How this pantser plots

July 2, 2023

Are you a "pantser" or a "plotter?"

That's a frequently asked question when writers are congregated in one spot such as Twitter or Facebook or any social media platform. People weigh in on this or that side, but the truth is it doesn't matter much. Your writing process is unique to YOU, but I think everyone is a bit of both. 

I start as a definite pantser. That's "fly by the seat of your pants" in writer's speak. I get an idea and I bang out an opening. Once that's on the page, I usually back up and do a bit of character bio so I don't forget pertinent facts that may have come out in the opening paragraphs. Then it's a bit more of being a pantser to incorporate additional ideas.

But there comes a place in every story where the characters have developed to the point that I know exactly where they're going. It's then that I stop and jot down a plot sequence. And for some reason, I can't seem to get going forward again until I've got the cover drafted. Forward just doesn't happen for me until the basic cover concept becomes reality. I reached that point this past week with Sumner's Garden, and this morning, I finally hit on a basic cover I can live with. 

I want to add one more element but I have two options. Both are up on my second screen and I keep glancing at them while working on screen one. Sooner or later, I'll gravitate towards one and that will be what I add to the final cover. 

Now that the cover is settled, it's time to expand on the plot points and push on to The End. Some of the plot points may change a bit, depending on what the characters tell me. But one thing about this story is unusual. 

This story has already given me the ending and it's not at all where I thought my guys were headed - it's better. Sometimes you have to listen to them. They are manifestations of your thoughts, after all. 

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 KC Kendricks
www.kckendricks.com
My home on the web- Between the Keys: 
http://kckendricks.blogspot.com
Visit my bookshelf at: 
https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne_3.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: KC Kendricks Between the Keys

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at The Hideaway/Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

KC Kendricks, Between the Keys, contemporary gay romance, LGBT, m/m romance, romance novels for Kindle, writers on writing, pantser v. plotter, social media, book covers, writing methods, 

New blog post up at The Hideaway

The Hideaway at Holly Tree Manor

January 29, 2023

There's a new blog post up at Holly Tree Manor. Holly Tree Manor is where I talk about my personal life outside of writing. It's about rural living and my country lifestyle. 

Today, I wrote about some of the difficulties the month of January brings.

If you'd like to visit Holly Tree Manor to read about it, click here. 

KC/Rayne

Cover reveal - A Perfect Hire by KC Kendricks

February 10, 2018

Greetings from wet western Maryland! Snow, ice, rain. Gotta love living in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

I suppose the winter weather inspired me to get to work on A Perfect Hire. You've heard the phrase, "when hell freezes over." Well, hell froze over. That's the only explanation I can give for my decision to re-release this book. 

That and fact that since I've undone all the "editing" done at a publisher-who-will-not-be-named, the book is back to its original vision and story. 

The cover turned out okay. I've made better. I've made worse. This one is okay. I wanted to keep it simple with a store/shop background and a guy. And since the guy is hired to work in a specialty shop that sells coffee and wine, it was appropriate to have a cup of coffee and a glass of wine by his side. It works for me. 

The big question? When is the story going live? Probably February 24 or 25. I know it won't be on February 18. That's the day of the Daytona 500. Priorities, you know. 

ABOUT A PERFECT HIRE

Shopkeeper Chris Douglas traveled the world as a tour guide. He settled in New York City, and turned his love of coffees and wines from around the world into a thriving specialty business. He enjoys meeting new people and his small emporium just off Bleecker Street brings all sorts through his door. After he falls off a ladder, Chris tapes a “help wanted” sign on the door and hopes it will attract the right person.

Eric Todd is at loose ends after the company he worked for changed hands and he was let go. He can get by financially, but with too many hours to fill in a day, he’d like a part-time job to keep busy. When he spies the hand-drawn sign on the door of The Corked Bean, he goes inside to check out the store, and the sexy proprietor.

The two men hit it off and Chris hires Eric on the spot. Now the pay and benefits aren’t as enticing, or satisfying, as the after-hours perks available for the perfect hire.

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For more information, visit the page for A Perfect Hire here.

KC Kendricks

www.kckendricks.com

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/kckendricks

www.facebook.com/kckendricks

How to fix a dead processor

January 31, 2018

I've been remiss about blogging this month. As January comes to a close, it seems like a good time to explain myself.  Yes, I've participated in the MidWeek Tease blog hop, but that's promo. And yes promotion is a big part of why I have a blog. Beyond that, blogging keeps me focused on my writing life. 

Hmmm. One could conclude from that I've been focused this January and didn't need to take a look and explore where I am. That's only partially correct. 

Getting Twice Removed From Yesterday out was definitely the high point of the month. And just when I'm cruising on a new story, along comes the computer gremlin. It didn't hit me, thank goodness, but it sure as hell zapped the spousal unit. 

Oh, my God, have you ever seen a grown man whimper? It's not a pretty sight. 

I tried to save his old processor by hitting a restore point. No good. So I did a recovery reset. Even worse. A ten-year-old processor is a ten-year-old processor and when it's dead, it's dead. It's time to yank the hard drive out and play Taps. Thank goodness the man has the important *stuff* backed up. 

I'd hoped he'd be able to use the laptop for a couple of weeks, but he doesn't like a laptop any better than I do. It seems we're both spoiled by unmoving flat surfaces and the ability to scroll with one hand. Imagine that. 

Soooo, with my honey in computer crisis mode, I did the only thing I really could do. I offered him my old processor effective upon receipt of a new processor for me. A one-time only good deal that will cost him nothing but an HDMI to VGA adapter for one of my monitors. 

You know he said yes. With any luck, it will arrive tomorrow and all will be happy again at my humble domicile. 

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 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne.html

Social media links:

Life through the eyes of my black Lab, Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com

My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Snips and clips on my YouTube channel: KC Kendricks Between the Keys

twitter.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

Mike and the Genie

October 8, 2017

I'm amazed I can move a muscle this morning. Yesterday, we had a small tree cutting party. Assembled were my cousin John, my honey's sister, nephew, husband, and a friend of the brother-in-law we didn't know. This man, Jake, must be one of the "strangers" mentioned in the Bible. We're cautioned that some people we meet are angels in disguise and Jake fit the bill. We'd never met and yet he came to my home and put in a hard day's work with only a couple of hamburgers and a Pepsi for his pay. 

The tree that needed to come down was a huge oak, about eighty feet tall. Its twin had been felled during Hurricane Isabel back in 2003 so we knew what we were up against. At least this one didn't have all its leaves. We rented a very expensive "cherry picker" and my brother-in-law fearlessly ascended. The boom on this piece of equipment extended eighty feet and he still couldn't reach the very top. 

Mike is a very logical and safe worker. Piece by piece the old oak hit the ground. The ground crew stood safely back, taking pictures while he worked. Our part would begin after he'd completed his task. 

When only the trunk remained, which a local sawmill will get for the lumber, we cleared the ground. Pieces were cut to length to fit into the bucket of the John Deere, operated by my honey, and taken to the corner of the property where we split and stack firewood. We're putting the word out through the family that we have good oak free for the taking. 

That's free as in YOU have to finish cutting, splitting, and hauling it. If we get to where we need it, then we'll need to split it ourselves.  

It was a good day. The job was completed and the worst thing that happened was during one lift, Mike's hat blew off. No one got hurt. The Genie worked without a glitch - the right tool for the job. 

We lost the tops out of a couple of maples, but Mike trimmed the breaks. Those trees will branch back out, but the space left by the old oak will remain open. We plan to throw out a little grass seed and see if it grows. 

It looks a little different with the oak gone. Based on its girth, about ten feet, it was in the range of 100 to 125 years old. It was just a sapling when my family acquired this property. I'm sorry to have lost such a majestic tree, but we move on. Do I worry the tree was a victim of oak wilt, a fungal disease? Yes, I do. There are other equally large oaks on my property. I'll be watching them. This disease kills quickly and as of this writing, I have no idea if it can be prevented. 

This morning it's raining. For us, this is perfect. We have two large brush piles to burn and burning is safest during rainfall. We'll fix our travel mugs, grab our cellphones and treats for Deuce, and hop in the pickup. I'll light the fire and then retire to the truck with my guys. We'll sit in dry comfort and watch the fire. The goal is to let the center burn down and then use the John Deere to push in around the edges. Once that can be done, we'll move to the second brush pile and repeat. 

It might take all afternoon, but I can't think of a better way to spend a rainy day. We tend to have philosophical conversations while sitting in the pickup watching a fire. Even Deuce has his say. After all, what's more important than dog treats? 

Yesterday reminded me of the importance of family, and of doing for each other. My partner's health and mobility issues limit us. Yet with two phone calls we had willing help - and the right help for the job. I'm beyond grateful and I'll continue to give thanks for those good folks. I hope if they need help they'll call on us to go to them and do whatever we're able to do, even if it's to prepare the food for the workers. 

That's the way it works out here on the mountain. 

KC Kendricks

http://www.kckendricks.com

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/kckendricks

www.facebook.com/kckendricks

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Surrendered Victory by KC Kendricks

September 30, 2017

Surrendered Victory is now available at iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo! And with a bit of luck, it will be live at Amazon tonight!

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Surrendered Victory

Contemporary gay romance

Dalton makes Reed tingle in all the right places. Now Reed’s ready to answer the question that’s haunted his every failed relationship. Is he really gay?

Reed walked into Dalton’s life and everything changed. This time, Dalton won’t hide the fact he’s gay from anyone, even his son.

Together they surrender all to each other and claim the ultimate victory.

INTRO

…Dalton's hand rested on the table, palm down, relaxed. The pale band around his wrist where he normally wore a watch showed off his suntan. Slowly, he rolled his hand over. Anyone watching wouldn’t think a thing about the small gesture, so easy and natural as he did it. But I knew it for what it really was.

Invitation. Promise. Please.

My own personal Rubicon lay before me. The line that once crossed changed worlds. What was would cease and what was to be would come to life with the touch of that hand, and I trembled in the face of it.

Always before I’d shied away from this moment, running from the commitment the acceptance of truth would bring to my door. There would be no more denials, no more flight. If I crossed my Rubicon, I would be forever changed.

The freedom that beckoned took my breath away in much the same orgasmic way Dalton did…

EXCERPT

Dalton spoke so softly in my ear, his voice low and rough, that I marveled I heard him above the pounding of my heart.

“Trust me, Reed. Tonight is for simple things. I want to fuck you in the worst kind of way, but maybe not tonight. You set the pace. Just relax and enjoy. Okay?”

I nodded, relieved and yet disappointed. I wanted to fuck him, too, and in my ignorance wondered how much of a problem that posed for him since he wanted me. His hands slid around my waist, down across my hips to grip the inside of my thighs.

Arousal shrieked through me. As I pressed firmly back to him, his hands held me to his pelvis, his cock pressed firmly into the cleft of my ass. Something gave way within me. I’d let him fuck me. I wanted him. I rocked into him, and he grabbed me. I tried to turn, to shove him to the bed. His balance was too good. He didn’t budge.

“Slow down,” he urged me breathlessly.

I couldn’t.

I bucked wildly against him, but his strength at least equaled mine. His arms tightened like bands of steel around me, holding me, forcing me to be still. I couldn’t breathe. Sweat trickled down my chest. I hung on the verge, riding the knife-edge of impending orgasm. I fought my way back to sanity, struggling to hold on to his words,  “Slow down.”

I longed for so much more than a quick fuck, a fast easing of the need demanding release now. I’d be cheating myself, and him, if I didn’t get a grip on myself. The red haze lifted from my mind.

Damn, but my balls ached.

I laughed, sort of, as I relaxed into him. He eased his hold on me, and I sensed his relief that I’d come back from the edge of insanity--so he could send me there again.

Dalton unzipped my pants, let them fall, and wrapped his long fingers around my shaft, his grip firm. He stroked me, rolling the tight skin all the way over the glans. I’d waited my entire life for the touch of another man. I soared.

“I’m cut, too, if you’re curious. Is this all you want?” Dalton purred in my ear.

Curious was too mild a word when I wanted to strip him naked and give all eight inches of him a very clinical examination. Other than my own I’d not seen an adult male cock fully erect, except in photographs and that didn’t quite do it for me. I was intensely curious.

I shook my head. It most certainly was not all I wanted. His slow strokes had me ready to beg, and I would have if I’d known what I wanted most, besides everything.

The arm he held me with dropped away and he fumbled with his zipper. I laughed breathlessly as he teased my ass while pulling down the tab. His pants joined mine on the floor. His stiff cock pressed into the dark crevice of my ass where his fingers had just teased. I tensed, unsure if he planned to fuck me standing here, or just tease me until I passed out from lack of orgasm. He released me, leaving me bereft of his heat, even though I was drenched in sweat.

He smacked my ass with some force. I yelped in surprise and rounded on him, ready to show him if he wanted to play rough, he’d better take it as good as he gave it because I could give it. He grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and took my mouth. My protest at being struck evaporated. I plastered my body to his, dug my fingernails into his ass cheeks ass and boldly teased him as he had me. Dalton dropped to his knees in front of me and took me in his mouth.

SURRENDERED VICTORY

Surrendered Victory is now available at iTunes, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo!
Coming soon to Amazon.

More options at www.kckendricks.com/SurrenderedVictory.html

 KC Kendricks

My home on the web- Between the Keys: 

http://kckendricks.blogspot.com

Visit my bookshelf at: 

https://kckendricks.blogspot.com/p/the-bookshelf-of-kc-kendricks-and-rayne.html

Social media links:

twitter.com/kckendricks

facebook.com/kckendricks

pinterest.com/kckendricks/boards

instagram.com/kc_kendricks

My country life at Holly Tree Manor: hollytreemanor.blogspot.com

Life through the eyes of Greenbrier Smokey Deuce: deucesday.blogspot.com