I have moved.

I've been hearing a lot of advice about how using wordpress as a website is a lot more useful in the long run than blogger. I thought and thought, and finally buckled.

Here is my new website:

http://samaustinwriter.wordpress.com/

I'm going to miss this site but I'm sure I'll get settled soon enough. Blog posts for november are already scheduled - and starting from the 8th November I'm planning on putting a new short story on the website every week. At the end of that week it'll be taken down and a new one put up.

I've added a button so you can follow the blog via email to make it extra easy.

Holly Lisle how to revise your novel - lessons 15 and 16 done.

Yup, I am now on lesson 17, which is terrifying. In lesson 17 we actually cut the thing and rewrite it. It's going to take a while.

So far, two scenes done of seventy-one. I'm trying out doing it by hand as the lesson suggests. Yeah, being dyspraxic, I average about 10wpm by hand. It's slow going, but I want to give it my best shot.

I'm determined. Just sixty nine more scenes to go.

So far I'm really liking this course. I guess the real test will be once the rest of the lessons are done and the novel is complete. Holly Lisle has a very systematic way of breaking down the steps of editing that my logical brain loves.

Holly Lisle how to revise your novel lesson 14 is done.

This one was a lot more straightforward than the last. It covered simple time, and did help me pin point an area where I have to think a bit more about the timing.

Next up is lesson 15, complex time. I hope to be done with this one soon, then I can spend quite a bit of time on lesson 16, making sure everything is ship shape before I move onto lesson 17 where I get to start the rewrite.

I'm on night shifts for four days straight starting tomorrow, so although I have a boat load of other stuff to do, hopefully I'll manage to get a good chunk of lesson 15 done tonight.

Holly lisle how to revise your novel lesson 13 is done

Wow, that one was fairly meaty. It was a good insight into conflicts, my only problem was it was such a good insight that I kept on wanting to go back to it. I don't think I'd ever be done thinking of ways to make my conflicts better and better.

So I've moved on for now with the promise that I'll go back and look over all my notes from these past lessons before I move onto the write in. I may even head back into the monastery (lesson 10) for a bit to see if I can improve things even more that way.

For now it's onto lesson 14. I am 61.9 percent through this editing course, and just three more lessons before I get to start the write in.

Nanowrimo 2013

So who is nanoing this November?

I'm excited, trying to clear my plate of the big mass of things I need to get done beforehand, including finishing the how to revise your novel course. Not sure how well that is going to go, but it'd be nice if everything including the write in is done so I can send that novel off to betas and focus on something new.

A bit of planning would be a good idea too. So far I'm thinking something totally fun. Dragons, princesses, oppressive dictator, something along those lines. I'll plot it all beforehand of course, I love plotting almost as much as I love writing.

I'm practically drooling thinking of getting to write something of a decent length again. Sure, I've been writing short stories, but I haven't written anything novel length in months.

Hopefully it'll provide enough incentive to get me through the rest of my revision course. We'll see.

How about you? Anyone else gearing themselves up to tackle something for nanowrimo?

Holly Lisle editing lessons 11 and 12

For those not in the know, I've been chugging through holly lisle's 'how to revise your novel' course for a while. I recently finished lessons eleven and twelve, and am currently tackling lesson thirteen.

In lesson eleven I took a good look my scenes and considered whether I needed more or less of each plot line. I found it useful, and I hope I ended up with a more balanced outline because of it.

Lesson twelve focused on character which I've already done a great deal of thinking about during previous lessons. I've smooshed a few characters together, decided some heroes would serve me better as villians, and ended up with a more cohesive plot because of it.

So far I'm finding this course really interesting, and I hope I end up with a much better finished book by the time I finish it. I hoped to be on my rewrite (lesson 17) by now, but I'm a little behind. I'm focusing on making progress, and hopefully I'll be there soon.

Hitting goals

I have several goals that I set for myself. To give an example, by the time this year is up I want to have my novel 'truth seeker' on its second draft and ten short stories written.

As far as these go, truth seeker is on editing session 13 of 21, and I have seven short stories written, three of which are published. One of my other goals is to write at least 350,000 words of fiction this year. Yesterday I hit 200,000. I'm a little behind where I should be, but I'm carrying on.

Now I might not hit everyone of my goals, some are a little more lofty like my goal to write 100 stories (92 to go), but if you aim for the moon and miss, at least you land in the stars. I think that it is difficult to know where our limitations lie, so the only way to find out is to try and do things we think we can't.

Maybe I'll make a goal to have those 100 stories written by the end of next year, maybe I won't make it, but I'll get a heck of a lot further than if I didn't try.

Adjusting to a new schedule

So three days ago I switched to working nights. Just two days before that I worked my last early shift, which is a seven o'clock start and means getting up anywhere between five and six in the morning.

Now I sleep from about 8/9am to about 2/3pm, with a nap between 6 and 8 pm. It's a very different schedule, and it'll take a lot of getting used to. On the days I'm working I find myself with very little time, taking out sleeping and travelling I have about three hours left over for writing, eating, and everything else.

So far I like it a lot better than working days. I still need to get used to the sleep schedule. I'm only drifting during the naps, and I don't think I have the energy I did have, but I'm confident that it will get there.

As for writing, I think this will give me more time overall hammering out words. Since I'm living with family, I tend to get lots of visitors into my writing office, and unscheduled interruptions are a major annoyance to my OCD tendencies, and there are a lot more distractions. Working at night I hope to be able to focus for longer periods on my days off. 

I follow Dean Wesley Smith's blog and have seen that he does most of his writing at night. So it works for some writers. I won't know for a couple of weeks whether it'll work for me, but so far I'm hopeful.

Another short story finished

I love that feeling of typing the ending. This is the eighth story I've written this year. I'm considering some kind of celebration once I reach ten.

This story ended up just over 3,200 words. It's about a boy who wakes up in the middle of the night to find monsters attacking his house, but all is not as it seems.

So yay, and already on to the next one. I'm hoping to finish that one before I get around to rewrites for my novel 'truth seeker'. We'll see how that goes.

Another short story finished

This one is called 'Monster Hangover'. It's about a werewolf who wakes up after a night out to find he's locked in a dog pound, and he must escape or risk exposing his secret.

That one makes seven stories written so far this year. Not good, but I did only start pushing this recently.

One is novel length, one novella length, and the other five vary between 3 and 7 k words. I'm not counting the flash fiction.

I've come up with an interesting way of tracking how many stories I've finished. I have a reward chart with a hundred different shapes, and each time I finish a story I color one in. Once I make it to 100, I'm getting a puppy.

No, seriously. Well actually I haven't decided if I'm telling the truth. Shhh. But for now, 100 stories written and I get a puppy. I think I'll call him Teddy.

The next project is called 'they came at night'. It's another short story.

I hope to be on rewrites for my novel 'Truth Seeker' soon, so I won't have time for new projects in the time it takes to do that.

Now, got to get to bed. I'm up horribly early tomorrow to go to work.

Holly Lisle how to revise your novel - Lesson ten complete.

Wow, this lesson took longer than I thought. It was interesting to say the least.

For the first part of this lesson I had to come up with a focus outline for the whole book. After all the lessons I've been through up to this point, my new outline was quite a bit different from my old one. I'm a little worried that it might be too different, but I do like it a lot better.

I have a feeling the rewrite is going to put me through the ringer, but I'm hoping the result will make it all worth it.

Up to this point I feel I've learned a heck of a lot. I just have to push through to get to the end.

Truth Seeker is 47.6 percent through this editing process. One more lesson and I'll be over the half way mark.

On to lesson eleven.

Editing lesson 9 done, and series semi planned

So 'Truth Seeker' has gone through editing lesson 9. Thirteen lessons to go. Lesson nine was an easy fun one, I enjoyed it despite yesterday being a bad day for pain. Starting lesson ten today which is a bit more heavy going.

My absolution series has been taken through holly lisle's 'how to write a series' course. Interesting. I think I learnt a few things that will be useful. It'll have more impact when I take it back through after the first book or couple books are done.

It wasn't as ground breaking as I've found the 'how to revise your novel' to be, but I feel better starting the series now that I've gone through it, and I think I'll get a lot more use out of it next time around.

Editing lesson 8 done.

Despite pain from the holes where my wisdom teeth used to be, editing lesson 8 of Holly Lisle's how to revise your novel course is done. Just fourteen more lessons to go.

I started to go a little stir crazy sitting here in my painkiller induced haze, so I thought I'd try it, and this one wasn't bad at all. Lesson nine looks alright, and I've been dying to get to lesson ten for ages. Lesson ten is where I get to really play with the plot cards. I'm looking forward to it.

As lesson 22 is an extra. I am 38.1 percent through revising 'Truth Seeker'. 

Now, going to do some of the 'how to write a series' course, then off to bed.

Happy birthday

Yesterday I had an operation. Sadly my wisdom tooth wasn't being wise. It decided to grow in sideways, so it needed to come out. On the day we decided to take two other teeth out as well, so we wouldn't have to take them out later as well.

So currently I am filled with painkillers, minus three wisdom teeth, some gum and a little bit of bone (that sideways tooth really wasn't wise). On top of this it's my birthday. Yay!

So what have I decided to do today? I've had a little bit of a nose on goodreads, and I'm aching to try and plot a short story, and if I'm feeling up to it do some editing. I'm not sure if I'm up for that, but I think I might try.

After all, I'm managing to write this blog post, as hazy as it might turn out to be. That is what it means to be a writer. We may struggle with writers block, and have our bad days, but over all our primary compulsion is to create and write, whether drugged up, in pain or celebrating a birthday.

Now off to try some plotting, and then probably end up staring into space for a large chunk of the day.

Editing lesson 7 done

Wow, that took longer than I thought it would.

I think that was due to a combination of a really hard few weeks at the day job, and a difficult lesson. But, yay, it's done!

I've already started lesson eight, which seems a lot easier. This one is about themes, and a bit of analysis. I love that kind of stuff so I'm finding this lesson alright.

I hope to get this editing lesson done, and maybe the next one before my operation next week. Scary. Not looking forward to that.

I'm also still working on planning out my series 'Absolution' with Holly Lisle's 'how to write a series' course. It's interesting and a lot of fun most of the time. I'm pretty set on which book I'm writing first - one only partly related to the main series. It's looking like a prequel of sorts, but it has a good story. I'm leaning toward setting it in world war two, but we'll see as it gets hashed out further.

It's a paranormal romance. So far I'm calling it 'Butterflies'. Right now the first draft is scheduled for November, by which time I hope Truth Seeker to be fully edited and off to betas. Since I'm currently four weeks behind schedule I've got some catching up to do. See ya.

Another short story finished!

Second Chance, is finally done. I took way too long writing that one. It's pegged for an August release, after it goes through editing.

It ended up at 5721 words, which is a little longer than my usual short story.

Second Chance is about Tam, a young boy crippled by everyone's preoccupation for him to be good, who goes onto discover the dark secret about why he is treated so differently from the other children.

Yay. Four short stories, one flash, one novella, and the novel written this year. Now, back to the pile of editing that awaits me, then I can choose which short story to finish next. Do I want to write about a mob burning down a house, or a hungover werewolf? Decisions, decisions.

Monster is published!

After much fiddling with the cover and formatting I can now announce that my second short horror story 'Monster' is now published. You can currently get it from: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DPGA150 , but I'll update this post with other places it's available once I get my head around smashwords.

For more details about Monster including an extract longer than the one on the kindle sample, check out this post: http://samaustinwriter.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/monster-due-out-in-two-days-cover.html

For those not in the know, Monster is a short horror story about a newly turned vampire fighting for humanity to see her as anything other than a monster.

I'm really happy that it's finally ready to be published. I now have two published short stories. My goal for the year is ten, so I still have a ways to go, but it still feels awesome. 

Monster due out in two days (cover reveal and longer extract)

My short horror story 'Monster' is going to be published in two days! Look out for it in amazon stores, and other retailers.

For those not in the know, Monster is a short horror story about a newly turned vampire fighting for humanity to see her as anything other than a monster.

Here's the finished cover:

 As promised here is a longer extract:

“What about my rights?” The long chains pinning the handcuffs to the floor clatter against the metal table. I don’t believe this. I don’t believe any of this.

The man flinches at the sound, like I’m some kind of dangerous creature. I’m not. I’m just Honey Mason, eighteen year old checkout girl at the local supermarket. I don’t smoke, get drunk, or do any kind of drugs. I do my taxes. I eat right. I don’t deserve to go to jail.

“Humans have rights”, the man finally takes off his sunglasses, revealing pupils constricted to pinpricks. He pretends he’s not afraid of me, but I can smell it on him. He stinks of fear. “You aren’t human.”

I want to argue, but I’m terrified he’s right. Two months ago I was human, before I met my new ‘friends’. Now I’m not so sure. The things I’ve seen, the things I’ve done, they exist in the world of monster not man. The world tastes different - I’m not even sure it had a taste before all this. I feel different; stronger, faster, weaker, hungrier.

“I haven’t killed anyone”, I say, even though I am not sure that is true.

"You will", he says, and there’s no trace of a lie on his face. He believes it’s the truth. His conviction makes my faith waver. "It's only a matter of time."

I want to scream I'm not like them. I will never kill anyone, but I pause wondering if what he was saying was the truth. After they turned me they said I would be like them. I would feel the hunger as strong as they did. Nothing would stand between me and the blood, not even the life that held it.

The month old blood feels stale in my veins. From across the table I can hear his blood, can see the artery in his neck flutter with every beat of his heart. My eyes linger too long on his jugular and the rate of fluttering increases.

I think on blood the way I used to ponder which takeout to get after a long day of work. His blood would taste wonderful, so refreshing after so long without. It would slip down my throat, warm and comforting, like the warm glass of milk and honey I used to chase away nightmares as a child. The metallic tang would be further deepened by the salty taste of fear. His blood holds everything mine has lost, energy, health, sustenance. Drinking it would bring life back to the sluggish movements caused by my long fast.

Then as every time before, I remember that this is a human, and I am a human despite what they say. The desire to bite vanishes into repulsion. But maybe they are right, and one day the desire will be too strong. If I kill, I will surely die as well, and all that will be left is the monster. I can’t risk it.

My shoulders slump in resignation. “I’ll go”, I say in a small voice.

His face is impassive despite the fear that leeches off of him. “You don’t have a choice.”

---------

To receive updates when this and future stories are published, you can subscribe to this blog or send an email to me on: saustin259@gmail.com with the words 'mailing list' in the subject line, and I will send you an email when a new story is published. Emails will only be sent when something is published, with a description, cover and short extract from the piece, so no worries about spam.

Update

Well, work knocked me off my feet. I'm still tired, but I'm going to do my best to tear through editing lesson seven today. I'm a little behind as usually I am starting the next lesson by now. Lesson eight is the last lesson of this section, and it is sitting downloaded in a folder looking awfully tempting.

I'm also woefully behind in my writing. Second Chance was supposed to be finished yesterday, but still has four and a bit more scenes left to write.

My goals for the end of this month (eight days) are to:

- Finish editing lesson seven on 'Truth Seeker'

- Finish writing first draft of 'Second Chance'

- Finish editing lesson eight on 'Truth Seeker'

- Finish full edit of 'Demon Teddy Bear'

- Make a cover for 'Monster' (due for publication on the 30th June) that I'm satisfied with

- Publish Monster (30th June)

So look out for Monster at the end of this month. It's a short horror story about a newly turned vampire fighting for humanity to see her as anything other than a monster. It's on schedule. Everything sorted except the cover.

Playing with covers

I've been playing with book covers today, my reward for a hard week of work. I've been trying to get my head around the art program gimp (like photoshop - but free), and so far it's not going that well. I'm sure I'll understand it eventually. It took me ages to understand photoshop when I had that, but eventually I mostly understood that, so hopefully this will be similar.

I am playing with other designs, but here is one I've done so far:

The awesome picture is from desideriasp-stock .

Undecided whether this will be my new cover or not. I still have over two weeks to decide before the story is released on the 30th of June. Decisions, decisions. I like it, but I may play around on gimp to see if I can make anything I like even better.