Titles

Sometimes I hate coming up with titles.  For some stories, they come easily, sometimes while the story is still in the idea phase.  And other times...

It can be really frustrating to have a story completely written, and still be struggling over the title.  With no title, there's no cover either.  Granted, you could probably play around with some cover ideas based on the story, but often those two things tie together, at least in my mind.  

And so, my NaNoWriMo story continues to be without a title, as I play with a variety of ideas, trying to find one that grabs hold.  I have another story that I have the full outline for, and am about 1/3 through writing, and it's already had 2 titles, and I'm still not satisfied.  I'm hoping I don't get backed up too much on untitled stories, but I guess that's better than having titles without stories, lol.

The Downside of NaNoWriMo

I enjoy doing NaNoWriMo, the few times I've done it.  I think I've tried 3 times and completed it twice.  It's a grind, but the push helps get stories out and onto "paper".  At the end, if you've managed to finish the story, there's a real feeling of accomplishment.  However...

After writing hard for all of November, you don't feel like writing anything in December.  You're simply exhausted.  That's how my December has gone, very little accomplished as far as actual writing.

That said, I did manage to work on my office, cleaning it up, putting up pictures and a cork board.  I've also tried doing some work in the new version of Photoshop I got a week ago, to familiarize myself in preparation for creating new covers.  So December hasn't been a total loss, but I haven't completed as much as I would have liked.  Now, to refocus for January...

NaNoWriMo success - 2019

I managed to complete the first draft of Gifted before National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), just barely.  Then I planned on working on a book about a demon for November, but after several days, it failed to get going.  So...

A quick switch up and I started a different book, a fantasy book involving mages, humans, elves, and other things.  On the final day, at about 8PM, I managed to accomplish the 50,000 word goal.  The first draft done, I started on a second book.  Only the second time I've managed to complete NaNoWriMo, so I'm pretty happy.

The Return?

It's been a long time since I posted on here.  I became distant from my writing, only touching it briefly here and there.  Overall, I had both a lack of faith in myself, and a shortage of motivation.  If I don't feel the stories coming to me, I can't force them.  But, something has changed.

I've re-motivated, and decided I don't care who likes my stories.  If nobody ever reads them, I don't care.  They entertain me, so I will write.  I will also publish, in case anyone else finds them enjoyable.  I'm comfortable with all of that now.  And so I press on.

As for this blog, I've failed to be consistent with it, and perhaps it's time to put an end to it.  I'll leave it for a little bit, to see if I can consistently post or find value in it.  The links contained within, I will probably leave regardless.  I'll review them to ensure they all still work, and remove any that don't.  I think they're useful, at least for myself.

Well, that's it for now.  I'm working on Gifted, and trying to prepare Anger for NaNoWriMo in November.  To anyone that actually reads this, I wish you well in your writing endeavors. 

I'm still here

Okay, I haven't posted much, and I don't think anyone is reading this anyway.  I think this has become more of a reminder to myself of what I'm working on, what I want to accomplish this year, and what I've accomplished so far.  To that end, I will pretend someone reads this and continue to post.

The story I mentioned before (now titled Gifted), which I hoped to get in a rhythm with, I have.  I'm over 30k words and actively going.  I've got the story plotted out through the end, and hopefully I'll finish before the end of August.

Once that's finished, I plan to finish edits on Crimson Sea, then go back and finish off Gabriel Rising.  Violet is still awaiting review.  With any luck, I'll have 3 books ready for review by the end of the year, and a fourth I just need to finish edits on and publish.  That would put me at eleven completed books. Never thought I'd even do one.

Okay, okay...

So I'm a little late posting again.  It's only been, what, four months?  RL got in the way.  I got a new job, 6-month contract, so that's kept me busy.  That's only part of it though.  I've also struggled getting traction on the stories I had been working on.

I'm trying to get something going again though.  A fresh start on an idea I've been working on, so hopefully I'll get into a rhythm and make some good progress.  Needless to say, I'm behind on everything.  I've got edits to complete so I can publish one book, I've got one or two others ready to be edited, and others that are done with the first draft and need edits.  As I get used to my new schedule, I should be able to get it going.  If anyone has been waiting for my next release, I apologize for the delay and will work hard at making progress.  Thanks for your support!

Tools for Writers

I've updated the Tools tab, adding entries to Tips and Ideas, and a new section: Marketing Tips.  This section will continue to be updated, typically when I have a number of items to add.

Also, I'm looking at adding another section or possibly a link to a list.  This will be for Public Domain characters.  For anyone that doesn't know, Public Domain means they are no longer copyright protected, so you can use them all you want.  Typically this applies to older characters, such as Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, etc.

If anyone has ideas for additional content, or suggestions in general, don't hesitate to provide feedback.

Were Comes the Wolf

Ok, so I'm about 30k words in, and I'm just now realizing this story has been a drama instead of action/adventure, like I usually strive for.  So now that presents me with a few questions...

Without the action, is this story still entertaining?

Do I need to try and rewrite and create more action?

Or, do I abandon this story completely?

I intend for a number of action sequences to come up, but is that too little, too late?  Typically my stories have been 40-50k words.  Based on what I have planned, this one may be as much as 60k.  That means I have half a story and it's mostly a drama, so I can have an action packed second half, but will it be enough?  Questions, questions, and a lack of answers.  Perhaps this is one I should have mapped out, and I would have seen this issue sooner.  Hindsight and all that.

Writing is hard. Criticizing is easy.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Teddy Roosevelt

Very much like this quote.  Take constructive criticism as opportunities to improve.  Take all criticism as challenges to prove them wrong.  Remember that everyone has different tastes.  One persons trash is another person's treasure.  Write on.  There's something for everyone, and maybe your next venture will be the masterpiece you strive for.

Crimson Sea

Just got back my edits for this, so corrections coming right up.  Since I already have the cover ready, the publish date for this book shouldn't be too long from now.  I believe this will make eight books completed (to include publishing).

This is a vampire/werewolf tale, along the genre of Magestorm and Sinners and Saviors, but it takes place in the time of pirates.  It's a standalone book, which I left open for a follow up, but presently have no intentions to do a second.  However, if an idea comes to me, I reserve the right to change my mind. :)

The "Locked-In" Story

So I have this story...

I wrote it probably 3 years ago now, maybe longer.  I had an idea, and wrote a 3-part story for it.  Now, it's not a super-long story.  I have a minimum of 40k words before I'll consider publishing a book.  This one is about half that.  So it doesn't meet my own requirements.

The story is condensed, without a ton of extra detail.  So, I can rewrite it to be more detailed, but that's not going to put it anywhere close to my requirement.

I can possibly include some extra details, maybe expand on a character or two, to make things fluid from part 1 to part 3.  Again, this will add to my word count, but I'm betting it will still be well short.

So, I've tried to rewrite the story, using my first draft as merely an outline.  This is where the real problem comes in.  This story is locked in my head as is.  Any time I try and do this, I get nowhere, because the story is what it is.  So, I intend to try and do the cleanup I mentioned, but then what?  Publish it as a cheaper novella?  Toss it aside and keep attempting future rewrites that may never come?  I'm just not sure where to go from here.  And so, the story continues to sit...waiting...

Continuing saga of werewolves and a paramedic

The story is progressing, and I'd consider the first phase complete.  The introduction of the main characters and the secondary characters, and the set up for the overall story has begun.  That's not to say there aren't additional things to go back and add, and I still need to finish a conversation in one chapter, but that's it for the first part.

Still trying to piece together the exact details of the overall story, which leaves holes for now, but I have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen.  Pressing on...

To map or not to map?

I find myself at a dilema often times with my books.  Do I need a road map of the story, or wing it?  I find positives and negatives with both options.

Having a road map can come in very helpful when ensuring your story is going exactly where you want it.  It can especially help when you want to put in foreshadowing of future events or you need the story to be a puzzle that comes together at just the right time.

Additionally, having a road map can keep you going in the right direction.  It also provides a way of keeping you motivated.  When you have a list of chapters, you can check them off as you go.  It's a great way to show you're progressing.

On the flip side, I sometimes feel limited by the road map idea.  The creative juices can be stifled when you force yourself in a specific direction.  There's also the possibility of turning your story into something greater, perhaps a novella has the potential to be a novel, or even a series of novels, but you set your sights on completing your road map, and when that's done, you're done.

I can only suggest trying each way to see which works best for you.  Keep in mind you can start without a road map and build one as you go.  Perhaps you write for a while, and when you need to find focus, or if you complete the story but want to fine tune it, build your road map and perfect your idea.  No matter which way you decide to go, as any writer will tell you, the only important thing is to ALWAYS KEEP WRITING!

Write on, my friends, write on.  And if anyone has any input or feedback, please chime in.

The Werewolf Story progresses

I've run freely with this story for about as long as I can.  Thirteen chapters in, nearly 20k words, and still a number of ideas for future chapters, but the book is lacking in overall purpose I'm afraid.

There are a couple of ideas I've tossed around for the overall arc, but neither has the "bite" I need.  A stronger story is necessary, and so now a road map may be necessary as well.  Regardless, it's time for more action to go with the passion.

Herculean

Herculean is intended to be a modern sort of Hercules tale, about a hitman who faces versions of the labours to escape his life and be with the woman he loves.

I started working on this earlier this year, but again, it was one that I wasn't feeling it flow.  I went ahead and plotted out all the chapters so I wouldn't forget what I was thinking, but I'm not sure about it.  I may need to break it down into section and try to plot it out from there.

When I plotted the chapters, I saw it sort of like a television show, with each chapter or two being an episode.  That may be the problem, or I may just need a fresh look at it.  With other projects screaming louder, this one is probably on the backburner for a bit.

A werewolf tale

Rachel is a paramedic, pretty and friendly, who has a basic, boring life.  That is, until she gets snatched and forced to treat a man with serious, unusual injuries.  Her life may hang in the balance, so she must be careful and hope he pulls through.

David is a handsome man, and he owes a debt to the woman who saves him.  Beyond that, he finds a connection with her, and welcomes her into their community.  He may have found love with an outsider,  but will his affections be returned?

Kyra is trapped.  Her husband is falling for another woman.  To complicate things further, she may be falling for the same woman as her husband.

The community holds secrets, including one that may challenge Rachel to the extreme.  Surviving within this community is more than a matter of following the rules, it must rely on accepting the unbelievable.  And where the hell did all the wolves come from?

Update - Current Projects

I reached the 15k minimum I was hoping for.  Yeah me!  Not ideal, but I was able to get on a little bit of a roll and make progress.  10k of that is the new untitled werewolf story.  That one is over 17k total with what I had previously written.

The other 5k is from Always.  I still haven't really gotten on a roll with that one.  I think I need to plot it out and see where it goes.  Then I'll either get excited and start going, or I'll be unsatisfied and drop it for now (again).  I've only been trying to figure this one out for about 5 years now.

Meanwhile, I continue trying to get my ducks in a row for a couple other projects.  One involves time travel, and the other involves a girl whose touch causes excessive aging.

Progress

I've started to make some headway with my untitled Werewolf story, so I'm hoping to jump start my word count, and hit 15k+ before month's end.  My other story, Always, has slowed to a halt now.  But this is exactly why I usually write more than one at a time.

Camp NaNoWriMo

So, yeah, I won't be reaching my goal.  Not even close.  Ah, well, nobody's perfect.  Regular NaNoWriMo is in October or November, I think.  I plan to have a story plotted out and ready to go for that one, instead of just diving in like I did this time.

For anyone still pushing to meet their goal, I wish you luck, and if there's anything I can do to help you with your goal, let me know!

Keeping Focus

It's a real struggle when you have several stories viing for your attention, but none are really ready to take hold so you can run away with it.  My Camp NaNoWriMo goal isn't looking too good.  I targeted 40,000 words, and halfway through the month, I'm only at about 8,000.

If I fail to even reach 20k, I'll be pretty disappointed in myself.  No excuse to miss that target.  I just need to get on a roll.  Maybe, hopefully, I'll get there.