writing

Writing “The End” is Satisfying and Bittersweet

Books, Dark Velvet / By

Finishing a draft fills me with a sense of relief and accomplishment, but a little bit of sadness, too. After months of living in the world of characters in their novel, it’s a sign that it’s over in a way. By that time, I am very invested in their lives so it’s tough to not go back to make small changes, add details–basically move on to the next project.

I finished Dark Muse this weekend. It’s a novella that follows Dark Velvet. By now, I’m fascinated with the characters and story and have already jotted notes for the next novella in the Chateau Seductions series. It’s funny–when I wrote Dark Velvet, I thought it would be one story, a sexy paranormal novella set at a castle on a remote New England island. When I finished the novella, the world and the characters took a hold on me. One of the secondary characters started to reveal herself more to me and I envisioned a sexy new arrival at the art colony who shattered her carefully controlled life at the colony. Much fun to write!

There’s still much polishing of Dark Muse to come–rewrites, critiques, edits, and beta reads–so I’ll still be able to flesh out the details in Dante and Gina’s romance. For a few days, though, I’m hoping to put it aside, give it some breathing space, and focus on something completely different.

Maybe even read a book. 😉

Here’s more about Dark Velvet, the first sexy novella in the Chateau Seductions series.

Dark Velvet

Lisa Carlisle

Chateau Seductions series

darkvelvetGrad student Savannah Evans is thrilled to be accepted as a resident to a prestigious art colony. Where else would she be able to focus on her craft of writing poetry in a setting like that of the medieval-styled castle? The remote New England island is a respite from her hectic city life. When she meets her benefactor, a mysterious French sculptor, her expectations for carefree days writing near the ocean are distracted by unprofessional fantasies about her sponsor.

Antoine Chevalier built Les Beaux Arts on DeRoche Island to bring purpose back to an existence that has lost meaning. He’s wandered the earth for decades and finds solace in returning to art. When Savannah applies for a residency, something about her words touches him. After her arrival, a physical attraction grows between them, which he struggles against. She deserves more than someone of his kind.

Antoine proposes they become lovers during her stay. But the situation turns complicated when Savannah discovers his secret. She had suspicions about his identity, but finds the truth overwhelming. Consumed by her desire for Antoine and faced with a tough decision, she is blind to the danger that has arrived at DeRoche Island.

New adult / paranormal / erotic romance

Recent reviews:
“Looking for a sexy vampire novel? If so, then this is definitely a must buy!” 

“Sexy, dark, full of intrigue, art, and paranormal sexiness, Dark Velvet has it all in one hot package!” 

Buy links:

Amazon
B&N
Kobo
AllRomanceEbooks

Sign up for new releases and specials at

 

Can’t Take a Shower without My Characters Bugging Me

Writing / By

It never fails. Just when I think I’ll get ten minutes of peaceful relaxation in the shower. No kids or co-workers asking me to do things. Something else happens. My characters start talking to each other, having zippy conversations. I can barely keep track and hope I’ll remember when I get out the shower. Or plot ideas rush to me and I hold on to the details so I don’t forget.

I’m guessing it’s what happens when you turn off all the other junk running through your mind that your creative side gets a few minutes. I don’t know. It’s a blessing and a curse. Sometimes my best ideas come to me when I’m trying to keep the shampoo out of my eyes. Other times I wish I could just get a few minutes of peaceful meditation.

Does this happen to you? Or something similar?

Lisa Carlisle Presents Tips on Revising Your Nanowrimo Novel

Interviews / Guest Blogs, Writing / By

How many of you participated in National Novel Writing Month this past November, where you pledge to write a 50,000 novel in thirty days? Many authors love it; others hate it. I look forward to the challenge and the idea of committing myself to focusing on a novel for one month a year. So many other priorities get in the way if I let them, but in November my mantra is Nano, Nano, Nano.

This is my fourth year and I’ve come up with a post-nano revision process. At the end of November, I have a completed novel. Yeah! Yet, it is far from finished. It’s a messy first draft with a number of unnamed characters, question marks, and comments for me to address in the revisions. I wrote up some tips on the process I generally follow over at Savvy Authors.

Related News:

Ten Tips for Surviving Nanowrimo

Ten Tips for Surviving Nanowrimo

Writing / By

Ah, sweet November. Nanowrimo. Ah, unforgiving November.

This marks my fourth Nanowrimo. I already feel guilty starting this post when I should be working on my word count. So I’ll keep it brief.

I’m a working mom who has taken on the challenge like many of you to write a 50,000 word novel this month. It is exciting, daunting, terrifying, and at times you’re going to want to say screw this, I’m out! I know, I’ve been there. We all have. Here are a few tips to keep you going on your pursuit to 50k.

  • Make your novel your priority. We all have priorities and obligations, but in November, your novel should be one of the top.
  • Write anywhere at anytime.  I have my Netbook with me while I’m waiting for the kids during their classes. While one is swimming, I’m typing away. While I’m waiting to pick one up from karate, I’m in my car trying to knock off some dialog.
  • Work in chunks. When I think about writing 1,667 words a day, I cringe. Instead I promise myself smaller amounts. I also strive for more during the weekends in case life gets in the way during the week. So today I’m saying 250 words before breakfast. 500 before lunch. 250 during a tea break. And so on. It all adds up at the end of the day.
  • Keep the television off. I know you have your shows. If you have to watch them, record them and watch them only after you meet your daily word count.
  • Make Nano your Me time. Yes, you may want to unwind after a long day with work or the kids and want to read, watch a movie, or take a long bath. Rewire your thinking for this month. Your Me time is escaping into your novel. Once you meet your word count, then go ahead and reward yourself with something else.
  • Don’t forget your family. Okay, I feel guilty about this because I feel like I’m neglecting them when I’m writing my novel. Sometimes I get too absorbed in my novel, I forget about everything else. I try to find ways to do both this month. While they’re watching a movie, I sit in the living room with them and work on my novel. It’s not perfect quality time together, but at least we’re in the same room.
  • Forget house projects during November. Writing should be your priority this month. If the project can wait until December, let it sit.
  • Connect with others. Connect with writing buddies lcoally, at nanowrimo.org, or on social media.
  • Attend write ins if possible. Write ins are NaNoWriMo events at cafes, libraries, and other locations where you meet other Wrimos and focus on your novel for a stretch of time. It’s very inspiring to write as part of a group with a collective goal in mind — write a novel by November 30th.
  • Write, don’t rewrite. You can save the rewrites for December. Right now, focus on getting the first draft done.

I hope you find some of these tips helpful. Now I’ve got to go get back to my novel. And so should you!

Reaching the Winner’s Circle by November 30th gives you such a feeling of accomplishment, it’s such a thrill. And such a relief! Do something nice for yourself. You just wrote a novel, you earned it!

Lisa Carlisle’s 2012 novel Bloodlust and Metal was released by Ellora’s Cave this spring. She is writing the sixth book in her series Underground Encounters this November.

From Fact to Fiction

Writing / By

It’s been four years since I last published a book. Back then, I was on deadline update a book AND write the sequel by a December 31st deadline. By the end of December, I’d burned out and swore in Scarlett O’Hara Style, “I’m never writing another book again!” At the time, I knew I was full of crap because I’m a writer so I write, whether I want to or not. But I wanted to make some big declaration to give solace to my overwrought mind.

I work as a writer all day so I didn’t think I’d miss it too much. But I wrote little pieces here and there. Getting my toes wet again. And then finally I dove back in with NaNoWriMo a couple of years ago with some fiction. Nanowrimo is definitely my kind of challenge – short intense bursts of activities with a clear deadline. The more I brainstormed ideas, the more they came.

I’d tried writing fiction back when I lived in Paris in my early 20s. If you’re a writer and you’re living in Paris, you better sit in a cafe and write something! Since I was young, on my own, recently out of the Marines and had graduated college, and trying to figure out my place in the world, my mind veered away from whatever story I was trying to write to instead write in journals or letters back home. There was so much to see and experience! I was living in Paris, the city I’d dreamed about since I was a little girl! And not only was I visiting, I was LIVING there; I made it on my own! I had to chronicle my adventures and journey of self-discovery right then in the present, not create new ones.

Now many years later, I’ve moved back to fiction. Moving to fiction again is quite a change; it’s completely freeing. You don’t have to rely on memory or when things happened; you use your imagination. Instead of chronicling the past, you’re inventing an alternate world in the past, present, or future. You can create any character you want, put them in any situation you desire, and have them react however you choose to. Master of your domain, alright! I can completely become immersed in my character’s lives, wondering what if… With my first fictional story being published in a couple of weeks, I’m finishing up the sequel and have started the third book in the series; so now my mind keeps wondering what will they do next…

So I suppose moving from fact to fiction might reflect moving from one part of life to another. I still feel the pull to write nonfiction, which I’m doing at the moment, but in a much smaller scale than an entire book. I could go on for paragraphs analyzing these ideas, but I’d rather hear what YOU think.

Cross-posted at www.lisacordeiro.com.

Amaretto, Insomnia, and the Red Shoe Diaries

Writing / By

The last time I was on a writing deadline like this, a routine evolved — drink a glass of Amaretto, listen to Amy Winehouse, type until your fingers hurt, and wake up after a few hours of sleep to creep around the house, scribbling lines and plot points on note pads.

This time, Amy Winehouse has been replaced by older CDs — the Essential Nina Simone and movie soundtracks (Queen of the Damned, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and the Red Shoe Diaries).

Whatever works works, right?
What works for you?

Vampires for Mother’s Day

Writing / By

I love good vampire stories and movies. This Mother’s Day, I decided to kickoff a spring watching some old favorite movies. And since I have a vampire novella coming out soon, why not get a glass of red wine and celebrate. Nothing like escaping to a world of immortality after a long day at work.

I started with Queen of the Damned. What a great soundtrack.

When I saw Blade 2 while flipping through the channels, I added that to the list. Blade 1 and 2 are awesome. Then I added Interview with the Vampire, a book I’ve read many times and movie I’ve seen even more so. I’m going to watch Bram Stoker’s Dracula tonight, which I haven’t seen in 10-15 years. The soundtracks to Interview and Dracula are great as well and have been using them as background music as I write my new novella this week. It does get you into a weird state of mind after a few hours, I must say. Haha!

Maybe add the old Fright Night movie and Lost Boys as well.

All this is helping me cope with my True Blood withdrawal. It’s the one show that I’m addicted to. I’m reading Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse books, but trying not to get too far ahead of the show. My sister recommended the UK version of Being Human. If you’ve watched it, what do you think?

What other vampire movies do you recommend? What stories?

Hopefully no werewolves or zombies. Not a fan at all!

Writing and Insomnia Go Hand in Hand

Writing / By

Are you ever lying in bed, trying to sleep, when lines of dialogue come to you? Characters start to form? Story parts come into your head?

When I’m in full writing mode, it’s difficult to sleep. The second my head hits the pillow, the lines start forming and reshaping in my head. I argue with myself — just go to sleep; you can write them down in the morning. No, get up and write them NOW. You don’t want to forget.

I’ve learned to leave a writing pad in my nightstand so I can write them down. So this morning, I’m looking over my illegible scrawls trying to decipher what I meant.

But, I’m very excited to be back in writing mode. I enjoy it much more than revision mode. Everything is fresh and exciting. I haven’t read the same words dozens of times, trying to find ways to improve it.

I love the characters so far and the dialog so far. But hey, I’m only at 250 words. I don’t know where it’s going yet.

Stay tuned for more info in this new story with some characters and scenery from Smoldering Nights!

Received My Author Packet

Writing / By

I must say it’s a great feeling to receive an Author’s packet and being welcomed to a group. As a writer, you often work on your own on a project for months, if not years. Then once you sign the contract, you’re part of a team. You share your story with publishers, editors, graphic artists, reviewers, readers, etc. It’s no longer just your project. You’re letting your creation grow up and enter the world, in a way.

I wrote Smoldering Nights for fun. I didn’t have any readers in mind, but was just letting my imagination go wild. I tried rock climbing one summer so that ended up in the story. I love the setting of a goth/rock club so that’s where Nike and Luc talk for the first time. I love the Gloucester area of Massachusetts and coastal Maine, so I threw that in as well. And anyone who knows me knows I’ve loved the vampire myth for as long as I can remember.

So imagine my surprise when I sent this story out to one publisher and they offered me a contract for it?

Now that was an awesome feeling. Too bad I was reading the email on my Droid and I threw it up into the air out of excitement. Then it crashed to the ground. It works, but it’s acting funny. Oh well, small price to pay to have this story published.