Write Stuff: January 2018

Monday, January 29, 2018

Tell me your favorite spy movie or book! #QOTD

Okay, so, all things are moving forward full-steam ahead with my releases! It's awesome, and I'm having all kinds of fun mulling through ideas and titles and potential cover art (already--I can't believe it!) and other fun things. I've got my first bit of revisions to work on and I'm enjoying them, too. That may sound strange, to be enjoying revisions, but they're a wonderful time to tighten up my work and it's SO awesome to be doing so with the aid of a fabulous editor. Two heads are certainly better than one in this scenario!

So, as some of you might of seen, the first novel that will be release, has had a title change. The Game (which was always more of a working title) has become Someone Else's Soul. I am absolutely in love with this new title! It works on so many levels that I really can't wait to share the book with you all!

Now, as I'm digging into revisions, I've been hunting through notes I made while writing, and thinking about the MC. She works for a private espionage company, often hired out by governments or other companies to steal information or fight crime/terrorism (kind of like a soldier for hire or something). This, of course, colors her world in a light that's a tad bit different from my rather boring life as a professor/scientist. And because it's not like I can go and experience this in any real sort of way, I found myself reading a lot of spy books and watching movies. Accurate? Not at all. Fun? totally. And really, there's not a whole lot we see of her in this role, so I am having a blast with it.

Which brings me to my question for today, and this week: what's your favorite spy based book or movie? I'm a huge Bourne fan, of both the books and movies. And of course the Bond films, particularly those with Daniel Craig. I thought Mr. & Mrs. Smith was hilarious. I also lately really enjoyed The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer. I'd love to hear your suggestions!

I HAVE GOOD NEWS!!! #writing #books

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Sometimes writing a post like last week's leads to some really wonderful advice from friends and basically a needed airing of general grievances (even if they are my grievances about myself, hah!). Anyhow, so I published that post and walked away. It was a holiday Monday and I was a bit at loose ends.

We decided to go grocery shopping, a two minute drive down the snowy (and as yet unplowed roads, because Missoula doesn't understand the concept of snow plowing). Some moron flipped me off when I waved for him to move over on the road, even though he was well into my lane and had forced me to pull over and stop in order for him not to hit me (*eye roll*). There was some part of me that really wanted to follow him and get out when he parked just be like "What Gives, Jerk?" (Not that I ever would, but sometimes the desire was there....) Anyhow, so we get to the store and I'm just a bundle of frustration. My poor man--he's a saint for dealing with me.

So, I'm in the middle of the citrous attempting to find a good lemon for making my meal for the week when my phone rings. I don't instantly recognize the number, but answer anyhow. It's my agent, and she's excited. I am a little like "oh man, is she calling to let me go?" But then, why would she be exited? But then it starts to sink in. Her news is AWESOME. And I start to cry. Right there, in the lemons, like I'd completely lost my mind. And who knows, maybe I did, just a little, because I cried all through the rest of our grocery run, and I'm pretty sure everyone else in the store thought someone had died. The news has kept hitting me throughout the week, gobsmacking me in the middle of doing something unrelated, and leaving me with a giant grin. I hope that continues for a while :)

*UPDATE* to add that I've signed my contract and all is moving forward! I can share details, too :) So, the news is that The Game (which I've been describing as female Sherlock meets Orphan Black), and Coincidences (which is about people who make "coincidences" happen in secret, but are now tasked with saving San Francisco from a terrorist attack) sold to Bleeding Ink Publishing!!! I'm receiving an advance and everything, along with an announcement in Publishers Marketplace. Eep! It's all surreal and fantastic. And I'm happy. Relieved. And very, very excited.

Things that desicate the writing well #amwriting #notreally

By: Meradeth Houston on 11:19 AM

Lately I've really noticed a shift in my desire to sit down and write: it hasn't been easy, and some days it's impossible. I don't really feel like the words are flowing, nor do I even want to spend the time with them. It's a struggle and I have thought a good deal about what's causing my writing well to run dry. I know this is distinctly different for everyone, but for me I know that certain things really trigger my lack of writing mojo.

Stress. Good god, the stress. I love what I do, but all of the time lately it's just TOO MUCH. I don't have enough of me to go around to all my students, responsibilities, and the other sh*t that slides downhill from lazy colleagues. When I have a free moment, I just want to sleep.
Lack of confidence. Lately this has stemmed from a variety of things, BUT, in a crazy turn on events this afternoon that I can't totally share yet, this may be looking up!!!!!!!!!!

TV. Ugh, I hate television, and yet I love it. The ability to turn my brain off while enjoying a good story is just too tempting. I used to be able to turn it off and walk away, but lately I just don't have the energy. On that note, Mindhunters and Dark are both amazing on Netflix :)
Winter. I know, there's nothing I can do about it. And I live in Montana, which means months upon months of darkness and the inability to really be outside. This wears on me every damn year. Someday I'll move where there's sunshine, but for now I find myself sleeping a lot.

Anyhow, these things lately have made opening my WIP a whole lot harder. When I do, the words come in fits and starts, painful often, and then when I do get a burst of writing power, I have to walk away because I have a job that demands my every bloody second. I hope things turn around, that I sell my novels, that I gain back some ounce of confidence in what I'm doing, but for the moment, I think I want to take a nap.

A New Year, and a Little Reflection

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Happy 2018 everyone! I know it's rather late to get that greeting in, but I'm doing it anyway :) I hope everyone had a good holiday season and is enjoying the plethora of Valentine's decorations already adorning every store (*gag*).

In thinking about what on earth to write about today, I decided to go back and peruse some of my earliest posts--many of which I imported here from LiveJournal way back in the day. But they're still here, far back in the annals of this blog, all the way in 2009. I've been blogging for nigh on a decade. DAMN. I've definitely cut back lately, mainly because I've been feeling discouraged about things (one of my perennial issues with writing), and I'm debating on the direction I'd like to take this blog again. Or whether it's even worth my while to continue it? I enjoy it on some level, but it's yet another thing to maintain and keep posting to weekly, and god knows I have far too many things on my plate.

But, in looking back at some of my early posts, I remember having more FUN with this outlet. Not worrying so much about what I posted, but rather just having little snippets of things that I found interesting, or were going on in my (generally writing) life. That may happen again. Because sometimes it's quite enjoyable, and if no one reads it, well, oh well. And if you do--awesome! I'll love you forever :)

And, as I've considered doing before, there may be more science this year. I've wanted to do a science for authors trend for a while, but this, of course, depends on finding a few extra hours ;)