I will be offline through the end of the week. Sorry guys, I have a deadline fast approaching and I’m in the home stretch now.
See you on Monday!
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writing
The Solitary Life Of A One-Handed Writer
I am writing this today with one good hand. It’s going to be that way for a while. I’m getting used to the new normal, but it’s slow going. A little over a month ago, my brain suffered an injury that was at the very least a setback and to be perfectly honest more than a little catastrophic.
I have a book due. I was just in the process of wrapping up my latest revision when all this happened, putting me flat on my back in a hospital bed. Add in the ramp up in press for DREAMER and I’m even further behind. I used to type as fast as I could think and now my productivity has been cut in half. When you add in the level of fatigue level -which is extreme right now – it cuts in half again. It’s maddening and frustrating and I really don’t have time for it.
What does this mean to you, my readers? Well, it means I most likely will not have a book publishing in 2019. That’s a very hard thing for me to write, particularly as an author with only two books under her belt.
You know what they say . . . if you don’t have your health you don’t have anything. This cannot be rushed. I’m going to have to get well first and then write when I feel that I really can. That’s been in bits and pieces here and there, a little more everyday. I am slowly regaining some of the use in my left hand – three out of five fingers now – but it will be several months before I am typing again and likely a few more before I’m typing 94 words per minute again.
So please, readers, hang in there with me. The next book is coming and I promise you I am taking this time to make absolutely sure it was well worth waiting for.
What To Do When You’re Sick As A Dog And A Deadline Is Looming
I spent the whole weekend being sick.
I mean, really, really, badly sick. My acute upper-respiratory infection decided to drop down into my lungs. I was coughing, congested, sneezing, and aching over every single inch of my body. I wanted to guzzle NyQuil and curl up on a heating pad.
But, of course . . . a deadline. At the suggestion of my editor (and it was a good one), I decided to drop one of my major characters and her storyline to simplify things a bit on this next book, and that required a rewrite. I almost had it finished over the holiday break, but just needed to polish it up a bit more.
Alas, by Friday, it was clear I was just too freaking sick. So I sent my editor an email, promising her I’d have the latest revision ready on Monday. I medicated myself and went to bed, and Saturday I woke up even sicker. By Sunday morning, there was still no respite in sight. But guys – I had a deadline. Continue reading
My 2018 Writing Goals
I really hate writing goals down because they make you accountable. It’s a good thing, but still – I cringe. I need to do this for me, though, and if I don’t hit them all, so be it.
I’m prioritizing (of course) any of my YA books because they’re contracted items and those deadlines will be met. The rest is wishful thinking and hopefully a lot of careful executing.
Here we go: Continue reading
2017: My Writing Year In Review
I can’t believe this year is drawing to a close already. Even crazier than that, I became a traditionally published author this year! I still have a hard time believing it! And now with a second book breaking in 2018 (and more on the way!) I guess I need to stop pinching myself and get to work because next year is gonna be a doozy. In the meantime, here are the highlights of my unbelievable year:
In January, my first run copies arrived on my doorstep. My daughter snapped this photo when I pulled my book from the box and held it in my hand. I think my face says it all.
What’s Up Wednesday: Revising A Revision Before The Next Revision
I’m in the middle of a holiday week at the day job, which means I get extra writing time (hooray!) and I’m determined to use it wisely. I had planned to start blocking out book 2 of this next project, but then I got an email from my editor commending me on my latest revision but gently suggesting that I might have too many characters coming in right off the bat.
She’s right. Continue reading
It’s Still Surreal When I See My Book
A friend messaged me on Facebook the other day to send me a screen shot of this advertisement:
Yep. That’s my book. I even saw it on a shelf in Target once! And I usually find it in Barnes & Noble, and at the great indy store that hosted my book launch – and they’ve had to reorder boxes of it twice now! How cool is that??
Guys, I’m officially a published author. I really am. I know it’s been nearly a year now, but I still pinch myself. And I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you all!
I saw it on her face in those last moments . . .
She was afraid.
Even though her own death was a sure thing, unalterable, she was afraid.
For who?
#1lineWed
Topic: “Fear”
From: WIP
What Kind Of Crazy Person Does NaNoWriMo? This Kind!
I know, I know. I’m already a published author. Why NaNo?
Plenty of published authors do, actually. It’s a great way to stretch your writer brain and the camaraderie is amazing. And there’s this Chick-Lit project I’ve been pushing off for over a year now. This is the perfect opportunity to get a chunk of (or all of) that out of the way.
So yes, I’m doing the NaNo thang. And here’s my title (and since it’ll be Chick-Lit, it’s under the non-YA moniker this time):
One Of My Favorite Quotes About Writing
“Three things are in your head: First, everything you have experienced from the day of your birth until right now. Every single second, every single hour, every single day. Then, how you reacted to those events in the minute of their happening, whether they were disastrous or joyful. Those are two things you have in your mind to give you material. Then, separate from the living experiences are all the art experiences you’ve had, the things you’ve learned from other writers, artists, poets, film directors, and composers. So all of this is in your mind as a fabulous mulch and you have to bring it out.”
~ Ray Bradbury, from Zen and the Art of Writing
