SitRep Saturday: Cowboys and Titles

The good news is that the new cowboy WIP is action-drafted. I'm cleaning it up in the other window and working out things like awkward conversations and characterization. I managed to finish it yesterday morning and I feel pretty good about it.

The bad news is that I spent most of the time writing it asking my muse and characters, "What the hell?" Originally, this story was supposed to be a relatively short one-shot featuring some psychological sadism and some awkward interpersonal interaction. While it still has those things, it has become a romance rather than the erotica I had planned. This is okay because I wanted to alternate erotica and romance, but... seriously, what? After the first fifteen hundred words, my plot went to hell and I was left with characters who decided that they ran the show. I had two choices: follow them, or scrap the whole thing. I chose to follow the characters.

As a result, it may (read: probably will) be getting a title change. It may also end up with a new book cover. I'm sure I'll have more to report on Monday and next Saturday.

Monday Miscellany: On Seeing Family, Christmas & WIPs

My sister's flight got in at 8:00 this morning. I haven't seen her in 22 months, so this is a huge treat for both of us. She's here for at least three months and, if we can get the paperwork in order, maybe six months. It's wonderful. My daughter is being her cautious little self and my sister has crashed (jet lag), but it's already just wonderful to have her here and have them together.

Before I had my daughter, I wasn't a big fan of the Christmas. It was all right, and I have many wonderful childhood Christmas memories, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Now that she's here, however, I have a whole new appreciation for it. I am ready. I can't wait to see her face Christmas morning when she wakes up to her new Cozy Coupe and dolls.

Hard to Hold has undergone a few changes, and I've padded the action draft by a few hundred words. I'm still on track to finish the first draft by the end of next week or so. Did I mention that I think I even have a book cover?

SitRep Saturday: New WIP, Personal Update

I "took the week off" to do housekeeping work. That wasn't really a success. I did get a lot done--but it wasn't enough. Today I'm scrambling to finish getting the house ready for my sister's arrival while I lament the fact that I've used up my pre-written blog posts.

It's okay, though. I have a few more blog posts started (I just need to sit down and write them), I should be done with my real-life housekeeping in a few hours, and starting Monday afternoon, life gets back to business as usual.

The new WIP has a tentative title: Hard to Hold. It's another erotic short story, but this one is about a cowboy, a bartender, and a closed bar beside the highway outside of Canyon, Texas. I've started the action draft and it's already about 1,500 words. It needs a lot of work. I'm hopeful I can have the action draft complete within the next few days and maybe even have the story drafted by the middle of next week.