#ROW80 Check-in #4

Feeling so much better than I did last check-in. I’ve been drinking a glass of water a day every day so far (with one exception) and it seems to be helping. It seems that once I start drinking it, I’m good. Only drinking one glass for now. Because I have bladder issues, I don’t want to go overboard.

The awesome fantastic wonderful super news is that I not only finished my synopsis to my satisfaction, but I submitted the whole thing on Monday. And now I am chewing my fingernails off. I don’t think I’ll hear from them really soon (unless they are rejecting me) but who knows? Gah, I hate waiting.

I also more or less finished the Changeling 4 revision. I decided that the ending did work, and it will provide a hook for part 5. It will end with part 5, though. I sort of semi have that figured out.

(Also toying with the idea of an online serial novel. Thoughts?)

So now that the submission’s finished, I will turn my attention to Fireborn and writing 8 minutes of new material per day. May end up being Flamebound, a paranormal romance novella I wrote waaaaaaay back in 2008 for Harlesquin’s Nocturne Bites line, but it never quite got to the point where I felt confident in submitting. I took it through Holly Lisle’s awesome How to Revise Your Novel class and have been chipping away at it ever since. When I set up my short work priority list for this year (I also have a novel priority list as well), I decided that 50-60k would be perfect for my new goal of getting shorter works up for sale (and could kick off a series). So, that may be my 8-minute writing project, maybe.

On the physical activity front, I’ve done 15 minutes of activity. I’ve fallen a bit down off of it due to lack of motivation. It’s cold outside, I was forced to spend a lot of time here revising/editing/synopsis-izing, I was tired, etc etc etc. I need to get more time in and pronto. If I feel up to it, I may clean a portion of my darkroom as one 15 minute thing this weekend, and it will help me get closer to having it ready to reopen.

Annnd that’s it for now. 🙂

 

 

#ROW80 Check-in #3

It’s been a rough few days for me. I spent most of Wednesday night in the ER thinking I had appendicitis when I actually was severely dehydrated. That was a wake up call. I’m not a fan of plain water, but it looks like I will need to start drinking it. So I’ve been trying to add it into my daily routine. We’ll see how that goes.

I have finished the submission to the publisher – synopsis and first 3 chapters. I am waiting for a bit to see if there’s any other feedback on the most recent version of the synopsis I posted to the forum. I still have almost another week. I am not waiting till the last minute though. They are in the UK and go by BST, and I have no idea how that converts to our time, and I don’t want to miss it. So mid-week or so I’ll submit.

Next up is Changeling 4 revision. I’m wibbling a bit on the ending. I think I need another installment to wrap things up. So I need to leave a few things ambiguous. I’m pretty sure I know how it ends, though, so that’s progress.

What else? I’m giving some thought to what’s coming next. Fireborn, for sure. Getting my freebie set up with Mailchimp so I can get more subscribers to my newsletter. A Facebook ad for it, too.

After that…not really sure. Probably Covenant and Ever Touched. Something for my 8-minutes a day thing(if different). Survivor Sundays for sure.

That’s about it. 🙂

#ROW80 Check-in #2

The latter part of this week went into researching how to write a synopsis, and then actually writing the thing. My first attempt sucked, but it got all the important plot stuff in the correct order. Second attempt yesterday went slightly better. I tried to inject a bit of the narrative voice into it (as per my research), but so far the critiques I’ve gotten on it suggest that it’s not a good idea. And my plot is confusing. And…

So, it’s back to the drawing board. I expected this, being that this is the first time I’ve ever done this. It’s just so hard to stuff 5 pages of plotty stuff into 3 or less. And make it compelling, and interesting, and not confusing. So that’s my goal for next week, nailing this down so I can work on the final edit of the first 10k for the submission.

I’m kind of scared. I know that must sound ridiculous, but this is m first submission to a publisher EVER. In fact, up till late last year, I was planning on self-pubbing everything. Or finding a small e-publisher. But something told me to go for it. And with Pirouette, well…I’d always dreamed of having it traditionally published, even after I’d decided to self-pub. And…well, it’s scary taking this step, but the only way to have a chance is if I try. So, I need to just do it.

On the physical activity front, I house-walked for 5 minutes on Thursday but was too winded to continue for the next 10. I also did some cleaning today for at least 15 minutes which I’m counting. So, 1.5 times this week?

How are you doing on your goals?

 

 

#ROW80 Check-in 11/29/15

I am finally able to do a proper #ROW80 post! I was busy with Thanksgiving prep, then Thanksgiving! I had a 4-day weekend from work which has gone by so fast! I go back tomorrow and I am NOT looking forward to it!

I also got all of my Christmas shopping done. 🙂

As for NanoWriMo, I am up to 31,548 words, which means I made my goal of 30k! YAY! And, early, no less! Yesterday I had a migraine/TN pain combo which put me in bed early (like, waaay early!) and on Friday I went Christmas shopping which was exhausting, so here we are. On Thanksgiving I took a break — and I was too busy to really think about writing, honestly.

So I made it. I also revised Changeling 3 for posting on Tuesday, finally!

On Tuesday I am also starting the revision for Pirouette for submission to the publisher I mentioned a few weeks back. I was hoping to start this weekend, but it wasn’t in the cards. I still need to think about the first scene, anyway — I want to present my MC using her forbidden magic, but I have rewritten this scene several times and it’s just not working for me. It’s been said that you start a novel when the MC’s life is about to change irrevocably — which is what I did. But I can’t put my finger on why it’s not working. So, 2 days to think about it.

Stats!
Words written: 31,548
Words remaining: 0
Word wars: 11
Word wars with myself: 5
Chapters written: n/a, as I stopped doing chapter divisions
What’s happening: Brianna is in over her head
What’s next: Something?
Feeling: Not bad!

Chocolate consumption: It’s more like pie consumption this week! We had a grand total of 5 pies for Thanksgiving, and none of them were chocolate. I think my favorites were (homemade) pecan and caramel apple! Been sneaking some WW chocolate caramel thingies. I also need to get back onto the program. But, leftovers!

New Release: Grave Touched

Holy crap it’s finally here! I have a book. And you may like it. It’s about ghosts and possession and brave people fighting for themselves, their loved ones, and the world against all odds.

It took me THREE YEARS to write it.

:does a little happy dance:

Here’s the official blurb:

Fey Touched – humans, genetically engineered for immortality and flight, tasked with protecting the rest of the world from rogue Fey…

Grave Touched – dead souls in search of living bodies to possess, especially those who’ve had a brush with death…

When Fey Touched Hunter Emily wakes up in a hospital, she doesn’t know that she was in fact dead. Nor does she know that her lover, Nick, broke all kinds of rules to bring her back. But the grave touched do.

Fey Touched Healer Asha does know that her mate, Joe, saved her when her abilities nearly killed her. And she knows the voices in her head are the grave touched trying to stake their claim. Asha needs Joe’s help again, but unfortunately she’s the only one who believes the grave touched exist.

The grave touched are plotting to take over the corporeal world, and they’re gaining strength. Only Emily and Asha stand in their way – and both are about to be possessed.

Grave Touched.

If you’d like to buy a copy (:puppy dog eyes:) or read an except, go over yonder. And if you love it, please consider writing an honest review on either Goodreads or Amazon. Reviews are like air and water for us indies. We need them to survive.

(Also? Book 1, Fey Touched, is on sale for 99c for a limited time. Check it out here!)

#ROW80 Check-in 4/26/15 – in the home stretch now

Here I am again with some good news! I finished the proofreading and sent the file to the formatter! One HUGE thing off my list! Yay!

Here’s where I stand:

~Finish final edit and send to formatter
~Prep for KDP
~Start wrap around cover for print edition Can’t do this until I get a final page count
~Create ARCs and secure reviewers Going to happen soon. Before release if I can manage it.

Getting closer! Today I’ll be tinkering with the covers and binge watching Game of Thrones. Because I need a break, desperately!

GT releases on FRIDAY. (gulp)

Chocolate consumption: need you even ask? Through the roof. For energy. ~nods with an innocent look~

#ROW80 Check-in 4/15/15 – Proofreading time!

Here we are with another check-in. I missed Sunday because I was binge-watching Game of Thrones. Oops?

So I finished the final edits and am now proofreading. I have a few rough spots I want to smooth out and of course I want to make sure I haven’t introduced any new typos into the mix.

I’m 53 pages in…of 244. I’m going to try my hardest to finish it this weekend so I can send it off for formatting and start setting everything up. I also have front and back matter to insert before it goes to the formatter. I’d forgotten how many steps there were to this.

Here are my goals:

~Finish final edit and send to formatter Next up
~Prep for KDP Next up
~Start wrap around cover for print edition Can’t do this until I get a final page count
~Create ARCs and secure reviewers Going to happen soon. Before release if I can manage it.

I’m in the home stretch now!

Chocolate consumption: Um. Still through the roof. A girl needs her energy…

#ROW80 Round 2 2015 Goals

Annnnnd it’s time to ROW again!

It’s been a busy few months for me, getting Grave Touched ready for release. I’m getting closer, and I’m getting excited about it. After working on it so long (almost three years!), it’s finally leaving the nest.

So, with GT’s release coming May 1st, here are my top goals for the next 30 days or so:

~Finish final edit and send to formatter
~Prep for KDP
~Start wrap around cover for print edition
~Create ARCs and secure reviewers

After release, here are my goals:

~Restart/continue Survivor on Sundays (would love to get through chapter 1, but any progress is good)
~Finish Fireborn
~Select next project (my muse wants something completely new…we’ll see)
~And if so, prep for that if prep is needed (sometimes yes, sometimes no)

I think that’s enough to keep me busy for awhile.

Cover Reveal: Grave Touched

I am so excited to reveal the cover for Grave Touched! It came out beautiful (done by me!) and I LOVE it madly!

One factoid about this cover. I’d bought the stock art TWO YEARS ago because it was totally the main character. Unfortunately, there were delays with this release so I had to wait but…the stock art is still Emily to this day.

Here is the blurb:

Fey Touched – humans, genetically engineered for immortality and flight, tasked with protecting the rest of the world from rogue Fey…

Grave Touched – dead souls in search of living bodies to possess, especially those who’ve had a brush with death…

When Fey Touched Hunter Emily wakes up in a hospital, she doesn’t know that she was in fact dead. Nor does she know that her lover, Nick, broke all kinds of rules to bring her back. But the grave touched do.

Fey Touched Healer Asha does know that her mate, Joe, saved her when her abilities nearly killed her. And she knows the voices in her head are the grave touched trying to stake their claim. Asha needs Joe’s help again, but unfortunately she’s the only one who believes the grave touched exist.

The grave touched are plotting to take over the corporeal world, and they’re gaining strength. Only Emily and Asha stand in their way – and both are about to be possessed.
Grave Touched.

Stay tuned. Grave Touched is book 2 of my Fey Touched series, releasing May 1st from Turtleduck Press. Fey Touched, book 1, is still on sale for $.99 if you want to catch up!

You can read the Grave Touched teaser here.

2013 in Review and 2014 Goals: Year of No Fear

This has been a very tough, challenging year for me because of my eye problems and everything that went along with it. An awful lot got compromised and set aside. But, I have accomplished some things that I am very proud of:

~I didn’t write for 3 months and did not go insane or kill anyone. That’s a big plus, right?
~I finished the revision of Grave Touched and turned it in on time. (Unfortunately, it needs a rewrite. More on that later).
~I took Holly Lisle’s Flash Fiction class and wrote 7 flash stories, 6 of which I self-pubbed as an anthology called In Flames. I also contributed to the Turtleduck Press Freebies with actual stories: Beloved(sci-fi) and Mirror (horror). I have another flash story going up on the TDP website on Jan. 1st, The Penitent (supernatural/horror).
~I made great progress on the Flamebound. I’m up to lesson 17 of 22.
~I took Holly Lisle’s Motivation class and learned some very, very important things that I have been trying to put into practice. Not quite there yet, but it’s happening.
~I got several new story ideas to add to the ever-growing writing queue.
~I worked a bit on Darklight as well.

Other goals I set not mentioned above:

~Reread Survivor and make notes for rewrite <–This has been started, but not much work done on it to be honest.
~Start a new novel? (Contenders: Darkweaver and Soul Touched, Fey Touched book 3) <–Not done. Darkweaver's still in the queue, and Fey Touched book #3 has been changed to Ever Touched. I can haz a plan!
~Redesign website so it makes sense Have decided to put this on hold.
~Get on a regular blogging schedule Started, with WWW Wednesdays. Would like to add more.
~Continue to look for more freelance editing/proofreading jobs <–Not really done, as my eye thing made it impossible to do anything except drafting for a loooong time. Still not out of the question — just not right now.

So you see I'm working little by little on reclaiming my life. It might not look like much at all, but I did things — I didn't bemoan my fate and give up. I kept plugging away. And while my writing numbers are quite low, I managed to release an anthology, write 7 flash stories, and finish Grave Touched. Not bad in my book. (I also want to add that as of November-ish, I’ve written just shy of 150k for the year. Not bad for having eye pain for almost a year!).

A little aside about Grave Touched… What can I say? I was be-bopping along, thinking I’d nailed it (or came close to it), only to find out that I screwed up. Bigtime. I believe I might have been a bit delusional. I won’t blame my eye entirely, but it did mess a bit with my creativity and story decisions. My editor — bless her soul — is totally right. It needs a rewrite. I know I am up to the challenge, and I know the book will be better and stronger for it. Am I disappointed? Hell yeah. But I consider myself a professional, and a professional would take a step back, shed the ego, and really look at what’s going on. Once I did that, I knew she was right. And I’ve already started on the planning, and I have some good ideas for improving it. So, no big.

As for the release date…we’re rejigging our release schedule and tentatively it looks like around February 2015. That may seem like a loooooong time, but in writing time, it’s not. It’s partly to accommodate the new schedule and to accommodate my need for enough time to do a thorough rewrite. So that’s the story.

As for 2014 goals…I’ve made some big decisions for this year. I am going to do things that I’ve been afraid to do. Fear is a HUGE factor in motivation, I found out. And when I dug in and followed the path to the source, it was mostly fear that was holding me back. So I want to fix this in 2014. Along with the following:

~Rewrite and revise Grave Touched by deadline (Sept/Oct – we’re not sure yet)
~Continue working on another draft of something (Flamebound is the top contender) if it doesn’t interfere with GT
~Continue the Flamebound revision (ties into the draft above)
~Make some type of ruling on Survivor – when to work on it and COMMIT to it
~Plan/plot/figure out Ever Touched
~Write more flash stories/poetry

As for the non-writing goals, check out my 2014 Manifesto (forthcoming!)

Hopefully, things will settle down in 2014 and I can get more creative stuff going. I miss photography and I want to grow and enrich my life. I also hope to nail the GT rewrite and get back on track with the series. And WRITE MORE.

Happy 2014. See you on the flip side.