Title: Cursed Legacy – Vezien
Words Total Previous: 48,952
Words Written: 3226
Challenge Total: 16,582
Word Count: 52,178
Hero Mood: Very Horny
Heroine Mood: Freaked out
Story Snippet:
I’ve mostly edited and polished, so no snippet for now. Stuck on page 87 omg!
Seriously, I suck at this one at the moment. It’s been driving me mad.
Tags: Challenge, October 21k
I’m talking about adjusting the time.
You know, moving the hour hand forward or backward.
Or, not.
In my case… Not.
The clocks changed on Saturday night. I dutifully changed all the clocks that didn’t self adjust and all was well.
I realized on Sunday that, oops, I’d left my cell phone at work. Black blends into a black computer, so naturally, I left the damn thing sitting there.
Not to worry.
I got in on Monday, pocketed my phone and carried it home with me at the end of the day.
This morning I got up when the alarm went, showered, had coffee, got dressed… you know. The normal routine.
I walked to work, snow (!!) crunching under my feet, when promptly I slipped and landed in a puddle of mucky water, splashing my jeans.
Luckily it wasn’t too bad, but hey…
It was really quiet on the road and I trudged on.
I get to work and promptly drop my walkman, then, bending to pick it up, kick it across the room for good measure, where it slams into a storage shelf.
It didn’t sustain damage, despite the punishment.
By this time I’m thinking this isn’t a good start to the day.
So I say good morning to my co-workers, round the counter and go into the office, where I realize they are all giving me funny looks.
"What are you doing here?" my boss asks.
Immediately I think oh shit, do I have the wrong day? (I work part time)
"It’s Wednesday," I say. "I work Wednesdays."
"Yes, but…" He looks at his watch. "It’s 8 o’clock."
I start work at 9 o’clock…
I checked my watch, and yes, it was. Could I work out why I was an hour early? Hell no. It made no sense.
Then it dawned on me.
I use my cell phone as my alarm.
Since it was trying to merge with my desktop at work when the clocks went back, I didn’t change the time, and on Monday, when I picked it up, the clock change was far from my mind. After all… I’d changed all the clocks, right? I woke up at the right time on Monday, using the other alarm, so why would I think about it? It’s not like anything was wrong.
I felt like a complete idiot lol.
Especially since my morning routine includes checking my mail — and I usually use the computer time to see how long before I have to go.
There is a brightly lit screensaver showing 4 timezones on my PDA.
There are 2 clocks in the kitchen.
I wear a wrist watch.
And I still didn’t know what time it was!
So the moral of the story: The one day you don’t want to forget your phone at work, is when the time "Falls Back" or "Springs Forward"
Val posted an article about Avon and the words "Paranormal" "Series potential" and "Romance" jumped in my face.
I’m going to spend some time going over their guidelines tonight.
If it fits… then I’ll give it a shot with Naiche or Vezien. Or both.
To say I’m terrified of querying is an understatement!
Tags: Publishers & Agents, Querying
Those who know me, know I like Achmed, the Dead Terrorist.
Well.
I now have him as my ringtone. 
If you want it, you can download the MP3’s here:
Enjoy
Tags: Ringtones
A crit partner of mine shared a link with us to an animation by Carlos Lascano.
It’s gorgeous, not just well done, but also really moving to watch.
A SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo.
Judge for yourself.
I’m having to play a little catch up at the moment.
There was a pen show… and then a migraine… so nothing got posted, even though I added rather a LOT to this one.
That’s why the Day 12 progress is posted on the 13th. Otherwise I get totally confuddled.
Title: Cursed Legacy – Vezien
Words Total Previous: 43,243
Words Written: 5,709
Challenge Total: 13,356
Word Count: 48,952
Hero Mood: Very Horny
Heroine Mood: Freaked out
Story Snippet:
"Sorry about that," she croaked, sniffling. She blew her nose, only too aware what she must look like to him.
"Don’t apologize." He lifted her chin with his hand and met her tearful gaze. "Don’t ever apologize when someone hurts you."
She couldn’t stop a new flood of tears.
Vezien cursed and kissed her.
Sabriel gasped against his mouth, too shocked to stop him. She blinked the tears away, staring at him in utter confusion. He kissed the tears off her cheeks, so gentle, it almost made her cry again. Her breath came in gasps, her stomach did flip-flops – and her nose was still running. She couldn’t get over the fact that he didn’t draw back, nor did he pressure her. Sabriel rested her hand against his heart, stunned to feel it racing. He drew back slightly and looked at her.
"Don’t stop," she whispered.
Tags: 21k October, Challenge, WIP's
I haven’t written a word on Vezien’s story, which bugs the hell out of me.
Instead I’ve been trying to shut up another one, which keeps yelling in my head.
In the end I figured as long as he’s screaming, he’s going to distract me from doing what I should be doing — so I’ll write him out of my head for now.
So todays update is not on Vezien, but on Taan instead.
Title: Cursed Legacy – Taan
Words Written: 4963
Challenge Total: 7647
Word Count – Taan: 3324 (+ 1639, Character interview)
Well, all in all, that’s not bad.
Tags: 21k October, Challenge, WIP's
Every writer should wander around with a notepad and a pen. Seriously.
I carry a moleskine around with me, mainly because it’s small, handy and has a little pocket to put stuff in.
You may argue about that laptop, and the old "I don’t need…", but well, I’m telling you. You do.
Formats change. Your PDA might break. You might run out of battery power on your Blackberry.
That notebook?
You’ll still be able to use it in 50 years time. That format never changes.
Ask Hemingway.
It’s useful to quickly note down those brainstorms you get at the most inconvenient times.
To write down that elusive bit of research you just tripped over.
Character sketches.
Location notes.
Bits of dialog.
Parts of the plot that eluded you.
Plots you haven’t written yet, but which are too precious to forget.
To Do lists.
Character Names.
The taste of that cherry pie you just had.
The smell of the house you just walked into.
The name of a song you just remembered.
Somewhere to put that menu in the Diner you want to use in your next novel.
Prices of things.
Colors of things.
The feel of the velvet curtain you accidentally pulled down at your friend’s house.
Phrases used by professionals.
Legal terminology.
Sketching the layout of a building.
You name it, it’s useful to have a notebook to hand. Because if you know it’s there, you’ll probably use it.
It’s quicker to write in than trying to text yourself, trust me.
And you just never know when the stuff you put in it comes in useful.
I recommend everyone carry one, whether it’s one of the more expensive little moleskines, or a 99 cent scratchpad.
Tags: Making notes, Notebooks, Organizing
I would like to thank Chris Colin, of www.sfgate.com, for his unbiased and well written article about the Romance genre.
I don’t know him, but he made a friend in me with what he wrote.
The writer in me rejoices to see someone look at the genre for what it is, and not let his judgment be clouded by hearsay and prejudice.
I recommend reading it.
Tags: Articles, Romance, The Written Word
