Monday, October 11, 2010

Irritating Itch

So ya know how you work your butt off for a sustained period of time, and you manage what feels like a great accomplishment? It's good, yes?

On Friday I sent my Cozy to my writing peeps—about half of the Burrow volunteered to read... three were supposed to read as I finished chapters, and I tried, but because the typing lagged, and then I got unhappy with the 3rd quarter, I didn't GET IT all to that batch, so I sent it to that batch PLUS the batch that was supposed to get the 'whole thing'--they got the CLEANED whole thing—I wasn't willing to send TO ANYONE the thing I finished in August... that 3rd quarter had me grumbling and unhappy with it, and I wasn't sharing yet...

So getting it to the place I was willing to share was sort of big. And there was a big giant breath of air.

And I'm waiting to exhale.

Oh, that was bad. But the metaphor applies...

You see... I'm feeling...

Loss.

I keep trying to get my footing again, and my wheels are spinning.


I HAVE managed to clean up my to do stuff, and my PLAN is to read through my thoughts for future novels.

What I WANTED to be doing right now is editing LEGACY... I REALLY want to have another novel cleaned up to start querying at the beginning of the year. But I just can't seem to focus. I DO intend to start reading it today and maybe once I'm immersed the editing mojo will flow. But at the moment I am feeling BAFFLED... The writing... the editing... Heck, I'm having trouble writing a BLOG post. (though I did write a fan fiction update and if you like Harry Potter at all, and are SUPER twisted, you might like this... it is styled after the television show SOAP, but about the Black Family... so there...

Mrs. Skowers





Idea Inventory

When it IS time to write again... 3 weeks from now, I have mentioned the 6 ideas for books nagging at me, and I thought I'd throw broad brushes at all of you to see if you had a preference as to what I wrote for NaNo... I may not listen—I am stubborn that way... but I might. A few of them are 'too heavy' for a WriMo, but I'd still love to hear which ideas are appealing—which stories you think will have PUNCH to sell...

How's that?


THREE YAs


Player Down: Two high school friends, once close, and trying to stay connected, but whose lives have diverged, still eat lunch together daily in the woods next to their school. One day, while eating and talking, they find a body—the star forward from the Basketball team. (stand-alone murder mystery)

The Pleiades: SERIES. A group of middle school girls (a boy eventually joins)--outcasts, each in their own way. The narrator has a larger mysterious arc, but the books will deal with real life stuff, one big issue a book (using super powers they pretend to have): domestic abuse, eating disorders, homophobia. The Pleiades has to do with the bond originally formed in 'constellations' of zits on their backs (gross, yes? But as the bond forms in being PICKED ON—it is locker room stuff)


The Armageddon one: International attack of some sort knocks out power, kills a lot of people, family (?) group? Only young? Decided to flee west where they know of a place they can get by hiding on the land—hunting, growing... so it is primarily a survivalist thing as they try to make their way across the US in the midst of war. (this isn't really on the NaNo board—the idea is a long-stewing one I will eventually write—born out of the 'Tomorrow When the War Began' series and following dreams... but I think it had been seeded even before that/


ADULT stuff

An Armageddon here, too...  This one, though,... is a Conspiracy story... People are dying... ALL OVER,by the thousands. A reporter and CDC worker (romantically attracted, eventually) end up being the ones who piece together that the origin is in the year's flu shots. They work together to untangle who would DO such a thing. Parallel, a Televangelist is claiming THIS is it and promising the path to salvation (at a large profit) and a dozen other groups are taking advantage...


Microbrew Semi-Cozies: Ever since reading Earthly Delights-- the naughtier sister of the cozy mystery—it seemed that was really what was for me. I thought about 'craft' and 'interest' and 'location' and decided I would LOVE to do a mystery series based in Portland... a female microbrewery owner (her sidekick the hot brewer)--so I could write microbrew... cross those propriety lines a little, but still use the amateur sleuth, sassy format... It won't SHOW the gore, but would probably be darker in theme than most cozies... won't stick with 'hated victim'--but I think the 'fun' of the cozy can be carried to something a little more... bad girl... (you know how I want to be bad...)


Okay, so that is five, not six... I HAVE another, but it is totally different genre and not actually on the near playing field... and there is that half done one I want to get back to eventually, but not just yet... The two Armageddon ones will NOT my my WriMo... any of the others might...

But I'd love feedback on any of them!

28 comments:

Gary Baker said...

My niece - 16 going on 36 (btw - teenage girls are SCARY as hell) ... where was I ... oh, yes - my niece thinks The Pleiades sounds interesting.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Well, of course I'm going to pick the Microbrew semi-cozies! And, considering the usual word count for the genre, it wouldn't be as time-consuming as some of the others.

Anonymous said...

Uh, I think I have to go with the beer. Mmm...beer....

Well, crap. Now I want a Victory Hop Devil and t's 11 hours till I can reasonably call it happy hour. *sighs*

Hart Johnson said...

Gary-Welcome! Ha! Reassuring the teen idea is appealing to a teen!

And we have two votes for BEER! YAY!

Elizabeth: I don't think the two YA ones would be LONGER, but the series one has to be much more carefully handled as I want the long-term arc to be compelling.

Simon-if you have an oatmeal stout you can call it breakfast, can't you?

Anonymous said...

I'm on the beer train. I'm reasonably certain I can blame my husband for it since he now owns a shop that sells all the stuff you need to brew your own beer and make your own wine. Still, it's kinda weird since I don't like beer... Yeah for microbreweries! :D

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'd go for the armageddon ones, but that's just me.
Congratulations on getting the other one to your burrow friends!

Cruella Collett said...

Since we're not allowed to vote for the Armageddon ones (I think you do conspiracies beautifully), I'm gonna go with beer too. It does sound like a good set-up, an definitely something you'd be perfect for writing. Then again, you're capable of mastering many genres and styles, so I am confident you'll do great no matter what you choose :)

Hart Johnson said...

Kimberly-Fun that your hubby sells all that stuff! I know some enthusiastic home brewers (sadly, none near enough to provide a supply for me).

Alex and Mari--I WILL do the Armageddon ones. They just aren't stories that can be done FAST--complexity requires a slower plotting...

So it looks like the Micro is still leading...

Shaharizan Perez said...

I'm really interested in the Pleiades. One, because I love astronomy and the name is really cool and two, because it deals with so many issues that my kids (biological and students) face. I say go with the stars!

Old Kitty said...

Oh wow!!! I love love love these ideas!!!! I love em!! Ooooh especially the first one about the dead body!!!! I like that!!!

And also the romantic armageddon for the adults!! A CDC worker and a reporter!! Love that!!

How inspiring!! Take care
x

Aleta said...

As an adult, I'm for the adult armageddon. That said, I think for NaNoWriMo, the Pleiades is the way to go!

Sarah Ahiers said...

my vote is for player down, because i already want to know more

Hart Johnson said...

Okay, and here we have mixed findings!!!! HA! I suppose that is what happens when I ask for opinions... I get varied ones...

Chary-I think your position in the high schools makes that one encouraging. I've THOUGHT the series may be one that could find some footing (I know with YA they prefer series)--not that I couldn't connect the 'Player Down' one, actually...

Jenny--don't get TOO keen on the romance with me... I am more a 'torture them with sexual tension' type... HA!

Aleta-good to hear that Armageddon is appealing to people! I really am in love with the story idea, but MAN is it one that needs to be plotted carefully?!

Sarah--EXCELLENT! Want to know more is GREAT--that is the one I think I would have the EASIEST time working with...

I think i need to make story bibles and see which speaks to me...

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Can I have one of those micro brews when you're finished writing?

LTM said...

I do like the first premise, but I LOVE the micro-brewery idea! That sounds like a great one... go w/that! :D

Walter Knight said...

Combine all your book ideas into a series. No one makes money from just one stand alone book.

Write a series about coffee drinking high school outcasts who solve a murder and flee to escape danger and a plague. I'm serious. I'd go for an alien abduction angle, too. I love Sci/Fi, but that's just me.

Carolyn Abiad said...

Microbrewery. Hands down! It already has the most interesting (implied) details and it's only an idea floating around in your head. Plus the picture is persuasive :)

Hart Johnson said...

L.Diane-help yourself! I can't drink all of them!

Leigh-Thank you! (It IS fun... no doubt about that)

Walter-I think the Microbrewery one could be a series pretty easily, and Pleides is already planned that way--I don't want to mix up the Armageddon stuff with it all though... Those are going to be significantly darker, I think. (not that murder isn't dark...)

Carolyn--yes... persuasive picture--I will give you that!

Southpaw said...

Player Down and Microbrew pushed my curiosity button.

Raquel Byrnes said...

I like the idea of Player Down...sounds like a great read.

Good luck!

Edge of Your Seat Romance

Deb and Barbara said...

I think these all have oodles of potential and possibility. Love them. The one that triggered the most "it has a strong hook" feel with huge marketability for me is Player Down. I mean, that one sounds like it'll write itself. And a great title.
Barbara

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

Oh my, this was very difficult. I like the premise of all of them, but if I had to pick one it would be the adult Armageddon plot.

Erin said...

I really like the Armageddon ones. But it says I'm not allowed so I choose none, I like Armageddon thingys.

Kas said...

Oh you know how I like angsty + real world relatability [which is apparently not a word]. So I like the idea of your YA series.

Beer makes me make that EWW face, but of course that wouldn't stop me from reading it. :)

I think they all sound wonderful, and I think no matter which one you pick, you will do an awesome job!

Cinette said...

I'm not blog hopping because I can't focus on my WIP, not at all!
Go for the Microbrew Semi-Cozies; sounds like a lot of fun!

lisahgolden said...

They all sound really interesting. If the adult Armageddon one isn't on the table for NaNoWriMo (and I definitely understand why) then I vote for the Microbrew Semi-Cozy.

Carol Kilgore said...

I say definitely the microbrew one. And definitely the one you're most passionate about. I hope they're the same.

Hart Johnson said...

Yay so much for so much feedback! For the WriMo, I think I am narrowed to either Player Down or the Micro one (Trouble Brewing?)--at this point, it depends which I have a more cohesive plot for... Player Down has a lot more plot detail, but that is possibly just that the idea formed earlier, so I will work on both (brainstorming) and see.