When the Thunder Rolls... The Approach of a Writer's Deadline

It’s far too rainy to be creative, clever, quaint or, God forbid, cheery. May this serve as a warning for anything that might happen below.

*winks wryly*

Another day of editing is planned. Fortunately, I have not reached the slash and burn stage quite yet, although it is coming soon (like a thunderhead in the west, all you can do is watch it lumber toward you and prepare to take shelter when the tornado sirens sing).

To continue with the analogy (an analogy which is painfully trite and common, but appropriate for a day in which I’m feeling a bit masochistic), once the storm of cutting scenes is past and only destruction and half-standing houses remain, it is the work of rebuilding I most fear.

Suring up the scenes that are left with fresh and potentially rushed construction is never fun. If the hysteria I spoke of in last night’s post is to come, it will come then…

Goody.

In other news, that requires no tired metaphors, I’m tickled to find another of my novels (Torched, this time) has re-entered Ravenous Romance’ Top Selling Ten. While I realize this tiny little jolt to my ego is fleeting and probably silly, I’ll enjoy my pleasure where I can take it on a soggy morning such as this.

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, so I’ll mention it again. I have joined not only Romance Writers of America, I have also joined my first chapter of RWA. Rainbow Romance Writers is a home for we purveyors of lgbt romance.

So, two professional organizations I now claim membership in… that probably shouldn’t make me feel quite as proud as I do, but, again, I’ll take it with a childish grin.

I believe I’ve babbled enough for this morning. I don’t know if I’ve added to or taken away from the gray of the day, but at least I’ve done something… Some days, that’s all a writer can ask of themselves.

Until tonight…

Chloe

A Moment of Hysteria... every writer has one

The incomparable Butterfly McQueen as "Prissy" in "Gone with the Wind"

“I don’t know nothin’ about birthin’ babies!”

With apologies to Butterfly McQueen, whose “Prissy” alone could do that line justice, I borrow the famous “Gone With the Wind” quote here as a nod to true, bloody panic…

Come on, authors. You know what I’m talking about. There’s always a point in the process of writing a novel or a long short story when you’re pulling your hair and screeching at imaginary Scarlett O’Hara’s whose drivel of “Tomorrow is another day” means total crap when your deadline is today… TODAY!

Granted, most of you probably don’t have imaginary Scarletts popping out of your woodwork, but you no doubt get the picture. (By the way, I don’t have an imaginary Scarlett either… The imaginary Rhett at my front door constantly muttering “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” is enough for me, thank you.)

The point is -and yes there is a point- the life of a writer inevitably drags a bit of hysteria from us all.

It may not be at the finish line; it may be at the starting gun. Knowing you’ve got a story to write, knowing it’s got to be “freaking good dammit!” can bring on one hell of a fit for those unprepared.

Or, you might be in the middle of your novel, 20K in the books (so to speak), when you realize with startling clarity that the storyline is crap and has to be redone… completely redone. Panic? Oh, yeah.

But you know what? We get through it. We come out the other side, if not smiling, at least still breathing.

Why this pep talk, you might ask? I’m sure some of you have suspicions that I must have hit a brick wall with Writhe. Or that the Ides of March deadline has started ticking maniacally in my head…

But, no. Writhe is good and so am I.

In fact, the Ticker From Madness for today stands at …

                                   3,000 words (making 18K words ready to ship out)

Right on schedule. *grins proudly*

So why don the pom-poms and short pleated skirt today?

Just because it wasn’t my turn today to feel that hysteria, doesn’t mean some other author isn’t suffering through it right now.

It may sound corny, but sometimes it just helps to know that somebody else out there (even if it’s just a mad blogger) knows what you’re going through.

So, fear not, my intrepid writer. There is air on the other side… And, dare I say it? Your success is not gone with the wind.

Until tomorrow…

Chloe

P.S. Burning the pom-poms now.

"Tuck Tail and Flee" Conditions Ahead

As March 15 creeps up with the quiet guile of an alligator through the swamp marsh, I will begin the frantic dash to the Lion & Steed: Book One deadline tomorrow.

You have been warned.

I feel it’s only fair to fess up to what you might expect of this blog in the weeks ahead. So, with full disclosure again in mind, here’s a list. Highlight as you see fit.

Quirky Humor… Admittedly, this has been an issue all along. Expect an uptick in QH, however. The occasional spikes into US (Utter Silliness) should also be prepared for. In no case should cans of Silly String be allowed to enter the picture. If such appears, tuck tail and flee.

Occasional Tolls of Depression… These should be short-lived, passing out of your site between one posting and the next. To ease the awkwardness of the situation for my readers, I will endeavor to add a song and dance number to each Down-in-the-Dumps occurrence. Feel free to laugh your socks off at this attempt, or again tuck tail and flee.

Hysteria… I’m an expert at this. Two decades of severe panic attacks has taught this girl how to freak out. Whether it will be over Word Count Issues (which will not be an issue with this novel), Time Management (i.e. “I’m never going to get this done. Career is over. Call the strait jacket crew.”), or, my personal favorite, Buyer Aversion Syndrome (i.e. “Nobody’s going to buy this. All this work and nobody’s going to buy it. Nobody.”) will be a surprise for us all. Think of it as a box of crazy. You never know what delusion you’re going to get. Tuck tail and flee also applies here.

These are only the major issues you, as my blog readers, will have to concern yourself with over the coming days. Unfortunately, Chloe Stowe Mania is hardly a science. Rules do not apply. So, if ever in doubt please… tuck tail and flee.

Until tomorrow…

Your ever gracious hostess, Chloe