Going off-roading, an open book blog hop post

 

Welcome to Open Book Blog Hop. You can find us every Monday talking about the writing life. I hope you'll check out all the posts: you'll find the links at the bottom of this post.

How do you deal with a change in ideas halfway through your book? Or do you save it for a sequel?
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Well, I'm a "pantser" as they call it--meaning that I don't work from an outline, but just free-form it in my writing life. So, there darn well better be some new ideas halfway through the book or I'll stay stalled forever! 

I have, however, had an unexpected twist--where I really thought the story or characters were going one direction and suddenly, a left turn at Albuquerque. That's what I think this prompt is getting at: when you had one plan, but the story or character seems to have other ideas.

image source

 

When that happens, I usually follow the new inspiration, at least for a while. Sometimes I end up writing a few different versions of events before I settle on the one that really serves the needs of the story. I keep all the versions, just in case I want to explore another one or use part of an abandoned section in another story sometime.

It's probably not the most efficient method for creation, but it is the one that works for me. How about you? Do you make a plan and stick with it in your creative endeavors? Or do you go with the flow, even when it ends up being a dead end? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. 

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Free to Write Anything, so What's Next?, an IWSG post

 

      

Welcome to the first Wednesday of the month. You know what that means! It's time to let our insecurities hang out. Yep, it's the Insecure Writer's Support Group blog hop. If you're a writer at any stage of career, I highly recommend this blog hop as a way to connect with other writers for support, sympathy, ideas, and networking. If you're a reader, it's a great way to peek behind the curtain of a writing life.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. The awesome co-hosts for the January 8 posting of the IWSG are Rebecca Douglass, Beth Camp, Liza @ Middle Passages, and Natalie @ Literary Rambles!

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I turned in the final novel in the Menopausal Superheroes series in 2024, for publication in 2025!

 

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Of course, I'm completely jazzed about that and I can't wait for readers to finish this journey with me (balloons, confetti, shouting in the streets!). 

 

Going Through the Change came out in 2015, so that means I'm starting 2025 with no writing deadlines to meet for the first time in ten years.

 

Okay, I'll still have editing deadlines to meet, but so far as the new projects I take on and the new words I create? They could be …anything! Which is wonderful and a little terrifying. 

 

See before I landed that first book contract, my big struggle as a writer was discipline--staying focused on a single project and seeing it to fruition without wandering off to explore the new shiny idea poking at my subconscious. But I respond very well to external deadlines. That little bit of external pressure calms the brain weasels. They take "no" for an answer when that "no" came from someone else, like John, my publisher. 

 

I mean, he does look kind of intimidating, doesn't he?

 

 

So, I worried that, once I didn't have a deadline hanging over my head, I'd founder. 

But, guess what? I haven't!

Since I turned in that novel, I've written a novella and a half of an intended set of three novellas that I plan to publish as my first all-indie project. In fact, I've been energized with that "new project energy" and creating at a faster pace than I have in years (ask John about all that deadline renegotiation we've gone through over the past couple of years). 

 

These are a whole new genre for me. My published work so far is the Menopausal Superheroes series, and a lot of dark-leaning short fiction. In fact, my author banner for events currently says: Samantha Bryant, Half-Hero, Half-Horror. 

 

Me selling my books at Splatterflix at the Carolina Theatre in Durham

 

These new novellas, though? Romance! 

A friend of mine from Women's Fiction Writers Association, Stella Fosse, wrote a how-to book about writing and publishing romances featuring older characters. I read and blurbed it for her--the connections to my own work with Menopausal Superheroes seemed obvious!

While I was reading, I had an idea…actually I had three ideas. And now, I'm off exploring an new-to-me genre and having a great time. My working titles: Not Too Late, a second chance Gen-X romance about a woman returning to her hometown and reconnecting with a boy she knew in high school; Acid Reign, a one-night-stand turns to love about an 80s punk star finding love with a local politician; and Skinny Jeans for Fat Girls, the idea for which is still just a nugget, so we'll see. But all three will feature women in their 50s finding love.

 

So that's what next for me! After that? Well, I've got several back burner projects I'd like to get back to, and a collection of short stories I never finished putting together, so there's a world of possibility out there. 

How about you? What's on the horizon for you in 2025? What are you excited about? I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

 

 

The Best Thing in 2024, an open book blog hop post

 

 

Welcome to Open Book Blog Hop. You can find us every Monday talking about the writing life. I hope you'll check out all the posts: you'll find the links at the bottom of this post.

What was the best thing that happened to you in 2024 (writing or otherwise)? The worst?
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2024 was a landmark year in my writing life because I wrapped up The Menopausal Superheroes series of novels--the work of 10 years! Getting to "the end" was a whole different ball game when it wasn't just the end of a book, but the end of an entire series, but I'm really happy with how I wrapped it all up. 

4 novels, 2 novellas, and the shorts. The series so far.

 

It's with my publisher now and we expect to bring it out in June of 2025, so soon you'll be able to find out how it all concludes. 

And now that it's done, I feel so excited about all my new projects. I'm writing a trio of romance novellas right now that I look forward to bringing out as my first all-indie project. 

So how did 2024 treat you in your endeavors? Any big wins? Anything you're glad is over? I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

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Christmas with the Menopausal Superheroes, an open book blog hop post

 

 

Welcome to Open Book Blog Hop. You can find us every Monday talking about the writing life. I hope you'll check out all the posts: you'll find the links at the bottom of this post.

Behind the scenes of a Holiday Scene: How did you write a holiday scene?
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I've written two Christmas stories for the Menopausal Superheroes. 

 

"O Scaly Night" has Patrica, the Lizard Woman of Springfield coming to the rescue during what should have been a quiet holiday alone and discovering that she likes helping people.

The idea for the story came to me while I was writing one of the novels in the series, which had me delving a little deeper into Patricia's background and understanding what kind of childhood experiences she had had. 

This story fits into the novel series earlier on, when there was more doubt as to how Patricia would end up using her powers and I liked exploring the ambivalence of vigilantism. The lines a hero does and doesn't cross.   

I wrote it for my newsletter subscribers, and later it was published as part of a charity Christmas anthology: Christmas Lites IX.

  

Click the image to read the entire story for free.

The other story is called "Max's Mommy" and is told by the youngest son of one of her heroes, Jessica, AKA Flygirl. One of the things I wanted for my Menopausal Superheroes was for them to still get to keep their friends, families, and homes. 

All of my heroes have a circle of trust who knows their secret identity and none of them are keeping their abilities hidden from the people they love most. I got to thinking about how her children were handling having a superhero for a mother and came up with this story of young Max watching his hero-mother in action.  

This one I also wrote as a gift to my newsletter subscribers, and I haven't sought other publication for it so far.

Click the image to read the entire story for free.

I really enjoyed writing both of these stories, focusing on just one of the heroes during the holidays and imagining how that might go. Maybe I need to write another one for Leonel, AKA Fuerte! Do you like tie-in stories for series? Do you read winter holiday stories as part of your festivities? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. 

If these snippets caught your attention and you're interested in more, here are the details on the series: 

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Soundtrack for my Stories, an open book blog hop post

 

 

Welcome to Open Book Blog Hop. You can find us every Monday talking about the writing life. I hope you'll check out all the posts: you'll find the links at the bottom of this post.

If your book had a soundtrack what would be on it? 
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screenshot of my YouTube playlist

I haven't generally chosen a soundtrack to go with my work, but that's changing with my latest projects. My works-in-progress right now are a trio of GenX themed romance novellas, with characters in their 50s falling in love.  

For the first one, working title Not Too Late, I've been using song titles from 80s songs as my chapter titles. And it's a lot of fun shopping for just the right song to fit the emotions or plot points of each one. 

I've got a full draft now, so here's a playlist of all the songs I chose to represent Mandy and Chris, my lovebirds:

 

For the second novella, working title Acid Reign, my main character is a member of an imaginary all-girl punk band that had its heyday in the 80s. I haven't decided yet if I'll continue that idea and use song titles from 70s and 80s punk bands or if it might be better to use song titles from my imaginary band. I guess real ones are easier to actually listen to, but I have made up some fun songs for my imaginary band. "Not Your Lolita," "Nice Girls Don't", and "MTV Can Bite Me" for example. 

I think I'll finish writing it and then decide. 

Do you like having soundtracks for your writing or reading? What' s a good one you've seen/heard? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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My Best Lines, an Open Book blog hop post

 

 

Welcome to Open Book Blog Hop. You can find us every Monday talking about the writing life. I hope you'll check out all the posts: you'll find the links at the bottom of this post.

What's the best line you've written recently? Or ever? 
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It is a lovely feeling to re-read your work and find lines that make you feel a bit of pride and accomplishment. It's fun to look for those jewels, moment that are beautifully crafted or emotionally resonant, and that will help attract readers to your work. I often pull them for use in ad campaigns or newsletters or social media posts. 

Four pull quotes from Going Through the Change, book 1 of the Menopausal Superheroes series.

Honestly, those sparkling little moments feel like magic and they're a big part of why I write. They give me a sort of glowing feeling.

My work-in-progress right now is a trio of Gen X romances I plan to release as my first fully indie projects. I've just finished re-writing the first one, working title Not Too Late. 

Here's a line I'm proud of from that one: 

A firetruck flew up the avenue, but Chris didn’t get out of bed to see which way it was going. He was far more concerned about a much older flame and whether he was the one who would end up getting burned.

It's an important moment in the romance, establishing Chris's character and his feelings on having his one-time crush come back into his life all these years later. I felt clever, using the firetruck to lead into the flame metaphor as applied to love. 

When I'm reading, I also look for these kinds of lines--quotable bits, insights that really hit home. I highlight them (in my kindle edition) or copy them into notebooks, and if I ever want to tell someone why I love a book, that's where I go first. 

 How about you? Are you drawn to quote-able lines? What kinds of moments in a book (one you've read or written) glow brightly for you? 

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Leave 'Em Wanting More…But Don't Leave 'Em Hangin': an IWSG post

      

Welcome to the first Wednesday of the month. You know what that means! It's time to let our insecurities hang out. Yep, it's the Insecure Writer's Support Group blog hop. If you're a writer at any stage of career, I highly recommend this blog hop as a way to connect with other writers for support, sympathy, ideas, and networking. If you're a reader, it's a great way to peek behind the curtain of a writing life.

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. The awesome co-hosts for the December 4 posting of the IWSG are Ronel, Deniz, Pat Garcia, Olga Godim, and Cathrina Constantine!


December 4 question - Do you write cliffhangers at the end of your stories? Are they a turn-off to you as a writer and/or a reader?

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The only series I've written so far (recently finished! hurray!) is the Menopausal Superheroes. In writing it, I used some tropes, abandoned others, and tried to twist still others. I wanted the books to feel like what they are--superhero stories--but to also be their own thing, so that was sometimes a delicate dance. 

Cliffhangers are bread and butter in superhero stories--going as far back as the oldest comic books and movie serials with superpowered characters. 

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I know some readers hate cliffhangers, feeling that they are a manipulation designed to pull them into the next book. That can be true, but sometimes, they are genre expectation and the best way to tell a story. 

The end of the first book has been described as a cliffhanger by some (usually by folks who don't like cliffhangers).  If you read my reviews of that first book, people who don't love it almost universally complain that it ended in a cliffhanger. 

I don't think it exactly is…my heroes had met their primary goal, and the next problem presented itself immediately. That fits the comic book feel of it to me. True that it wasn't all wrapped up…but no was left in the middle of an immediate crisis. Heroes seldom get to enjoy or celebrate their wins for long--there's always another fight looming. 

That said, the second, third, and fourth books end more fully than that first one. So maybe I came around to what some of my readers were saying. We'll find out next summer if they like what I've done with the fifth and final book in the series--coming to you in summer 2025 from Falstaff Books!

For myself as a reader, it's a case by case scenario. Some cliffhangers feel organic to the story and others just feel like tacked-on manipulations. So some I love, and some frustrate me. I don't think there's a right answer to this one. You gotta do what's right for each story. 

And, yes, a cliffhanger is a tactic to drive readers to pick up the next book in a series. Done well, it's no more manipulative than writing engaging characters, leaving a question unanswered, or showing an assumption about what's happened might be mistaken. I don't think writers are doing anything wrong if they work some curious and tension-building techniques in to pull a reader through a whole series. That's just good story telling (and a little business sense). 

So, what do y'all think? Cliffhangers, yea or no? Why?