No Time To Kill by Nancy Gideon

What do we writers desire the most (besides fame, fortune and a self-cleaning house)? Time. Time to write. Time to relax. Time to take care of the business of writing.


I've had time to reconsider that. Be careful what you wish for.

A week after coming back from a fab (read: expensive shopping-wise!) trip to the Tucson Festival of Books and Sedona, my monetary security is rocked by the unexpected news that one of the attorneys in my office has decided to retire . . . in two weeks, and will not be paying any more rent. The rent that pays the salaries for me and our law clerk. Surprise, 30% of my income gone, just like that. Now, mind you, I don't have the luxury of a self-supporting writing career. After the shock and panic wore off (and some, I admit, righteous annoyance at the lack of notice), it was time to hunker down with the calculator and weigh the pros and cons: Time v Cash.

My Coolest Boss Ever and I crunched numbers and possibilities to provide an income I could live with (if not live on). Fridays off without pay was a no brainer. I could do that. Who wouldn't love a three day weekend every weekend? Then our suite neighbor stepped up and offered to take me on for four hours a week to do odds and ends for him. Our law clerk had just decided to go for a double masters next semester and won't have time to clerk, so the situation worked out pretty well in the end.

Now, how to spend that extra 8 hours (actually 10 1/2 without drive and prep time)?

My first Friday off while my grandguy visited over Spring Break I spent in Toys R Us looking for deals (there were none!), pet stores, restaurants, and a bookstore (never say No to a book!). The next, I spent on the couch binge watching movies. A recovery weekend, I justified. The third Friday, I slept in until 5:30 then went straight to the computer, spending the day doing a time line for where the previous book and my WIP overlap AND got in a new chapter written. Last Friday, I wrote way past noon, and it was marvelous.

And this is where I'll spend this Friday . . . 

With the extra day off, I can take advantage of the pre-conference Write-In time from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm before our Mid-Michigan RWA weekend Retreat from Harsh Reality and JUST WRITE! See ya' there, Diane Burton!

Okay, this can work! Just that extra day to pour out on the keyboard picked up my momentum for the rest of the week's pages and posts. My ultimate vision is to write Friday morning and use the afternoon to do writing business i.e. blog posts, gifs for FB/Twitter, excerpts, etc., freeing up the rest of my weekday early morning writing time to just do writing. And Saturday and Sunday - maybe I'll use as an actual weekend days off once in a while. All-in-all, not bad lemonade from that first sour bit of news.

Time is what you make of it, so make the most of it!

What would you do with that extra day?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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The Business of Writing

It’s one o’clock in the morning and I’m taking a break from some writerly business to try to put this post together. A better person would simply write a post and schedule it in advance, but I am not that person. But as long as I’m still hip deep in it, I thought I’d talk about some of the nitty-gritty of being a writer that people don’t often see.

In my opinion, the synopsis is the worst part of writing. I loathe, loathe, loathe them. It’s not so bad coming up with a three-paragraph summary once the book is finished, but when you’re writing “on spec”—putting together a proposal for a publisher who’s interested in your next unwritten book—the synopsis must be highly detailed and several pages long and needs to cover every part of the plot, back story, and character development. Worse, you have to write this monstrous thing in advance. As a dedicated “pantser,” I don’t know what’s going to happen in a book until I write it, so writing a detailed synopsis about something I don’t know about—and don’t want to know about yet, because it tends to suck all the creativity out of the story and get me bogged down in a static idea—is extremely painful.

And it can also be physically painful. I’ve been at my standing desk for five hours tonight so far, after a full day at the office, working on a short synopsis and a couple of character descriptions, and the pinched nerve from a herniated disc in my neck is now at “excruciating” level. This particular synopsis, at least, is only five paragraphs long, but I had to distill it down from the ten-pager I’d originally written for the proposal. The short synopsis, character descriptions, and key scene descriptions are all part of a package for the publisher to put together an art briefing for cover design. This also involves scrolling through hundreds of story themes/tropes and settings to help build the metadata for the ebook version.

And then there are the titles. I start with a working title when I’m first drafting a book then come up with a better one for submission to the publisher. But the publisher will often have other books with similar titles or knows that certain words don’t really grab readers as well as others, so they’ll ask for a list of alternatives after rejecting a proposed title. That’s when I pop out my handy-dandy thesaurus and start a game of word association with all of the key themes in the book—then try to fit some of those words into an existing title format if I happen to be working on a series. (My current series uses what I call “Verbing the Noun”: Waking the Serpent, Bewitching the Dragon, and the new one whose proposed title was Redeeming the Wraith but which is now in the “alternatives” stage with the noun being Viking.

So that’s my “night in the life,” just a little glimpse into the behind-the-scenes of the business of writing.

Sounds glamorous, right? ;)

When the Idea Comes Alive by @MeganSlayer #ideas #writers #PNR

Sometimes I wonder what the next story will be. I know that sounds crazy. Aren't authors supposed to have characters talking all of the time? Usually, that's correct. Most often, I can't keep a notebook close enough of a pen full because I'm scrawling information down. I can see a music video or a sequence at the store and an idea shows up. It's fun. 

But every so often, I'm in a lull. No one's talking and nothing's happening. I call it my time to recharge my brain. Hey, sometimes I need to. 

So while I was sitting here trying to decide what to write about and being mildly puzzled... I had an idea. Actually, I'd been thinking about my local library. I was given the opportunity to write a short piece about why I love my library. Now you're probably wondering why I mentioned the library. Simple. The library and this post (Yep, this one) inspired me. 

I used to love going to my local library (a bigger one than the one where I live now) and wondered what would happen if the furniture came to life. What if the paintings could talk or the books could, too? What would it be like to be in that world. Kind of a cross between Beauty and the Beast and Alice in Wonderland. When you walk in, you don't know who the librarians will be that day or what the books will tell you. It's a mystery! Could be Alexander the Great talking about his conquests while the statue of birds flies around the rafters.  I don't know about you, but I'm certainly putting this idea on the back burner and letting it simmer a while. 

What about you? Have you ever had a whiz-banger of an idea? Or one that won't leave you alone? I'd love to know. You don't have to disclose the idea, but maybe the how and why. :-)

Want to know more about Never Give You Up or the other Battle Scarred books? Here you go!

Never Give You Up by Megan Slayer  Battle Scarred, Book 5
Loose Id
Contemporary, Paranormal
Novella
M/M, Anal Sex, Masturbation
Cover art by Mina Carter

 Through time, distance and confusion, we will always find each other.

Galen Collins knows who he loves, but the vampire of his dreams, Anders Von, isn’t interested. What’s a vampire to do when he’s been rejected? Go to the clubs for sex. He’ll get Anders out of his mind one way or another. But there’s something wicked on the horizon in the form of a virus meant to wipe out supernatural beings. Forces who hardly know Galen are out to keep him and Anders apart. Will he allow the demons to win, or will he chase Anders to the ends of the earth?

Anders has always had a crush on Galen, but things never worked out right time-wise. Galen is the one vampire to make his emotional heart race. He wants to strip Galen to his core and explore every inch of him. Will Anders take the chance to be with Galen and discover how well they fit together or will the virus take Galen before Anders makes his move?

Available from Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.com/battle-scarred-5-never-give-you-up.html

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Megan Slayer - It's Always Fun to Squirm

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That Awkward Moment When... with @MeganSlayer

Anyone ever have that awkward moment when you're staring at the computer and you know you should be doing something, but nothing comes to mind? Maybe it's right after a gigantic writing session or a frantic promo blast. It could be after the family has gone to bed and you're alone with the story or you've found a quiet nook at your favorite writing spot... Ever had that moment?

I have.

I had a fellow author tell me that authors should never have downtime with a story. There should never be a moment when he or she cannot find some sort of words to put on the page.

Here's the thing. Authors do have this problem. It's called writer's block. It can be called procrastination. It's also been known to go by the name of NaNo Overload.

Ever heard of those?

I have. I've lived them. I am living them.

I just finished NaNo. Know what that is? National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo for short). It's every November. 50,000 words in 30 days. To some, this is therapy. To others, torture. Some use this as their way to catch up and get wordage in. Others simply stare at the screen and try not to cry due to stress.

Me? I had my moments of tears. I mean, 50,000 words is a lot of words. Okay, maybe not for Stephen King or Nora Roberts, but it is for me. There's some serious stress involved. I had moments where the words flew from my fingers and I thought, yeah, I got this.

I did got this...so to speak. I nailed it. 50,330 as of yesterday at 11:30 pm and the story isn't done yet. That's the best feeling--the story isn't done, but I reached the minimum word goal. Phew. Now to get print length where I want to sub the book requires 60,000, but I've got at least that left in the notes, plus two sex scenes to write. So yay me!

But now I'm at that awkward moment when I'm staring at the computer screen. I know I should be writing. I even know WHAT I should be writing. But the words aren't coming. They're stuck or on strike. I'm not sure.

Either way, I did get to blog today and got to talk to you, so that's pretty good. Have YOU ever had that awkward moment? Want to talk about it? Commiserate? I'm all ears.

How about a snippet from my latest release, since I'm here. Sure!

Bonding with Ben 

Sanctuary Book 4

Resplendence Publishing

M/M, Anal Sex, Masturbation

Novella

Sometimes the biggest hurdle in life is accepting who you are and what you want.

​

Joe Dallas thought he’d escaped the draw of the shifters at the Sanctuary. He doesn’t mind. With his tendency to keep relationships simple, he doesn’t want to get involved with a lion shifter. Then there’s Ben. The quiet shifter piques Joe’s attention. When Joe accompanies Ben on a rescue mission, he realizes the attraction isn’t one-sided. But can a shifter and a human really make a relationship work? Joe isn’t sure.

Ben knows who he wants in his life and bed—Joe. The lion wants to bond with the human he desires. The difference in their species doesn’t bother him a bit. Will the shifter be able to convince Joe they have a future or will fear dominate and destroy the love before it can blossom?


Warning: Once you’re in the sight of this shifter, you may be the “mane” attraction. This lion doesn’t give up until he has his prey.

Available at:

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-bondingwithbensanctuarybookfour-1937295-340.html

http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/793-978-1-60735-921-0--bonding-with-ben-sanctuary-book-four-by-megan-slayer.html

​EXCERPT:

Copyright 2015, Megan Slayer, All Rights Reserved

What was it about Ben that kept Joe thinking about him? He closed his eyes and stood under the searing-hot spray. With other guys, Joe did the casual thing. Have a good time but no strings, so no one got hurt. Until now, that plan had worked. Right?
Kind of. Sure, he had nothing holding him down, but when he looked at John and Markas together, jealousy hit. He wanted that kind of devotion. Would he get it with Ben?

Ben was certainly different. He was innocent and deserved someone worthy of him. Joe wasn’t worthy of too much of anything. He’d had a little too much fun and broken a few too many hearts along the way. Ben needed true devotion and a good match.

Joe snorted. He was great as a reporter and nosy as hell, but he sucked at relationships. Ben deserved a partner, not a player.

Still, he liked Ben. He worried about the shifter and wanted him to be happy. Could Joe make Ben happy? Doubtful.

Joe opened his eyes and washed the cum from his body. He’d be a friend and help Ben find a suitable partner. No romantic entanglements—just friendship—even if it damn near killed him not to be the man in Ben’s arms and bed.

This was one situation he couldn’t screw up.​

* * * * *

​

 http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

Megan Slayer - It's Always Fun to Squirm

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Resolutions and Writing Goals

The new year is fast approaching, and many are making resolutions. I have personal resolutions, like exercising more, cutting back on the sweets... But I also have some writing goals, things I want to accomplish by the end of 2013. Here's my list:

1. Finish the two series that I've already started and had the first in the series published.
2. Revise and/or rewrite all six stories in my Mark of the Stars series, and get them published.
3. Publish a new series of alien romances.
4. Write another clone story.
5. Start a new series of erotica short stories.
6. Spend less time on twitter.
7. Spend more time writing.

So, I'm going to try and work a tight schedule to get all of these things accomplished. And with two releases in January, I'm going to have even more added to my daily to-do lists. But for me, I have to be scheduled in order to get things accomplished. Otherwise, my mind tends to drift to other things, like what my friends are up to on twitter. LOL

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Any goals? And if so, what's on your list?

Author Bio:

Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from her readers. Made For Her is set to release January 15, 2013 and Accidental Romance in mid-January.

Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Authorgraph

Are You Ready To Send In That Submission?

by JoAnne Kenrick

I've been so busy through the summer break with releases left right and center (check my amazon page for the latest - vampires, zombies, Irish pubs... the list is extensive). It's been very exciting, and I love the online buzz my new releases have generated. I've just had my tenth book with Decadent Publishing accepted, and that will be my last release for 2012 (Hot Winter Kiss, Irish Kisses book 4). I'm now working on three new projects, with new arsenal in my thumb drive; during the past year with all that writing, submitting, and editing, I've learned a very valuable lesson on what I NEED to do before I send in a submission.

I’m an impulsive person by nature. I get to a point where I think I couldn’t possibly edit my manuscript anymore, but that desire to end it all and hit send is often overwhelming.  I find myself having to walk away from the computer, chewing at the cord wanting to hit send.

Nathan Bransford’s--if you’re a writer, you should know this blog. If you don’t, go subscribe NOW--blog post by about revision fatigue got me thinking...and nodding my head in agreement.

“There comes a point when you think the book is a colossal, irredeemable mess and you can't for the life of you figure out if it's actually any good or not.” -- Nathan Bransford

Yes, I thought, I am not the only one. I am not a Highlander; well, there can be only one of those.

When I think my story is a mess, I let it sit for a while and go back in for more edits a few days later. It’s after that process that the ‘hit send’ urge hits me.

Maybe it could do with another edit? Maybe there’s a plot point that has a gap, or maybe I forgot to check continuity with a fine tooth comb and missed something. Those are all questions that used to race through my mind after hitting send.

I’ve since learned a neat little trick that keeps me distracted until the book is ready for submission. I mean actually ready, not almost ready.

I now have a check list of all my writing weaknesses, and I make myself go through it if I get a sudden urge to hit send. Search and find for my big no-no words, checking eye and hair color, double checking location research and whatnot. and cliches. I’ve got a long list of those to check for. By the time I’ve finished checking, another full round of edits have taken place because I typically find more ‘little’ things along the way. I can see then that it's almost there, but not quite. It's almost like you've got fresh eyes on the project after running through a checklist on it. Another round of edits takes place and then I typically feel 'right' about sending it in with hopes of getting a resounding YES from an editor.

I've found this to be a useful program; AUTO CRIT wizard - free trial . It doesn't replace beta readers and critique partners, but it does give a cleaner look at where things could be improved technically.

What do you make sure to do before you hit ‘send submission?’

Got any tips to share?

By JoAnne Kenrick [www.joannekenrick.com ]

Bestselling author of romances, both contemporary and paranormal.

Grab Dracula’s Kiss this October; a Decadent Publishing 1NS story set in actual Scottish castle ruins that inspired Stoker when writing Dracula. A tasty treat not to be missed this Halloween! Available to purchase for just 2.99 at your favorite e-book stores.

http://www.amazon.com/Draculas-Night-Stand-Series-ebook/dp/B005XN7H2S

Not Enough Time in the Day

Do you ever just want to write? I mean, like seriously tell the world to screw off just so you can write?

Well, that’s where I’ve been for the last month but commitments have kept me from that goal more often than not. First, there were set upon set of edits to complete. Keep this in mind, writers, that if you submit a wad of books and they all get accepted, you’ll have a wad of edits coming back at you all at the same time—while you’re trying to do other things.

Then there’s this stubborn work in progress I’ve been fiddling with. The opening chapter’s still not right, which is just as well because my Muse decided she wanted to write a short, hot piece. Who am I to argue with her?

Next comes the Muse Online Writing Conference. I’d forgotten I agreed to teach a mini-workshop every day this week on writing with humor so I’ve had to come up with posts for each day. Just FYI, it’s still going on so if you get time, drop by. Do a Google search. I’m too tired to come up with a link right now.

I only remembered at 8:15 pm on Tuesday that I had to blog for today. Wen I signed up for Paranormal Romantics, I considered it a job so I don’t often have folks come in and blog for me. It’s my commitment and I need to do it. So, I’m here! I know you’re glad even though sometimes I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel for content. It's all part of the business of writing.

And lastly, there’s my own personal blog plus promotions I’ve been mired in this last month thanks to book releases. All of this pulls me away from writing—not to mention perpetual laundry and housework and dealing with the husband's needs--and don't get me started on the mothership!

Do I ever just want to go hide so I can write? You bet, but I can’t. Being a writer means you have to budget your time with everything else. Prioritize your workload, just as you would do at an office or other job. Do I have time to hang out on online forums and other social networking sites? Nope. Again, I have work to do and writing is work. It’s a job. I give my writing everything I have in order to constantly get better and that means I don’t have time to waste. I usually tell people if you need me, email me because I can’t type in chat programs and on my book at the same time. LOL

So, here I am, watching the Biggest Loser (which is boring this season FYI), writing out this blog post, trying to figure out what I’ll say for this workshop and ready to throw a pillow at my Muse who wants me to work on chapter two.

Question of the day: Does it ever frustrate you when you can’t get in writing time because of everything else? How do you deal with it all?

Have a great day everyone!