Category: Weekly Writing Check In

Weekly writing check-in: off to listen!

On Friday, a nice surprise landed in my inbox. The audio for Coffee and Ghosts 2: The Ghost That Got Away is ready for review.

I’m really looking forward to getting the entire series out in audio.

Season 1 is making its way through the distribution system (sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly), but listeners are already discovering it in various library systems. I have to say: I love this pay-per-checkout model.

That’s about it. I’m gearing up for a week of listening (and maybe some writing as well).

Weekly writing check-in: the Amazon bait and switch

So, I discovered that the US Amazon store was selling the print version of The Complete Coffee and Ghosts for $6.88.

Usually, it’s $24.99.

I know. Totally insane. The price stayed like that for a few days, so this morning I took a chance and alerted my newsletter subscribers to the deal.

You know what happens next, right?

Amazon jacked the price back up to $24.99. Because, of course, they did.

No doubt people clicking through from the email triggered some algorithm or other. Even I missed picking up a couple of copies. I was going to grab some for a giveaway or little free libraries.

But all is not lost. The Kindle version is still on sale for $6.88. It’s not the fire sale of earlier, but it’s not bad.

In less frustrating news, I submitted a story this week, played around with some time travel ideas (story ideas, not actual time travel), and of course, saw The Way Home published over at Long and Short Reviews.

So, minus the Amazon debacle, not a bad week.

Weekly writing check-in: writing, not striving

I’ve been thinking for the past few weeks about what it is I want to write and how I want to write it. I’ve spent a lot of time on Tea & Sorcery, and as much as I think there’s a gem of a story in there, somewhere, I’m not in a place to dig it out.

Or at least, not yet.

So I’m setting it aside. For the time being. Heck, I might get a burst of inspiration tomorrow and decide to dive back in. Or possibly not

I am still writing. After all, I’m gearing up to attend the Iowa Summer Writing Festival next month.

But during the summer, I’m going to walk, breathe, think, and write. And not worry so much about completing something I can sell immediately.

That will come in good time.

Weekly writing check-in: plotting the plot

This week, I played around with ideas and structure for The Trouble with Necromancers (which may or may not remain as the title).

I do not want to revise (once again!) only to realize that I’m no closer to the true story.

Therefore, I’m questioning everything.

And I do mean everything. Lots of what if and do I need that and what happens when …

I hope this is it. If it isn’t? Well, then there’s a good chance this book and series weren’t meant to be. Or maybe that I need to let it compost for much, much longer than I have.

But I hope not. Let’s see what this new week brings.

Wish me luck.

Weekly writing check-in: a bump in the road

Not an actual representation of a plot bump

Hit a bit of a bump in the road–or plot as the case may be–with The Trouble with Necromancers. It seems that I have some … trouble.

So, this week, I looked at a new structure for the novel, and yes, that may take some (major) rewriting/re-drafting.

But I’m hoping this time I finally have what I need to tell this story.

However, I did manage to write a short story this week, one that was a lot of fun.

And that’s about it. It was a quiet, contemplative week, writing-wise.

Happy 10th Birthday, Geek Girl!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled weekly writing check-in to bring you a special birthday post.

“Sweet, funny, and heart-warming, The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading truly makes you want to cheer!”

~ Author Elizabeth Scott

“This novel is contemporary, laugh-outloud funny, and positive.”

~ Florence H. Munat, VOYA

On May 19, 2009, The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading launched herself into the world. Two months early, no less.

Our original publication date was July. But. Barnes and Noble had a geek book promotion planned, and they wanted to include Geek Girl. Simon and Schuster said yes and subsequently bumped up the release date. (Because back then, when B&N offered you a promo, you always said yes.)

From our launch party
Once upon a time, Geek Girl was also a cake (courtesy of my co-workers)
On the shelf at Barnes and Noble

I fully expected to be celebrating Geek Girl’s tenth with Darcy, and it’s hard reconciling that she isn’t here to celebrate. Darcy knew how to throw a party, in real life and online.

I’m missing her, not just today, but every day. I hit a writing snag this week and wanted nothing more than to talk it through with her. I was this close to shelving the current series. And then this morning, after I opened up this post to finish writing it, inspiration struck.

Almost like I did talk the whole thing through with Darcy.

Once again, I’m going to encourage everyone to read some of her work:

THE GEEK GIRL’S GUIDE TO CHEERLEADING

DATING ON THE DORK SIDE

  • 1st Place: 2016 International Digital Awards, Young Adult Novel
  • Available on: All e-retailers Print

LESS THAN THREE

ON LEARNING TO SWIM AGAIN, IN AUTUMN: A SHORT STORY

  • A contest-winning short story
  • Available for 99 cents on Kindle or read for free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Weekly writing check-in: meet our new family member

Introducing … Milo!

Yes, we’ve added another four-legged member to our family (this makes three dogs and one cat if anyone is counting).

Milo is an American Bulldog, and he’s the sweetest dog you’d ever want to meet. American Bulldogs are often called a large-breed lapdog. Um. Yeah. He’s totally that. And everyone is (more or less) getting along as well.

In writing news, I not only completed the “book map” for my trip through expanding The Trouble with Doppelgangers into a novel, but I started work on it as well.

I also played around with some cover concepts for the first book and the series.

In audio news, I approved the audio for the first season of Coffee and Ghosts. Now the fine people at Findaway Voices will do all their technical checks and get it into the distribution system.

Weekly writing check-in: pour a cup a coffee …

I was too optimistic, but I came close. I have fewer than fifty pages left in this edit. I’m confident I can finish it off this week (well, 99.99% confident).

One additional thing I did this week was work on the notes for book two. I have seven pages of longhand notes along with an updated calendar (pro-tip: always write with a calendar), and a whole slew of new ideas.

Plus (and I’m so excited), the audio is in for Coffee and Ghosts 1: Must Love Ghosts! The narrator is fabulous and I can’t wait to share the end result.

So, this week, I’ll be pulling on the headphones and listening to nearly seven hours of Coffee and Ghosts. The last time I reviewed the text (for world building), I ended up with the overwhelming urge to drink cup after cup of coffee. I think I better stock up on a fresh supply along with some half and half.

Weekly writing check-in: springing slowly

Spring has sprung, and everyone is happy

What a difference a week makes. We went from blustery cold and snow to sunshine and April showers.

I am still inching my way through the edit. If I weren’t enjoying it so much (and I am, really I am), I’d be frustrated with how slowly it’s going.

I’m halfway through the manuscript. Well, almost.

It might be too optimistic to say I’ll finish it up this week.

But I can always hope.

 

Weekly writing check-in: snow and slow editing

As predicted I’m inching my way through the edits, and as predicted, we got a lot of snow. But it’s April and I’m pretty much over winter, so I didn’t take any pictures.

I’m up to page 50, but surprisingly, this isn’t a slog. Not only that, but I’ve (easily) cut five pages. I’m really enjoying going through the manuscript at this pace. That being said, I really hope this is the last major edit I need to do.

In exciting news this week, I listened to and approved the extended sample for the audiobook version of Coffee and Ghosts. The narrator is amazing, and I am So. Excited. Must Love Ghosts (Season One) is up first. I’m really looking forward to listening to the rest of the episodes.