The drafts

August seems to be my month. Or better my novel month. It was last August that I finished the first draft of the second book in my trilogy and it was March when I decided to rewrite it.

I took my time, I didn’t write full time and I decided to create a new file and start writing from scratch. And I did it.

It’s August again and the second draft of my book is ready!

Dive into the unknown

The first wave of heat is here. The sun is blinding, and it's hot on my skin, the air chokes me and I can't stand the tight jeans and sneakers. It's summer and I crave for the sea, even the sight of it.

So I need to make plans, I need to take some days off and march on the first beach I can reach. I don't know about you, but I prefer the quiet beaches, those peaceful places where you hear the sound of the water on the shore and even the cicadas or crickets resting on the nearby trees.

When I think of moments like this, calmness spreads inside me like a cool breeze on a hot, sunny day. And you do know what happens when a mind is at peace, right?

On Writing: Running out of fuel

I'm sure you've heard what they say about writing and reading, right? If you don't have time to read, you don't have time to write. What they don't say though is this: if the book you read don't inspire you, then writing is dragging.

I don't know if it's just me and my bad mood for reading, but recently the books I choose don't have that sparkle of inspiration I need. Thank God I read Gone Girl and there was a wildfire to keep me going, but now that the book has finished, the smoldering fire is not enough. I feel like I'm running out of fuel.

On Writing: Bursting out of you

So, here I am reading a chapter from the story I'm currently writing. It's that dark one with the almost crazy MC who refused to tell me her name even if I had written 30K words! Stubborn one, I'm telling you. But it worth the waiting. I give her that!

Anyway, as I keep reading one chapter after the other, I start seeing a pattern. Not about the story or the plot, but about the simple stuff, the details of the story. You know, a second character's appearance, parts of the stories they share, or the starting theme of a chapter. Those little things that maybe at first seem detached but as the story goes on they fall into place. I didn't notice it until this moment but those parts were more than random choices.

Rewriting

Lately there is an itchiness inside me, one that I can’t really scratch away and it has to do with editing or better yet, with rewriting. You know what they say, right? True writing is rewriting. According to science fiction novelist Michael Crichton "Books are not written--they're rewritten."  

I’m starting to believe that he is right.

On Writing: Get your hands dirty

So, I write.

Sometimes it starts with an idea that was growing in my subconscious for quite some time, and sometimes is just sudden inspiration from a sound an image or a glimpse of a character that demands to be heard. Once, a paragraph was ready in my mind, all the way to the tiny detail, so I only had to write the words down.

Whatever is the case though the result is the same: I write.

And every single time I feel like flying.

Think Out Loud: What matters?

This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Fireflies in a jar

Thoughts. Random words and unconnected sentences.

A part of chapter here, a growing idea which is not ready yet to become real, and more flashes of stories flying by, untouchable.  I feel like I’m chasing fireflies but my net is too small and so I end up with one little shining creature at a time.

Writing Spots

So, the time has come, you’re finally home. 

You’ve been waiting all day for some peace and quiet. Just you and your laptop. You open the file, that same file that is tormenting you for so long. But it’s a sweet feeling because you love that pain and desperation of the story you’re writing. You love the unanswered questions: how, when, who, how but most of all you love to answer them, to move closer to the end. Two words become two sentences, and then your hands don’t move fast enough to catch your thoughts, your ideas and the sudden inspirational wave that consumed you.

You’re finally there, you’re bleeding, giving a part of your soul to your story.

But where are you?

Think Out Loud: Tasteless

This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Stories. Story of my life

I’ve been accused of making scenarios, can you believe it?

This is not an accusation, it’s a compliment! But, well, I have to give the guy some credit. He is right. I’m making scenarios all the time and for everything. Seriously, everything.

The Writing Process Blog Hop!

It’s a blog hop! YAY! Who doesn’t love blog hops, right?

The amazing, Robyn Jones asked me to join this blog hop about the writing process and how could I deny? I love reading about WIPs and ideas and since I was pretty busy the previous week I have a lot to catch up.

But first a big thank you to Robyn, whose posts are so real and wonderful that I find my face all over the screen so I can absorb every little detail of the story she has to tell us, each and every time. And of course the crazy Maggie Lane and her Shadows are waiting to pull you in a beautiful world were fangs have a role to play. Here are Robyn’s books and blog and Twitter. Swim, Robyn. Swim and I will fly!:)

Shadow Town by Robyn Jones

Shadow Town (Maggie Lane Chronicles #1) by Robyn Jones Blog Tour 

Published: January 29, 2014

Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance

Well, today I'm in the happy place to participate in the Shadow Town tour and giveaway!YAY. This is another book from Robyn Jones and the synopsis sounds too temping to ignore.  

The ravings of an addicted writer

January is about to end and this new year is officially here. A discussion with a friend made me think and things got a little clearer on my mind.

I spent 2011 and 2012 writing. I wrote my first novel, Dazed, which was a good practice and a way to develop my skills, learn about language and grammar and POV and stuff I didn’t know before. I learned how to develop a story, to manage my thoughts and ideas and it was a wild travel!

And then like out of nowhere and when I was sure that I couldn’t possibly write anything else … Divided was born. I spent four months writing it and I was amazed on how easy it felt. As I’ve said before, it was like the characters recounted the story to me. It was magnificent.

Think Out Loud: Do you believe?

This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Think Out Loud: Happiness

This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Think Out Loud: Damaged

This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Rules

Seriously, who doesn’t hate this word? Rules! It’s not the word of course we hate –I hate, but the meaning. It is mostly because it creates limits and traps me when all I want to do is spread my wings and fly. But I know, there are limitations. 

Hopefully not in everything. Imagination has no limits and I’m free to create whatever I want. Well, but only if I obey the rules.  You see what is going on, right? It’s an eternal loop and I’m spinning in the middle. But let’s take things from the beginning. Beginning is a good place to start, I think.

Practice and time

When I decided to write something I could share with others, I hadn’t thought what that really meant. I had an idea, which transformed into a story and I was flying sky-high. 

I wrote Dazed, slowly, carefully, and I did my best. Well, that was the best I could do at that time because during the months of writing, I was reading, which is pretty much like studying to me. 

Divided - Excerpt

Salut from France once again. Today I was reading Divided, trying to catch up in order to continue writing the sequel, and I decided to share with you the first chapter. Seeing that you liked the prologue, made me really happy, but now I’m anxious about chapter one. Will you like it? 

I have to remind you that this is my first rough draft, so forgive me if everything is not perfect. I hope you’ll enjoy this chapter too.

I am presenting you the 1^st chapter of my second book, Divided. Enjoy …