Up to 44,451 words on the work in progress. Feeling excited, like I’m in the zone.
I like prologues. I like knowing what situation I plan on reading later in the book. In Unbeweaveable, I start the book with a prologue. In my WIP, I start with a prologue. The unpublished book that’s collecting dust in my drawer—prologue. I see a pattern here…
So you guys can tell that I’m all for prologues. And since we’re on the subject, here’s a sneak peek of the prologue for Unbeweaveable. Enjoy!
Prologue
July 15, 2009
Snip, Snip.
“Why you taking your weave out so early? This is some good hair,” Tameka said, her scissors gliding through my weave as another track fell to the floor.
“You know, just trying something different,” I said, looking at the weave that cost a month’s rent surrounding me.
“You should at least save some of this hair,” Tameka said, smacking her Juicy Fruit in my ear.
“No that’s okay,” I said feeling the stainless steel blades of the scissors remove my weave, my heart, my life.
“Don’t worry, you got a cute face. You can still rock a short ‘do. So what you in for today, a relaxer, a shampoo, what?”
“Um, today I just want to remove the weave. I can wash it at home.”
“What? Girl, in the three years I’ve been doing your hair you’ve never washed it yourself. Now stop playing and tell me what you really want.”
What I really wanted was to keep rocking my weave. It was my best friend, my baby, my soul. I couldn’t live without her. It wasn’t fair that this was happening. First my job, now my weave? What else could go wrong?
“You have a lot of confidence to do this, you know. My man would have a fit if he saw me without my weave. You don’t have to worry about that though. You don’t have a man.”
Another track hit the floor and I cried.
At 43,503 words on my WIP. Feeling good about the progress. Wish I could blink and it would be finished, but then I wouldn’t learn anything. Oh well…
I am scared to death of doing a book signing.
There, I said it.
I know I need to put myself out there, but the more I think about it—the more nervous I get. I had plenty of reasons to not do a book signing for Six O’clock:
Nobody Knows Who I Am
Of course they don’t! And they’ll never know who I am if I keep hiding.
Nobody Will Come
Most likely. But I can talk to a rock. I love to talk, and I love people. So if nobody shows up fine. I’ll just talk to the people loitering around the store.
This Won’t Help My Sales Figures
Probably not. But it will help spread of word of mouth about my book, which everyone knows can’t hurt.
The point of this post is to remind myself that I’m not a hairstylist anymore. I’m not. I’m a writer. (Or as my Mama likes to say, “An author.”) I had NO PROBLEM getting the word out about styling hair. I had no shame. Standing in line at the bank? Here’s a business card. Sitting on the bench at the mall? Here’s a business card.
Now when someone asks me what I do, I say I’m a stay-at-home mom. I kick myself later for not saying the truth—that I’m a writer. It feels like I’m bragging when I say what I do—and I hate braggers. But it’s not bragging. I’m simply stating a fact. And the fact is, if I don’t tell people that I have a book coming out, who will?
Has anyone else had a hard time talking about something that they’re proud of? Chime in!
I have written 41,221 words on my latest work-in-progress. I’m happy that I have so many words down on paper, but it’s not time for cheering yet. Technically, I’m only half-way there. (I like my novels to be about 85,000 words before I begin revisions.)
Half-way is the scary part of your novel where you’re too far in to start over, and too far away from finishing. With two novels under my belt, I know I can get through this part to get to the sweet victory of the end. But with every book, I find myself asking, “How am I going to get this done?” A few tricks that help me:
Buy a Desk Calendar and Make Appointments To Write
Most days are filled with an objective word count that I want to hit. Why not everyday? Because for me, it’s unrealistic. I can’t write everyday and saying that I would sets me up for failure. I have a life outside of my writing. But I do try to keep the appointments I’ve set up, and most of the time, I’m successful.
Know When To Quit
I’m not talking about my book. No, never that. I know when to stop for the day. On some days writing can feel like torture, like pulling my fingernails out one by one. (Well, not that bad I’m sure, but you get the picture). I still make myself write on those days, but I don’t force myself to hit my word count goal for the day. If I’ve been sitting in my chair for a considerable amount of time and the words aren’t flowing, I give it up and try again later—preferably the next day.
Use Scenes Instead of Word Count
Sometimes thinking of getting down 1,500 words a day can seem daunting. On the days that it does, I decide to write the next plotted scene, or sequence of events. Most of the time, I get my word count in, but without all the added stress.
Most of these tips keep me going until I can type the sweetest words to any writer’s ears—THE END.
Friend to the blog Lori Johnson gave me the idea to start interviewing women about their weave experiences. (Or rather, I told her I was going to copy her idea when she interviewed women who chose to wear their hair natural on her blog. Thanks Lori!)
So, for the next several months keep checking here to read real stories about women and their weave stories. So here is Kelsan, ready to share her love affair with her weave.
Please give some background information about yourself. I am 34 years old and teach middle school social studies. I am single with no children. I’m originally from Shreveport, Louisiana. I attended Dillard University where I earned my BA in communications and The University of Phoenix where I obtained my Masters in Education.
How do you wear your weave? I like to wear it a little longer than my own hair, in lots of layers. (My hair is shoulder-length).
Why do you wear weave? Weave allows me an opportunity to do things with my hair that I enjoy without a permanent change. For instance, if I want choppy layers or highlights, I can have them any time that I choose.
Are you embarrassed to wear a weave? Why or Why not? No, I’m not embarrassed to wear weave. It’s an accessory. If you want to wear an outfit that looks good with long hair, you can. If you want to wear one that looks good with short hair a good weave will allow for that as well.
How do you feel about women that pretend that their weave is their natural hair?
I think that’s fine. It’s theirs, they paid for it—or at least someone did!
Are you open and honest about the fact that you wear weave?
Only when I’m asked. I don’t like for people to take it upon themselves to just touch it and say loudly, “Is this a weave?” However, if they ask me seriously, I will tell them.
Do you hate when people ask if you are wearing a weave?
Yes! When they comment loudly about it, or when they ask in a haughty manner like: “I know doggone well she ain’t got hair like this.” Other than that, I don’t mind if someone comments about my weave.
How do you feel when someone tries to “root” you? (When someone feels your scalp/hair for tracks.)
I seriously hate that! I don’t like people touching my hair anyway…dirty hands…lol.
What is your friends/family reaction to your weave?
Most of them don’t know I wear a weave. Which is a good thing right? Must mean my hair looks natural.
Which term do you prefer, weave or extensions?
I don’t like the word extension…it sounds like an uppity term for weave.
What advice would you give women considering wearing a weave?
Like any good thing, weave can become addictive. Make sure you have the income to maintain it.
Many women feel that women who choose to wear a weave want to be “white”, or are denying their African-American heritage by adopting long locks. What is your thoughts on that?
Each person is an individual and must make their own decision on how to wear their hair. Who gave the women who don’t wear weave, the power to determine who or what someone else wants to be, or how they feel? Personally, they need to mind their own business ‘cause truth is, they probably would wear one too!
Thanks Kelsan for sharing your Unbeweaveable story!
Unbeweaveable is a term I’ve coined that describes a woman who loves her weave. Do you love your weave? Addicted to your weave? Love the versatility that your weave provides? Contact me and share your Unbeweaveable story. Have questions? Feel free to share your thoughts and views in the comments section.
Or at least Essence best-selling author, Victoria Christopher Murray, thinks so. Check out the blurb she gave me for Unbeweaveable.
Katrina Spencer has a hit! Beautifully written, Unbeweaveable was impossible to put down. Light and funny, yet poignant and touching–a very creative novel. Mrs.. Spencer is an author to look out for."
I’m bursting with happiness. This is the first person who has read Unbeweaveable outside of my family. Victoria’s praise validates what I do, and helps me believe my Mama when she says, “Your book is good, baby!”
In other news, I wanted to share the book cover with you guys.
I’m thrilled with the book cover, and I think it will show my readers that Unbeweaveable is more than just hair. What do you guys think?
 Doesn’t Monique just glow in this picture? Her speech for her Golden Globe win set the tone for the evening, and showed everyone that there are many sides to her. (My favorite part? When she said, "I’m shaking when I tell y’all I’m in the midst of my dream. Just beautiful!)
I used to question being funny. I felt that being funny in my writing wasn’t enough. But I’ve learned that being funny is not only natural for me, it is a gift. I gift I plan on using wisely.
I say all that to say—we all know Monique is funny. That’s how she started out. But who knew she would be a trailblazer, (The first African-American woman to host her own late-night talk show. Take that Jay Leno!), and had the courage and guts to play this role so well?
I didn’t. But she showed people wrong, and continues everyday to show people that she is more than just a joke-teller. This woman has many sides.
Thank you Monique and Congrats on your success!
Today, the lovely Bettye Griffin stopped by the blog to discuss one of her latest projects, Save the Best for Last. Bettye is the author of eleven contemporary romances and five works of women’s fiction. All of her previous novels have been published traditionally and I wanted to know why she chose to publish this novel independently.
So on with the interview!
All of your previous books were published by traditional houses. What made you want to pursue Save the Best for Last independently?
Simple. I loved the story, and it had been with me for so long I decided to just do it myself. I figured it would be something nice for my readers who were waiting to see another romance from me, (I’d been writing exclusively mainstream after 2007). I’m happy to say that the response has been pretty favorable.
The current state of the publishing industry has a lot of authors feeling down. How do you stay positive amid all the negativity?
The situation has certainly gotten scary. Some authors have even taken to asking their readers to please buy their books the week they come out. Nobody’s begging of course, but it shows how authors are scrambling. But I always understood that everyone is not meant to be a superstar. I never expected to become a sensation, and I’m satisfied with the very modest success I’ve had. Anything related to the arts is a crapshoot. Some people are going to be wildly popular even with limited talent (with apologies to her fans, I’ll name the singer Rihanna, who is no Patti Labelle, as an example), and some are not going to be household names despite wonderful talent (anybody remember Oleta Adams?). Then there’s someone like Beyonce, who gets to claim both talent and success. But there’s only going to be room for a few of these. That’s just the way it goes, folks! Bottom line, if I’m supposed to have a publishing contract, I guess I’ll have one. And if not, I guess I won’t. I feel that as long as I wake up in the morning, I’ve been given a gift I’m not about to complain about.
What is your writing schedule like?
The unfortunate answer to that is, when I get to it. I’ve given up on trying to put myself on a schedule. Writing can be hard work, but it’s supposed to be enjoyable, or else why bother? I’m all for keeping my stress level down, but I do stay mindful of my deadlines. I tend to have a short attention span, and I don’t do anything on a full time basis, including work. And there are plenty of other things I enjoy doing. Somehow it all gets done—it always has.
As a writer, what is hardest for you to tackle? Plot? Dialogue? What’s the easiest?
Writing the synopsis is the most difficult, because I’m working out the major plot points. Once I have my blueprint, I go along pretty smoothly.
How do you choose the names for your characters?
I’ve often used names of deceased friends and family. (Anyone who has read my most recent mainstream, A New Kind of Bliss, will recognize the name Beverline Wilson. That was the maiden name of one of my paternal great-aunts.) For minor characters I’m starting to use the names of my devoted readers (with their permission, of course). I do have another source for character names, but I’ve got to plead the Fifth on that one!
What is your favorite thing about the writing process? Your least?
My favorite part is crafting a story. My least favorite is promotion.
How has your life changed since being published?
I’ve been doing this for so long now I don’t remember a whole lot about what life was like beforehand! Even when my husband of 18 years came to pick me up for our first date I was in front of my computer working on something until he rang the doorbell.
What’s one thing you wished you knew as a debut author?
I’m sure there’s something, but nothing comes to mind.
As far as promotion goes, what have you found that works? What doesn’t work for you?
I used to have great success with signings in certain places, but all those stores have since closed. I’m now older, heavier, and generally lazier. So what works for me is anything that doesn’t require me to get up, put on makeup, squeeze into something that makes me look svelte and drive somewhere, (unless its fairly close). That would mean the Internet.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? What advice would you give other writers?
Write what you like, for you’ll do your best work there. If you like what’s currently strong in the market, that’s wonderful. If not, write for the joy of it and hold on to everything you produce, but don’t write anything you’re uncomfortable with…it’ll show. Wait a minute. Now that I think about it, I may have said that myself! I’m a comfort and convenience girl at heart. But it’s still good advice, kind of a longwinded way of saying, “To thine own self be true.” (To this I would like to add that many authors are consummate writers and can easily move between genres, so this doesn’t apply to everyone.)
What writing project are you working on now?
I’m working on a synopsis for my publisher, Kensington’s Dafina imprint. In the old days it used to be called an option. Nowadays, its more like an audition. And I’m also working on my next effort from my own Bunderful Books, which I hope to bring out in the spring—sometime between the mass market release of my 2008 Dafina mainstream, Once Upon a Project, and my new Dafina mainstream, Trouble Down the Road.
We can’t skip the hair here at Curl Up and Write! How do you wear/maintain your hair?
Badly. I’m one of those do-it-yourselfers, (as are a startling number of women I’ve spoken to in Northeast Illinois/Southeast Wisconsin). I relax, deep condition, and even trim my split ends myself. It’s long enough now to be pulled back, and that’s usually how I wear it during the cold winters that are terribly drying. I wear it loose in the summer. There’s more gray showing these days, but I don’t bother with color. I earned every one of those gray hairs!
 I’d like to thank Bettye so much for stopping by and sharing her thoughts. Guys, click here to order a copy of her latest novel, A New Kind of Bliss, and her upcoming release, Trouble Down the Road, is available for pre-order. Click here to reserve your copy. Make sure you stop by her blog, Chewing the Fat With Bettye, where she dishes about writing, her books, and more.
I’ve always enjoyed eating snacks rather than sitting down to eat an entire meal. Nothing heavy—popcorn, nuts, granola bars, the occasional chip.
But I find as I’m getting older, that I’ve been eating an entire meal and snacking. So of course, I’ve gained weight. Nothing terrible, I’m still skinny enough that when I mention that I need to lose weight people remark, “Lose what? Your mind?”
But I know I need to lose a couple of pounds.
And I’m simply going to walk it off.
Walking helped me lose (most) of my pregnancy weight and it’s something I enjoy, especially when I get to go outside. (I have a few walking DVD’s that sustain me during bad weather.)
I refuse to set myself up for failure by saying that I won’t eat this, or I won’t touch that. Food-wise, I plan to:
1. Drink more water.
2. Have a fruit and a vegetable with every meal.
3. Eat more whole-grains.
4. Take my vitamins. (Everyday, not just when I feel like it.)
That, coupled with walking is all I’m going to do. (Don’t get me wrong, I plan to lift some weights here and there. Got to keep those arms toned. Thanks a lot, Michelle Obama.)
I still plan on indulging myself with a sweet treat now and then, but I think if I include more of the good stuff, I won’t feel so bad about eating the bad stuff.
I’ll keep you posted on my progress.
I’ve talked about how much I’ve wanted to rock bangs. I wore bangs for most of the month of December. Here’s a picture of me, before the hubby and I went out to dinner:
(It looks like I’m wearing a blanket for a shirt, but it’s actually a really cool dress. I’m tall and the dress would have been scandalous if I’d worn it alone so I added tight black pants under the dress. Made a really nice ensemble).
I don’t look too bad with bangs.
My hair is different now. I’m getting ready to revamp my website for my next book, Unbeweaveable, so I chose a style that I wouldn’t get tired of looking at through the year.
So all you scaredy cats out there—don’t be afraid to try something new! Sometimes it will work and sometimes it won’t, but at least you will get used to looking at something different in the mirror. Changing your hair is the easiest way to a) look younger, b) feel revived and renewed, and c) update your look. If you don’t have money to change your wardrobe, then change your hair. You can leave the house dressed in a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans—partner that with a glamorous head of hair—and you will turn heads. (The same can’t be said for wearing a designer dress and walking around like Buckwheat by the head.)
Start the new year with a new hairstyle and a new you will slowly unfold.
Have a great weekend!
 It’s hard to believe that women in this day and age have not tried a weave. (I know there are women out there that don’t like weave. That’s a whole different can of worms.)
But to never have extensions? (And I’m talking about the whole gamut of weave, from braids to ponytails.) No weave? Shocking!
But they exist as we all know. Check out the post here on Black Voices Hair Talk about one woman’s quest to getting the perfect head of hair.
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"A perfect wash and set: Katrina Spencer's Six O'clock is a fun, light-hearted look at the competitive, back-stabbing world of high-end beauty salons. The writing is humorous and lively and it's easy to root for the down-to-earth heroine." ~~Joanne Skerrett
"Katrina Spencer spins a refreshing tale that perfectly blends drama with laugh-out-loud funny! Readers will no doubt enjoy the ride."
~~Mari Walker
I am the author of Six O'clock and the upcoming novel Unbeweaveable. I am also a retired hairstylist of over eleven years. Curl Up and Write is where I discuss the many similarities of styling hair and writing. Don't believe me? Then start reading...
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