Scrivener update and a great writing day!

If you've been following my blog, you'll know that I got laid off six months ago. When I lost my job, I lost my motivation to write. All of my goals for the year flew out the window. It wasn't for a lack of trying, though. I did start up my computer every day and open my various WIPs, waiting for inspiration to strike. Unfortunately, scenes only hit me at night in my dreams and washed up as soon as I woke for the day. This time should have been flooded with time to write, and I should have been able to release more books than I did last year.

Yeah, didn't happen.

It's now the last day of August. There are only four months left of the year. Back in July, I did a post on a writing program called Scrivener. I'd heard a bit about it from other authors and decided to download the trial version. Right away I was impressed with the program. I went through the tutorial, and as soon as it was over I dove in, importing one of the Primordial Guardian novels I'm working on. My favorite things about Scrivener are that you have a visible synopsis of your entire story on the left side of the screen. I imported scene by scene, labeling the general gist of that part, and lo and behold...a synopsis. Instead of hopping back and forth in a Word doc and trying to piece things together that way, I can just fit scenes right where they're supposed to be with a click-n-drag.

Surprisingly, it got me excited about writing again. I didn't have to remember the entire story to work on scenes, I could look at that section on the left, click on where I wanted to write, and...well, write.

Another thing I love about this program is that I can take screenshots of my scenes before/after changes. There is also a section for notes. I do use that section randomly throughout the scenes, but for the most part, I go to the tab for the whole document and make reminder notes there. For example, I'm currently working on a Highlander novel, and if I forget to add in some detail before moving on to new scenes, I just go into the main doc and add my note there. I'm almost done writing my first draft for this novel, so when I'm ready to go through the entire book again, all I need to do is check my notes (I'll probably print them, the list is soooo long now), and check them off one by one.

Not only has it motivated me, but it also organized me. I've even told my Writer Chic group about it, and I know that one (if not more) is giving it a try now.

Alrighty, now I'll move onto my news of a great writing day. As previously mentioned, I'm almost done with my first draft on my Highlander novel. I always seem to get into serious writing mode when I'm this close to the end, but I'm pleased with the progress I made yesterday. In the past, I've had 7,000 word days, but it's been quite a while since I've had that type of motivation (and the time to use it). Lately I've been averaging somewhere between 1,000-2,000 words, but last night I wrote a little over 3,500.

I guess my hero and heroine are finally ready to tell the rest of their story so it can be shared with the world.

Release day!

Yep, it's that time again. One of my favorite things about being an author is the long-awaited release day.

The HIS anthology just became available this morning and I'm so excited to share a spot with some absolutely incredible authors. I'm also so grateful to Evernight Publishing for putting this all together, and to my editor Marie Medina for working some long hours to make sure everyone's stories shine.

I'm hoping to sneak out of the house for a bit today and celebrate with a yummy lunch with my sweetheart, and then after that I'm going to curl up with my tablet and read everyone's contribution to the anthology. No doubt there will be some hot, steamy lovin' going on that'll leave me breathless. After all, that's what those authors are pros at!

Strength. Power. Experience. No obstacle is too great when an alpha male decides what he wants, and these dominating men are so sexy and irresistible, no woman would dare think of anything but submission. Billionaires, Doms, and mobsters alike aggressively go after the women they want, and they will stop at nothing to fully possess them and make them beg for more.

Come and find out how good it feels to be HIS.

To check out the HIS Anthology, stop on by Amazon, Evernight Publishing, or many other eBook retailers.

Anthology info!

I've had a pretty exciting week so far. Not only have I been working more on my Highlander novel, but I've also had the chance to chat with some fans about my Primordial Guardians series. To top off the awesomeness of this week, I just got cover art for the anthology that my publisher, Evernight Publishing, has been working on for a while! I'm lucky enough to have gotten into the anthology along with some incredible authors.

How can you not love a cover like this???

Woo! So excited my novella, Angels Incorporated, will be released in the His anthology on August 15th. That's less than two weeks away! Squeeee!!