All posts tagged writing

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

Last week I managed to write a short story (4K+) during my travels, so yay! One more done! Now I’m considering the novels that follow that story… some brainstorming with myself to do this week!

And it’s May, so new title! And it’s Wonder Man, a Star Minds Federation novel and the connection between Lone Wolves and Federation stories. If you read the series, you know who Wonder Man is! 😉

We’ll stay in the Star Minds Universe for the next few months… then we’ll see. Not sure what will be ready for public consumption after the summer! 😉

I got the manuscripts back from the editor, so I’ll have some work to do before publishing those titles. And I’m thinking of rebranding a series – or not. Still pondering and writing more books in it.

Now back to the routine… hoping to manage to raise the wordcount a bit, so I can reach 100k… in May… whatever is fine, though. I’m too tired to do more, but this too shall pass! Have a great week!

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

So, no new words last week, I was too busy getting lost and being clumsy in France, LOL! My feet were destroyed by the wrong shoes and I spent two afternoons in cinemas, watching French movies, only to allow those poor feet to recover.

I also brought 3 DVDs home… and I’m trying to declutter… sigh! But then, I didn’t get any BéDé, since I have way too many. I wanted the last Thorgal book drawn by Rosinski, but it was nowhere to be found, neither at the Paris FNAC, nor at the Toulouse FNAC. I guess it’s already out of print… So I’m good, the collection is complete! 😀

I found inspiration for another Otherside story, so I might get back to that soon – possibly this week, but I have more travel coming up.

And I met up with a friend in Toulouse, where we had wonderful conversations in English and French, switching back and forth, and neither of us are native speakers of either (she’s Norwegian, I’m Italian)! 🙂

I did enjoy exploring Toulouse, and if you manage to get there before January 2025, don’t forget to check the Halle de la Machine! That Minotaur is sure something to behold (they had taken his wings off when I saw it, though)!

I will not write the story I planned on setting in Toulouse. I’ve had enough of this planet for now, and I wanna go back to my fantasy worlds for a while! 😉 I still have the notes (and the pictures and videos) in case I change my mind in the future, though!

I have updated the publisher’s page, both the Urban Fantasy and the Star Minds Universe pages… But I haven’t announced the next title yet – it will still be sci-fi after those five, then I’m definitely back to fantasy!

And that’s all for today… hopefully next week I’ll be back at the writing laptop for real! Have a great week!

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

Last week I wrote less than 2K, but I did manage to wrap a couple of projects. This week I probably won’t write much, since I’m traveling, but I do have Writing Netbook with me, so… you never know! 😉

In fact, I may forget to finish and post this, so I may skip a week… if that’s the case, well, I was traveling and got distracted!

So, the post remained in draft form for three days, until I realized “It’s Wednesday!” and as soon as I could, I got back to it. So that’s why it’s a few hours late.

This might be my last trip to a place because I want to set a story here. Next ones will be of discovery of places I want to visit – and if I come up with a story, good, if not, at least I saw more world!

Well, in this case, it’s also a way to catch up with a friend I met in 2020 in Vegas (right before the lockdown) and since we were both from Europe and even rather close, we’ve meant to meet again since.

Also, I’m curious about this place, so it’s not just to write a story set here, it’s also to meet friends and see new places! 😉

I’ll let you know how it went soon… have a great week and sorry for the late posting!

2 Comments

by Barb on 24/04/2024 • Permalink

Posted in real world inspiration, the Human being

Tagged long distance friendships, traveling, writing

Posted by Barb on 24/04/2024

https://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2024/04/24/wednesday-weekly-roundup-237/

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

Last week I wrote a little over 4K and sort of finished a rough first draft. It needs a pass and an epilogue, then I’ll be done. I also got back another book from a beta-reader, so this week is busy with finishing what I need to send to Mighty Editor for next week!

It started with a Manic Monday, so let’s hope life stops getting in the way. It’s getting harder and harder to concentrate on anything. I only “wanna get off” the world like in that Extreme song I posted a few weeks ago.

Techie Bro has half-set up the new laptop. No Photoshop yet, but hopefully I’ll be able to move to it soon. Everything else is there, except the software that Microsoft no longer wants me to use. I’m keeping the old laptop for the rest of the year, just in case, LOL!

Not much else to say, sorry… have a great week!

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

Last week I managed 11K+ alternating between writing, research and the chores… and had a taste of what it will be like when I won’t have to go to work every morning. Then this week I went back to the office, and we just lost a beloved colleague (now retired), whom we called Sharon Stone’s Twin because they were born on the same day/month/year. I had lost track of him through the years, but I still remember when we went to watch him at the theater (he was also an actor), and even that I wanted to shoot a short movie with him while I was attempting the conquest of Hollywood (almost 20 years ago now – where did time go?).

Anyhow, it’s April, and of course there’s a new title out! 🙂 Daywalker was the reason for all my travels last year – or most of them. It starts in Romania, which I visited first, then goes through Budapest and Vienna, which I visited second, then to Italy and France, which I already know, so I didn’t have to visit them. I asked my Hungarian friend to check the Budapest part, and she gave wonderful advice.

Then I went to Madrid, but I needed that for another story (it’s a novella) about a secondary character in Daywalker, and soon I’ll be heading back to France to write another story about another secondary character, so you can have a wider view of these European vampire hunters’ wanderings. Both stories will come out after the summer, and then I might make a box set. It will be a very-mini-series, though!

Now I shall go back to my sci-fi, at least until the end of the month… have a great week!

by Barb on 10/04/2024 • Permalink

Posted in indie publishing, real world inspiration, writing projects

Tagged dhampyr, indie publishing, urban fantasy, vampire hunter, writing

Posted by Barb on 10/04/2024

https://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2024/04/10/wednesday-weekly-roundup-235/

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

Last week I wrote a solid 4K. This week I’m off day job, but I’m actually starting to declutter the house, something I’ve been wanting to do for at least a couple of years. And of course my almost-29-year-old car broke down, so I’ll probably get rid of it too. I aim for a life with no car, although I’m going to renew my driving license for the next 10 years! 😉

I’m also busy with fulfilling the Kickstarter – uploading books to BookFunnel, sending out surveys, all that lovely stuff that needs doing. Easter was okay (as usual), but I don’t care much for official holidays, be them religious or not – well, at the moment it’s a way to get off the day job, LOL! Eventually I hope to get off the grid.

One day. And I’ve started the bucket list, so it’s getting closer.

The above is a reference to Bollywood Movie Bang Bang with Katrina Kaif playing a bank teller who “one day” wants to travel, and Rajveer tells her she shouldn’t wait for that “one day”.

This movie is now 10 years old and it’s still one of my favorites. I watched it in a Long Island cinema with my friend Jennifer when it came out. It’s supposedly a remake of Knight and Day, but I haven’t seen the original.

Still can’t believe how much stuff I accumulated in this house in 30 years… it’s definitely going to take me a couple of years to declutter and get rid of everything! I started with my VHS, and here’s proof (and I’m not showing the original VHS I don’t seem to be able to throw away yet…):

That’s all for today! Have a great week!

by Barb on 03/04/2024 • Permalink

Posted in real world inspiration, the Human being

Tagged decluttering, kickstarter, movies, old stuff, writing

Posted by Barb on 03/04/2024

https://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/wednesday-weekly-roundup-234/

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

Last week I wrote less than 2K in three days, and spent the rest of the week editing and formatting and publishing and deciding what to write next. I’m going to continue with sci-fi for the month of April, so I can write all the ideas I have as of now, and then I can go back to fantasy.

It will actually be Urban Fantasy, because next title, Daywalker, has two attached novellas – but I still have to write the second one. Meanwhile here’s your final reminder for the Urban Fantasy Kickstarter. It ends tomorrow, so this is your last chance to back it and reach the stretch goal and have Daywalker included in the rewards.

Spring is here, but sometimes mornings are really cold – and then it’s too hot already at lunchtime when I go home. Working on getting rid of that part-time day job that forces me to stand in the heat waiting for buses which are always late! 🙂

And that’s all for today… wishing you a Happy Easter if you celebrate it, and have a great week!

by Barb on 27/03/2024 • Permalink

Posted in indie publishing, writing projects

Tagged indie publishing, kickstarter, urban fantasy, writing

Posted by Barb on 27/03/2024

https://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2024/03/27/wednesday-weekly-roundup-233/

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

Last week I wrote almost 4K and I’m almost done with that story as well. I got an idea for a comic and I might go back to high fantasy earlier than expected, but we’ll see. I also got back the translation of Magical Friends so the beginning of April might be a little busy, fulfilling the Kickstarter and publishing two books (one in Italian and one in English).

Speaking of the Kickstarter, it not only has funded, but it’s headed for the stretch goal… Have you checked it out yet? I even added some pretty covers! Only one more week, and then it will be gone! 🙂

Or you can grab only the latest title, Granny Witches, on your favorite retailer! I have updated the Urban Fantasy page on the publisher’s site as well. The one at the bottom is still to be written, but it’s going to happen in May for sure! 🙂

The IASFA promo is about to begin, so don’t forget to subscribe. March 24-28, 2024 – Fantasy Short Stories, including three of mine. And happy reading (have you checked my Bookbub recommendations as well?)!

That’s all for today… Have a great week!

by Barb on 20/03/2024 • Permalink

Posted in indie publishing, real world inspiration, writing projects

Tagged indie publishing, kickstarter, urban fantasy, writing

Posted by Barb on 20/03/2024

https://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2024/03/20/wednesday-weekly-roundup-232/

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

Last week I wrote a little over 6k and started on the last book of the Publishing Challenge. Again I have a base story (actually 3 versions) that I need to completely rewrite and merge, so it should be quick enough, since I already know the story.

The Kickstarter is almost funded, have you checked it yet? Also, I will have 3 (yes, three) free short stories in the IASFA fantasy promo this month, so don’t forget to subscribe to it if you haven’t already!

Besides writing, I’m reading (follow me on Bookbub for reading recommendations) and rewatching movies (usually comedies to lift the mood). And planning this year’s travels, since by the end of the month I will have jotted down all the needed vacations.

I was hoping to bring my Italian strips to some comic con, but they didn’t give me a table, so I’ll probably just visti friends. It’s sad, but I’m used to it.

Whenever I manage to get rid of the day job (hopefully with an early retirement), I might concentrate on doing special paper editions of some of my books, but for now I’ll stick to digital rewards on Kickstarter. I shall give time to technology to make things easier for us!

Techie Bro still hasn’t helped me set up the new laptop, so I’m still struggling with the old one. Oh, well… maybe I’m supposed to go back to pre-computer stuff! I wouldn’t mind too much, LOL! There are some perks growing up in the age of the typewriter…

That’s all for today! Have a great week!

ETA: The Kickstarter actually funded while I was sleeping, before this post came out… now we’re ready for the stretch goal! Check it out!

by Barb on 13/03/2024 • Permalink

Posted in indie publishing, reading, writing projects

Tagged ebook, indie publishing, kickstarter, writing

Posted by Barb on 13/03/2024

https://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com/2024/03/13/wednesday-weekly-roundup-231/

Wednesday Weekly Roundup

Last week I wrote almost 10K and finished the second book. This week I might take a few days to go through the first and second book one last time before starting on the third and last of the publishing challenge.

And it’s March, so of course there’s a new title out! You can either find it at the usual retailers, or back the Kickstarter and get 6 other books to go with it! 😉 Check it out!

A couple of posts by Kris Rusch on the Findaway debacle (part 1 and part 2). Check also the comments, they’re worth reading! I’m still in the queue to get my final payment and the account deletion, but I guess they’re a little backlogged!

Now I better go back to my revisions or new book or whatever I’ll be doing today… have a great week!