The Tale of a Story

Tags

acceptance, anthology, creepy, Faithless, horror short story, never give up, new anthology, publishing, publishing journey, rejections, Short story, thoughts, Twilight Madhouse Vol. 4, weird, writing

Today, a book is released into the wild. An anthology.

And my story Faithless is in it!

I wrote this story a couple years ago for an anthology looking for asylum stories. I read it in my writers’ group, and had mixed reactions. Some people liked it and one or two wanted something else. Something more…asylum residents getting out and killing. But I didn’t want it to be the usual asylum story. So I cleaned it up and submitted it.

It was rejected.

But, I liked this story. I liked that it was different. So I let it sit until I found another place to send it.

One. Two. Three rejections…and I would not give up. Faithless would find a home…somewhere.

And it has.

Not where I thought it would, not in the publication I wrote it for. That’s how it goes.

Publishing. An interesting world of you-never-know-so-never-ever-give-up. What are the editors looking for when they put together a line up of stories for an anthology or magazine? Only they know.

My story was rejected. More than once. I did wonder if the writing smelled like dog poop, or the story left the reader with a whole bunch of confusion.

But I believed in it.

Sure, rejections happen because a story isn’t well-written or doesn’t make sense. But they can mean that the words don’t fit, the story isn’t quite what they were looking for. And with all sorts of people submitting, the choices can be great and choosing can be difficult.

Here’s Schreyer Ink’s blog with submission facts about this book…for the curious.

So many submissions. Mine just a drop in the bucket. But it was chosen.

If you like the weird and creepy…go buy a copy of Twilight Madhouse Vol. 4 on amazon!

Enjoy Faithless, my story exploring faith versus religion in a future where praying can get you a room in the Asylum for the Religiously Afflicted and a visit from Tech MT.

And when you’re submitting, remember…rejections are not always a reflection of your writing talent.

And never ever give up.

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Release Day…WITH YOU ALWAYS by Rena Olsen

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Adult book, release day, Rena Olsen, The Girl Before, Thriller, With You Always

Happy book birthday, Rena!!!

One of my bestest writing friends, one of the Shenanigals, a fantastic writer, Rena sets more of her words free today!

I am so proud of Rena, so grateful that I have been on this writing journey with her. She deserves all the good things and all the Gummy Bears. If you liked her first book, you will like this one.

Let’s celebrate MORE BOOKS!

In the wake of a painful breakup and struggling to prove herself at work, Julia feels adrift. When Bryce blows into her life, he seems like the perfect anchor. Handsome, charming, secure, and confident, Bryce brings out the best in Julia, sweeping her off her feet with attention and affection while grounding her with his certainty and faith. Together they embark on a path guided by the principles of his family and their church, each step a paving stone leading to happily ever after.

But this is no fairy tale.

Step by step, one small concession leading to another, Julia is slowly isolated from her job, her friends, and her family, until she comes to find that her dream come true is a cage. Then one day everything changes…and Julia is faced with no choice but to find a way out.

 

Want a copy? Of course you do! Go here!

 

Haven’t read her first book THE GIRL BEFORE? Read it. I cried. I cringed. In the end, I smiled. Go find it here!

Connect with Rena on Twitter, she loves new friends.

 

 

Release Day…Running Away by Julie Hutchings

Tags

Adult, book birthday, Book release, dark fantasy, Julie Hutchings, Paranormal romance, Running Away, vampires

Today, we celebrate a book birthday! Today we celebrate the great Julie Hutchings (my Gorky!) as she releases her precious into the world! Lover of all things dark and delicious, Julie adds her words, her story to the shadows of the world. Always here for this fabulous person, I want to tell everyone about her new book!

Eliza Morgan is desperate to leave the horrors of her mortal life and understand why death follows her, leaving only one man—Nicholas French—in its wake. He’s the one she loves, the one she resents, and the one fated to make her legendary among the Shinigami—an ancient order of vampires with a “heroic” duty to their victims.

Nicholas is also decaying before her eyes, and it’s her fault.

On the ghostlike mountaintop in Japan, Eliza will be guided by the all-powerful Master for her transition to Shinigami death god. When Eliza discovers that sacrificing her destiny will save Nicholas, she’s not afraid to defy fate to make it so. Both Nicholas and his beloved Master fight her on veering from the path to immortality, but Eliza won’t be talked out of her plan, even if it drives a deeper wedge between her and Nicholas. Not even when Nicholas’s salvation tortures her with puzzle-piece visions, begging her to solve them.

Allying with the fiery rebel, Kieran, who does what he wants and encourages her to do the same, and a mysterious deity that only she can see, Eliza must forge her own path through a maze of primal traditions and rivalries, shameful secrets and dark betrayals, to take back the choices denied her and the Shinigami who see her as their savior. And she’ll start a war to save the loved ones that fate threatens to claim.

Want to find it? I’ll make it easy!

Book Name: Running Away (The Shinigami Vampires series, #2)
Book Genre: Adult Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Book release date: 08/07/18

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Away-Shinigami-Vampires-Book-ebook/dp/B07FN6QFDH

Running Away (book #2) on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23263587-running-away

Running Home (book #1) on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17977192-running-home

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie’s a mythology-twisting, pizza-hoarding karate-kicker who left her ten-year panty peddling career to devote all her time to writing. She is the author of Running Home,Running Away,TheWind Between Worlds, and forthcoming The Harpy. Julie revels in all things Buffy, Marvel, robots, and drinks more coffee than Juan Valdez and his donkey combined, if that donkey is allowed to drink coffee. Julie lives in Plymouth, MA, constantly awaiting thunderstorms with her wildly supportive husband, two magnificent boys, and a reptile army.

And that is why she’s awesome.

 

 

 

Because you WANT to connect with her. YOU DO!

HOW TO CONNECT WITH JULIE HUTCHINGS:

Twitter:@hutchingsjulie|Facebook| Website:https://juliehutchings.net/

Julieon Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7104966.Julie_Hutchings

Email:juleshutch@outlook.com or fill out my contact form.

Sign up for my newsletter and never miss a thing!

 

MORE BOOKS BY JULIE

Running Home

The Wind Between Worlds

Standing Still (free through Instafreebie)

 

SHORT STORIES / ANTHOLOGY PUBLICATIONS

Dark Carnival: An Anthology of Horror

Halloween Night: Trick or Treat

Summer’s Edge

 

FOR MORE OF JULIE’S SHORT STORIES

Visit her blog

 

Don’t forget to join in on the book buzz using hashtag#ShinigamiSeries

There you are! Another book out in the world. Sound good to you? GO READ IT!

Feedback…Ready Your Mind and Heart

Tags

comments, critiques, feedback, self doubt, thoughts, writing

Feedback. So necessary. And sometimes completely heart-breaking.

Comments for my MG are coming in.

We all know how to react, what to do. Read it. Step back. Let it all sink in. Calmly. Let your creative brain sort through the comments and figure out what helps the manuscript and what doesn’t. Logically look at what you’ve written and prepare to delete and add and change all the things.

And we know what really happens when you first read comments…

Before you can let them sit, before you can step back, before you put the wall around your heart.

Because WHAT AM I DOING WRITING A BOOK NO ONE LIKED IT AND THE WORDS DIDN’T DO WHAT I WANTED AND I AM FAILING I CAN’T POSSIBLE QUERY THIS IT IS AWFUL

Yeah, that.

I live there now.

For a minute…or two.

One person sent me feedback and I am a mess. And I know better.

I DO KNOW BETTER

Self-doubt is weighing me down at the moment. Writer-me is struggling. So many decisions. So many words. So many questions. Things I should do…am thinking of doing…choices I face.

I remember a time when my writing was moving forward…then it stopped, standing still, motionless…now I feel as if I am moving backwards, being swept away.

I struggle against the current. A force we all fight sometimes.

But we need feedback. We need to know how others react to what we do. Every time, we open the door for doubt, we unlock the fear of failure…possibly right after we got that sucker chained down.

But we don’t stop writing. We can’t. It’s who we are. It’s what we do.

Now I prepare to really think about this manuscript. Think about what I want it to be. Fix what didn’t work. Hopefully make it into what it is meant to be…because of the kindness of others who read it.

The Ridiculousness and Frustration of Writing Queries

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query, query letter, thoughts, writing

The query letter.

WAIT…COME BACK!

I know. That word can send every writer running for their blanket fort. Well, not every writer…some like to write them.

Well, not this writer.

But here I am. Time to write a query. Or at least something that looks and acts like one that I can revise a million times before finally giving up and sending it.

A query. There are formats to follow. Guidelines. Things to include. Things not to include. Ways to write it. Ways not to write it. The more you read about them, the more hair-pulling there is. So many opinions.

In the end, it’s a get it the way you like it and pray.

Because there is no right way to write a query, though some people will tell you there is. Like our precious manuscripts, a query is as individual as we are.

Begin with a paragraph having the title and word count…or end with it.

Write a one line hook at the beginning or…just go into the meat of the story.

Write in the style and voice of the manuscript in present tense.

Give enough detail to grow interest, to make your letter stand out, but not too much that the query is too long.

There are formulas…there are guidelines. Use those! Get something on the screen, then make it your own. Want to try something really out of the box? Do it.

Ending with a question is frowned upon, but…people still like them.

Write a bio…or not…or kinda…

Individualize your query for each person you send it to. It can help…or it might not matter.

Spelling and grammar! Though we are all human…therefore we make mistakes. People understand this.

Book comps. I struggled with this, until I figured out that comp titles aren’t just which books my book is like, but which books they can share a shelf with. If a reader likes this book, they’ll like mine because of the tone or content.

SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT!

Here’s what I focus on.

Set up the main character. Who they are and what they want.

Set up conflict…what stands in the way of them getting what they want?

What do they do to fight for what they want?

Then the big choice, the moment they face a decision and what they risk if they choose one path over another.

The biggest thing…focus on the MAIN story line. It’s so easy to want to write in the other plot lines weaving through the story, but words are sacred here. You only have so many.

I like to put the title, word count, and bio stuff at the end.

At some point you are pretty happy with it! Then you let people read it. Then writing a query goes haywire.

Everyone has their own way of doing it and all the comments on what to change will overwhelm your tired query-logged mind. I can guarantee that what one person loves, someone else won’t. The problem is…when you send out your lovely queries, you never know who will like what. One person will toss it in the no-way pile and another person will request pages.

A good query is essential. And so hard! And ridiculous. And frustrating.

So I’ll write a query. I’ll have people comment on it. Then I’ll do what I want.

One constant about the query…it has to come from you. It’s about your manuscript. Do what feels right to you.

Then pray. Wish upon a star. Brew a good-luck potion.

And wait.

Forever.

SO Much More to a Writreat than Writing

Tags

brainstorming, friends, fun, revising, shenanigals, thoughts, unexpected joy, writers, writing, writreat

For the last few days I’ve been away. If you read my last post, you know where.

This was the first, but not the last meeting of the Shenanigals. A group of four writers who met on Twitter, then came face to face at a writers’ conference, and since then have become a source of support and love to each other.

Logo designed and drawn by Marjorie Brimer

I am lucky to be a part of this group. Seriously lucky.

Photo by a nice woman who was sitting by the pond…

So we spent a few days together, ready to write and chat and revel in general silliness.

I went with a manuscript that needs to be revised before I send it to a few critique partners. Others were thinking about notes from agents and editors. And one, dear Jamie, went through her entire book…again. A true rock star.

I didn’t know what exactly would happen. I didn’t really know what to expect, considering we had hung out at a writers’ conference, but never in this type of setting.

Writing did happen…

As did silliness…

Adoring a beautiful kitty…

Aw…Pepper! Photo by Jamie.

Watching a show called Botched…so much cringing…

Good food…

Deep discussions about, well, everything…

Much brainstorming about what we are all working on. The creativity was flowing freely…

Possibly a tattoo…

Okay, yes, a tattoo. Isn’t it wonderful? Go, Jamie! You handled that like a champ! You be the light in the world!

Yet, something happened that I wasn’t expecting. I went in with fear. Fear of these revisions. Fear of messing up this manuscript. Fear of failing.

As I sat around with these great people, my fear lessened. I started revising. And then I met chapter nine, learned that nothing happened in that chapter, faced that I had to rearrange things and fix it…panicked slightly…

But everyone gathered around and reminded me that I am pretty cool…and pretty talented…and to not be afraid.

So I did it. I faced chapter 9 and redid it. Let me tell you, it is so much better now. The words felt right as I wrote them.

Even though I still have to pick up the mess of restructuring the story, I am not afraid. I am ready. I am going to power through the rest of this story and get it sent to those fabulous readers, who are waiting.

All the memories. All the fun. All the learning about each other and building stronger bonds.

I carried fear in with me and left it there, dropped it and let it die. So no matter how much writing I did or didn’t get done, that is the best thing that could have happened for my words.

This is what’s best when writers unite. The bonds. The support. The willingness to chat about everything. The acceptance.

Shenanigals forever

And I might have a signed ARC of Rena’s new book WITH YOU ALWAYS…OUT IN A LITTLE OVER A MONTH! Okay…I DO HAVE ONE! You can be jealous.

 

I’m Going on a Writreat Adventure!

Tags

fun, magic friends, Rena Olsen, shenanigals, thoughts, With You Always, writers, writing retreat, writreat

A what adventure? You may ask, your face squashed in confusion…

A WRITREAT! Writing retreat!

I have heard of writers going off to write in far away places…or just a hotel down the street…by themselves or in groups, having time to write without the distractions of home. No kids who need rides or food. No laundry. No schedule.

I have heard of this magical experience, but never thought it would be me. BUT IT IS.

This week…well in two days…I will be leaving my hubs and kids to fend for themselves and driving to another state where I will be meeting up with three other writers! Rena, Jamie, Margie, and I, aka the Shenanigals, will have a weekend of writing, chatting, eating, laughing, and general silliness. Instead of getting on Twitter looking for support, I will have writers to smack me into working in the same room! I THINK THIS WILL BE MAGIC!

I need a little (or big) kick in the rear, because I have told CPs that this manuscript will be ready for them by the end of the month. AND THAT IS SOONER THAN I THINK.

I MUST DO THE REVISING.

And the four of us can celebrate (a little early) Rena’s next book…WITH YOU ALWAYS…RELEASE DATE IS AUGUST 7th!!!

I’m excited!

About the book…AND GETTING TO SPEND TIME WITH MY WACKY, BRILLIANT WRITER FRIENDS. They are so nice to let me tag along, because let’s be honest, they are soooooo much cooler than me.

So…I leave in two days and have things to do.

I CAN’T WAIT! THE TIME IS ALMOST HERE!

How Kathy Writes a Book: Part 7…The End

Tags

critique partners, revisions, the end, thoughts, writing, Writing process

Thanks for following my story of how I write a book! It’s a complex process for everyone…and as unique as each person. Art is fantastic! Every path taken, every decision made different for everyone, and, yet, we all finish with a whole bunch of words strung together to make a story.

I have taken through my process from idea up to a first draft and into revisions.

After the first round of revisions, the writing becomes lather, rinse, and repeat. Revise. Revise. Revise. Until the words meld into a muddy mess, until I can’t see what I’m trying to do. Until all I do is push words around, meaningless pushing.

Then I send it to CPs (aka critique partners). I need others to see what I can’t. I need others to give me their reactions so I have an idea if the story is having the impact I want it to have. I need outside thoughts and comments that will spark my creative brain to solve any lingering problems, to fill any plot holes, to round out any characters, and make the manuscript shine.

So more revisions.

Then more CPs.

Then more revisions.

It’s a necessary cycle, one I can easily get lost in. Revise. Revise. Revise. Always something to change. Always a way to make it better.

Sometimes calling it done is the hardest part. Sometimes letting it go feels like the end of the world. At some point, I set it down. I accept that the words are as good as I can get them. What I have done is enough.

I wrote a book. THE END.

What a feeling!

How Kathy Writes a Book: Part 6…Revisions

Tags

character arcs, grammar, magic of revising, my revising process, pacing, revising, scenes, the writing process, thoughts, writing

From idea to the finished product, writing a book is a different process and experience for everyone. And that’s how the world works, kids. ISN’T IT WONDERFUL?!?!?!?!?!?!!

I have been sharing how I tackle this beast of creating a manuscript to inform, to entertain…because I want to and it’s my blog.

Which brings us to the next step on the journey.

REVISIONS…REviSiONs…reVisiOnS…revisions…

This is where the magic happens.

 

And by magic I mean selling your soul to the devil. I will admit that I like revisions better than drafting. All the blank space makes me panic, but having a chaotic mass of words, having something to dig my brain into makes me feel safe. But! It is a hair-pulling, tear-shedding process.

What to keep.

What to add.

What to move.

What to delete forever into the void…well, or just cut and paste it onto a different document because you might need it later.

Revising becomes a tangled web of questions. Some of which YOU JUST DON’T KNOW THE BEST ANSWER.

Does this scene move the story forward? I mean, it’s a cute scene, or a creepy scene, or a hilarious scene, but is it necessary. And if your word count climbed to levels of out-of-control, the question of what to delete becomes a nagging monster.

Did my characters grow and change?

Did the story balance dialogue, action, and exposition to get the pacing right?

Is there enough, but not too much, description?

Are the scenes in the best order?

Is the voice clear and intriguing?

DOES THIS MESS EVEN MAKE SENSE?

The process can leave you in a sobbing ball, wondering if you can even grammar at all.

From the big picture to the tiniest word. From character arcs to weeding out those pesky filler and filter words. From pacing to DO I USE A COMMA HERE OR NOT? From finding plot holes to destroying passive sentences.

Revisions is where you take that first draft and make it into SOMETHING.

I’ve seen people have multiple drafts saved as they revise (Final draft…the real final draft…no this one is the final draft, kinda thing). I do not. When I revise, I keep the newest version as the version, though I do have a file to save what I delete (more to keep me from panicking that I have cut the best part of the book, and less to actually use again, because I don’t usually).

I’ve seen scenes written on post-its and put on a wall, a visual reference to help with pacing and story-telling. I have never done this. I do write down the scenes (or at least what happens) in each chapter in a notebook so I can keep track.

Revisions, for me, is a gut reaction kinda thing. I go with what feels right. The scene doesn’t make sense? Get rid of it. Need a transition? Add one. This character needs more space to express feelings. Put that in. Add the special details that set the tone. Make sure I didn’t lose any characters along the way. Make sure to address the notes I left myself during drafting. You know the ones…the “dude, really? I think you can do better than that” notes. Or the “please and thank you check on who said this earlier” notes.

I pull the story together the best I can. Reading. Rereading. Checking. Adding. Deleting.

I am about to enter the land of revising. Today. The time-out is over. Nowhere, I’m coming for you.

 

 

How Kathy Writes a Book: Part 5…A Time Out

Tags

letting the manuscript sit, take a break, thoughts, writing, Writing process

Parts one through four have magically (okay not magically who am I kidding there was sweat, there was blood, there were tears…) produced a first draft.

TA-DA!

Now, what comes next?

Nothing.

I put that manuscript in time out. Was it bad? Well, no. But if my brain thinks about it any more, it will explode.

I have the luxury of this option. Some people on deadlines don’t, and maybe someday that will be me, but if I can manage it, I will always take a break after I finish the first draft. Always.

The longer the better, one month…two…six! Longer! I want to forget what I wrote. No thinking about it. No glancing at notes. No making notes. Nothing.

Going back to words that have been forgotten means: spotting things that make no sense, seeing the holes, sensing where scenes need to be added or deleted.

I critique for others. I work notes for all the ideas swirling in my brain. I write a short story. I read. I watch movies. I ENJOY EVERY MOMENT.

I am at this point right now.

Because I have goals of querying this manuscript later this year, I put Nowhere on a month long time out. THAT’S ALL? Yup. It will work.

While I forget all the words, I read one full manuscript and a partial of another for a couple wonderful people. Notes for the second book in this series have been started. A call for short horror stories caught my eye, so I am working on that.

What happens after this month is over? Come back and find out.