Archive for the ‘Blind Date Bride’ Category
I was all set to complain about how doing rewrites is much slower work — until I realized I wrote 900+ words today.
That’s right. All I had to do was launch into a new sex scene — one of those “more almost-sex, less food” scenes Kelly suggested — and bingo! Those 900 words practically wrote themselves.
I do, however, find myself wondering why I seem to do my best sex-scene writing in the Barnes & Noble cafe. You wouldn’t think the crowds and noise would be conducive, but I have no trouble shutting everything out so my characters can get busy.
Today’s racy scene, the first time Kari and Damien finally get to finish what they’d started, even Meg & Matt’s first big moment were written at the cafe.
I’m not sure what, if anything, that says about me. Perhaps I’m an exhibitionist at heart? 😉
Anyway, my second draft of “Blind Date Bride” is coming along quite nicely. As I’ve added things and taken others away, it has grown to nearly 95,000 words and 354 typed, double-spaced pages.
Just think: A few short months ago, I was struggling to hit 90K. I’m glad those days are behind me — at least for this manuscript.
My instincts are right on track.
At least that’s the gist of the feedback from fellow NARWAn Kelly, the first person (besides myself) to read through the entire first draft of “Blind Date Bride.” All 330+ pages of it. (And it took her less than a week!) 😀
She loved the hero and heroine, Damien and Kari — always a good start. She found their best friends interesting, too (also good, because I always kind of envisioned giving them their own book.)
Her main suggestions for improvement: More sex (or at least thinking about sex), less eating; more explanation of the awful things Kari’s ex did to her to make her mistrust Damien at first; and a longer black moment — or at least one with more depth of despair.
I’d already been thinking I need to torture Kari and Damien a little more before I let them get back together … and I can see the other two points, as well.
It’s good to know I’m at least headed in the right direction. I can’t wait to get started on some revisions.
The plan is to start entering a few contests in preparation for next fall’s Golden Heart competition. (This is the story I’d wanted to enter last time, but didn’t think I’d have it finished. Turns out, I was right — but it’s going to be ready for the next one, doggone it … even if that does mean writing another synopsis.)
This is going to be a quick check-in because I’m still coming down with a cold and feel miserable. I can’t breathe normally and my throat is developing a tickle. I detest being sick!
I met Kelly at Barnes & Noble this afternoon to hand off “Blind Date Bride.”
While I was there, I decided to stay and write for a while before I headed in to work. I added about 500 more words to Meg & Matt’s still-untitled story. (Must work on that!)
My task for “Operation Treat Writing Like a Day Job” today? Query letters.
I sent out 3 more e-queries this morning. Unlike last week, no responses awaited me at the end of the day. But that’s OK. I didn’t expect them to.
Not sure what’s on the list for Saturday. Perhaps some writing on Meg & Matt. Then again, maybe not. I may have more pressing matters to attend to.
Once I got to the office this afternoon, it hit me: I’m going to need a synopsis and query letter for “Blind Date Bride.”
However, since I just finished the first draft, I’m wondering if I should wait. I’ve read it through a couple of times and still like it just the way it is … perhaps it’s time to wait for some outside feedback.
Queries and synopses are not my favorite things to write. Anyone out there really like doing them?
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