Urban Fantasy

Halfway There!

| Casey Wyatt

Happy Friday! Please remember to visit me at Writing Secrets of 7 Scribes for my post about Change.

This week, I’m pleased to report that I’ve surpassed the halfway point. Total word count to date is 59, 806.

Due to family obligations, I had a few days where I was only able to hit 1,000 plus words. With vacation coming soon, I hope to be back on the 2,000 words a day track and possibly even surpass it.

The story has reached the mid-point climax and is rolling towards the black moment/reversal (hopefully next week).  After that, the final wrap up. Next, I’ll re-read the draft, plug the plot holes, fix the word boo-boos and ferret out any other transgressions.

This kind of aggressive first draft approach is new for me. I usually stop after the first act and re-read what I’ve done and make corrections. Not this time. I’m blasting through to the end and then reviewing the plot as a whole. I’m not sure if I’ll do this for my next book. We’ll see. Depends on how the process goes.

I’ve resorted to this method because, often times, I start second guessing the plot and playing the “what if” game and then I believe the whole story is crap, resulting in the urge to toss it out.

When I finish the first draft, I will share the blurb for the book. I can tell you, it’s something new for me and not like my other books.

See you next week!

Finaled Again!

| Casey Wyatt

Ascension has finaled in the paranormal category in  Celtic Hearts Romance Writer’s Golden Claddagh Contest!

2,000 Words a Day!

| Casey Wyatt

My goal all week has been to write at least 2,000 words a day. I’m unofficially joining my fellow Scribes in the Double Dog Dare to complete our novels by August 12.

I’m pleased to say, that so far, I have exceeded the goal. Despite all kinds of distractions – like winning first place in Passionate Ink’s Stroke of Midnight Contest last night, I’ve still managed to stick to my goal.

In the spirit of completing my next book, all I have to say is:

Word count to date – 28,850

Not bad for starting last week. I’m not sure what the ultimate book length will be quite yet. I’d like to reach 100,000 words, but I’m not sure if the story will play out that long.

I think a little friendly “competition” is a fun way to reach a goal. If you have trouble staying motivated or completing a task, enlist some friends to keep you honest!

I’ll be posting about reading over at the Scribes’ Blog. Please stop by and visit. We love your comments!

Exciting News!

| Casey Wyatt

Ascension took first place in the paranormal category in Passionate Ink’s Stroke of Midnight Contest! It was announced at RWA Nationals tonight!

Beware: The Doubt Monster Will Get You!

| Casey Wyatt

All week I have been working on my latest novel. And in the beginning, I was cruising along. You know, blank page euphoria is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, I’m in the early stages of what I call – the doubt phase. Even though I know where the story is going and I know I have a solid plot, I find myself listening to doubts.

Like:

  • This story is dumb. Who will want to read it?
  • There are so many other things I should have/could have done. 
  • I must be missing something like (fill in the blank).
  • This story is so weird no one will buy it.

On and on it goes. The greedy Doubt Monster messing with my head and my confidence.

I know why this is happening. Because I’m not staying in the creative mind. I’m letting that inner critic sneak in. The Editor is not allowed to make an appearance until after the whole darn thing is done. At this stage in writing, I should not be thinking about the reader, the marketplace or much of anything else real world related.

It’s right about now, I need a smack to the head. Or a reminder that there are people waiting to read this story (thank you, my precious First Reader – you know who you are).

The Doubt Monster rears his ugly head (yes, I believe it’s a him – no clue why, honest) at various times in the writing process. Sometimes, he dogs me the whole way. Other times, he appears sporadically. Rarely, if I’m lucky, he won’t show up until I’m almost done.

Of course, I totally blame myself for the Doubt Monster. He exists because I allow him to. So really, I’m just fighting with myself. Silly, I know. The best way to battle the annoying pest is to ignore him and keep writing.

I wish there was a more magical answer. But like all things, if you want something bad enough, you have to push through the tough times and keep going!

Seven Scribes and Other Writing Adventures

| Casey Wyatt

Starting next week, I’m part of a new blog – Writing Secrets of Seven Scribes. We’re an eclectic group of aspiring and indie published writers from many genres: young adult, middle school, inspirational, mystery, paranormal/urban fantasy and erotica.  Our goal is to share our writer’s journey, to inspire and to entertain.

We have each taken a day of the week – I’m Friday’s Scribe. And later, we will all be publishing a short story on the site based on the poem Monday’s Child. Be sure to check us out. Even better, subscribe so you won’t miss out.

A while back, I blogged – Dont’ Go It Alone. The Scribes’ blog is an example of joining a group that can foster your creativity, provide inspiration, and give a kick to the pants when needed! Not to sound like a broken record – if you’re a writer and serious about publication – find a group, find a critique partner or partners, find somebody else who loves to write! My world has opened up exponentially since I joined with my awesome critique partners and the CT RWA. I promise, you will become a better writer!

I hope to see you all at the new blog. Scribe on!

Pitching. . . and I don’t mean Baseball

| Casey Wyatt

Tomorrow is the big day . . . CT Fiction Fest. Tomorrow, I will be pitching my book Mystic Ink  and maybe Ascension to four editors. Editors from brand name publishing houses.

Am I biting my nails? No.

Am I starting to panic? Not really.

I have my pitches all written and mostly memorized.

Don’t get me wrong. I will do my best to entice and impress, but not at the cost of my sanity.

I will not lay in bed tonight obsessing about what might happen. Like I’ll open my mouth, but no words will come out because all rationale thought has abandoned me.

I will not imagine myself babbling like an idiot at the poor editor seated across from me. Or that I’ll rattle off my pitch at warp speed like an auctioneer.

I will not entertain the panicky thought that I’ll lose track of time and forget an appointment.

Nope. Not doing it. Not going there.

After saying good-bye to my precious Ollie, I had a bit of an epiphany. On the scale of cosmic importance, pitching my book and how well I do, will not affect the fate of the known universe. If I fail to impress, I will still submit my books to editors safely hidden behind my query’s printed words (no babbling going on there).

I will still work on my next two books.

I will still write.