Megan, bless her heart, suggested I talk about what I’m working on next. I’m delighted to do that!
(janegeorge, I’ll eventually get around to that blog about how my writing routine has changed. I just need to summon the courage….)
Here’s what is next:
My lovely editor, Linda Fildew (whom you will meet, I hope, when the Harlequin Historical editors blog with us next Monday, Dec 1!!) offered me an Undone. You know, the eHarlequin eShort Story like Amanda, Nicola Cornick, Bronwyn Scott, and Michelle Willingham recently blogged about.
My Undone will be released right before our anthology, The Diamonds of Welbourne Manor, so Linda asked if I could give our Duke and Duchess a cameo appearance. “Sure,” I said.
Then I, always story-idea-challenged, started mulling this around in my head, thinking things like, “How the devil do I write a short story?” (only I didn’t say “devil”) or “I’ll never have another story idea in my life!”
But whoo hoo! I finally came up with an idea, a sexy idea, and it is all Janet’s fault for writing about personal ads. I can hardly wait to start writing.
In this short story, I must remember to have the duke and duchess appear.
And, come to think of it, Drury Lane Theatre figures in my next book, so why not have it figure in my short story, too?
Then the personal ads must play a part.
Why not set part of the story in Vauxhall? I love Vauxhall.
And I have to mention the war!
There must be something else to include……..
I know! Phantom of the Opera!!!!
Can you think of anything else I should include???? I have all of 15,000 words or 50 pages.
Give me your ideas today, because I’m starting to write this story tomorrow.
(and don’t forget to join in on our LOLRegency challenge! See the whole deal here)
A misdirected letter…perhaps the reply to the ad?
This sounds fabulous so far!
A misdirected letter! Hmmm. I’m adding that to the pot to see if it boils!
A duel?
I think you forgot the kitchen sink! 🙂 Other than that, I haven’t a clue — sure sounds like you covered it all to me, but I’m not a writer, so maybe you haven’t! LOL 🙂
Lois
Vauxhall, personal ads, duels, wars, letters, Gerard Butler–and you need a curricle race, too! And “a bit with a dog” (according to “Shakespeare in Love” every story needs a bit with a dog). This is going to be the moxt exciting 50 page story EVER!!!
Tea and chocolate? Cute kittens?
Cara
A girl dressed as a guy?
A guy dressed as a girl?
The Patronesses of Almack’s getting into a bitch-slapping frenzy over the above girl dressed as a guy or the guy dressed as a girl?!
A ghost?
A secret twin?
Whatever you write, Diane, will be wonderful: it always is!
Debora Hosey
I don’t dare add one more suggestion, but I can’t wait to read it!
Every Regency needs a proper chaperone – who somehow is not where she’s supposed to be.
Sounds like a good one Diane!
Debra
Okay, a duel, a chaperone, tea and chocolate, kittens, a bit with a dog, cross-dressing and cross patronesses, a ghost, a twin……and the kitchen sink.
Got it. Anything else?
I was going to suggest some funny stuff with a dog but I see Amanda beat me to it!
I love short stories, writing and reading, tho I haven’t written one for some time.
Oh, I forgot to say that I met with my critique partners who reminded me that the story also needs CONFLICT…
Thanks for updating, Diane! I love your ideas. The personal ads thing is such a great starting point, too.
“The Patronesses of Almack’s getting into a bitch-slapping frenzy over the above girl dressed as a guy or the guy dressed as a girl?!”
(Snort!!) I love this one. 🙂
“that the story also needs CONFLICT…”
And sex. Don’t forget that. 🙂
A chase, through Vauxhall. Hide and seek.
Hmmm… I’ve never done an ebook before. Guess that’s about to change. 🙂
An orange-selling girl who is actually a deadly French spy. Knife-throwing is her specialty. Or spitting seeds.
Sounds like you’re off to a really fun start!
Oh, my! A chase through Vauxhall, maybe some hide and seek involving the orange-selling French spy who is leaving clues by spitting seeds and throwing knives…..
Got it.
Oh, and sex…….
“Undone” sounds a lot like “Undead.” So you should have a vampire.
Let’s see–a cross-dressing vampire who stalks prey via personal ads but thanks to a misdirected letter finds true love with another vampire who keeps cute kittens in the kitchen sink…
Todd-who-hasn’t-managed-to-work-in-the-duel-yet