Pondering on the Future

I have once again returned to the lull between projects.  I'm working on outlining my next two short stories, but I keep pausing to think about what to do next.

Should I hunt down more short stories to write? Or return to the novels?

I originally planned on finishing Resurrected Thief by the end of this year. Might not quite get to do that, which is okay because my number one choice for a publisher is possibly holding open submissions in the spring. But my number two is holding them until the end of this year and I don't know when they open again. Plus who knows what other opportunities will randomly show up and I want to be prepared. 

Short stories are great for a foundation in publishing. They'll hopefully make me more impressive to an agent or publisher. And create a history for my steampunk series. I just haven't found any new listings that have sparked my interest yet.  

In the end,  it's entirely up to the Muse. I just wish she would stop distracting me with all this worrying.

Celebration Time!

Another short story finished! I've poured myself a nice cold glass of ginger ale in celebration. The feeling of actually finishing a story is so fantastic, even if it's 10,000 or 100,000 words. I can list all the proverbial idioms about climbing the mountain or finishing the race, but we all know it isn't over yet.

Next comes the actual submission. Oh, the terror!

Checking the guidelines twenty times to make sure you didn't miss a single thing. Writing that cover letter with the perfect words. Hitting send!

I have a heart attack every single time. This is why I've started taking time to actually celebrate finishing. The unwinding  gives my brain a chance to reboot, which can help catch last minute typos. And that is a lifesaver.

Also, check out my "Current Writing" page above for a more up to date track of what is going on. Hopefully, there should be some new projects popping up soon!

Keeping on Track

I always tend to write less on the weekends. Combination of either running around with errands or taking time to relax I suppose.  But I am very proud that I haven't gone a day without writing since July. Since then, I've developed what I think is a pretty good method for keeping myself trucking forward. 

I did borrow methods posted in the blogs of a lot of authors I love, but you'll have to forgive me for not having more details than that. While the words lingered in my memory, the sources have faded. If I can find them, I'll post them right away. The main thing is keeping track of your writing progress, followed by a system of rewards.

I have two different programs for logging my daily word count. The first is an app called Nano Progress. You create your project, maximum word count, and how many days until it's due. It then tells you how many words to write a day and percentage you are at. The max number of words will change each time you update your word count to make sure you are on track. My second is an Excel spreadsheet from here. It allows for just 30 days since it was meant for NaNoWriMo. It has great charts for tracking your progress too, which are great for more visually orientated people.  

I create a log under each of these for whatever I'm writing. Since the Excel sheet is limited to thirty days, it can be tricky with shorter deadlines. However, I like using it for deadlines over 30 days because it has that sense of impending doom. I know I have two months, but the Excel doesn't. It tells me that I need to hurry up and get writing. Anytime I don't meet that maximum daily word count, I feel awful. That sinking sense of disappointment kicks me into high gear. 

Now, it's not good to write off just that. The app will tell me my actual deadline and how much I should be writing each day. Most of the time, it's a good deal lower than what the spreadsheet says. For example, my current project needs about 500 words a day to keep on track in Excel. The app says I need 100. I nearly always exceed the maximum from the app, so that is encouraging. 

This might seem excessive, and updating two programs can be distracting...but it works for me in the long run.   

I can see through the fog!

(Get it? Steampunk. London. It's foggy?...I'm funny!)

Earlier, I had taken a break from trying to write in order to work out some of the background details of this alternative reality. I've been mulling over the fashion because I am trying to get a perfect blend of historically accurate dress and the fantastic steampunk aesthetic.  Esther currently has a wardrobe of dresses filled with secret pockets under the lace and bustle. It's led to a few amusing moments where everyone is scandalized by her lifting her skirts to pull out a weapon or gadget.

With her skirts designed, I was stumped on the top. I wanted a more corset like top, but without being too scandalous. Pursuing on Clockwork Couture and Corset Story showed me a whole series of overbust corsets with mini jackets that wouldn't be too scandalous for a hunter. Plus, they have more pockets. Everyone needs more pockets.

This started to tie in with reworking some of the hunter's gears to be more steampunk, but without all the "goggles and gears" cliches. So I ended up with some lovely binoculars on a fancy silver chain. Something still felt off, so I started on a terrible horrible doodle of the design. I am by no means an artist, but sometimes you need to visualize things. Within seconds, the sketch of a dress turned into a scene of Esther watching pixies flying from the trees. With that god awful rendition, I finally figured out what to write. Yay!

I am currently at 6,970 words of a 10,000 word short story. I had hoped to be further along, but too many little hiccups. Oh well. We keep on writing!   

My Worst Enemy

I wish I was one of those authors who say they've never had writer's block. I really do, because it is my least favorite thing in the world. Especially when I know what has to happen in the scene, but the words won't flow.

For instance, Mr. Hawke and Esther are trekking through the forest. They are about to uncover the start of the faerie's mischief. But I just can't put the moments before the discovery into words. As a result, I've spent most my time thinking and not writing. My daily count is just over 500 words. That's awful. Yes, better than none, but not as good as my average of over 1,000.

I normally have two remedies for blockage. Either move onto writing the next scene and hope I can connect the dots, or distract myself with a book or video game. Seeing as how next week will be full of video games, I am reluctant to partake of that distraction right now. At the same time, I just can't find the right words.

I think I'll just play something tonight instead. I don't want to spend more time staring at a blank Word document.

The Joy of NaNoWriMo

It's slowly starting to eat away at me that I won't be able to do NaNoWriMo this year. I wanted to, but I have too many other things due in November and December. Originally, I wanted to write a sequel this month. The sudden discoveries of short stories threw all of it for a loop. For one day, I considered doing all of it. That sadly fell apart after two days.

It's not that I can't write 50,000 words in 30 days. Currently, I'm averaging 1500 a day. It's the fact that within that span I'm writing different plot lines. Each story takes a day or two to outline. Then after writing, I have to fully edit. Plus all the other fun interruptions of real life.

It is just killing me that I can't do this. But I keep telling myself that it is worth it to send out short stories. Who knows, maybe the Muse will be extra kind to me this month and I can do it all!

My Current Schedule

I thought I would give a little bit of a more detailed update on exactly what is going on within Elsewhere.

• The Resurrected Thief: First novel of Steampunk monster hunters
• Undergoing rewrites in between other projects  
• Our Fathers: First novel of "Black and Redd Mysteries"
• Under consideration by a publisher
• The Knocking Below: Short story of Esther Doyle's first hunt with the Hawkes
• To be published in upcoming anthology "The Grimoire of Eldritch Inquests" 
• The Red Crown: Fantasy short story of two thieves
• Under consideration by a publisher
• From Across Two Rivers: Novella of Bryan Hawke's hunts while abroad
• Under consideration by a publisher
• Through the Mist: Short story of Esther Doyle on her own
• Under consideration by a publisher
• Untitled Short Story: Two Scottish children witness the awakening of the Fae
• Currently being written, due 2015
• Untitled Short Story: Mr. Hawke and Esther investigate odd happenings in Wales
• Currently being written, due January 31
• Untitled Short Story: Steampunk adventures discover a magical island
• Currently brainstorming, due December 31 

This is a short breakdown of the projects that are most pressing. I always have other ideas simmering in the background, but these are getting all my attention right now. Hopefully I will have plenty of exciting updates within the next few weeks, along with some rantings. 

What To Do Next

Very little excites me more than a blank piece of paper. New words! New possibilities! I could do anything with it!

Yet that first word is tricky. Currently, I am trying to decide which of the upcoming three deadlines I should start on first. As ever, all three are steampunk. The first is Esther's final solo adventure before returning to London. The next would be a story about a side character from The Resurrected Thief who will come back in the second or third book. The final one will be more with Esther working with the Hawke family. 

Right now, I have Esther's history much more defined than anyone else. It allows me to write her stories with more ease, but then the Muse points out this series isn't just about her. My last submission was following Bryan as he travels around Europe as a student. It gave me a great deal of insight into his motivations, but he is still nowhere as developed as Esther. And poor Tom has had barely any attention in all this...

The Muse demands I write more with Esther. I am helpless to her whims. However, exploring Esther's history brings up some spoilers. My soon to be published short story "The Knocking Below" does have the inklings of a spoiler at the end. I intended them all to be read individually, but to show a lot more when they are connected. I know a lot of authors that do this, and I have always wanted to try it. 

Back to the actual writing though...Which means I should actually write. I have plans for Esther to meet another unusual foe in Venice. After that I am admittedly a little lost. My usual remedy is to read something or scribble thoughts until something comes up. 

At least I'm currently ahead of my writing goals. Yay!  

I Hate Editing...Or Do I?

My answer changes every day. Today, I hate it. Three days ago, I loved it. Editing always causes me to fight myself. This story is both perfect and horrible. Nothing should change, but something is missing. It drives me up a wall!

I just finished up a short story, and am trying to decide if it needs one more edit or if I should just hit the send button already. It's already been through two rounds of editing. I usually allow each piece two or three edits. After writing, I edit on my laptop. Then I print a copy and edit off screen. I will then edit it again on the computer just to be sure. Depending on time, I'll sometimes cut down one of the online edits. For this story, it's fairly short and due soon so it needed two edits.

Neither removed the feeling that something is off. I am admittedly a perfectionist, so I rarely please myself.

I should just hit send already. It isn't due for another three weeks, but I want to just cut out the nagging editorial voice already.

Yup, I'm going to do it.

Definitely going to.

Submitting is a terrifying process. At least this one is over.

Hunters: The Origin Story

First of all, this series doesn't have a name yet. It's very troublesome. As soon as I come up with one, I'll shout it to everyone.

I've been mulling around with this idea of a fantasy steampunk for about a year and a half. It began with two short stories for different steampunk anthologies. I wanted to write about mermaids and mummies and magic. Yet these stories started to grow much longer than the 10,000 word cap. After about a week of trying to trim them down, I decided to just keep writing. Those short stories turned into The Resurrected Thief and an unnamed second book. You will notice a trend that I can't think of titles on my own.

Right now, I am trying to write both several prequel short stories and revamp the first book. The novels begin with Bryan Hawke set on closing down the family business of hunting fantastical and murderous monsters. Despite the loss of his arm, the patriarch James and his assistant Esther want to keep business as usual. While James isn't very present in the first book, I have plans for him. In the first draft, he died and didn't really serve much purpose other than giving Bryan a reason to close down the office. After noticing quite a few similarities to Our Fathers, I made some tweaks.

As I said, this series is set up differently than my other works. The novels (about five right now) will follow one massive conflict, while the short stories are other various and exciting adventures. It's slightly carrying over my initial hope to have this series be published in a serialization. While I still would like to try that, I'm happy with how it is set up right now. But knowing me, that could change at any minute.

The Muse is wild and fickle with this series. She comes up with big and amazing twists, but none of them connect. I'm trying to piece them all together, all while trying to work within deadlines for magazines and anthologies. I work well with deadlines. The Muse does not, nor with maximum word limits. But we both enjoy coming up with dark monsters from folklore and throwing them at the Hawke family.

I also wanted this series to explore some more serious themes, despite the insane premise. The British Empire was expanse, so this allows me a lot of room for diversity. I also am exploring the oppression that came along with this time. I know people are keen to mock authors for replacing minorities with elves, but that isn't what I'm trying here. Yes, the elves are an opposed minority, but they aren't replacing anyone. One thing I've learned that in the past minorities tend to discriminate against each other despite all the groups sharing the same oppression. It's oddly fascinating to me, and I try to explore that theme a lot.

I am also thrilled to have faeries with fangs instead of wands. This series will be a lot darker than I first thought, and I am so excited for it.