Melani Blazer

The flu bug bit me. Musta been why I felt like I’d been run over with an eighteen wheeler late yesterday.

On a good note, I’ve been able to type in more handwritten stuff, so far I’ve deleted only a teensy tiny bit that was repetitive and I’m almost 1/4 of the way done with this book.

Angie wrote a refreshing post at Romancing the Blog–deviating from all the hoopla that’s going on an any given day in the romance-blog world and talking about why she–and the rest of us–love to read a romance. (It’s not genre specific, so if you have an opinion, stop in and say so!)

Dear Author has a post about E-books that has made me think a lot in the last 24 hours or so. (maybe it was the flu coming on, I dunno), but in a nutshell, it talks about the….concept of e-book branding as a whole and how many share Jane’s way of thinking when she says:

I admit that while there are many e-publishers out there, I mainly identify epublishing with erotic romance.

Hopefully this post will make others aware of some great non-erotic reads at various e-book publishing houses.

I wish my head were clearer so I could easily voice my opinion, but these flu meds really fog the senses. I just think it’s a circle. Erotic is buzzed about, more authors and publishers jump on board, it becomes more popular. Authors talk, realize pushing the limit might help sales, even more erotic goes out. Word gets out menage is the “it” thing, wham, publishers and authors feed the mass’s demands. Supply and demand and all that jazz. Isn’t it similar to the way paranormal became so widely popular and historicals waned? What happened to chick-lit? Not to say I think erotic is gonna go anywhere. I think once you open the bedroom door, you can’t exactly close it. Right now I think the focus [of e-publishers and non-erotic authors] is/should be to educate readers about their non-erotic offerings and break the branding or stereotyping or whatever you want to call it.

Okay, enough medicated babble for one afternoon. I might try a nap.

Okay…. I did a few upgrades without breaking the blog. I’m relieved.

Seems I managed to survive the funk that was November and December (and part of January) and can see some light at the end of the tunnel. Things I put in place back in November are starting to happen and I’ve got more than a pinkie grip on “life”—and here I thought this romance writer gig was supposed to be satin negligee’s or at least a silky robe, furry slippers and chocolate bonbons. Dangit!

Handwriting still seems to be the thing. I’m way ahead of myself on handwritten vs. typed in, but I’m happy with progress no matter how I come by it. Overall, the time spent in my little writer’s funk was beneficial. I did a lot of philosophizing. Why I write, what I want to write, why I read and what makes me pick up a book. Where do I want to go with this and how much effort am I willing to put in it–I don’t have all the definitive answers, but definitely a better grip on how to get them–and how to do this for me, not to please friends or family or all those other reasons.
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I’m missing. My brain is missing, money is missing, time is missing. I’m standing, okay, sitting, here, going… it’s what date? I’m supposed to be doing what and have accomplished what?

I’m not complaining and won’t make excuses, cuz frankly, I don’t know what I’d say. I’ve just got way too much on my plate and sadly, blogging has fallen off the priority list. I’m not even getting computer time to write, so I’m filling up journal pages by hand and eyeing up that *can’t remember the name now* focus/fly thingy that’s a pen that stores what you write. Tho’ I’ll need to do more research before I officially put it on my Christmas list. Would be nice not to have to transcribe the 40 or so pages I’ve filled.

Anyhoot, off to work with me. Short, but extremely busy week. If I don’t make it back, you all have a happy Thanksgiving!

Oh, how I hate thee, let me count the ways.

You’ve been lurking around the room for several days now. You said you were lured by the scent of cold, stale dread and guilt. I know now, the only thing that will keep you away is the sound of me typing into the keypad of my laptop. I’ll have to remember that for next time.

I know everyone’s dealing with outside stress, the onset of cold/flu season which seems to have a real vendetta this year, but I have been working. I added over 1000 words, probably closer to 1500 last night, typing in the handwritten pages of my journal, where I’ve been scribbling away. There’s still a dozen or so pages yet to be transcribed. While I don’t think I’ve hit the 1000 words a day goal, this hasn’t been an ordinary week and I’ve done the best I can.

As of today, right now, my “input” word count is 20,648. I started with 14,711. It’s not brilliant progress, but I’m not upset with it. You shouldn’t be either.

So take your whip and menacing look–and your sweat–and go find a naughty author who’d rather be playing solitaire or mindsweeper than writing. You know they’re out there.

Edited to add: 11-8-07 Count now at 21,717.

This is more for me than for you readers, but I needed to reinforce that I’ve been working.

WIP current word count as of today….19,299.

I read a book today. I probably shouldn’t have, but it forced me to see things more big picture style and I started back at the beginning and have added about 1000 words to the first 10 pages.

I’m pretty satisfied it gives new depth to the heroine/protagonist so I’m heading back to the END of the word count to continue marching forward.

Sven? You can stop sweating on me now…I’m working, already. I’m working!

Bad storms in the area last night. I handwrote, but got very little on the page. Keyed in a few paragraphs this morning, but wanted to make myself accountable and post where I’m at.

17,686

How’s the first week going for everyone else? Anyone who didn’t sign up playing along anyway? Good for you!

I’m off to day job, but will be handwriting/keying in every moment I can!

Cheers!

Edited 10-20-07, 3:30pm
Editing to update current word count, which tecnhically is all that was handwritten earlier in the week.
18,077

I wasn’t going to post again tonight, but I just made a typo that caused me to laugh out loud, so I’ll share, as well as post progress. Hopefully I’ll look back and find it motivating.

I’m grasping at everything I can…

Anyway, the typo was:

The door at the top was a simple interior door, unlicked, but swelled in its frame by age and the elements.

Poor door, but it *IS* usually the windows that get licked, no?

(This is what Svention (Sven + tension) will do to you…. be warned!)

Anyway, I’m heading off to handwrite. I didn’t finish keying in all I’d handwritten, but I’m at 16,431. Yay!

Best of luck, Svenners!

Heading to bed now, but wanted to document word count after tonight’s writing was 15,899. Starting word count is immortalized on the side counter
<————there.

Already I’m asking myself, what was *I* thinking?

However, I’m better known for my positive outlook than being negative and quitting before I start (at least my gradeschool teachers said so…… as an adult I have a less outlook at times…go figure).

It’s 4 hours early, but I’m gonna start writing tonight. I have a feeling I’ll need those extra words, if not to boost my own moral, than to keep from being utterly embarrassed at the end. See? Positive thinking, there!

I find it hilariously ironic that my husband is already planning stuff for each night after work this week AND next weekend. Pray for me! At least for my word count. I’ll be scribbling words at every free moment, I promise!

So, without further ado, I’m going to open doc, do a refresh on word count and start typing.

Best of luck to ALL Sven participates, whether you’re doing it on or off the record. And for those doing the book in a month deal (can never remember other than it starts with an N?) I wish you all a good experience.

Okay, I did it. More on a whim than anything, but if I thought too hard about it, I’d probably chicken out with some valid enough excuse about working the day job, the upcoming holidays and track record of sticking with one story this last year. I’m convinced my muse has ADHD and there’s no medication out there that will help.

I’m quite sure the truth is I’m having a hard time sitting down long enough to get “into” a story, so my writing is lacking. I’m hoping this challenge and fear of the public humiliation will either make or break me…

Is there a muse store nearby? Maybe a second-hand shop? One for rent???

But seriously, underneath all this joking panic, I’m actually excited I have a ….direction, a purpose, a frightening man with evil look in his eye threatening me, a bunch of friends and fellow writers to share this common goal with…

So I’m going to work on “vamp” (see sidebar)…The word count will probably shudder and crack a bit, as I’m going to spend the next week (yes, might actually dip into the days after 10/15) to get the story going in the direction I want it, then I can move forward without fail (yes, positive thinking is a good thing) and hopefully nail the lid on this one…. before the sun comes up again.

You know what sucks? I’ve got a B&N trip planned for Nalini’s newest (shhhh, NO I don’t have it yet… me bad). Sigh. I might sneak it in. It’d only take a day to read.

So, for official’s sake, here’s the button….