My Writing – Page 2 – simone said what?

Once Upon a One Night Mistake – Story Seasons & Updated FAQ

September 9, 2020July 1, 2022by simone shirazi2 Comments

If you’ve been keeping up with the new chapters of Once Upon a One Night Mistake (previously titled “Once Upon a One Night Stand”) or Roses & Thorns on Radish, you’ve probably noticed how those stories are now split into a little something called “seasons.”

What are these seasons, you ask? Well, it’s a new organizational tool for stories. Think of them like seasons of a TV show, only for books! For longer stories, grouping chapters into seasons can help break things up so you’re not so overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. For series, writers can combine several books into one, so that readers don’t have to exit the first book to find the others in the series. So “season 1” would be the first book in the series, “season 2” would be the second book, etc.

I think it’s a fantastic way to help both writers and readers feel more comfortable with stories that might have hundreds (or even thousands) of chapters. I’m a big fan of it!

Now, I want to explain how I organized the seasons of Once Upon a One Night Mistake. If you’ve been reading the story, you might have already noticed, but here’s a full breakdown of the seasons and an updated FAQ about the story!

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My Writing

Still in Bloom – Why I Decided to Continue Roses & Thorns

April 19, 2020September 26, 2021by simone shirazi1 Comment

If you’ve been keeping up with this blog, my work on Wattpad, or my work on Radish, you probably know that I decided to continue the first book in the Fairytale Series, Once Upon a One Night Stand.

As of today, there are over two-hundred (yes, I said 200) new chapters of OUAONS. Wild, right? When I said I wanted to fill in all the blanks of the Fairytale Series timeline, I meant all the blanks. There is no stone left unturned!

When I finished Roses & Thorns last year, I felt like the story and the series could be wrapped up there. And to be honest, it can absolutely stand just as it is. But there was that nagging feeling that there was still so much more I could do with Rose and Khalid. Plus, there were a few loose ends that would have been cool to explore.

So when Radish once again came to me and asked if I was interested in continuing Roses & Thorns, my reaction was an automatic absolutely.

So let me tell you a little more about what’s happening…

Continue reading “Still in Bloom – Why I Decided to Continue Roses & Thorns” →

My Writing, Origin Stories

Origin Stories: Boys in Bands

February 28, 2020February 29, 2020by simone shirazi1 Comment

Whew, it’s been a while since my last Origin Stories post! But, to be honest, it’s probably a good idea that I held off on this one for a bit, considering I took this story down from Wattpad for a while. Now that I’m bringing it back (and I’m determined to finally finish it) it seems like the perfect time to write this.

I suggest checking out my previous Origin Stories posts for an idea of what this series is about and for a background on my writing journey so far.

Now, let’s get into Boys in Bands…

Continue reading “Origin Stories: Boys in Bands” →

My Writing

Why I Decided to Take Down All That is Gold

January 20, 2020March 4, 2022by simone shirazi19 Comments

At the end of January, I’m going to be taking down a story of mine from Wattpad that has been posted there since 2015.

That story is All That is Gold, a fun, messy, satirical take on a high school hierarchy that used to bring me such joy. These days, though? No joy to be found, not an ounce in sight. And if I’ve learned anything from the lovely Marie Kondo, it’s to get rid of the things that don’t bring you joy.

It makes me really sad that I can’t feel joyful about that story anymore. Was it ever a favorite of mine? Goodness, no! But I loved the twists and turns, the character development and regression, and the commentary on our capitalist society. It was fun!! It was trashy!! It was a good time!!

And there are so many people out there who feel the same way about it. There are people who love that story and call it one of their favorites. I can’t possibly tell you just how much that means to me. I will always cherish the people who have been kind to me over the years and have shown me so much love. They’re the ones who make braving this scary internet world worth it.

But there’s definitely a lot of bad that comes with the good, and at this point, after five years, the bad has beaten me down. It’s stolen my joy, and the only way I can think of to get it back is to take down this story.

Plenty of people have asked me to explain why I’m planning to take it down, so let me share with you, point by point, why that’s going to be happening and what I’ve faced over the years.

Continue reading “Why I Decided to Take Down All That is Gold” →

My Writing

The Fairytale Continues – Why I Decided to Add More to the Fairytale Series (And How to Read It)

November 21, 2019August 10, 2020by simone shirazi6 Comments

If you’ve been keeping up with what I’ve been posting on Wattpad and Radish, you may have noticed something interesting… there are new chapters of Once Upon a One Night Stand.

To some of you, this might seem a little odd. Simone, you say. Hasn’t that story been complete on Wattpad since 2015? And my answer is: yes, you are correct! That story, Book #1 of The Fairytale Series has been complete for nearly 5 years now. I’ve even written three more books in the Fairytale Series since then! So why in the world would I continue a story that’s been complete for years now?

Well, let me explain…

Continue reading “The Fairytale Continues – Why I Decided to Add More to the Fairytale Series (And How to Read It)” →