5 ways motherhood has changed my writing

Happy February everyone!

The last month has been a whirlwind of writing, something that hasn't happened in a very long time. It feels great being in the zone and making progress. In the last 30 days, I've revised and finished first round of edits on Urban Goddess Mama-to-Be (coming out spring 2015), revised 40/180 pages and added 3K new words to Temple of the Moon (coming out summer 2015, stay tuned more to come).

Okay, so maybe that doesn't sound like a lot, but it is for me. And here's why. Motherhood is a time suck. It takes up every ounce of energy that I have, leaving very little to nothing for anything else. I've already blogged about my struggles since becoming a mom here. On top of that I work 40 hours a week at a very mentally demanding job. But since last August, I have been slowly getting my mojo back and it feels great, but my writing process has changed a lot since I started this blog years ago.

1. My Speed. Before Baby (BB), I used to be able to crank out 3-5K works a day, sometimes in one evening. Now if I get 300-500 words done in one day, I consider it a very successful day. I spent the last two years berating myself for this, but over the last few months, I've realized that my slower speed is perfectly okay. At least I'm making progress. Sure, it might take me months to complete a short novel, but I'm okay with that.

2. Writing Time. BB, I used to write in the evening. As soon as the sun went down, all the muses came out to play. Now when it gets dark outside, I'm counting down the minutes when I get to go to bed. I don't have a specific writing time anymore. I have to do it when I have a free moment and that can happen at all hours of the day or night. Most of the time I get any writing done is during the day on the weekend when my husband is home to watch the Boo Creature.

3. Writing Environment. BB, I did most of my writing at home, or on my hour-long public transportation commute each way from work. Now, I do most of my writing at Panera Bread or anywhere outside my home because when I'm home there are way too many distractions. Suddenly the pile of laundry looks more appealing than hashing out a plot and the desire to clean the toilet (my least favorite chore) grows greater than writing the next chapter. Besides my blogging and nonfiction work, everything else takes place outside my home. No complaints here, since I work from home for day job, it's nice to get out and see what the outside world looks like.

4. Motivation. BB, when I'd reach a wall in a WIP, I'd stop and go write something else and when I'd try to edit/revise a completed manuscript, I'd get about 20-50 pages in and stop because I thought the story was crap. Much of that hasn't changed, but now I have this weird motivation I didn't have before. While my gut reaction is to stop and write something else, I wait a couple of hours or days and pick up where I left off. There is a new determination I've never had before to get my fiction out there. One look at my daughter and I know I must do the icky work of editing and revising to get my novel publishing ready.

5. Pantster to Plotster. BB, pantster all the way. Then came prego-brain followed by postpartum brain and I couldn't remember shit. Now I do a little plotting. Not too much, because then I'll loose interest in the story, but enough so I know where I'm going. Michael Hauge's 5 Turning Points has been most helpful.

I'm getting there, folk, I'm getting here. Thanks for stopping by and more to come on Temple of the Moon. 

xoxo,
Melania

4th Sunday Surprise: Mermaids

I've been busting my tail feathers trying to help hubby finish the new flooring in the house, plus canning a bunch of stuff for winter, and finishing up my contest judging assignments, which means I haven't written a darn thing in weeks. Yes, I said I would take a break from writing, but it's so much part of my life that when I don't do it for a week, I start feeling a little crazy. It's all those silly characters in my head who get a little vocal when I don't tell their story, so much so that they think it's appropriate to wake me up at 2 in the morning. *sigh* It's all part of being an author.... 

Speaking of authors, one of my favorite spiritual authors is Doreen Virtue. She writes about working with the angels and elementals (fairies, mermaids, dolphins, unicorns, etc.) Her work is a source of inspiration when I write about the paranormal. I follow her on Facebook and Twitter and she posts videos about her mermaid adventures. Here’s one of them that I really like. It's a little long but so beautiful. Enjoy.

 

3rd Sunday Sweets: Wake by Amanda Hocking

First of all, I have to say I FRIGGEN LOVE Amanda Hocking’s books. My favorite is the Hollows series about a zombie apocalypse, a kick ass girl named Remy, and her pet lion, Ripley. Well, that was until I read Wake.

Wake is the first of the Watersong series. Blurb from Amazon: 

Photo courtesy of www.amandahocking.blogspot.com

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs.  She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door.  He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back.  Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever.  She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove.  They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price.  And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets.

 This book kicks butt. It’s my favorite mermaid novel so far. It’s dark, sexy, and full of suspense while still maintaining the sweetness of the main character. I love the fact that both parents are still alive in this story, though the mother doesn’t live at home, and that Gemma gets in trouble for staying out too late, because that’s what happens to normal teenagers. This makes the story so much more believable than most paranormal YA tales selling these days.

Each character in the book is portrayed so beautifully you can’t help but sympathize with them. Even the siren-bitch-from-hell, Penn. I look forward to reading the rest of the series and am super happy I don’t have to wait a whole year cause book #2 comes out this winter. Get your copy here. And I leave you to enjoy the book trailer.

1st Sunday Snippet: Fins

Happy Labor Day weekend. Hope y’all are doing something fun. I just finished canning 10 pints of pickled green beans & 10 ½ pints of wild berry jam…er…syrup—kinda messed up on the pectin. I can’t believe it’s September already. Where did the summer go? What did I do all summer? *scratches head* Oh well, I love fall, because life seems to settle down and my favorite holidays are just around the corner. But as things slow down, my writing is picking up. I’m currently revising my first mermaid novel, finishing up an adult Christmas novella, and starting a new contemporary YA series. Yeah, I’m crazy. I’ll be keeping my posts fairly short and won’t be doing Friday Fictioneers anymore (even though I absolutely love doing flash fiction).

With that I’m also taking a break from writing this month because we are putting in new floors & my house looks like a construction war zone—NOT conducive to creativity. I’m going to use this time to can, cook, & freeze food I’ll need to eat when I get back into my writing next month. I’m also planning to spending time with friends and family who I’ll be ignoring come October 1. Being a writer is about balance. Sometimes you need to step away from the computer and fill your life with the things that feed that creative spirit.

Today’s Snippet is from the YA mermaid novel. Lorelei just woke up in the Temple of Atlantis where her spirit is trapped in a new body. The priestess has ordered her to be put in a tank.

***

It took a total of three rounds of swimming before I realize that the burning in my throat and lungs have long ceased. I’m breathing underwater. A mixture of calming relief and fiery panic fills every cell of my body as I inhale a lungful of water. As I slowly exhale, I note the small bubbles trickling out of my nose. It’s as refreshing as taking the deepest breath of air first thing in the morning.

“What the hell?” I say, my voice echoing through the tank as if I were inside a large room and not underwater.

I look at the faces lining the outside of the swimming pool-sized aquarium. Smiles break out on each of them, some are even laughing—not at me, but for joy. I gaze up toward the holy lady and Lucian. Both are clapping and look generally pleased.

How can they be happy about this? And what’s in this water that allows me to breathe it in like air? I look down at my body and gasp. My head spins in a woozy spiral.  I’m naked from top up, but that’s not what shocks me. It’s when I see the perfect set of tail fins on the end of my scaly “blanket” that I faint.

2nd Blog Anniversary Givaway

2 years, folks, 2 freaking years I've been blogging about books and writing. This time last year I had about 13 followers and a little over 500 hits, but now I'm up to 36 followers and over 6200 hits. I am blown away. To show my gratitude for your loyalty and support I'm giving away some books. Most of them are even signed plus lots of swag I've picked up at RWA!

Here's what is up for grabs. Prize #1:

Magic in the Sea

Tempest Unleashed by Tracy Deebs, Just for Fins by Tera Lynn Childs, and a surprise 3rd book I will reveal when I draw the winner in two weeks. Lets just say the surprise is AWESOME and worth the wait. Reading the e-version right now & can't put it down. If you can't wait till the reveal, check out my twitter feed about what I'm reading. All three books will be signed.

Prize #2: 

Vampires and Magic

Soul Bound by Mari Mancusi, Dark Frost by Jennifer Estep, and Abandon by Meg Cabot. The first two are signed. Unfortunately Meg wasn't at RWA this year so I couldn't get her to sign her book.

The Rules:
1. Leave a comment stating which prize you would prefer and an email address where I can get a hold of you when you win and an URL of Rule #2.
2. Share- Facebook, tweet, blog, whatever. Don't be selfish, share the love. :)
3. Not required, but if you feel so inclined follow this blog. It will boost your chances of winning that much more.
4. US & Canada residents only, please!

Contest ends at midnight PST on the 25th of this month and I'll post the winner before noon on the 26th. Thank you SOOOOO MUCH and good luck!

4th Sunday Surprise: My 1st Writer's Retreat

Yachets Beach Oregon

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone! Hope you are all enjoying the long weekend and eating lots of yummy food, I know I am. :)

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a writer's retreat in Yachets Oregon with four other awesome writer chicks. One of them was my critique partner, Gina, who I love and adore, and the other gal who I planned with retreat with is one of my RWA chaptermates, Ella Zane, who I met at a conference last year. The other two ladies, Lori & Trudy, were new to me, but they knew Ella. We couldn't have had a more fun group of women.

We arrived Thursday evening and went out to eat at a fine local restaurant, who had the best homemade veggie burger EVER!!! (My mouth is watering just thinking about it.) During dinner we talked about our books and what our goals were for the weekend. My goal was to edit the first two chapters and then get to 15K in my YA by Sunday. When we got back to the house we hit the hot tub & a couple of bottles of wine. (Hot tubs, wine, good food, & the beach or any body of water are a requirement for a successful writing retreat.)

Friday, we had breakfast and then started working, except for me. I needed to clear my brain so I went for a walk to do some plotting and planning.

When I got back I was ready to roll. The first day I got my chapters edited and 2.5K in the bag. Not exacting what I hoped, but progress nonetheless.

Ella, Trudy, & Lori at work.

 Second day, I went back out on the beach and had to think about what I needed to write next. I'm a pantser but I do plan some of what I'm going to write the day of. Since I'm writing a mermaid story, what better place to get inspiration than the beach? Saturday I hit 5K.

Ella & Gina at work.

Sunday morning I woke up early and pounded out the last 2.5K. Meeting my goal felt like I had just climbed Everest and lived to tell the tale. I'm not the only one who met her goal. Ella finished her book (which I can't WAIT to read), Gina manged to get what she needed done, and so did the rest of the girls.

The weekend turned out to be a huge success. And now I'm hooked. We're already planing another one in the fall. :) To me this retreat was like a slice of writerly heaven. Drink wine, talk books, write, hangout & brainstorm in the hot tub until the wee hours of the night. Beautiful sunsets...

Writer's Nirvana, indeed.