Journal Archives
The Dreaded Re-writes
Groan! 
I'm deep into it. The dreaded re-writes.
I am working on an old story. It was one of my first and I think there is some merit to it. But the reading of it, and the re-writing sometimes make me question my abilities! What a mess. I have learned so much since I wrote this muck.
Perhaps this will be my next lesson. Is it worth going back? Can re-working an old novel be successful? I am determined to do it, at least after re-working chapter one. I really do think there is some good material in there. I am changing the focus of the story though. Moving it into a little more focused paranormal story line. I think it will be a lot better, and I am aiming to submit it to Heather Osborne at TOR for her upcoming visit to our chapter of the Romance Writer's of America. Getting personal attention and skipping the slushpile might make all the difference.
So, chapter one is done, as is the new premiss / long blurb. The original synopsis was so bad I am scrapping it entirely and starting anew there. My goal this week is to complete chapter 2, then send the blurb and the 2 chapters to a friend to read over for grammer, and then to a writer friend to see if they think the flow and hook are strong and clear.
Onward...
Lilly
I'm deep into it. The dreaded re-writes.I am working on an old story. It was one of my first and I think there is some merit to it. But the reading of it, and the re-writing sometimes make me question my abilities! What a mess. I have learned so much since I wrote this muck.
Perhaps this will be my next lesson. Is it worth going back? Can re-working an old novel be successful? I am determined to do it, at least after re-working chapter one. I really do think there is some good material in there. I am changing the focus of the story though. Moving it into a little more focused paranormal story line. I think it will be a lot better, and I am aiming to submit it to Heather Osborne at TOR for her upcoming visit to our chapter of the Romance Writer's of America. Getting personal attention and skipping the slushpile might make all the difference.
So, chapter one is done, as is the new premiss / long blurb. The original synopsis was so bad I am scrapping it entirely and starting anew there. My goal this week is to complete chapter 2, then send the blurb and the 2 chapters to a friend to read over for grammer, and then to a writer friend to see if they think the flow and hook are strong and clear.
Onward...
Lilly
Posted on 10 Sep 2008 by Lilly Cain
Looking Forward to the Fall, and TOR
Well, I am looking forward to the fall. Already I am enjoying the crisper air. The last month of summer has done nothing but rain, so I hope we are in for a fantastic autumn, full of color and excitement.
Yup, excitement! Heather Osborne, editor for TOR, and previously a head editor for Ellora's Cave, is coming to visit the Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, right here in Halifax! YAY! I am really looking forward to meeting her and spending some time with her. I am planning on submitting one of my books, Money Doesn't Count, that I have been re-writing. I think it is much better now, has more focus and has more of an edge.
I hope that she loves it. In case she doesn't, I will polish up Between Moons and my new novel When Sin Comes to Call. The problem with these two is that they are no where near to being finished. Submitting them makes me seriously nervous, so I am saving them for her pitch workshop. If she likes them there, she might only ask for a synopsis and 3 chapters, which I could certainly provide right away.
Lilly, being brave, and feeling cheerful!
Yup, excitement! Heather Osborne, editor for TOR, and previously a head editor for Ellora's Cave, is coming to visit the Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada, right here in Halifax! YAY! I am really looking forward to meeting her and spending some time with her. I am planning on submitting one of my books, Money Doesn't Count, that I have been re-writing. I think it is much better now, has more focus and has more of an edge.
I hope that she loves it. In case she doesn't, I will polish up Between Moons and my new novel When Sin Comes to Call. The problem with these two is that they are no where near to being finished. Submitting them makes me seriously nervous, so I am saving them for her pitch workshop. If she likes them there, she might only ask for a synopsis and 3 chapters, which I could certainly provide right away.
Lilly, being brave, and feeling cheerful!
Posted on 05 Sep 2008 by Lilly Cain
Epiphany!
Epiphany! Woo hoo - the lightbulb went on last night at about 11:00. Took me until 11:30 to get the ideas down, but I have come up with a plan for a series (4 books to date) of erotic sci-fi novellas. :)
The series revolves around a treaty between futuristic Earth and the alien Confederacy. The first book is Confederacy Treaty: A Sensual Duty. Book two is Confederacy Treaty: The Naked Truth. I have both books outlined - two a bit better than one, but still!
You have to love those late at night thought processes. Your mind is turning down the covers, ready to slip into sleep, when an idea pops in. Who knows, perhaps you were asleep and the idea was actually part of a dream. Why is it that sometimes it works so well and sometimes, well, you wonder if eating that cheese right before you retired was such a good idea.
I had a friend who would write at 5 in the morning so she could be ready to go when it was time to get the kids to school. She said it was her only private time to write. But for me that is important sleep time - according to research it might be your most potent dream time. We need to dream. So I will keep on writing down those late night ideas.
Now I need to get going on the novellas. I think EC might like them. We'll see!
Lilly
The series revolves around a treaty between futuristic Earth and the alien Confederacy. The first book is Confederacy Treaty: A Sensual Duty. Book two is Confederacy Treaty: The Naked Truth. I have both books outlined - two a bit better than one, but still!
You have to love those late at night thought processes. Your mind is turning down the covers, ready to slip into sleep, when an idea pops in. Who knows, perhaps you were asleep and the idea was actually part of a dream. Why is it that sometimes it works so well and sometimes, well, you wonder if eating that cheese right before you retired was such a good idea.
I had a friend who would write at 5 in the morning so she could be ready to go when it was time to get the kids to school. She said it was her only private time to write. But for me that is important sleep time - according to research it might be your most potent dream time. We need to dream. So I will keep on writing down those late night ideas.
Now I need to get going on the novellas. I think EC might like them. We'll see!
Lilly
Posted on 02 Sep 2008 by Lilly Cain
Research, research
So I saw an article the other day called "How to fix a bad kisser" on my internet dating sight - hey, it's research! In fact, thinking of that, what about the people that wrote the article - do you think they actually did any research? Did they try to fix a bad kisser? Or do they only imagine that they can?
Now I have had a few encounters with bad kissers. And in fact I did take the time to show one of them how to kiss in a much more pleasing way (okay he got really good at it, lol). But did the author of the article go out and do that or were they pulling on past experiences? Does research have to be fresh, new?
I think that when we write about something, you can use past experience as a sort of background, but to really make a scene sharp and bright, we need detail that only fresh research, whether it is in the library or with our latest hottie, can provide.
Sure that article talked about discussing the problem with your partner. But frankly it was a little dry. What if I took the time to really sit down with a man and discuss kissing. I bet that the story would have read a little hotter! Imagine trying the techniques out, each one getting progressively more delicious - the gentle kiss (not too wet!), the touching of tongues, the moment to deepen it, a mating of mouths.
Something tells me my article would have had a different ending,
Lilly
Now I have had a few encounters with bad kissers. And in fact I did take the time to show one of them how to kiss in a much more pleasing way (okay he got really good at it, lol). But did the author of the article go out and do that or were they pulling on past experiences? Does research have to be fresh, new?
I think that when we write about something, you can use past experience as a sort of background, but to really make a scene sharp and bright, we need detail that only fresh research, whether it is in the library or with our latest hottie, can provide.
Sure that article talked about discussing the problem with your partner. But frankly it was a little dry. What if I took the time to really sit down with a man and discuss kissing. I bet that the story would have read a little hotter! Imagine trying the techniques out, each one getting progressively more delicious - the gentle kiss (not too wet!), the touching of tongues, the moment to deepen it, a mating of mouths.
Something tells me my article would have had a different ending,
Lilly
Posted on 29 Aug 2008 by Lilly Cain
Looking ahead
I'm looking ahead and the future is cheerily bright. I did say cheerily, right, not eerily? I have just registered for the 2009 RT conference in Florida and the workshop list is overwhelming! I’ll be going with Cathryn Fox - wow what a writer!! And Renee Fields (another hot one to watch). Check out their work in my links page.
So now, instead of feeling like I am waiting for things, I am going to feel like I am looking forward to things – for example I still haven’t heard from NAL, but I am LOOKING FORWARD to it!
And I am looking forward to meeting Heather Osborne from TOR, and to sending out my first novella next month to EC.
Now - I just have to sort through all those workshops and find the ones that are the juiciest! And you can bet your bottom dollar I am going to the EC party and every other party down there. I'm even going to drag out my vampire costume...
Lilly
So now, instead of feeling like I am waiting for things, I am going to feel like I am looking forward to things – for example I still haven’t heard from NAL, but I am LOOKING FORWARD to it!
And I am looking forward to meeting Heather Osborne from TOR, and to sending out my first novella next month to EC.
Now - I just have to sort through all those workshops and find the ones that are the juiciest! And you can bet your bottom dollar I am going to the EC party and every other party down there. I'm even going to drag out my vampire costume...
Lilly
Posted on 26 Aug 2008 by Lilly Cain
Having a Day
Okay, I am having a day - you know, one of those where you feel like everything is so hard to do, things seem impossible to accomplish. So I'm having one of those.
It doesn't help that so much feels like it is on hold for me - I am waiting for renovations to be done, waiting to hear about an editor visit, waiting to hear if NAL liked my book or not or is interested in changes. Waiting on a man too, but that's another story.
What news I have had isn't good. Didn't place in a contest, can't meet with critique partner this week.
I'm doing my best to get through it. I dragged myself to work - despite oversleeping. I forced myself to do some things, including my blog. Still, I feel terrible. Therefore I've got no choice. In order to make it I am going to get some coffee and chocolate. Hey - this is an emergency!
Then I am going to re-read ch 3 of my new novella, since it has a great sex scene started, and think about chapter four, lol
Licking my lips,
Lilly
It doesn't help that so much feels like it is on hold for me - I am waiting for renovations to be done, waiting to hear about an editor visit, waiting to hear if NAL liked my book or not or is interested in changes. Waiting on a man too, but that's another story.
What news I have had isn't good. Didn't place in a contest, can't meet with critique partner this week.
I'm doing my best to get through it. I dragged myself to work - despite oversleeping. I forced myself to do some things, including my blog. Still, I feel terrible. Therefore I've got no choice. In order to make it I am going to get some coffee and chocolate. Hey - this is an emergency!
Then I am going to re-read ch 3 of my new novella, since it has a great sex scene started, and think about chapter four, lol
Licking my lips,
Lilly
Posted on 20 Aug 2008 by Lilly Cain
Facebook Presence
Recently I created a presence on Facebook. I am amazed at how many authors have done the same, and I know that myspace and other websites are becoming marketing tools for us. I’ve only just stated, adding my pic in, some of my interests. I’ve begun adding writer friends, and signed in as a fan for Ellora’s Cave and Starbucks (who knew they had a Facebook page??). There’s a long way for it to go to become a marketing tool, but I love what some of the authors have done with their pages – making it a way to pass on information, newsletters etc.
I have to remember though to balance my writing time – most to writing, some to critiquing, and now some to marketing. It takes time to build up a base from which to market yourself and your work. Since I feel that I will soon sell my first book, I now need to prepare to help market it. The publishers don’t do that much for new authors, or at least that is the general consensus. We must do it ourselves.
Being serious, (although I am sure it will pass)
Lilly
I have to remember though to balance my writing time – most to writing, some to critiquing, and now some to marketing. It takes time to build up a base from which to market yourself and your work. Since I feel that I will soon sell my first book, I now need to prepare to help market it. The publishers don’t do that much for new authors, or at least that is the general consensus. We must do it ourselves.
Being serious, (although I am sure it will pass)
Lilly
Posted on 18 Aug 2008 by Lilly Cain
Word Counts
I’ve recently begun another novella. It needs a title, but basically it is a sci-fi erotica. I’m hoping to finish it soon, and send to Ellora’s Cave.
One thing I have learned about novellas is the importance of word count. There are quickies, there are shorts, there are novellas and there are long novellas. It is important to pay attention to what category you fall into – and believe me, different publishers have different ideas on what word count is applicable to the categories. As usual it is a matter of knowing your market.
So I am ticking along on my novella, wondering when I will hear from NAL on my novel and questioning my direction with an upcoming event with my RWAC group. Our branch of RWA is having Heather Osborne from TOR to visit and she has agreed to accept submissions from us. I have decided to re-vamp a book I had written, Money Doesn’t Count, strengthen it, re-name it, change the focus a bit and make it both spookier and hotter.
Great plan. But I want to finish this novella first, and I am concerned over the time constraints. Sigh. There is just never enough time. I so want a grown up vacation. Of course I also want a hot 6’ stud to come and join me on said vacation , so would I get any writing done anyway? LOL
Lilly
One thing I have learned about novellas is the importance of word count. There are quickies, there are shorts, there are novellas and there are long novellas. It is important to pay attention to what category you fall into – and believe me, different publishers have different ideas on what word count is applicable to the categories. As usual it is a matter of knowing your market.
So I am ticking along on my novella, wondering when I will hear from NAL on my novel and questioning my direction with an upcoming event with my RWAC group. Our branch of RWA is having Heather Osborne from TOR to visit and she has agreed to accept submissions from us. I have decided to re-vamp a book I had written, Money Doesn’t Count, strengthen it, re-name it, change the focus a bit and make it both spookier and hotter.
Great plan. But I want to finish this novella first, and I am concerned over the time constraints. Sigh. There is just never enough time. I so want a grown up vacation. Of course I also want a hot 6’ stud to come and join me on said vacation , so would I get any writing done anyway? LOL
Lilly
Posted on 15 Aug 2008 by Lilly Cain