopes for the upcoming year? Happy, Healthy, Safe 2011 to all!

Vampires

I thought of this short story trilogy about a month ago, but other than plan it out, think it through, and figure out where the characters are going (and who they are!) haven't done much else but write half of chapter one.

Originally, I wanted to make it a novel trilogy, but the more I thought about the story I wanted to tell, the more I realized it was best in parts. Three couples, three plot arcs, one overall plot linking it all together.

Now, in between Dark Inheritance, Egyptian, a couple short story ideas I have, I plan on squeezing this into my increasingly overcrowded writing time. *Deep breath* Okay nothing like a plan!

Course the plan should always include time-outs for rest between stories. And possibly a moratorium on new plot bunnies until the old ones are finished!

Not that much writing will get done with the conference, but there'll probably be more evil plot bunnies hopping around. *le sigh*

Chapter One

This weekend I planned on writing 20-25,000 words. This included chapter one which is always the hardest to do. It has to be intriguing, progressive, captivating.

Great!

If it's just that good, people will read more. If it's not, chances are they'll never read chapter 2. Or, for that matter, buy the book. I've read at least parts of chapter one either online or standing in the book store. If I don't like it, of course I won't buy it. What's the point?

Hence the several hour chapter one tweaking marathon.

I personally think it was worth it. :) Here's hoping others do, too.

Friday Guest: Wendi Zwaduk will be here with her newest release My Immortal, a contemporary paranormal being released from Total-E-Bound. Don't forget to stop on by!

Thursday Progress

New unplanned story project in the works. Not sure how this is going to go, it came out of nowhere but who was I to refuse? Refuse a cool, exciting new story project? Not I. I embrace the insanity wholeheartedly. With alcohol and caffeine. Yup. It's the only way.


And chocolate. Back off my stash!


So, new story proposal came about Monday afternoon (3 days ago). New story chapter 1 deadline is this coming Monday (3 days from now). I can do this. I just have to brush up on my angst (check) social networking (harder but I'll pencil in a very light check) and classics (have book will travel check) and I'll be set.


And to think, I had my next project all planned out. Even had 6 whole chapters outlined! Researched! Characterized! (And anyone who knows me knows that naming characters is the hardest part of the plan.) The whole verse planned out. AH well. I'll get to it eventually.

Confessions of...

I've come to the conclusion I'm a research junkie.

I'm not the only one out there, I know who you are! I read your blogs and your books; I know you jump from century to country to idea to plot with very little in between. And it's fun!

I'm the same way. I love coming up with new ideas, researching the locale, the people, the class and history. I love plotting and weaving angst with romance, sex with action. I love the thrill of the story, the adrenaline of the newness. Oh, sure, I love writing it, too, but it's this initial-ness that's so exciting.

What about you?

September Goals

I find that whenever I write/tell/invent goals, chances are I'll ignore them. Not on purpose. It's just that I don't believe in doing anything small. I want to get a lot done in a short period of time, and I want it done right, right now, and that's that.

Life never works out like I want it to. Otherwise I'd have won the lottery years ago, living on some exotic island with nothing but me, pelicans, sand, sea, and internet access. A private jet is always a plus, as is satellite communication.

Back to reality...

My September goals are as follows:

1. Finish Sordid Games
2. Get past this mental block I have for Morganna's Story
3. Start a new mystery story (possibly mystery, not too sure yet) set in Chicago.

It's only the 4th...I have an entire month to do all this! I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

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.

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...

New story...s

When I get blocked, I change stories. Since this happens more often than I'd like, I currently have 3 going. Morganna's story, Sordid Little Games, and this still-untitled semi-scifi one. i spent the majority of yesterday cleaning and writing that last one, which I think is more a short story than anything else. I don't envision it as a longer one, despite the world-building that I've done for it. It just has that short story feel.

Here's hoping I can finish one, at least, and soon.

New story - untitled

What do I do when I can't get further than the first chapter in an already planned book? Write another one. It wasn't my fault (you know who you are...!) this new idea. And I'm not even sure it'll be enough of a plot to make any kind of length, but I wrote 10 pages. Way more than poor Morganna has.

I feel bad for her, but what can a writer do? The muse is a fickle, fickle creature.