Hey guys!

Just a quick little post. Several of you guys have messaged wanting to know how the book is coming. So, I wanted to give you an update.

I think it is going great! I’m only at about 12000 words (my goal is around 90k) so it is no where near done. However I am making good progress. I am not writing every day, because I think FORCING myself to write when I’m not in the mood will be counter productive.  So I am writing, on average, just a couple of nights a week.  I have also been sitting in on a CRITIQUE GROUP and threw together a FOCUS GROUP which has done wonders for my motivation!

THE CRITIQUE GROUP
Sitting in late night writing chats with other fledgling writers seems to help motivate me, and my writing sessions have gone from around 700 words per session to around 2500 words per session (sessions range between an hour and two.)

Basically, we hop in a live chat window and hangout while writing.  We talk the first 10-15 minutes, just to kind of get caught up with each others lives, and then lower the chat window and start writing.  It feels good to know there is another writer RIGHT THERE if I get hung up on something.  We also keep each other in check, as far as staying on task.  If we hear the other moving around a lot or fiddling, we can remind them that we aren’t supposed to be on twitter. haha!

At the end of the session, we share how many words we got through. Sometimes we share what we’ve written or just discuss plot points or goals for the next day, etc.

THE FOCUS GROUP
In addition to the critique group, which is other writers, I put together a group of 4 readers. My goal for this group is to get feedback from my “target audience”.  They will let me know if I’m heading in the right direction, or if something is just too out there.  I basically was just wondering if anyone would even be interested in my story.  Of course the writers group is interested in the WRITING aspect of it, but that to me is not the same as being interested in the STORY.  If that makes any sense.

We’ve met once so far, and I read them a couple of chapters.  Their feedback was great!  Hearing and seeing their excitement for my story was one hell of a motivation boost. Though, I must admit, part of me wonders if they were just being kind to spare my feelings. 

In our first session, I had intended to only go over the first two chapters, but in their enthusiasm, we ended up going over the first four.  I took notes as I listened to their suggestions and was very pleased that it was smiles all around.  It makes me want to hurry and finish a few more chapters so we can hangout again!

OTHER THINGS…
I think the biggest thing that has happened in the life of this story, is that THE UNTITLED FAE PROJECT now has a working title.  I also have a cover designer working up a temp cover for me.  I’m very excited.  I think seeing the cover is going to make it feel just that much more REAL, and push me even harder to get the story OUT.

I have been printing it out as I complete a chapter, and seeing the stack of paper get higher and higher is an amazing feeling.  Seeing it grow from my mind to my desk.  I know it sounds corny, but it is a bit like watching your child grow up.  Grow from a blank slate into its “own”, full of all the knowledge and the life you gave it. =D

A lot of people have asked me if I will self publish if I can’t find an agent/publisher.  Honestly, I don’t know. That is so far ahead, right now I only want to worry about the writing of it.  I can say that I doubt, very much, that I would self publish.  If I did decide to go the self publishing route, I would want to do it right.  That would mean hiring outside editors, etc. There is no way I would put my work out into the world, raw.  Or “half assed” edited.  Unfortunately, editors are expensive and that is just not something our family budget can afford.

The Werewolf Series
As for the werewolf book(s).  It is currently put on hold. Sorry, guys! 

When I got the idea for the first book in that series. I was so certain where I wanted that series to go.  When I worked it for NaNoWriMo, I found myself surrounded by a bunch of YA writers (not my genre), and as such – kept editing and editing trying to make MY STORY fit into what the YA crowd would like.  One day I sat back and looked at what I had written and it no longer resembled ANY of my original ideas for the books.  I hated it.  Not that I hate YA, I don’t.  I hated that my idea, what I wanted that book to be, was getting lost because I was trying to make it be YA.  So, I deleted it. ALL OF IT.  All I have it now are my original notes.

My goal/plan for that series is to still write it.  I am going to start over from my original notes, though, and write it the way I saw it in my head at the beginning:  A very dark story of revenge, not a YA mystery.

Anyway, this is just an “update” for those with curious minds.  I appreciate your interest in my book(s) more than you will EVER know.

xx

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