I want to be a writer

I love to write, I just need to come up with a plan to put pen to paper. Or fingers to keys.

Ever since I took a cultural anthropology class, I’ve been on a kick when it comes to finding out why something is.

In that class it was learning about mitochondrial DNA and genetic markers in certain species and why things were. I even wrote a paper on genetics, because it simply fascinates me. I took this class 2003 or 2004.

Well what has that to do with my writing? Well when I am plotting or coming up with story ideas, especially since I like to incorporate fantasy/science-fiction into my writing, I have to know why something is for me to be able to get to the next step. I also look for this in reading other people’s work.

A good example is vampires. So many stories out there from the traditional to the ones that are so good, it is ok to overlook certain factors. In the story I’ve been working on for the past 3 years, I wanted to create something totally different. I needed a people who were vampire like, but with different rules for why.

I created a complex history for them (I did say I’d been working on it for 3 years!!) that explained their origin. That part was fun and hard, as I kept asking myself how and why. For me, I need to know how vampires were created, not just some amorphous reason as to they are.

So after that I then went on about their complex society, language, and their culture in general. It has characters, names and situations. I really had fun with this idea. The problem? Well the story is shelved. It is an epic story that so far is three books. The first book has a title, a plot with a beginning, middle, and an end. But the truth is I became scared of the huge undertaking of this project.

I didn’t know if it was a young adult novel, or an erotic one. I have tried both, but it still feels like it could go either way. The world I created is as a big a character as the characters I created. And I kept on adding and changing things, basically brainstorming on my own. This didn’t help as I already plotted the story completely.

So why was I writing this post? I had to go back to the beginning of the post, lol, and this is why the story that I was working on for the past three years and counting is shelved for now. Because I would start on one thing and then it kept growing and growing. This is why I am now focusing on the smaller writings/projects. I will eventually tackle my vampire story. It is exciting and needs to be written. Especially as I created this cool reason as to why they are vamps in the first place!

The question is: do I tell it as a young adult or adult?

So ever since I saw the submission for the Yaoi submisson for Phaze I've been plotting out the story. So far I am in middle and the good thing is I am just writing an outline to the story, so not my best writing effort, but the story is coming togetether and it is hot. I do like to read about boys getting it on. =D

Now the other submission for steampunk has had me searching all kinds of things like gadgets, clothing and such and I realized that what I needed was an actual theme as I am having trouble with this one. So I found this cool web page here that has several different themes that compose the genre. I tell you this, it has helped reigned in my thoughts so to speak, so now I have a clearer definition on what to write.

Ok so far I've got three submissions that I am really excited to try out and I am hoping that with all I've learned over the years (I got many a book and web pages printed!) I can get the stories out and keep my fingers crossed.

I do like Phaze books, as their authors seem to love them something fierce, and this I got from reviewing the site as well. So I am excited to try for this second submission which is Steampunk. I have read a few erotic works in this genre and I am excited to try this. I cut my teeth so to speak on historical novels set during this time, and watching The Time Machine and The league of Extraordinary Gentlemen. SO I think I can do it. Goggles and steam power!

Special Call for M/M Steampunk Anthology - title TBA

Edited by: Leigh Ellwood
Projected release date: late 2010

Hey, all you steampunk enthusiasts, grab your goggles and get to writing! Phaze Books is planning an all M/M (and bi-M menage) steampunk collection for eBook publication in 2010. If you have a yen for 19th century history with a touch of good humor and technological innovation (and a whole lot of manlove!), we hope you'll send us your hottest steampunk erotic romance of 10K - 20K words. If you're not sure about the genre, check out this Wikipedia entry for steampunk to get an idea of the style of stories we're looking for. Think H.G. Wells or Wild Wild West, then turn up the steam factor with an incredible M/M or MMF/MMM match-up!

This call is open indefinitely until the spots are filled. Contributors will offer one-time electronic and print rights to their works and receive a one-time payment of $50 and contributors' copies (eBook and/or print, if the book goes to print).

To submit to this anthology, please follow the Phaze Books structural guidelines (below) and attach your RTF document to Leigh Ellwood, c/o Phaze Books at submissions @ phaze (dot) com. Please use STEAMPUNK ANTHOLOGY is your subject header.

I've been writing on my blog Zesty Nachos, but also my Erotic Interlude one as well. Writing with other things going on is hard. I have a 40 hour a week job that I have to be pleasant on every single call I take. And I am, but in between calls my mind is working on so many stories. I want to write full time, but there is no way until I can show people my talent. I also write my book reviews. The nice thing is that I am still keeping to my 500 words every day, so I am happy about that. Also found another book submission from Phaze books. This one is Yaoi, and while I do enjoy reading it, I have never written it, so I am up to the challenge.

Here is the info:

Monday, August 24, 2009

Call for Submissions: Yaoi Anthology

Lemon Kisses, A Yaoi Anthology
Edited by: Augusta Li
Publisher: Phaze Books
Deadline: December 1, 2009
Projected release date: July 2010
Format: eBook (initially, with possible print release)

You must be at least 18 years old to submit to this anthology.

I am looking for four well-written yaoi stories for this anthology. Before submitting, please be familiar with the yaoi genre. It’s not quite the same as m/m romance or gay erotica. If you’re not sure what qualifies as yaoi, please do a little research. Stories should be between 15 and 25K, and can be in any sub-genre (fantasy, contemporary, historical, etc.). Above all, I’m seeking unique works with solid plotting, good characterization, and a good balance between hot, erotic scenes and story. Explicit sex is encouraged.

Please be advised that I’m likely to reject cliché yaoi plots, such as Japanese school-boy romance, unless you have a really fresh take on it. Nor am I a fan of gay-just-for-you, again, unless it’s stellar. No anthropomorphic characters, please. Kemonomimi is acceptable if well-done. All characters involved in sexual situations must be at least 18, so sorry, no shota. Anything not normally allowed (rape, snuff, bestiality, necrophilia, bodily waste or pedophilia) isn’t allowed here either. I’ll consider forced seduction, but be very careful.

To submit, please attach your manuscript as an .rtf or .doc and send it, with the words YAOI ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSION in the subject line, to augustali3@hotmail.com. Please follow the Phaze Books formatting instructions located at http://www.phaze.com/submissions2.html. Include a brief introduction, including your contact information and publishing history, if any.

If you have any questions, email me at the above address.

So I am writing this diary of sorts, which is supposed to be everyday. I can tell you that this past weekend was not a very good effort, and this is the stuff I need to work on if I am going to be a writer.

I went out on Friday night to a Passion Party, got drunk, then went karoake. I stayed the night at my friends who was driving and the next morning I woke up with the most horrendous hangover. Let's say no writing done. Though I did read for the reviews I do on the side.

Bottom line I need to just get over this hump and be serious. Writing is a business, if I did this at my real job, not go to work, I'd be fired. I will take it one day at a time. Writing my 500 words a day of the current story I am working on.

Writing is a solitary venture. That is one aspect I've not realized even when I was in high school so many years ago. I've wanted to be a writer since then and while I've attempted and stopped it is just now that I am realizing this.

Don't get me wrong it is not a bad thing, but I am such a people person that it would be great to bounce ideas off of another person. I guess what I need is a writing partner. But how would I go about getting one who won't rip off my ideas and/or who has the same or similar writing style?

I guess that scares me, that I'd look for one and they'd run of with a story idea I threw out and made it better than me. So I write alone. At least for now.

Ok I didn't do quite 500 for the story, but about 400. Even though I didn't do my goal, I am writing more than this story including book reviews so I am writing quite a few words more a day. Plus my blogging. Writing everyday has made me a better a writer. I've done some short writing exercises every week for the past month and the writing is coming out quite good.

I usually have problem with tenses, and these exercises are definitely helping! Though I am still having trouble with passive and active. That is still a work in progress but I will persevere!

Yeah another 500 words! Am very excited about the story. Revisions for sure are needed, but that is ok as I am actually doing what I said would which is set a goal and write!

Ok I've accomplished my 500 words today and I am excited, but to be quite honest I started at 11pm. I had a long day of other writing and of course my other favorite time waster tweeking my blogs.

I was very, very busy, yet I was able to squeeze the amount of words I said I would. Can I tell you the story is practically writing itself, and it will need heavy revisions and I am ok with that. Having a first draft done, so I can do revisions will be a sense of accomplishment for me! Woo Hoo for goals!

I am excited! I did it like I said I would! But it almost didn't happen! I started getting on the computer and started playing around. But that what always seems to happen. I get excited for a project or new story, and then something happens in real life and then I don't want to write anymore. That almost happened today. But I persevered and kept the writing going.

BTW, not my best writing, but I am also not trying to focus on revisions but to get the words I'd say I'd do.

http://www.circlet.com/?p=291

I saw this submission for an anthology of Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass erotic stories for circlet press. I was instantly intrigued. Not by the fee that they will pay but for the idea it inspired in me.

I am quite excited to try, though my word count will need to go up as they are looking for 3000 to 7000 words.

I've already wrote a plot from beginning to end. Now I just have to make sure it pops.

500words-300w

I found this interesting challenge and I thought this would be perfect! I don't have a story in mind yet but I need to step up my writing game. I have three writing challenges that I write for every week, but I am now trying to challenge myself to write one story of my own choosing. I am starting off easy, giving myself a limit of up to 2500 words. In the grand scheme it is not a lot but for me it will be a challenge to create a story about two people in an environment that can be told in 2500 words. So a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Am I ready? Yes I am. Stay tuned while I try to write the story, before revisions. That is the goal.

NaNoWriMo Word Count Meter

Story in progress

Through the Looking Glass Story-free writing/outline Yaoi story-Writing without revisions-1st draft Steampunk story-writing without revisions-1st draft MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected 500words-150w

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About this blog

A place to catalog my adventures in writing. I currently have other blogs that each show a facet of who I am. One is about everything I see, the other is all about erotica, and the other is all about my dark poetry. I never set out to create another blog, but I find the need to have one that is all about the journey.

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