Revision Hell, Anyone?

If you remember, last year I rewrote the ENTIRE manuscript of Bleed For Me, my second suspense novel. I've learned a lot since that complete rewrite and I've just received the MS from two critique partners.

...sigh...

I'm back in Revision Hell, but this time, it's not so bad. I have some major elements to fix, mainly character development and it's a start. Up next, paranormal romance with angels and demons.

Madness

Ah! I'm falling behind...on everything! This break between semesters is kicking my butt. I have a whole list of things I'd like to accomplish before the only books I'm reading are the ones I'm forced to for a grade, but sadly, this is not the case! I have yet to finish revisions on ALL BECAUSE OF YOU and I'm only a chapter and an epilogue away! Grr.

However, I have completed my New Year's Resolution for 2010 in reading 52, never-before-read, books. :)

I have a post in mind for Friday that will, hopefully, help those of you in the writing world put Microsoft Word Grammar Checker in perspective. My research came as a surprise, considering I use the program EVERY DAY.

Until then...I will miss you - my followers. Sorry I've been away! I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things soon :)

Almost There!

REVISIONS are almost complete for ALL BECAUSE OF YOU! I'm so close. Right now, I've just started working on the last chapter. After that, there's the Epilogue and then I'm done. Done! There haven't been any major plot revisions - thank goodness! - but, as I said before, my first chapter was originally back story. Those scenes within that chapter are now spread out throughout the book and the "biggest case of Marcus' career" is now emphasized. The revisions are mostly small, but have made the MS so much better!

Being that I'm almost done - BETA readers PLEASE! Let me know!

I Need You - 3 Of You, That Is

I need beta-readers for my second novel, ALL BECAUSE OF YOU. I've only had a couple of people close to me read over this MS and it's time to get some real critism. Please don't offer if you don't have the time to get it back to me soon. I'm looking for a quick turn around (say in 14 days) from someone who is somewhat educated/educated in mystery/suspense and knows how the MS should flow. Three different readers would be great.

If you're interested, please email me! I can send the MS in PDF format and will give permissions to make notes in the margains or we can work something out in Word if you can't use PDF.

natascha [AT] jaffa.name

Click here for my revised query in case you want a little more information and tone of the MS.

It's Friday

Hello, friends. I have some good news. Well, a couple pieces of good news.

#1. It's Friday! Oh, how I've longed for this day for so long. It seems this week was the longest of my life for some reason.

Good news #2. I received a partial request on my second novel, All Because of You!

This round of submissions only included about 7 agents. I have a list of about 50, but I'm too busy (*clears throat* ...lazy) to finish the rest of the research I need to do for each agent. I'd received two rejections prior, but yesterday, I opened my inbox and viola. A request :)

Now, since this is a Friday post, it's time to tell you how the week went. I'm up to about 70% finished with the first draft of My Demonic Love. This is my first try at a paranormal romance and it seems I've been having to do A LOT of research for it. If you've read my post below, I had a hard time researching the daily life of a cardiac surgeon, but with the help of one my of loyal followers, Anne, I was able to get through it! Thanks, Anne! Now, I'm onto researching vaults. Specifically a vault that will store an ancient book or document. I haven't come across a lot of information on the subject. I remember Dan Brown, in his novel Angels and Demons, chose the Vatican as his location for his MC to study ancient documents and that's the type of vault (archive, safe, etc) I want. However, when I try to Google for information, all I get is what's supposedly inside the Vatican archives. I don't want that!

Anyway, enough with the rant :)

I haven't really been working much on my short story, Relief, this month. It's supposed to be ready to submit to a contest at the end of the month, but seeing as how it's the first chapter from my first novel (and I'm kind of sick of my first novel), I haven't really been motivated to work on it. Suggestions?

What is your good news this week? How did your writing go? Any fun plans for the weekend?

Progress Report

This week I've been focused on my second novel, All Because of You, and getting it ready to submit to agents. I have my list of about fifty agents to submit this work to and I'm researching each and every one to see which will be the appropriate homes for my book. Lots of fun :/

I've still been working on my current work in progress every now and then, treading through the murky waters of the middle of the novel and think I have a solution. The middle of novels are just filler really. The most important parts of a book being the middle and the end. Well, I always write the beginning and the end first, leaving me to deal with the filler, something I hate. The newlywed feeling of a new work in progress is gone at that time and you really have to motivate yourself to keep going. But keep going you must, or it will never be finished. It's going well though.

I've completely outlined my first try at a Sleuth, called Never Too Early, and just might start working on that book next. Right now, its fourth on my list, but I'm really excited about it and may start early.

So far only one person has commented on my contest for the month! You guys need to get it in gear if you want a chance to get Lean Mean Thirteen for free!

Hope you guys are having a good holiday weekend!

Checking In

The past couple days have been very productive. The completion of my August goals are in sight and looking better with every passing day. I finished another chapter of My Demonic Love last night, making a total of 8.5 complete. This morning, I was up bright and early working on the synopsis of All or Nothing, which, of course, I put off till the last of the month. I have about two paragraphs of that written, with another 6 or 7 to go. If I put my mind to it, I can finish the thing before August 31st, which was my original goal. I also worked a little bit on my new short story, Relief, my contest entry into the Pudding Chapbook contest and first chapter of All Falls Down. In the original chapter, I have the hero, Daniel Banvard, released from prison, but not a lot from his POV. That is changing. I am making the ENTIRE chapter/chapbook from his POV. There are a lot of emotions playing around in that kind of situation and I intend to explore all of them in this revision.I'll be posting the short story on my "Other Works" page when I'm through and hope to get some feedback on what my readers think. It's not due till Sept 30th, so don't hold your breath.

Yesterday, I heard from my beta-reader about All Because of You and he gave me some great advice when it comes to my characters. I was surprised he didn't have more to say, but am a little relieved at the same time. I'm hoping September will be the month to start submitting to agents for this MS. I have a read through I need to do apparently, but then it's out to query.

Day Four

This no sugar thing is turning into a piece of cake. I feel SO much better. I'm not thinking about sugar at all. It's amazing, I can turn it down left and right now without temptation. Water goal is going well. I didn't really have a problem there. My creativity goal is coming along, keeping my drawing up and running. I find I like to sketch book covers. Not sure why, but all's good.

Still doing revisions on All or Nothing. Over half way through now. Getting so close! I've now added a new critic to my world and am loving her already. So many great tips coming my way for All Because of You.

I found a good article today, again for character development. See the entire article here.

1. How do you learn best? Observation? Participation? Trial and error? Rumination and cogitation? Consulting experts? Writing?
2. How open are you to new ideas and information? Do you change your mind frequently, based on what people have told you? Are you a traditionalist, deciding on the basis of what’s always been?
3. When you walk into a party, what do you notice first? The mood? The people? The decorations? The things that need to be fixed? The background music? The food on the buffet table? Whether or not you fit in?
4. Is one sense more highly developed than another? For instance, do you tend to take in the world primarily through vision? (“I’ll believe that when I see it!”) Or are you more auditory? Do you determine if a person is lying by the tone of voice? What about the sixth sense—intuition? How often do you rely on your “gut” and then have your feelings confirmed?
5. Do you usually notice problems around you? What is your response? Do you write an angry letter to the editor? Shrug and move on? Analyze what’s wrong and how to fix it? Take it as evidence that the world is falling apart? What about problems within yourself?
6. Would you say you are an optimist or a pessimist? Would your friends agree?
7. Are you more interested in the past, the future or living in the now? Are you one to keep holiday traditions? If you had to move tomorrow, how long would it take you to make new friends?
8. How do you decide if you can trust someone? By experience with this person? First impressions? Intuition? Do you test the person somehow? Or are you just generally disposed to trust or not to trust?
9. Are you a deliberate, careful speaker, or do you talk without thinking first? Do you use slang, or do you use diction your old English teacher would approve?

A Little At A Time

I've slowly been working on revisions for All or Nothing. Up to Chapter 2 now. It's slow work, a lot of errors to fix in this MS. I did, however, finish the synopsis for All Because of You this week. Once my critic is finished reading it, I'll be submitting my work. Still waiting on my membership for RWA and to hear back from Nevada State College. I have a feeling I'll be waiting a couple more weeks.

Second Round

The second round of revision on All Because of You is underway. So far, I have one chapter down and fourteen to go. It doesn't seem like much until you see that each chapter is at least 30 pages long. My goal for the book was more length this time, so I kept to my 30 page/chapter goal throughout the entire book and am now having to take parts out or add more. To be honest, I'm not very good at descriptions. I can imagine a room or a character in complete detail, but forget to actually write it out. I definitely feel better about this book. The story is more action packed, the characters are more real to me. All That I'm Living For is full of flaws. It was my first novel and I'm not too absorbed in getting it published. I will try, but have come to accept that it may never happen. I have more chance with books 2 and 3 with the experiences that I've learned since All That I'm Living For.
All or Nothing (book 3) is still coming along well. Up to almost 240 pages now and counting with about 30 pages a week of writing. I'm constantly working on it in my head, but sometimes struggle to sit down and get my ideas onto paper. The thoughts end up building throughout the week until I find the motivation to get them out on the weekends.

Busy Week

This week is going to be crazy. I'm finally getting down to brass tacks and revising All Because of You. There are a few minor details that need to be proofed and a few things I can expand on, such as one character's background. I'm going to be researching schizophrenia for my second novel as well and integrating that into one of my main characters. I know, it's a little spoiler, but necessary for the plot line. I'm also still submitting All That I'm Living For this week. I have had a few responses so far, but won't get most of them back for another month, to month and a half. I've been putting off writing for long enough and if I want results I have to work for them. Wish me luck. I'll post when I can!

Another Day

I've been querying All That I'm Living For since Friday. My goal is to submit at least one a day from my list of about thirty. So far so good. I haven't been working on All Because of You since last week. I need to do another read through and fix stupid mistakes. I've noticed this novel was more focused on the action rather than the romance and that just won't do. So this next read through is going to fix that. Then it's off to get reviewed. I'm still planning out the third novel as I do all of this. I have about 167 pages of that written and it just keeps growing. This one, like All Because of You, is a little more fun to write than my first novel, but I'm not sure why.

Break? Not So Much

So what I thought would be a couple week break from writing turns out to be the opposite. I can't shut my brain off and so I've started the first chapter and outlining of my third novel, All or Nothing. It's another installment after All Because of You. I also heard back from one of the people who is critiquing All That I'm Living For and there are a few little details that need to be fixed. From there I'm going to be submitting!

Something Fun

Well, I'm down to the past 30 pages of All Because of You. There is another installment after it, tentatively named All or Nothing. I'm also in the planning stages of my first try at a paranormal story. I don't have title yet, but the covers above are something that I've been playing around with and just thought I would share.

Overtime

Wow, it's been a busy couple of days, but very productive. I have six chapters written in the first draft and I am still on track for 30 pages each. So that makes about 180 pages written so far. My plot is definitely developing as I go. I really had no outline as to exactly what I wanted like in All That I'm Living For, so it's been interesting to see how my chapters turn out. Chapter 1-5, 11 and half of 15 are done. This MS has less chapters than All That I'm Living For, but more words. Chapter 15 is the last chapter, and yes, I'm already writing it. If you remember from an earlier post I knew how the plot would begin and end, but getting there is what matters. I'll keep those very few of you who actually read this updated.

Success

I have the first five chapters set in The Second Romantic Suspense and have half of the "inserts" done. This pretty much completes my layout of the novel and now I can go in and expand and clarify, and revise and edit...etc...hoping over the next month or so I will have a complete first draft. It gives me great joy when something I've been working on for so long comes together. This weekend I hadn't even planned on getting so much done, it just fell into place.
I'm still waiting on the reviews for my first novel from a few people. Once I get those back I will have a better understanding of critiques and be able to polish the MS. From there I go shopping...for agents.
This week my goal is to revise and edit The First Short Story. I need to get it ready for a couple contests by cutting it down to 4,000 words. It's harder than it sounds...

Ready and Go

The First Short Story, The Enjoyment Hour, is ready for review if anyone is interested. I'm looking forward to submitting it to a few contests in the next couple of months and am already working on The Second Short Story along with The Second Romantic Suspense. I need to cut 895 words for a few contests I've looked at. They don't like more than 5,000. One of the contests I'm looking at is Tom Howard/John H. Reid Short Story contest due March 31, 2010

This year is going to be busy, busy, busy for me, but I'm excited to see where it's going to take me.

2010 Game Plan

Now that The First Romantic Suspense is complete and ready for review it's time to start thinking about 2010 goals. I generally have the same New Years Resolutions every year. My main one is reading 50 NEW books a year. I made my goal for 2009 and have created my list for 2010 already. See my Goodreads page for the books I plan to read.
When it comes to my writing I have a lot of plans. January is a time for me to work on some short stories. The First Short Story had been put on the back burner when the "Great file loss of 2009" took place and I think January is a perfect time to pick back up on it. I'm giving myself until January 31st to get that one done and then it will be time to continue work on The Second Romantic Suspense.
It's been a crazy year, but I'm happy to say a good one.

Moving Along

Just a quick update. Still working on revisions for The First Romantic Suspense. Seems to take forever. I didn't know I was so unhappy with the last version of my MS (manuscript). Today I've already written an additional 350 words. Cool, huh? That's considered a good day, I think. Some agents I've queried have come back with responses such as, "We only consider novels with 90,000 words minimum." I don't have plans at this time to write another 40,000 words for this MS, but we'll see where my new revisions take it.

I have only queried 10 agents so far for The First Romantic Suspense. It seems I'm starting from scratch again, but hey, it's got to be done. New query letter (with research included...see post below if you're confused), I will need to adjust my synopsis after my revisions are done and then start with another 10 agents.

As for The Second Romantic Suspense, I am adding adding additional "scenes", as I like to call them, to my layout. I keep a chapter-by-chapter summary of my novels as I'm writing to keep things in order. I can move one section to another, add a quick scene, etc...it's more organized for me, even when I'm not actually writing. My layout is a place to write a quick description of what I want to add to this chapter or that chapter, so when I actually "sit down and do it", I already have it worked out. It feels small right now, but the first 5 chapters are halfway written. I say halfway because I've added many more scenes to my layout since my "Breakthroughs" post below. I just haven't actually written them.

Breakthroughs

While on vacation I have come up with some great breakthroughs in my writing. First, I'm letting myself rewrite the ending to The First Romantic Suspense. It will connect more to the second book and end more happily-ish. Second, is just that. The new ending of book one gave me more ideas for The Second Romantic Suspense. I'm still trying to make the chapters play nicely together, but these new ideas are a great addition since I have been in somewhat of a writer's block.