Just One More Page.... (Day Two)

So, day two of my personal writing challenge.

I dove into this romance novel I almost felt challenged and dared to do. It's going well. I got 4 chapters done today (remember dear friends and fans- I had told myself 10 a day---- can you say very long sleepless weekend to catch up? Ignore what my GF says, I will get back on target).

I was about to go to bed and the main character Matt decided to make himself known. Katherine, the female lead was pretty easy. But Matt was a bit elusive. Until the moment I told KB that we were heading to bed. And then BAM, Matthew McCall decided to make himself known. He's a total jerk, a brutish asshole that seems very, very familiar. Hmm... no idea why? (Yeah, I smirked when I typed that) But anyway, he started babbling and bitching in my head so I started writing the next chapter where he shows his real nature. I'm not sure if the ladies will truly appreciate the complexity of Matt until later in the book. I really don't know if Kat can even like him at this point. He sure as hell doesn't like himself, at all. 

But...I like him. But us assholes have to stick together.

So..back on track, but still running behind. But at least I'm on the track and not sitting on the side saying I need to get my ass on that track.

We'll see...maybe I'll even reveal some character back-stories of Matt and Kat later in the week. 

Yeah...add that to my to-do-list. 

Until tomorrow....back to Matt and Kat. 

Best Laid Plans (Day One- Writing Challenge)

Day One: My Own Personal Writing Challenge

Well, that didn't go too well. I went to work as planned and go through the day on like- thinks- 3 hours of sleep. Woke up excited to get this challenge going. WHICH ran out at about 2pm and I was dragging. That's okay- there's always the night. I work better at night. Something about the darkness and coolness of the eve soothes me. Stirs my creativity.

Until, life had other plans.

Que sitting in a hospital waiting room to help a loved one who was having a health issue.

For those who don't know me? I hate hospitals. I hate being contained and told to sit wait here with strangers. I am not a nice person in such situations. But in all fairness, there was even richness and amusement in the 7 hours I sat there (9pm to 4am).

There was this crazy (and yes, I use this term loosely. I have no idea if she was actually crazy as in seeing a therapist, taking meds, etc- this is just my word for well, whatever that was) woman who got upset when I wouldn't let her use my phone. Don't get me wrong. I simply kept telling her no. Repeatedly. Over and over (Give me a break, I could have decked her, no was being nice). Finally she asked why I was there. Told her in two words.

Lesson - do not engage crazy people. Don't answer them. Don't meet their eyes and definitely don't give them an in to conversation. Oooops. I should know this better than anyone. I am after all, clinically crazy.

So, what happened when I gave her this short, curt kernel of info? She proceeded to implore me to pray with her (now, before you start thinking I'm harsh- take it from a former homeless person. You get the mark to close their eyes, get caught in the moment and take all you can. That messenger bag with laptop, e-reader and phone? Total perfect grab. All contained to carry). Knowing what I know, I smiled and said I don't pray. Thanks. Yeah. Remember my advice up there? Remember my lack of sleep? It's all coming into play and biting me in my literary ass.

Lesson - If the subject of prayer comes up with a crazy person. Say nothing. This is when you really need to heed lesson above, and ignore.

To say she got upset is being a bit flippant. No. She got well, crazier. She then proceeded to call me a demon. Now, I've been called a lot of things. Probably been called that too. But never in such a public display. She then spat on the floor and made the sign of the cross at me with her fingers. This was followed with several "fuck you" and  "Jesus will find me".....what did this do?

Caused me great moments of amusement. I broke out into laughter, which just caused her tirade to increase in fervor and zest.  Followed by more laughter from my corner of the waiting room.

Eventually my own personal demon detector friend was escorted out of the hospital by the police. Apparently this individual was often trying to spend the night in the hospital waiting room and was a drug-addict. She resisted arrest and it was not pretty when they had to chase her down through the crowded waiting room.

But, finally (and yes loved one is fine and doing well- they got to sleep in today) got to come home after 4am this morning. Only to turn around and go back to work today.

BUT, through-out day one, I actually did achieve to write 4 chapters. I had planned on 10.

And you guessed- Its a romance novel. With (did you really expect different from me?) a twist. But every day normal people, with no super powers. But I do like the characters. There's even a dog. But it is different to do a straight romance novel.

Hmm.....wonder if I can write in a crazy lady?

To Write. But What to Write? How fans can change your flow.

So I have decided to take the next two weeks to dedicate solely to writing. No role-play writing, no social media, no anything other than breathing, eating, drinking for writing. I've given myself two challenges to meet (because if you know me, you know I get bored with easy. I thrive in stress and pressure). Those two things are:

1. A writing book camp that was sent to me by a friend at Writer's Digest magazine. A way to flex my muscles not often used in my creative exercises. I think all author's worth saying they can write more than what they know (yeah yeah, I know the saying) should try it.

2. I am writing a novel from beginning to end, in two weeks. I had THOUGHT I knew the one I was going to write. Have it all outlined, pinned to my works in progress wall and everything. See, the best laid plans and all....doesn't always work out. One of my biggest fans recently asked me why I don't like writing romance. Why? When I seem so good at it. It was hard question to answer. There's many reasons why. Some are related to the fact that I am so far jaded and cracked when it comes to believing in love, I find it hard to believe it can exist beyond the pages in the way that seems to exist in books. I am trying but its a battle against myself and the past.

Another part of that is...well..writing romance, turmoil, true love fairy tale tales for my characters comes incredibly easy. As in no effort..therefore...no challenge (see above about liking to be challenged). If its easy? It can't be that big of a deal right? Yeah. It's an odd way of thinking. It would be a total romance book. No supernatural. No paranormal. No fighting of the hero type. Just two normal people, in a normal world trying to find love despite it all.

So...the more I have mulled to put that in the back of my brain, the more its twisting its way right back to me to the front.

Do I write the book I planned? With a lot of my background and history in it in a way. With characters that can speak my past without me having to do it and being ripped bare in showing it?

Or...is that little nagging voice of romance going to get in the way and when my two weeks are over I have a romance novel sitting there going "See....told you they said you could do it" and I go...damn.

We'll just have to see what voice wins out when I hit the blank pages tomorrow.

Tune in here for updates.

Who knows. Maybe romance can be louder than that outline on my wall.

I'm curious to see myself.

Feeding the Writing Need

So, I have a slew of works to get done. But that's how I like it. I move from one to the other to the next. It keeps them fresh, keeps me hopping and its the way I like to work. I am working on Reno's book and its evolved far beyond a simple tribute to a lovable character. The Breakers, Bounce and the whole new world of the Keepers is pretty cool. Reno is just as lovable as always, and Emma is so much richer than she was before.

Add to that weaving the RP and the new into it? Love it. It's going to be huge as we are putting the novella at the beginning and its over 100+ pages as it is.

I will admit, some days I have to drag myself to the PC to get something, anything done. But all and all? My brain juice to get it done is still rich and flowing strong.

The slated winter deadline is approaching, and I am already getting "Hows it going on the book..." from those with a vested interest in its publication. Can't blame them. We learned a lot of lessons on Bits & Pieces and those lessons will be used.

I was asked about pre-sales and its a bit early for that. Its not going to come out until between Thanksgiving and Christmas and that is months away.

Or so I keep telling myself.

Well, time to get creative nose back in the words are my friend grindstone.

Take care, be good to yourself, and if you cant? Be good to someone else so they can.

-JTW

Just How High Can A Balloon Go?

Wow. What a week it's been.

The autographed copies of Bits and Pieces got out to the fans. And their posts and excitement had me pretty high on the author balloon.

Then our title got picked up by Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and many other book sellers, including one in the UK. Just how does one get a damn balloon off the moon?

I just don't even have words. Which is saying something for me. I always have words. It's kinda my "thang".

DBP is doing great, still starving but a happy kind of hunger.

For those who don't know where to go for that:

www.DeadBoundPublishing.com

They are even doing a give-away of my book, signed and personalized. So go join their page and like it.

Thanks..and again...amazing week. You, all of you had a part in that.

Giveaway-

https://www.facebook.com/DeadBoundPublishing/app_228910107186452

Ain't No Get Rich Thang

So...as you know, I am a writer AND a publisher. May I point out I and my business partner are NO where near rich. Not even close. So we are doing this publishing work and working real jobs and writing and doing all the things (or trying to) that we enjoy. I think everyone goes into business with a lofty hope and dream and usually realizes that that was much higher than reality. Its hard. I admit. We are constantly finding ways to save money so we can devote our funds to getting not only my works out there, but now, several other authors.

We are very lucky. We have proofers and editors that either work for free or for peanuts, just to be a part of the vision that we someday hope DBP (Dead Bound Publishing) will be.

Like now...Merchandising. As I peruse through t-shirts, mugs, tote bags and other things I am amazed the cost of it all. Our fans want it, they say they'll buy it, and I admit, I am a sucker for giving them what they want. Much to my biz partner's agony.

Sure we could just toss crap their way and say here you go. But DBP is our baby. It's the heartbeat of our creative body and we have to make sure we do right by it.

So here I sit looking through manufacturers of t-shirts and mugs (who would have thought there would be THAT many colors of grey for a t-shirt and what exactly is a friendly to the drinker mug??) trying to find ways to not only give the fans what they want, but also to keep the coffers filled so we can print the books (You have NO idea how expensive that can be....thank you good printer and distributor for being such a good affiliate)...I eye my poor neglected writings and think.....all I really want to do is write.

I wonder if any one is looking so I can?

Social Media and Me

Okay, so someone- the one I love, who is wonderful, thinks I should do that Pinterest thing as an author. Yeah. I can't even keep up with all the social media avenues that are constantly merging into the super highway (hell, does anyone even call it that anymore?) seems like daily. If this blog was goldfish, it would be belly-up, bloated and stinking up the place by now.

While I get the whole sharing everything immediately, I long for the days when writers/authors would become known and get their name out there via hard work and good writings. Not who has the biggest blog, the most friends, the herd of followers. Don't get me wrong, I love my fans. I have come to need them for support and encouragement as much as they need me for a few twisted words and tales.

But I like to think its for the writing. (It's definitely not for my sparkling personality and outgoing manner).

I keep telling myself that one of these days I will turn off the modem, disable the data on my phone and shut myself up for 7 days straight and write. Crank out a book in 7 days non-stop. I have yet to be able to pull it off (yes, I too have issues of partaking of the same thing I am bitching about, see sparkling and outgoing above).

But...ONE day I will do it.

Oh..and for the total joy of randomness...


What other words are there for SPENT?