BI3M – Day 31
30 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in BI3M Challenge, Book in 3 Months, True Darkness Tags: BI3M Challenge, Book in 3 Months, True Darkness
I am more than halfway through the story. And I am finding myself getting a bit, frustrated by it. I think the frustration is that it’s not going as fast as I had hoped in some scenes and chapters.
But still I am loving the story. And I am loving the challenge. This week I am challenging myself by writing 3 stories at 1 time. This one, a spy story for my other writing persona and a single title women’s fiction light paranormal. So instead of my daily 2k it’s 4K. 2K for True Darkness and 1K each for the other 2 stories.
Once the editing starts, there will be some scenes that need to be rewritten. For example, the “insert killer scene here” or “insert trip to hell scene and figure out how they get there here” or the (and my fave) “some cool happens here” scene comments.
Part of me is looking at this BI3M as a pseudo fast draft. It is helping keep me focused. And I can see the progress I’m making on the story.
So here is the word count update:
True Darkness 49000/80,000 words
What I’m Tweeting About
30 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
- 20:11 @briaquinlan – Me. Now. Still have 1K to do for the night. #ACGoals #
- 20:21 @briaquinlan – Got it. Just popped in. #
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Coming Out As A Writer
29 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in BI3M Challenge, Book in 3 Months, Career Focused, Coming Out as A Writer Tags: BI3M Challenge, Book in 3 Months, RWA
Does your family know that you’re a writer?
Do they know what genre’s you write?
Do you use a pen name?
Why am I asking? I’m thinking of coming out to my family. All of them. Most of my immediate family know I write. But they don’t know my pen names or the genres. And definitely not the adult, erotic stuff.
So how did you tell your family about your writing and career aspirations as a writer?
Plus I took a poll for RWA today about career-oriented and it got me to thinking. Sometimes that’s a good and a bad thing.
So I’m interested in hearing your stories.
As for BI3M – Plus 2K added on. Next week I’m dropping down to 1K.
What I’m Tweeting About
29 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
- 13:18 @briaquinlan – Oh no. I hope you feel better. I was about to send out a search party. #
- 13:21 @briaquinlan – It’s okay. I had a "has anyone heard from Bria" typed up and about to send when saw your tweet. #ACGoals #
- 14:10 @briaquinlan -I understand. Believe me. And that one way to put a positive spin on it. #
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Tools of the Trade
28 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in Tools of the Trade, Writing Tools Tags: Tools of the Trade, Writing Tools
This is gonna be a quickie post.
I’m starting a new series for the blog. Probably once a week. I’m going to discuss some writing tools I’ve used and may try to get some guest bloggers in talking about the tools they use. I’ll probably even share a few spreadsheets and templates and trackers I’ve come up with. Or discuss a class or workshop I’ve taken that was extremely helpful.
What prompted this? Seeing various websites with “writing tools” or something similar on them.
First up, next week, will be my love for “write or die”.
Perfection
28 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in BI3M Challenge, Book in 3 Months, NDDs - Negative Doubt Demons, Write or Die Tags: BI3M Challenge, Book in 3 Months, NDDs, Negative Doubt Demons, Write or Die
I have a problem. And it’s nothing big but I have an issue with perfection. I have a few manuscripts on my hard drive that are near finished or finished and probably ready for submission.
The problem – They’re not perfect.
And I know that’s an impossibility. There is no such thing as perfection. But even knowing that, there are still countless of manuscripts & stories half-finished, backburned or with only a few words or pages because of my perfection problem.
And I don’t know if it’s necessarily perfection. Because I try to make each manuscript before submission as close to perfection as possible. I think it could be I am a bit too hard on myself.
It’s okay to write a crappy draft because it can be fixed in editing.
It’s also that, writing, being a published author, New York Times best selling author, has been a dream/goal of mine as long as I can remember. I even have proof. I found an old journal with my goals, dreams and aspirations from elementary school and #1 on the list was be a published author. And yes it said New York Times Best Selling author. Even at the age of 8 I was specific.
I have tried to stop writing, taken breaks but I always come back to writing. So how have I helped my perfection issues, beside being in a great goals group. Write or Die. It helps me write and push away the evil editor and NDD (negative doubt demons).
So how do you handle the doubts, urge for perfection? What tools do you use?
And BI3M Update (I almost forgot): As of right now, 10PM EST on Monday June 28th, I have written
True Darkness 44157/80,000 words
So obviously I’m not on pace to where I had hoped I’d be. Last week’s un-goals threw me off. I guess I’m the type of person who needs lists and goals to check off. But it’s not a bad thing. I did do some crafting and I am still at a good place. Actually I am thinking of lowering my word count to 1K a day.
Samhain Anthology Call – Springtime “Just Romance” Anthology
28 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
in Samhain "Just Romance" Anthology, Submission Calls Tags: Samhain "Just Romance" Anthology, Submission Calls
This submission call came through the internet (on RD, twitter and Samhain’s submission page) today. And I was so happy. I actually have something that might fit this call. And before you get confused as to why a YA, sweeter/sensual but not erotic writer is doing posting this call. It’s for a sweeter romance story about blossoming romance not sexual relationships between people. And there is nothing wrong with erotic romance or erotica (I’m published under my other pen name in erotic romance) so obviously I’m not against it. But I have a few stories that have been languishing on the hard drive with no home or no place to go.
Here is the submissions call:
Samhain is dialing down the heat and focusing on the romance for a Springtime “Just Romance” Anthology.
I’m excited to announce an open call for submissions for a new anthology for Spring 2011. The theme is Springtime, and in keeping with that theme, I’m looking for stories that focus on blossoming romance rather than full-blown sexual relationships, chemistry rather than combustion, the spark of attraction rather than the blaze of passion.
The stories can have closed-door sex scenes, glossed-over sex scenes, or characters who are waiting until after the book is over. There can be as much romantic and sexual tension as the book can handle, but no explicit language, and all stories must end with a happily ever after or happy for now.
I’m open to all sub-genres of romance, and all types of sexuality: m/f, m/m, f/f and combinations thereof.
The anthology will include novellas from 20,000 to 25,000 words in length and will be released individually as separate ebooks in May 2011 and will be combined as one print title for mid 2012 print release.
Submissions are open to all authors, published with Samhain or aspiring to be published with Samhain. All submissions must be new material—previously published submissions will not be considered. Additionally, manuscripts previously submitted, whether individually or for past anthologies, will not be considered either. Please be aware that manuscripts submitted to this anthology cannot be resubmitted at a later date unless by invitation from an editor. However, submissions with merit for possible publication at Samhain will be passed to interested Samhain editors even if not chosen for the Springtime Just Romance Anthology.
To submit a manuscript for consideration please include:
The full manuscript (of 20,000 to 25,000 words) with a comprehensive 2-5 page synopsis. Please include a letter of introduction/query letter in the body of your email, and attach the manuscript and synopsis as two separate MS Word or rich text files. Full manuscripts are required for this as it’s a special project.
Also, when you send your files, please be sure to use the naming convention Springtime_Title and Springtime_Title_Synopsis.
Submissions are open until November 1st, 2010 and the final decisions will be made by November 30th, 2010. Please send your submission to editor@samhainpublishing.com and include Springtime Anthology in the subject line.
Questions can be addressed to Imogen Howson at imogen@samhainpublishing.com. Also, if you would like fuller details of the heat level we’re seeking for this anthology, please contact Imogen.
Please note, we are not accepting multiple submissions for this anthology. However, if you already have a manuscript under consideration as a general submission with Samhain and would also like to send in a submission to this anthology, please do so.
Feel free to repost this anywhere you like!
What I’m Tweeting About
28 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
- 14:42 @EmmaGDelaney – Yeah. The un-goals were good but I felt unfocused. I need lists to check off. #ACGoals #
- 15:59 RT @excerptmonday: Lite FREE FULL READ MON -special "till 8pm est" to get 1 in. Now U can add 100 word blurb GUIDELINES: bit.ly/ivkow #
- 18:52 @alexia_reed – That’s good on the full read. I keep missing the deadline. Plus unfinished full read doesn’t help either. #ACgoals #
- 20:21 Don’t forgot today is Sunday. Goals go up. Plus this week’s mama bear is Katrina. #ACGoals #
- 10:26 RT @imogenhowson: Ooh look, what’s this new anthology call at @samhainpub…? bit.ly/c5ULBF #
- 11:13 Writing goal this week is 24K on 3 diff stories. Plus gonna see if have viable idea/story for @imogenhowson’s sub call for @samhaimpub #
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What I’m Tweeting About
27 Jun 2010 Leave a Comment
- 20:23 @briaquinlan – Um. That’s a bit of a drive, if I start now I don’t know if would be there by tomorrow night.
# - 13:12 Where is everyone? It’s been so quiet. Does this mean everyone is writing? How’s the un-goal week finishing up? #ACGoals #
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