Category Archives: Writing

April 16, 2011

On Not Writing

There are a few things that I want to blog about, but those topics are darting around in my mind like hummingbirds on a blend of acid, speed, and high quality Jamaican coffee. Another time perhaps, once they’ve settled into coherency.

For now, I’m half-heartedly dragging myself out of the anti-writing funk that I’d been blaming on winter. Shorter days always kill my energy and creativity levels, but the days are now long enough for me to sneak out for runs after work, so I no longer have that excuse. I won’t call it writer’s block, because I don’t believe in that nonsense. I’m simply not focused and not working hard enough on getting that back. I think about it, but as any published writer will tell you, thinking about publishing and getting through all the steps of writing, editing, and revising are two very different beasts.

I still have time, but I suspect I’m going to miss the anthology call for the gay cowboys. I have six weeks, but despite the full synopsis in my head, I’ve managed to type less than 6k words of a 20k story. Yep, that’s how little focus I have.

But wait, I’m not blogging about this for sympathy, and I’m certainly not whining. Much of it comes down to two things.

One, my paying job is in the investments industry and thus tax season is crazy with “expected overtime” and anxious clients demanding to know why we reported what we did on their tax forms. It’s mentally draining, but it pays the bills.

Second, I’ve been dwelling a lot on publishing houses and the way they do things. This is one of those hummingbirds that I want to let free, but I’m not ready to blog about it just yet. With Summer Lust under contract with Loose Id, I’ve already seen some differences between Silver Publishing and Loose Id. Of course, I expected some, especially after what LI expected of me before offering a contract, and it’s not all one-sided either. Hence the need to sort it all out before diving into it further.

With so many bloggers and forums spouting off about e-publishers, and building my own experiences now, I start to dwell on good homes for my stories while I’m trying to write them. It’s very distracting, even though I have a plan. Even though I fully intend to finish the Personal Demons series for Silver and I fully intend to submit a group of contemporary stories to LI. Even though my plan hasn’t changed since I first signed Fallen, I find the entire matter distracting.

Enough excuses. I’m going to go for a run – the first all week after tearing up my calves pushing too hard with a modified stride – and yes, this helps the writing (the writing, not the injury). My mind focuses on stride, breathing, pace, and cars, but underneath all of that, subtle gears twist and grind laying out upcoming scenes and throwing kinks into the works. Not kinky kinks, dear readers, but those awful things that writers like to do to torment their characters. If I have to work this hard to get them to you, then they’re going to work damn hard for their happily ever after.

Ciao,
Pia Veleno

PS ~ Happy, happy birthday to my Dad. He insists he doesn’t celebrate such things, but I still do. Happy birthday Dad! I’m looking forward to our visit on Easter. Remember that framed needlepoint you always had in your office? I used to think they got your birthday wrong. How appropriate that, with your love of numbers, you were born the day after tax day. I love you!

1 comment | posted in Excuses, In Response, Publishing, Writing

March 27, 2011

Something… Something…

By piaveleno

The problem with a blog is that sometimes I have a lot I want to say and other times I have nothing I deem “of interest” to the general public. While I’m in the mind frame of the latter, I also don’t like letting too much time pass on my author blog. As a reader, the lack of current news on an author’s site always disappoints me. After all, how else can I stalk my favorite writers?

Kidding… Really!

So without further ado, here’s a little something…

Man Whore started off with a bang right out of the release gate. Sales for this first step in a long series of stories have made me happy. Reviews are slow in coming, but it took quite a while for Fallen to catch the interest of a formal review site too, so I’m holding my breath, turning blue, and sulking for now. On GoodReads, the ratings aren’t where I’d like them to be, and part of me suspects that the set up for the rest of the series might have left people confused instead of wanting more, but there aren’t enough responses to know just yet. Again, holding my breath and waiting.

Enough sulking! In other news, my editor for Summer Lust dropped me a quick email to say that Loose Id hasn’t set an official release date yet. I love her for that! While yes I’m eager to get a date set and dive into edits, it made my day that she knew I would be anxious and headed that off with a quick note to let me know she knew and told me she was on top of it. Maybe she’s just trying to cushion the blow of the red pen to come, but I’m happy for now. I’m still hoping for a summer date, but when I know, you’ll know. I promise.

Other random fictional updates include:

© I’m back into writing the untitled cowboy story that popped into my head when a certain anthology call was announced. I’ve tweaked the original storyline to give it a darker, nastier moment to blow up the budding relationship. I might be enjoying that torment a bit too much.

© The sequel to Man Whore, now dubbed MW#2 because I’m going through my hate-every-title phase, has been hit or miss as far as adding words to a manuscript. I have an outline and know what needs to happen next, but the boys aren’t flowing through my mind like they did for Man Whore. I’m not pushing it since I’m distracted by Man Whore’s release anyway.

© While there is a musician story listed on my WiPs page, it is on hold until I finish a draft of something – anything – else. I prefer to have one draft sitting while I edit another. It’s a timing thing. So I’ll get back to the musician as soon as the cowboy or Placebo is drafted.

© Placebo? Yep. Stay tuned for more on that one. That title will stay because it has multiple meanings for the story it’ll represent. It’ll be about the crutch of a relationship, betrayal, and standing on one’s own. It’s still in the planning stages, and a fairly new story concept, but it is clamoring for attention in my mind, and I really want to give the Muse the reins on this one.

Not too shabby, huh?

The month is quickly drawing to a close. While I was going to wait until I see a royalty statement to draw a winner for the second round of the Man Whore contest, I doubt we’ll get to the qualifier for a third drawing, so after the end of the month, pop in and check to see who won the second and, if you haven’t liked my Facebook Book News page, go do so to get that extra entry.

Happy Spring, dear readers. It’s a paltry 34 degrees this morning, but I saw buds on the little willow tree near my driveway. The warm weather will be here soon, even if it is rather late this year.

Ciao,
Pia Veleno

–
http://www.piaveleno.com

Leave a comment | posted in Make You Sweat (formerly Summer Lust), Man Whore, Promo, Writing

February 10, 2011

A Study In Character

By piaveleno

My commute to the Evil Day Job is my thinking time. Quite often I chat with characters, work out new ideas or flaws for them, or otherwise write. Yes, I write while I drive. If you’re not familiar with this concept, it’s a topic for at least one full blog post, if not several. Later.

Today, my own characters didn’t come to play. Instead, I found myself wondering how a certain vampire fared lately. It’s been a while since I’ve read his story, and even though his writer posts weekly updates online — much like I do with CRANK, but from the vampire’s viewpoint, and without the pretty gay boys — I still haven’t seen him.

I can’t. I think of his writer when I try.

Sadly, his creator and I had a falling out. The details aren’t important, but I am getting around to my point.

This isn’t the first time I’ve stopped reading an author that behaved in an offensive manner–

No wait, I already wrote that blog post.

My point today is simply wondering how much of ourselves we put into our characters, and how much of our characters we’d like to see in ourselves. This vampire I suddenly found myself missing this morning was never afraid to say it how he saw it. I also wondered if that was something this writer would like to be able to do better. Maybe things would’ve ended differently between us (or not ended at all), if the subject of distress had been revealed point-blank. Maybe.

Of course, during this line of thought, Morgan pipes up laughing. Morgan is my man whore, and so he asks me if I want to be more sexual. Shut up, Morgan. You’re my extrovert and you’re my starving artist. Go fuck something.

Despite Morgan’s objections, I do have a better example. Eden and Bel’s story (Bound By Love) starts with an established relationship. It is a story of undying love and faith, and of what one person would do for the person he loves. I’m not the most romantic person (that laughter is my Hubby – hush, you!) but I do get very protective of those that mean something to me. Yes, I’d travel to Hell for him, though I’m not so confident in my abilities to get back on my own.

Bel’s unflagging determination to save his cherished Eden is a part of me. His stubbornness in earning Eden’s trust less so. (Yes, dear, I’m stubborn, I know. Hush. I’m talking about earning friendships here.) Maybe I should study these characters more. Perhaps, with a lesson from Bel’s past, I could talk to the vampire again. After all, Bel and Eden tried to kill each other when they first met. The writer and I have yet to go that far. Even on paper.

Bound by Love will be available from Silver Publishing this Saturday. Click HERE for more information.

Ciao,
Pia

PS I still love you, even if we can’t get along.

–
http://piaveleno.com

1 comment | posted in friendship, I am, ramblings, Writing

January 19, 2011

Bearing Distraction

By piaveleno

I’m going to admit it up front. I’m blogging because I’m not writing fiction. There, I said it. I admitted it. It didn’t help me find my focus.

Darn.

The truth is, as I was writing Man Whore and I realized that there was more to the story than the story itself, I thought having a series of books with established characters would help me focus on writing. Ah, no. As writers are wont to do, I have been as distracted as usual by those shiny, sparkly things called new ideas.

I’ve worked out a compromise with myself on those. I jot down the basic concept and write a brief scene or two to capture the feel of the character’s moods and behavior, and then I stuff it in my Dropbox folder for future reference – you know, those days when I can’t decide what to work on. I’ll tell you that this method has created more stories than I could ever write, but this week, it’s not helping me actually accomplish any writing.

It’s not the shinies distracting me this week. It’s the bear in me. No, not that kind of bear. I mean the kind that hibernate all winter. I haven’t had the energy to exercise, or really do anything besides shuffle through a day at the EDJ and then come home, maybe eat, before staring into space from the discomfort of a worn out sofa.

There are a few tricks left to try. I’m not giving up yet, though I have been tempted to admit defeat and make my writing year March through November. That’s an option, but not the first on the list. So instead, I’m going with superstition. You see, the last couple of times I’ve bellyached about lack of focus on my blog, I’ve ended up writing by the end of the day. It’s as if the infamous Muse wants to make me look bad, or prove me wrong, or…

Yes, my subconscious mind fucks with me. There, I said it.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to work on that sequel. C’mon fingers – type!

Ciao,
Pia

http://www.piaveleno.com

Leave a comment | posted in Excuses, I am, Writing

January 6, 2011

One of those boring Year in Review rambling posts.

By piaveleno

Time is flying by. It seems like just yesterday that I finally snapped and decided I had to put some serious effort into getting published. Sure, I had been talking about it a lot and I had made myself a lot of promises, but I hadn’t done much towards that goal. I’d written a ton of words, even edited a few pages, but I hadn’t TRIED.

Some time in 2010, I broke. In my mind something snapped and said, just fucking do it already. Stop talking about it and take the steps you know you need to take. Done. Now there are many more (steps, that is), but the foundation has been set and good habits have been started.

By the time we rang in the New Year, Fallen had been accepted and published. I remember the day I found out. We were running late to drive up to Maine to visit the in-laws and I made us even later when I saw that email. I had to drop all of my packing and preparing to read the contract, sign it, and send it back. That was only after reading the offer email three times on my smart phone, switching to the desktop and reading it again, and then finally telling the Hubby the good news. Hubby, despite his strong loathing for being late for anything developed a boatload of patience that morning. (Or maybe I simply didn’t not notice from my stunned daydream state.)

Also by January 1st, two more stories have been accepted and revised with a wonderful editor. Both are due to be released in the first quarter of 2011, and I was delighted to share the new cover for one at a gathering of friends just a couple of hours before midnight on December 31st. It’s been a helluva ride and I’m looking forward to these next two releases with such nervousness and eagerness. Do the nerves ever settle? I hope not!

Lastly, but certainly not due to value, a wonderful editor at Loose Id has shown interest in Summer Lust. I took some great advice from a rejection letter and revised the story. In return, I received another suggestion. At first I was frustrated that it still wasn’t good enough, but that changed to inspiration as I realized that these revisions are not only challenging me as a writer, but making me and the story better. I hope to have the story back in the editor’s hands by the end of January.

For the coming year, I intend to write the sequel to Man Whore, tentatively titled Love and Duty. I also hope to write the third book in the series, but given my timing, that probably will not be released this year. (I’ll be happy if it’s drafted and in edits by then.) Also on the 2011 docket: major revisions of the NaNo manuscript, a new paparazzi story, and the potential rewriting of Crank’s first story in novel format. It’ll be a busy year, but I like it that way. Writing is cathartic, just like running. I run for physical healing and I write for mental survival. Come enjoy it with me.

Ciao,
Pia

Leave a comment | posted in Publishing, Writing

December 26, 2010

Snow Me In

By piaveleno

We’re expecting our first Nor’easter of the season today. The wood stove is pouring out heat, but we haven’t seen a single flake yet (except those on the TV, but even the Pats, in Buffalo, are only getting flurries).

With no special plans for the next two days, I’m looking forward to this storm. I’ll curl up on the sofa with some tea and my laptop, typing away at edits or drafting a new story. I should probably run out and grab some meat and creamer, but I avoid the grocery store when weather predictions are foul. People get crazy before a big storm, stocking up on … well, I don’t even know what. Full carts block aisles and hold up check out, and for what? Because we might be snowed in for a day, maybe a day and a half?

I’ll make do with what we have in the kitchen, thank you.

My final revision for Bound by Love is with my editor. I’m excited for this release. Monti, my editor for this one, had a great suggestion to tweak the ending. While I didn’t use her suggestion, it inspired a better one than what I had. For a short story, there’s plenty to read – demons, a fallen angel, a magical ring, and (maybe best of all) a wingasm.

Bound by Love will be available from Silver Publishing on February 12^th for their Valentine’s Day themed releases.

Next up on the list today is CRANK. It’s hard to believe I used to post to that freebie twice a week last year. Now weekly, it still seems like I just finished a chapter when it’s time to think about writing the next one.

It’s still a passion, no matter the work involved.

Down the road, I hope to put the first story together in one document for eReader enjoyment. I have no date for that just yet, but if one of my dear Readers has some experience and ideas for a book cover for CRANK, please let me know. I would pay for properly designed art. (piathewriter@gmail.com)

Happy Snow Day!

Ciao,
Pia

Leave a comment | posted in Crank, Publishing, Writing

December 20, 2010

Caught up? Never.

By piaveleno

With two big projects off my plate this weekend, I should relax and take a day off.

Yeah, right!

Line edits for Man Whore have been returned to my editor for another round of revisions and Summer Lust has been resubmitted to the same editor that was kind enough to take the time to give me a helpful and detailed rejection. Line edits for Bound By Love, my Valentine’s Day release, are in my inbox, but at 11k that story shouldn’t take long at all to review and approve.

So now what?

I’m anxious to start the sequel to Man Whore, but I don’t want to dive into that manuscript until Man Whore is final. I don’t want to cross wires, thinking about edits on one while drafting the other. I’ll have my chance soon. We’re close.

After reviewing my plans for these last couple of months, I see how my priorities shifted. Yes, I completed NaNo, though with the second story being the V-day short instead of the beginning of Adam’s story. That’s acceptable, even better than the original goal. I haven’t, however, started editing the NaNo manuscript. I spent that time addressing the changes recommended for S.L. and line edits for M.W. Good changes to the goal, again.

Undecided for January, I’m considering a gay cowboy request from a Twitter friend, and a second cowboy story for Amber Allure’s open call, but to be honest, Adam’s story will likely take priority since I don’t want to leave too much time between books in a series. Along with that first draft of that, I should focus on the first revision of the NaNo mess, Crowded and Alone (though I really, really, really hate that title now, I don’t have a better one yet.)

Until then, for the rest of the month, I’ll try to catch up on reading, sketch out some new CRANK chapters, and hopefully get in a few more runs before the nastier side of winter arrives in my neighborhood.

Have a great year end, dear Readers. I’ll try to post again before then, but if I don’t, be safe and have a Happy New Year!

Ciao,
Pia

PS Fallen is #3 on the GoodReads list for Best Gay Angels. Have you voted yet?
http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4828.Best_Gay_Angels

Leave a comment | posted in editing, Man Whore, NaNoWriMo, Resolutions, Writing

December 8, 2010

Will It

By piaveleno

Doubt creeps in, sneaking slowly, like those silly horror movies, where the giant tarantula or a hungry python slowly approaches the sleeping human.

I don’t log in to check my sales figures every day, or not even once a week, but I did last night. I suspect there may be a delay in figures since I’ve had more people tell me they downloaded the book last two weeks than are showing up on the report, but still, even if I rounded up, I’m a bit disappointed.

Yes, I know, this after I wrote in the last blog entry that I expected slow reception. No, today I won’t take my own advice. I’m puzzled by low sales because CRANK has faired well. Okay, so CRANK is free, but…

Anyway, today I’m combating the doubt. I’m not giving in to it. Not completely. I can’t not write, even if I chose to give up the publishing goals. I can chose to keep stories to myself or free online so I don’t torment myself with revisions and line edits, but I’m not at that point either. Today I’m simply venting frustration so that I can approach those revisions with a clear head.

As for progress, I’ve set aside C&A to stew. It needs some work, and I think I know where, but clearing it from my mind for a week or two will help solidify those needs. It’s also going back to being called Untitled because, while I don’t hate “Crowded and Alone”, I don’t love it either. Perhaps I’ll post the blurb and let my wonderful readers come up with a title. Would you be interested in that?

In other writing news, I did write that Valentine’s Day submission. It involves an angel, a group of blood-thirsty demons, and shadowfire magic (borrowed from an upcoming release). I’ll let you know (of course) if it’s accepted and when it’ll be available if it is.

Lastly, I’m nearly finished with the Summer Lust revisions. I am excited about that story. I received wonderful feedback from Loose Id when they declined the manuscript, and through that, I believe it’s a stronger story. I’m grateful that the editor who caught my query took the time to write a personalized response. Keep your fingers crossed that this revision does the trick. I think it might.

Will. I think it will.

Will. It will.

Ah, that’s a bit better. Just blogging about writing has relieved some of the lurking doubt. It’s still out there, but it’s drawn back a bit. Perhaps a skim through those revisions will banish it to the shadowy corner where I can’t see it if I don’t look.

Ciao,
Pia

1 comment | posted in editing, I am, Make You Sweat (formerly Summer Lust), WiPs, Writing

November 7, 2010

Writing, Reading, and Other Stuff

By piaveleno

I haven’t been reading much, but what I’ve read I’ve reviewed (ish) over on GoodReads. I’m letting myself get too busy with writing and that needs to stop. When a writer doesn’t read, it shows in her words. I’ve seen it in my own stories, and so I need to start scheduling reading time as a required activity and not just a ‘for fun’ thing to do in my spare time.

That being said, I’ve finished Blacque/Bleu by Belinda McBride (a contest win that had been on my TBR list), Come Back to Me by Lisa Marie Davis (a GoodReads group challenge to which I had mixed reaction), Broken by Sage Whistler (surprisingly sweet twincest), and A Vampire in Waikiki (my first AJ Llewelyn book, despite following him on Twitter for over a year). Head on over to GoodReads if you want to see what else is on my shelf.

Back to the writing front. I have over 12k words on the new WiP, tentatively titled Crowded and Alone. At this rate, it’ll be done by the third week of November. At that point, I’ll start the sequel to Man Whore, or the line edits on Man Whore itself, depending on my editor’s time table. If I’m editing book #1, I’ll write something else so I don’t have to think about the same characters in both a technical and a creative sense. There’s plenty to choose from, including two others with rough outlines that can be started at the drop of a hat, so I’m not worried about scheduling a line up for new WiPs yet.

Fallen has received two reviews on GoodReads, and a handful of ratings without reviews on other distribution sites. It’s slow going, but I’ve heard the first one usually is, so I’m being patient. I had promised myself to send out emails requesting reviews this weekend, but begging for reviews isn’t really my thing. Yes, I know I need to get out there and get seen, but I’d rather not nag. Besides, the publisher sent the ARC out to over a dozen different review sites close to the release date. It might be too soon to request one personally. Undecided, I let it slip to next weekend’s To-Do list.

With all this writing stuff going on I’m still running, but I don’t know how that’s going to fit into the week through the winter. This week, if work didn’t keep me late, I could just barely get a 5k run in after hours and before dark. With the Daylight Savings thing kicking in this weekend, I won’t have time to run outdoors safely during the work week. There’s a gym not too far from me that I could join, but let’s face it, running on a treadmill is mind-numbingly boring. I’ll figure something out. I hope. Time will tell.

Ciao,
Pia

Leave a comment | posted in NaNoWriMo, Publishing, Reading, Writing

September 8, 2010

Taming the Whore

By piaveleno

My focus has come undone.

Sometimes, I get stuck on a WIP because I’ve been working on it too long and too hard. When that happens, I take a break – a couple of days, no more than a week – and then I can work on it again with little to no problem. Morgan’s Story, over a week later, is still beyond my concentration level.

Okay, fine. This happens sometimes too. Just like with reading, I can (and must) have three to four writing projects going at once. Currently, Morgan is the main story, plus I have Summer Lust with beta readers and Crank scheduled out for a couple of more weeks. I’ve been antsy to start something new.

I gave in to that urge last week, handwriting a few scenes between Sebastian and Reed. They seem to be getting along well, and Reed revealed the big bang of the story, but I’m not ready to dive in just yet. Something is still missing there. Also in the character sandbox are an imprisoned vampire and a transgendered adventurer. I have a good sense of direction for both of those stories, but both will require more focus than is available during this final editing phase of Morgan’s Story.

So what to do? What to do?

Writing is a passion, but it’s also a job. I haven’t received that first paycheck yet, but it’ll be coming along soon. I cannot simply give into the “bleh” feeling and ignore the work that needs to be done. I did force out a scene for Morgan’s Story simply because I refuse to be victim of Writer’s Block. I don’t buy that excuse because that is exactly what it is, an excuse. The scene wasn’t my best, but I did write it. I intend to cop that attitude again today. Just write. Just get it done. After all, if I showed up at the office today and told the boss of my bill-paying job that I was “blocked”, he’d insist I work anyway. And, I would.

So, Morgan, it’s time for us to get to work. Please get dressed, you incorrigible whore.

Ciao,
Pia

Leave a comment | posted in I am, Morgan, Writing