March, Titles, Etc...

Happy Thursday Everybody,

It's March! 

February seemed a little long to me (and not because of Leap Day) so on March 1st I was like "Oh wait...it's is March. I need to flip my wall calendar."

So, what's going on? Let's see...I continue on the query road (nothing I'm ready to report, yet). As for writing, I decided to take one of my WIPs (Works In Progress) and write it with a completely different plot. And then, I got another idea and had to work on that!

I try to focus on one WIP at a time because it helps me move forward, but sometimes you gotta get that other idea going before you can finish the previous manuscript. Sometimes the new manuscript becomes the one you finish first. 

When I started with this blog post I was at a loss as to what I should say--not that I didn't have things going on, it's just that when I'm querying a manuscript, I don't say much about the process publicly. The same is true for when I'm writing a manuscript. I don't say a lot about it until it's further along and/or finished (in which case I only say a tiny bit until it's either got a contract, or about to be published, or is published).

The beginning of the month I just didn't feel inspired regarding a blog post. It wasn't until recently (i.e. today, March 14, 2024) that the idea popped into my head (sometimes you gotta let things sit and simmer).

On one of my WIPs I'm having a hard time coming up with a title. Titles aren't exactly my strongest talent, but I'm not completely unable to think of something (I came up with the title of the manuscript I'm querying--and some of my other WIPs have titles). This one, for some reason, is proving difficult. I'm somewhat still developing the story on one end (although a problem I'd had, I think I've got a solution for, now). So, I thought I'd talk about how I, as a writer, come up with titles.

Titles, in general, have been an up-and-down type journey for me. With my first published work, I had a title I used when querying, but when I signed the publisher's contract and we began the process of polishing and working on it, I was asked to come up with a new title. This situation is not unique to me. A lot of times titles get changed before publication. But I blanked out. So, I turned to my long-time critique partner, Tess St. John, and we brainstormed. Eventually an idea came forward, and my publisher accepted the new title.

So, how does a writer go about figuring out a title?

I can't speak for all writers, just for me. My process is generally: "Okay, what is this story about?" and then I go from there. If I'm still working out the plot I may focus in on an aspect of the story, or a particular character trait or something I've yet to put into the story, but I know is coming. If I'm really blanked, I talk to someone. After that, it goes into my manuscript file at the top of the manuscript on the title page and as well as part of the header of each page (as well as my name, and page number). 

Some authors don't come up with a title until the story is written. I like to have one while I'm working on the story so that I'm not sitting there with a file that says "Story about--" or "Inspired by--" because that's a long file name, generally; plus, it helps the story feel more "real" to me. Like it's coming together.

One of my WIPs, I came up with the title almost as soon as I came up with the plot. I love it when it works out that way because then I can just focus on writing and editing. However they come, titles are important. Not only do they give you something to call your manuscript, but oftentimes they give a clue to the reader what the story is about, or even the genre.

What are some of your favorite titles (whether you liked the story or not, if it was clever, funny, or interesting)?

Before I forget...

Easter is coming at the end of this month, so I wish everyone a very Blessed and Happy Easter!

Have A Thrillingly Terrific Thursday. :-)

A Leap Into February...

 Happy February!

Okay, for the first time in a while I can say that a month didn't zip past me at lightning speed. I don't know if that's good or bad. Just that January didn't seem to go by quite as fast as most of last year seemed.

Perhaps the lack of "zipping by" has to do with the fact that my eldest had a bacterial infection near the end of December and then 2 weeks later had Covid and a week later I had a bacterial infection (different one from eldest). So for awhile there, it was a bit crazy at my house. Luckily the rest of January was pretty healthy.

This February has a couple of particularly interesting things about it...for one, there are 29 days this year for this month (most of the time it's 28) so Happy Leap Year!

Query news...not really anything I'm ready to report on, so I'll let you know when there is.

Writing news:  I have several unfinished manuscripts and after some revision work that I did for like 2-3 months, I'm back to them and reacquainting myself with these stories. They need to be written and edited.

In my non-writer life (my personal life) I've got some family birthdays and at least one anniversary this month. So that's fun. :-)  Another interesting thing about this February is that Ash Wednesday is on St. Valentine's Day (February 14), so that's a bit different than previous years. We'll attend an Ash Wednesday service and observe the Catholic Traditions of fasting and no meat on that day.

Some people I know have amazing trips planned (for their personal privacy I won't mention details) and I can't wait to hear about their trips.

As for me, most of my trips consist of either within my state or within the USA. The only other country (that I recall) I've been to that wasn't my own, was Canada (and I can't remember how many times I've been, but it's been a long time since the last time I was there). I've been to St. Croix, but that's in the US Virgin Islands, so I'm not sure it counts as going to another country (but it was a fun trip!) I do have ideas of places I'd want to go outside the USA, but haven't really gotten to doing that. Maybe someday.

Fun Fact about my trip to St. Croix:  It was for my honeymoon and the way I came to choosing it was that author Lurlene McDaniel had mentioned it in her novel, For Better, For Worse, Forever. The descriptions of St. Croix in this novel made me want to go there. So I made a decision (either this was Middle School or beginning of High School) that when I got married that's where I'd go on my honeymoon. When I told my husband where I wanted to go, he said that he was all for going to the Caribbean, and we enjoyed our time there (particularly a restaurant that apparently isn't there anymore, but it was a really lovely outdoor one).

For those of you unfamiliar with Lurlene McDaniel's books, she's a retired YA author (according to a Google Search she retired in 2019) who wrote about teens in tough situations. I've loved many of her because she wrote them so well. For Better, For Worse, Forever is the sequel in a 2-book set that starts with Till Death Do Us Part.

Have you ever decided to go somewhere based on a book you read? Did you enjoy it?

I hope you all had a good January and that February treats you well.

Have a tremendously terrific Tuesday!

January 2024 Is Here...

 Happy January, 2024, and Friday!

If December snuck up on me, January just blew right in without me being ready to be done with December. Christmas cards got mailed Wednesday (as in January 3, 2024!) Yeah, I was that behind. But I think my close friends and my family members are a forgiving bunch and won't mind getting their Christmas cards a little late.

My Christmas was fairly nice. I had a sparkly red dress this year (see my Instagram for a photo). I love sparkles. I don't always wear them, but I do like them. I did refrain from purchasing glittery eyeshadow for Mass (Catholic Christian Church Service). A little sparkle at Mass is okay, but I don't need to be attention-grabbing there. Later in the week we ate Christmas dinner at my sister's house (no, not on Christmas Day because we were waiting for one my brothers and his family to arrive in town and they couldn't get in any earlier because of their responsibilities at home). The weekend of New Year's my eldest got a bacterial infection, so eldest had to celebrate New Year's in a bedroom (which was fine, since my husband had to go to work on January 1st and we weren't planning on staying up for the new year--but he was off from Thursday after Christmas through Sunday).

The New Year has been okay so far. Other than some health stuff that I've had to deal with on and off since the beginning of December, it hasn't been too bad. I'm still trying to grasp that it's January 2024. When I'm dating my files for my backups, I keep wanting to put 'December' and then I keep wanting to put 2023, so I have to remind myself that it's January and 2024.

I'm working on revisions on a manuscript that didn't get done before the end of December and thinking of my unfinished stories still waiting for me. It's a process. Some pages I'm not making many changes, while others I'm rearranging things, or taking stuff out, or putting something else in. But that's how revisions and editing goes (generally speaking).

I've no idea what this year will bring--but I do know there is always good and bad in every year and I try to find the blessings and the good amid the hard/bad stuff. Sometimes it isn't easy, but for me, it helps.

I hope your Christmas went well and wish you a blessed 2024!

Have A Fascinatingly Fantastic Friday!

December, Celebrations, & Where Has The Year Gone?...

 Happy December,

Well, it's already almost the last day of December...and the whole month totally snuck up on me and slipped by me without me realizing what was going on until Christmas Weekend! I kept thinking "Oh, I've got time to do..." and whatever. HA! Next time, I'm going to REALLY look at my calendar and go "Wait, NO, I DON'T have all this time!"

Exhibit A: I need to finish putting together (and mail) Christmas cards. Yep. I'm late, I know, but hopefully I'll get them out during the 12 days of Christmas (before the celebration of Jesus' Baptism, which is celebrated the Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics don't do celebrations halfway! Case in point: Easter has many, many days in the Easter Season).

Exhibit B: I was wrapping presents on Christmas Eve. I'm usually done days before then.

So all of you out there who were behind this year...I get it! Things happen. Life can be nuts.

This whole year felt fast, though. I know I kept saying it pretty much every single month. I've sat there going "Wait, it can't already be___" and lo, and behold, it would be.

Writing updates? Well, still working on some revisions on a manuscript--hope to be done very soon. It would be nice if I could be done before the end of January...here's hoping! I have several other manuscripts in various stages of not done writing the actual story. There is one that my long-time critique partner loves that I still need to finish writing (ironically, it's Winter/Christmassy-themed!)

My family is doing all right. There's always bumps in the road, but there are also some wonderful moments--I'm working on focusing on the positive. It's easy to get bogged down in the negative and I'm incredibly sympathetic to those who do. But I'm one of those people who just can't stand to stay there. I've got a great support system and I keep learning new things and working on it. My faith has played a HUGE role in all of that.

Christmas Day was very quiet (which is okay) but nice. Christmas Eve we went to Mass (it's fun to see everyone all dressed up and smiles). The Church looked beautiful--Nativity scene, flowers, incense--the works! We sang one of my favorite Christmas hymns--"Joy To The World". I'm hoping during the Christmas Season we'll also do "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (I really like this one, I can't explain why, I just do). I'm also very fond of "The Holly And The Ivy" (my dad likes to whistle that one, and I have fond memories of one of my sisters singing it around the house when I was growing up) and "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day" (the song is lovely, the poem has some sad verses, but ends in hopefulness).We have some other things planned, which I think will be fun.

I'm hopeful about some things for 2024. I won't know if they'll actually happen until they do (or don't happen--whatever happens). So, I have to keep working, praying, and hoping.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, a Blessed New Year in 2024, and hope.

Have A Tremendously Terrific Tuesday!

November Came And Is Going...

 Happy November Everyone!

I still feel like the year has been going by quickly. I blinked and it's the end of November. Maybe I need to stop blinking?

This month has been busy! Between family and personal stuff and working on some manuscripts, I'm not sure where to begin. Averie Cat got his yearly shot, nails clipped, and flea treatment all at his exam (but he's forgiven me for the indignity of going to the vet and being in his carrier). 

I don't have much that I feel like sharing from this month, not that it was so bad, but I'm pretty private about my personal life.

For those who are finishing up NaNoWriMo* 2023, I hope you've had great success with it! I don't do NaNo but I do like to cheer on those who do, which I've done this year on X(Twitter). I keep thinking I'll write a really good blog post. Maybe in December...hopefully I'll have a lot of great things to report on for that month! That would be awesome. :-)

I hope all my fellow USA citizens had a Happy Thanksgiving! (Fun was had at my sister and brother-in-law's house with my parents).

Have a great rest of November and a Marvelously Merry Monday!

*NaNoWriMo is short for: National Novel Writing Month, which refers to writers trying to get 50,000 words in during the month of November. Those who officially participate sometimes get a certificate or something like that for reaching 50k words. Others use it to accomplish personal writing goals (or polishing up a novel). Authors are encouraged NOT to query their NaNoWriMo books until they've fully edited and polished up the manuscript, which is true of any manuscript. There's also Camp Nano (which takes place in the Spring and Summer, which a little different from NaNoWriMo).

October Is Almost Over...

 Happy End-Of-October!

I'm a bit late posting for the month, but at least I'm getting it in before it ends!

We've had some days of mild temperatures with beautiful sunshine, and a bit of a breeze. A lovely change from 90-100 degree Fahrenheit that we had in August and September. We did get some rain, which is good.

I've done a bit of writing this month--not a ton, but at least it's making progress and I think the manuscript I've been mostly working on will be fun story when it's written. (There are already fun aspects to it, as far as I'm concerned!)

September feels a bit of a blur of sorting through emotions on some things I've had to deal with and family responsibilities. But October has been better. Sometimes things happen and you just have to keep holding onto hope (my faith as a Catholic Christian helps me tremendously with that).

I celebrated my birthday, my dad's, and sent birthday wishes to other family members whose birthdays fall in October. My husband and I went out to dinner the weekend of my birthday--something we hadn't done in awhile and I really enjoyed it. I think we need to have dinner or date out more often!

It's hard for me to believe that November is almost here, but there we are! My thoughts are starting to turn towards family moments, smiles, laughter, and the warmth of the Holidays. I always look forward to seeing the Church all decorated for Christmas. The flowers are always so beautiful and love Christmas hymns (I love Christmas music in general, too) I don't love snow--you northerner regions can keep it as far as I'm concerned--but I do like 50-60 degree weather, and hot cocoa or hot cinnamon apple flavored tea. I'm also a big fan of baked goods (especially my dad's).

I'm not sure what the rest of 2023 will bring, but I wish you a wonderful end of October, a safe and Happy Halloween (which I also call All Hallow's Eve) and a Merry Monday!

September Is Here Already...

 Happy Friday Everyone!

It's September...! Is it just me, or does this year feel like it's going by fast?

Schools are back in session. Texas hasn't gotten the menu that it's getting into the Fall months. But that's nothing new when it comes to September in my part of Texas.

I've got four family members with birthdays--a joyful thing for sure. Buddy Holly was born on September 7th (and I enjoy several of his songs). My deceased friend, Sarah's, birthday is on September 16th.

After working so intensely on revisions on one of my manuscripts, I've been reacquainting myself with the WIPs (Works In Progress) that I haven't as yet finished writing. It's been interesting...I like them a lot more now than I did even when I started writing them! My long-time critique partner is working on some stories she hopes to release--I got a chance to read one of them. I hope readers will enjoy it. She's a very talented writer.

Not much else to report on so far, since it's just the beginning of the month, but stay tuned! If something comes up that I want to announce, I'll announce it!

Meanwhile, Happy September 2023!

Have A Fantastically Frabjous (look up Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky poem for that word) Friday!