Getting back into the swing of things

After months of revision, edits and two proofreadings of my novel, I wondered if I could get back to actual writing--on something new--after sending Cassidy's War off to my editor.

I did do a little bit of writing during that time, however, on a short story I also submitted just last week. But mostly, I've been immersed in working on an already written novel.

So, after sending off my manuscript, I wrote down six new ideas for short stories--my second writing goal for the new year. The following day, I picked one idea, came up with a title for the story, then made notes. I took the weekend off and was wondering if I could get right back into writing new words for a brand new story.

I'm pleased that once I set up the file, the words for this new story flowed and I wrote 1043 words today. I hope to pick up where I stopped off tomorrow and tack on another 1000 words.

This is the reason why I don't stop writing between projects. I firmly believe taking that break hurts my creativity. A day or two is fine, but no longer.
  

The holidays are over...time to get back to work

In truth, I never stopped working, just slowed down a bit.

I'm at the final stage with my novel, Cassidy's War. I'm part-way through a proofread of the print version of the novel, then it's off to my editor. I'm eager to finish this up, so I can get back to work on my time travel novella.

Here's the new blurb for Cassidy's War. My revision changed the story a bit.

The Civil War is over, but Cassidy's war is just beginning.

Cassidy Stuart longs to attend medical school. Her training under her physician father and her time serving as a nurse during the war, have only increased her desire to be a real physician with a practice of her own. When the man who'd left her at the altar five years before returns, she's determined not to let him upset the plans she's set for herself.

Unknown to his former fiancee and her family, George Masters is now a Pinkerton agent sent to investigate a physician now living in George's former hometown. When he finds Cassidy hasn't married, he hopes he can have another chance with her, but can't reveal his real reason for returning, at least not until his mission is accomplished.


Can love be rekindled with a doctor bent on revenge against them both?

Once I send this out, I can cross out my first goal of 2011. Won't that be a great start to the year?

Finally in the home stretch

After putting aside my sci-fi romance the end of the summer, I've been revising, editing and this week completed proofing the entire file of my post Civil War romance, Cassidy's War.

Today I plan to print out the file, then put it aside for an entire week. Then I'll proofread the printed copy to try to catch any typos or mistakes I missed on the Word file.

After that, it goes back to my editor. I hope when I hear back on it, I'll be able to announce a new book contract.

My next post will be my list of writing goals for the new year.

Ready to take on new writing goal!

It's nearly the end of May and for the second year in a row, I'm ready to start a summer book challenge. The goal is to write the first draft of a brand new novel.

Last summer I completed the first draft of Cassidy's War, the historical romance manuscript I just resubmitted to my editor after finishing up a revision request. This summer, I want to write my first science fiction romance. I've tentatively titled it, A Pirate's Honor.

I was plotting out this book off and on while working on other projects and while I have the beginning and end all plotted out I'm kind of stuck in the middle. But I have enough plotted out to get a good start, so the plan is to start writing and plot the middle out as I move along.

The challenge starts on June 1st, so for this upcoming week I'm going to try to complete the first draft of a short story. Then starting in June, my book will be top priority, unless I get a new contract of course. But that's completely up to my editor.

Writing Break Day!

I've just sent off my historical romance, Cassidy's War to my editor after an extensive revision and now plan to take a day off from writing. I'm going to spend this afternoon watching a baseball game.

And tomorrow I'll have the delicious task of deciding which of my works in progress to start on. I have two contemporary short stories that I've started first drafts on, a time travel novella I've started plotting out and a full-length science fiction romance, still in the plotting stage, but I do still plan to start writing this as my summer book project.

So, which one will I choose?

I'll be back tomorrow with an update.

For now, it's off to the ballgame!