Category: Writing

Weekly writing check-in: large print and switching gears

Tea & Sorcery in 2019

So, this week, I formatted all the Coffee & Ghosts books for large print. And if not for that incident at Bowker, I’d have a block of ISBNs, and the titles would already be available for purchase rather than sitting on my hard drive.

I consolidated my notes on the manuscript revision, wrote out questions I need to answer, and now I’m banking it for later. Why?

Well, I’ve gone as far as I can for the moment. Also? It’s been exactly three months since I finished the second draft of The Trouble with Necromancers. It’s time to start again and get this new series out the door.

That’s right, 2019. I’m looking at you.

Weekly writing check-in: turkeys and world building

This week, I finally finished getting all my books uploaded to Ingram Spark and into KDP Print. Whew. One task off my list.

I also did some extensive world building. Lots and lots of notes, notions, and ideas. I think I’m ready to move into the actual manuscript revision. I may revisit The Emotional Craft of Fiction while I do so. I really enjoyed working through the exercises a few months back with The Trouble with Necromancers.

And that’s about it for this week. I’ll leave you with this picture of turkeys in and around our crabapple tree.

Weekly writing check-in: solving an essential problem

I did some work on revision this week. I managed to write a “pitch” (although, I don’t pitch anymore, so it’s more of a description of the story), worked on some covers for the series (these just came out of the blue), and made some overall progress on the story structure.

I’m nearly done with moving all my paperbacks into KDP Print and into the Ingram system. Additionally, I also solved an essential problem I was having.

How to share my desk with the cat.

So, after the renovations, instead of moving my printer back to my desk, I decided on one of these:

It’s a Hepper Nest Cat Bed. It’s amazing. Oreo loves it. It keeps her off my keyboard (most of the time). And we couldn’t be happier.

Oreo in her nest bed.

Weekly writing check-in: a little light housekeeping

So, it’s November, which means many writers are doing National Novel Writing Month. As for me, I’m planning on using November to do a little light housekeeping.

This week, I finished the read-through of a novel I’d written a while back, and I’m thinking it could be something. With some work, that is. The next step is to essentially write an editorial letter … to myself. Then I’ll work on how I want to revise the story.

I need to move my books from Createspace to KDP Print. While I’m doing that, I want to upload the titles to Ingram Spark for extended distribution. I’m selling enough in print that I’m really leaving money on the table using Amazon’s version of extended distribution.

I’ll also search for some markets/reprint markets for some of my shorter fiction as well and fill up my submission tracker as well. It’s looking a little thin these days.

I’m sure I’ll think of other housekeeping chores for the month as well. I’ll let you know what I come up with.

Weekly writing check-in: novella!

Just a quick check-in to say: The Trouble with Doppelgangers is complete at 24,000 (give or take). I’m relieved that it didn’t turn into an actual novel. Because I would need to write another subscriber bonus (which would then turn into another novel … you get the idea).

It also reminded me how much I like writing novellas. One of these days, I’m going to have to write another novella series (I have an idea in mind, one involving dragons–sort of).

So, once I launch the Tea & Sorcery series, I’ll send the bonus to my mail list (for the curious, you can sign up for that here).

Weekly writing check-in: sugar maple show-off

I missed checking in last week due to a big event my Girl Scout troop hosted. This week, I’ve been down with a virus (fortunately just that) so I’m not quite done with the novella. Almost. I can see the end from here, and I’m excited to get back to it.

So this week, this week, I’m hoping to finish up the novella. Then, it’s thinking time. I’m not sure what I’ll tackle next. The third draft of the series starter? Maybe. Or maybe I’ll let that rest for a little while longer and revise another novel that’s been on the back burner.

We’ll see.

That’s it for this week. Until next time, I’ll leave you with all those gorgeous leaves.

Weekly writing check-in: painting and progress

I missed last week, but I have a good excuse. To the left. That. That’s my desk at the moment.

And last weekend, I was all: I can’t even.

But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and I’m pretty sure it’s not an oncoming train.

I have been getting some writing in (thank you, Starbucks). I have about 15,000 in the novella so far, and I really hope I can finish it up this coming week.

In other news, I’m doing a short-term promotion for Straying from the Path.

If you like fairy tale retellings and haven’t grabbed a copy yet, here’s your chance. Just 99 cents, just about everywhere e-books are sold.

Weekly writing check-in: renovation (whew)

A quick check-in this week, because we’re doing a little renovation around here (painting and floors and such–nothing structural, thankfully), and I’m tired.

Make that very tired.

But I did pass the 10,000-word mark in The Trouble with Doppelgangers. I’m pretty sure it won’t turn into an actual novel (although, if it does, I can always make it the second book in the series).

I also set up a few promotions, and I’m certain I did some other things as well. At the moment?

Whew.

I’m tired.

Weekly writing check-in: In which I have a series name!

I’m so excited. At long last, I have a name for the series I’m writing and titles for the books in said series.

My cup runneth over this week.

Without further ado, I give you:

Tea & Sorcery

A while back I joked that calling this series Tea & Witches would be very, very on brand (considering Coffee & Ghosts and all that). So, yes, this is close. But this series name is actually more expansive than simply witches (although there will be witches in this series, but also a great many other magical beings).

Not only that, but I have a naming convention for the books (number to be determined) in the series. So far, I have:

Book 1: The Trouble with Necromancers

Book 1.5: The Trouble with Doppelgangers (this will be the bonus novella for newsletter subscribers)

Book 1 is done (well, the second draft–I have some more work to do on it), and as of today, the novella has 6,100 words. And seriously, I could spend years filling in the blank after The Trouble with.

In other news, I’m working to get all my print titles into IngramSpark for expanded distribution. Once that’s done, I’ll move my titles off of CreateSpace (which is closing) and into KDP Print.

Weekly writing check-in: more short stories, novella, and Photoshop

Oreo, volunteer editor

I am diligently trying to keep myself out of the Photoshop black hole. Fortunately (or, perhaps, unfortunately), I don’t have a title for the first book or the series it’s supposed to be in, so there’s only so much cover designing I can do.

Yeah. I need a title, especially since I’d like to publish this year.

In other news, not only did I complete the outline for the novella, but I started the draft. I finished up revising/editing two short stories that I plan to send off this week as well.

All in all, it was a good writing week.