On Writing

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    A look back …

    Summer is almost over. I can’t believe it’s almost September already. Where did the time go? Shaking head.

    Back in June, I posted about some things I needed to do this summer. I thought I’d give myself and you guys an update and measure my progress. So, here’s my list, along with whether or not I finished the projects.

    1) Finish page proofs for Hot Mama. 

    Done. I got a couple of Hot Mama ARCs in the mail last week. Who-hoo! 😎

    2) Finish up Bigtime 4, aka Nightingale.

    Done. Mostly. I sent it to the agent, who liked it. (Yeah!) Right now, I’m working on some minor revisions for her, which I plan to finish by Sept. 1, if not before.  

    3) Write a rough draft of Bigtime 5, aka Fangirl.

    Done, but it’s really, really short, and it really, really sucks. It needs some serious tinkering.

    4) Finish up my paranormal spy book, aka Live and Let Spy.

    Almost there. I’ve printed out the final draft. I need to read through it and do some minor editing before I sent it to the agent, and see what she thinks about it.

    5) Write a rough draft of the second spy book, You Only Spy Twice.

    Done, but like Fangirl, it’s really, really short, and it really, really sucks (all my first drafts do). But at least I have an idea of where I’m going and now I know that I can make a series out of this.

    6) Update the Web site with Hot Mama extras, new contests, photos, etc.

    Done. Mostly. I need to fix some typos and tweak a few things. I’m also waiting for some more art elements and Easter eggs from my Web site guru.

    7) Get bookmarks made for Hot Mama.

    Done. As always, these are free to readers. If you want some, send me an e-mail at jennifer@jenniferestep.com.

    8) Update my pitch letters and promo materials for Karma Girl and Hot Mama.

    Done. Mostly. I need to edit the letters and promo stuff for typos, but I went ahead and sent the info to my publicist at Berkley.

    9) Dazzle everyone with my wit and brilliance at RWA Nationals.

    Well, I went to RWA. Whether I dazzled anyone is debatable. 🙄

    10) Get my head examined for thinking I can get all this accomplished in three months. :cool:

    This one still stands.

    Overall, I didn’t do too bad. Now, I need to make my list for fall … 😀

    What about you? Did you accomplish your summer writing goals? Inquiring minds want to know …

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    A review from a reader …

    Liomas Thomas, a reader and writer, was nice enough to write me and tell me about a review he did of Karma Girl. He had some very nice things to say about the book.

    Here’s the link. Thanks, Liomas! 😎

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    Rough draft blues …

    5 Comments

    So, I had this idea for a contemporary romance on Saturday night. And I started writing a rough draft on Sunday (yes, I’m a panster, not a plotter).

    I’m about 20,000 words into it right now — and it sucks. I mean really, really sucks. There’s no romance. It’s all about a woman trying to make up for past mistakes. It’s just not fun. And, if you’ve read Karma Girl, you know I like fun. 😉

    Of course, I think all my books suck when I’m first writing them. Which is why I usually pound out a 50,000-word draft just to see if there’s a glimmer of hope in my story.

    It’s a tough decision, but I think I’m going to put this contemporary romance aside and work on something else. There are so many books I want to write. I want to write a contemporary romance. A heist book. A romantic suspense. An assassin book. Oh yeah, I need to write some more Bigtime books too. :grin: 

    Up next? Probably finishing up the spy book I’ve had in the works for a while now. And I have a really cool idea for a book about the Greek gods …

    What about you? At what point do you abandon an idea or save it until later? Inquiring minds want to know …

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    One hot cover …

    2 Comments

    hot_mama.jpg

    Here’s the final cover art for Hot Mama. Basically, some of the text on the front got tweaked, and they added a cover blurb at the bottom.

    I thought the Karma Girl cover was excellent, but I think I like this one just a tiny bit better. Kudos go out to artist Stanley Chow for his excellent design. Fiona Fine looks just the way I picture her in my head. Once you read the book, I think you’ll agree too.

    Now that I have the cover, you know what’s coming next … bookmarks! Wha-ha-ha! 😈