Writing tips

I'm over at Sensual -n- Secret blogging today about one of my little writing tricks... come on over and visit me!

Bad muse! Bad, bad muse!!

My muse is wonderful most of the time. She whispers the basic plots of wonderfully romantic and erotic stories that I eventually craft into books. But she won't shut up... ever. She didn't come with an instruction manual either and no matter how thoroughly I search her, I can't find an off switch. No pause button, no return to voicemail option... nothing.

I'm currently in edits on one book, working on seven other projects as well, and have 30 other books in reserve, not counting all the ones I just had to forget... but she's been climbing all over my back with a new story and won't shut up. It's a great story... and I will write it, but I have too many others ahead of it... it'll be years!!

Anyone have any tips on how to subdue a hyperactive muse?

Writer Retreats: Good?

So one of my publishers is sponsoring a "Writer's Retreat" and I'm contemplating attending. They never seem to be anywhere close to me, so I would have to fly. Plus hotel, taxi, etc... So it's going to cost me about $1000.00 all told. That's ALOT... ALOT. So my question is, has anyone ever been to a writer's retreat and do you think it's worth the expense?

X meets Y

Hypothetical question here: If you could match up any two characters from books, but they cannot be from the same book or series... who would you match up! (if you're a writer, choose one of your characters, but the other must be from someone else's)... Why? What do you think the authors would think?

Brindle interviewed by Kayelle

Kayelle Allen graciously offered to interview me and she had some very revealing questions for me. Find out about Gothic City Lights and other projects. Check it out and feel free to ask me more questions!

Kayelle Allen's Romance Lives Forever

Diva-licious

More good news. My short story, Diva-licious sold to The Wild Rose Press. I'm very excited to be added to their roster of talented authors!

Coming Soon..

It's probably premature to get all excited, but this is my first published piece. I noticed that my publisher put up a coming soon placeholder for Gothic City Lights. How cool is this???

Gothic City Lights

*dancing a jig*

A day of excitement

...followed by months of waiting. Hehehe. That's the rollercoaster ride of professional writing.

The Grass is Always Greener got the greenlight from my editor, after three rounds of edits. It's done!!! Now it goes for formatting, then a copy editor will review it. Now I wait to see the cover design and advanced reading copy before the release sometime in August! This is the first book I've finished editing and its a thrill to know it is completed. *does the happy dance*

So I can officially say... The Grass is Always Greener, coming soon from Breathless Press

Momentary Lulls

What does a writer do when their edits are done and waiting for them to come back for approval? Well, for me, the first thing I do is stress. I worry that maybe my edits suck and will make more work for my editor than they helped. But so far that hasn't been the case. once I get over that paranoia, I find I can't relax... so... I write!

I started another short story this morning while I'm waiting for more edits to come back. I only write on my lunch break for the most part, but I managed to slap out 1700 words. Which is prety fast for me. My muse was in high gear today. Anyway, thought I'd share.

For all you writers out there, what do you do to pass the time between edits?

Feeling Accomplished

This is old hat to seasoned veterans, but I'm a rookie, so bear with me.

I just completed the first round of edits on Gothic City Lights !!! I decided to make some major scene changes on it and so it took longer than it should have, even for a rookie I imagine, but still... its done and I learned so much from it.

Additionally, I completed the 3rd round (and possibly last) of edits on The Grass is Always Greener and turned that in as well.

So to fill the void, I'm working on revisions for short story that was rejected, but given an open invite to re-submit directly to the editor.

Anyway, I feel very accomplished, having gotten through the biggest obstacles thus far. I'm confident the remaining edits will be less and easier from here out.

I don't recognize my own work

So I'm up to my eyeballs in revisions for my first novel. My editor is wonderful and she has been so patient with my rookie-ness. But I have to say, its been more than huge event for me.

I've learned soooooo much about writing, my own flaws, strengths, tendencies (both good and bad), in such a short time, its amazing. I know it's not easy to get published, believe me I know, but if you have the chance... Oh wow, the things you will learn about the craft!!!

My editor for Gothic City Lights urged me to tone down some aspects of the book that she felt might detract from its marketability and I agreed. But also, it sparked my hair-trigger muse and I decided,(probably to my editor's dismay) to gut huge sections of the book and rewrite them. But... I feel so amped about it. The revisions are based on the editors suggestions but my muse needed to go several steps further, that I barely recognize the book I submitted. It's already tons better and we're not finished. I can't wait for my beta readers to see the finished book. I think even they will see a completely different book!

Going, going, sold!

Woot! Time to celebrate. I signed a contract on my short story, The Grass is Always Greener yesterday morning with Breathless Press. I'm so happy to be on board with this up and coming publisher. They have been so fantastic and I've only just begun with them. Thanks to Sable Grey for recommending them!

Celebrating

I apologize for not posting in some time. I've been knee deep in edits for Gothic City Lights, which releases in June. But I did have a little item worth mentioning. I received a contract on a short story I wrote. I'm reviewing the terms before I accept (never sign a contract without reading it!), but I love it when I get an acceptance letter. Woot!

Nothing beats a request for more

... well, except an offer for publication! Hehehe.

Anyways, just needed to share that I received a request for a full on a short story I submitted. *does a jig* Now, its only a short story, so asking for the full is standard, but it does mean they liked the query. So... *fingers crossed*

To write is not easy

I think there is a glorified and often untruthful vision by some about the life of a writer. Its not all writing, and its not all fun.

There is ALOT of waiting. And waiting. And there is alot of critical commentary a writer must endure. Neither are something you can ignore. To be a writer you must be patient. If you're not the patient type... well, you still have to wait, so there you go. And you need thick skin. Rejection is very common. Writers learn to suffer long stretches of waiting to hear back from editors, publishers and agents. They learn to take harsh and brutal critique of their writing, because it comes by the truckload.

What's my point? Nothing... just waiting. *lol* I currently have one novel and one short story out on submission and desperate for responses. Hehehe.

This Side of Heaven: release day!

It's finally here, the long await release of Fallon Blake's "This side of heaven" Go forth, purchase and enjoy!!




I had the distinct honor of beta reading this story, and confess a bias. It's awesome, it's hot... you'll love it!

Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between

Yeah!!! Huge congrats to J.A. Saare for her release today of Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between Check it out!!!!

Contest!

Hey all, my good friend and fellow Loose Id author, Fallon Blake is having a contest in celebration of her upcoming release on Feb 9th!

Visit her blog and enter for a chance at a copy of her book, plus other smutty goods!!!!

The wild ride continues

So, I find myself not having enough brain space to notate all the short story ideas my muse is flinging at me. Anyone ever had that problem? So I started jotting them down in my notepad. I doubt I'll ever have the time to get to them all, but sure alot of fun coming down the pike!

Muse gone Crazy

So, I'm having a great week. Great month, actually. This month, I've submitted a full length novel to a couple of agents, who I would love to work with.

I also wrote and submitted an erotica short story to a publisher, who I also would love to work with.

And, I'm 3k into another erotica 5k short story! All this, while waiting for my 1st round of edits from my publisher on Gothic City Lights!

Not bad?