My Writer's Lockdown

Hello everyone!

I am briefly going to talk about what a Writer's Lockdown is. A lot of us do this, it's when you shut everything down that could be a distraction and only concentrate on writing.

That means NO social networks! No Facebook, no Myspace, no Twitter, no blogging, even email. YIKES!. Basically you are shutting yourself off from the rest of the world!

Since in this day and age, most of our contact with others is through the internet and these many social networks, this could seem very daunting. But in many cases it's necessary.

Let me tell you why I did it and why I will be doing it a couple of more times in the coming weeks.

I have several projects going, some near completion, some in the first editing phase and others in the second editing phase. Right now, I am trying to get all these projects in the same place at once. DONE!

I am shooting for the end of the year, which is right around the corner. (It seems like this year just started). If I can accomplish this, it will truly be a blessing.

In order to achieve this however, I will have to go on a self-imposed lockdown, for several days. Most of the time it's no more than four days.

However, looking over the stories I have, I might be stretching those. LOL But I will definitely have more of them to reach my goal.

This last lockdown, I was working on two stories. Both WIPs. I managed to add four chapters to each story and my completion is 95% on both. YAY!

So you see, lockdowns can be very productive. The hard part is--doing it!

Breaking through Writer's Block

Hello Gang!

This is going to be short and sweet.

We all experience it and bang our heads against the computer screen when we see a blank "page".

What happened?

You started out fast, writing at least two chapters a day! The story was poppin', the characters were talking to you, the plot was amazing. Then BAM! You can't write a damn word now. You wonder if you can get the passion back into your story. You wonder if the characters will come back to you and say sweet nothings in your ear again.

You even begin to have doubts about being a writer!

What do you do?

First, don't panic.

This happens to every writer, even Stephen King (we hope, LOL). I can't give you answers as to why this happens. It happens to me all the time, in fact just recently. But, hey, I'm back in the saddle again!

So since we don't know why this phenomenon happens, let's just deal with the solutions.

1. Put the story aside for a few days, weeks, even months. When the muse hits you again, take it out.

2. Read! Read a story that is in the genre you're writing. OR, if you prefer, read something totally different. I'm a history buff, I love non-fiction. I just finished reading a book on the French Revolution!

3. Hang out with friends and family. Do something fun. I love to hang with my girlfriends and go shopping. Love the cosmetic counters and shoes!

4. Watch television. This doesn't have to be intellectual stuff, a reality show would even do. There's A LOT of material there!

5. Spends some "Me Time". Nothing better than doing absolutely NOTHING! Go to a spa and get pampered. Go to a park and people watch.

6. Hang out at other writer's and readers groups. This can help put that spark back too. Bounce ideas off each other, you never know, you might break through that writer's block AND start a new story!

So you see, there is no need to push the panic button. there are plenty of things you can do to ease your mind or help you along.

Submitting new stories---the waiting!

It's always exciting getting new story ideas and fleshing them out. To get a spark of a story and see it grow into this full manuscript, with true to life (or over the top) characters is a thrill.

The pain comes in when you go back to edit. Sometimes you get the help of a crit partner. If she/he is good and you can take constructive criticism it could be relatively painless. You might go through two to four rounds of editing and re-writing, but the end result is a tight well written, clean manuscript. At least clean enough that when you submit it to that publisher, the editing department doesn't go crazy, or they flat out reject you because they can't see past all the typos and other technical stuff.

After you got all that done, the real pain come is. Submitting your work and waiting. And waiting...and waiting.

This is what I am going through now.

I just finished a piece of work that a fellow writer helped with editing. I went through several rounds, but my story is tight and flows great.

So after the horrid writing of the synopsis (will talk about that in another post), doing a chapter outline and cover letter, I submitted my baby.

The publisher was great in getting back to me asap and letting me know they have it and they will get back with me soon.

Soon, is a relative word I'm finding out in this business. LOL!

Is that a weeks, a few days, a couple of months? Who knows.

But there are a few good things about the wait (yes, there is a silver lining). It allows me to work on more stories until I hear back from them, and that is one story I completed and submitted and not collecting virtual dust on my hard drive

SKINNY DIPPING - MY FIRST PARANORMAL!

This was a first for me, but not my last! I had fun writing this. Instead of having the typical brooding Vamp, I gave this one a sense of humor and sarcasim.






http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=281&products_id=248


Darian Keane is taking a well-deserved vacation on his private lake. Being the owner of one of the largest advertising agencies can be stressful, so what better way to relax. His agenda? Fishing one day, sailing the next, hanging out with his buddy. Yep, just a hard working vampire getting some good old fashioned R&R.

The locals and the college kids didn't get the memo.

Darian has been dealing with skinny-dippers for the past five years. Nothing has worked. So he was tempted to go Vamp on everyone there, until he sees her. His life mate. She's one of the college hoodlums dipping in his lake. But that's okay. He's planning a summer seduction now, so rest and relaxation can take a back seat.

Alicia just graduated from college. Now it's time to par-tay! The party animals, a.k.a., the Gammas, assured her and her friends that this lake was the place to be seen--even if it's naked.

The owner of the lake doesn't think so. But instead of being frightened by the mysterious man with the crazy rumors swirling around him, she is attracted to him and her curiosity has her spending the summer with him.

Was this smart?

BOOK TWO OF THE THREE SISTERS SERIES

This is my book. It's the second installment of the THE THREE SISTERS SERIES.


This is Brittany's Story.



http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=281&products_id=409


For the first time, Brittany Reese is going to take an actual non-working vacation. Being the owner and publisher of Colorful Travels Magazine, her job allows her to travel all over the globe. However it's always work. Well, this time it's all about her. Her destination—Finland.

Yeah, of all places. It wasn't planned, it just happened thanks to a certain ex. Oh well, she wasn't going to shop anyway, this was more like a Sabbatical. Although she loved her career, there was still something missing. She didn't know if it was work or her lack luster love life. But she was going to find out and Finland was perfect. Drama free.

Sebastian Jalo never believed in fate. But seeing the dark beauty on his favorite clothing optional beach was making him a believer. This was the fourth time in as many years that he's seen her, but he never got a chance to approach her, she was always busy. Well this time was as better time as any.

Besides, he could use a little excitement in his life. Being a graphic artist for the Government of Finland didn't actually scream party!

My review fro Coffee Time Romance:

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/northernexposurebook2.html

MY SECOND BOOK -NORTHERN EXPOSURE

This is my second book with Red Rose Publishing. I co-wrote this one with my good friend LaVerne Thompson. It's Book One of THE THREE SISTERS SERIES. This is Atlanta's story.


You can purchase it at Red Rose.

http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=64&products_id=42


Has she found answers or just more lies?

Atlanta's life was spiraling out of control, until she read a self-help book by an older woman whose words could have been her own life story. But she needed to talk to the woman for herself and tracked her down.

Hank Gaines former middle-weight boxing champion had seen it all and done most of it. Finally walking away from his fame, he thought he could help others, but no one wanted to read about life choices from a man's point of view. Certainly not the women who could benefit most. Hank had no choice but to use a pseudonym, a female one. He never regretted it more than when the brown eyed beauty walked into his bar one night, one look in those soulful eyes, and he was knocked out for the count.

Will Hank's deception cost him the love of his life?

My review from Coffee Time Romance:

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/ringsidebook1.html

MY DEBUT BOOK WITH RED ROSE PUBLISHING!

This is my first book. I am so appreciative of RED ROSE for giving my chance. The link to buy is at the bottom of the book.

http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=281&products_id=461

Who is going to fix who up with what?

Alexis Harrison has bought the American Dream. She purchased a huge Colonial fixer-upper in a posh neighborhood. She’s now ready to have a house warming party. All she has to do is find the right person or persons to help her do all the hard work. No problem. She has met and hooked up with the local handyman, the sexy Tony Castellano. But when her house starts falling apart at the seams, so does she. But Tony is there ready to fix things—and not just the house.

Tony Castellano, wants to be more than the local handyman to the sexy new neighbor Alexis Harrison. But he’s willing to fix her windows, her pipes and anything else that needs repair as long as he’s near her. But fate has come knocking. Now her house is a total wreak and she needs a place to stay. Now he can show her he can fix more than pipes.

Will Tony heat up more than the water or will Alexis deep freeze him

My review from Coffee Time Romance:

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/yourlocalhandyman.html