shifters

On Writing and What’s Next

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

I was talking to a writer friend and ze mentioned that ze only writes one story at a time and needs to finish that story before starting any others, and that keeps zir from having a string of unfinished stories.

I thought that sounded like a good–great–idea, so I started making a list of all the stories I’m working on. It’s, uh, a long list. I mean, I always had a spreadsheet (that should have been a sign), but I have a lot of stories started and never finished. So now I’m making a list. And I will go down that list as best I can. Obviously I’m going to have to work out some kinks from the system, because I have some stories I more recently started that may need to be finished before my big Scruples project, but we’ll see.

After the current thing I’m rewriting (for something else not related), I plan on moving on to my rehabilitating rockstar OR my super queer shifters. I’m going to poke and whichever one reacts is going to get priority.

But first I need to finish my mini-project, and also work on revisions for my fantasy bear shift novella.

While knitting a Spider Man blanket for my friends’ future baby. Because I didn’t have a knitting project on hand and my friend is having a baby and I’ve made blankets for all the other babies in my life, so I felt bad.

And then I did a search for geeky knitted things and found this (which was within my skill level…I hope) and couldn’t resist.

Hopefully it turns out okay. Or the baby immediately vomits on it and it can be burned and I don’t have to worry.

Here’s to multitasking!

December Goals

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

I don’t think I made November goals, because after returning from GRL I had a task in mind–which I completed–and I knew my editing self was going to be busy–which I was. I still aimed to write 100 words a day…which I only did for under half the month. And suddenly it’s December. I’m not sure how this happened. I’ve barely begun thinking about the holidays! This is going to be another busy month, so I’m trying not to over-plan, or else it will all blow up in my face.

1. Edit my submission for Rachel and send it to her. (I’d like to get this done at the beginning of the month.)

2. Finish shopping/knitting presents.

3. Get back on track with Frogs story.

4. Stick to my new exercise schedule.

So that’s it. I should probably add “update blog more often with interesting content,” but let’s not get crazy.

Yep, Carlos and Cecil. Find the rest of this collection here.

Release: Forgotten Menagerie

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

Wooo!

Forgotten Menagerie is now available—with my shifter story. Hint: OTTERS.

“The Greatest of These”

In “The Greatest of These,” Daniel struggles to deal with his new-found sexuality and his Catholic faith. He’s already overcome the question of how otter shifters fit into God’s plans, but the next step is so much harder. After all, people don’t picket about otters burning in Hell.

Religion and otters. Yeah. I went there. And I enjoyed it.

You can find it here, or at your standard book sellers.

Not too lost

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

So I went through another read of Kin#1, wrote the -bleeeep- summary, have the email prepared…and now I just want to re-read the summary for any totally idiotic statements and then I’ll send it off. UGH.

Meanwhile, I’ve been working on a shifter story, because they decided they wanted to play (or at least they did until tonight when every sentence I hobbled together sounded terrible). I’m sure part of it is just the mood I’m in at the moment, so updates to come.

Otherwise things in the writing/reading world have been quiet. I’m creating enough emotional turmoil in my own life, I don’t need it in stories at the moment, it seems. -sigh-

Edits and Figurines

/ Alex Whitehall / Leave a comment

So a few quick things.

1. I finished my Love Has No Boundaries story and sent it to the beta and got what appears to be generally positive feedback, so yay.

2. For those who follow my tumblr, you know that the first story I’ve written since my accident was accepted into a Storm Moon Press anthology. I had a shifter story in the works, but it was being difficult. Then I saw this picture and a story just blossomed.

3. I’m going to be doing a ton of edits the rest of this month, as in addition to the LHNB edits, I imagine eventually I’ll be getting otter edits. AND I’m trying to shape up a finished story by plugging in some changes a beta gave (more edits!) and maybe send it to another reader and then out to pub. I hope. It feels on the verge of being ready for an editor to tear into it 😉

4. And this, just for amusement. It’s a figurine I saw in the GoodWill store by me. Captions/comments are welcome:

Otters and Silver Foxes

/ Alex Whitehall / 2 Comments

Today was my first day back at my full-time job, although I’m only working part-time at the moment. So I’m dead on my brain at the moment.

I submitted my shifter story to SMP. It’s pretty much the first thing I wrote since the accident, so I don’t know if it’s very good, and it’s not quite long enough, so they might not take it. But I’ll do something with it if they don’t want it.

I’m also currently ignoring my other shifter story in favor of writing a prompt from the Love Has No Boundaries anthology from the M/M Romance group on GoodReads. I have it started, but no idea where it’s going. Some friends keep tossing me pictures of sexy older men for inspiration 🙂

I’ve been really struggling with my depression the past week or so, as those who follow my Tumblr know. It makes it hard to work, write, or just breath some days. But then I have other moments where everything is fine and it feels so freeing it’s wonderful.

Also, a note about aloe plants: They are sturdy sons of guns! I had an aloe plant at work that didn’t get watered or tended to for 3 months and it’s fine. Green and happy as a clam. The one by the window got sunburnt, but it still was pretty well off (although I put it out of its misery). These things are Rambo tough. Inspiring, huh?