Category: Stories

We had a write-in/brainstorming session at Starbucks this afternoon before work, and I lamented the fact that I’ve only written about 600 words since the end of NaNoWriMo. I’ve had days when I want to write, but the simple fact is this: I’m stuck. The (finished) NaNo novel has...

An e-mail arrived in my inbox today with the subject line: “Your Submission: …” Since I was at work at the time, I had an argument with myself. “You can’t open that! You’re supposed to be working,” the me with the Midwestern work ethic said. (It’s the same me...

Uh-oh. I think I’m suffering from a case of the “post-novel depression” my friend Mallory writes about. That’s right. I went to my local Starbucks this morning when the Boyfriend headed off to tennis. I was all psyched to get back to writing. After taking a week off post-NaNo,...

Guess I’m an overachiever: I hit my NaNo goal tonight. The story’s not quite finished, though. I probably have another 5K to write. For a few moments, however, I’m going to revel in the accomplishment. That’s it for now. After writing a couple thousand words  today, I’m fresh out. I’ll...

It’s been more than 24 hours and I’m still not over the excitement of learning I’m a finalist in the First Coast Romance Writers Beacon Contest for unpublished writers. (You can see the proof here, in the list of finalists.) This is especially exciting because it’s my first-ever contest...

Isn’t that a song title? More importantly, it’s where my NaNo novel is as of tonight. Yes, I crossed the 25,000-word mark … important because 25,000 is half of 50,000. See, Ma? Even though I’m a writer, I can do math! 😉 That’s important because it means I’m halfway...

Sometimes, the timing’s just not right. After trying again — unsuccessfully — to get Kenny and Kristi to cooperate with my plan, I decided they just weren’t ready yet. I moved past it, getting them off the couch. Now the story’s flowing right along. I already have 1,000+ words...

I’ve come to that point in my story: You know, the one where my characters stop doing what they’re told. That’s right. Although I  want them to, my hero and heroine stubbornly refuse to do the deed. I had them right where I wanted them — alone on the...

So far, work on the NaNo novel is going swimmingly. Not only did I cross the 10,000-word mark today (11,087), my hero and heroine had their first heavy makeout scene (followed closely by their first fight). The handy NaNo stats page assures me I’m making great progress, averaging 2,772...

I’m setting this blog post to publish at 12:01 a.m. (I think), so I won’t be lying — and I won’t have to miss out on prime noveling time to post! Kenny and Kristi — and their quirky, wonderful love story — are beginning to take shape. This is...