The Devil Within

I published my second chapter of "The Devil Within" on Wattpad last night.  You may have missed it, because I published it around 7:30 PM.  Apparently the ideal time to publish items anywhere is closer to 10 PM.  I am not awake at 10 PM--hardly ever. I need to start making more use of my "schedule" button to keep up with all this social media!

I went out to Fiverr and Kelvin Tang made me this fantastic cover. Click below, and it will take you to Wattpad to read my story.

http://www.wattpad.com/story/26698809-the-devil-within

I didn't even know Fiverr existed, until Suzie Jay told me about the site.  She's another author trying to find a following, get discovered, whatever you want to call it (her blog is in my reading list below--check it out!).  I've found out this week that there are tons of us. I've been on twitter trying to promote myself, and there are tons of struggling wannabe authors.  It's no wonder the publishing houses are overwhelmed trying to pick through the slush piles.

I debated putting "The Devil Within" out there for anyone to read.  It's a hard read, psychologically, and I don't know how many people will like it because of that. The thing is, as an author, when I have an idea it just sort of flows from me.  The thoughts come quickly, and I have to get them down on paper.  The story sticks in your mind, and I almost become part of the virtual world I've created,  like I can feel and touch your characters.  I wrote the "Devil Within" in just a few days, because every time I would leave the book I would think about William, the main character, and how much he was hurting.  I couldn't leave him in anguish in one scene for long.  I had to come back and rescue him--with the stroke of a key!

That's what writing's like for me. There's a story, and I have to write it down.  Maybe that's why I have so many half finished stories.  The ideas come more quickly than I can finish them.

Follow @laurenegreene

A Writing Routine

I don't have writer's block.  I never have.  I usually have too much to write about, so I start and stop. I write 20,000 words, then I scrap it and move onto the next project.  I've done this my whole life.  I'm currently editing and rewriting sections of "No Turning Back," before I self-publish it on Amazon.  I worked on rewriting two sections this weekend, but I always need a little bit of a break before I go back to read it and work on grammar, realistic dialogue, etc.  So, I decided in the interim I would work on one of my other stories in progress.

I had about three to pick from, and I picked one I had been working on which I think has a great beginning, middle, and end but may be slightly inappropriate.  It's a psychological thriller.  I don't know how to pick one genre and stick with it.  I'm all over the board!  I started writing, but the more I thought about it the more I felt like I didn't want to work on that particular story.  I seriously could sit down and finish it if I wanted to, but I can't submit it to Wattpad for a general read because of some of the less than saintly aspects of the book.  It's more of a work that needs to be self-published (or actually published by a publishing house if I could ever make it that far)!

So, instead I decided to work on a new novel. It's more women's fiction, but may lean towards romance. GASP!  That's so not me.  But it will probably get a load of follows on Wattpad, and right now I'm all about trying to build an audience for my writing-to-be.  It just takes a lot of work, and I feel like it's all I'm able to do. It's giving me less time to do what I actual want to do: write.  When you have three kids, a job, 5,000 activities, and you try to stay in shape your writing time is limited anyway.  It makes me wonder how anyone makes it.  Oh, and unfortunately, I'm not one of those insomniac writers. I'm one of those people who thrive on routine.  I wake up promptly at 5:15 every day, and I have to be in bed by 10 PM (usually before).  I thrive and feel the best on this routine, but I do wish I had more time to write.  I'm always counting the minutes in the morning, trying to figure out how much time I have before a child comes downstairs, or before I have to start the crockpot so we can actually eat at night.  Always too much to do.  But, I wouldn't give up any of it.  When you love to write, you fit it in where you can, and you find you are always coming up with ideas for new books.

I find my inspiration, mostly from dreams, random thoughts, other people's conversations: you name it!  It just comes to me, and then I feel this urge to write.  I hope that urge never goes away.

Follow me on Twitter @laurenegreene
Read "The Devil Within" on Wattpad: @LaurenGreene4.  Currently the 1st Chapter is up, and the 2nd Chapter will be released tomorrow, 11/19/14!!!
Check out my Facebook Writer's Page: https://www.facebook.com/laurengreenewrites