Losing those dang words...aka dealing with editing.

Recently one of my very dear friends plied me with questions about writing. She's looking at finally jumping into writing and is just learning all the weird stuff.

I mentioned editors and having to lose lots of words.

Most of those come from my developmental editor--one problem with being a pantser is a tendency to go wandering off track. The detour makes sense at the time, but then another bright and shiny plot direction takes over and I have a lovely dead-end.  Hanging in the middle of the book. (Or more- my rough drafts often look like suburban neighborhoods with a cul-de-sac every few miles ;)) 

My wonderful, awesome, editor points out those , "Umm, WTF?" moments ( my words, not her's ;)).  She doesn't tell me to remove things per se, just points out where I have gotten lost in some strange side alley and that it's really not helping the book. I adore her for it.

So I end up often slicing a fair amount of words after I get edits back from her. My new writer friend's point was--what if you really like those words. A VERY valid question.

However, when you're creating something, a novel, novella, short story, whatever, you have to look at the big picture. And anything that makes the big picture stronger, needs to be followed through.  Obviously a big part of this process is having folks you trust and who understand your voice and story. But it's also up to the author to be willing to let go a few awesome words (or a few thousand *cough*) to make the work stronger.

I still save my larger cut sections, just to make my inner rough draft writer feel better that I can get them back if needed.

I've been writing a LONG time, and I've never needed them. But ya never know.

So yeah, losing those hard fought for words can hurt, but if they make your remaining words better-- ya need to do it!

Convention recovery!

So, I had intended to post a witty and insightful blog DURING the Romantic Booklovers Convention last week. 

Yeah, that didn't happen. Between computer issues (my new laptop apparently HATES Las Vegas- this is two for two in the last 6 months) and the general mayhem, stress, and madness that is RT- no blog was conceived. :(

BUT- I can sneak in a recovery blog!

This was my fourth RT--and my last for at least a while (still hoping it will come to San Diego sometime!  ;)) Each one has been full of good times and not so good times, but all four have been pretty dang cool.

When I first started going, I was unpublished. I'd been writing for a long time *cough* but was just starting to get serious about it again. There were so many wonderful panels! Even though I don't write romance, I completely felt comfortable at that first RT (and still do ;)). 

This last one was my blow out- did the signing at the book fair again (awesome!), co-hosted a reader party with seven other authors (also awesome!), did Club RT, made a raffle basket for club RT, and found out I am really not fond of the Rio Casino ;).

I had an insane time running around (and as anyone who was there will tell you- that was a LONG haul from the rooms to the convention--even for someone who walks a lot like me ;)), meeting readers, other writers, reviewers, bloggers, and the RT volunteers--who were AWESOME!! There is absolutely nothing in the world like RT. Seriously, if you love books with romance- you HAVE to go to one- even just once (most likely you'll be hooked though ;)).

I had to rent a van to get everything for the reader party up there, spent the full week up there- drove up last Monday, then drove back two days ago. Went back to the day-job yesterday. I'm still not fully unpacked and I have a nasty cold. But ya know what? It was so worth it!

If you went this year, or a past year, share your fav RT stories! 

#IWSG-Pushing yourself and changing defeat

Welcome one and all to yet another episode of How the Writer Turns!  Today's saga is brought to you by the awesome folks behind the Insecure Writers Support Group, an institution created by Captain Alex, where writers across the land gather monthly, and in one voice, shout our fears into the great void!

Join Us!http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

Today is all about pushing oneself, failing, getting back up and pushing some more.  For the last three months or so, I've been trying to get two books out. Yeah, not the brightest idea, especially when I have a full time day job as well.  But, I was working on book three of the fantasy series, when book one of the space opera trilogy started getting pushy.  She'd been written some time ago, and had already gone through first round edits. Things got worse once she had an awesome cover.

She wanted out.  If you have seen that cover off to the right- Warrior Wench- yeah, the heavily armed one, she is hard to say no to.

So I tried to do both.  The Emerald Dragon was the first focus, but in between editing rounds for it, I'd work on Warrior Wench.

Last Monday I admitted defeat- or rather an admittance of delay-for Warrior Wench and set her up as a pre-order.

The Emerald Dragon is up as an ebook (*points over to the right side of your screen for the handy link ;)); but still waiting for the print proofs to let the print version go live.

And, I've realized how hard I have been pushing myself. Not only the books, the full time job, but next week is the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention--the event is insane- plus I'm co-hosting a party which takes a lot of wrangling. I'm tired. I'll also be signing at The LA Festival of Books this coming Saturday.

But I pushed myself. I didn't let setbacks slow me down, instead I adapted my thinking and moved forward as best I could. And ya know what--it feels good :).

So, go push your limits today, see how that works for you :).

And happy IWSG DAY!!

April Showcase of The Science Fiction Romance Brigade

Welcome to the April Showcase of the Science Fiction Romance Brigade at  http://sfrcontests.blogspot.com/p/sfr-brigade-presents.html.  

Make sure you scoot over and visit other blogs as well-lots of very cool authors to meet.

I'm joining in today to shout out about the new adventure in the land of Faeries,Dragons, and Spaceships- WE NOW HAVE SPACESHIPS!

Yup, spaceships indeed. Warrior Wench is up for e-book pre-order and will be available as print at that time as well. 

http://goo.gl/pgwXOY

Release date is May 3rd. While there aren't any drunken faeries in this series, there are plenty of shenanigans.

To celebrate the SFR Brigade showcase, and the upcoming new baby book, I thought I'd toss an excerpt at you all.

***************

She frowned when an image of Deven entering a suite appeared on the droid’s eye-screens and focused in on the two linked metal bracelets on Deven’s right wrist. No esper above a level one could travel without them. The laws may have given them equal rights eighty years ago but that didn’t mean people felt safe around them. Which was one reason that Deven usually wore a heavy inlaid bracelet over the telepath-blocking metal bands.

“I don’t think that’s a concern. He’s not breaking any laws; you obviously have seen the bracelets.” She folded her arms and glared at the droid. Not really at the droid, more at the small army of security most likely watching her every move through the droid. “Tell me, droid, is there a problem here?”

“Not a problem. However, he will leave with you, yes?” The droid turned on a metal heel and quickly strode toward the depths of the casino where the private rooms were.

Vas jogged to keep up with it.

The droid’s sharp rap on the door lead to muffled swearing in two different languages. Which told her two things: they’d found Deven, and he wasn’t gambling for money.

Her second-in-command had many appetites.

She stepped around the droid and added her own pounding to the door. “Deven, it’s me. Get your ass out here.” She paused, then added, “Clothed. Get your clothed ass out here.” Better to be safe. He preferred stark naked.

An increase in the swearing signaled his acknowledgment of her command. The door swung open and a curvaceous blonde stumbled out of the room, a dazed glow on her face. Obviously, Deven had been the one making the extra cash in this scenario.

 Her second-in-command was next through the doorway, looking as fresh as if he’d had time for an hour-long sonic shower before he dressed. Tall, and exotic looking, Deven seemed to glow himself as he came out of the room. He’d always been good looking, but he seemed different now. She shook her head. Maybe absence did make the heart grow fonder. However, it certainly wasn’t going to make her break her rule about getting involved with a member of her crew. Or a telepath.

Deven’s sharp green eyes glinted with mild amusement at whatever he thought was going on in her head. Then he smiled and pulled his hair into a ponytail at his nape.

She hated him for always looking perfect. No matter the situation, Deven stayed calm, clean, and relaxed. Somehow she was sure he did it to piss her off. 

A Whole New World!

Ha!  How many of you are now singing Aladdin?  ;)

Today is the launch of my whole new world! Okay, the book isn't ready yet--it's still being beaten into submission--but the COVER is up and she is FIERCE!!

Before us is the awesome book cover designed by the magically gifted Aleta Rafton for the first book in The Asarlai Wars trilogy- I give to you the WARRIOR WENCH! *guns are fired, confetti floats about, cheers fill the air*

Vaslisha Tor Dain is a mercenary starship captain with a few simple rules: A good ship is better than a great man, in case of confusion always err on the side of blowing someone's head off, and never fall for a telepath or a member of her crew. 

All of those are about to bite her in the ass.

Vas’s life takes a turn for the worse when she comes back to her crew after what should have been a two week pleasure trip to find out she’s actually been gone a month and has no memory of missing time. Her beloved ship, The Victorious Dead, has been sold for scrap and its pieces scattered throughout the galaxy. Plus, there are unmarked ships blowing apart entire planets and the Commonwealth government can’t, or won’t, stop them.

And that’s just her first day back.

Vas has to fight her crew, the Commonwealth, and a mysterious cadre of warrior monks to get her ship back and save a universe that may not want to be saved.

 Coming to you in April 2016!

Standing on the edge

So this month I was working on edits for the third book in my fantasy series (The Emerald Dragon) and the first book in my space opera trilogy (The Warrior Wench). Like I said last week, I just rolled from edits on one to edits of the other.

I just sent The Warrior Wench out to beta readers. Tonight I’ll be starting on the final rounds for The Emerald Dragon and hope to have it ready by end of month.

But right now I’m looking out over the edge of a great abyss. Soon, very very soon, I need to start drafting book four in the fantasy series (The Sapphire Manticore- cover coming soon!) and The Victorious Dead- the second book in the space opera-aka The Asarlaí Wars Trilogy.

I have two massive worlds of my own making before me, and I can go wherever I want.

It is a pretty damn cool feeling, lemme tell you.

Is it scary?—hell yes!  I’m always terrified that I won’t figure out where in the heck I’m going. But starting a brand new book?  For me that is probably one of the greatest feelings around. And in the next six months I get to do two of them :).

So today I’m waving at you from the edge of madness and creativity, wondering if perhaps I’ve taken a step too far, but excited about it nonetheless.

Find something scary and fun to do everyday.

IWSG# "It's what I DO!"

Welcome to the first Wednesday of a new month and The Insecure Writer's Support Group Blog-o-rama!

This is where writers from all across the land join up and post blogs about our writing fears, hopes, dreams.  Join us!  http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/p/iwsg-sign-up.html

So today's blog post might be a bit of a rambler. I've just sent the third book in The Lost Ancients series (The Emerald Dragon for those of you playing at home ;)) to some first round beta readers. Now I'm editing the first book in my space opera trilogy-The Warrior Wench, a book I wrote a while ago and haven't really looked at in about a year and a half. I'm also jotting down plans for the next three books in The Lost Ancients series and slight, ever so slight plans for the second book in the space opera. To make things more messed up, The Lost Ancients series is the only one of my books in first person. So when I switched to editing The Warrior Wench I wrote an entire page in first person...in the middle of a book written in third person. 

SIGH.

 Needless to say, with all of that, and the full-time evil day job, things in life are a bit rambly right now, so it makes sense this post would be. Hmmm, maybe I can start a new trend, using rambly everyday. "I'm so sorry, you've caught me at a very rambly time, could I get back to you next week?"  
It could catch on.

Anywho- as I was saying, I have a lot going on. Recently someone noticed and asked why I did so much. Why didn't I slow down with my writing. I'm self-published, I don't have to get books out at a set time. I'm sure the look on my face was total horror.

Me: "Because I have to write, I have to edit."

Them: "But why? You're spending almost all of your free time working on one of your books."

Me: *sputtering* "Because...because...it's what I DO!"

Now, don't get me wrong, I still spend way too much time watching TV (trying to keep it down to an hour a day). But I do spend a lot of time on my writing. I love it. Even when I hate it, I love it. But more importantly, it's become part of who I am. I didn't even think when I shipped off The Emerald Dragon last Saturday-I dove right into The Warrior Wench immediately. No taking time off, no relaxing. To be honest, it didn't even dawn on me.

Writing is what I do. It's where my head and heart go whenever given a chance. I love creating new worlds, new characters, and new shenanigans for them to get into.

So I may be a bit frizzed and rambly write now--but I love it :).

Have a great IWSG day!