Writer's Retreat (Patreon)

Remember when I said I was hoping to get Curses done and then go back to Lena during my retreat? Well, I got Curses done...so I was half right? For those keeping score, this is draft #5 of that book. I usually do a lot of drafts, but they are revision drafts, not total rewrites. So far this book has been several partial rewrites, four full rewrites, and now one major revision. I know technically it's progress, but it doesn't feel like it. Right now I'm reading through the pages to make sure things make sense and then it goes back to my editor. I'm super tired of looking at it and keep threatening to set it on fire. My husband, well used to this, calmly reminds me that I'd just have to print it out again and I'd lose all my notes. He doesn't even look up from his phone anymore. So basically, he's refusing to give my mini tantrum any power, the jerk.

I wish I'd been able to write new stuff on retreat--that's usually what I go to them for. The writer's retreats I go to are basically a bunch of authors in a house doing nothing but writing all day except to take food breaks, the occasional walk, or in my case, nap. (Napping is part of my process. During revisions especially--I need that reset to go back and work more.) It's also a nice chance for authors to talk shop and discuss the publishing industry. This trip had a bonus--I got to go see wild horses! Nine year old Lish was FREAKING OUT. I basically kept yelling to everyone about the movie The Man From Snowy River. I was totally horse mad as a kid. The picture above is one I took with my phone. It was wonderful. It was also rutting season...I didn't take any photos of that. I did post a few more horse photos on my instagram, but not a ton. My phone doesn't really do them justice. If you want to see better photos of the herd, head over to Melissa Marr's instagram. She has a proper camera and lives close to them.

Anyway, I'm hoping to turn the book in tomorrow and then dive back into Lena. Depending on the copy editor's schedule, you should see a post before monday. I'm going to try to do a couple in quick succession so that you still get your allotted stories for this month...just in burst fashion, like the baby xenomorph in Alien.

Until then, a wee snippet of Curses!

*

Merit slowly and quietly opened the door, peeked in, and then pulled Tevin in by his lapels. As soon as they were inside, she shut the door behind them. Tevin felt his body relax—they’d made it this far undetected. He nearly jumped out of his tux when someone leaned in close to him and said, “boo.”

“Amaury, I’m going to punch your teeth in.” Tevin shoved his brother away from the door, but Amaury only grinned. 

Merit had a hand over her heart and was blinking rapidly. “I think I just lost a year. What are you doing here?”

Amaury flopped back into the desk chair, picking up a glass of brandy. “I do this at every ball I go to. Don’t you?”

“No,” Merit said, sitting on the desk. “I actually dance and talk to people.” She examined Amaury’s calm and contended sprawl. “Clearly I’ve been doing it wrong.” She grabbed the brandy out of his hand and sniffed. Her eyebrows went up and she took a sip, sighing after. It was an oddly intimate moment that made Tevin want to throw his brother out the window just so they could be alone. “The baron keeps the good stuff up here.”

Amaury spread his hands as if to say, why do you think I’m here?”