So many books, so little time

I have had the longest week ever. It seems like the closer I get to finishing my next manuscript, the more life gets in the way. Sometimes being a writer feels like you're living at least a double life: your real one and the one(s) you live in your story. 

I would never push aside the needs of my family to be a writer or to finish what is, at the moment, a mediocre book. Still I managed to get this far and I'm still going. This current book has been in the works for a good five years and I'm almost, finally, just-about-to-be done. Which is, of course, why I'm on my blog, procrastinating.

Oops! Better get back to it then!

- Natasja

Less Than Perfect preview

Hi all!

You may remember me talking in the past about a book I have called Less Than Perfect. I wrote this book a good seven years ago and my writing has a evolved a lot. However, I've decided to let people read it, so I've started uploading it to Wattpad. You can find it here.

I will try to upload at least a chapter a week (unless it becomes more popular or something). So please do check it out.

While you're on Wattpad, check out my friend's book, Sold to a Wolf Pack. (Werewolves but no vampires.)

Happy reading!



-Natasja

Where have you been?

When I came back to my blog today, I learned that the last time I posted was in August of 2013 - nearly 2 years ago! And why is that, you may ask. I have to be perfectly honest; around that time, I was going through a rut. I wallowed in self-pity over my lack of being able to write anything worth mentioning. I felt virtually useless in my craft. I couldn't pen a single thing. It was awful.

Soon after that, I got pregnant and I honestly didn't even have the stomach to sit in front of my screen and attempt Nanowrimo that year. I wanted to, but if you've ever experienced morning sickness, then I think you could forgive me for that. I was also busy working two jobs and preparing for the greatest change of my life.

I got back into the groove after my little guy was born and I'm proud to say that over the last year I finished writing 3 books, and started 2 new ones and 4 sequels. So, I haven't done that badly. And from now on, I won't neglect my blog either.

That's is for today! Anything you want to know, just ask. Interested in being a beta reader? Send me an email! Love you guys.

- Natasja

10 things I've done on my journey to becoming an author

1. I once Googled "anatomy of a book" because I couldn't remember what the spine of a book was called. This is particularly embarrassing considering I'm a librarian.

2. I also once Googled what it would be like to live on a planet with two moons. I came across a lot of interesting theories and suggestions, and finally settled on something I liked.

3. I started a book with just a list of characters, after which I complained to my sister that I didn't know what to do from there. Six weeks later, I had a finished book.

4. NaNoWriMo. Enough said.

5. This:

6. I've read my own works until I felt like clawing my eyes out. If you've ever recorded yourself talking or singing and then listened back, then you can imagine that's what it feels like to read your own writing. It's awful, but also very constructive.

7. I've looked up the meanings of every name I've used in my stories (save for the ones I made up myself, of course). There's not always a useful reason for this. I'm just really into etymology.

8. Also, this:

9. I've emailed every single chapter I've ever written, one at a time, to someone who doesn't even live in the same city as me but faithfully reads every word. I've also had all of my stories read by someone else who will write extensive, helpful comments on them. Folks, if you have someone like either one of these people in your lives, I advise you to never ever let them out of your sight.

10. I've read, and read, and read, and read, and read... to avoid having to write something when I just didn't know what to write.

- Natasja

Not In My Good Books

Since the beginning of November, I had been trying to write a book based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing for a little challenge called "National Novel Writing Month." Of course, if you follow my blog, you probably already knew that. But what you probably don't know is that a couple of days ago, I stopped writing. (At least, I stopped writing that book. I can never make myself stop writing in general, no matter how defeated I feel.) I feel like I owe you faithful readers an explanation, so here is a list of factors that contributed to my decision to stop my Nano challenge:

I work two jobs, which leaves very little time for much else. Sadly, this has affected my writing more than I like.

The story wasn't going as well as I'd planned. I think I was expecting this experience to be like last year's, but it wasn't.

I couldn't force myself to keep writing, which is the whole point of Nanowrimo.

And lastly, I tragically lost my my book file because the only place I had it saved was on a USB stick that consequently died. I had most of it in some emails, but at that point, this was pretty much the straw that broke the camels back.

A part of me wanted to keep going, but I could find little reason to do so, particularly since the whole thing was stressing me out more than it should have. So I've stopped writing and gone back to other books and characters that need me more right now. (Or maybe it's that I need them more?) Maybe some day I'll resuscitate my neo-Shakespeare guys, but for now, I'll leave it to time and space, or wherever it's disappeared to.

Thank you so much for reading, for understanding, and for your support. It means so much to me that people think I'm capable of such expectations, and I also appreciate that people appreciate me and what I do. And don't you worry folks, this will not be my last Nano challenge, and My Best Friend's Brother won't be my last book.

- Natasja

P.S. Have you bought this yet?

The Problem With Published Books

Yesterday as I was driving home from work, I passed by a place called "Baker Animal Clinic." A quick series of thoughts brought me to the conclusion that "Baker" was either the last name of the person who had opened the clinic or the name of the person the clinic should honour. And then I thought, "Hey, Baker would be a great name for a Jessica!" The reason I thought this was that I had a really hard time naming Jessica Carol from My Best Friend's Brother, who originally started out as Jessica Smith.

That's when it occurred to me that this is probably the biggest problem with finally, finally having a published book - I can no longer change anything. I mean, yes, I could always go back and fix the two mistakes that are contained in those pages (if you caught them and didn't say anything, then I thank you for your abundant kindness), but to change a character's name would be too suspect. It would say to the world, "This author didn't really know what she (or he) was doing."

Of course, now that I've publicly exposed that one truth, you might be thinking that anyway.* And I can't say I blame you. I mean, sometimes I'll read a book and think, "Man, I would have changed this or that before publishing." But it's too late, and there's no going back, not after a whole bunch of people have already read it. Which is why I have my faithful pre-readers, of course. I'll be honest with you - they do all the hard work. My sister points out every typo or grammatical error, my sister-in-law has no problem telling me when things make no sense to her, and my best friend tells me, "This is delightful! ... But that's kind of weird." And they really mean it in the nicest way, which is the great part.

But once it's published, it's pretty much stuck like that. Sure, you can add something for a later publication, an appendage or author's note. You just can't change names or events. You shouldn't need to, of course, but I could see many authors thinking back to older works and having a hundred what-ifs running through their minds. It's awful, but on the other hand, it certainly does a lot to improve my writing skills. It tells me what things I would or wouldn't do in the future. So I guess my "problem" with published books is still something I can use to my advantage.

- Natasja

*To be clear, once I'd named her "Jessica Carol" I was perfectly happy with this choice and wouldn't change it now, even if I could.