My apologies for being late with my blog today. I had intended to have it online by 8 a.m., but then life happened. The good news is that I am here now. Last night I watched the Academy Awards. Not as funny as when Billy Crystal hosted it, but still had some entertainment value. One award winner said the "F" word. Two or three put political messages in their thank you speeches. And Kirk Douglas said "and the winner is" as he opened the golden envelope, a phrase that went out of fashion a few years ago when the Academy decided to make the "losers" feel better by politically correcting the phrase to "and the Oscar goes to." In the end, I was glad to see Colin Firth and The King's Speech win, and I really would have enjoyed seeing the happy dance Colin Firth said was about to burst forth on stage. Any memorable moments in the show for you?
Yes, I'm going to put in a shameless
plug for my publisher.
They are awesome, and
you should all buy my book
when it releases later this year.
Now, back to your regularly
scheduled ranting...
I'm not sure if I announced this on NKotWB yet or not, but I have signed a contract with Breathless Press for my erotic foodie romance, The Barn Dance, and I just turned in my cover art request, so it's starting to feel more and more official every day.
While I have a fantastically supportive group of writing friends (including all the bloggers here at NKotWB), there are also a few people I've met in various RWA loops who stick their nose up at my book release. I'm not even sure if "you know who you are", to be frank, because I think the anti-epub snobbery is fairly insidious and oftentimes unrecognizable. And I'm not blogging about this topic in order to shame anyone. More like blowing off some steam.
What exactly is the definition of "published"? If I write a blog, I push the "publish post" button, and then expect the public (whichever ten of you happen by the blog on a Sunday) to read my post. Does that make me published? If I write a magazine article, though, the same relative length and quality as that blog post, and it gets picked up by a tiny magazine, does that make me published? What about a magazine with a slightly larger (or significantly larger) circulation? What about an e-zine? Or an e-publisher? What about a New York Print Publisher? Notice how I capitalized that?
Because that's what it sounds like when writers say it out loud. Like there's a period after each of those words, and they're capitalized. Maybe even italicized and underlined. Bolded. Whatever line exists about publishing, we can all be certain that the New. York. Print. Publisher. is on the right side of it. But does that mean that everything else is worthless? Sometimes I wonder.
I have a friend who is an excellent writer. She wrote ebooks for a mid-sized epublisher for a long time, and then got an agent who wanted to shop her writing to one of the New. York. Print. Publishers. Deservedly so, I must say. I wish she'd had a wider readership with her ebooks. I adored them. In fact, for a long time, her Regency erotic romance were my favorite go-to reads for a happy several hours--over anything else on my shelf. She easily possessed the quality of writing that would get her a New. York. Print. Contract. (Should I have bolded and underlined that? With one-inch margins?)
Is this the proper position
for deference?
Here's my issue with the New. York. Print... okay, can I stop doing that? Can it just be written somewhere that I'm showing proper deference to all the important New York Print Publishers so I can just start treating them like a regular part of this blog post? Someone jot that down.
Anyway, as I was saying. Here's my issue with the nypps. (Hey, I kinda like that word now. nypps. Reminds me of those hard candies my grandma used to put out for guests. Whatever happened to those things?) They can't provide everything the market needs. My friend's Regency erotics were really some of the best novellas I've ever read. There would have been nowhere for her to publish them in the nypps. They're not hot enough for Spice Briefs (which I'm not even sure existed when she wrote them, anyway), they're not long enough for Brava. And there really isn't a place the nypps could put them out.
So the mid-sized epublisher she used was exactly right for what she'd written, and what her audience wanted to read. And it gave her an opportunity to stick her foot in the publishing world and see how it felt. That doesn't mean she couldn't have hacked it if she'd been offered a big nypps contract. I think she could have, easily. And when she gets her nypps contract, because that's what she really wants, she will be excellent, and we will all buy her books and give an enthusiastic cheer.
But will this mean, when she gets her nypps contract, that she will have "finally arrived"? Will it make all those erotic Regency novellas stop happening? What if it turns out that she's really just an absolutely fantastic novella writer? What if that's true for me? Or anyone else? What if all I ever publish are digital books? Does that mean I haven't "arrived" as a writer?
The Papa! The Papa!
NYPPS! Tradition!
I heard a nypps author recently rant about how "sick and tired" she was of epubs complaining about not being taken seriously. I imagined her wearing librarian glasses and looking down her substantially crooked nose at me while she lectured me on the importance of the nypps and the unreliability of epubs. Or to suddenly put on sackcloth and start singing about "Tradition!" Bore me.
In my experience, there are an equal number of absolute shit books that come out of the nypps as there are that come out of epubs. There's a significantly higher volume of ebooks (because of the blessed proliferation of epublishers in the last several years and low production costs, not to mention the sheer number of authors out there who are working hard to get their work into the hands of readers--and this isn't even touching on Smashwords or self-publishing), so there's a higher volume of shit books. But I still hold that the percentages are the same. And some of the best books I've ever read have been releases from Wild Rose, Breathless, Ellora's Cave, and Samhain. Some of them have also been Harlequin, Berkley, St. Martin's, and Avon. I hate to be the annoying inspirational-speaker-wannabe here, but I just hope I get to see a day when we can just judge a book by its quality, and not its publisher.
Lately I've been going through another round of edits on the manuscript I've been trying to sell. I've been going through the first few chapters methodically, focusing on a number of factors, but particularly adding description and descriptive details whenever needed. Admittedly, I have a bit of a problem writing description. It tends to be the last thing I add to rough drafts or, ok, even final drafts. I've been using the book Thanks, But This Isn't For Us: A (Sort of) Compassionate Guide to Why Your Writing is Being Rejected, and it makes a number of good points about which details are necessary. The author of the book, Jessica Page Morrell, is a developmental editor who has written quite a few books for writers. She starts by saying that writers should "use description to anchor setting in fiction, to create a mood, to make things happen in a story, to foreshadow events, and to reveal characters."
She then makes the point that because details engage readers, we as writers should try to always weave them into the beginnings of chapters and scenes. Without adding these important details, the reader is lost in a very nebulous world that is hard to picture and, more importantly, hard to lose themselves in. This is something we've probably all encountered at some time or another. I know I read my share of manuscripts without any world-building in my masters program, and they were always easy to pinpoint.
The problem lies in seeing the problem in our own writing. I don't know if anyone else has this particular issue, but when I'm reading my own work, I tend to be a bit immune to what details I've included versus the ones I haven't. I believe this stems from the fact that I can visualize what's happening in the story, so I somehow feel that the reader should be able to do the same. This, of course, can lead to folly--specifically, to a novel that is not as fleshed out as it needs to be. Thanks, But This Isn't... has helped me by showing me a good method for seeing how much description I've actually written. The technique is basically going through your pages and marking wherever you've written one of the five senses taking place. Then, you can compare the amount of times you've done it to the number of times the author of a book or story you love does it. Turns out that it's a very helpful exercise. While you're doing it, you inevitably find places where you can inject more details and expressions of the senses. At the very least, I think it will improve my manuscript a good deal.
What about you? Are you the type who has to add details and description later, or do you have to edit things out for the final draft?
I've never been one to pay mind to stereotypes, but the further I travel into the world of writing I'm finding that non-writers have distinctive impressions of writers. Here are some of the concepts/misconceptions that I've encountered:
Writers are...
Recluses/Loners/Anti-social/Single
Owner of many cats
Listen to weird music
Alcoholics
Chocoholics
Addicted to coffee
Chain smokers
Weird/Off-beat/Quirky
Depressed/Emotional
Chronic complainers of writer's block
Insomniacs
Really bad at math
Anal about spelling and grammar
Quiet/Never talk/Incredibly shy
Have terrible hand-writing
Talk to themselves
Tortured souls
Philosophical when they talk
Pessimists
Forgetful about eating, drinking, and using the bathroom when writing
If those characteristics were what actually defined being a writer, I'd be in trouble. For one, I'm a social bee. I like getting out of the house and meeting people. I'm married and own no cats, but we are raising two canines. I drink alcohol only on rare occasions.I listen to rock ballads and New Age. Would that be considered weird music? I'm not sure.
Although I like chocolate, if I have a choice between Doritoes and a Hershey bar, I'm going with the the nacho cheese chips. I drink very little coffee, but I bleed tea. I'm allergic to smoke. Now number eight has me pegged. Normal is way over-rated. The off-beaten path is the only one for me.
I'm not prone to depression, emotional outbursts, or chronic complaining. The only time I have trouble sleeping is on Sunday nights. After writing all weekend, it's difficult to reverse the gears in my brain and acclimate myself back to non-nocturnal living.
I don't like math, but I'm not bad at it. My first job was in banking as a bookkeeper. I'm a good speller, but I don't fret about misspelled words. That's what Spell Check is for. Word also provides grammar hints, as do critique partners.
People who know me would never describe me as quiet. When I choose not to speak, it usually means that I'm in observer mode. Watching and learning about what's going on around me, and zeroing in on something that I can use in a story. No one has complained that they can't read my handwriting. I proudly admit that I not only talk to myself but I have entire conversations with the voices in my head. I'm not a tortured soul, but my characters are. I only wax philosophical when it's the topic of conversation.
If you ask me if the glass of water is half full or half empty, I'll tell you it's simply half a glass of water. I'm a realist. I tell it like it is. And when I'm writing, I wish I could forget about eating, drinking, and peeing. It seems I do more of all three when I'm working on a first draft.
As far as I'm concerned, the only stereotype that truly defines a writer is...
Someone who sits his/her butt in the chair with hands on the keyboard and creates story magic.
How well do you fit into the writer's mold that non-writers have fashioned?
Like signs of the zodiac, each manuscript is identified by genre.
But with so many blended genres and sub-genres in romance today, how do you know where your completed work fits? The changing market and each writer’s attempt to add a “new slant” to the tried and true can often make it difficult to describe your novel. Here’s a piece of advice – if you’re planning to pitch at a conference, you better know how to describe your work. I'm going to take a moment to piggy back on Renee's previous blog about pitching. If you haven't read it yet, be sure to scroll down after you finish this and check it out.
Agents and editors must know how to market your novel. Or if there's even a market for it. I’ve heard many writer’s bemoaning a rejected manuscript not because the writing was bad but because the agent/agency didn’t think they could sell it. Or they submitted a full, signed with the agency, and then were turned down on every submission to an editor for exactly the same reason. “We love the voice and the story but we don’t know what to do with it.”
“Good, clean writing” isn't enough these days. Writer’s must also be prepared to provide ideas on how they intend to promote their published novel. Platforms are more important than ever. Networking via social media, conferences and literary organizations is a must. Self published writer’s must do it all so it’s even more important to have a marketing plan in place.
And you must still know how to describe your book.
I tell everyone my current WIP is a dark paranormal fantasy. The truth is, it could be also be depicted as a paranormal blended with science fiction. It’s set in a contemporary small Texas town but features avenging angels. Only there’s nothing holy about these angels. They’re actually an ancient race with questionable origins.
If this book gets accepted, I need to lead the agent/publisher in the right direction from the moment I open my mouth or write my query. I’ve already decided against the “science fiction” angle because too many publishers consider the genre an ill fit with romance. So I’ll pitch it as a paranormal fantasy. That’s something they can understand and deem acceptable.
Would I like to pitch it as a romance blended with science fiction? Sure because I think it makes it more unique, but I’ve also discovered publishers are wary of the unknown when it comes to a debut author. Especially in this market where everything changes on a daily basis.
The point I’m trying to make is THINK about your book before you pitch. First of all, what is the core genre? Mine is romance. Is it similar to what any published authors are writing? If you do reference a published author (i.e. my book would appeal to fans of Iris Johansen or Tami Hoag) you better make sure you are indeed writing in a similar style. What makes your book different?
I’m writing a paranormal fantasy about fallen angels. It’s been done. Nothing unusual there. My “unique” slant, if you will, is that my fallen angels are an ancient race with superhuman powers. And the new “anti-Christ” is genetically engineered from DNA hidden for centuries in the Ark of the Covenant. I don’t believe that’s been done, and certainly not in the way my plot unfolds. Obviously there’s much more to the story but if I told you all the details, I’d have to tape up your fingers so you couldn’t write it first.
Know how to describe your book. Be excited. Motivate the agent/editor to ask for a partial or a full. And hope your writing stands up to the hype. If you’re going to talk the talk, you better be able to walk the walk.
No, not baseball. I'm talking about your story. You know the one you have been laboring over for months on end? The one you have perfected and polished until it would glisten with the best? Yeah, that one.
You know you've got a great story. A grand slam sort. It'll knock the socks off any and all who are blessed with its glistenness.
Right? Right!
But, (yeah, you knew there was a but there, didn't you?) how are you going to get readers to bask in the glow of your rare piece of artwork?
Contests? Mabye. If a judge (make that two, three, maybe more) falls beneath the spell of your woven tapestratical words, then you just might have the opportuity to get your priceless gem before one of the great Wizards of Publishing.
You know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody? Uh, although in the realm of possibility, not likely. Even for a piece as magnificantly as yours.
Submitting? Yeah, that's if you can get your query letter past the All Knowing Ones of Publishing.
I've attended several how-to workshops on writing query letters and one thing I've discovered is there isn't much difference between the heart of your query and a pitch. Several of us New Kidders belong to Hearts Through History, a special interest group of Romance Writers of America. Over the past few days we've had the opportunity to see stories pitched and critiqued by an agent and an editor. Some of us brave souls even participated.
There is a wealth of information to be gained from listening to what the agents and editors have to say about pitches. Trust me. I've spent that last couple of years paying attention and trying to learn what the professionals of the publishing industry like to see and I'd like to share with you what I've discovered.
1. Know your target-Agents/editors don't all want to see the same thing. What I mean by this is that some of them do not like pitches/queries beginning with a question. Some don't want to see a hook. Know who you're querying/pitching and what they would like to see.
2. K.I.S.S.-Keep it simple stupid. I'm not sure where this acronym came from but I'm constantly telling myself to KISS it. Keep your pitch/query simple and to the point. You don't need tons of flowery adjectives. And you definitely don't need to shove every tiny detail of your story into a few sentences. It'll might make the agents/editors eyes cross.
3.GMC-Goal, Motivation and Conflict. Know your hero and heroine's goal, know their motivation and know their conflict. Then bring it home.
An excellent resource I've used in the past is James Scott Bell's Plot & Structure. I believe I've mention it before. In Chapter One he discusses creating the plot using what he calls L.O.C.K. I like to use the first three letters of L.O.C.K. to begin and hone my pitch/query.
L-lead Who is your lead? In the instance of romance you'll probably have two.
O-objective this is basically your goal. What are your hero and heroine's goals?
C-conflict. Pretty obvious.
Here I'll show you using the story I pitched yesterday. Now I know it's not perfect but it's been working.
Lead #1- Darbigal O'Donnell
Objective #1-carry on the legacy of her adoptive father
Conflict #1- she shoots an innocent man
Lead #2- Garrison McGuire
Objective #2- find his orphaned nieces, make sure they are happy and then return to his life.
Conflict #2- Darbigal
Darbigal O'Donnell believes her only purpose in life is to carry on the legacy of the man who rescued her from a life of prostitution by saving young girls in similar situations, even if it means breaking the law. But when she robs a train and shoots the wrong man, she just might find her purpose is about to change.
Garrison McGuire is a man on a mission: find his orphaned nieces, ensure their well-being, and return to Chicago's darkest alleyways where he can appease his conscience. Unfortunately, he can't help the pull he feels to woman who smokes cigars, gambles, and rescues orphans.
Now, let's add a little bit more to the paragraphs, add a hook, and rearrange the paragraphs.
She robbed a train . . . he stole her outlaw heart.
Pinkerton detective Garrison McGuire is a man on a mission: find his orphaned nieces, ensure their well-being, and return to Chicago's darkest alleyways where he can appease his conscience. Unfortunately, he can't help the pull he feels to woman who smokes cigars, gambles, and rescues orphans.
Abandoned by her parents, Darbigal O'Donnell believes her only purpose in life is to carry on the legacy of the man who rescued her from a life of prostitution by saving young girls in similar situations, even if it means breaking the law. But when she robs a train and shoots the wrong man, she just might find her purpose is about to change.
It's to the point and gives the needed information. I'm also told it draws reader interest. AND it fits nicely in a one page query. Add a personalized greeting and give a short bio, and VOILA!
This morning I am working on my "To Do" list. First up, write my blog for New Kids. Every Monday I write a blog entry. Some Monday's I am more inspired than on other Monday's. This is one of those other Monday's. So, I thought I would start where I start on days when I have too much to do, but don't know where to start, with a "To Do" list.
1. Make a list of tasks that needs to be accomplished today, this week, and are on going.
2. Break tasks down in to smaller tasks and add to list
3. Prioritize said list.
4. Start accomplishing tasks from list.
5. Add to list as new tasks present themselves, and re-prioritize.
6. Keep plugging away to check things off the list.
I was going to add "until the list is gone" on the end of #6, but then I realized a "To Do" list never runs out of things to do. It's a vicious cycle.
So, here's my list:
1. Write Blog Entry for New Kids. (check)
2. Do son's Taxes.
3. Treasurer duties.
4. Work on WIP Revisions.
I'm sure there will be additions to this list, but I have a place to start. What's on your "To Do" List this week?
Today, I’ve turned my blog over to debut author, Jennifer Jakes. Jennifer is a chapter mate, a 2010 Golden Heart Finalist and a warm and sharing soul. I’ve asked her about her sale to Wild Rose Press, her writing habits, and her ‘Call’ experience. I hope you enjoy meeting Jennifer.
Lynn
Tell us about the call? What's great about The Wild Rose Press is that they give you a deadline in which they will let you know if they're interested in your work. So when the date arrived - it was a Friday - I was checking my email every few minutes. An email came from the Sr. editor saying that "my" assigned editor had read it, loved it and wanted the Sr. approval for contract. At this point I'm about to jump and down! But I had to wait the weekend to give the Sr. editor time to read it.
Longest weekend of my life:) Monday I got the email saying the Sr. editor loved it too and they wanted to offer a contract. Then I jumped up and down!
Rafe’s Redemption was a finalist in Historical Romance section of the Golden Heart - did that help you sell? I don't know if it helped sell -- but it couldn't have hurt. LOL
What's been the process since you sold to TWRP? Did you have an edit process? After the contract was signed, I filled out the author info and cover art info sheets. Then my editor started revisions and I made the changes and waited for galleys -- because I wouldn't get a release date until galleys were approved. Once they were approved, a couple days later I got my Feb. 25th release date! The whole team wanted RAFE to release while it was still winter since it's a winter-time story, so everyone worked hard to make that happen.
I can't say enough nice things about TWRP team!
What promotion activity do you think is most important for unpublished (but hopeful) writers? I think a website and I blog -- and if you can only do (or only want to do) one, then a blog. It gives you a web presence and you can slowly build your readership of people who are interested in your work.
Do you outline? Or are you a Pantser? I'm a recovering pantser.
As a full time writer, what's your schedule? LOL! Umm, er, OK, I'm a binge/purge writer. I'm working on being better about that too.
What do you do when you're not writing? Cook, dishes, laundry, sweep, mop, clean the litter box, tell the kids to stop fighting....... You know, the glamorous life of a published author.
What was your favorite book growing up? Oh, gosh! I loved The Witch of BlackBird Pond and Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Desert Island time - list out three books you must have with you. One Night with a Prince by Sabrina Jeffries, Frontier Temptress by Patricia Pellicane and All U Can Eat by Emma Holly.
What's up next? I'm working on two stories right now, a full length set in 1898 Alaska during the gold rush, and a menage' novella, set in 1864.
And finally, since I'm on a diet and living vicariously through other's food... what's your writing go to snack? I don't really snack when I write. But my favorite food is Mexican and my favorite candy bar is Butterfinger;)
Thanks for stopping by New Kids – Jennifer! And Good Luck with Rafe!
Rafe’s Redemption can be pre-ordered at: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php
Here’s a taste of Rafe’s Redemption: He rode into town to buy supplies, not a woman.
For hunted recluse Rafe McBride, the raven-haired beauty on the auction block is exactly what he doesn't need. A dependent woman will be another clue his vengeful stepbrother can use to find and kill him. But Rafe's conscience won't let him leave another innocent's virginity to the riff-raff bidding. He buys her, promising to return her to St. Louis untouched. He only prays the impending blizzard holds off before her sultry beauty breaks his willpower.
She wanted freedom, not a lover.
Whisked to the auction block by her devious, gambling cousin, and then sold into the arms of a gorgeous stranger, outspoken artist Maggie Monroe isn't about to go meekly. Especially when the rugged mountain man looks like sin and danger rolled into one. But a blizzard and temptation thrust them together, and Maggie yearns to explore her smoldering passion for Rafe.
But when the snow clears, will the danger and secrets that surround Rafe and Maggie tear them apart?
Over the weekend, my WIP muse took a vacation, or maybe went on strike. Either way, I spent too much time tooling the internet and blog surfing and zero time working on my manuscript. One station the procrastination train pulled into was Plinky.com. It's a place that bloggers can visit for blogging ideas. I've used it a few times on my blog. Maybe it's a lazy way to come up with a post idea. But hey--when your brain is too pooped to think and no amount of caffeine can jump start it, sometimes a little Plinky is an answer to prayer.
After reviewing several prompts that didn't pique my interest, I found this one:
What songs must you always sing the lyrics out loud to?
In passing, I thought, "Hmmm. I can't think of any song I always sing out loud." I'm not musically inclined. I'm lucky to remember the words to Happy Birthday, never mind the lyrics to a 3 minute song.
Not intrigued by any of the other daily suggestions, I reboarded the procrastination train and headed off to other distractions.
On Tuesday, I was surfing my car's radio stations when Gloria Gaynor's song I Will Survive came on. I cranked up the volume and belted out words I didn't know that I knew, keeping time with the feisty songstress even if I wasn't in tune. Then it hit me. I always sing this song. No matter where I am. No matter what I'm doing. Time stands still until the last note is sung. It's the modern woman's anthem. Well, one of them. It's Raining Men would be a close second. I'm sure I always sing that one out loud too. But, IRM will have to be a post some other time because today's post is about survival.
A writer's survival.
Writers have to shovel through the layers of their soul to unearth the precious core of every conceivable emotion. Then, they must pore that delicate ore into figments of imagination, giving life and substance to what previously had been non-existent. Blood, sweat, and tears are reigned down upon this creation. It's crafted and molded with tender loving care that only the writer-creator can give, until one day the time comes to send that creation out into the world. But it doesn't go alone. The writer's heart and soul is its constant companion and champion.
The path to publication can be painstakingly difficult. It's easy for writers to crumble under the tempestuous battering of rejection. Only the strong survive such cruel and treacherous journeys.
Gloria's song is an inspiration:
First I was afraid
I was petrified
We all are each time we query and submit. And when that rejection letter comes it cuts us to the quick. Maybe we blame the agent or the editor or perhaps ourselves.
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend
the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry
Now I hold my head up high...
...and I'll survive
I will survive!
And those who learn and grow from the experience can pick themselves up, dust off the disappointment, and live to write again.
Whenever I hear I Will Survive, I sing my heart out, no matter where I am or how I feel. And when the song is over, I feel like I can conquer the world. So, now you know what song I always sing out loud, tell me yours.
We’ve experienced a few beautiful spring days of late in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cold to cool nights but nice, sunshiny days. I’m in the throes of Spring Fever.
I don’t want this to end. I want to sit on the patio and read, take long walks with Jake, the Pirate Retriever, feel the warmth on my face, and daydream about someplace tropical. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live a life of ease where relaxing IS your job?
Sigh. Yes and no. There has to be balance in life, or as my mom used to say, "too much of a good thing makes you forget how good it is." She was such a wise old gal. If we didn’t have days when we were sequestered inside, typing madly to reach a deadline while the rest of the world was playing, or simply working at our day job so we can rush home and write, we would never appreciate the idle moments of pleasure. It would become a boring, repetitive ritual and soon we would crave something else.
I often think the reason so many of the uber wealthy Hollywood crowd falls into drugs and emotional distress is because they are bored. They’ve lost sight of reality. Things come too easy and their “protectors” tell them it’s okay to behave badly. "Your fans are loving and forgiving."
In what other industry can deplorable actions be overlooked not only by the public but by the courts themselves? Repeated DUIs, fighting in public, flashing the paparazzi, abusive actions, openly using drugs…where does it stop?
These are things Jackie Collins used to write about – Hollywood at it’s worst. And now Hollywood is imitating art. Or perhaps it’s always been that way. The old time studio execs worked hard to keep bad behavior under wraps. Now they just don’t care. If an actor or actress overdoses, so what? That’s what insurance is for. To ease their losses.
I used to read Jackie Collins and soak up the extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous. But since it became a reality, I just find it sad.
This post is an adaptation of one I wrote while many of you were at RWA Nationals. I've been struggling to find my writer-self lately. I know she's there I'm just not sure where. And while I've been in a nostalgic fog I've been thinking over all of my stories, hoping to find that writer hidden somewhere deep beneath months of nothingness. I have a complete medieval border story along with partials. I have my western. I have my pioneer stories. And I have a romantic suspense. And go figure the romantic suspense has been nagging my muse. Typically it wouldn't matter what manuscript I worked on, but the thing is I kind of have a deadline on my Western. Anyway, this post was written about the inspiration behind my romantic suspense.
I love music. Whether it's a sonata or hard rock, I can usually find an intense oneness in the beat. There's almost always a story told, even if there are no lyrics. Don't believe me? Just watch The Nutcracker. And those that weren't composed with a story in mind, there is often one envisioned in the listener's head.
Last year, I had some trouble getting my kids to enjoy their writing lessons. So I stepped out of my box and showed them how to step out of theirs. Uknowingly, each one received different lyrics, which I varied between country, pop and rock.
And you know, there is no way I could leave out one of my all time favorite songs, Whisky In The Jar. I love Metallica's rendition, just as I knew my electric-guitar-playing daughter would. And since it was the most obvious of all the lyrics I saved it for last.
As I was goin' over the Cork and Kerry Mountains
I saw Captain Farrell and his money, he was countin'
I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
I said, "Stand and deliver or the devil he may take ya"
I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny
I took all of his money, yeah, and I brought it home to Molly
She swore that she loved me, no, never would she leave me
But the devil take that woman, yeah, for you know she tricked me easy
Being drunk and weary I went to Molly's chamber
Takin' Molly with me but I never knew the danger
For about six or maybe seven, yeah, in walked Captain Farrell
I jumped up, fired my pistols and I shot him with both barrels
Yeah, musha rain dum a doo, dum a da, ha, yeah
Whack for my daddy, oh
Whack for my daddy, oh
There's whiskey in the jar, oh
Now some men like a fishin' but some men like the fowlin'
Some men like to hear, to hear the cannonball roarin'
But me, I like sleepin', 'specially in my Molly's chamber
But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain, yeah
I left a few of the chorus lines out for story sake, but you can see how these few stanzas clearly tell one. Another song that I've come to love, not only because of the AWESOME composition but also because of the story telling lyrics, is Seven Mary Three's Water's Edge.
I'm posting a cover by Then Again since the original video by the Seven Mary Three is unavailable. If you'd like to hear the original you can get a taste of it here.
This one isn't as hard core since it's using acoustic and not the electric, but both are enjoyable.
For those of you who can't hear the video or catch the words, here they are. I'll warn you now, the F word is used. Once.
"Don't go there" I heard her say
"You can't stomach what you're going to see"
It's down there, by the water's edge
Wasted and bloated and waiting for someone else
Funny how, these things come about
When you're tied to the teeth and mouth
No sound or fury, no shot of pain
There was no real reason, no gain
I can't go down, to the water's edge
I didn't do it, I saw who did it
Don't go down, to the water's edge
They did it once and they can do it again
It ain't no secret to me
How she got there down by the stream
'Cause I'd seen her a minute before
The van pulled up and opened the door (took all my love)
I can't say a single word
About what I saw of her
Her killers, they got their friends
In familiar places, I tell you man
I can't go down, to the water's edge
I didn't do it, I saw who did it
Don't go down, to the water's edge
They did it once and they can do it again
This ain't no fucking game
And I'm feeling so ashamed
Because I didn't do anything
No I didn't do anything
To stop
To stop
To stop
To stop
This... from... happening
I... didn't do... anything
"Don't go down to the water's edge" she said to me
I didn't do it, but I saw who did it (see)
Don't go down to the water's edge
They did it once, they can do it again
I swear
I swear
I swear
I swear
I didn't do... a thing
I should have done... something
Even though I wasn't actively writing when this song was released, I thought it would make an awesome book. A few months ago I wrote the first scene based off Water's Edge. And the story has been trying to push its way through my current revisions. I'm doing all I can to NOT work on this particular story, just because I need to get my Western finished ASAP.
Have you ever heard a song and thought, wow, what a great story? Have you ever found inspiration in a song and plotted a story?
It's Valentine's Day, and you need to find The prefect gift, or you're in a bind. Ask what are the choices on this day of love Flowers or candy or none of the above?
Will my sweetheart like daisies or lilies or roses? Will they last just a day or tickle their noses? And what is the meaning of a bouquet of flowers? Does it speak of friendship, or love's potent powers?
Maybe some chocolate to enjoy and eat. Light, dark, milk or bittersweet? Should they be caramel, or nuts or toffee? And flavored in cherry, or lemon or coffee?
Jewelry might be just the right thing. But a necklace, a braclet, a watch or a ring? With gemstones or diamonds, or just a plain band? And does it belong on the right or left hand?
What if the choice I make is wrong?!? Will my sweetheart cry, and for how long? Will they yell at me or just walk away? Will I end up alone on Valentine's Day?
February fourteenth comes with high expectations, Of flowers, and gifts and love exclamations. So, on this day of love let's go back to a simpler time. When a box full of cards could be bought for a dime.
No favorites, no pressure, no being alone. No bad gifts for which to atone. So here's a little something coming your way, Wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day!
I have taken a few classes lately and the two I really enjoy are "Learning to write description" and "Showing vs Telling" by Nicole North.
Obviously, as a writer, description is very important. The reader can not see what is in my head unless I show them and that is different then telling them. If I say that my hero is angry, that is just me telling you that he is. So, how can I show you that he is angry? With these descriptions.
EX: Alexander gritted his teeth, trying to keep his composure.
What if my heroine is showing great enthusiasm at being aloud to go to a party.
ENTHUSIASM sparkle in her eye talking in hushed excited tones grabbing onto people, squeezing hands smiling sharing a wink with someone
EX: Marlana clapped her hands before reaching up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on Alexander's cheek. Her infectious smile spread from one ear to the other and Alexander couldn't help but smile back at her.
Or, what if they are in a bank?
BANK pen on chain cashier Security Guards video cameras coin machine soft ruffle of paper as money is being counted unzipping of a purse scent of perfume and coffee
If I want to say my character ran, here are some other words I could use to describe the same thing but with more flare. Rush, dash, hasten, hurry, gallop, hell bent, zoom, speed, scamper and bolt.
How about jubilation? Joy, rapture, ecstasy, rejoicing, and glee.
Some of these descriptions I have found in my Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus. But I would like to introduce you to my new best friends. The Bookshelf Muse. It is at this blog that I found the descriptions to the bank, enthusiasm, and anger. The amount of words they have descriptions for is unbelievable. The ladies there have put a lot of time and effort in their blog and it is a great resource tool to use. So, I hope the next time you are in need of a description, you will pay them a visit. Just go to www.thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com.
Earlier this week, I was working on plotting out a new novel. I'd been having trouble getting past the beginning of said WIP--I pretty much just did the pantser approach to starting the book and had written a good few chapters that way, but then I got completely stuck. I just couldn't go on. Luckily I know myself enough to know the reason: I just didn't know what had to come next. In the past, plotting out the rest of the book in detail had helped me past writing stoppages, but this time, the plot just wasn't coming easily. I needed outside inspiration, so I picked up a craft book my boyfriend bought me five or six years ago called, The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing. Like many of these books, this one was a compilation of articles on craft written by well-known authors.
The first article on plot was "The Philosophy of Plot" by James Frey. It was a pretty basic article, but the one thing I took away from it that I usually give little thought to was this:
Plot arises out of opposing forces--forces that come out of the characters. [...] All good plots come from well-orchestrated characters pitted against one another in a conflict of wills. The "Boss" and Zorba, Santiago and the marlin, Scrooge and Bob Cratchit are all well-orchestrated pairs, which by their natures will push the plot forward toward resolution.
That got me thinking about all my favorite books and movies. Almost all of them have a protagonist pair who are pitted against each other in a very real way. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy: obviously. Scarlett and Rhett: similar characters in many ways but rarely able to find common ground. Jane Eyre and Rochester: a strong-willed, young governess and a weak, rich, and experienced landowner.
Yet another thing I realized was that if the main characters aren't at odds with each other at the beginning of the novel, something terrible has to happen to make them be at odds. Otherwise, there is simply no conflict in the story. Think Wuthering Heights. (The one notable exception to this might be in a suspense or action/adventure novel or movie where the characters are amid such a whirlwind of events that they never have time to have a falling out. In those stories, the action in the plot suffices as conflict. ie. Di Vinci Code, some Chrichton novels, some Steve Barry novels, many Bruckheimer films. Arguably, however, the movies that are the best of that genre do include dynamically paired duos ie. Indiana Jones series, North by Northwest, Romancing the Stone. )
This whole concept has inspired me to go back through my own stories and make sure that my protagonists are really well-matched in this regard. I have a sneaking suspicion that I may have some new revisions pending :)
What are some of your favorite character pairings? Do you think they follow this paradigm?
To the composition of novels and romances, nothing is necessary but paper, pens, and ink, with the manual capacity of using them.
- Henry Fielding
These days, nothing but a computer, a word processing program and the manual capacity to use them may be all that's necessary to write a book, but I wonder how many writers actually stick to the basics.
I began writing my first WIP in a spiral bound notebook with a blue ball-point pen. It didn't take me long to upgrade to a laptop. Not that I didn't like the hand-writing process, but using a computer was more convenient. No more ink blotches on my fingers and no more hand cramps. I could delete, rewrite and restore with the click of the mouse. Wow, I thought, we've come a long way from ink, quills, and parchment.
Last year I was introduced to Mindola's SuperNoteCard. It's a software program that writers can use to record and organize ideas on virtual note cards. I used it to map chapter outlines for the WIP I completed during NaNoWriMo 2010. Using it was a lot of fun and it forced me to work out details that I'd been avoiding. Once I got the story loosely plotted, I printed the virtual cards, reviewed them once and never looked at them again. I didn't need to. Working out the preliminary details in a coherent order was all I needed to start and finished that WIP. Plain white index cards would've sufficed, but using SNC made the process seem more sophisticated.
Not long after I heard about Scivener, a virtual writing studio originally developed for Mac but is now compatible with Windows based PCs. It's basically a word processor and project management tool all in one.
"Scrivener puts everything you need for structuring, writing and editing long documents at your fingertips. On the left of the window, the "binder" allows you to navigate between the different parts of your manuscript, your notes, and research materials, with ease. Break your text into pieces as small or large as you want - so you can forget wrestling with one long document. Restructuring your draft is as simple as drag and drop. Select a single document to edit a section of your manuscript in isolation, or use “Scrivenings” mode to work on multiple sections as though they were one: Scrivener makes it easy to switch between focusing on the details and stepping back to get a wider view of your composition."
Sounded intriguing, so I took a peek. With all the things that it can do, I decided that it would be too time-consuming for me to sort through all the tutorials and learn how to use it proficiently. I'm more hands on when it comes to computers and gadgets.
While perusing the January 2011 edition of the RWR: Romance Writers Report, I came across an ad for WriteWay. The website claims that since its debut in 2003 WriteWay has helped writers of all experience levels including multi-published NYT bestsellers. To my disappointment, the names of those successful authors weren't mentioned in the testimonials but I couldn't help but wonder....Is this what Nora uses?
I took a look at the tutorial. Yikes! Way too complicated for me. I'd spend so much time arranging, collating, and clicking on buttons to see what happened next that I'd never get any real writing done. What a shame. It looks like a neat program.
What works best for me is keeping things simple. I tear pictures out of magazines and stuff them in my hero/heroine file. I bookmark online sites that I'm researching so that the information is readily available when I need it. I write notes on index cards, or whatever scrap of paper I can find whenever a story idea or killer dialogue drift into my mind. I draft outlines in journals, create storyboards on dry-erase boards, and print portions of my current WIP in order to hand mark edits because there's something about paper and pens that make me feel like a writer.
I’ve been reading a series of books touted as “Romantic Suspense”. It's left me confused.
When I think of romantic suspense, certain authors come to mind. Lisa Jackson, Allison Brennan, Tara Taylor Quinn, Brenda Novak… I also think of Harlequin Intrigue whose wonderful authors do a fine job of penning shorter, category length novels in the same genre. The list of names is long, both in single title and category. The writers accomplished.
So when I started reading this series, I was expecting – well, romantic suspense. My idea of romantic suspense. I think the key word here is “expecting”. I’ll clarify. As a reader, I had certain expectations of what I would find between the front cover title page and the back cover blurb.
There are certain genres or content I stay away from because I don’t like it. One is graphic horror or violence. I don’t like slice ‘em and dice ‘em in movies or books. I don’t like animals or children being hurt or tortured. I don't like violent rape or incest. Psychological thrillers are fine. Graphic violence is not.
I enjoy romantic erotica if I feel the characters are working toward a relationship. Mindless, “feel good” sex is not my thing. There’s no romance in that. It’s like watching a porn movie (yeah, I experienced a few of those in my younger days, more out of curiosity than anything). The first scene is titillating. After the fourth or fifth interlude, I’m flipping pages because it’s boring.
Ok, I admit it…I like romance. I like the conflict, the sparring, the flirting, the sexual tension and the hot, passionate make out sessions. I like the racing pulses, the emotional uncertainty and I especially like the consummation after a long build up. I like reading about two people navigating the maze of their feelings and arriving in each other’s arms. I like HEA. And if I’m reading romantic suspense, I like a good whodunit as a subplot.
The first book I read by this particular author was a shock. The romance was explicit erotica, barring a few thinly disguised terms. In all fairness, I think the author was trying to show how the heroine went from wanting raw sex to actually embracing her emotions and falling in love. The problem being the relationship never fully developed. She did, on the other hand, spend a LOT of time detailing the sexual escapades which often occurred under contrived circumstances. For instance, if my respected colleague or friend had just been killed, or I’ve witnessed a heinous, graphic crime and have blood all over me, I’m not going to jump some guy’s bone five minutes later. I want a shower. I need a moment to process.
The violence in this book was so graphic, I cringed openly as I read it. Cruel, depraved violence. She did an awesome job creating a totally unredeemable villain. The story would have been just as good without extensive descriptions of the vicious attacks. Sometimes less is more.
To be honest, I’m a little surprised this book was marketed as Romantic Suspense. There was little romance and the suspense was riddled with too many sadistic scenes inappropriate for the genre. Here’s my question: Is this the new direction of romantic suspense?
I do hope you’ll reply in the comments because I truly am confused. Is it me or is it Memorex?
How many times have you heard, "Arent' you finished with that book, yet?" Or "Just finish it already and write the next one"? To be honest, I've heard those more than I care to like. In the beginning my initial response would be to sneak off to the nearest corner and sulk with a good amount of chocolate. It didn't take long for me to turn my response into a defensive growl. Seriously, when was the last time you wrote a book? Because you know, those comments usually come from those who have never attempted to write a letter to their mother let alone a complete story.
Now, I just kind of smile and nod at their ignorance. I don't mean ignorance in a bad way. They just don't know what they're talking about. They don't understand all the elements, large and small, that go into making a great story.
Did Harper Lee write To Kill A Mockingbird overnight? Did Debbie Macomber? Cathy Maxwell? Eloisa James? Victoria Alexander? I think NOT!
Fortunately for us, there are a lot of successful writers who have gone before us and are more than willing to share tips on how to 'Get er Dun'. One of my favorite Inspirational authors, Renee Ryan, taught a workshop at RWA's 2009 Conference. And she taught it in a way that sunk into my hard head. You can find that information here: The Art of Layering. I've found her guide invaluable when it comes to polishing my manuscript. It helps me remember some of the small elements that I would otherwise forget.
A resource I'm currently reading is called Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card. So far, I'm really liking it.
I'm always on the look out for books on writing elements. Any suggestions? Do you have an absolute favorite? What craft book are you currently reading?
My cousin Jane would have turned 50 tomorrow, but Jane passed away almost two years ago from cancer. As adults, we didn't spend much time together. Her life went one direction and mine went another. In our younger years, we lived 8 hours away from each other, but she was still my closest cousin. It was on a visit to her house in 1972, that I came down with the writing bug.
I was fresh out of sixth grade, she, fresh out of fifth. We were hanging around in her room one day when we came up with the idea to try to write a story. After all our Aunt Mary was a poet. One of us must have a writing gene. We both put pencil to paper that day in the summer of '72, but I was the one to catch the bug.
My story was about Meghan, a young girl on a horse farm in Kentucky. I didn't really know much about Kentucky, and even less about horses, but I knew about being a young girl. I wrote five pages. of my first story. I have carried these five pages with me in one form or another for almost four decades. Reading over it this morning, I realize that sometime in the last 39 years I revised it, changed Meghan into a Veterinary student, and listed out my research needs. I still know very little about Kentucky and horses. This story will never see print, but it was my first. And when I read it, I think of that summer's day in 1972, when Jane and I sat down to write. Happy Birthday, Janie!
What is the Crusade? Basically, the Crusade is a way to link those within the writing community together with the aim of helping to build our online platforms. The Crusaders are all bloggers in a similar position, who genuinely want to pay it forward, make connections and friends within the writing community, and help build each others’ online platforms while at the same time building theirs.
Length of the Crusade This Crusade will run from February 1st to April 30th, though I’ll be calling additional Crusades in the future. You’re very welcome to keep on Crusading after my official organization ends on April 30th.
The premise of the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge is to post something on your blog every day in April except for Sundays. In doing this you will have 26 blog posts--one for each letter of the alphabet. Each day you will theme your post according to a letter of the alphabet.
You will only be limited by your own imagination in this challenge. There is an unlimited universe of possibilities. You can post essays, short pieces of fiction, poetry, recipes, travel sketches, or anything else you would like to write about. You don't have to be a writer to do this. You can post photos, including samples of your own art or craftwork. Everyone who blogs can post from A to Z.
How can this Challenge help you?
Ask someone who did it last year. I invite any of you who Blogged From A to Z in April 2010 to leave a comment below telling how the challenge helped you as a blogger and otherwise. Some of the benefits that I have seen mentioned and personally experienced were improvement as a blogger and a writer, greater self-discipline, finding new blog friends, and increasing followers to each of our own blogs.
So these are two of many blog events.
The main purpose of these events are for social networking with other writers.
What do you think? Have you done one of these? If not, are you going to give it a try?
I know this is a strange time to think about looking back, but blame it on the snow, or the cold weather, but that's what I'm doing right now, looking back.
I suspect part of my melancholy is partially due to finishing my latest manuscript, The Bull Rider’s Brother. Writing ‘The End’ has left me missing the characters and the world I crafted out of memories of home. Remembering the way the river snaked through the narrow valley and the feel of the hot sun on my back as we fished from the rocky river bank, has me missing summer and warm weather as well.
See, I told you I was wandering. I’m even crocheting a baby’s blanket.
Writing Lizzie’s story, gave me a peek into the Idaho I remember. And the places I miss.
Crafting stories, developing settings, and strong characters makes me wonder if our imagination doesn’t take in all the things we’ve seen and places we’ve been. Chopping up the reality with the vision and turning the mix into a story.
My writing professor used to tell us to take a small moment to focus your story. Don’t try to tell the big moments, like a wedding or a murder. (Or a murder at a wedding.) Instead, tell the story of a boring day in the character’s life. A day like any other. Then you can focus on your character and their secrets. I’m always trying to reach for the big moment. The turning point. And in doing so, I miss the small things.
Sometimes the biggest turning point in the story is the smallest action. The one thing that happens that your hero can’t ignore. The thing that he’s been afraid of occurring all along finally happens and then what? Maybe nothing, on the outside at least.
I’m beginning a new project. Committing to one of many ideas. Plotting out scenes, thinking about characters and developing their character arc. But mostly I’m showing up. Butt in chair, hands on keyboard. Strapping myself into my office chair to see where my muse takes me next.
Wherever we go, I know it will be a wild ride.
How do my New Kids sisters handle the transition period from one book to the next? Any hints on how to stay out of the finished blues?
PostScript: Jennifer Jakes will be my guest the next time I post. She’s a 2010 Golden Heart finalist for Rafe’s Redemption and the sweetest woman I’ve ever met.
And the photo? My son's first day of school... oh so many years ago....
A laundry list is a description-less itemization. Boring, static, lifeless. It identifies what the laundry consists of--a shirt, pants, socks, but it fails to sparks the imagination and it fails connect the reader to an experience.
Using descriptive details and strong verbs an author can use words to paint a picture that involves the reader with what the author is seeing as she writes, producing an emotional tether that grounds the reader to the story.
Multi-published author Blair Bancroft says "Nix the storyteller mode. {Romance readers] want the author to show them the story through the eyes of the hero and heroine. They want to see what they see, hear what they hear, feel what they feel. They do NOT want to be told about it. They want to experience it."
Isn't it a disappointment to miss an exciting event with friends? What's worse is when you're waiting for the juicy details and all you get is "we did this and that and it was so much fun, but I guess you had to be there."
Kinda leaves you flat and dissatisfied, doesn't it. Well, that's what happens to readers when an author tells instead of shows.
Let me tell you an example.
Parker caught a cab. As the taxi pulled away, Bailey got her own and followed him.
It's concise and to the point. But does it connect the reader to what Bailey is experiencing? No, it doesn't. Remember, the reader wants to experience everything the way the heroine does.
Now, here's the show. It's an excerpt from Debbie Macomber's My Hero.
"[Parker] was deeply involved in conversation with another man, yet when he raised his hand to summon a taxi, one appeared instantly, as if by magic. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, Bailey wouldn't have believed it. Surely this was the confidence, the command, others said a hero should possess. As Parker's cab slowly pulled away, she ventured into the street and flagged down a second cab. In order to manage that, however, she'd had to wave her arms above her head and leap up and down. She yanked opened the door and leapt inside. "Follow that cab," she cried, pointing toward Parker's taxi."
Did you feel as if you were right there in the scene? Seeing Parker effortlessly obtain a cab while Bailey had to resort to acrobatics to get one? Could you feel her urgency when she cried, "Follow that cab?"
Readers crave the experience, not a mundane reporting. "It's harder to show than tell," says Blair Bancroft. "It takes more effort, more words."
As writers, we can't get lazy with our words. We must be diligent to be simplistic where simplicity is needed, descriptive where details demand it, and engage the reader with every word. Write vividly. Use strong, specific verbs and be careful of too many adverbs. Use details to define your character's body language and visceral reactions to provoke a reader's emotional responses. Use expressive dialogue to reveal a character's attitudes, beliefs, and emotions. Use active voice, rather than passive voice.
You've used your imagination to bring your characters to life. Now, use that same imagination to breathe life into the words you put on the page and show the reader the reality of your mind's eye.
I had an eye opening experience last Friday as I prepared research for my personal blog. The topic I chose to highlight was opening lines of great novels. Since I write romance, I obviously wanted to include several examples from authors in the romance genre. I ran a Google search for “good opening lines of novels” and found site after site of information and countless "best" lists. Some were classics, some I’ve never heard of but each had a great opening hook. I was a bit surprised to discover the only romance title listed anywhere was Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. So I performed a second Google search, this time for “good opening lines of romance novels”.
Me oh my…the first listing that popped up was “The Top 15 Bad Romance Novel Opening Lines", along with several other sites offering similar fare.
I’m not naive. I understand there are many closet romance readers who refuse to embrace their inner romantic - readers who are addicted to HEA, alpha males, swooning and heart palpitations but just can't bring themselves to admit it publicly. I also know there are a lot of literary snobs who lump romance in the same category as comic books. However, in recent years the romance genre has acquired a huge following, proving to be recession proof. It’s the top selling genre in America. Men are now writing romance without using a pen name. Now that's progress!
So why is it we still have people who treat romance novels like a joke? I don’t think there's ever been a genre so maliciously attacked or maligned. It's baffling that this kind of "stinkin' thinkin" still exists.
That being said, here are a couple of great opening lines from romance novels I just had to share!
Summer, that vicious green bitch, flexed her sweaty muscles and flattened Innocence, Mississippi. ¬– Nora Roberts, Carnal Innocence
Ice hung from windowsills with a glitter that rivaled glass, and new snow turned the sooty streets to rivers of milk. – Eloisa James, An Affair Before Christmas
I hope you'll take the time to post some of your favorites. I'd love to see them!
Deb http://debsanders.wordpress.com/ www.author-debsanders.com
*Sorry for posting late. I had my blog done, but sometimes I'm technically challenged. I must have scheduled the date/time wrong.
I took part in Harlequin's So You Think You can Write online conference back in the fall. It was a little overwhelming due to the wealth of activities provided but all in all it was a good experience. On the last day the editors graciously gave us the opportunity to send our first chapter and the synopsis. For some reason I had gotten the impression that we would all receive some feedback on our manuscripts and so I took a chance. I took a chance not thinking that when it was all said and done I wouldn't receive feedback but a rejection letter. A form rejection letter.
No, I'm not disappointed or upset by the whole ordeal. Just a little surprised. Let me back up a little bit. I was disappointed that I didn't get specific feedback, I was not disappointed over the rejection. Why? I knew my particular manuscript was a long shot for the Love Inspired line. It was different and probably too different. When I sent my manuscript it was specifically in the hopes of receiving comments, not to get an email requesting more, although that would have been nice.
When I got the rejection in the inbox, it got me to thinking about my first submission a little over three years ago. That first submission was a full request. That first full request was on my very first every manuscript and probably should never had seen the light of day, but I didn't know any better. Looking back it's quite embarrassing. We learn from our mistakes, right? I never did receive a rejection letter from that full request. And I'm thankful I never received an offer (as if) either because that publishing house ended up going in a direction that wasn't very nice to their standing authors.
It's never fun to receive a rejection letter, but it's also not the end of the world. Sometimes the rejection is actually a blessing. When rejections come file them away and keep plugging on the keyboard. Keep writing the next story and keep submitting.
New Kids on the Writer's Block is a group blog. We are ten writers who banded together to go through the process of publication as a community. We're pre-published (for the time being), and are open with our process. Please feel free to ask questions. Thanks for stopping by, and welcome!
I recently did a series on food writing and foodie romance. I'm in the midst of writing my own foodie romance, and will be posting more on it. But here's the lineup.
Also, in case you're interested in food writing and/or foodie romances, I've started a new blog specifically dedicated to this part of my writing. You can find it here.
My apologies for being late with my blog today. I had intended to have it online by 8 a.m., but then life happened. The good news is that I am here now. Last night I watched the Academy Awards. Not as funny as when Billy Crystal hosted it, but still had some entertainment value. One award winner said the "F" word. Two or three put political messages in their thank you speeches. And Kirk Douglas said "and the winner is" as he opened the golden envelope, a phrase that went out of fashion a few years ago when the Academy decided to make the "losers" feel better by politically correcting the phrase to "and the Oscar goes to." In the end, I was glad to see Colin Firth and The King's Speech win, and I really would have enjoyed seeing the happy dance Colin Firth said was about to burst forth on stage. Any memorable moments in the show for you?
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