Christopher X. Sullivan's Blog, page 3
August 24, 2018
One Year Ago...
One year ago... I never could have imagined the journey that was just over the horizon. At that time my health was, for me, fair. Life was pretty settled. Routines were years old.
That all changed.
Today as I type this, I feel as if life is settling back down, routines aren't quite back in place, but we're getting there... and my health is, for me, once again fair.
One year ago... I hadn't ever reached the mindset to attempt the ending of Book Five of It's Just Us Here. That ending was hard to write and very emotional and, honestly, I don't know that I ever would have had the guts to write it.
But as I type this, the ending is in place and Book Five is almost ready for beta readers.
One year ago... no one had seen a section of little memoirs other than me and (in some cases) Mark. As I type this, that number has grown to about fifty and, oddly, it doesn't bother me that so many strangers have gotten to know me so intimately.
From the first time I started writing about my life, I knew why I was doing it... I just didn't think people would actually read it until long after I was dead.
One year ago... I had no plans of publishing this self-portrait. Yes... it was always in the background and I had been steadily working on it for about half a decade. But it wasn't a serious reality.
Then I went in the hospital and suddenly everything cleared up. What am I doing, I kept asking myself. I'm no different than my grandpa, who's photos melted in the house fire.
Last fall, in the midst of crisis, I set out to 'finish' two small sections of my memoir each month.
At that pace, I would have needed about three years to complete it... but it would have actually gotten done.
This was my 'denial phase'.
Then came the second stay in the hospital and everything fell apart. Before I had been so stubborn and kept working and kept worrying about other things that weren't important, but the second stay really broke my spirit. And my routines. Everything fell apart.
It seemed inevitable that this story would die with me, half-finished. Which wouldn't have been the worst thing because Book Five is a good ending point, but I'm really particular about certain things and I don't like anything to by asymmetrical and the fact that I only had the first 50% done and NONE of the last 50% made my skin crawl.
Today, for maybe the first time, I can see the end of this project. I've spent the last six months working only on these books. I stopped working on my other projects last fall (though I did start another, related project at the same time). It's been exhausting to be so focused on one thing and to drill down into my own psyche.
But now I'm almost done!
Thank you to all my beta readers! You've made it easier for me to get to this point where I can breathe a small sigh of relief before tackling the last 15%. Without you, I would have been so anxious... about so many things.
I owe you so much more than you will ever know.
Thank you!
+++
One year ago... I never would have guessed that It's Just Us Here would be so close to completion.
And today, as I type this, we're officially on pace to have the entire series released in 2019. That seemed like such an ambitious goal when I laid it out last March... but here we are.
I plan to have the rest of this drafted by the end of October. Books Six and Seven will be out to betas by the end of November. I'll do a hard read-through of Books Eight, Nine and Ten before the new year.
Just watch me.
;)
See ya around,
Chris
As always, feel free to reach out if you want to beta read. Everyone who has commented has given good and appreciated advice. Thank you again, beta readers, your help and insight have made the manuscript so much stronger!
That all changed.
Today as I type this, I feel as if life is settling back down, routines aren't quite back in place, but we're getting there... and my health is, for me, once again fair.
One year ago... I hadn't ever reached the mindset to attempt the ending of Book Five of It's Just Us Here. That ending was hard to write and very emotional and, honestly, I don't know that I ever would have had the guts to write it.
But as I type this, the ending is in place and Book Five is almost ready for beta readers.
One year ago... no one had seen a section of little memoirs other than me and (in some cases) Mark. As I type this, that number has grown to about fifty and, oddly, it doesn't bother me that so many strangers have gotten to know me so intimately.
From the first time I started writing about my life, I knew why I was doing it... I just didn't think people would actually read it until long after I was dead.
One year ago... I had no plans of publishing this self-portrait. Yes... it was always in the background and I had been steadily working on it for about half a decade. But it wasn't a serious reality.
Then I went in the hospital and suddenly everything cleared up. What am I doing, I kept asking myself. I'm no different than my grandpa, who's photos melted in the house fire.
Last fall, in the midst of crisis, I set out to 'finish' two small sections of my memoir each month.
At that pace, I would have needed about three years to complete it... but it would have actually gotten done.
This was my 'denial phase'.
Then came the second stay in the hospital and everything fell apart. Before I had been so stubborn and kept working and kept worrying about other things that weren't important, but the second stay really broke my spirit. And my routines. Everything fell apart.
It seemed inevitable that this story would die with me, half-finished. Which wouldn't have been the worst thing because Book Five is a good ending point, but I'm really particular about certain things and I don't like anything to by asymmetrical and the fact that I only had the first 50% done and NONE of the last 50% made my skin crawl.
Today, for maybe the first time, I can see the end of this project. I've spent the last six months working only on these books. I stopped working on my other projects last fall (though I did start another, related project at the same time). It's been exhausting to be so focused on one thing and to drill down into my own psyche.
But now I'm almost done!
Thank you to all my beta readers! You've made it easier for me to get to this point where I can breathe a small sigh of relief before tackling the last 15%. Without you, I would have been so anxious... about so many things.
I owe you so much more than you will ever know.
Thank you!
+++
One year ago... I never would have guessed that It's Just Us Here would be so close to completion.
And today, as I type this, we're officially on pace to have the entire series released in 2019. That seemed like such an ambitious goal when I laid it out last March... but here we are.
I plan to have the rest of this drafted by the end of October. Books Six and Seven will be out to betas by the end of November. I'll do a hard read-through of Books Eight, Nine and Ten before the new year.
Just watch me.
;)
See ya around,
Chris
As always, feel free to reach out if you want to beta read. Everyone who has commented has given good and appreciated advice. Thank you again, beta readers, your help and insight have made the manuscript so much stronger!
July 7, 2018
One Month Sabbatical (WTF!)
I don't know if I should call this a sabbatical or not. But Mark is taking me to a shack on the edge of civilization for a month.
Like RIGHT NOW.
This was the month we were scheduled to have a long family vacation, but the past year has been such a roller coaster that we canceled it a long time ago.
Now I'm so so wanting to get these ten books completely drafted and existing in digital ink that I'm a little nervous to completely upend my new routine.
However...
But...
On the other hand...
This could be really, really good. I can feel the possibilities opening up. I worked for my friends over the past two weeks. I love them... but the entire time I could feel the energy building within me to get back to my typing setup and start cranking out the memories.
That mix of frustration can be very motivating for me. I like being busy. It helped me get back on a writing schedule in a way that nothing else has been able to over the past few months.
And now that the kid is going off to hockey camp for a week leaving me the perfect opportunity to write... my partner wants to take me away from home? We live in the country right now... but he *literally* wants to take me to a shack in the middle of nowhere. We'll be able to hike and bike and type, type, type. That's exactly how he described it to me.
Apparently he'll cook all my meals, too. (Yeah right. o.o) At least he knows better than to promise to clean up after. That's definitely not going to happen.
+++
Okay. I've buried the lede.
I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE INTERNET FOR ONE MONTH!
Don't stop breathing, Chris. Relax your throat. Take it all in. In and out. Not a big deal. In and out.
I'm NOT going to have INTERNET! AHHHHHH!
But this is a good thing. He'll be my personal word counter. When I want to quit writing, he'll make me write a little more. When I get to the sad memories, he'll make me feel better then put the keyboard back in my lap.
We're going to do this. I have about 2 1/2 books left to draft. (Not counting the crazy Book Seven, which might never be finished.)
It's *possible* that if I spend the next 30 days without worrying about... anything... that my next post to you guys can be about me 'reaching THE END'.
Holy Shit.
The End.
I don't know if I can taste it. But it's there. (Though I'll have to backtrack to Book Seven at some point, so it's not like I should be scared to reach the end, because there's going to be a lot more work to do.)
This is insane. I can *almost* wrap my head around this. It feels like it might actually work! I'm feeling so positive right now!
The family will come out and visit us after hockey camp, then I'll have to decide if this 'sabbatical' is working or if I should cut out early and go home with them.
+++
Sometimes, the best things to make you happy are the pleasing surprises. I can honestly say that I'm pleased with this development. (Even as I also kind of hate it. I'm not going to be looking at any business stuff for over a month! Ah!)
Honestly, I need this. That's what I'm feeling in this moment--selfish... and that I need it.
That's my news for the month! It's a big one! I'm grinning as I type this, but... it's possible that I'll type *a lot* of words in the next 30 days.
And I'm in such a groove right now! I hope this doesn't ruin it! (Please be a good thing! Please!)
I leave on Monday. I've got a shit ton of stuff to do to get ready. OMG. So Much To Do!
Like RIGHT NOW.
This was the month we were scheduled to have a long family vacation, but the past year has been such a roller coaster that we canceled it a long time ago.
Now I'm so so wanting to get these ten books completely drafted and existing in digital ink that I'm a little nervous to completely upend my new routine.
However...
But...
On the other hand...
This could be really, really good. I can feel the possibilities opening up. I worked for my friends over the past two weeks. I love them... but the entire time I could feel the energy building within me to get back to my typing setup and start cranking out the memories.
That mix of frustration can be very motivating for me. I like being busy. It helped me get back on a writing schedule in a way that nothing else has been able to over the past few months.
And now that the kid is going off to hockey camp for a week leaving me the perfect opportunity to write... my partner wants to take me away from home? We live in the country right now... but he *literally* wants to take me to a shack in the middle of nowhere. We'll be able to hike and bike and type, type, type. That's exactly how he described it to me.
Apparently he'll cook all my meals, too. (Yeah right. o.o) At least he knows better than to promise to clean up after. That's definitely not going to happen.
+++
Okay. I've buried the lede.
I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE INTERNET FOR ONE MONTH!
Don't stop breathing, Chris. Relax your throat. Take it all in. In and out. Not a big deal. In and out.
I'm NOT going to have INTERNET! AHHHHHH!
But this is a good thing. He'll be my personal word counter. When I want to quit writing, he'll make me write a little more. When I get to the sad memories, he'll make me feel better then put the keyboard back in my lap.
We're going to do this. I have about 2 1/2 books left to draft. (Not counting the crazy Book Seven, which might never be finished.)
It's *possible* that if I spend the next 30 days without worrying about... anything... that my next post to you guys can be about me 'reaching THE END'.
Holy Shit.
The End.
I don't know if I can taste it. But it's there. (Though I'll have to backtrack to Book Seven at some point, so it's not like I should be scared to reach the end, because there's going to be a lot more work to do.)
This is insane. I can *almost* wrap my head around this. It feels like it might actually work! I'm feeling so positive right now!
The family will come out and visit us after hockey camp, then I'll have to decide if this 'sabbatical' is working or if I should cut out early and go home with them.
+++
Sometimes, the best things to make you happy are the pleasing surprises. I can honestly say that I'm pleased with this development. (Even as I also kind of hate it. I'm not going to be looking at any business stuff for over a month! Ah!)
Honestly, I need this. That's what I'm feeling in this moment--selfish... and that I need it.
That's my news for the month! It's a big one! I'm grinning as I type this, but... it's possible that I'll type *a lot* of words in the next 30 days.
And I'm in such a groove right now! I hope this doesn't ruin it! (Please be a good thing! Please!)
I leave on Monday. I've got a shit ton of stuff to do to get ready. OMG. So Much To Do!
June 17, 2018
DBML
Hey Guys,
You can get The Book of Beginnings through the 'Don't Buy My Love' program right here on Goodreads in the MM Romance Group.
Sign up here!
Also, I have Book One: The Friend available for a new set of beta readers. (I'm kind of amazed at how fast they go through them.) Grab a friend and jump in on the Google Docs.
(I make you your own set of Docs so your email address stays private. However, if you know someone and don't mind them knowing your e-mail... bring them on, bring them on! It's kind of fun to have discussions in the comments. You don't need a gmail account.)
Happy Father's Day!
Chris
You can get The Book of Beginnings through the 'Don't Buy My Love' program right here on Goodreads in the MM Romance Group.
Sign up here!
Also, I have Book One: The Friend available for a new set of beta readers. (I'm kind of amazed at how fast they go through them.) Grab a friend and jump in on the Google Docs.
(I make you your own set of Docs so your email address stays private. However, if you know someone and don't mind them knowing your e-mail... bring them on, bring them on! It's kind of fun to have discussions in the comments. You don't need a gmail account.)
Happy Father's Day!
Chris
June 5, 2018
The Smell of Skunk!
I was going to save my next post until the 11th, which will be exactly one year until the hardcover bundle of Books 1-3 is released. (And I'm going to aim for the NYT bestseller's list!)
But, as I type this, my office smells like skunk.
Here's why:
Our backyard butts up against a field that's probably about 20 acres big and is currently fallow. There's woods and stuff on the one side, road on the other with woods on the other side of the road.
So we're in the country.
Today, as the sun was getting lower and lower, I saw this dog which looked like a coyote as we were sitting on the couch. "Coyote!" I said. I hadn't seen one in a long time and neither Mark nor Alex had seen one before. So we piled up against the window and looked at it running along the edge of the field.
"That's a dog," Mark said. And sure enough, it had a husky face, but a coyote coloration with a big bushy tail. probably a mutt.
"What's it doing?" Alex asked.
It ran away from the field about twenty yards like it was on a mission, then stopped and ran straight back to the field.
Then it jumped in the tall grass, hopping, hopping, hopping.
"It's a puppy," i said.
"What's it doing?" Alex asked.
"It's playing," I said. "Just a puppy."
After about two minutes of hopping (about three feet in the air at least) it finally chases something to the edge of the field. The three of us have been amused the entire time.
"What was that?" we all say together, spotting a rabbit-sized thing in the brush.
The white thing bolts out of the tall grass and behind a tree in our yard.
"It was definitely white," I said.
"Probably a rabbit."
"Look at the dog!"
Then the sunk ran into our open grass and turned around as if to stare down the dog. That skunk looked so frazzled, kind of fluffy.
All three of us recoiled from the window with the same exact shout of disgust. Then we laughed. That dog is going to smell for a long time!
Then we smelled the skunk through our closed windows. And since my office is over the garage... the smell is now leaking up through the floor, or through the eves or something.
And it smells bad.
I'm out.
Hopefully tomorrow it all clears up!
Cheers! Hope you smiled at my misery!
Chris
But, as I type this, my office smells like skunk.
Here's why:
Our backyard butts up against a field that's probably about 20 acres big and is currently fallow. There's woods and stuff on the one side, road on the other with woods on the other side of the road.
So we're in the country.
Today, as the sun was getting lower and lower, I saw this dog which looked like a coyote as we were sitting on the couch. "Coyote!" I said. I hadn't seen one in a long time and neither Mark nor Alex had seen one before. So we piled up against the window and looked at it running along the edge of the field.
"That's a dog," Mark said. And sure enough, it had a husky face, but a coyote coloration with a big bushy tail. probably a mutt.
"What's it doing?" Alex asked.
It ran away from the field about twenty yards like it was on a mission, then stopped and ran straight back to the field.
Then it jumped in the tall grass, hopping, hopping, hopping.
"It's a puppy," i said.
"What's it doing?" Alex asked.
"It's playing," I said. "Just a puppy."
After about two minutes of hopping (about three feet in the air at least) it finally chases something to the edge of the field. The three of us have been amused the entire time.
"What was that?" we all say together, spotting a rabbit-sized thing in the brush.
The white thing bolts out of the tall grass and behind a tree in our yard.
"It was definitely white," I said.
"Probably a rabbit."
"Look at the dog!"
Then the sunk ran into our open grass and turned around as if to stare down the dog. That skunk looked so frazzled, kind of fluffy.
All three of us recoiled from the window with the same exact shout of disgust. Then we laughed. That dog is going to smell for a long time!
Then we smelled the skunk through our closed windows. And since my office is over the garage... the smell is now leaking up through the floor, or through the eves or something.
And it smells bad.
I'm out.
Hopefully tomorrow it all clears up!
Cheers! Hope you smiled at my misery!
Chris
May 28, 2018
Breakthrough!
Today I was really enjoying the heat and walked through my garden looking at the dahlia stalks. Rotted, I thought. I planted them too early, I thought. That last echo of winter did them in, I thought.
Today marks the first sprout from my bulbs. And it got me to thinking... I don't even know what led from one thing to the next, but somehow in the back of my mind I must have been chewing on this Book 7 problem.
Book 7:
I had the entirety of 'It's Just Us Here' mapped out before I started assembling the first few chapters of Book One. Book Seven is the only book that's been changed since that initial layout.
This book is my most ambitious entry, it might end up being the most ambitious book I've ever written.
Part of the reason I've struggled with this particular book is because it's not really a relationship story. Books 1-3 are about me and Mark meeting. Books 4 and 5 have some of our friends meeting and falling in love while Mark and I grow as a couple. Book 6 is once again about my relationship with Mark as it grows in a new direction.
But Book 7 doesn't have any of that romance/relationship stuff (or so I thought). And it was driving me crazy!
A few weeks ago I realized that B7 wasn't even a book about my family, as I had originally anticipated. It's about having a relationship/romance with a community. It's not just about finding your place among those that love you, but within your spiritual community, too. It's basically an abstract concept disguised by my evolving relationship with Mark.
B7 also deals with the company I started with my friends, where we lost our way and why I consider it a failure.
Book 7 has a lot of stuff going on.
And today as I bent down and focused on my dahlias... it just clicked. The ending. I had already axed my original ending and figured I had landed on a better way to end Book 7. I was going to talk about my found family as opposed to my blood relatives.
But that's all wrong.
The ending actually is supposed to be even simpler than that, but requires an even more delicate balance of friendship, family and community.
TL;DR: Sorry for ranting, but I got excited! I know the ending--the actual ending--of one of the trickiest sections of this project. I've been writing a few thousand words every day, hoping for the spark to come back so the writing doesn't feel like writing any more.
With this single idea, everything is falling into place, like a grid. I can feel all the chapters snapping into the proper alignment and now I can shed the ideas that lead nowhere and hone the important stuff.
This is very exciting for me. Hopefully next week, or next post, I'll be gushing about how I'm back in the groove and I'm surfing this wave of enthusiasm. I'll try to ride this excitement to the end of 'It's Just Us Here'.
Till next time,
an enthused Chris!
Also, if any of you have examples of a romance where the MC is also falling in love with a community, like a service-related goal or something greater than an individual ego/person/relationship... I'd love for some recommendations so see how others tackled this kind of thing. Thanks!
Today marks the first sprout from my bulbs. And it got me to thinking... I don't even know what led from one thing to the next, but somehow in the back of my mind I must have been chewing on this Book 7 problem.
Book 7:
I had the entirety of 'It's Just Us Here' mapped out before I started assembling the first few chapters of Book One. Book Seven is the only book that's been changed since that initial layout.
This book is my most ambitious entry, it might end up being the most ambitious book I've ever written.
Part of the reason I've struggled with this particular book is because it's not really a relationship story. Books 1-3 are about me and Mark meeting. Books 4 and 5 have some of our friends meeting and falling in love while Mark and I grow as a couple. Book 6 is once again about my relationship with Mark as it grows in a new direction.
But Book 7 doesn't have any of that romance/relationship stuff (or so I thought). And it was driving me crazy!
A few weeks ago I realized that B7 wasn't even a book about my family, as I had originally anticipated. It's about having a relationship/romance with a community. It's not just about finding your place among those that love you, but within your spiritual community, too. It's basically an abstract concept disguised by my evolving relationship with Mark.
B7 also deals with the company I started with my friends, where we lost our way and why I consider it a failure.
Book 7 has a lot of stuff going on.
And today as I bent down and focused on my dahlias... it just clicked. The ending. I had already axed my original ending and figured I had landed on a better way to end Book 7. I was going to talk about my found family as opposed to my blood relatives.
But that's all wrong.
The ending actually is supposed to be even simpler than that, but requires an even more delicate balance of friendship, family and community.
TL;DR: Sorry for ranting, but I got excited! I know the ending--the actual ending--of one of the trickiest sections of this project. I've been writing a few thousand words every day, hoping for the spark to come back so the writing doesn't feel like writing any more.
With this single idea, everything is falling into place, like a grid. I can feel all the chapters snapping into the proper alignment and now I can shed the ideas that lead nowhere and hone the important stuff.
This is very exciting for me. Hopefully next week, or next post, I'll be gushing about how I'm back in the groove and I'm surfing this wave of enthusiasm. I'll try to ride this excitement to the end of 'It's Just Us Here'.
Till next time,
an enthused Chris!
Also, if any of you have examples of a romance where the MC is also falling in love with a community, like a service-related goal or something greater than an individual ego/person/relationship... I'd love for some recommendations so see how others tackled this kind of thing. Thanks!
May 18, 2018
Failure to launch!
Hey guys,
I started a crowdfunding page to supplement my editing (and eventually marketing campaign) for this ten-book project.
As of today, the deadline has passed and it failed. I didn't really advertise except from within The Book of Beginnings. It wasn't a comfortable fit for me, but it was a learning experience.
So that's over with.
+++
But here's the real big news: I got my first one star review!
I know you're not supposed to respond to reviews, but I'm going to share what the experience was like.
First, I came home from vacation knowing that I might have picked up some new readers because of the price promotion I ran on the 11th. So I was excited! Yay, I had some new readers.
Then I went to Amazon to check the also-boughts on BoB... and there was the one star review.
You might not believe me, but I was actually relieved. Your support and enthusiasm has been so incredible, I think it inflated my ego a little too much. When I hit the publish button on an unfinished story, BoB, I was certain that everyone would throw torches at me. I was ONE HUNDRED perfect sure that my first handful of reviews were going to be one or two stars. (Too long! One star! Collection of short stories and not a novel! One star!)
But the opposite happened. Somehow, the book got in the hands of people who enjoyed it. And the response has been so touching that I started to think: 'hey, maybe you can write something that EVERYONE will like.'
Well, that was laughably idealistic, to say the least. A guy can dream.
I was a little surprised at how happy/relieved I felt to see that one star review. It was like I could go back to work without trying to make everything perfect for everybody. I mean, I'm still aiming for perfection, but I guess I relearned that lesson that never seems to stick: there's no way to make everyone happy.
Yesterday I drafted 5k and I'm well on my way to hitting that number today. Time to get to work and draft these last few books. Then edit. Then sleep. Free time: I'll see you in the fall.
:)
+++
Also, what the heck is the with auto-boughts on BoB? The top pairing is "His Cocky Valet" which I get... because #cockygate. But the first TJ Klune book doesn't appear until the last page! And thank goodness Adam Silvera is on there too! Silvera was the first auto-bought and I thought: 'this is a good match. I'm not YA, but I am writing a bit more of a narrative than a typical romance novel.'
But now 50% of the recommended books have nekkid male torsos on the cover (half of those seem to be headless). 25% have nekkid male backs, unusually flexing but one of them is bound by ropes and looks to be blindfolded. Oh joy.
That price promotion might have confused the auto-bots because now it's moving back to 'also-viewed' taking top priority... oops. I'll factor this into my decision for advertising Book One when it comes out.
+++
(Fun Fact: Once, I had a one star review on a book that wasn't even a review of my book! That drove me up the wall like you wouldn't believe!)
Oh, and happy Friday! I guess I'm in a good mood? Yeah, getting back in the writing routine feels pretty good.
I started a crowdfunding page to supplement my editing (and eventually marketing campaign) for this ten-book project.
As of today, the deadline has passed and it failed. I didn't really advertise except from within The Book of Beginnings. It wasn't a comfortable fit for me, but it was a learning experience.
So that's over with.
+++
But here's the real big news: I got my first one star review!
I know you're not supposed to respond to reviews, but I'm going to share what the experience was like.
First, I came home from vacation knowing that I might have picked up some new readers because of the price promotion I ran on the 11th. So I was excited! Yay, I had some new readers.
Then I went to Amazon to check the also-boughts on BoB... and there was the one star review.
You might not believe me, but I was actually relieved. Your support and enthusiasm has been so incredible, I think it inflated my ego a little too much. When I hit the publish button on an unfinished story, BoB, I was certain that everyone would throw torches at me. I was ONE HUNDRED perfect sure that my first handful of reviews were going to be one or two stars. (Too long! One star! Collection of short stories and not a novel! One star!)
But the opposite happened. Somehow, the book got in the hands of people who enjoyed it. And the response has been so touching that I started to think: 'hey, maybe you can write something that EVERYONE will like.'
Well, that was laughably idealistic, to say the least. A guy can dream.
I was a little surprised at how happy/relieved I felt to see that one star review. It was like I could go back to work without trying to make everything perfect for everybody. I mean, I'm still aiming for perfection, but I guess I relearned that lesson that never seems to stick: there's no way to make everyone happy.
Yesterday I drafted 5k and I'm well on my way to hitting that number today. Time to get to work and draft these last few books. Then edit. Then sleep. Free time: I'll see you in the fall.
:)
+++
Also, what the heck is the with auto-boughts on BoB? The top pairing is "His Cocky Valet" which I get... because #cockygate. But the first TJ Klune book doesn't appear until the last page! And thank goodness Adam Silvera is on there too! Silvera was the first auto-bought and I thought: 'this is a good match. I'm not YA, but I am writing a bit more of a narrative than a typical romance novel.'
But now 50% of the recommended books have nekkid male torsos on the cover (half of those seem to be headless). 25% have nekkid male backs, unusually flexing but one of them is bound by ropes and looks to be blindfolded. Oh joy.
That price promotion might have confused the auto-bots because now it's moving back to 'also-viewed' taking top priority... oops. I'll factor this into my decision for advertising Book One when it comes out.
+++
(Fun Fact: Once, I had a one star review on a book that wasn't even a review of my book! That drove me up the wall like you wouldn't believe!)
Oh, and happy Friday! I guess I'm in a good mood? Yeah, getting back in the writing routine feels pretty good.
May 9, 2018
Friends to Lovers
Hey guys,
I finished my edit of Book Three: The Partner. This completes the friends to lovers story arc and it's ready for betas!
I think you'll be happy with the ending. :)
I'm going to dive into drafting over the weekend and we'll see if I can stay away from editing for a little while.
I want to once again publicly thank my early readers--I can now compartmentalize my worry over these books and focus on other parts of the narrative. Thank you!
+++
Book Three comes in at around 90,000 words. So the entire friends to lovers arc is a total of 280,000 words.
When I first outlined my story, I imagined this 'arc' to take under 100,000 words total. I've written quite a few romances over the past decade and none of them have been over 100k. Just think, if I had kept to my original plan, this entire project could have been done already. 0.o
+++
Also, to celebrate this little milestone, I'm putting "The Book of Beginnings" down to 99 cents on Amazon.com and the UK store on May 11/12. Get it while it's hot.
The short story "The Suit" will be free during that time.
I hate free promotions and will never run a freebie for a full length book.
The next 99 cent promotion will be 100 days from now and I will attempt to snag a Bookbub to go along with it. Here's hoping!
I will not be at my computer this weekend... so I won't be religiously refreshing the KDP dashboard. If anything goes wrong, I'll fix it on Monday. Happy Weekend everyone. I hope you have as nice weather as me!
Chris
PS: I saved some 'best books' for future rainy days... but now I'm making my way through them. Not really a bucket list, but it sounds like a bucket list.
This weekend I'm reading 'Emma'. Here's hoping it's as good as the other Austen. I'm kind of worried that it might suffer from the 'Knocked Up' effect, which was where I saved Knocked Up for a 'rainy day', but watched multiple other Catherine Heigl movies... and those other movies made Knocked Up less funny.
Come on, Emma. Don't let me down.
I finished my edit of Book Three: The Partner. This completes the friends to lovers story arc and it's ready for betas!
I think you'll be happy with the ending. :)
I'm going to dive into drafting over the weekend and we'll see if I can stay away from editing for a little while.
I want to once again publicly thank my early readers--I can now compartmentalize my worry over these books and focus on other parts of the narrative. Thank you!
+++
Book Three comes in at around 90,000 words. So the entire friends to lovers arc is a total of 280,000 words.
When I first outlined my story, I imagined this 'arc' to take under 100,000 words total. I've written quite a few romances over the past decade and none of them have been over 100k. Just think, if I had kept to my original plan, this entire project could have been done already. 0.o
+++
Also, to celebrate this little milestone, I'm putting "The Book of Beginnings" down to 99 cents on Amazon.com and the UK store on May 11/12. Get it while it's hot.
The short story "The Suit" will be free during that time.
I hate free promotions and will never run a freebie for a full length book.
The next 99 cent promotion will be 100 days from now and I will attempt to snag a Bookbub to go along with it. Here's hoping!
I will not be at my computer this weekend... so I won't be religiously refreshing the KDP dashboard. If anything goes wrong, I'll fix it on Monday. Happy Weekend everyone. I hope you have as nice weather as me!
Chris
PS: I saved some 'best books' for future rainy days... but now I'm making my way through them. Not really a bucket list, but it sounds like a bucket list.
This weekend I'm reading 'Emma'. Here's hoping it's as good as the other Austen. I'm kind of worried that it might suffer from the 'Knocked Up' effect, which was where I saved Knocked Up for a 'rainy day', but watched multiple other Catherine Heigl movies... and those other movies made Knocked Up less funny.
Come on, Emma. Don't let me down.
May 1, 2018
Mandatory Vacation
I will be on a mandatory vacation from May 9th through the 11th. Mark thought it'd be nice to take a long weekend.
Fear not, I have a plan! My Kindle 10 and keyboard will be going with me.
I'm done with my latest read-through of Book Two: The Companion and will be getting it to beta-readers this week. In fact, I'll make a 'book page' for it here on GR.
I'm also 15,000 words into editing Book Three... and let me tell you, that one is kinda rough (plus, it contains the most important scene of the 'friends to lovers' arc... so I gotta get it right.).
I committed to doing a clean editing push through Book Three, but betas... parts of Book Three won't be perfect, tempo-wise. I should have my read-through done by the 9th and will iron out a few of the pacing issues.
The offer to beta-read is still open to any interested power readers. I am going to pause that invitation when I jump out of 'edit mode' and back into 'draft mode'. I may continue in edit mode and go through Book Five. I'm kind of on a roll right now... and it feels good. ;)
I intend to extend another 'beta read' before sending it off to my editor (when I will be doing another concentrated read-through). Probably sometime towards the end of August.
We'll see.
But in recap: Book Two is ready for Betas! Just a hair over 100,000 words. It includes the 'breakdown' and 'library' scenes. And 'celebration'. And you'll also meet some of Mark's family.
Fear not, I have a plan! My Kindle 10 and keyboard will be going with me.
I'm done with my latest read-through of Book Two: The Companion and will be getting it to beta-readers this week. In fact, I'll make a 'book page' for it here on GR.
I'm also 15,000 words into editing Book Three... and let me tell you, that one is kinda rough (plus, it contains the most important scene of the 'friends to lovers' arc... so I gotta get it right.).
I committed to doing a clean editing push through Book Three, but betas... parts of Book Three won't be perfect, tempo-wise. I should have my read-through done by the 9th and will iron out a few of the pacing issues.
The offer to beta-read is still open to any interested power readers. I am going to pause that invitation when I jump out of 'edit mode' and back into 'draft mode'. I may continue in edit mode and go through Book Five. I'm kind of on a roll right now... and it feels good. ;)
I intend to extend another 'beta read' before sending it off to my editor (when I will be doing another concentrated read-through). Probably sometime towards the end of August.
We'll see.
But in recap: Book Two is ready for Betas! Just a hair over 100,000 words. It includes the 'breakdown' and 'library' scenes. And 'celebration'. And you'll also meet some of Mark's family.
April 25, 2018
Arbitrary Deadline = Change in Plans!
I'm going to have the first three books, the entire 'friends to lovers' arc available for beta readers by May the 17th!
At least, that's the new crazy plan that I've been working on this week. Haha. Plans might change next week, but for now this is motivating me.
Here's what prompted the change:
1) On May 17th my Indigogo campaign ends.
2) I always work best with little deadline boosts, even the fake deadlines
3) I'd feel better knowing the first three books are basically publishable... it's like taking things one step at a time. If I focus on this, I'll have less to worry about as I tackle the later books.
4) I just finished editing the entirety of Book 1: The Friend.
5) I want to share it with people
So, yeah, my new goal for the next month is to have the first three books in the hands of beta readers!
Annob and Xia, send me a message with your emails so I can forward you the shared Doc.
If anyone else wants to read the story while hunting for typos, you can also get in on it, though you'll be my second wave of readers. You'll pick up when the first three are done. You should also use an email you wouldn't mind having shared with your co-readers. Maybe you have a GR friend you'd be willing to co-read with. Pull 'em in. The more the merrier.
Just remember. It's a long, emotional story and you're probably going to get as frustrated with me as Mark did.
BIG NEWS RECAP: The first 96,790 consecutive words of this story are DONE and ready for your inspection!
And it feels great! I'm on to editing Book 2. Hopefully I can ride this current wave of excitement and get Book 2 ready for next week. See you then.
;)
Chris
At least, that's the new crazy plan that I've been working on this week. Haha. Plans might change next week, but for now this is motivating me.
Here's what prompted the change:
1) On May 17th my Indigogo campaign ends.
2) I always work best with little deadline boosts, even the fake deadlines
3) I'd feel better knowing the first three books are basically publishable... it's like taking things one step at a time. If I focus on this, I'll have less to worry about as I tackle the later books.
4) I just finished editing the entirety of Book 1: The Friend.
5) I want to share it with people
So, yeah, my new goal for the next month is to have the first three books in the hands of beta readers!
Annob and Xia, send me a message with your emails so I can forward you the shared Doc.
If anyone else wants to read the story while hunting for typos, you can also get in on it, though you'll be my second wave of readers. You'll pick up when the first three are done. You should also use an email you wouldn't mind having shared with your co-readers. Maybe you have a GR friend you'd be willing to co-read with. Pull 'em in. The more the merrier.
Just remember. It's a long, emotional story and you're probably going to get as frustrated with me as Mark did.
BIG NEWS RECAP: The first 96,790 consecutive words of this story are DONE and ready for your inspection!
And it feels great! I'm on to editing Book 2. Hopefully I can ride this current wave of excitement and get Book 2 ready for next week. See you then.
;)
Chris
April 18, 2018
Hey Chris!
Hey Guys,
I'm home! I don't know how focused I will be on the self-portrait in the coming days, but tomorrow I will be starting a strict schedule. No GR or internet (gasp!) until I've finished my daily goals or it's 5:00 EST.
Eventually this will get me back into the 'work' mode.
If you are reading the "Book of Beginnings" over the coming weeks and want to ask me a question about a specific part, or point something out... you can use the 'status update' and start your message with 'Hey Chris'. Or send me a message, or an email.
I'll see it and respond (after 5:00 EST). ;)
Thanks for all the support so far. Can't wait to get things back in regular order and back on a schedule.
My next blog post will be on May 1st when I reveal that all the 'Endings' for the "Book of Endings" have been written. Spoiler Alert: it's going to happen! See you then.
I'm home! I don't know how focused I will be on the self-portrait in the coming days, but tomorrow I will be starting a strict schedule. No GR or internet (gasp!) until I've finished my daily goals or it's 5:00 EST.
Eventually this will get me back into the 'work' mode.
If you are reading the "Book of Beginnings" over the coming weeks and want to ask me a question about a specific part, or point something out... you can use the 'status update' and start your message with 'Hey Chris'. Or send me a message, or an email.
I'll see it and respond (after 5:00 EST). ;)
Thanks for all the support so far. Can't wait to get things back in regular order and back on a schedule.
My next blog post will be on May 1st when I reveal that all the 'Endings' for the "Book of Endings" have been written. Spoiler Alert: it's going to happen! See you then.
