For a while now, I've been a little disgruntled about our Tuesday night group. I liked it (back in the day, lol!) when we met between 5-7pm and actually TALKED writing, or passed around and discussed what we were working on, or helping with edits. But now it's evolved into simply a social hour. Some new members have joined in the last year, and the preferred meeting time has been 6-9. Seven of us are published now, and I'm thinking seriously about only showing up once a month now.
Which begs the question, is it me? Did I simply outgrow these people, now I have a regular publisher and editor, and don't need outside help anymore? Or is it simply the fact I don't care to hang around them anymore, that our personalities have simply grown apart?
I like getting out of the house once a week to write. But when talking overrules my writing, then I feel my time is wasted. But on the other hand, it's nice to get out and associate with adults once a week. Or, I can also do that at karaoke.
I need to write more. I didn't write a single word last week, other than my blog posts. And if I want to have a book out next year, I'd better get it written in the next four months. So maybe I simply need to return to the coffee shop, and forego the social hour and venue of the others?
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Edit Rant
Edits arrived and I want to bitch-slap my editor. Why? There are sooooo many 'suggested changes' that I do NOT agree with! Kind of makes me want to thrust my last two books in her face and say 'See? THIS is how it's done!!!'
-There are so many brand names crucial to my early 80's time period, it literally made me sick to take them out and use their description. IE: Nike and Keds shoes; Izod the alligator; Cheryl Tiegs, Calvin Klein, Jordache, and Chic jeans...the list goes on. And I never realized how many times I used Mountain Dew! Wendy's. McDonalds. Pizza Hut. Olive Garden. Chi-Chi's.
-My dates in itallics. Yes, I jump around in time. Get over it. Have you never read any 'epic sagas'? Not everything has to be a minute-by-minute/day-by-day explanation!!!
-My prologue flashback. This is NOT meant to be an 'in the moment' scene! It's a FLASHBACK, written in Omniscent POV, like a glimpse into her private memories.
This is what happens when you don't have the same editor. This particular one whipped #4 into shape, and now she's trying to edit #7. Why do I need to regurgitate a scene that has already been described in books #5 and 6? There's just enough description for the reader to know; it does not need to be retold!
I'm easy to work with, seriously. And this is only the 2nd time in my 4 year publishing history that I've clashed with an editor. I don't know if she's messing with my voice or trying to tell it her way, but it's driving me crazy. And I need to get these finished so I don't have to mess with it while on vacation! Bad enough I'll be on a review tour that week....ugh! My family's going to hate me every morning.....
I just want T or A back for the rest of this book!!!
-There are so many brand names crucial to my early 80's time period, it literally made me sick to take them out and use their description. IE: Nike and Keds shoes; Izod the alligator; Cheryl Tiegs, Calvin Klein, Jordache, and Chic jeans...the list goes on. And I never realized how many times I used Mountain Dew! Wendy's. McDonalds. Pizza Hut. Olive Garden. Chi-Chi's.
-My dates in itallics. Yes, I jump around in time. Get over it. Have you never read any 'epic sagas'? Not everything has to be a minute-by-minute/day-by-day explanation!!!
-My prologue flashback. This is NOT meant to be an 'in the moment' scene! It's a FLASHBACK, written in Omniscent POV, like a glimpse into her private memories.
This is what happens when you don't have the same editor. This particular one whipped #4 into shape, and now she's trying to edit #7. Why do I need to regurgitate a scene that has already been described in books #5 and 6? There's just enough description for the reader to know; it does not need to be retold!
I'm easy to work with, seriously. And this is only the 2nd time in my 4 year publishing history that I've clashed with an editor. I don't know if she's messing with my voice or trying to tell it her way, but it's driving me crazy. And I need to get these finished so I don't have to mess with it while on vacation! Bad enough I'll be on a review tour that week....ugh! My family's going to hate me every morning.....
I just want T or A back for the rest of this book!!!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Weird Dream
What did I eat/drink before I went to bed?
I was fine until I got up at 5:30 to put my dog outside. I went back to bed (when will I learn??) and tried to squeeze in another hour of sleep.
Imagine my surprise when I finally dragged myself out of bed at 7:15, puzzled and slightly icked out by the dream I'd had.
I'd woken up in bed beside Ozzy Osborn, and he'd been a complete gentleman during the night. We dressed, and a guy who looked like Penn (from Penn and Teller fame) greeted me and the three of us drove to a dilapidated beach house. We looked through it, discovered the owner either comatose or dead; it was never really explained. And then Penn alluded to mine and Ozzy's engagement.
I laughed. "But he's not divorced from Sharon yet! We can't be engaged!"
That's when I woke up, shuddering at 1) dreaming I'd slept with Ozzy; 2) 'Penn' thought we were engaged; and 3) what the hell were we doing, walking around this guy's house?
I was fine until I got up at 5:30 to put my dog outside. I went back to bed (when will I learn??) and tried to squeeze in another hour of sleep.
Imagine my surprise when I finally dragged myself out of bed at 7:15, puzzled and slightly icked out by the dream I'd had.
I'd woken up in bed beside Ozzy Osborn, and he'd been a complete gentleman during the night. We dressed, and a guy who looked like Penn (from Penn and Teller fame) greeted me and the three of us drove to a dilapidated beach house. We looked through it, discovered the owner either comatose or dead; it was never really explained. And then Penn alluded to mine and Ozzy's engagement.
I laughed. "But he's not divorced from Sharon yet! We can't be engaged!"
That's when I woke up, shuddering at 1) dreaming I'd slept with Ozzy; 2) 'Penn' thought we were engaged; and 3) what the hell were we doing, walking around this guy's house?
Monday, May 6, 2013
Graduation Plans
I can't talk about this on my other blog, b/c I'm not sure how often a friend reads it. I'm lying through my teeth to longtime friend K, all because of the way she acted 3 years ago at my son's graduation, and it took nearly everything I had NOT to kill her. My daughter does NOT want her at her graduation or party, and frankly, neither do I. Here's a little back story:
In 1998 or '99, K came to our house for a visit. We took her out to dinner, and on the way home, she was tickling my older son and laughing with him. S, age 3 or 4 at the time, decided she wanted in on the fun, and tickled K, who snapped, 'Don't do that.'
S burst into tears; I calmly stated, "She was only trying to join in; why is it okay for you to tease KD, but not receive it from S?"
She didn't have any response to that, and when we arrived home, she decided to pack up and leave.
Fast-forward to 2010. I won't bore you with the frustration I had at getting her a hotel room. I had TOLD her weeks in advance, to get her reservations made. And then thankfully, a cancellation made it possible for her and N to get a room at the EconoLodge.
Graduation dinner went fine; graduation was fine. But the next morning, time was tight in order to get the food, decorations, drinks, etc, out to the park. K and N sat in my living room, not offering to help. I finally asked if they'd go pick up the guacamole, and they left.
We packed everything into the van, then I realized we'd still have to pick up the cake, and there was no room left. I told the spouse to go ahead; K and N would be returning soon and we'd follow.
I waited....and waited. Finally, K and N arrived, and I directed them to the bakery. They followed me in, and as I'm trying to herd them out the door, K drools over the candy display and asks for a chocolate pretzel, and talking to the owner about various chocolates. Really? I need to be at the park in 5 mins; it takes at least 15-20 minutes to drive, and you want a pretzel dipped in chocolate? What part of 'I'm in a hurry' did you not understand?
We arrive at the park, where thankfully, my mom and aunt were arranging the food and getting everything set up. K and N get out their chairs and sit down while I jump out with the cake and get it set up.
K's party was a success; and then we packed everything back into the van and K's car. When we arrived back at the house, K and N once again plopped their plus-size asses on my couch while the rest of us carried things in. When I finally said something, they got to their feet as the last of it was being brought in.
My mother was incensed, and asked me about it. I told her I was furious, but needed K to stay out of my way until I cooled down. I put the leftovers in the fridge, then packed my overnight bag, since I was going home with Mom and Dad to attend the Indy 500. K and N left at the same time to return to their motel room; as soon as we were on the road, I called my BFF and vented.
"I told you to come down and keep me from killing her!"
"Sounds like you showed great restraint. I probably would have killed her if you hadn't!"
So when my daughter's graduation approached, she adamantly refused to have a party if K was invited. So I told K no party. Then she said she wanted to come for graduation. So I told her S refused to go through the ceremony, and K and N will not make the trip.
But this poses a problem for me: I cannot post anything about her party or graduation on Facebook or on my other blog, because N reads it. I don't know if she only reads it when I promo, or if it's a daily thing. And I also cannot post pictures anywhere afterward, unless I say it was a last minute change of heart!
So right now, I'm spending this week combing through 18 years of photos for the collage I'm making to display.
And we're praying the rain moves out of our area by Saturday!!
In 1998 or '99, K came to our house for a visit. We took her out to dinner, and on the way home, she was tickling my older son and laughing with him. S, age 3 or 4 at the time, decided she wanted in on the fun, and tickled K, who snapped, 'Don't do that.'
S burst into tears; I calmly stated, "She was only trying to join in; why is it okay for you to tease KD, but not receive it from S?"
She didn't have any response to that, and when we arrived home, she decided to pack up and leave.
Fast-forward to 2010. I won't bore you with the frustration I had at getting her a hotel room. I had TOLD her weeks in advance, to get her reservations made. And then thankfully, a cancellation made it possible for her and N to get a room at the EconoLodge.
Graduation dinner went fine; graduation was fine. But the next morning, time was tight in order to get the food, decorations, drinks, etc, out to the park. K and N sat in my living room, not offering to help. I finally asked if they'd go pick up the guacamole, and they left.
We packed everything into the van, then I realized we'd still have to pick up the cake, and there was no room left. I told the spouse to go ahead; K and N would be returning soon and we'd follow.
I waited....and waited. Finally, K and N arrived, and I directed them to the bakery. They followed me in, and as I'm trying to herd them out the door, K drools over the candy display and asks for a chocolate pretzel, and talking to the owner about various chocolates. Really? I need to be at the park in 5 mins; it takes at least 15-20 minutes to drive, and you want a pretzel dipped in chocolate? What part of 'I'm in a hurry' did you not understand?
We arrive at the park, where thankfully, my mom and aunt were arranging the food and getting everything set up. K and N get out their chairs and sit down while I jump out with the cake and get it set up.
K's party was a success; and then we packed everything back into the van and K's car. When we arrived back at the house, K and N once again plopped their plus-size asses on my couch while the rest of us carried things in. When I finally said something, they got to their feet as the last of it was being brought in.
My mother was incensed, and asked me about it. I told her I was furious, but needed K to stay out of my way until I cooled down. I put the leftovers in the fridge, then packed my overnight bag, since I was going home with Mom and Dad to attend the Indy 500. K and N left at the same time to return to their motel room; as soon as we were on the road, I called my BFF and vented.
"I told you to come down and keep me from killing her!"
"Sounds like you showed great restraint. I probably would have killed her if you hadn't!"
So when my daughter's graduation approached, she adamantly refused to have a party if K was invited. So I told K no party. Then she said she wanted to come for graduation. So I told her S refused to go through the ceremony, and K and N will not make the trip.
But this poses a problem for me: I cannot post anything about her party or graduation on Facebook or on my other blog, because N reads it. I don't know if she only reads it when I promo, or if it's a daily thing. And I also cannot post pictures anywhere afterward, unless I say it was a last minute change of heart!
So right now, I'm spending this week combing through 18 years of photos for the collage I'm making to display.
And we're praying the rain moves out of our area by Saturday!!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
When To Stop?
I've seen some discussions on when a series has gone on long enough; when do you draw the line 'enough is enough'?
My answer has always been 'when I can no longer keep the stories fresh. I do not want to keep writing the same thing over and over.'
Why do I bring this up?
Because this past month I was fortunate enough to three books by two different authors in which, in my humble opinion, the authors did not know when to end the STORY.
One author has written a series of books, and to hear her talk about them, her fans clamored for the secondary characters to have their own stories. Fine and dandy; I can relate to that. Others do it all the time. BUT....the stories overlap so much, it gets confusing. Book #1 was wonderful; book #2 was a nice sequel; Book #3 kept going....and going.....and going......I had a hard time believing one woman could keep going back and forth between the two men, one of whom came off as a wuss. I disliked him intensely, and wanted to yell at him that there were more women out there. Man up and go find one. Forget this chick who can't seem to make up her mind!
Then we come to book #4. Which goes BACK to everyone's college years....then catches up to book #1, then book #2.....then WHAM! Suddenly this M/M story goes back and forth M/M; M/F; then M/F/M or M/M/F. Then a character dies, and it becomes M/F again. Make up your mind! Oh, then we're back to Book #3's storyline....and there's an annoying female secondary character who I also want to bitch slap and tell her 'there are more men out there....stay away from these two!'
And there are at least three more books in this series?
Yes, I want to read them. And yes, I'm probably going to skim a great deal if I get mad again. I'd prefer to WIN the rest of the books in contests, but this author has contests which frankly, I don't have the time to follow all the damn instructions/blogs in order to be entered.
And that's another thing: Keep contests SIMPLE....just leave a comment and you're entered. Not this 'follow', 'like', 'leave a comment on all 20+ blogs...' Who the hell has TIME for all that?
Okay, that rant's over.
The next author has only one book out. I read and enjoyed the first few chapters, and then came to an ENTIRE section which failed to hold my interest. It literally made me sleepy. I had to put it down, take a nap or read something else, and then return to it for another two or three chapters.
And then I came to the last three or four chapters, and enjoyed every word:)
The action in the middle dragged. I kept wanting things to move along....but in my opinion, the author went off on a tangent and finally wandered around to his original plot point.
So authors, please reread your work? Get a good crit partner?
This is why I limited my books to a year or two in the lives of my girls. Why Keri's story stops at a 'HEAFN' ending. It kept bleeding into books 4 and 5, when her ending is clearly told both times. It didn't need to be told 3 times. And-hint, hint-she comes back at a later date, and gets her HEA. There; now you have an incentive to keep reading:)
My answer has always been 'when I can no longer keep the stories fresh. I do not want to keep writing the same thing over and over.'
Why do I bring this up?
Because this past month I was fortunate enough to three books by two different authors in which, in my humble opinion, the authors did not know when to end the STORY.
One author has written a series of books, and to hear her talk about them, her fans clamored for the secondary characters to have their own stories. Fine and dandy; I can relate to that. Others do it all the time. BUT....the stories overlap so much, it gets confusing. Book #1 was wonderful; book #2 was a nice sequel; Book #3 kept going....and going.....and going......I had a hard time believing one woman could keep going back and forth between the two men, one of whom came off as a wuss. I disliked him intensely, and wanted to yell at him that there were more women out there. Man up and go find one. Forget this chick who can't seem to make up her mind!
Then we come to book #4. Which goes BACK to everyone's college years....then catches up to book #1, then book #2.....then WHAM! Suddenly this M/M story goes back and forth M/M; M/F; then M/F/M or M/M/F. Then a character dies, and it becomes M/F again. Make up your mind! Oh, then we're back to Book #3's storyline....and there's an annoying female secondary character who I also want to bitch slap and tell her 'there are more men out there....stay away from these two!'
And there are at least three more books in this series?
Yes, I want to read them. And yes, I'm probably going to skim a great deal if I get mad again. I'd prefer to WIN the rest of the books in contests, but this author has contests which frankly, I don't have the time to follow all the damn instructions/blogs in order to be entered.
And that's another thing: Keep contests SIMPLE....just leave a comment and you're entered. Not this 'follow', 'like', 'leave a comment on all 20+ blogs...' Who the hell has TIME for all that?
Okay, that rant's over.
The next author has only one book out. I read and enjoyed the first few chapters, and then came to an ENTIRE section which failed to hold my interest. It literally made me sleepy. I had to put it down, take a nap or read something else, and then return to it for another two or three chapters.
And then I came to the last three or four chapters, and enjoyed every word:)
The action in the middle dragged. I kept wanting things to move along....but in my opinion, the author went off on a tangent and finally wandered around to his original plot point.
So authors, please reread your work? Get a good crit partner?
This is why I limited my books to a year or two in the lives of my girls. Why Keri's story stops at a 'HEAFN' ending. It kept bleeding into books 4 and 5, when her ending is clearly told both times. It didn't need to be told 3 times. And-hint, hint-she comes back at a later date, and gets her HEA. There; now you have an incentive to keep reading:)
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Don't You Just....
....love it when friends offer support, but even your own PUBLISHER won't acknowledge your presence?
My latest book was sent on a review tour. Wonderful! I'm getting good review, posting links everywhere I possibly can, without being overly-pushy about it, and I feel somewhat invisible. I've walked a close line of yelling 'Look at me!' and 'Please, please PLEASE someone leave me a comment/show me some love!'
There was a post on FB about how an effective marketing tool would be to promote others, not just yourself. I do this all the time, but rarily get it in return.
And I get sick of seeing others post the same promo spot hourly. I've been posting it twice; once in the morning and again in the evening. I realize not everyone scrolls through their entire 'feed' to see what others have posted, but I'm nosy like that (lol!).
When I post to the loops, I check back several times a day, if I'm not on digest. So yes, I'll respond to comments.
Sorry for the 'Debbie Downer'....just feeling a bit irritated at not being the 'favored child' by this particular publisher. And not getting any support from other authors or even other friends whom I share their links with the world.
My latest book was sent on a review tour. Wonderful! I'm getting good review, posting links everywhere I possibly can, without being overly-pushy about it, and I feel somewhat invisible. I've walked a close line of yelling 'Look at me!' and 'Please, please PLEASE someone leave me a comment/show me some love!'
There was a post on FB about how an effective marketing tool would be to promote others, not just yourself. I do this all the time, but rarily get it in return.
And I get sick of seeing others post the same promo spot hourly. I've been posting it twice; once in the morning and again in the evening. I realize not everyone scrolls through their entire 'feed' to see what others have posted, but I'm nosy like that (lol!).
When I post to the loops, I check back several times a day, if I'm not on digest. So yes, I'll respond to comments.
Sorry for the 'Debbie Downer'....just feeling a bit irritated at not being the 'favored child' by this particular publisher. And not getting any support from other authors or even other friends whom I share their links with the world.
Friday, April 5, 2013
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