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Author: Janet Gershen-Siegel

I'm not much bigger than a breadbox.

Writing Progress Report – Second Quarter 2022Writing Progress Reports, First Quarter 2018, Second Quarter 2018, Third Quarter 2018, Fourth Quarter 2018, First Quarter 2019, Second Quarter 2019, Third Quarter 2019, Fourth Quarter 2019, First Quarter 2020, Second Quarter 2020, Third Quarter 2020, Fourth Quarter 2020, First Quarter 2021, Second Quarter 2021, Third Quarter 2021, Fourth Quarter 2021, First Quarter 2022, Second Quarter 2022, Third Quarter 2022, Fourth Quarter 2022, First Quarter 2023, Second Quarter 2023, Third Quarter 2023, Fourth Quarter 2023, First Quarter 2024, Second Quarter 2024, Third Quarter 2024, Fourth Quarter 2024, Writing Progress Reports Hub, First Quarter 2024, Second Quarter 2024, Third Quarter 2024, Fourth Quarter 2024, First Quarter 2025, Second Quarter 2025, Third Quarter 2025, Fourth Quarter 2025

Writing Progress Report – Second Quarter 2022

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on June 30, 2022

Progress Report – Second Quarter 2022

How was second quarter 2022 for writing? So I spent second quarter 2022 overhauling this website. This included creating basic landing pages for each of the universes I am writing in.

I’m happy with how they’re turning out. But of course that’s the sort of thing that can easily become a perpetual work in progress.

The idea behind these pages is to create a central hub for universes like for the Obolonks or Enigmans. And then anything else I write about them will feed off those pages and feed back into them.

And I was looking for a good writing group that spoke to me. I also submitted to one place and edited Mettle, Gentrification, The Obolonk Murders, and The Polymer Beat.

Second Quarter 2022 Posted Works

First of all, I worked a little on new short stories. I also spent a lot of my time working to get inspired. So, I would think about plot bunnies.

Then on Wattpad I posted on the WattNaNo profile and the Star Trek Fans profile, and nowhere else.

Milestones

Also, I have written over two and a half million words (fan fiction and wholly original fiction combined). So, right now my stats on Wattpad for wholly original works are as follows:

• Dinosaurs – 40 reads, 9 comments
† How to NaNoWriMo – 25,199 reads, 320 comments
• My Favorite Things (like kibble) – 983 reads, 133 comments
† Revved Up – 59,415 reads, 530 comments
• Side By Side – 17 reads, 1 comments
† Social Media Guide for Wattpad – 15,384 reads, 591 comments
• The Canadian Caper – 502 reads, 37 comments
† The Dish – 250 reads, 24 comments
• There is a Road – 189 reads, 28 comments
† WattNaNo’s Top Picks 2018 – 1,947 reads, 45 comments
• WattNaNo’s Top Picks 2019 – 1,814 reads, 10 comments
† What Now? – 2,661 reads, 104 comments

More Published Works

Also, I am amassing quite the collection of published works!

Untrustworthy, which is my first published novel. So yay!

A True Believer in Skepticism, published in Mythic Magazine.

Almost Shipwrecked, a story in the January 2019 edition of Empyreome (link no longer works, alas!).

Canaries, a short story in the March 29, 2019, edition of Theme of Absence.

Complications, a story in the Queer Sci Fi Discovery anthology. So this is an anthology where the proceeds went to supporting the QSF website.

Cynthia and Wilder Bloom, stories in the Longest Night Watch II anthology.

Props, a story in the Longest Night Watch I anthology. So this is an anthology where the proceeds go to Alzheimer’s research.

Surprises, a story in Book One of the 42 and Beyond Anthology set.

The Boy in the Band, a story in the Pride Park anthology. So this is an anthology where the proceeds go to the Trevor Project.

The Interview, the featured story in the December 14, 2018 edition of Theme of Absence. So they even interviewed me!

The Last Patient, a story in the Stardust, Always anthology. This was an anthology where the proceeds go to cancer research.

The Resurrection of Ditte, a story in the Unrealpolitik anthology.

This is My Child, a short story published in the April 8, 2019 edition of Asymmetry Fiction, another site which is no more.

Three Minutes Back in Time, a short story published in Mythic Magazine.

Killing Us Softly, a short story published in Corner Bar Magazine.

Darkness into Light, a short story published in Corner Bar Magazine.

WIP Corner

So my current WIPs are as follows:

The Obolonk Murders Trilogy – so this one is all about a tripartite society. But who’s killing the aliens?

The Enigman Cave – can we find life on another planet and not screw it up? You know, like we do everything else?

The Real Hub of the Universe Trilogy – so the aliens who live among us in the 1870s and 1880s are at war. But why is that?

Mettle – so it’s all about how society goes to hell in a hand basket when the metals of the periodic table start to disappear. But then what?

Time Addicts – No One is Safe – so this one is all about what happens in the future when time travel becomes possible via narcotic.

Time Addicts – Nothing is Permanent – this is the second in this trilogy. What happens when time is tampered with and manipulated in all sorts of ways? It’s the ultimate in gaslighting, for one thing.

Time Addicts – Everything is Up For Grabs – this is the third in this trilogy. When time is bent and shaped like a wire hanger or a lump of clay, Josie James is thrown around in just so much temporal turbulence. She’s the only one who remembers how things were before—or is she? Can she put any of it back before even she forgets the oldest timelines?

Prep Work

So currently, my intention, for this year’s NaNoWriMo, is that I am writing the third trilogy in the Time Addicts/Obolonks universe. But I need to iron out the plot! So a lot of this year has been spent on that. I have no name for this one yet.

Second Quarter 2022 Queries and Submissions

So here’s how that’s been going during second quarter 2022.

In Progress

As of Second Quarter 2022, nothing is still in the running for publishing.

All Other Statuses

So be sure to see the Stats section for some details on any query statuses for Second Quarter 2022 which were not in progress.

Stats

So, in 2018, my querying stats were:

• 68 submissions of 19 stories
† Acceptances: 4, 5.88%
• In Progress-Under Consideration: 3, 4.41% (so, these don’t seem to have panned out)
† In Progress: 10, 14.71%
• Rejected-Personal: 14, 20.59%
† Rejected-Form: 24, 35.29%
• Ghosted: 13 (so, these were submissions where I never found out what happened), 19.12%

So, in 2019 my querying stats were:

† 23 submissions of 11 stories (so, 6 submissions carry over from 2018)
• Acceptances: 4, 17.39%
† In Progress: 11 (so, this includes 2 holdovers from 2018), 47.83%
• Rejected-Personal: 4, 17.39%
† Rejected-Form: 3, 13.04%
• Ghosted: 1 (so, these are submissions where I never found out what happened), 4.35%

2020 Stats

So, in 2020 my querying stats were:

† 37 submissions of 12 stories (so, 9 submissions carried over from 2019)
• Acceptances: 3, 8.11%
† In Progress: 7, 18.92%
• Rejected-Personal: 12, 32.43%
† Rejected-Form: 4, 10.81%
• Ghosted: 11 (so, these are submissions where I never found out what happened), 29.73%

2021 Stats

So, in 2021 my querying stats were 5 submissions of 5 stories (so 5 submissions carried over from 2020), 100% ghosted.

2022 Stats

So, in 2022 my querying stats are:

† 6 submissions of 6 stories (so 5 submissions carry over from 2020 and 2021)
• Rejected-Form: 1, 16.67%
† Ghosted: 5 (so these are submissions where I never found out what happened), 83.33%

Not too terribly encouraging.

Second Quarter 2022 Productivity Killers

So it’s work, what else? But there’s another issue. I am working on getting back into a writing group. Before the second quarter 2022 started, it seemed like my group would be disbanding.

Which makes me sad. Why, oh why, can’t I find a group that I like, which works for me? But … I may have found someone … Stay tuned.

Other second quarters, like in 2020 and 2021, had more querying. Ah, well.

First quarter 2022, though, had very little. And so it goes.

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Transitioning from FanfictionLegal, Creative Commons, fanfiction, crash course, copyright law, exceptions, Practice Law, Avoiding Common Legal Mistakes, Transitioning, cyber infidelity,

Transitioning from Fanfiction

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on June 28, 2022

A Look at Transitioning from Fanfiction

If you first wrote in someone else’s universe, and now you want to claim your own, you may be transitioning from fanfiction.

Transitioning from Fan Fiction Writing to Wholly Original Writing

It’s more than just ‘filing off a few serial numbers’. In particular, wholly obvious plot conventions and details may need to be nixed completely.

Transporter room, anyone? Tatooine? Two brothers fighting demons? A bunch of sparkly vampires? Yeah, you get the idea. You’ll probably need to change any of those radically.

How Writing Fanfiction Can Help You

It teaches you how to follow continuity. And it can keep you writing when you’re stuck. Writing begets more writing (even fan fiction!).

So it pays to keep going. You are better off, in terms of preventing writer’s block, to just keep on writing. Hence, if all else fails, go with fan fiction. Of course there are plenty of places to post it online. Here’s one.

How Writing Fanfiction Can Hurt You

The problem is, it does not teach you how to make your own world. Hence it can hamper your growth in this area. Furthermore, if you are not used to making your own characters, it can hurt you there, as well.

Flip Your Perception

So consider what the foundational IP (intellectual property) does, and why it matters to you as you start the process of transitioning.

• Interesting stories – spend some time deconstructing your favorites. Where did the writers hand-wave a problem away? Also, where did they get confusing? In addition, where did they deliver on the promise of their teaser/preview?

† Compelling characters – why do the canon characters matter to you? Again, engage in some deconstruction. Forget who plays a character. So consider how you would feel about a character if someone else played them.

Furthermore, consider how you would feel if the character’s gender and/or sexuality were swapped. Would you feel different if the character was of a race different from the current actor’s? Be your own casting director. Who, living or dead, could play the role better?

More Ideas

• Fascinating scenes – even within a familiar place, commercial intellectual property exists inside its own bucket. It might be a city block, a hospital, a car driving across the country, or somewhere else.

But what would happen if the scene shifted? Does the work succeed if it moves from Milwaukee to San Diego to Angkor Wat?

† Action-driving plots – what kicks things off? If it’s a television program, what happened during the pilot? Did someone new move in? Did someone lose their job? Attend their own wedding? Have a kid? Graduate? Get arrested?

Would the storyline still work if the pilot was different?

• Believable effects, makeup, costumes, lighting, scenery, etc. – technology is a part of onscreen fiction writing. New techniques are constantly being invented. This helps studios save money but also enhance believability.

What happens if an older show or film gets new makeup and green screening? Does that help the story, or harm it?

Finish Transitioning Over and Blaze Your Own Trail

For every exciting intellectual property out there, whether it’s books, films, YouTube videos, TV programs, or something else, it all started somewhere.

So what is your story? Who are your characters?

Who knows? Maybe someday someone will want to write fan fiction about your work.

Transitioning from fanfiction is easier than other types of transitions. So try it!

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Character Review — Dr. Mei-Lin QuanKeiko Kitigawa, who I see as Mei-Lin Quan

Character Review — Dr. Mei-Lin Quan

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on June 23, 2022

Dr. Quan, a Character Review

Where did Mei-Lin Quan come from?

I didn’t originally have much of a plan for her. She was a necessary character, because I did see Eleanor Braverman needing this kind of medical help. But unlike others such as Kitty and Mink, or Craig or Elise, Mei-Lin didn’t have too much of a voice to start.

A bit like Ixalla, I didn’t really start to understand her until I started writing her.

The Past is Prologue—Backstory for Dr. Quan

When we first see Mei-Lin, she’s packed and leaving Los Angeles, bound for Boston. One of her last acts in California is to write to her ex and tell him to quit bothering her, or else she’ll block him. But that’s most of what we (and I) know.

Characteristics

I wanted at least one character to be a bit overweight, so I essentially elected her to the task. Because the first seven or so chapters exist to foreshadow much of the rest of the story, her weight does the job admirably. For, who to better contrast with starving characters than an overweight one?

As I wrote her, I learned that she has a high voice, almost like a child’s. In addition, she gets lost easily, with virtually no sense of direction. Furthermore, her family is from Taiwan. And, at least one relative still calls that island Formosa. I also got to know that she had an ex, Chou.

And Chou wasn’t so happy with being her ex.

Purpose/Theme/Motivation: Dr. Quan at Work

There are four characters who I show at work. Five, I suppose, if you count Olga—and I suppose you should. I show Noah at the Boston Globe. And I show Elise working in the St. Botolph’s morgue. In addition, I show Craig working at NASA. And I show Olga caring for Eleanor. Now, the kids and Eleanor understandably do not have jobs.

But I show Mei-Lin at work more than anyone else but Craig. There are scenes of her getting to work, and starting and ending her day. Plus, I’ve got her seeing patients and even performing surgery. Mei-Lin Quan is, like any other orthopedic surgeon, busy.

Her motivation throughout the piece is to be a healing peacemaker. Unlike the other characters, she doesn’t toughen up much, not even at the end.

Portrayal

I came up with Japanese actress Keiko Kitigawa, and it was mainly due to the above image. But I am open to persuasion to change my mind and choose someone else. If American audiences know her at all, it’s from The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. But I think it would be better to have an actress of Chinese extraction. I don’t know. Landi Li is too young (although I do like that she was born on my birthday!).

So, if you’ve got a better idea for a portrayal, let me know in the comments section, thanks.

Quotes

The door to the sedan opened, and out staggered a woman of Asian descent with red eyes and messed up hair that looked like she had been sleeping in the sedan for days. She had her purse with her, along with a plastic bag with the logo of St. Botolph’s printed on the side, and a small gym bag. She squinted at Elise. “Do I know you?”

“St. B’s, right?” asked Elise. It was as reasonable a question as any, considering the hospital was one of the few places Elise ever went where there ever were other people.

“Yeah, Orthopedics, Mei-Lin Quan. I think I gave you a ride home a week ago? Days ago? I can’t figure out what day it is.”

“I hear that. And yeah, I remember now. Elise Jeffries. This your car?”

“No. Mine’s in the lot up there, back at St. B’s, if it still is at all.”

“You mean someone stole it?”

“No, at least, hell, I have no idea.” Mei-Lin said, putting her gym bag down and rubbing the bridge of her nose in the cold. “More like wrecked it. There was, God, it was anarchy at the hospital.”

“Anarchy?”

Relationships

I have nearly nothing on Mei-Lin and Chou, save for her family pressuring her to marry him—and her refusal. But this will come when I write the prequel.

With Craig Firenze, she’s nervous and excited. They joke around but are also serious. They’re awkward and romantic, too.

Conflict and Turning Point

On what would normally have been a hot summer solstice, there’s a nor’easter. Mei-Lin (like a lot of other people during pressure drops) feels wonky all day. But hope returns when she looks at Craig.

Continuity/Easter Eggs

There really aren’t any Easter Eggs for this character.

Future Plans

Like with the other characters in Mettle, I don’t have any future plans for Mei-Lin beyond the prequel.

Dr. Mei-Lin Quan: Takeaways

This character turned from functional to essential as I wrote her. A lot like Ixalla!

Dr. Mei-Lin Quan — a character who found herself while I found her.

Want More of Mei-Lin and the Rest of Mettle?

If Mettle resonates with you, then check out my other articles about how changes in the periodic table nearly kill us all.

Character Reviews: Mettle

† Eleanor Braverman
• Noah Braverman
† Craig Firenze
• Dez Hunter
† Dr. Elise Jeffries
• Minka Lopez
† Nell Murphy
• Olga Nicolaev
† Dr. Mei-Lin Quan
The Mettle Universe
Self Review: Mettle

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Scene SettingPromotions, Swag, Exposition, Better Dialogue, Character Sexuality, Starting, Personal Writing Process, Starburst Method, how do I write a book, Supporting Indie Authors, Snowflake, Libraries, Descriptions, Ages, Dialogue Tags, Gender Swap, Pocket conflicts, Giveaways, Plotting, mental energy, Character Creation, Scene Setting, Transitioning, Genre Treatments, Easter Eggs, Accents, Plot Creation, Complex evil characters, Bechdel test, Writer Newsletter, Wattpad gets into the Digital Publishing Game, character reviews, Universal Explorations, Libraries, Awards, Social Signals, Blog Community, Query Letter,

Scene Setting

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on June 21, 2022

A Look at Scene Setting in Writing

Don’t leave it to chance. Scene setting is important to know.

What is Scene Setting?

Basic scene setting is a fundamental skill which every writer needs to perfect. A scene is more or less a species of character. Your scene needs some care and attention—and description.

Let’s look at some ways to do it.

All the Old Familiar Places and Times

When your story takes place on Earth during the present day, you’re in luck! You can get away without going over basic information. Present-day Moscow has cars. Today in Paris, people use the metric system. Current day Kentucky has telephones.

So your really basic information is already there. Don’t waste time or pixels or reader good will by explaining any of that, unless it’s somehow important. E. g. if your Russian character was raised in the sticks, maybe they never saw a car before. If your Parisian is a transplant from the United States, she might occasionally forget that most countries use different systems for weights and measures.

And if your Kentuckian was deaf and now suddenly can hear (and also led a sheltered life) telephones might be odd things which now have a purpose they didn’t have before.

But even for a place found on Planet Earth which you think you know, you should still do some digging. And don’t just look at touristy sites! I live in Boston. It’s not all Faneuil Hall Marketplace, not by a long shot. By the way, here’s a public service announcement from me. Harvard University is in Cambridge, not Boston. And it is far from the only university in this city.

This helped to inform how I wrote Mettle. Present-day Boston has cell phones, triple decker buildings, and French fries. Just like pretty much every other present-day place does.

Familiar Place, Unfamiliar Time

Then there’s the scenario where your location is close or familiar. But the time is not now. So, what is it, the past or the future?

Forward into the Past

If it’s the past, then you need to do some research. Wikipedia is not a good final source, but it’s not a bad first one. What I mean is, you can start there, particularly if you are unsure about names or parameters. But then you need to branch out.

Hence if you are trying to determine whether there were gas lamps lighting the streets of Berlin in 1740, you might want to start with looking up gas lamps and moving on from there. If they were invented later, then that answers your question. But if they were invented earlier (I honestly don’t know), then you should be looking at other sources.

You can check footnotes, or just do some creative Googling. I have found The Library of Congress has some great old images. But you may need to spend some time looking, as not everything is logically labelled.

Scene Setting for The Real Hub of the Universe

This was the exact situation for the Real Hub… series. A lot of us think we know the Victorian Era. But we don’t necessarily. Queen Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901. In the United States, this is a time frame from Presidents Martin Van Buren (the 8th person to hold the title) to William McKinley (the 25th). The sewing machine was invented in 1851.

In 1875, Edison applied for a patent for the light bulb. So, you can see that the time period encompasses a lot of changes. People from the first year of her reign wouldn’t recognize all the trappings of life from her reign’s last year.

One way I set the scene was to only use language which was in use at the time. Etymy Online has proven to be exceptionally valuable for this. One thing I learned is that the word faze was in use. Subtly avoiding anachronistic language helps with scene setting in the past.

Back to the Future

For the future, of course you can invent what you like (and I will get into that with another blog post). But it pays to do some research anyway. Get an idea of what’s coming. If, say, solar-powered belt buckles are being patented, then why not put them in your near-future story? However, if you are writing a deeper, later future, you might want to make them passé.

Scene Setting for the Obolonk Universe

In this universe, our planet is divided into several megalopolises. In between, Earth is mainly zoological parks, going back to the original savannas and steppes and the like it was before human habitation. The Boston Meg encompasses all of New England. Rio-Recife-Montevideo is on the eastern side of South America, and so on.

Familiar Times, Unfamiliar Places

For alien places, consider what it means if the gravity is stronger, or weaker. What happens if the atmosphere is thinner? One way to make things easier on you is to research similar locations. The Andes or the Himalayas could stand in for a planet with thinner air, for example.

Let’s Go Off-World

One way I set the scene in the Obolonks trilogy and its successor, the Time Addicts trilogy, was to adopt naming conventions. As a result, every town and landmark in the Jovian System comes from rock groups. Hence, Ankaville is the capital of Callisto. The names of famous women work for Venus.

Hence, Navratilovaville and Garland City. The naming conventions also helped tremendously when deciding on other things like the names of schools or sports teams.

One idea I got (which I love, if I do say so myself) was to decide that terraforming operations are smelly. Hence, every orb would have a signature smell. Is it pine, or a fireplace? Lemons or chestnuts?

Totally Alien

Consider not just the look, but what happens when you engage your other senses. Is the place hot? Smelly? Smoggy? Is the landscape muddy? Frozen? Sandy? Urban and loud? Do your characters have to climb? Cross rivers?

Scene Setting for Untrustworthy

For Untrustworthy, the people and the scene were both so utterly unfamiliar that I needed more familiar touchstones. This meant adding a central river which characters had to cross using bridges. It also meant creating a new form of going, the transportation sleigh. A reader even asked me if Caboss is a snowy world.

And I’m still not sure! But all these alien things have familiarity baked right in. We all know what sleighs and bridges are. This made it easier for a reader to connect to what went on in that book.

Scene Setting Takeaways

You can put the reader in the action by engaging multiple senses. Latch onto the familiar if you can. Analogize to give the reader a faster understanding of the place. Do the homework, even on the small almost throwaway scenes, so your readers won’t have to.

Scene setting is a vital skill for every writer. #amwriting

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Self-Review – The Real Hope of the UniverseThe Real Hope of the Universe

Self-Review – The Real Hope of the Universe

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on June 14, 2022

Review – The Real Hope of the Universe

Hope was a huge theme in this book.

The Real Hope of the Universe picks where The Real Heart of the Universe leaves off. As the book to wrap up the trilogy, it had to resolve a number of subplots. So many subplots. Hence the first draft clocked in at over 185,000 words. Oh. My. God.

I didn’t need an editor. I needed a weed whacker. You know, a string trimmer.

Background

To wrap up the series, the aliens needed to leave our world. But how?

In addition, there were numerous subplots to resolve. For me, it can be hard to get all of that fixed and sewn up, tied neatly with a bow. This made for any number of issues with length. For after I wrote the first draft, my mission was to cut it by 50,000 words.

The second draft (what I call a second draft is often what people call a fifth or a sixth draft) was about 48,500 words less. Much, much better, but still a bear.

Plot for The Real Hope of the Universe

When we first see Ceilidh, Devon, Shannon, and Jake, they are riding in a carriage in Scotland. It’s the 1880s, and there are strange things happening throughout the planet. Some of these odd occurrences happen due to alien intervention.

But some of them happen because of what human beings do.

Unlike the other two books, I had to devote this one to far more science fiction. And so it is! Yet at the same time, I had to resolve the subplots. Hence I wrote meanderings to here and there.

But as I ruthlessly slashed away at the first draft, I tied a lot more of the subplots’ resolutions to science fiction.

Characters

The characters are the main character, Ceilidh O’Malley. Also, her beau (later husband) Jake Radford and her employer, Dr. Devon Grace.

In addition, there is the colony known as Shannon Duffy and the members of a secret society. These include men from both North America and Europe.

Memorable Quotes from The Real Hope of the Universe

They stopped on the steps for a second. “If you wish to leave now, say so.”

“If you’ll have any family you can talk to at all in the future, it shall likely be Luke.”

“So it would seem we should stay and wait it all out. So at least there’s a fighting chance of pulling out the whole truth, and he gets my side of things.”

“Not your side, Jake. Our side.”

“Ours, then. You are my truest companion.” He smiled a little, but it wasn’t in his eyes, which darted to the left for a second. His hand on hers was damp with sweat.

“Coming, you coward?” John sneered. “Or will you stand on the stairs forever, like a mental defective?”

“John,” Ceilidh said, “Kindly don’t speak to us this way. You may have arguments with my husband. He and I are willing to hear them. But a schoolyard bully’s insults are beneath you.”

John was nonplussed, and seemed to be deciding if she’d insulted or praised him. “Just get in the library already.” The library was a dark room, paneled in oak, with more decorations than books in the shelves.

Rating

The story has a K+ rating. As this one has more Gothic elements to it, there are some occasional squicky moments. For anyone who enjoys reading Gothic tales, some of the scenes should feel familiar.

Upshot

Because it was the end of the series, I struggled to let go. This is a normal pattern for me. It is quite literally nothing new. Hence the ending is dragged out far more than it ever needed to be.

When the first draft was done, it was the longest piece I had ever written. It took me about four and a half months to finish the first draft. And this was writing every day!

After leaving it for a long time, though, editing should be better. The operant word there being should.

I hope I can write more in this universe! #amreviewing

Want More of the Real Hub Universe?

If the Real Hub Universe resonates with you, then check out my other articles about Ceilidh, Devon, Jake, and the others as they keep the Earth from becoming collateral damage in the War of Knowledge.

Character Reviews:

Ceilidh O’Malley
Dr. Devon Grace
Frances Miller Ashford
Johnny Barnes
Shannon Duffy

Prequel: The East Side of the Universe
Self-Review: The Real Hub of the Universe
Self-Review: The Real Heart of the Universe
and Self-Review: The Real Hope of the Universe

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Self-Review – The Real Heart of the UniverseThe Real Heart of the Universe Adventures in Career Changing Killing Us Softly

Self-Review – The Real Heart of the Universe

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on June 9, 2022

Review – The Real Heart of the Universe

The Real Heart of the Universe continues the main story. This sequel to The Real Hub of the Universe brings back Ceilidh O’Malley, Devon Grace, Shannon Duffy, and Jacob Radford, along with the Boston Brahmins in the 1880s. In this, the second novel in the trilogy, Ceilidh deals head on with the problems she left behind in Ireland.

The biggest of these, of course, is Johnny Barnes.

Background

The second book of a trilogy can sometimes feel like filler. The last time I wrote a trilogy, for The Obolonk Murders, the middle book ended up as a means of advancing the Peri-Dave romance. Hence I opted for a similar idea. Here, the Ceilidh-Jake romance would advance.

The Plot of the Real Heart of the Universe

But there are always complications. For Ceilidh, who is still married to Johnny at the start of the book, her dalliance with Jake is a sin. Will she lose her mortal soul? For someone brought up with faith, the idea of what is more or less adultery is quite the problem.

So, what is she to do?

Characters

The main character in the piece is (again) Ceilidh O’Malley Barnes. Her main mission in this novel is to find a way to be with her love, Jacob Radford.

The scenes shift from the Lowell House in Boston (on Beacon Hill) to Providence, Rhode Island, and then to an Atlantic ocean voyage, and then to Ireland.

Memorable Quotes from the Real Heart of the Universe

He had chosen an impeccable charcoal gray suit, for his attire from the morning apparently would no longer do. He had all of his ties strewn around on his bed when she returned after getting the luncheon dishes back to the kitchen and cleaning them. “Have you a soirée?” she asked.

“Not so much a soirée,” he paused for a moment, rolling the R with his Scottish brogue, “as an invitation to tea. Sorry for the change in plans; I had meant to tell you, but your initiation into SPHERE got in the way. Hand me that one, if you please.”

“This one?” she asked, holding up his navy blue tie.

“No, no, the tartan.”

“Oh? So you’re going to regale your companion with tales of the Grace family?”

“The Argylls, actually. We go further back than William the Conqueror and all that rot.” He positioned himself in front of the room’s full-length looking glass and tied the tie, which was bright blue and green, with hints of purple and black. “There.”

She approached and straightened his tie a little and then smoothed his light gray hair back a little with two of her fingers. “Handsome and very approachable, sir.”

He smiled slightly. “Hopefully such will be the effect. The approachable part, that is. Handsome? In all honesty, Ceilidh, you should be fitted for spectacles at this rate.”

Rating

The book has a K+ rating. For the most part, the scenes are pleasant. But there is some violence. Language is mild.

Upshot for the Real Heart of the Universe

So I think this one works rather well as a bridge story between introducing the storyline and then its end in the third book.

One of the biggest issues with this series is the need for more science fiction in it. As it is, often the series can feel like a historical novel with some science fiction thrown into it.

Yet one thing I need to do is describe Ceilidh’s life and world, as they just aren’t as well-known as readers may think.

The Victorian era may be interesting to people, but it doesn’t mean they know too much about it. So some of my writing has been to deal head on with any misconceptions.

But no matter what, it’s obvious. The real heart of the universe is Ceilidh herself. #amreviewing

Want More of the Real Hub Universe?

If the Real Hub Universe resonates with you, then check out my other articles about Ceilidh, Devon, Jake, and the others as they keep the Earth from becoming collateral damage in the War of Knowledge.

Character Reviews:

Ceilidh O’Malley
Dr. Devon Grace
Frances Miller Ashford
Johnny Barnes
Shannon Duffy

Prequel: The East Side of the Universe
Self-Review: The Real Hub of the Universe
Self-Review: The Real Heart of the Universe
and Self-Review: The Real Hope of the Universe

Next article

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Self-Review – The Real Hub of the UniverseThe Real Hub of the Universe

Self-Review – The Real Hub of the Universe

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on June 7, 2022

Review – The Real Hub of the Universe

The Real Hub of the Universe tells the story of Ceilidh O’Malley Barnes, who leaves her abusive husband and runs off to America. Since it’s 1876, she works as a scullery maid, disguising her heritage with a put-on English accent and a fake name, Kay Lee Charles.

Background

One of my favorite time periods is the Victorian era. But there are still so few films which deal with it. More likely, you get something about England or the like. Yet there are not so many about America.

I also love science fiction. And so one day I got the idea – aha! – I would combine the two.

So far as I am aware, this is a more or less unique idea (yes, I know about Star Trek: The Next Generation characters going to see Mark Twain). And no, it is not steampunk.

Plot of the Real Hub of the Universe

When Ceilidh leaves Ireland, she knows absolutely no one. She ends up as a charity case on a freighter, where there is a mysterious first mate who wears only black and never smiles.

When the ship lands in Boston, it’s July 4—the Centennial. But nothing is open and there is no place for her to go.

But through pluck and luck, and by shedding her Irish name and putting on a fake British accent, she lands a job with the wealthy Edwards family.

She endures a lot of the standard indignities of the women of her time, including being paid less and being what we would now call sexually harassed. She also notices the master of the house conducts meetings with some sort of society.

Then he taps her to serve the society’s meetings, which are attended by the luminaries of the day – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Amos Bronson Alcott, Henry Brooks Adams, Judge John Lowell, and George Walker Weld.

All of these, by the way, are very real historical figures. Weld, who is the least well-known of the group, is actually related to actress Tuesday Weld!

After being mistreated by the mistress of the house one too many times, Ceilidh lands a job with Lowell. And then a mysterious visitor arrives, who says nearly nothing and hides his face. More worryingly, he immediately figures out she is not English. What’s she to do?

Characters

First of all, the main character in the piece is Ceilidh O’Malley Barnes. Her twin impulses are to escape her abusive husband and to find work, and a lot of the story centers around that.

The scenes shift from Ireland to England to the open Atlantic Ocean and then Boston, first at the Winthrop Edwards house, and then at the Judge John Lowell house. Both houses are on Beacon Hill.

For this book, she meets and befriends Frances Miller, her absolute bestie.

And, to explain why such a woman would leave Ireland and everything she ever knew, I wrote the prequel, The East Side of the Universe.

Memorable Quotes from The Real Hub of the Universe

There was a cackling sound not too far away. Someone was, maybe, having a glorious time, but it sounded unnatural, and a little forced. “What’s that?”

“That might be one of those things you shouldn’t be seein’.” Ned finished tying Phoebe’s reins to a post and picked up both parcels. “Over there, I think.” He inclined his head in the direction of where the smell of fish was stronger.

The two of them walked over and there was nearly no light beyond what the moon and stars could afford. A few small gas lamps were too far apart to be useful unless a person got really close to one of them. The tide lapped against the wooden docks and Ceilidh feared that either or both of them might fall in. She about jumped out of her skin when someone pulled the hem of her dress. “Who’s there?”

“What?” asked Ned. He had apparently not seen or felt anything.

Ceilidh bent down. It was a little girl, maybe three years old. Four? “Are you lost?” Ceilidh asked, although she had no idea how she could help a child in such an unfamiliar place.

“Have you a ha’-penny?” the little girl asked, her brogue thicker than Ceilidh’s or Ned’s.

“Where’s your Mam?” Ceilidh asked.

“Don’t, Cousin.”

“Why not?” Ceilidh straightened up for a moment.

“Because they will rob you.”

“I,” Ceilidh sighed. “Maybe if I’m not a stranger.” She bent down again. “I’m Ceilidh. What’s your name?”

“Siobhan.”

“Well, that’s a rather pretty name. Where’s your Mam, Siobhan?” The little girl just turned and pointed in the direction from where the cackling had come. In the dim light, something insect-like scurried in Siobhan’s hair. Instinctively, Ceilidh sprang back. “Oh, my!”

Rating

The book has a K+ rating. While the language is extremely proper to a fault, there are some swear words. There are also a few rather disturbing scenes.

Upshot

The bottom line is, I truly loved writing this series. It was great fun! Ceilidh’s character journey was a revelation to me. I always wanted her to make it somehow, but I was unsure of what that was going to be when I started. Stay tuned to find out just what that was.

Welcome to the Real Hub of the Universe #amwriting

Want More of the Real Hub Universe?

If the Real Hub Universe resonates with you, then check out my other articles about Ceilidh, Devon, Jake, and the others as they keep the Earth from becoming collateral damage in the War of Knowledge.

Character Reviews:

Ceilidh O’Malley
Dr. Devon Grace
Frances Miller Ashford
Johnny Barnes
Shannon Duffy

Prequel: The East Side of the Universe
Self-Review: The Real Hub of the Universe
Self-Review: The Real Heart of the Universe
and also Self-Review: The Real Hope of the Universe

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What’s the Perfect Chapter Length?NaNoWriMo, writing, chapter length, how do I write a book, Plotting 101, NaNoWriMo Advice, RIP NaNoWriMo

What’s the Perfect Chapter Length?

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on June 2, 2022

Considering Chapter Length

Ah, chapter length, the place that bogs down so many writers. “What’s an ideal chapter length?” Or they might ask, “How long should a chapter be?” Of course, asking such questions can be an avoidance mechanism so you don’t actually have to write the blasted thing. Hmmm….

So, I have often told people: the ideal chapter length is whatever you are writing. But maybe that’s not quite right?

Don’t worry. I’ll explain.

Talking About Chapters

So, the bottom line is, we need to first talk about writing chapters.

What are chapters? Wikipedia (not always the best source but this is fine) says:

A chapter (capitula in Latin; sommaires in French) is any of the main thematic divisions within a writing of relative length, such as a book of prose, poetry, or law. A chapter book may have multiple chapters that respectively comprise discrete topics or themes. In each case, chapters can be numbered, titled, or both.

Er, okay.

So, what we are talking about here is quite simply a piece of a larger work.

Often, it is a discrete bit of the story, whether it’s a scene or a day or one character’s point of view. But it doesn’t have to be perfectly, tidily wrapped up at the end. And, in fact, it should not be. I’ll explain further down.

Starting a Chapter

I have started chapters (beyond the first one, which is different) in any number of ways. So, here’s the current first paragraph of the second chapter of The Obolonk Murders:

The HQ was a large, nondescript governmental building, much in the style of governmental buildings for decades, if not centuries. It had once been Boston’s City Hall. The office was bustling but they bypassed all of that as Peri led the way to Dolan’s office. Dolan was there, in all his five hundred pounds of glory. “Ah, Detective Sergeant Martin! And you brought Detective, er, why don’t you close the door and we can talk?”

Peri is a cop in the future, and has just gotten her non-human partner. The initial purpose of this chapter is obvious from the first paragraph. It’s to get her and her new partner to headquarters. I introduce new characters (such as Dennis Dolan) and it seems pretty obvious that the characters will talk about the case.

Which they do a bit. But since the chapter has more than one scene, it also switches over to Peri’s high rise apartment. So, does a chapter have to cover more than one scene? Not necessarily.

But if you move from scene to scene, you’ll either need transitional language or a scene break. Usually three asterisks (***) works best. I’ve never liked the idea of just adding a second empty line. If you read a piece on mobile, that subtlety might not carry over. But three asterisks are pretty obvious.

So, What is the Chapter Length of That One?

Right now, it’s 3,538 words, and runs for a good 20 pages. But the line spacing is odd on that one and I need to fix it. I suspect it’s really closer to 13 – 15 pages, maybe fewer. And I know I need to edit it.

But the chapter covers some good ground. They meet Dennis and talk about the case. The computers at HQ are attacked and Peri hears from a terrorist for the first time. Then, she and her robot partner go to her apartment which they find has been ransacked.

The scenes move along at a decent clip, and I like them all together like this. But like I said, I have to edit it. Still, I like the frenetic pace. It runs from a sit-down meet and greet to eventually Peri getting angry about what’s happened to her home. Hence, within this chapter, Peri transitions from semi-overconfident to having the case personally affect her.

How Does This Chapter End?

The final paragraph is:

“Yeah,” she nodded. “C’mon, we’re going to a motel. We can get this cleaned this up later. But let me toss a few things down the laundry chute. I’ll need some clothes soon.”

Much like Peri throws her clothes down a chute, the end of this paragraph has one purpose. That purpose is to start the reader down a chute. Where’s the end of the chute? Why, it’s in the first paragraph of Chapter 3, of course.

Teasing the Next Chapter as a Part of Chapter Length

Can’t recall where I heard this, but chapters should be like teasing your annoying little brother. That is, you keep the absolute end just out of reach and don’t add it until the next one. Think of it like movie posters and book covers for romance, where the couple is just about to kiss.

Of course, this is particularly key when you are ending Book 1 and need to get the reader interested in Book 2, its sequel. If you’re not writing a standalone, you have got to make getting to the next book irresistible to the reader. This does not necessarily mean writing a cliffhanger, although that should not be utterly off the table.

In a way, it’s like a call to action when you write advertising. What’s the action you want your reader to take? It’s to be so drawn in and so curious about what happens next that they can’t wait to order (or preorder) the next book in the series

Without getting into spoiler territory, this book ends with Peri becoming overconfident again. And at the last moment, she’s knocked down several pegs. The book comes full circle, and the reader should be (I hope!) invested enough to want to get to Book 2, The Polymer Beat.

Genres and Chapter Length

When it comes to chapter length,  a chapter still should be the best length for serving the story. But there are some caveats to this.

There are genre-related numbers but they are guidelines.  Still, paying attention to that is a part of better serving your audience/market. And why do we want to better serve our readers? Because it makes them want to continue reading! And, let’s face it, buying our stellar prose.

So, think about the standard pacing within your genre. A mystery or a thriller tends to have short chapters because the pacing needs to be tight. But for fantasy, you’ve got some room to spread out. Science fiction tends to run to the longer side of things but mixes things up.

Describing a sci fi world may mean a lot of detail. Hence, a longer chapter length. But a fight scene, if it’s the only thing in a chapter, will likely have to be snappy and quick.

What Happens When Chapter Length is Too Long?

All of this gets me back to chapter endings.  Ending chapters with a little bit that isn’t said can also serve as a model for writing all of a chapter. When your chapter length is too damned long, consider the following:

Maybe you’re explaining things too much.  Maybe your characters are too slow to make decisions, and it’s bogging down the action. Or maybe you’ve got a character who you can do without.

Consider how NaNoWriMo can also affect how we write. I know it affects my own work. Wanting to make word count at all costs can mean front loading a book. It can also mean oppressive dialogue and extra characters. Meandering is great for word count. But it also adds to chapter length. And it’s often the kind of addition that isn’t necessary.

Arguments. Descriptions. Directions. Side trips. Detours. Virtually any book will be better if you cut these down. And maybe even eliminate some of them. Also, consider the fluff of normal speech. We hesitate with er, em, huh, etc. And we also say please and thank you a lot. A polite character is one thing. But you don’t need to underscore their good manners on every page.

Keep your characters and their conversations from meandering, too. You and I might cover several topics when we speak, either in person or online. Real life is rarely in such a rigidly straight line, after all.

But your characters? You can focus them. And if you think a character is now impolite, there’s no reason why you can’t use a body language attribution and have them nod their thanks. Or use the occasion of a ‘please’ or a ‘thank you’ as a moment that serves the plot.

For example, Peri Martin continually thanks robots, even though they keep telling her that it’s unnecessary. And when a robot fails to reject gratitude, it’s a sign that there’s something up. Something that is not so good at all.

What Happens When Chapter Length is Too Short?

Well, you might just be okay. But consider this. If a chapter or any other part of a book feels too short, why is that so? It could mean you’re glossing over explanations. And it could mean you’re not doing the heavy lifting of description. Do you need to describe present-day Detroit in excruciating detail? Probably not. But 2528 Callisto? You’d better believe you need to show this to your readers.

So, consider the shortening ideas above. But this time, in reverse. Do characters make decisions too quickly? Are descriptors too straightforward? Do directions and journeys always go in a perfectly straight line?

Or you could see if you’d do better to combine two chapters. Another idea is: do nothing. That’s right. Nada! And it may just turn out to be the best thing you can do.

After all, Kurt Vonnegut got away with some ridiculously short chapters in Cat’s Cradle. But then again, neither you nor I are him, alas.

Chapter Length and Serving Your Readers

And one more quick thing.  Think about how so many of us are pressed for time. A lot of people read while commuting or right before bed.  In both cases,  shorter chapters can serve the reader better—long as many of them end with a chute to push the reader to the next chapter.

Maybe your reader will stay up to read another chapter. Or they’ll be so excited that they’ll think about it all day and then start up again once they get home or the work day ends.

So, don’t get caught up quite so much on how long your chapters end up being. Readers will be a lot more forgiving than you may think, so long as the story is good. Care a lot more about how they start, how they end, and the stuff that you put into the middle.

Chapter length perfection can be fleeting…. #amwriting

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Self-Review – Your Call is Very Important to Us

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on May 26, 2022

Your Call is Very Important to Us – a Look at a Short Story

Your Call is Very Important to Us comes from a general concept of ‘the world turned upside-down’. I wrote this short story for the third volume of The Longest Night Watch. All of the proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Association. But I’m afraid that is, if we ever publish it.

Which isn’t looking so good these days. Damn.

I never name the narrator in ‘Your Call’. The reader just gets her husband’s name, Milo.

Background

The world has gone to hell in a handbasket, and we’ve dropped the bomb. And so has our unnamed other side. There’s devastation. No one and nothing will survive.

Enter our characters.

As the narrator says, her husband was a doomsday prepper. And while everyone thought he was nuts, they were okay even as the world came to an end.

So who’s sorry now?

But our narrator’s got one big problem. She’s bored out of her mind.

Plot for Your Call…

With nothing to do but read, eat, and fool around, the narrator and her husband are at the ends of their tethers. They are older people—there aren’t going to be any children. There is no chance at all to repopulate the earth.

Pretty soon, the one break to the monotony comes in the form of something you and I both hate – automated telemarketer calls. The people and the companies may be gone. But robocalls, apparently, are forever.

Of course, a ringing telephone in the middle of nuclear devastation is a cause for concern, wonder, hope, and fear. I will admit that a part of the idea came from Ray Bradbury’s classic Martian Chronicles story, The Silent Towns.

Characters in Your Call…

The only characters, apart from people the narrator talks to on the phone who may or may not still be alive, are the narrator and her husband, Milo. Milo never speaks and neither does the narrator. All the reader gets are her rambling, wacky thoughts, presumably in writing.

Memorable Quotes

When the bombs dropped, we were already ensconced in our shelter. Milo built it. Milo’s my husband. He was one of those doomsday preppers. People used to say he was crazy. But they’re not saying it now. Why not? Because they’re probably all dead. If the radiation and heat won’t get you, the germ warfare will, Milo says.

We live just outside of Henderson, Nevada. It’s near Las Vegas, or at least it was. I’m not so sure what’s up there anymore. It’s probably not much.

Rating

This story has a K+ rating. While the one sex scene takes place off screen (as it were), the backdrop is nuclear war, and of course that’s upsetting.

Upshot

So, one very big issue is that the volume has been delayed for what I believe is coming upon a good decade. Yes, really. The story has been in limbo for way too long at this point.

So will it ever be published? Right now, I’ve got to say, I have my doubts. Big, big doubts. And that’s unfortunate, because I really love this story. And I love the charity and the group. But I suppose we’ve got … issues.

Your call is very important to us — even after the end of the world. #amwriting

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How to Leverage Writing Mental Energy

Published by Janet Gershen-Siegel on May 24, 2022

Mental Energy and the Art and Science of Writing

There is a certain degree of mental energy that goes into writing. It is a form of labor, and people should respect it as such.

But hold up. Let’s go back for a second.

What is Mental Energy?

The National Institutes of Health (!) says:

Mental energy is a mood, but can also be defined as ability or willingness to engage in cognitive work. 

So, essentially, what I am talking about is the cerebral labor of writing. That is, as opposed to writing about it.

It’s Like Pie

Pumpkin pie slice representing mental energy.
Pumpkin pie slice representing mental energy. Image is for reference purposes only.

Wait, what?

So, hear me out.

The thing about pie is, of course, that it is finite. Never mind that you can always buy either a ready-made one or the ingredients for same. That is not what I am talking about.

Rather, what I mean is the concept of—this is it, it’s all I’ve got. That’s all there is, and there ain’t no more, if you will.

We Live in a Finite Universe

We have finite days and finite lives. Also, we have finite capacity. No matter how young you are, or your physical condition, you’ve got to sleep, right? At the same time, no matter how smart you are, inevitably you have to study at times.

Even if that just means opening a book, memorizing it, and calling that “studying”.

Er, that’s not studying.

But I digress.

No matter what, we are talking about something that is excruciatingly finite. So, until we develop time travel, or some way to stretch time, then guess what? We have all got the same 24 hour mix to play with.

Why am I Talking About This Right Now?

When I first wrote this blog post, I was looking at Wattpad, and came across a passage in a work about NaNoWriMo.

The passage essentially said that there’s always going to be someone or other who claims they wrote 100,000 words on the first day of November and is sitting pretty and essentially laughing at the rest of us poor peasants.

It’s a form of trash talking. I ignore it, and I urge everyone else to ignore it as well.

But, why?

Well, for one thing, it’s not likely to be the whole truth. Evidently, the fastest anyone has ever typed is 216 words per minute. Voice recognition isn’t necessarily any quicker, because you have to say the punctuation, formatting, and line breaks.

So, let’s do some math.

Only a little. I’m not insane. 😀

Math Time

So, 216 wpm * 60 minutes = 12,960 words/hour. And 100,000 ÷ 12,960 = just under 7.72 hours. So, it’s technically possible. But is it likely? Probably not, as this is assuming a person is typing at blazing speeds every second.

No breaks, no fatigue, no distractions, no editing, and no writer’s block.

Even people with exceptionally detailed outlines will have a moment or two or twelve in there where they aren’t certain of where to go next. They will also get up to visit the facilities or pet their dogs, kiss their children, or make themselves a sandwich.

Why am I Talking About This Braggadocio?

It’s because of this. I have little doubt that those 100,000 words need a ton of editing.  That’s the part which I think some folks want the rest of us to forget when they make such claims.

Writing takes time and serious mental energy.

You spend it…

• Getting inspired
† Planning
• Writing
† Editing
• Packaging (i.e. marrying your manuscript to a cover,  or to a title, or putting together a series, that sort of thing)
† Querying
• Marketing
† Thinking up your next great thing

This is the finite piece. And now we go back to the pie example.

The Finite World We Live In

You can’t make the pie any bigger. Something’s got to give.

Banging out 100,000 words in a little under a full work day, without going over it, means typos. It means inconsistencies. And it means the last parts in particular are dominated by labor from a person who is exhausted. You cannot drink coffee or take speed, etc. your way out of it forever.

If you don’t spend time planning, you’ll spend it writing. And if you don’t spend time writing, you’ll spend it editing. If you don’t spend time editing, then packaging becomes enormous and takes longer. If you don’t work on packaging and spend time on it, then querying will take longer, because you’ll be faced with more rejections.

And finally, if you don’t spend time querying, and just take what you can get (and that includes self-publishing—no slam on it, but it is something we do without spending any time on querying), then you will spend that time on marketing.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

The energy will have to be used, and it will have to go somewhere. You will not be able to get away without doing the labor.

Shrinking That Finite World Down Even More

I’ve got a full-time job. I didn’t when I wrote Untrustworthy. But I do now. And that means eight (usually nine) hours are spent working. And I don’t even commute!

Unless you count walking from the bedroom to the office.

Hence let’s pull a third of a day out and toss it. I can’t spend it on writing this way. And neither can most people who have full-time employment.

Sleep? Cut another third of the day right off the top and 86 it. Even if you don’t sleep the full eight hours, it will catch up to you eventually. Not getting enough sleep means you’re not performing at peak efficiency. Plus, that can make you sick, so you would be out of commission for that reason, if nothing else.

So, even if you’ve got, say, an extra two hours, it’s likely that you’re not able to produce within those extra two hours (or several other hours, for that matter) if you don’t get enough rest.

What’s Left?

Personal hygiene, fitness, and meals tend to lop off at least another two hours, maybe as many as four. Household stuff like cooking, washing up, paying bills, cleaning, etc. can average out to around one-half to one hour per day. Even if you’re independently wealthy (or really lazy) and have someone else to do those things for you, you still need to eat, and you still need to clean yourself.

Again, it’s a matter of health. Any time you’re saving by not showering (eek!), you’ll most likely end up spending going to a doctor to get rid of a rash or an infection or worse. Do not do such things to yourself!

And this doesn’t even get into spending time with family or pets, or other forms of socializing, whether in person or online. Don’t put that stuff off forever, or your mental health will suffer, big time.

So, Where Do You Find the Time and the Mental Energy?

Most of the above isn’t just a drain on time. It’s also a drain on—you guessed it—mental energy. A long day spent, say, preparing tax returns, can wipe you out.

But I’ve got the weekend, you say.

Sure you do. And you may be spending it on writing. But there are likely other activities where you’re spending your time.

If you don’t spend time or mental energy on one, then you will spend it elsewhere. Maybe it’s dates or chauffeuring kids around or food shopping. It could be catching up on your sleep, too. Or maybe you’re binge watching something or other. Candy Crush may be calling your name.

Or, you just kind of zone out and suddenly it’s 8:43 PM when you thought it was only 6:43. Not that I’ve ever done that… Heh.

You could be a weekend warrior for fitness or maybe that’s when you clean your house. You do you. But at least there’s a little bit of time in there.

Here are a few places to slip it all in. And no, I am not suggesting that you go nonstop and work yourself to death. Don’t be silly.

The Shower

We all do this. It’s something to do with the relaxation and the rhythm of water. Our minds wander, and we can come up with ideas. This is, of course, not the time to edit. But remember all the stuff I mentioned above, about needing to market, etc.? Some of your shower time can be spent on that.

You can’t write anything down, so it’s not a good place for the specifics. It’s more for the big picture. It’s for the lightbulb moments of, hey, I could advertise on TikTok.

The Commute

Mine is nonexistent these days, but it didn’t used to be. You’ve got your phone with you, right? Then if you think of something on the bus or train, why not email it to yourself? Or put it in a document on a drive you can access from both work and home. The details are yours to figure out.

If you drive, then you can get more creative. Maybe you can essentially dictate while driving, and send the documentary product of voice recognition to yourself. But keep in mind—voice recognition often requires a lot of massaging. The tech is great but imperfect.

And, naturally, don’t endanger yourself!

Plucked from Life

A True Believer in Skepticism was conceived in, of all places, Home Depot!

So, look around you. In particular, people watching can be extraordinarily inspiring. Why do people make the fashion choices they do, or wear their hair a certain way? And why do they take their kids to a restaurant, say—maybe you can do something with that. Or, why do they use smaller words, or speak a different language when it’s just them?

There are countless ways to consider the human condition, and they can mainly come from observation. Find your person to watch. And then think of a character who could be like that. Or, come up with a scenario to throw that person into. For example, what happens when the guy running a food truck has to go to war?

Exercise and Mental Energy

Now, this won’t work for fitness classes. But if you’re busy riding a stationary bike or chugging along on a treadmill, or walking in the woods, again, you’ve got your phone, yes? Working with your phone also means taking photos if need be.

This is another occasion to watch people.

First Thing in the Morning

This is something I will often do. I get up, do my ablutions and exercise. Then, I hit the laptop and write for a while. How much? Probably somewhere between 85 and 385 words on average. Then I turn off the home laptop, turn on the work laptop, and go downstairs to get breakfast. By the time I am back upstairs I’m in work mode.

During November of 2021, 2022, and 2023, I was getting up 30 minutes early. Not much, but it was something. Since you need to write at least 1,667 words per day on average to hit 50k by the 30th, it was helpful to have 200 – 250 or so words banged out already. 250 words is just under 15% of the absolute bare minimum. Not bad for something like 15 – 35 minutes.

It is highly likely that I will continue with this sort of a November schedule, as it’s a proven winner.

Right Before Bed

Don’t use your phone for this, as you’ll diminish the quality of your sleep. So, get a small pad of paper and a pen and scribble. Ideas, sentences, titles, character names, whatever. And keep that pad and pen next to your bed, for the next slot.

Middle of the Night Mental Energy

Have you ever had this happen to you, where you’re sleeping away and you wake up at maybe 3 AM with some sort of amazing idea? Or that dream had some narrative you feel you can harness.

Write that stuff down. In particular, this may help with insomnia. You won’t be laying there, trying to keep from forgetting something or other.

However, I do want to point out that sometimes your amazing middle of the night revelation is something like:

The Cold War on Toast

Well, they can’t all be gems.

Distribute Your Time and Mental Energy the Best Way Possible

This is reality, folks. You cannot be 100% on, all the time. Your body naturally cycles through peaks and troughs.

Know yourself. If you’re a morning person (I mainly am), then getting up early is for you. But if you do better at tea time, then take a work break if you can for 30 minutes, and do your thing. And then make up the time, of course.

And if you are truly terrible at some of the writing tasks, then there’s no shame in outsourcing them and paying someone to do them for you. As in—editing, marketing, and packaging. You may be able to hire someone to write your query for you or at least to help you polish yours.

And ghost writing has a long and semi-noble tradition. But where’s the fun in that?

Some Last Bits of My Own Mental Energy, Beamed Straight from My Brain to Yours

Insert weird sci-fi sound effect here.

This entire post is essentially about setting your priorities, when you get right down to it. Decide what you value in your life. And if that’s spending time with your child to the exclusion of a lot of other things, then hey, that’s fab. You do you. But also recognize that this means it’ll take longer for you to write and get to whatever you feel is your own personal finish line.

After all, you can always put your slice of pie in the freezer, to have another day.

Your writing mental energy is finite. Use it wisely.

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