If you're like me and don't get to experience all the glam in NY the Romance Divas are holding their annual Not Going to Conference Conference. The registration link is on the upper right-hand side.

Alison Kent is giving away books at Blah Blog.

And if you're feeling like you're missing out on workshops, HHRW Campus will be offering some awesome ones.

Each month HHRW Campus holds at least two workshops. Our campus workshops typically run $10.00 for HHRW members and $20.00 for non-members.


In July, Alexa Bourne will be presenting Contests: The Basics and Suzanne Lazear will be presenting Steampunk from Aether to Zepplin. In August, Anna Kathryn Lanier will be presenting Pioneering Women of the West. We'll also have Social Media for Authors by Chris Syme and Worldbuiling for Writers by Rebecca Lynn.

If you have any questions about campus workshops please contact Rebecca Lynn at classes@heartsthroughhistory.com


Class Descriptions

Contest: The Basics July 5-29

With so many writing contests out there and so many details to consider, it's easy for a writer to be overwhelmed! Contests: The Basics will take students through the contest process, step-by-step---from choosing a contest, to preparing the entry, from dealing with the emotional aspects of "contesting" to deciphering the results. Students will leave class with a better understanding of the process and with a list of resources for making the most out of their contest experiences.

For more information about this class go to http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/contests.html

Steampunk from Aether to Zepplin July 5-29

Are you still trying to figure out Steampunk? Do you have an idea for a Steampunk story but aren't sure what to start? Are you in the middle of a Steampunk manuscript and need a little help? Whether you just want to learn what all the buzz is about or have specific spots you need to work on, "Writing Steampunk from Aether to Zeppelin" can help. Grab your brass goggles and parasols join us while we learn about steampunk and the mechanics of a steampunk story.

Topics covered include: What is Steampunk, Steampunk Subgenres, Worldbuilding and Ideology, elements of a Steampunk novel, Steampunk characters and archetypes, science and technology, the roles of women, the darker side of Steampunk, steampunk across the genres, steampunk beyond the written word, and additional resources. All genres from kidlit to Steamypunk and all levels of knowledge and manuscript development are welcome.

For more information on this class go to http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/steampunk.html


Pioneering Women of the West August 1-31

The West was discovered by men looking for adventure and fortune. But it was civilized by women who brought families, schools, churches, and stability to the area.

In PIONEERING WOMEN OF THE WEST, you'll learn about the western movement, the treacherous journey hundreds of thousands people took and of the lives of specific women who helped shape the West, intentionally or not. Some women went looking for a better life; others followed their man into the wilderness.

For more information on this class go to http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/pioneerwomen.html

Social Media for Authors August 8-26

The title says it all

Worldbuilding for Writers August 8-26

A world-building course focusing on all facets of fictional writing, not just on fantasy and paranormal books. Historical fiction and contemporary genre fiction writers need to know how to world-build, as well. World-building, at its foundation, is about incorporating functional and systematic details into narrative. This class will start with the basic building blocks of a world (whether known or invented) and move toward the integration of research and world-building into narrative fiction. It includes a specific tool through which to build your world that students have found quite helpful. Hope you enjoy!

For more information on this class please go to http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/worldbuilding02.html

Happy Tuesday,

Renee

Tuesday, June 21^st was the release date for Devil Colony, the latest in the Sigma Force series by author James Rollins. It just so happens that there was a little twitter party thrown in celebration of said novel the same day.

No, actually, it was pretty freakin’ huge.

This twitter party was, in my opinion, the perfect example of writers coming together to support one another. It was hosted by Kristen Lamb, Piper Bayard and several others. There were pictures, blog posts, tweets and retweets. The hostesses served deviled eggs, brownies, cake, and chili. We even had jello shots!

Everyone had an amazing time, but most importantly, everyone worked together to get the word out…a fellow writer has written this book, and it’s a damn good book, and, here, you should read it.

Not until I entered the world of the writer did I realize such a close community of brilliant, warm people with fantastic imaginations even existed.

The friends that I have made in the various groups I belong to, most especially here at NKotWB and over at #MyWANA, are real people who really do care how your day is going. They celebrate each other’s successes big and small, and they commiserate with one another when things aren’t going so well.

I spend most of my days at work anticipating my breaks so I can say “Hi” to everyone and look for good news that I can help spread around. Whether it’s a great quote, an interesting blog post, a funny pic, or seeing that someone hit their word count for the day, I want to help share the love.

So here’s to you, my FB Friends, my Twitter Tweeps, my CPs and fellow New Kids…thank you for being the wonderful people you are…and how AWESOME was that party??!!

Check out these sites for more information on the release of James’ Devil Colony and the release party on Twitter:

James Rollins’ Fan Page on Facebook is here.

Sonia Medeiros gave an in depth look at all the festivities the day after the party. Get caught up here.

Shea MacLeod shares pics and party fun, as well as a clip of James himself spreading the truth about the lie.

Jenny Hansen gave an awesome mash-up, check it out here.

And if you haven’t done so already, come hang out with all of us at #MyWANA and join the Love Revolution!

Let’s talk! Were you at the happenest place on Twitter on the 21^st? Did you have the most amazing time of your life? What was your favorite part of the #DevilColony party? I personally loved the virtual Devil’s Food brownies and the virtual jello shots ;p Are you a fan of James Rollins…what do you think of Devil Colony?

Kate

Next week I’ll be one of 2000 plus writers descending on Times Square looking for our dream. Just like the Glee kids. And just like I was at sixteen, when I made my last trip to the big apple.

Then my dreams changed by the minute. But for a small town (sixty-four in my graduating class) girl, NYC was the place I wanted to live, work, and play. Seeing The King and I on an off Broadway stage with Yul Brynner, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. (I realize some of you may need to google the historic reference.)

Needless to say, I started college a few years later, not at one of the east coast schools, but the Boise State University, thirty minutes away from where I grew up. And the life choices I made, one after another, lead me down a path far away from my dreams of living in NYC.

Now, a few years later, I get to recreate that magic I felt during my first visit. I’ll be walking Central Park, riding the subway, visiting the Empire State Building, and hopefully, seeing a show. Yes, I’ll still be a tourist, and somewhere in that mix of time, I’ll be attending hours of workshops, publishers’ spotlights, and pitching industry professionals.

If you’ve never attended a writer’s conference, RWA nationals is the one to attend. There is so much programming, I could clone myself twice and still not get to attend all the must see events. I hear your excuse now, “But Lynn, I don’t write romance. Aren’t they all about Dukes and Navy Seals?”

You missed Vampires.

But to answer your question. No. Romance writers come in a wide variety of genres. Mystery, historical, fantasy, suspense, erotica, inspirational, women’s fiction, contemporary, you name the genre, I can bet there will be at least one of the attendees who writes or wants to write that type of story.

Besides, plot, character development, pacing, industry trends, e-book information, and meeting with other writers, these are subjects every writer needs to learn and grow in craft.

So that’s why I’m using up the last of my vacation days from the day job and packing my business casual duds to go.

Now I have a new dream. Not to live and work in NYC, but to write stories. Maybe stories about a small town girl who once dreamed of making her way in the big city but life got in the way. Or maybe a vampire.

Okay readers, your turn. You have the choice of two questions; What life path did you NOT take and how do you feel about the decision now?

Or are you going to Nat’ls with me?

Lynn

I was recently engaged in a discussion with my son…ok, maybe “complaining” is a more accurate term…about my lack of writing time. There's simply not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I need to do. After working eight hours in a fast paced job, monitoring the budget i.e. borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, making sure hubby has clean underwear and food in his belly, offering a smidgen of attention to my demanding menagerie of pets, and taking care of the necessary errands that make our household run smoothly, there is little time for anything except exhaustion.

I seldom appear on Facebook or Twitter anymore. I’ve probably written twenty pages in the past two weeks, a feat I would have accomplished in a single day just one year ago. I enrolled in an online class for motivation and have done nothing more than lurk. I used to review three or four books a month for an online ezine and now I’m lucky to complete two in as many months. Emails? Ha…my unread inbox registers triple digits.

What happened to my life?

Robert, my son, had the answer.

He’s such a wise young man for someone barely past thirty. I like to think it’s because of my wonderful parenting skills but truth be told, his character emanated from a source far beyond my abilities. (Is it politically correct to mention divine intervention? Robert put more than a few grey hairs in my head during the time he was known as “Bobby”. I often wondered if my daredevil child would ever survive his youth. If there is such a thing as guardian angels then I’m sure my son had an entire legion assigned to protect him.)

When Robert said, “Mom, I know you don’t want to hear this but…” I cringed. That sentence prefaced too many confessions that would have made rest much easier had I remained ignorant of the truth.

So after listening patiently to my rant, Robert began his sage advice with that infamous prelude from his youth. He was right. I didn’t want to hear it. However, this time, I NEEDED to hear it.
He proceeded to inform me that I've created my own private hell. I have a tendency to put everyone’s concerns above my own, and in the process, encourage a dysfunctional lifestyle. Rather than allowing others to take ownership for their well being, I have “over nurtured” and made them co-dependent.

He then suggested I make writing a priority. My well being is important, too, and if I allow anger and resentment to fester inside me then it will not only kill my creative muse but will also add certain negative aspects to my normally sunny personality. Well, go figure. I guess that was his way of saying I can be a bitch when I’m unhappy.

His final words of wisdom echoed something I used to tell my children when they were young. “You shouldn’t make others responsible for your happiness, nor should you be responsible for theirs. Happiness is a personal choice and it all starts with attitude.”

Out of the mouth of babes…

Deb

Boy, oh boy! Somehow I forgot to write my lovely little post last week. I guess when you have teenagers the family drama is never ending and it can quite overshadow any victorious news a writer might like to share.

No, now wait. Don't go jumping to conclusions. I said victorious not 'the call'. Don't I wish! But first this writer must get her manuscript in submitting order, which it is not.

So, what victorious news do I have to share with you? I wrote those two little words that every writer longs to write.

My new job is going well. Retraining my family, not so much. It's time for the whip. If I crack it a few times. just to scare them, they might find some motivation for change. I'm sure as their helpfulness increases I will have time to write. Even though I haven't written much lately, I have gotten some reading done. This is a good thing considering my TBR pile stretches out over 3 book shelves. I have a book shelf for writing, and research books to read, and two shelves of romances to read. Currently I'm reading A Courtesan's Scandal by Julie London. I've been "reading" this book for about 2 months now. I may finish it within the week. Then I can shorten my TBR pile by one more book.

How many books do you have on your TBR pile? Are you making any progress on shortening it?

This is going to be an exciting year for me as I begin a new chapter in my author career. Now that I have a finished manuscript, I have begun to query agents. But, there is so much more for me to do so that I can grow as a writer.


I have mentioned on here in previous blogs about workshops. I have taken “The Book Factory” and “Pitch like a Pro” by Author, Kerri Nelson, Microsoft Word class by Catherine Chant and two classes by Nicole North. One on how to write a great sex scene and building that sexual tension and another on writing with description. All were amazing classes and I highly recommend them.


This year, for the first time, I am going to attend a conference. The New Jersey “Put your heart in a book” conference is October 21-22, 2011 and I can’t wait to attend. Though October feels like a long ways away.


So, in preparing for my first conference, I found I had a few questions. Here to help me answer those questions are four wonderful ladies. Authors Eliza Knight, Renee Lynn Scott, Dorothy Muir, and Sidney Ayers.
***SARAH- I want to thank you all for joining me here today and answering questions about this subject.

RENEE- Thank you for having us.

ELIZA- Anytime, Sarah! Attending conferences is such a great way to network and to improve your writing as well as advance your career.

DOROTHY- Thank you for inviting me, Sarah. I’m really glad to be here.

SIDNEY- My pleasure. Thank you for inviting me.

***SARAH- My first question is about the expense of the conferences. A person has to pay for the conference, lodging and travel. What other expenses are there and what can we do to keep the cost down?


ELIZA-On top of conference/lodging/travel fees, you have to think about cab rides, food, alcohol, tips, souvenirs, extra hotel fees for internet, books—yes believe it or not you will buy books at either a literacy autographing or sometimes Barnes and Noble sets up shop with tons of awesome resources, notebooks, etc… These are the little things you don’t think about. I’m all about setting a budget, and sticking to it. You can try to share meals, or pack things like granola bars, water bottles—or purchase them along with fruit to have in your room to cut down on meal costs. Share cab rides. Start a tab at the bar so you tip on the final bill instead of tipping with each drink—drink moderately, say one or two drinks at cocktail hour, no need to get hammered anyway. For souvenirs, give yourself a budget, say $10 per person, or $20 for yourself. For the literacy autographing I always set a budget, and I spend no more than that amount, and for resource books, I also set a budget. The biggest thing is not caving in, and to leave yourself a little wiggle room, say an extra $50 just in case. I typically give myself $50 a day to spend when at conference. Sometimes I spend $0 on a particular day and sometimes I spend more, so it balances out.

RENEE-Don’t forget meals outside of conference. When I traveled to D.C I spent some time at a local pub with my friends. Drinks can be expensive. Have one and then stick with water. And don’t forget souvenirs. They’re not a necessity but since my family has never been on a vacation I thought I should bring something back.

SIDNEY- Depending on where the conference is located, you may have a tourist and/or entertainment expense. This year, since the RWA National Conference is in New York City, I plan to attend several tourist spots. One thing that I’ve always wanted to do in New York City is attend a Broadway show, so that’s one thing I’ll need to save some money for. Also, you may have some additional food expenses. The conference does provide some meals, but not enough to keep you properly sustained.

DOROTHY- Conferences present the opportunity for networking and making new friends, as well as getting to know editors and agents. That means you might spend more than you anticipated on coffee and drinks, depending on the conference and whether or not you’re a shy person. And if the conference offers any type of bookstore, you could find yourself drawn into spending money on books. Big conferences like Nationals can result in you spending a lot more than expected, but some of the smaller conferences can pack just as much informational punch and take less out of your wallet. If you want to minimize your expenses, take advantage of any paid meals offered by the conference, budget for everything (and stick to it!), and stay out of the bookstore!



***SARAH- What should a person wear to a conference?

DOROTHY- You can never go wrong with business casual. Some of the conferences are OK with jeans and casual wear, but some of the larger ones have a more professional atmosphere. Nice slacks and a good blouse can say ‘professional’ and still be comfortable. Much as we love what we do, it’s still a business. But make sure you have good, comfortable shoes! You’ll do a lot of walking.

SIDNEY- Clothes! Just kidding. You should wear professional attire. Nice slacks or skirts look nice. Dress like you’re going to work. Also, if you’re pitching, dress like you’re going to a job interview. I’m pretty sure the other ladies will say the same thing.


ELIZA- Business casual. It depends on the weather. Always pack a cardigan to easily slip on and off. For workshops, meetings, pitch sessions etc, I typically wear a nice pair of slacks (or nice capris/skirt) and a nice shirt. I pack an everyday outfit for sight-seeing. Pack a nice dress for awards ceremonies—depending on what other activities you have, you may have to pack more than one. For RWA this year, I need a dress for the RITA Awards and a dress for the Harlequin Ball. Wear comfortable shoes during the day, you’ll do a lot of walking and standing. Heels or nice flats for dinners. Whatever you do, don’t wear something uncomfortable. You don’t want to be worrying about discomfort while talking to other writers, agents/editors.


RENEE- I’m all about being comfortable, especially when it comes to shoes, but you should dress how you want to be perceived. If you want to be taken seriously as a writer you shouldn’t wear your jammies and slippers. Choose a basic color (black tends to work best) and then accessorize. If earth tones are your color then go for them. If red is your color . . . well you get the picture. Balance comfortable wear with business casual.


***SARAH- When should we arrive and leave? How do we go about checking in?


SIDNEY- I like to arrive at a conference a couple days early. It helps me get adjusted to the lay of the land and also gives me a little time to do the tourist thing. I usually leave the day after the conference closes. With the conference ending so close to Independence Day this year, I thought about extending the trip, but it would have put a big dent in my already dwindling pocket.

ELIZA- I always arrive a day or two early to settle in, relax, do some sight-seeing and meet up with friends before the whirlwind begins. I always leave the morning after it ends. By that time I’m exhausted and ready to go home.

DOROTHY- As for checking in, most conferences have a registration desk of some sort. I usually check in with the hotel first, so I can drop off everything I’ve lugged along with me. I try to register as early as possible, to avoid the last-minute rush and any conference stragglers.

RENEE-Gosh, checking in was a little overwhelming. I hadn’t left home in ages and I certainly hadn’t stayed at a hotel in over twenty years and my parents are the ones who had checked-in then. And then you have to find out where to register for the conference. Don’t forget that. You’ll want your packet and all the goodies.



***SARAH- Will there be away for me to recognize my fellow Celtic Hearts Romance Writers members?

RENEE- It'd be nice if we were all required to wear a clan badge. I was fortunate enough to meet up with Sid! We'd known each other for a few years and she has such a lovely, memorable smile that it was easy to recognize her. As nervous as I was about the whole conference thing it was nice to see a familiar face.


DOROTHY- Well, first off, writers like to gab! That’s part of what we are, Celtic Hearts writers even more so, if you go by the loop traffic. Part of the standard introduction I give is my writing group affiliations. And a lot of conferences offer some kind of bulletin board system where members of different groups can post messages.


SIDNEY- Every attendee usually wears a badge with their name on it. Those badges may also include a listing of different RWA chapters they are a member of.


ELIZA- People where lanyard badges most of the time and pin their chapter/award/publisher pins to it. So you will recognize names, but you may also see the Celtic Hearts Chapter pin too on badges. But the best place to meet up with CHRW members will be at the annual get together at RWA. Not sure about the NJ Conference—although I’d be happy to set up an informal get together for cocktails!

 ***SARAH- Are there meals included in the conference rate?

DOROTHY- That depends on the conference. Every conference has a different budget, but a lot of them offer at least one meal. Something big like Nationals will offer more than one. Something local might only offer a boxed lunch.


ELIZA- This depends on the conference. For the NJ Conference, I believe that most of the meals are included. For RWA, there are a few coffee breaks in the morning, two luncheons, and I’m not sure about the RITA awards, sometimes they do dinner and sometimes they don’t.

***SARAH- How do we go about getting an appointment to meet with an agent or editor?


RENEE- If you don’t already have your appointment then you can hang out in the waiting area. There are often no-shows and you might get the chance to pitch to one of your top five.


SIDNEY-You can register for appointments at the RWA website. Also, during the conference you have the ability to sign up on site.



***SARAH- How do I prepare for an appointment?


DOROTHY- Practice. Lots of it! Pitch appointments are kind of like mini-interviews. You need to prepare to sell yourself as well as your story. It’s OK to be nervous. Those editors and agents are people too, so they understand if you stumble from nerves. The key is to be able to recover if you stumble, so know your story’s key elements inside and out, including the high concept. Pitch to your friends, especially non-writer friends. If they can understand your story, then so can an editor.


ELIZA- I write my pitch on a note card—I also write questions I want to ask the editor/agent. Then I practice aloud with a few different people. Whatever you do, just relax. They are regular people, they won’t bite.


RENEE- Is there such a thing? The best thing to remember is they are people too. Smile and sell your story. If you don’t do it chances are nobody else will, besides who knows it better than you?

SIDNEY- Practice! Practice! Practice! Be calm… relax. I usually take 3x5 cards with me to keep my pitch on track. Make sure to avoid the bar until AFTER you pitch.



***SARAH- Will there be any workshops? What should I bring to those if you answered yes?


SIDNEY- There are a ton of workshops. Bring a pen and paper to take notes.

DOROTHY- Workshops are what most conferences are about, so there will be plenty. I’d bring along a notebook and a pen. I’ve found workshops frequently cover material that’s not on any handouts. I like to jot notes a lot, and a spiral notebook helps me keep things organized.

RENEE- As I’m sure the others have already answered, there are tons of workshops. Some provide handouts but you’ll want to make sure you have pen and paper in hand just in case you need to take notes. Since some workshops offered hands on activities, I carried the first few pages of my manuscript with me.

ELIZA-YES! That is one of the biggest parts of conferences. There are TONS of workshops—and I mean dozens and dozens to choose from. More than you can attend, which is why they offer conference CDs. You should bring something to take notes with, some water, gum, tissues, business cards and a sweater.

***SARAH- Is there anything else we should know?

ELIZA- Have fun! Not only is this a great experience for networking and learning, but it is also a chance to be with like-minded individuals. A rare opportunity for many of us.

RENEE- Relax and have fun!
SIDNEY- If you can’t get to some of the workshops, don’t fret. You can purchase a conference CD that will have all the recorded workshops available to you. If you can’t afford the whole conference CD, I believe you can buy individual tracks. That being said, not all the conference workshops are recorded, so I would suggest attending those—especially if it is a topic you are interested in.

DOROTHY- Have fun! Conferences have a way of energizing you. So far, I’ve come away from every conference excited and inspired to write. And you’ll probably have a slew of new friends.

I absolutely adore the alpha males in this series. They exude life starting with the jaw dropping, gorgeous hunks portrayed on the cover to the teasing banter and toe curling love scenes inside.As I read the debut novel in this series, When You Dare, I felt a few scenes in the second half were unnecessary and slowed the pace of the story. It was a good read, just not as polished as I would have liked.

Last week I started another new job. This one is full-time, and walking/bike riding distance from my home. Anytime I start something new or different I go through an adjustment period. When to get up, when to write, when to relax, when to sleep. Of course, the "when to write" usually gets figured out last. I'm still trying to fit everything in a 24 hour day. I hope that by next week I will have most of it in place. For now, the writing is going by the wayside. Training my family to operate while I work a 40 week is priority. Last week I came home to hamburger thawed, but no idea what to make. After we figured it out I had to go to the store then make the food. Then the next evening, despite my reminder to my dh, there was nothing taken out of the freezer. So he went and got what my son calls "cardboard pizza." It wasn't nutritious or good for us in any way, but it filled our bellies. Well, I'm sure by this time next week that everything will be working like a well-oiled machine. Happy writing this week all.

Have you ever been faced with a deadline and thought to yourself, man, it’s really time I organized that shelf…?

Have you ever thought to yourself, there’s no way I can do this... I’m just not good/talented/smart enough…?

Have you ever thought you knew exactly what you needed to do to accomplish a certain task or reach a goal, only to poke your head up and discover yourself further away from either completing that task or reaching that goal…?

Wanna know the creatures that cause these soul bruising, spirit crushing disruptions??

Yep. You guessed it: Pixies, Trolls and Faeries.

See…these creatures feed off of our anxiety and self doubt. They LOVE to mix us up and confuse us. They simply adore it when we’re all twisted up in knots, unable to move forward or see a clear path ahead.

Well, I’ve learned a thing or two recently during my quest for knowledge on all things dealing in the craft of writing. Specifically, I learned about these creatures and how to stop them, and I am now going to share this with you!

First, Procrastination Pixies…nasty little things. As soon as you sit down to work on something here they come, flying around your head, whispering in you ear. You don’t need to do this noooww. You have more important things you should be doing – writing can wait. You know you should really wash the car...

How do you stop a Pixie? The easiest way I’ve found is to squash it…smash it flat! As soon as you hear that whispering in your ear, immediately close your eyes and imagine a giant flyswatter and go to town on that little bugger!

Next are the Crappy Excuse Trolls. Man, are these guys a downer. I didn’t even know it, but I had one of these sitting on my shoulder for about the last two weeks. It wasn’t until I was finally able to shake him loose that I had realized he was even there!

Trolls live to bring us down. They feed off of our negativity, and for those of us that suffer from anxiety and depression? They seek us out especially. We’re prime targets for these bastards. Anytime you’re feeling even the slightest bit hesitant or unsure, that Troll is right there telling you there’s no way you can do that.

Trolls will lie, cheat and steal bits and pieces of your soul away if you let them. The more down on yourself you get, the bigger, meaner and fatter he gets! So what to do? Simple…starve him!! Whenever you feel the least bit uncertain, just repeat to yourself, “I can do this. I’m talented and smart and capable. I can do this.” Then, before you know it, that big, hairy, smelly troll is nothing but skin and bones, mewling like a little kitten in the corner. HA!

Finally, and most importantly, the Bright Idea Fairy. This chick is bad news. She’s very sweet, very cute, and very dangerous. She’ll have you believing down is up and up is down. She’ll convince you that those jeans don’t make your butt look big, that no one will notice that slight muffin top, and of course there’s nothing wrong with eating a pound of dark chocolate before bed and following it with a glass of red wine!

…what?

Bright Idea Fairy will have your head spinning and will completely derail you from your goals. You have to really watch out for this one, but like the others, she can be beaten!

All you have to do to get rid of the Bright Idea Fairy is imagine the biggest, baddest gun, with the deadliest bullets you can find. Then aim…point…and shoot. Ahhh, simple. A word of advice, put newspaper or plastic down beforehand…that’ll help with the clean up afterward.

Ok, ok…I know you’re dying to know where I found this treasure of information. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you may have come across the name Kristen Lamb. She is a genius and has a cult following on Twitter called #MyWANA. It seems I have developed something of a crush…totally platonic, of course. *shifts stance uncomfortably*

Anyway, Kristen has also written two life saving books; the first is “We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide To Social Media,” and the second is “Are You There Blog? It’s Me Writer.” I just finished “Are You There Blog?” and I have to say, Kristen is so motivating and inspiring. You’ll not only get an exhaustive look at these creatures and how to stop them, but Kristen will also teach you all you need to know about building your very own social media platform.

Both books are a must have. You may find these and other pearls of wisdom at Kristen’s website: http://kristenlamb.org/ and her blog: http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/

Alright, enough with the butt-kissing. Let’s talk! Tell me about your experiences with procrastination or self-doubt. How were you able to move past them? Are you dealing with them now? Do you have advice or insight you’d like to share? Tell me everything…

I’m heading to NYC at the end of the month for the Nat’l RWA conference. Hopefully, I’ll be in situations where I’ll be asked (and asking this question.)

So, what do you write?

I’m not a woman of few words. Just ask my husband, my co-workers, or my friends. Most of my conversations end with, “long story – short.”

Putting my short contemporary manuscripts into a sentence or two? Painful. Not to mention the fact I also write cozy mysteries set in small historical tourist town on the California coast.

Broken women searching for family living in rural pacific northwestern towns?

No – that sounds like they are on crutches and their families abandoned them.

Short Contemporary romances set in Pacific Northwestern small towns with survival heroines and heroes ready to take on a strong woman and build a family.

Coming from my next of the woods? Sounds like a backwoods survivalist who homeschools their kids and lives off the land. Not what I want to portray at all.

Small town America with strong women who want it all (career, family, love) but have no clue how to get there and the heroes who love them.

Definitely not Sex in the City. But closer to my stories.

Love, laugher and stories from the heart.

Sounds like a fun medical romance.

I have business cards with Love, laughter and American roots. Not sure I love that either.

My romances are set in Idaho or the Pacific Northwest, and have a mild heat level, just like I like my salsa. My heroines have overcome problems and obstacles in the past, are career and/or family focused and have given up on the fairy tale ideal of love. Of course, that’s before the hero comes into their lives.

So that’s our challenge today. If you’re a writer, give us your tag line. If you’re not a writer, help me with mine.

Lynn

 

Photo Source: GameSpot.com

My life is a mess. We’ve moved this past weekend so I’m still wading through boxes. I hate the weather. It’s hot, humid and they haven’t made a deodorant to withstand this miserable climate. Money is short, the creditor list is long and stress follows me around like a shadow. The things I “want” to do can’t compete with what I “have to” do. And my writing hit a roadblock when the desktop computer crashed and my laptop acquired a virus!

When and if I ever emerge from this riptide of discontent, I should write a book. A crisis makes for a great story. Right?

Nope. Most readers would never get past the first boring page. Everyday life can seem like a major crisis while we're in the middle of a muddle but it's simply not enough angst to carry a novel.

A writer must develop a near fatal “black moment” if their story is going to hook readers and maintain interest. The more gut wrenching the crisis, the greater the tug on your reader’s heartstrings.

Think about soap operas. Why do people watch these serial dramas day in and day out? Because they’re addicted. I know women (and men) who record their “shows” so they can watch as soon as they arrive home from work. Before TiVo, I had friends who would schedule their lunch hour during the time their favorite daytime drama was set to broadcast.

Soap operas follow a simple rule. Keep viewers emotionally invested so they return for the resolution. The story lines cover a variety of topics from rape, unplanned pregnancies, affairs, and murder while employing creative forms of lying, cheating, scheming and blackmail.

Hopelessness and heartache equate to good stories. Pile it on. Make ‘em suffer. How many traumatic events can your main characters endure? Well, write about all of them and then add more.

But remember…it only works if you have a plausible, believable solution to rescue them in the end.

Now go break a few hearts. Or at least write about it.

BICHOK.

Deb Sanders