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.”

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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.