So this month has been all author memes, which has been super fun for me (and hopefully you). But why all memes brilliantly created by others and no words from me? Here’s a mini vlog to explain!
Archive for the ‘writing’ Category
How’s Writing Going?
Posted: January 25, 2021 in real life, writingTags: author, covid-19, inspiration, mini vlog, pandemic, struggle, writer, writer's block, writing
2020 in Review
Posted: December 30, 2020 in real life, writingTags: 2020, author, happy new year, horror, horror author, horror writer, new year, review, writer, writing
Every year, I do a review blog where I catalog all the writing and festivals and horror-related activities I have accomplished in the year. This year, frankly, I just don’t want to.
2020 was a shit in show. In 2020, I survived.
There will be a wave of blog posts this week, next week that say these same things. So again, I didn’t want to waste the keystrokes. But I am not working this week, so for the sake of consistency… here is my 2020 in review.
2020 began normally enough, but then as the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, it became something else entirely. Largely, everything I would do in person (horror movie festivals, book signings, horror movies, travel) was cancelled. I told myself that I would redirect my energies, that I would use my time at home to actually do the writing part of being an author.
Instead, I just sort of scraped through quarantine; I muddled through remote learning; I floundered through the “new normal.” Rather than redirected, I just kind of existed. At times, I fell apart.
Rather than rehash all the things that didn’t happen because of the Rona or lament how virtual experiences aren’t the same or summarize the rants I have spouted in therapy these past few months, I am going to focus on two simple things from my 2020. Two author things. I am going to step way out of character and silver lining 2020 a bit by looking back through a very restrictive lens.
Book #5
If nothing else during this abysmal year, I got a novel under a publication contract with Crystal Lake Publishing. Crystal Lake Publishing finally had a submissions window and accepted my novel Followers.
I am thrilled to be working with a new publisher and see this novel come into the world, especially during such a strange time.
In Followers, Sidney escapes from the disappointments of her life into the horror genre and conversations with online followers—until those virtual followers bring horror into her real life.
NaNoWriMo
I have never participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) before. I have always been too busy to commit to writing 50,000 words in one month. Yet a pandemic and successive quarantines seemed like the perfect opportunity. By November, I seemed to have adapted enough to actually begin to utilize my time.
50,000 words was much more challenging than I anticipated. It sounded so easy until I was grinding. It took undivided commitment on multiple occasions from me. Yet it was also nice to imagine what it would be like to write more. I proved to myself I could do it… and finished my novel in progress in the meantime.
During NaNoWriMo, I completed my novel Green Eyes. Green Eyes is my first meandering out of the horror genre since I have been published. Instead, I felt compelled to approach more real horrific topics.
As I cross into 2021, I will need to start editing the manuscript and finding a home for it. 2020 has taken the strive out of me. I am giving this book time, working it at a more natural pace. Maybe it was a lesson I needed to learn.
Happy New Year!
I don’t think the rolling of the calendar will magically change things. I don’t think the numbers humans assign days will influence global events. Yet I am still ready for the arbitrary close of the year. Even if it means nothing, I am going to attempt at the fresh start nonetheless.
2020 was not a completely loss. Every experience is worth something, but I am still looking forward to putting many experiences from those months behind me.
If nothing else, I will keep writing…
Christina Bergling
https://linktr.ee/chrstnabergling
Holiday Horror
Posted: December 16, 2020 in horror anthologies, mini vlogTags: anthology, author, christmas, holiday, horror, horror author, horror writer, short story, writer
How do you feel about holiday horror? Does horror belong in this festive season? In this mini vlog, I talk about my three Christmas horror short stories.
“The Last Christmas Dinner” in Collected Christmas Horror Shorts: https://www.amazon.com/Collected-Christmas…/dp/1540677222/
“Duende” In Collected Christmas Horror Shorts II: https://www.amazon.com/Collected-Christmas…/dp/B07GJS79RL/
“Santa’s Workshop” in Haunted Holidays: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0244110131/
Christina Bergling
Reading: The Waning (Excerpt #1)
Posted: November 29, 2020 in reading, the waningTags: author, author reading, horror, horror author, horror books, horror writer, reading, writer, writing
The word of the day is “inexorable,” which I swear I can actually say! Enjoy the beginning of my second book, The Waning, wherein I mangle one word pretty effectively. But real practice means no editing!
Catch The Waning in the Black Friday bundle with Savages for a couple more hours: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P21P6MX
Christina Bergling
What Would You Do?
Posted: November 28, 2020 in mini vlog, the waningTags: author, behind the scenes, horror, horror author, horror movies, horror writer, mini vlog, vlog, writer, writing
We all do it. We watch the horror movie, and we say, “Oh, I would never do that!” But… would we? That’s what I asked myself when I wrote The Waning. And when I made this mini vlog!
Christina Bergling
When They Hate It
Posted: November 19, 2020 in mini vlog, the waningTags: author, behind the scenes, horror, vlog, write, writer, writing
Reading: The Rest Will Come (Excerpt #1)
Posted: October 29, 2020 in reading, the rest will comeTags: author, book, dating, divorce, horror, horror stories, murder, online dating, reading, the rest will come, writer, writing
The Basis for The Rest Will Come
Posted: October 29, 2020 in mini vlog, the rest will come, writingTags: author, dating, divorce, horror, horror stories, inspiration, murder, online dating, real life, serial killer, the rest will come, writer, writing
The Hardest Part of Writing Savages
Posted: October 29, 2020 in horror, mini vlog, savages, writingTags: author, behind the scenes, character, grammar, inspiration, savages, writer, writing