February Flashback
Greetings, readers!
Another month come and gone. I needed about 10 extra days of February, not just one, to get everything I hoped to achieve done. Yet, my work for March is shaping up nicely, and I begin to look to the summer to figure out where my writing plans go from here.
February's goals were:
50k words in Trending Topic Mysteries Book 2 manuscript
Finish first draft of next Court of Mystery novel
Send new cozy mystery MS to agent after final readthrough
Write one blog post
Let's break them down, shall we?
50k words in Trending Topic Mysteries Book 2 manuscript: After getting the all clear on the first 50 pages I sent to my editor last month, I'm now tasked with finishing the entire manuscript by June. With this deadline in the not-so-distant future, I made the decision to go full steam ahead on this project. As you may have guessed looking at my goals, I thought I could work on two books, successfully, at the same time. Turns out, I could not do that. I'd sit down to write one, only to start thinking about the other. I'd then bring up the other project, only to want to work on the first one. It was a vicious first two weeks of the month, juggling these two writing projects. I did get work done on them initially, yes, but not the kind of progress I was hoping for. So, since my Trending Topic series needs to adhere to a publisher's timeline, and not my own, I thought it best to focus purely on this manuscript. And I'm very glad I did. I hit 50,000 with a few days to spare and I feel very comfortable about the direction the story is going. This is the first time I really have a concrete synopsis to work off of, and I'm finding it very helpful. I usually have a vague outline I follow when writing a mystery, but nothing as concrete as writing an entire synopsis before the book is even written. I'm not sure if I enjoy the structure it provides, as I feel a little tied to my decisions, but I'm allowing myself to be flexible and really pleased with how these characters are developing.
Finish first draft of next Court of Mystery novel: As I mentioned above, I had a really tricky time balancing two separate manuscripts. I've written different stories at the same time before, but not with the intensity I was tackling these two projects. I got a bit overwhelmed toward the middle of the month and began to wonder if I'd lost my writing spark. Turns out, I just needed to give myself a little bit of break. It is hard to write more than one story at a time. For those who do it, I am so impressed and envious. I did have to step back and pause my work on my Court of Mystery novel in order to meet my goals for my Trending Topic Mysteries manuscript. I hope to pick up CoM in mid-March, once I begin editing my TTM book, allowing me to remain on track for a May/June publication date.
Send new cozy mystery MS to agent after final readthrough: This was the easiest and more enjoyable of my goals this month. It had a been several months since I last visited this project and I was really surprised and, honestly, thrilled by how well it aged. I had a blast reading a book that I somehow managed to write. Another new setting, another new cast of characters…I am amazed that there are still stories inside my head. It makes me feel like I was really meant to be a writer.
Write one blog post: I'm continuing to hold myself accountable for my goals, as well as giving you more insight into what goes on in the life of a writer. We struggle with our words just as much as the next person. It's hard to make deadlines work if you feel the pressure. Don't be afraid to reevaluate your goals and make changes. It doesn't mean you're a failure. It means you're aware enough of all the things influencing your life and only you know how best to proceed.
Sarah's Bookshelf:
At the conclusion of every blog post, I will share what I've been reading during the month. This won't be an inclusive list, but I want to try to share some of the stand-outs from the month.
A Man of Some Repute by Elizabeth Edmondson
This mystery kicks off a well-written series about a former spy who has been forced into desk work in the crumbling English countryside. The sleepy little town he now calls home turns out to not be so sleepy. This three-book series (the author tragically passed away during the third book's development and was published posthumously by her child) was engaging and delightful, and set afire my desire to read more historical fiction.
Relative Fortunes by Marlowe Benn
A witty, enchanting historical cozy featuring life in the United States after women secured the right to vote. I am eagerly looking forward to the publication of this author's next book.
A Dangerous Talent by Charlotte Elkins and Aaron Elkins
One of the best, well-crafted "hooks" in a cozy mystery I have read in a long time. Alix London is an art consultant who gets involved in a murder investigation after a shady art dealer turns up dead. The amount of knowledge and research that went into this character is astounding. I felt like a real art expert had written this; I fully believed everything the character said and did. I'm already reading book two A Cruise to Die For.
All these books can be found on Audible.com and Kindle Unlimited.
Until next month's review!
Arms around,
S.B.