Teaser Tuesday's: Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 175 of Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts:

It had never come on her like that, never so abruptly, so physically. Not even when she was practicing, when she had willingly sought such things.

Wordless Wednesday: Handmade Cloths

Teaser Tuesday's: Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Nook page 179 of Jeaniene Frost's Halfway to the Grave:

"She has a real talent with knives. It's a damn good thing she hadn't practiced throwing them before we met, or I might not be here."

Writing a Trilogy

I suppose my title says it all but I am so surprised by this development in my writing life. I love reading series (whether they be trilogies, quartets or longer) but never thought I'd be writing one. And yet I am 85% of the way through writing the draft for book two of my trilogy. When I started writing book one I thought it was a standalone. It wasn't until about halfway through writing that book that I realized I had the makings of a trilogy. One of the secondary characters leaped off the pages and into my imagination. He was very insistent that he had an entire story of his own to tell. It was very difficult for me not to start writing about him and his lady love immediately. Yes, I knew exactly who she was to be, as well. However, I did make a bunch of notes about them for when their time came. As I finished the first book I realized I was going to have to make a few big changes to it in order to move smoothly into book two. That's all right though, I told myself. That's the purpose of revision.

Then I went straight in to writing book two. Once again, about halfway through the draft, I became aware of the characters for book three. Which means even more changes to book one - so I'm glad I hadn't revised it yet. I decided I'd write the first drafts of all three books and then go back to book one and begin the revision process.

While writing book one I wrote it as I always do - in whichever order it came to me. If something is completely out of place, that's all right, I'll just go back and fix it later. But I realized that this is really annoying to me. About the time I had this realization I read a tweet from an author I love about certain chapters always being a pain to write. It got me to thinking that she must write her books is sequential chapter order if she had that sort of knowledge about her process. And this stuck in my head. To the point that when I started book two, I decided it would be written in order from beginning to end, chapter one to the last period of the story. And guess what? Writing this was is AMAZING! I cannot believe how much more focused I have been while writing this book. Have I gotten ideas that normally would have taken me off on a tangent? Yes. Have I allowed the tangent(s) to occur? No. What I have done is to make notes on the idea in order to fill the scene in at the appropriate time within the story. However, at 85% into the draft, not one of the tangents has been necessary. I find this very interesting. I am certain that I will continue writing my books in this sequential fashion going forward.

I'm getting excited about book three as book two is winding down. I'm even excited about the revision process for all three which is a new feeling to be sure. How about you? Have you written anything that has surprised you lately? Or has anything about your process changed for the better? Please share with me. I'm so inspired by writer's habits.

Wordless Wednesday: Striped Mitts

 

Pretty striped crochet mitts to wear if it ever gets cold here in Southern California this winter.

Teaser Tuesday's - Heartless by Gail Carriger

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 232 of Gail Carriger's Heartless:

"Now, Alexia, are you trying to match-make?"

"Maybe."

Changing My Writing Habits

I always have writing on my mind. Of course when I'm writing my mind is in the story I'm telling. However, even when I'm not plugging away on my current WIP I'm thinking about writing and the process itself. In September of 2013 I decided to make a giant change to my process by taking on The Write Chain Challenge. I've mentioned it a couple of times on this blog but quite simply, it's a goal you set with yourself (whether that be a certain number of words you want to write, pages to edit or even blogging) and achieve it each day. Each day you reach your goal, you obtain a link in your virtual write chain. If you'd like to learn more about (or even join in) this fabulous challenge, you can find more information at Think Ink: Psychology for Writers or click on my Write Chain Challenge button on the right of this page. To say that this inspirational and amazing challenge has changed my writing habits in every positive way sounds dramatic and yet it's completely true. As of today I've written for 131 consecutive days. I'm forty thousand (40k!) words into my current WIP, have two others complete and a further two in process but currently on hold.

Speaking of There's Only Now (the name of my current WIP), I'm approaching the writing of this story in a whole new-for-me way. I'm writing it in sequential order. I know, that's not in the least bit shocking for a lot of people. However, for me, it is a surprise. I always start my stories at what I believe (going into the first draft) to be the beginning. Then, at some point in the story, I start going off track. If I have an idea I write it and worry about where to fit it in to the story later. This method has about a fifty percent success rate. So, at the onset of this story I decided that I would write it in sequential order, no matter what. I have to say that it has been rather liberating. When I have gotten ideas that don't fit at the moment I've made a few notes in my writing journal but then carried on from my current place. So far, not one single jotted down idea for a scene has actually come into fruition in my sequential method. It's interesting and has me wondering if the ideas will come in at some point during the first draft, a later draft or not at all. Time will tell, as they (and apparently I) say.

The next thing on my agenda to change (and hopefully improve) is the way I edit and move forward with second and third drafts. The process of editing is a post for another day, though. For now, do share with me things that you've changed for the better within your own writing. And if you're looking for a creative boost and camaraderie in the writing world - consider joining The Write Chain Challenge.

Teaser Tuesday's - Blameless by Gail Carriger

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 32 of Gail Carriger's Blameless:

"I am not convinced groveling will be quite sufficient in this instance, my lord." He was not disposed to allow his Alpha any quarter.

Dessert in a Cup

I don't normally post about food or drinks or making either one on this blog. However, I've come across, and tried, something that absolutely must be shared. It's Crock Pot Hot Chocolate. It's heavenly, it's decadent, and it is DELICIOUS! As this post is titled, this is dessert in a cup. And, major bonus for me, it's EASY! Without further babble, here is the recipe:

Crock Pot Hot Chocolate

1.5 cups heavy cream
1 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
2 cups milk chocolate chips
6 cups milk
1 tsp. of vanilla extract

Combine all of the ingredients in a crock pot and turn on low. In about two hours you'll have a rich, lovely cup of heaven in front of you.

Giving credit where it's definitely due: I found this recipe on Megan Whitmer's charming blog, which can be found here.

Teaser Tuesday - Soulless by Gail Carriger

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from Gail Carriger's Soulless:

"That may have been my fault. I spoke to him most severely, reminding him to treat you as a modern British lady, not a werewolf.

Happy 2014

Teaser Tuesday's - Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 57 of Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts:

Polite too, even if she was a bit stiff about it. As if, Ripley thought, she wasn't quite used to dealing with people.

2014 Goals

I am like most people in that I become reminiscent at this time of year. I also start to look ahead and think about the year to come. I am not one to make New Year's resolutions, though. For me, starting something as a resolution because it's January first has never really worked. I'm far more successful if I think in terms of goals, whether they be new ones or ongoing. With that being said, I'd like to share my 2014 goals with you.

Writing

Naturally, as a writer, my goal for quite some time has been to achieve a book publishing deal. I've had some success recently with being published and I'd definitely like to expand upon that success. I've also learned a lot more about the publishing world and querying process in recent months that I intend to apply to my process. Here's my plan:

1. First, foremost and always, I will continue to write on a daily basis. I won't have anything to publish if I don't do this and keep up with it. As Nora Roberts says, "You can't edit a blank page." The most ideal way for me to keep on writing is to continue with the amazing Write Chain Challenge. The premise is to pick your daily goal for anything writing related and stick with it to make a Write Chain. It has been so motivational for me and I can't say enough good things about it.

2. Editing. I write and say that word with a big sigh because I am bad about editing. Some people LOVE it but I am not one of those people. I DREAD it but know that I need to get over it so that I can move forward in my quest for a book deal. So, I will edit more efficiently than I have in the past. And my first order of business in this regard is to figure out the best method of editing for myself. If anyone has any suggestions. please throw them my way.

3. I will query my properly edited and polished manuscripts. I've done this in the past with more than one manuscript but have received rejections. I went through almost two-thirds of 2013 depressed about this and barely writing. Thanks to #writeclub (on Twitter) and The Write Chain Challenge (which can also be found on Twitter) I am over my funk. I have regained and rebuilt my confidence as a writer over the past few months. I have also educated myself on things I needed to know but didn't. So I'm ready to start the querying process again. I plan to do this by the end of January.

4. Blogging. Here is another sigh-inducing topic. I was not a very good blogger in 2013. So, in 2014 I plan to write a blog post at least three times per week. It is very doable and in fact, I have several posts planned already.

Reading

I always start the year with a goal of reading 52 books during the year. I always surpass my goal. For 2014, I'm still starting off with the aim of 52 books but I'd like to read some genres I've never tried. I keep seeing New Adult and while I understand what it is - I don't think I've read any books in this category. I also keep hearing about Steampunk. In fact, this is what the Municipal Liaison for my NaNoWriMo region writes. I have actually read one short story that was Steampunk but I'd like to read more because it was very entertaining.

I have personal and crafting-related goals as well. I crochet a lot of our family's holiday and birthday gifts so I want to keep up on that. I also want to try knitting. I want to keep drinking my water, eating healthfully and exercising. Basically, I want to do the things that make me happy. Isn't that true for all of us. When I'm happy I'm a better person and that makes me a better wife and mommy - which in the end is what it's really all about.

Emotion vs. Action

I finished the first draft of my National Novel Writing Month manuscript three days ago. I know a lot of people say to put it away and give yourself a little distance from the story before starting the editing process. This is what I've done in the past and it doesn't work for me. I haven't gone back to anything I've applied this method to. It's only been three days but I'm ready to go over this manuscript and work on the second draft. Here's what has me at an uncertain stall, though: Emotion vs. Action.

I like to set the scene. I want anyone reading my book to feel immersed in the characters, the location and the emotions. As a reader, I like that immersion but I also like to get right into the story and be sucked into that world.

Recently, I received feedback from a submission that said my writing was solid but needed more action. I can't tell you how grateful I was (and am) for some constructive criticism. However, I am now questioning the balance between emotion and action in a story. I was told to "get right to it" and "pack a punch" from the beginning. I understand that I write in a slightly meandering fashion. I also understand that I need to pull the reader in immediately. I know how to write a first sentence, a first page that packs that punch. The thing I'm struggling with is keeping the emotional aspects I enjoy writing and reading while still having that punch. What is the balance? I know it's going to be different in each story and even different by genre but every story has to have both. Without emotion you have flat characters. Without some kind of action you aren't moving your story forward. I get this, I agree with this wholeheartedly; but how do you distinguish the balance?

Do any of you struggle with this? If so, have you figured out a way to deal with it?

Teaser Tuesday's - The Gift by Nora Roberts

Teaser Tuesday's is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just do the following:

- Grab your current read

- Open to a random page

- Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

- BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

- Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser.

My teaser this week is from page 34 of The Gift by Nora Roberts:

He'd strolled down the Left Bank, up Carnaby Street and along the narrow streets of Venice. After a decade of absence he found the walk down Main Street just as fascinating.