Tag: Writing

crochet needles and threads on windowsill

One More Scene

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing

Tonight I’ve written a couple of scenes in the expanded version of Heart of Fire. I have one more scene to write and then I’ll be done. I have to think about how much detail I want to put into the explanation. I need to sleep on it. With any luck, I’ll finish it tomorrow.

This gets this part of the story up to almost 26K so combined with the second part at a little over 28K I’ll have a 54K novel roughly. The anthology will be out this year for six months.

Once I get my rights back to the story, I’ll combine the two and do another thorough edit on the whole thing. Then I’ll release it in ’24 as a novel. I believe I’ll give good value for the additional cost of it. Hopefully readers will feel the same.

Once I finish this one, I’ll take a break from writing to do some editing. I also have to do a bunch of book work. I need to pay bills, prep for taxes, and a few other things like this. I hope I still have time to finish this one but this stuff needs to get tackled so I can check it off my list.

Hopefully by the end of the weekend, I’ll have finished the addition to the story, book work, and the client work. I could go back to Hunger on Monday then. It all depends on how many interruptions I get this weekend.

Vicki and I plan to watch the six hour Pride and Prejudice. I can do book work and promoting while we do that. I also want to work on crocheting. I’ve got half the squares for a blanket crocheted together and want to do the other half and see how much yarn I have left so I can decide whether to do a border. It’s going to be a full weekend.

red fire illustration

Two Stories at Once

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

Tonight I couldn’t decide which story to work on. I’m only a few thousand words from being done on the first half of Heart of Fire. But I need to finish Hunger for the anthology. I almost always choose the project I think I can complete faster to work on so I started with Heart of Fire.

As is my habit, I reread the previous sections to where I was adding scenes. Then I had to find out more information from the second story so I spent more time reading. But eventually I felt confident enough to write what I needed. I added a couple of scenes and have a plan on how to finish off the first one. I think this section will take a night of solid writing to finish it off but you never know.

I thought I was done for the night but Hunger was open so I went back to where I left off and realized I knew what I wanted to write. I started in and in forty minutes finished off the section. I like what I wrote and hope it represent the situation how I want it too. I also know where I’m going with it.

All together I added about 1200 words to Heart of Fire and about 1500 to Hunger. Tomorrow night my plan is to do more of the same. I hope I’ll finish Heart of Fire – or at least get it to a point where I only have to smooth it out once the second half is edited and added to it.

From there it can sit for a bit while I work on other things. My hope is to publish it beginning of 2024. My hope is I’ll finish both stories by the end of the week but only time will tell on this.

multicolored hearts wallpaper

Heart of Fire Expansion

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing

I have so many projects floating in my head. I want to get some out. I couldn’t sleep the other night and pulled up the Heart of Fire file. I figured I’d read it and go to sleep. I read parts of it and then I decided on a place where I could add a sizeable chunk of information.

This was great but I’m not supposed to be working on this right now. I have a list and I’m trying to stick to it. But sometimes the words just come. I added just under 1200 words to it on Thursday. Tonight I managed to write 2659 words in it. I’ve got two more scenes I want to add in. Then I’ll look at this chapter to see how well it works or if I need to split it up.

I want to smooth out a couple more places before I think I’ll be adding a few more scenes so I can transition into the second part. The second part will be out in Portal to the Other Side. It releases in May.

I’ll get my rights back late in 2023 so I’ll probably put the new novel on the agenda for 2024. This is why I don’t need to work on this now but apparently the words and ideas are here so it’s what I’m doing.

Meanwhile I’ve started a new scifi short story I’m calling Hunger. This will go into an anthology as well.

Tomorrow will be working on administrative stuff for my writing. We’re watching movies together. So I’ll work on the computer while I watch. This way I’ll get two things done at once. If I get tired of the admin stuff, I’ll work on crocheting the squares together in my afghan.

I’ve not been crocheting for weeks now. Last time I ended up with a back ache and sore fingers from working with a thread. This is all my rheumatoid arthritis. I hate this part of it. I’ve asked my doctor for some things to do. I’ve got three exercises for my hands.

Unfortunately, my shoulder started hurting a few weeks ago. I have aches and pains all the time so I thought it would just pass. But it didn’t. So I asked my doctor about it and he thinks I may have a torn rotator cuff. Again this is likely a problem caused by my arthritis. So I’m going to PT and will do everything I can to stop it from getting worse.

When I mentioned it, he examined my shoulder and pressed on things. He had me hold out my arm and he pressed on it. By the time he was done, I felt awful. It took a day plus for my pain level to go back down to a normal level for me. Hopefully the PT will help.

brown wooden desk

Heart of Fire Sequel

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

Today’s been busy. Vicki and Ken did the grocery shopping. When they got home, I helped with prepping stuff for the freezer. I didn’t think I’d get writing time but I managed to write a small scene which led to a slightly longer scene before I had to prep for the author talk.

I did the author talk which was a bit slow. There weren’t a lot of people on with us. It was a good conversation.

After my author talk, wrote some more. I’m really close to the end of this story. I want to do nothing more than write but I’m wiped out.

Tomorrow is a full day with a few activities. I’ll be making breakfast while Ken gets out my swag for book events. Vicki and I will go through it tomorrow after breakfast – I think. We need to figure out what I have and what I need by October. There’s an author event – Book Love on the Rock – I’m going to and another one in February 2024 – RAWR Romance Atlanta Writers and Readers. I need to start buying and prepping for these events. It’s a lot to wrap my head around.

My hope is tomorrow after all the tasks I’ll have time to write and edit. I have a new client and need to get their work done as well as my own. With Monday off, I’ll try to focus on writing but the family does insist on me spending time with them.

Today was a good day for writing, I got over 3500 words written. I finished a partial chapter and finished a second chapter. I’m super pleased with my progress. According to my outline – still can’t believe I’m using one – I have five chapters left. If they are all about 2500 long, I will be over the word count for the story. I’m not worrying about it just yet. I want to tell the story and then I’ll see how long it is.

I hate the idea of cutting any of my ideas so I’ll check with the organizer and see what she says. I have time to adjust if I need to.

hand wearing a silver glove

Aliens vs Sea Monsters

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

For the last few days, two stories have been rattling around in my head. Alien Mate 2 & Sacrificed 2. I have no idea to call the second book but I’ve written the opener. I’ve seen the opening scene in my head and knew exactly where I wanted to start.

Tonight I wrote not quite 700 words – one small scene but the opener is now out of my head. I know what the next two or three scenes will be. I’ve got the first third of the book in my head. Now I just need two or three days to get it down.

I also worked on the Alien Mate 2 book. I wrote a little over 1200 in this story. I also have several scenes just bursting to get out.

Hopefully, I get some down time in November to write. I need these two stories out of my head. The nice thing – both series will be Ava M Taylor books so the heat level is the same. That makes it slightly easier.

writing text, random text, text, paper, notebook, pen.

Final Edits

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

Bah Humbug has gone off to the anthology organizer! I’m happy to have one thing done. I did the final edits on Saturday! It always feels good to check off a to do list item.

I started the final edit on Sacrificed to the Sea Monster. I got through 10 chapters last night and hope to finish the last 8 chapters tonight. Once that’s done, I’ll send it off to my formatter and ask her to get it set up so I can upload files and get the paperback started.

From there, I have a couple manuscripts and stories to read / edit. I have client work for editing I need to focus on. I’ll also be sending off quotes to my graphics person for her to make me a bunch of ads.

It’s only about 5 1/2 weeks until Sacrificed is released so I’ll be ramping up the promoting for this book. With my read through, I have discovered how much I enjoy this story. I am looking forward to writing the next one.

I’ve got an appointment with my cover designer so I will be starting a list of tasks I need her to do.

Fractured made it to #6 which is FANTASTIC in New Releases Colonization Science Fiction! I’m so grateful people enjoyed it! However, I need to keep moving forward with the next project.

black text on gray background

Editing and a Bit of Writing

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

I finished the first read through of Alien Mate book 1 tonight. I got through the last of it. I realized after I was done and sent it to my sister, I had a few of the dates / timing down wrong.

Of course it’s an alien planet so they count things by seven days. So I had what amounted to four months in as four weeks. Oooopppsss I’ll be double checking those when I get the manuscript back.

I have other editing tasks to complete including a paper manuscript back from my sister with all the edits done. This means I should have started checking it – I didn’t.

Instead, I worked on the second Alien Mate book. It’s been in my head too long. I’m glad to have it down on paper – well in the computer anyways.

One scene is written and the start of a second scene is there but I have to be up tomorrow. This means I’m off to bed. I got over 1300 words written and it felt good. Now another good scene and then I’ll see what the characters have to say.

laptop pencil and book on bedclothes

Editing Part 2

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

Tonight I got started later than I wanted. My own fault completely. Family drama and a long day made it hard for me to settle.

Once I settled I finished reading through four chapters. I have three left. While I’d love to just barrel ahead, I am too tired to do a good job of catching errors and issues. So the three chapters will be tomorrow night.

Hopefully I can finish off Bah Humbug this weekend and turn it in the organizer for the anthology. Once I finish off Sacrificed and upload it to KDP, I’ll work on client editing for a bit. I have two to get done. So I’ll work on that.

I have some specific writing I want to do. But I will be starting either the second in the Sacrificed series or the second in the Alien Mate series which I still don’t have a good name for.

As I write, I need to figure out when I want to publish each story and slide them into my schedule. I don’t want to crowd my schedule too much but ideally I’d like to publish the second Sacrificed and all three of the Alien Mate ones. I also have to think about the next steps for a few other series.

I read through three rather fast paced chapters tonight. I really enjoy this story. He’s a dick but he’s reached a point in the story where he realizes he’s been a dick. Now he has to decide how to make up for his dickish behavior and admit he loves her.

close up of words printed on book page

Editing… again

by eileentroemel, posted in Writing

I go through a lot of stages for editing. Right now I’m working on three stories. Bah Humbug – a short story for a Christmas anthology, Sacrificed to the Sea Monster – an Ava novel, and Alien Mate book 1 (bad WIP name).

Last night I finished the paper edit – meaning I actually print out the story and edit it on paper. I know I should try not to use paper but I never feel the story is done until I do this stage. Bah Humbug didn’t take a lot of time but it needed some updates. Sacrificed took two nights.

My sister has those two. She takes my edits and puts them on the computer. She also pulls out any quotes I want – when I remember to watch for quotes.

Tonight I did a bunch of stuff like get through my emails, schedule posts for a release party, obsess about what place my books was at, begging people to buy my book in the hopes of driving up the standing, and you know stuff.

When I was done with the stuff, I tried to decide if I was awake enough to pay attention to client work or if I should write or edit or what? I opened Alien Mate. Now what I’m about to say sounds like I don’t like my writing but there’s always a point where I don’t think my work is good enough. It happens with every book. It comes and it goes. I publish and people tell me one way or the other.

I opened Alien Mate and started editing. I thought – at the beginning – I’m not sure I can stick doing this. Then it went from 10ish to midnight. I looked up at noted the time. It was like – wait what?

I’ve gotten five chapters gone through. I’ve had some biggish changes and noted a few inconsistencies. It’s almost 12:30 and I have to be up at 6:00 am so it will be a short night. But the reality is, I want to keep reading and editing. I know what’s coming up and I cannot wait to read it.

However, the day job is needed and I like my pay check. So I’m off to bed and tomorrow night I’ll work on this some more.

photo of fireworks display

It’s Done!

by eileentroemel, posted in Life, Writing

Yesterday and today I worked through how to out my traitor. Thank you to a couple of author friends who let me talk it out.

I finally got a lengthy timeframe which allowed me to finish up my last chapter. Or I should say my last two chapters. I was supposed to be done at the end of chapter 11 but there were too many details and it took an extra chapter. Today I wrote over 7100 words. The whole story is over 63,500 words long.

I’ve sent to my beta readers. I’ll see what they have to say. I’ll be taking a break from writing (as much as I can) and working on editing. I still have client editing and I also have two projects I need to finish off for myself. Both need a read through. I’ll work on that after I do client editing every night this week.

Oy. Nope. I’ll do takeovers, client editing and then see if I have the energy for my own editing. It’s going to be a busy month. I’ve got crochet projects to get done in addition to my writing stuff. Last night I watched three movies and finished a project I can’t talk about because it’s a gift. Today, I finished a really small project as well. So two off my list.

It’s been a full weekend. This week I start my working remotely most of the time. I have one meeting I have to go in for. Other than that, I’m working from home.