Author: Kristbethke

Went on a trip this weekend.

The amazing thing about trips is the absolute fodder for plot bunnies.  I was a passenger so I had plenty of time to work out some stubborn plot points.  But even more than that, there were plenty of more little bunnies being born as I was people watching.  The rod trip took us on the thruway…so there were rest stops.  Have you ever noticed how many different kinds of people you see at a rest stop?  My brain was scrambling to pick up on all the little nuances of all the different sorts of people.  And when I finally made it home, I was scrambling to write little paragraphs of my experiences so that I could use them for future tales.

I’m pretty fortunate.  I can get inspired by the tiniest of things.  Of course, that’s also a bit of a curse, as it means I’m constantly having “possible” stories running ’round my brain.  Now my task becomes sorting out what I do have and seeing if I can write a story.

That’s what I’m working on now.

I always need to write what’s in my brain.  And I’m slowly learning that just because I thought something was next up on the block, doesn’t mean that it actually is. Sometimes, other characters are louder and more vociferous.  And those are the ones that need to make it onto the page.  Sometimes, that means other characters have to take a back seat.

I thought I was going to write the sequel to Postcards next.  I already began working on my Scottish adventure.  But perhaps that guy I saw at the first rest stop needs his story told first.  But no matter what it is, I am writing and working on a new tale.  Have no doubt about that.

The muse has been wrangling all sorts of plot bunnies lately.  A handful of them, at least.  And I sort of didn’t know what to do with them all.  I’m really a “one thing at a time” person.  When I try to work on multiple stories at once, invariably, one always gets left behind or part of something sneaks into another and it’s just a mess.  So, I’ve been fighting with the muse because there’s no way I can handle all the things coming my way at once.  But she came up with a solution.  She’s taken a bunch of bits from all the plot bunnies and made rabbit stew.  And now there are just two distinctly different plots.  And one of them is distinctly happy to wait patiently until I get around to it.

NaNoWriMo was an enlightening experience.  I learned that I can get a massive amount of words on the page in a short time.  But I also learned that, perhaps, that’s not the best way for me to write.  Because having all the words on the page is making it difficult for me to edit it.  Personally, I’m having trouble seeing what needs to be changed to make the story work as a whole.  I loved the experience and I probably will do it again.  But I also know that that rest of the time?  I’ll write more like I have done in the past.  Write a bunch, go back and edit it, and then move forward.

I’m working on edits for Postcards this week, as I have time off from the day job.  But I’m also taking that insistent plot bunny, the one that can’t wait, the one that is most of the rabbit stew and getting it on the page.  Turns out, that when one story is done and I’m beginning another, it’s not distracting to work on edits on the first.  But, for me, polishing is the hard work.  So it’s nice to have some easy work of crafting a story while I’m at it.

It’s out!  Yes, that’s right folks, today Worth It is out!

You can buy the whole Advent Calendar here.   Or just Worth It here.  (Also from Amazon.  Or, if you’re in the UK, here.)

Nerves and excitement are totally warring right now.  I have no idea what to feel!

It seems that the way to mitigate the nerves is to work on new stuff.  At least, that’s what’s currently working for me.  Sunday will be here when it gets here–I have yet to develop the power to speed up time, though I assure you, I’ve been working on it–and there’s nothing I can do to change that.  In the meantime, I’m plotting out a new story.  Except, the thing is, I can’t figure out if it’s one big story…or two short ones.  There are times when it seems like two different tales.  And there are times when they kind of converge and mingle together, the story lines intertwined and the characters becoming the same people.  And before I can get anything on the page, I need to figure that out.

I’m also plotting the next book in the series, that will follow Postcards.  At the moment, I have three different sets of MCs and their stories. I like series.  I think in series.  I have no idea if it will actually work out, not at this point.  But I have the boys and they are talking.  I just have to see if they have stories worth telling.   

And I’m dithering over editing Postcards.  I’ve barely read past the first couple of chapters and have only made a few small changes and fixes thus far.  I’m not sure what has me so nervous about reading it through.  Except, of course, I’m afraid of it sucking.  And afraid that if it does suck, I won’t be able to fix it. I need to just section off some time and read it through.  And then I’ll know.

Worth It is out on Sunday, December 1st.  Tune in here on Friday November 29th for a glimpse into the lives of the main characters, Jack and Ryan, before Worth It takes place.  And keep tuning in for Flash Fic Fridays to see what happens next!

Enjoy the holiday, for those who celebrate it.  Happy Thanksgiving!  Happy Hanukkah!

I was nervous when I first submitted Worth It for consideration.

I was nervous while waiting to hear whether or not it would be accepted.

I was nervous after I knew it had been accepted and I was waiting for edits.

I was nervous doing the edits.

I was nervous during all the little extra bits that go along with being a first time author.

This whole process has been nerve wracking.  Incredibly exciting.  A dream come true.  But nerve wracking.

But nothing compares to this last stretch waiting for the story to be released.  Just six more days and my first published story will be out there.  I wonder if other authors have experienced this same thing with the first time their stories were about to be out there in the world.  I wonder if this feeling will ever go away.  I’m constantly bouncing back and forth between sheer, overwhelming excitement and unmitigated, unadulterated terror.

Six days, and it’ll be available for public consumption.  I’m terribly nervous.  I do hope a few people like it.

I got brave last night and actually opened up Postcards.  I haven’t looked at it since I put the last punctuation mark on the page nine days ago.  It’s…not bad.

I’m actually sort of cringing about the amount of work that needs to be done on it.  I definitely think I can clean it up and make it ready for a test run with my betas.  I’m just not sure how long that’s going to take.  The good news is that it has good bones.  It’s a solid story underneath.  I just need to finesse it a bit.  Okay, a lot.  But there are parts that made me grin, parts that I liked a lot, and then some parts that made me wrinkle my nose.  I didn’t do much fixing yet, mostly just seeing what needed to get done.  It’ll be quiet a task, that’s for sure.

In the meantime, I saw an open submission call that really piqued my interest.  The dead line is only two months away though.  I’m going to try and see if I can get the plot bunny on the page and develop it into a real story.  There’s a lot going on in my life right now though, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to get it ready in time.  It might be a fun exercise anyway, though.  Even if I don’t get it done in time, that doesn’t mean the story doesn’t need to be told, you know?  When there’s a lot going on in my head, sometimes I need to get things out on the page to make room for other stuff.  Then, either the story develops into a whole tale…or it dies a dignified death.  Neither thing is bad.  And the good thing about this plot bunny is it would take place in the Highlands of Scotland.  And I’m very, very lucky to have me an inside source.  If I got anything wrong, she’d tell me flat out how to fix it.  So at least I know the details would be accurate. 🙂

At any rate, I’m still writing and editing and fixing.  And  it still feels very good.  And with my first release on the horizon, I’m giddy with anticipation and excited to keep all the good feelings going.  I write because I must.  But I also love the hell out of it.  Even when I’m frustrated beyond belief.

Paul Richmond is a bit of a genius, isn’t he?  I think it’s sweet, and rather perfect for the anthology as a whole.  That’s the cover of Heartwarming.  Release is just two weeks away, people.  13 days actually.  If you’ve already bought the whole anthology, then the first one will arrive in your inbox on Sunday, December 1st.  If you just want to buy individual titles, they’ll all be available for purchase on that day as well.  It’s a fantastic mix of stories.  You can purchase the whole thing here.

Here’s the blurb for Worth It:

Jackson Bennett and Ryan Hennigan met and fell in love while Ryan worked on Jack’s family’s Christmas tree farm. Back then, Jack broke his own heart by convincing Ryan to leave and pursue his future. Ryan went, but only after they made a pact to reunite after Ryan graduated from college. Now, five years later, it’s time, but Jack is convinced Ryan won’t show—and when he does, Jack is certain Ryan can’t possibly want to stay. Ryan, however, has no intention of being anywhere other than in Jack’s arms. But he faces a hurdle he never expected: proving to Jack they can have each other without having to sacrifice their dreams.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

In other news, I received the first edit on my next release.  It’s always a bit of a nerve wracking experience.  Now, this is only my second time on the merry-go-round, and I like to think I learned a little from my first trip.  So that part’s a bit easier.  But even though it makes me nervous, I also sort of love it.  Seeing the changes needing to be made and really thinking about what the story is, making it say exactly what I want it to say to convey the story as it should be, is kind of an awesome process.  I’m working on it now and hopefully will be done tonight.

In another couple of days, I’ll be taking another stab at my WIP, tentatively titled Postcards.  That one is going to be a big mess to sort out.  But I like to think I’m up to the challenge.  I hope anyway.  At the very least, it’s another step on my journey to becoming a better writer.  I certainly want to keep improving.  It’s the only way I’ll be able to share the stories in my head with the world.

I’m sitting here with a scarf on my head.  No, really.  It’s balls numbing cold (or at least, that’s what I think would happen.  As I don’t have a set of my own, I can’t be entirely certain) and honestly, that impedes my creative process.  For the simple fact that freezing fingers don’t make for good typing.  And also, I’m pretty sure it slows down the neurons in the creative center in my brain.

Don’t worry.  I’ve turned the heat up.  But while I’m waiting for things to start working properly again, I’m painstakingly typing this while periodically shoving my hands in my pockets and waiting for them to thaw a bit so that they continue to work.

But see, here’s the thing: even when the fingers don’t work because they are too cold and my brain is sluggishly trying to process…it still works.  And slowly imagines just exactly what would happen to two guys were they in a situation where it was freezing cold, the power went out, and they had to find a way to pass the time…while attempting to stay warm.  And then, I write it down and file it away to use in my next WIP.  And here’s a hint: it’s not what you’re thinking right now.

When you’re a writer, anything and everything can  inspire a plot bunny.