Catching Up-11:08 p.m.-7/28/11

Hello Readers,

Sorry I have been out of contact lately. I have been away from home for a few weeks and as you all know by now, my only computer source is at the library. Anyways, a lot has happened since my last post, so let's catch up.

1. As you probably guessed, I have not been able to type anymore of my manuscript, but school is about to start back so I will have plenty of time to work on that book when I finish my work in my four hours in the computer lab.

2. I may have been away from the computer, but y'all know that did not keep me from writing. I know I said I didn't want to start another project with pen and paper, but I couldn't help myself. I live to write and I write to live. I was about to go nuts sitting around with all that time on my hands and all those ideas in my head. So, I not only did I start one project, I started two. Don't worry, I plan on finishing them.

The first one is, of course, book 2 of the one I just finished writing.

I always wanted to do a book of quickies, well I am again doing mine with a little twist. Y'all know I love my twists, that's how I stay different. Anyway, I'm not giving up any secrets, but I will tell one thing. I am not Zane and I am not trying to be Zane. These quickies probably don't even qualify as erotica, but it is adult fiction.

3. I have been caught up in my research, which is something I always do. I am a rookie, but I don't want to handle my business like one when I do get ready to publish. So, first things first, I have finally decided to self-publish. There is no doubt in my mind about that. Second, on my Linkdin profile I started a discussion about choosing the right editor. Well as usual, my group flooded me with helpful information that I knew nothing about. Today was the very first day that I realized just exactly how new I was to the business/publishing side. I did not know that editors and proofreader were different people with different job titles. I did not know that editing alone, had many level and critical steps. It was just so much that I didn't know and honestly it was very overwhelming and frightening. So, now I know I need to sit down and list the things I want in an editor. Then, I'll go from there.

4. As I said earlier, school is about to start back. August 3 to be exact, which is one day after my birthday. Best birthday gift ever, honestly I love school...especially since it's my senior year. I am telling you this, because I won't be able to do this blog as often and I didn't won't everybody to think I gave up. If this site isn't blocked at school, I'll blog everyday or two. If it is blocked, I'll just try to get to the library once a week.

So, today post has come to an end. Keep reading and I'll keep posting!

One Step Futher-1:40 p.m.-7/13/11

Honestly, I wasn't even going to blog today, because I felt I had nothing to say. Well sitting back at the computer at the library, I was doing my daily research. I spent some time on my Linkdin profile http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=119879842&locale=en_US&trk=tab_pro trying to get the hang of things. I joined this really awesome group of authors and publishers, who are all highly experienced compared to me. It is and honor, a privilege, and a big help to chat with some of these people, since they are older and they know the game. Well how do I say that better? They know the do's and don'ts of publishing and self-publishing; many of the group members have published books.

I was questioning whether or not I should self-publish or not? Well I think I'm going to do it...whenever I finish typing my manuscript. In discussions, they suggested some sites that they have published through successfully, and about three were mentioned over and over. One of the three, I was already planning on using. As for the other two, I checked those out and I will be publishing through at least two of the three. Why publish through two companies you ask? I asked the same questions to myself. Well one site, is own by amazon and that way, I can sell online much cheaper. Another company is connected to the big stores like Barnes & Nobles and etc. Great isn't it? I know.

Well, I am going to keep diligently working to my finish. Just thought I'd give you an update. Until my next entry good folk!

A Newly Met Goal!-9:40 a.m.-7/12/11

O.K. first of all, I know I said I'll be back yesterday, but I had to babysit. In all actuality, I need that time away from it all this weekend. I got a lot of work done. I have great news everybody! I finally got Chapter 15 started and finished in one day. That's the thing about me, when I do get started, I have to keep going, and going, and going until I let everything out...or else I'll forget. Don't get me wrong, Chapter 15 wasn't done in an hour, it actually took the entire day to write, but I finished it.

In other news, Chapter 15 wasn't the only thing that I finished. I have successfully finished writing my book. I decided at the last minute to take some information out and save it for the third book in my series, so its a few chapters short of what I intended, but I thinks it's still good. I finished at Chapter 17. So I am proud to announce that all I have to do is finish typing my manuscript...which I have 12 chapters left to type.

Honestly, I am still struggling to finish typing, because one: I still don't have that computer at home and two: Books two and three are already floating in my head. My problem with that is ending up like I am now with my first book. I don't want to have stacks of notebooks filled with my work that needs to be typed. That's just depressing to look at.

O.k. back to the subject at hand. I know I have a good book, but with everything comes doubts and I have many insecurities. I started off reading Wahida Clark and this year, I my bestie introduced me to Mary. B. Morrison's Who's Loving You. Then, my mother actually got Unconditionally Single for me. It's kind of intimidating to me when I am getting ready to throw myself out there with many authors of their calliber. Can I get past or even to their level of expertise? Can I get that way through self-publishing? If I self-publish successfully and then make it past their level completely on my own, I will be known as a go-getter. A possible entreprenuer. A determined, great, successful author. But do I have the gutts to do it? Somedays I doubt myself so much 'til it just ain't funny. You know you are your own toughest critic. Somedays I look at my book and be like, this will never sell or stand out. Maybe I am just kidding myself.Then other days I'm like hell yeah!! I can do this. I mean I never will know until I try. As you can see, I am still writing this blog even though I have no comments and even though it seems like I have no readers. I have determination, I just hope I have a bestseller.

Getting Back On Track (Just A Quick Update)-1:30 p.m.-7/8/11

Hallelujah!! I am getting there...sort of. I just finished typing Chapter 4, so Monday I will start typing Chapter 5. I know it's not much, but it's a big deal to me. Especially, since I had fell of so badly (NOTE: Read about me falling of in my last blog post My Struggle To Get and Stay Motivated).

I am even trying to do some tweeting to get my name and blog out there. Readers follow me on twitter @ http://twitter.com/#!/Mrs_Bree_. I have also be doing a lot of researching and networking. At least as much as I can do at my age.  So, during my research, I found out that creating a manuscript is very difficult. Well, not difficult, just straight forward. These publishers are very specific about what they want, I just hope that one day I can meet their critical standards. Not to mention the prices of publishing, printing, and editors. I can't afford anything right now.

On the other hand, here's some food for thought: I have the option of self publishing. Personally, I kind of like that idea, because there is no middle man, and I like to be in control of everything that I create. Not to mention I plan on being an entrepreneur in some form or fashion. There's only one this that worries me about going this route: there is a bunch of advertisement, promotion, and other dirty that I'd have to do solo. Whereas, if I get publishers, editors, and etc. I wouldn't have to have to worry as much about the big stuff. Also, I am scared that I can't get my book to the places the big time publishers can.
Readers, I am calling you out for comments again. What do you guys think I should do? Should I save and try to get published or should I take the big plunge and self-publish?

My laziness is battling my will to be successful and it is very difficult, but whether you guys believe it or not, I feel that this book will make it big, so I am majorly dedicated.

Well readers it's that time again, my post has come to an end. Until Mondays you guys!!

My Struggle to Get and Stay Motivated-9:37 a.m.-7/8/11

 As of right now, I have only typed 3 1/2 chapters of my book since I don't have a computer at home, but I have chapters 4-14 written in a notebook that I carry with me everywhere I go.

Writing and typing are to very different things. Personally I enjoy them both (with typing being my favorite), but I hate having to re-type what I write. It is very big to me that I wrote ten chapters less than a month, but that tablet is just discouraging to look at sometimes when I think, "Hey, I still need to type this if I want to finish my manuscript."  I guess the fact that I know I have a lot to type, is what leaves me procrastinating for so long. I don't have the money to hire anybody right now, so I have to do everything on my own.

A bigger problem has started to arise in my writing process. I know how I want to end this book, but I'm stuck on how I want to start chapter 15. It just gets to me sometimes, because I know how everything began and I know how I want things to end, but some parts in the middle are very sketchy to me. Chelsea has just regained her memory and I don't know how I want her reaction to be. I don't know weather I want Chapter 15 to take place on the same day she regained her memory or start it a few weeks later. I have put my book down for almost three weeks just pondering this question. I am struggling to not put my book down a third time, especially this late in the game. Readers, any suggestions?

Well my time on this entry has come to an end. I will never finish this manuscript if I keep on complaining, so hopefully next time I write, I will be way past typing Chapter 4. I'll worry about writing Chapter 15 later.

A Little About My Book- 2 p.m.-7/7/11

On my last entry I told you that I was writing a book. This entry, I want to try to give you a summary of what my book is all about without giving away too much information, so bare with me.

Well everybody knows what urban erotica and adult fiction is, right? Usually, in these books the story is about an adult or adults who are in love triangles, sex scandals, have a promiscuous sex lives or no sex lives at all (of course there is more situatations than I named). Well I did a spin on the normal erotica. Since most of the time erotica is based on adults, I did the opposite. My main character is a 16 year old junior in high school. Why would I make a minor the main character in an adult fiction book? Simple. Its reality. Although, teenage sex is not really condoned in modern day society, that does not stop it from happening and believe me, I know this firsthand. Teenagers talk about sex, think about sex, want sex, and have sex...even at school....literally, in locker rooms, classrooms, the weightroom, the gym, and any other free place they can find. So bottom line is shit happens.

Although my book is adult fiction, I believe it will appeal mostly to people in their late teens to early twenties, just because it is real life.

Like I said earlier, my main character is Chelsea Jones, who is a 16 year old junior in high school. Chelsea was raised in a small town in Louisiana that is considered the country, because there is so many trees down there that its like a mile in between each house. Her father left her mother while she was pregnant, which is why you'll see Chelsea refer to him many times throughout the book as her 'sperm donor.' She was raised by her mother and her mother's parents. Growing up in a very religious and strict household, she find herself stuggling to stay level headed and not rebel. Screaming for freedom, she instantly fell for Rashad Rodriguez (her co-main character), who is a notorious Ohio gang banger who has recently been incarcerated. And boy does he come with alot of baggage and trouble. Although they are from different worlds, they instantly fall in love and Rashad unintentionally drags Chelsea into the line of fire. Will Chelsea and their growing family make it out alive or will they get burned?

Follow my blogs, and evry now and then, I may share a secret or two.

My Introduction (How It All Started)-11 a.m. 7/7/11

If you are reading this, I want to let you know that this is the first to a series of blogs. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. In this entry, I want to tell you about my writing history and inspiration to become an author.

Well, as you saw from my About Me section, I am currently on my very first Adult Fiction/Erotica Novel. I have been writing Adult Fiction since the tender age of 12. Yes, 12 (It however, didn't involve anything sexual, but my language was still a little inappropriate for my age). And I loved reading at an even younger age. However, that wasn't my first aspiration. My 6th grade English teacher intoduced my class and I to poetry and I did mine very very quickly and received the highest grade in the class. That's when I first realized that I could write and that I actually enjoyed it. Some of my next assignments where a short story that I had to make up and then a 20-page prospectus complete with rough drafts, outlines, and final drafts. (And yes I was still in the 6th grade. My teacher's favorite saying was, "I'm preparing you for college.")

Fast forward, to my Freshman year in highschool. Many of my closest friends failed our 8th grade LEAP Test, so they where left behind. I didn't get to see them at all, because even though my school is elementary, middle, and high school combined, my principle made our schedule so well that none of the three levels crossed paths or even saw each other on a day to day basis. I only had one bestfriend left in my class to talk to in high school, because I wasn't really close to my other classmates. Anyways, that friend failed a couple times before, so he was a couple years older. Eventually, he got into this program to help him get his degree earlier, so he left like at midterms. Well I was left alone, don't get me wrong I knew everybody in my class, because the school is so small, we all basically grew up together, expect the people who we picked up along the years, but I was at that age where I was trying to find myself, I was shy, and didn't really fit in. (Of course, now my class and I are like brothers and sisters. We are one big happy disfuctional family, but it wasn't easy getting to this point). Well, feeling out of place from my own crowd, I feel into this crowd with at that time, two senior boys and three junior girls. Two of the junior girls I hung with read alot and very very faster than me. They hand literally, a new book everyday, and then they'd come and talk about it. It was like their own book club, and the things they said really got my attention. All I knew was that they read books that my mother always tried to keep me away from. Then they finally gave me one (since I wasn't old enough to check them out at the library then) and it was Around Tha Way Girls 2. I loved it!! A few books later, they gave me Wahida Clark's Every Thug Needs a Lady and it hit me. I wanted to write like her, so I pulled out an old story I had been workin on when I was twelve, but quit at like, Chapter 4. I read it and revised it and then set it down again.

Two years later (which was last year), I pulled the revised copy out, read it, and then revised it....again. This time I was determined to finish it and this time I planned on making it slighty erotic. I began typing it at school during my LVS computer classes since I don't have a computer at home. I let my classmates and friends read the first three chapter and everybody loved it. On girl in my class asked me was I gone publish it. Honestly, the thought had crossed my mind once or twice but fearing her reaction, I said, "No, it's just what I do for fun when I'm bored." Her response was, "Well, if you not gone publish it, give to me and I'll publish it." Then, something else hit me, "If I dedicate this much time into writing it, I should at least try to publish it. So no, I shouldn't doubt my writing and yes, I should give it a try. It's better to try a fail, rather than to never try at all and forever wonder 'what if?' "