To be or not to be...NOT "to be"

Okay y'all. Ya girl is editing Ace, writing a short story for an anthology, and generally roasting her ass off.

While editing Ace, I took out my crutch words. You know the ones. They add nothing to the narrative, but you're obscenely fond of them. I've taken "just" out of my vocabulary and simply won't add it anywhere in my books now. I use "actually" a lot. That gets the axe. "That". "Had". "Then". "So". 

I also stumbled upon a new favorite: to be. Are they, or aren't they? FFS

I'm not even going to delve into all the "to be"s I homicided in book 3 of my Plot Twist series. But it took a long damn minute to do.

You see, we evolve. And that means when we can't reach the old standbys...we fill in something else. 

Word of warning:  You can create crutch words or phrases--no matter where you are in your writing career. 

Embarrassing as fuck. But human nature.

When I'm in the flow, I write to create. Adding in chapter numbers comes in later. I did that today. I'm sure some have a fancy spreadsheet with all the info. I use a colored index card to write down chapter number and page. Quick, easy, and doable for me.

These books came so quickly that the first edit is akin to gazing upon an unattractive infant. It's appearance is not quite what you expected, but you love it anyway.

Story is solid. Spelling in on-point. But correcting usage, homonyms, and grammar mistakes take time. 

Don't get me wrong. Not knocking it. I love it. I feel as though I've created a deep bond with these characters, and I absolutely revel in it.

My literary fam.

Am I procrastinating working on both the editing and writing by typing up this blog?

I should know better...

...but I don't.

Couldn't fall asleep last night. Too much creativity. Too many ideas. If I hadn't taken my nocturnal cocktail, I simply would've gotten up and continued the writing and adjacent items. But I did. No midnight typing for me.

But, The Murphenator woke me at 2:08 wanting to share my pillow. Which is cool, of course, until he starts to make biscuits on my cheek. Then it is decidedly less than frosty.

I get up and give him his can of wet food and attempt to fall back asleep.

*insert hysterical laughter*

Rolled out of bed around 2:30. Cleaned the kitchen and adjourned to the Sanctuary to write a bit on my ideas. Stayed up until 6:00. Rolled back out of bed at 9:30. 

Back in the Sanctuary to prepare for this Saturday, could have said Friday before--I know🙄, and the Romance Book Festival in Guthrie, Oklahoma. 

Uber excited.

Not uber excited about taking on a flight of stairs. 

I firmly believe that every building should have an access to second floors and basements and whatnot for handicapped people. Isn't that a law?

Antyway, had to check with a publisher to make sure I only signed up for one story in their many anthologies. I simply don't trust myself, at this point.

Lo and behold, thank you Lordt, that's it. 

And that's one of the unholy reasons I couldn't sleep last night. 

Idea after idea. Ended up using my "Notes" on my phone which I hate. Talk to text.

Because I think I'm enunciating clearly while it thinks I talk like Reba McEntire. 

(No offense, woman. I love your twang.) 

And oh shit! I forgot to tell you, I haven't gotten to it a second time yet for editing, but there's either book 4 or 5 in the Plot Twist series which has a word in it that I can't figure out for the life of me. Like yeah, I typed that. But obviously didn't mean whatever the blue fuck was put down. 😶

That's a problem for Tomorrow Crystal. 

Today Crystal has enough going on.

The voices need to chill.

I hear dialogue in my head. I have odd notions come to me all hours of the day. Last night, I misspelled a single word and now have an idea for another book.

But holy shit balls. The voices? They are on blast.

Before I wrote full-time, I would have to parse the voices. When I didn't have time, I would nail the doors shut and hope to fuck they didn't break. Because I'm a full immersion type chickie. When I'm in...I'm IN.

And when I open the door to my creativity and don't try to actively block it, the voices have a rave.

I'm editing two books right now and have all sorts of ideas and, wouldn't you know it, the last sentence of  "The Rabbit God". In true Crystal form, the book I haven't started writing yet.

I've tried to put the feral folks in my Mind Cabin (more of a chalet) and have them calm the fuck down. But voices are raised. Confetti is flying. And those obnoxious little horn screamer things are at full volume.

I should put a sedative in the water, shouldn't I?

New office toy!

Writing-my first love. Gathering everything related to writing-my second love.

I've expounded on my hundreds of pens, thousands of post-it notes, and numerous notebooks and planners. Received the comb binding machine for Christmas. Have my own fucking laminator!

And now, I present the Niimbot B1:

Isn't she beautiful? *sigh*

Now, all I need is Excalibur and a unicorn to take over the world. 

😁

Different kind of morning

Not too different. Did a pick up for drugs and food at WM. Then had to unpack and put that shit up. Thought I was having heatstroke. Had to sit down for a bit. I run so damn hot. I have it on 67 in my car. I have two fans on me right now. One is two feet from my person. 

Antyway...I usually blog first. Then post, when I remember and feel like it. That segues into my writing. Did I tell you I finished "The Gordons"? Yes, indeedt. I did. My mind is picking apart "The Rabbit God" as I type this. And when I try to fall asleep. And when I'm cooking. And in the shower. 

And it's delicious. All excited about a book that won't be out until April.

But isn't that how all authors are or should be? Every book is a new piece of the sum of us. The discovery is crucial to the process. 

I could compare it to baking a cake. Or fixing a car. Or open-heart surgery.

But let's be honest here. Even if you're a plotster, and I both envy and forgive you, you still don't have every sentence typed out as a guideline to go by. Something can still surprise you. 

Surprises in the aforementioned tasks would not be a good thing. In writing? It's exhilrating. 

PA already made my first graphic. And it's so cool and different from my offerings. I'm a basic bitch, I suppose. 

This Bill Nye meme gives me life. Because I'm a nerdy author like that.

My new daily routine will consist of writing, editing, and only making graphics when I want to.🥳🎉

With that being said, I'm off to edit "The Morrigan" for the fifth time. 

Oh, and also story build for a short Christmas story published by ASB Publishing. 

Possibly work on another short story for another anthology next year. 

FFS...I need another fan.

O to the K then

I have a PA! 😭

My short ass is so happy. Spent all morning sending graphics she can access to make content and post. 

And took an hour after writing that sentence to work out more issues.

I really don't know how this is going to go, but I have high hopes. And I love this woman to death. That's a comfort. She's in the business. She knows the business. Lordt, let her take care of my business. 

By the way, I suck at networking. Started thinking about this as I have three book events basically three weekends in a row. I will probably talk a bit to the person beside me, but I'm too damn awkward to have it go much further than that.

I can people, but it's not my preference until it has to do with books. And even with that, my battery ebbs pretty quickly. 

The hype is real. 

Surrounded by other authors and readers?

Oh my fuck. Major dopamine hit. It's the fucking most magical place--wherever that may be. You can feel it in the air. There's a lot of chatter and laughter. A light mood with good people.

I AM looking forward to all the upcoming events.

Now. And there's always a "now." I need to ready my books, swag, and important papers. One of the lesser-fun sides of this life. But I always feel accomplished when I'm finished.

NOT...right before.

Let there be a PA!

I've groused on the regular about how publishing has changed in 20 years, and expectations are different. I wrote. They edited and published. But...I never got to choose my cover. I would send the book out for review and keep up with small other things.

Now? I write, edit, publish. I create graphics, reels, and book covers. I have complete control. I love it. But it's a fucking lot. And I desperately need someone to manage ARCs and socials. Because my overworked short ass mightily sucks at it.

And...I may get one as early as this coming week! 

I am so excited I can barely deal with myself. It would take so much pressure off me. I can create. She can market. 

Is this...is this author heaven?

In other written news, I finished (didn't finish) the Gordons. Let me 'splain. 

I have roughly 5000 more words to write to round it out about 70,000 words. 

Cool beans.

But this last 5000 will be the bridge between books 5 and 6. And, of course, it's all new and shiny and I'm SO EXCITED!

That may fade as I'm forced to do serious research on a couple characters. Which, I don't mind. But it makes my brain hurt sometimes. And with another sleepless night under the belt I never wear, it's going to be a challenge? And you know what we all say when we face a new challenge, right???

I'm going to do that shit, but I will probably complain on here about it.