Free Time

In between planning the trip to Florence and planning a move across country, I’ve barely had enough time to think about writing or blogging. I’ve only squeezed out a few lines on the new book, but I’ve decided that working on the new project just has to take second stage to the things going on off-online. And you know what? I don’t feel so bad about not writing.

After spending the greater part of my free-time writing the last book for a year, I’m in need of some R&R. Of course, it’s too hard to completely stop writing cold turkey and all, so I’ll dab a little here and there but without goals. If I write one sentence today and a page tomorrow, well, that’s okay. It feels good to set aside expectations for a while. In other news, I’m still waiting for a couple queries and requests replies to trickle in. I’m hoping for the best.

While I’m between projects, I’m taking advantage of my free-time, which is sure to end as soon as something opens up on the job front. Tomorrow, I’m going to see a cross-country biking race—a first for me.

Question: What do you do with your time when you’re between writing projects?

Fore!!!

Last weekend I had lunch at a restaurant on a golf course surrounded by miles of lush green and golfers trying to play in the rain. The chef (a friend of a cousin) offered to take us out on the course for a few rounds of golf. As someone who doesn’t even know how to hold a club, I was excited to try my swing. Unfortunately, he only had right-handed clubs and I’m a lefty. So I’m told, I hold my pen in a funny way. Evident by the laughter on the course, this apparently extends to the way I held the club.

The Significant Other naturally got the ball in the hole several times. Go Figure. (Obviously, I'm the creative one in the family, not the athletic one, or at least that's what I tell myself). I’m happy to add golf to the sports I’ve tried even if I didn’t try all that long, but I'm hanging up my clubs and moving to the next adventure. Why isn’t writing like that?

I’m having a hard time moving to the next project—the one I talked about on the blog two weeks ago. The story idea and outline are ready to go and I’m really sure this is the new the one, but I still haven’t started on those characters sketches.

The world offline is particularly demanding for me right now, but I can’t help but wonder if I’m using being busy as an excuse to not work. I’m trying to figure out if I’m procrastinating or if my brain’s telling me to chill?

Question for the day: How do you know if you’re procrastinating or if your brain’s telling you to chill out?

Back into the fray

Between querying, job hunting, and planning the trip to Florence, I haven’t had the time to blog and keep up with your blogs. Shame on me, but life off-line cannot be ignored. After a few weeks of emotional rollercoaster that is the querying process, I’ve finally got a new project to keep busy while I wait. For over a month, I’d been juggling with two story ideas in my mind, both equally attractive. However neither of them stood out as the one I wanted to pursue next and since I don’t like working on more than one book at a time I was at a standstill.

Some of my story ideas have come in dreams or I actively formulated them or cultivated them over time. In the midst of trying to figure out which idea to work on next a new idea popped in my head. The idea was spurred by a confrontation with a pair of mean-spirited neighbors (trust me, I’m tempering my description here) in the apartment building where I lived. After said quarrel, the story came to me fully-formed. In one day, I had the first draft of a query letter and a graphical representation of all the main plot points. Characters too. I’m delighted to turn what was an ugly situation into something productive. Plus, I’m really excited about this project.

Over the next few days (or weeks), I’m going to use a technique that Anne at Piedmont Writer implemented to develop the voice and dig deeper into her characters. She did a series a few months back titled In Their Own Words in which she wrote from the first-person point of view of each of her main characters. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to post the results online, but I think the experiment will help me really get to know my characters in advance.

Review of MAELSTROM

“When a genie grants you a wish, you don't expect to return the favor.”


Yesterday, I finished reading MAELSTROM by Anna Pino recommended by writing buddy Donna Hole. In MAELSTROM, Rick Landon’s a music promoter who stumbles upon a lamp and a genie. He wishes to manage a talented band. The genie, Kalila, is the leader of a band who happens to need a manager. Kalila tricks Ricky into a contract and he becomes the manager of Maelstrom with a fairy on keyboard, a zombie on drums, an incubus on bass, a vampire lead vocalist, and the genie (Kalila) on guitar. Their off-stage feeding habits and antics put Lady Gaga to shame. MAELSTROM is a humorous, quirky novel with romantic elements.

What attracted me to MAELSTROM was its play on mythology and mythical creatures. Thor, the Norse god of thunder makes an appearance as the leader of an opposing band of deities. So do many other deities. Pino does a wonderful job in creating believable, fully developed characters with more eccentricities than the Addams family.

I read MAELSTROM in a week. I really enjoyed Pino’s ability to keep the story moving and her concise writing. If you’re into either fantasy with a twist, stories with rock bands, or quirky novels in general than this is the book for you.

To read the first chapter of MAELSTROM click here.

The book’s official website is here.

And don't forget, I'm still taking recommendations on books to read here. Anon suggestions are welcome too (wink, wink).

Review of CINDERS

“Cinderella's happily-ever-after isn't turning out the way she expected.

With her fairy godmother imprisoned in the castle and a mysterious stranger haunting her dreams, Cinderella is on her own to discover true love untainted by magic.”

Normally I’m a no-go for fantasy novels, but when Michelle Davidson Argyle announced the release of CINDERS, I knew this wasn’t simply a fresh twist on a beloved story. CINDERS is Cinderella’s not so happily-ever-after story and we all know that things always get juicier once the cameras are off.

I’ve read excerpts of Michelle Davidson Argyle's work before so I expected something very compelling and superbly written. I was not disappointed. The novel masterfully delves into the depth of Cinderella’s desire to be loved and the ramification of using magic to attain that love. Cinderella worries that her prince only loves her because of the spell casted by her Fairy Godmother and she must also adjust to the responsibilities that have befallen her as a newly crowned princess. To further complicate life, she dreams about a stranger and the what ifs creep into her heart. Those what ifs lead Cinderella (and the reader) down a path that is as mysterious as it is dangerous.

I read CINDERS in less than a 24 hour period. I could scarcely put it down. The writing is lyrical, concise, the imagery beautiful, and the characterization topnotch. Argyle breaths life into the Cinderella story.

Click here to read interviews & reviews of CINDERS.

(Reminder: If you want to recommend a book for me to read, post it here.)

Just Married/ Book Reviews

You read the headline right. This weekend I tied the knot and coincidentally on Scott Bailey’s birthday (waves). I think that warrants a special Monday blog post. I didn’t say anything coming up to the nuptials because I’m a bit old-fashioned and well, I was preoccupied. Before any of you start to think I’m a bit nutty for blogging days after my wedding, the honeymoon’s in November. The picture above is of the honeymoon spot. An electronic cookie for the first one to guess the city. If no one guesses correctly, I’ll have to make a contest out of this.

It rained during the ceremony, but we were indoors, so no frowns here. I drank and ate too much. How’s that to starting married life? Of the gifts we received—to no one’s surprise—the one I like the most were the bottles of exquisite French wine one of the in-laws gave us.

While I’m adjusting to married life (snickers), I’m also dedicating September to reading and reviewing books. Hopefully at least four this month. I’ve started a wonderful novel with a certain princess protagonist at the center (wonders who could have penned that book?)

Instead of relying on my usual favorite authors, I’m on the hunt for books by writer friends and friends of friends. If you have a suggestion for me, please let me know in the comments. If I don’t get around to reviewing all the suggestions I get, there’s always another month to Read & Review.

The Beta Experience

I’m buried in edits after receiving some really awesome feedback from beta readers. For the first time in months, editing is actually refreshing. I guess I needed some new prospective to get the creative juices flowing again. I also read for some very talented writers. Let’s just say that the competition is tough, really tough. Overall, I rank my first ever beta experience a 10 out of 10. Absolutely no complaints here.

I found that the betas where able to see the whole picture, the complete story arc (what worked and what didn’t), which I feel in general is something that gets lost in critique sessions. Don’t get me wrong though, I love critique groups and will be looking for one again someday. But for me at least, in reading once a month or bi-monthly, occasionally, I lose sight of the bigger picture, the complete tale. Not to get into the story vs. writing battle, but as a reader, the big picture ranks number 1 in importance for me. Writing slides in at a close 2.

Some things I’ve learned from my betas: how to tighten my prose, to watch my stylistic ticks, and tips on strengthening the plot. Not to mention, I actually forgot to put in some critical information that sort of threw off the ending of the book. A d’oh moment for sure.

Questions of the day: Have beta readers read your current WIP (as a whole book, not in chunks)? What’s the best thing(s) you’ve learned from the experience of having beta readers?