Writing Past the Mountain

Hey babes,

Haven't been around for awhile, although I have a good reason why. It's just a secret.

Honestly, I do have a really good reason and exciting things are afoot. I promise. The WorldWiseWriters have been up to some really fantastic things, we are just waiting to get all our ducks in a row before we announce the ... erm ... announcement.

But until then, I thought I would muse about my current thoughts in a wordy fashion ... since this is what I do it should be interesting.

I call it: Writing Past the Mountain. 

Seriously ... try writing past THIS guy.

 Although GoT jokes aside, I am talking about a serious thing. At least for me. I have two ongoing projects right now (plus at least 2 other short stories that want to grow up into full length books). Yet while my brain may be filled with wonderful ideas, my fingers don't seem to want to write out the words.

I've spent more than a few frustrated hours in front of my computer lately, desperately trying to write a bare minimum of 100 words. Fact: 100 words is nothing. And usually I'll write more than that minimum 100. But the next day I find myself despairing and ...

Delete ... delete ... delete.

Eventually, the word count grows. Slowly and painfully. For me, I've come to realize this is part of the process. And what I mean by writing past the mountain. Some people like to start their book in media res. Car chases, dramatic deaths, some kind of awesome action to catch the reader right from the start. I'm more of a slow build up, hinting at the tension, dropping hints here and there, until like a snow ball rolling out of control, the action really gets going.

While I'm happy with this style of writing, unfortunately it can be a bit tricky. Before I can race down the mountain with scene after scene of (hopefully) exciting action, I have to summit the heights first. And sometimes this seems to take a bazillion million years of eternal solitude forever.

So, both Fractured Time and Gods' Hollow are started. But I still haven't gotten over the mountain and its a bit of a struggle.

 I know I will get there. Its just a matter of patience. Not really my area of expertise. But have faith in me, dear readers. October is getting closer and closer, but it's still the month I have my fingers crossed for FT's release date. Until then, wish me luck on my struggle up the mountain.

And maybe I'll even beat my deadline, eh?

The End of an Adventure

Hey y'all!

So it's official, the fantastically awesome, crazy cool adventure is finally over.

It's been an incredible journey, but Mirrored Time is officially out of the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. And you know what? I feel pretty good.

So I'm not going to lie, checking my computer today to find the list of Semi-Finalists, was a bit like this:

And yeah, for a split second, after I saw my name wasn't on the list, I felt kind of ... well ...

... it burns us!!!! 

Then I ate a cookie. (Or five.) And pretty soon I was feeling a lot better. Obviously, if my name had been on the list, I would have danced an amazing dance. Or been happier than a hobbit with a full pantry.

But I didn't, and that's okay. Because I have gained an amazing experience along the way, and made some even more amazing friends. Before ABNA, there was a whole list of things I didn't know and I was woefully out of my league. Then I met some fantastic new friends, formed a writers' group, learned all that I had done wrong, edited MT to an inch of it's life, and now? Now it's published!

To my fellow ABNA writers, if you happen to stop by, I hope today you don't feel too down. Writing is not for the weak, and if you've entered ABNA, hey, guess what? You already have a book written! You already are halfway there! Yes, winning would have been super cool. And made this whole process a lot easier. But don't give up. Your story deserves it. Just like my story deserves it. Remember:

So, nurse your hurts, celebrate your achievements, have a pint (or a box of cookies). Do what needs to be done. And then when tomorrow comes, pick up the pen, open a new word.doc, look up formatting manuals. Get that book out there. Because I believe in you!

Love, J.D.

P.s.

#unexpectedhotdwarves

The Dark Side

Hey y'all! Happy Caturday!

So, welcome to the Dark Side. And by that, I mean today you get to have a little peek inside the absurd and sometimes frightening place that is my mind. :cue dramatic/spooky music:

... evil laughter ...

Okay, so really, it's not that scary up here. And basically this is just an effort to jump start my imagination in hopes of getting my Muse to come and play with me again. She's been kind of ... :whispers: difficult lately.

Note: If you get irritated when people try to tell you what a book character looks like, run away. Now.

The inspiration for this post is when a friend asked me the other day how I imagined my characters from Mirrored Time. It's a difficult one for me, because it changes. All the time. So even though I'm going to take a trip into fantasy land, and give you my wish-list casting... please don't hold me to it. I reserve the right to change my mind. In five seconds.

So, without further blabbering on my point: My Mirrored Time Actor Wishlist (kind of).

Gwen 

Lyndsy Fonseca (maybe? Gwen is the most difficult for me to picture)

Rafe

Chris Hemsworth (I can't NOT imagine Rafe making this face)

Alistair
 

Jeremy Irons (his voice, to die for)

Max

Idris Elba (the casting that will never change, because Max IS him)

Aeon
 

Tom Hiddleston (eek! I don't know ... originally yes, now??)

BONUS: Cassian (suggested to me by a reader ... and just too good!) 

Sorry, Jack. You just play a jerk way too well.

Okay, phew. That was REAL hard. There are a few other characters I didn't cast, that I'm still not sure about (not that I'm even sure about the above). But I've already spent way too much time on this.

I'd love to know what you think. I think the best part of books is that you can imagine whoever you want. Which is why actually picking actors is super difficult. Part of me even hopes you disagree with me, because then I know you've imagined the characters yourself, and made them your own.

Love you all!!
JD

P.s. OOOH! I totally forgot! There is a book trailer now, if you're interested. :wink wink, nudge nudge:

Memory Lane

Hey loves!

Hope everyone has been having a lovely time in my absence. I've just been mooching around, trying to refill my artistic battery so I can get to work on the MT sequel (hello X-men: Days of Future Past). Have to say, there is another little plot bunny in the works, as of now tentatively titled Gods' Hollow. Right now I'd maybe pitch it as a Supernatural Romance, but it keeps morphing on me and wanting to change into something with decidedly more plot. We will see what happens with it. I love playing with different mythologies and while the Time Archivist series is, as of now, set in a more Greco-Roman world, I think GH would give me some more room to play.

Anyway, I found a post on tumblr the other day. Thought I would share.

Original post here.

It gets me thinking about how much time I have really wasted trying to convince myself to do something I don't love to do. And how unhappy, over the years, that it has made me. I'm not saying there is something wrong with a little fiscal responsibility: Obviously if you are going to be a writer, you won't make money overnight. But there is something freeing about the idea of really pursuing a dream.

If you really want something, than make the sacrifices to make it work. And I finally feel like this is advice I can give. There is little glamor in being a waitress with a law degree; every one looks at you like you're  a little bit crazy. But I'm starting to care less and less. There is nothing wrong with being a waitress, it has me paying the bills. And if it gives me the time to write and pursue this crazy little dream of mine, then I'm all for it. So I'll ask you a question: Would you like a refill on your soda? ;)

To end on a less serious note, although the video itself is a little serious, I thought I would share with you a fan video I put together right after college. I'm still inordinately pleased with it, even now. I think it's because it's a product of one of those times when I just let myself be who I am. The artistic, imaginative, and yes, a little silly, girl who just wants to tell her stories to the world.

Loves, JD.

And Another One Bites the Dust

Hey y'all!

Just a quick little update for those of you who have been following my progress in the ABNA contest. Welp... you ain't gotta follow it any longer?

Good book and movie, by the by.

Okay, really. No tears. I'm doing alright. A little sad initially when I read my Publisher's Weekly review, but I'm ready to move on. After entering the contest, I did do quite a bit more editing on the manuscript before I published it. So maybe that's why it is so easy for me to move on? Although I'm still searching that review to find the positive bits ...

Haha! I found one. The initial concept holds promise. THAT'S IT. Reading no further. Honestly, it was such a treat to get this far in the contest. There are a number of amazing writers who entered this year, and I plan to keep updated on the contest to see if any of my favorites win.

And really, I've already been so blessed by ABNA, it would be a little selfish for me to ask for anything else. When I walk away with all I've learned, all the wonderful friends I've made ... and the best darned writing group a girl could ask for, I'm definitely not a loser.

So I'm sorry I don't have more exciting news for you. But with out the Sword of ABNA-Damocles hanging over my head, I can get working on that sequel. And prove those Publisher Weekly guys wrong. 

Love you all! And to leave you with something funny, enjoy, Drunk Sherlock and Watson!

**P.s. Edited to include "The Review." Mostly I just wish I could remember what state the original manuscript was in. Of all the things I thought I'd get dinged on ... Oh well. Chocolate is remarkably restorative in these moments. ;)

• As anticipated from the title, mirrors predictably serve as portals in this novel of time travel. Gwen, a recent college graduate, defers her acceptance to law school (despite enviable LSAT scores) and applies for a seemingly drab job filing legal documents in the Archives. Pleased to be hired on the spot, her boss Alistair cryptically warns of occasions when “an Archivist is expected to perform in a matter that may be outside the job description.” A child of divorce but raised by her loving aunt Margaret, Gwen finds a kindred spirit and flirting partner in Rafe, a mischievous time-traveling, reality-evading thief and a regular at the Archives. In this mystery novel rife with haunted mirrors, time travel, sleepwalking, the secrets of the Archives, and the Guardians who protect the time threads, the story still never succeeds in picking up steam. Everybody comes with baggage and trust issues and an unlikely trio forms between the main characters. Their development, however, is shallow, even with plentiful dialogue, making it difficult to care about the outcome of their mission. Although the initial concept holds promise, the bond of the characters just doesn't work.

Sunny Rays, Lazy Days

Hey guys. A bit of an embarrassed wave from me, as I feel like I've been neglected this blog a teeny, tiny bit. But I promise I've been productive.

As you know, I'm lucky enough to be part of a wickedly talented group of writers, The WorldWiseWriters group. We decided to make it official and have just launched our new blog here! I greedily took over all the introductions, and I'm having such a fantastic time introducing these wonderful writers to ... THE WORLD (dramatic echo)! It's pretty flipping exciting!

The blog is still in it's baby stages, but I promise it's going to quickly become a happening place. We've got lots of great ideas to make it a super fun read. And with me there, I promise things will always be silly.

In other news, I'm really working on forcing myself to start Fractured Time. I'm a little terrified that the magic is somehow gone. As if whatever made me able to write the first book, has now abandoned me. But the only way to see if my Muse has stuck around, is to try my hand at writing again. So off I go. Open new Word document, save as FracturedTime.doc. And away I go.

Okay ... away I will go ... eventually ...

JD's Tips on How NOT to Publish a Novel

Hey Loves!

To save you all the trouble (and hopefully amuse you non-writers out there), I've decided to share with you my list of things NOT TO DO when you decide to publish a novel. Because I'm sweet and helpful like that.

#1 Write Only ONE Book

One Book to rule them all, One Book to find them, One Book to bring them all, and in the Darkness bind them.

JD's Thought: I'll obsess over this one book for months and months, because the most IMPORTANT thing is to publish this for all my adoring fans my mom.

Real Tip: Always, always keep writing. I don't care if it is your sequel, a short story, a secret diary post, a haiku or a blog post. Just keep writing. It's super difficult not to get caught up in the daily drudgery of editing and the excitement of getting your first novel into print. But the best way to become a successful writer: Have things people can read. And I mean thingssssssss. One book is great, and a terrific start. But the more little links you have next to your name, the more people can read, and the better of a chance you have of people falling in love with your writing style.

#2 Read One TERRIBLE Article on Formatting

No, Buster. No one would ever do that.

JD's Thought: Hey, this article seems like it knows what it is talking about. And the internet is always truthful! I'll follow this Joe-Schmoe's advice!

Real Tip: Get advice. And lots of it. Find a community of writers, email any one you know, ask questions on Facebook. Whatever you do, talk to someone who has done this before. And get real, honest advice, before you spend all your time formatting a book incorrectly. Because believe me, having to go back and fix all the mistakes you made the first time is time consuming and will make you crazy. (Helpful formatting book here. Thanks Hannah!)

#3 Expect Things to Happen Quickly

JD's Thought: 12 hour review periods? Pah! I spit on your bourgeois ideas of waiting. As soon as I hit the publishing button, my work will magically appear on the internet!

Real Tip: Always factor in extra time. For writing, for editing, for publishing. When CreateSpace and KDP tell you there will be a 12-24 hour review period, they may be exaggerating. But they also MAY be telling the truth. Especially that first review period: It will take the longest. So the real tip: Pick a release date for your book, and then tell everyone your book will be out 2-3 days AFTER that date. Because something will go wrong. (Probably ... maybe it's just me?)

#4 Wait for your Success, You deserve it!

I'm pretty fetch.

JD's Thought: My book is super awesome. I'm kind of a big deal. Everyone is obviously going to buy my book. I mean look at that "INSERT BOOK HERE" series. It isn't even THAT good. I'll be famous. :sits back and watches her sales:

Real Tip: Independent publishing is scary, hard, and success isn't going to come from it overnight. I'm sorry. It upsets me too. You will have to research ways to get your book noticed, work really hard ... and even then, success isn't guaranteed. It sucks big time. But if you are doing this for the money, then maybe think of a different profession. Do I want to be successful enough at this so I can do it full time? HELL YES! Have a quit my day job? Sadly no. As much as overnight success would be amazing, 99.99% of the time, it isn't going to happen.

So, to come full circle: Back to the first tip.

Write, and then write more. And when you 100% can't write anymore, go outside. Talk to people. Step away from your computer/notebook/paper and pen, until it no longer looks like a prison. And when the words start coming, run back and ... you guessed it: Write more.

We all have stories inside of us that we desperately want to tell. And as much as we want people to read them, our job is to write them, do our best to get them out there so people can find them ... and then write the next story.

This isn't an easy job, being a writer. And sometimes, even though I love it always, it's not so fun. And it can be discouraging. But if you truly love it, you'll be able to 'keep on swimming.'

Those stories inside of us? They deserve to be told.

Love you all, you can do it!