Category Archives: Writing

Creating New Things

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Hello there, how are things? Well, it’s been a busy week. What with work, and stuff.

Actually, work has been quiet lately, I’ve been busy with writing, planning and editing, and it’s been a lot of fun.

I was planning on writing Hope’s story next in the Racing Harts story, but I’m not sure now. The reason? I had a dream the other night, and have a plan for a sequel to my ice planet story – oh, sorry, Shards of Ice. It’s based in the future from the original story, and it’s their son, who’s an arrogant so and so, but he’s redeemable. The story idea is just about all there, but then, so is Hope’s story. And then I have my Dragon shifters story that I need to get back to, but I have a feeling that story might have to be written, divided up and then edited and published in one big heap…only because at the moment, it seems to be a neverending story, and I really want to split it up with different characters in each story. I guess this needs more planning.

I’ve also been working on a personal project for my partner’s sister, I started it two years ago for her 50th birthday, and then ended up in lockdown, so didn’t get to give it to her. I’m revamping it and making it better than it was, and I have to have it finished by next week, because my partner is heading up north to see her.

I also have another personal writing project that I want to work on, it’s a non-fiction book, and it’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. It is something that would benefit all creatives, not just writers. This is still in the planning stages, so won’t be happening anytime soon.

And I’ve also been talking to a friend about websites and colours, and I have some new colours that I want to try out on my website, make it a cohesive site, bring the fonts and colours and covers together. I think it will work, I have the colours, I just need to find time to work on the website now.

I love being creative and having creative time, what about you?

Take care out there.

Catherine

A New Season

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Yay, spring is here! Well, not technically, but today is the first of September, which is the first day of Spring, but we’ve had daffodils flowering since April, so perhaps it’s actually autumn???

Well, it has been a busy week for me, not at work, but writing-wise. Had two days off work last week because of rain, which sounds nice, but it isn’t. Not normally, but these two days I used to format up Compromising Positions ebook for Advanced readers, and I put something out in my newsletter about that. If you didn’t get my newsletter, why not? You should be able to sign up if you are on my website.

So, I have a pre-order up for Compromising Positions as well, it will be launched on 1 November 2024. Two books in one year! I know!

Not only that, but after to-ing and fro-ing over my plot in Racing Harts, Faith’s story, I have finally decided on the course of action, and I’m near the finish line, only like 5 or 6 chapters away. Considering I knock out about half to a chapter each time I write, that could be done by next week. And I actually did write every day last week, except for the weekends, because, well, I like to have a break too.

And I am working through the Sam Healey edits. Slowly, very s l o w l y… I’m dragging my feet on that, and I can’t really explain why. I guess I felt that formatting Compromising Positions was more where I needed to spend my time. (I wasn’t procrastinating at all, I promise…)

Anyway, how is your week going? Anything exciting happening in your world?

Take care

Catherine

Critiquing (or Beta) Blues

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I sent off the first eight chapters of Finding Sam Healey to my critiquing partners the other day. The results were mixed; one was confused about who died, they loved Tom (Sam’s husband), and one edited the entire section.

It’s quite scary to let a piece of your story go, and to have others look at it for the first time. By the time the book is up for sale, it’s been through a few hands, so it’s not as frightening to let others read it. Hopefully, by the time it’s published, it is polished and ready to go out.

The critique manuscript is first or second personal edits. It hasn’t been in the hands of the editor, or your ARC (Advance Reader Copy) team, its straight out of your brain and onto the screen.

When you critique, or beta read, these terms can be interchangeable, you’re looking for any basic problems with the plot and structure of the manuscript. You’re looking to see if the characters are likeable and readable, if the story moves forward, if there is a storyline, a theme perhaps.

When you get a script back which has lots of comments on it, you know that something isn’t right, and if the comments are in the same place, you know you have a problem. Mine came back with lots of comments, but not all in the same place. The funniest one was that one of them got so confused in the beginning about who died that she wasn’t sure who was who anymore. The other reader didn’t have that problem, so I’m presuming that isn’t a general problem in the script. However, some legalese that I had in there, was a problem, so that is something I need to work on.

It’s only the first eight chapters, which is mainly letters anyway, but it can be painful and disheartening to read through the comments at first, until you give it a day, and remember that it is MY story, and I can take what they said to heart and accept it, or I can just flatten out those mistakes and move on.

I’m choosing to fix the mistakes and move forward – otherwise no one will ever get to read Finding Sam Healey.

Post Conference Thoughts

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Some of you probably didn’t realise that I hadn’t posted a blog, or any of my usual posts on Social Media last week, it’s because I was at the Romance Writers Conference, creating havoc and merry hell with these two…

Janet Elizabeth Henderson, myself and Carole Brungar

Well, actually, Carole and I behaved ourselves, it was Janet that seemed to be behind all the mischief, she is so much fun, and it was the first time I’d met her, even though we’ve been friends for a few years now. And it was fabulous to hang out with Carole, we’re writing buddies, we check in with each other regularly to make sure we’re on task.

The conference was amazing, full of interesting people, great presenters and amazing talks. I managed to ace it with all of the workshops I attended last weekend, none of them were duds. I got to meet Cathy Yardley, Becca Symes, Sacha Black and Fiona McArthur. They are amazing authors themselves, and Cathy, Sacha and Becca also run Author businesses supporting other writers in their creative endeavours.

On Monday, Mr H and I were chased from Christchurch to Wineborough by a front that caught us at Kaikoura where it rained, blew like billy-o and hailed. Apparently a similar squall went through Christchurch, probably about the same time.

We spent the night in Wineborough before heading home on Tuesday, and then I had to return to work on Wednesday, but I had post conference blues by that stage. I’d felt so inspired and on fire when surrounded by like minded people, but when you are away from them, you feel less like doing things.

This week I’ve also came to the strange realisation that I don’t like writing the last 25% of the story, because I don’t want to put my characters through the dark moment. It’s not a normal thing, but it is for me, I guess it’s some kind of trauma response, but I also recognise that they are going to get back together again, but my characters become quite real within my head, and they are the one’s arguing against it. Now that I know that, I can assure them that it’s okay (even when they do argue against me), and that they will have their happily ever after.

I got Compromising Positions back from my editor, and I have finished those edits. I have it up on pre-order, which I will announce in my newsletter (make sure you’re signed up for that…)

I’ve also started the editing process on Finding Sam Healey, I’m loving this story, and can’t wait to dive back into it.

And so, back to your regularly scheduled program… lol

What have you been up to this week?

Getting into the Swing of Things

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I got my edits back from my editor for Compromising Positions, and she really liked it. It’s always a good thing when you editor likes your work. So I am slowly working through these edits as well as my Finding Sam Healey edits.

And I’m still writing Faith’s story. I know, I know, I should have finished by now, and I honestly wished I had, but I haven’t really been knuckling down in the mornings and writing. But that will change this week. I will knuckle down and write, except for Thursday, because I’m heading down to Christchurch for the Romance Writers of New Zealand conference.

I went to the last one in Wellington two years ago, and I’ve been looking forward to this one, in Christchurch. I’m looking forward to catching up with Carole Brungar and Janet Elizabeth Henderson, two of my writing friends to be able to sit and chat with them in person, rather than through Messenger.

Because the conference is over a weekend, I will try and blog next Monday, but I’m taking the long way home, via Kaikoura and staying in Wineborough for a night with my Mum before heading back to Motropolis.

I always come away from the conference feeling inspired and excited and fired up, so I’ll either finish Faith there, or I won’t be far away from finishing it when I get back.

Chugging Right Along

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I’m happy to report, that I am actually writing and editing, although editing is STILL at the note taking stage. That’s because I keep getting caught up in the story and have to read the page rather than skim read it. I’m excited to get back into Sam Healey’s world.

I’ve also been writing on Faith’s story, and thinking a little ahead to Hope’s story, which I think will be a grumpy / sunshine story. It was going to be friends to lovers, but it’s not a trope I enjoy reading, so I thought, why push myself to write something I don’t like, and I do enjoy a good grumpy sunshine story. Also, I’m thinking of making her love interest big and tattooed… just playing with ideas at this stage.

My mental health is on an upswing, which is unusual for this time of the year for me. But I’m taking it as a positive and have some plans around my health that I will be implementing on the next few months. It’s all good and I’m excited that I am finely feeling good again.

Getting Stuck In

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This week has been all about getting stuck in and getting jobs done. Writing, editing, tidying, cleaning, gardening, you name it, I probably did it.

I’ve been writing in the mornings before work again, which has been good. I have to keep reminding myself that I haven’t written myself into a corner, because I know where I want the story to go, it’s just that I seem to keep going off in tangents. I’m hoping to get myself out of that thought pattern tomorrow.

Editing has been a bit slower, I haven’t finished my skim reading, because everytime I start, I actually read through the chapter, which isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing. I’m hoping to get into the full edits this week.

I’ve also started cooking Japanese food, Udon soups, ramen meals, rice dishes, I’ve been making them all, and even had a go at crispy pork. Strangely you don’t seem to need as much food when eating Japanese. I’ve also been looking into some of their philosophy, and I’ve been trying to follow some of them, like cleaning every day. I try and clean every day, and following this theory is actually refreshing.

Work has been all about catching up on the small jobs that tend to get left and become big jobs. Getting in and finishing a big job makes me feel good and I like feeling good about my work. At home, I pruned my roses this weekend, so again, feeling like I’ve accomplished something.

How was your week?

Getting my Act Together

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After feeling under the weather for a few weeks, this week I have actually started to feel better. Each day I woke up with less of a rattly chest and less nose draining into my throat. I’m still not 100%, but I am getting there.

And a lot has happened in a week. I finished the edits on Compromising Positions, and that is now with my editor. I started writing again, and got about 1800 words written on Racing Harts, Faith’s story. I’m about two thirds of the way through, so I need to get that final push to get it finished. I’ve set a deadline of 31 July, but I probably won’t get it, but it will be close.

I’ve also started editing Finding Sam Healey (originally called Finding Sam’s Family). And this is what the first pass of editing looks like:

The first pass is a skip read, while writing notes. This helps when I am doing the next part, which is a chapter by chapter read through, and I can add in the bits I’ve commented on (or delete, depending on the note.)

I have to admit that the moment I started re-reading this, I got excited about diving into it. Oh, and the reason I changed the name of the story – to fit in better with Finding Amy Archer. I hope to use this type of title in future stories about women finding themselves.

So I’ve been busy, a little. I can’t say that I’ve written every day, but I have started again, and I have been doing my pass through on the first round of these edits.

So what has your week looked like?

Take care

Catherine

The light at the end of the tunnel

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After four weeks of illness, I think (touch wood) that I might finally be starting to feel better. I’m running on 80% at the moment, but that is way better than I was.

I have to say that I managed a walk yesterday, and while the wind was cold, and it made me cough, it was nice to get out and about. The previous week, I couldn’t wait to get home, so that’s a win for me.

I have also finished editing Compromising Positions. It just needs a final grammar / spelling check and then it is off to my editor. I’m excited about this story, but also a little nervous. I hope that I managed to get a decent romance coming through. I love the story and the dance of the three main characters and how they interact.

I’m hoping that I will get back into writing next week and I can knock out the last bit of Faith’s story in Racing Harts. I’ll also get to start on my first edit of Finding Sam Healey, which is in my Finding Yourself series.

So how was your week?

Peace and Quiet

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It was all go until 31 May, now it is quiet. And tomorrow is King’s Birthday weekend, so a long weekend to relax.

I’ve finished my assignments and handed them all in.

Second-Hand Daughter has launched.

And I have so many things I could be doing, and I really don’t feel like doing much. I’ve spent time in the garden weeding, planting and trimming, and napping.

I haven’t written much or edited. I’m just enjoying having some quiet time after a busy few months. It doesn’t mean I’ve given up on writing, or crafting, it just means that I’m having a week holiday. I will back into editing this week, with Compromised Positions being the next up, and that will be released later this year! So excited about that.

But in the meantime, I’m relaxing and taking some me-time.