New Kids on the Writer's Block

All Those Books on Craft: They’re Not Meant for Leveling Out Your Coffee Table

2012-01-26T01:00:00.003-07:00

One of my biggest mistakes that lasted a very long time was my absolute refusal to actually read creative writing books. Now, that’s not to say that I didn’t own Creative Writing books because I did. I owned a metric ton of creative writing books – I just never read them. Okay, I read the Chicago Manual of Style while I was doing edits to check out a bit on comma usage. If you count reading five pages of an enormous book that can be used as a weapon during a mugging as reading then yeah I read it.

See the thing is I was sort of afraid of the craft books. Because the one thing you learn when you read a craft book, or take a good class about craft, is that you really don’t know all that much when you first start out. In fact if you’re like me you know how to string together the basics of a plot and that’s about it and most the time you’re guessing.

But you know what happens when you don’t learn what your craft is? You find yourself behind the 8 ball, rewriting drafts over and over again before you send them to your editor. Then, after all those rewrites your editor sends the story back and you do another two rounds of rewrites so that the story you send no longer resembles the story you sent in and it has nothing to do with the first rough draft you wrote. One year later the stories look nothing alike and you wonder how much more you could have gotten done if you wouldn’t have written sixteen drafts of the same novel. And if you’d no longer hate your characters. Because let me tell you, after 9 drafts of Luck of the Devil I couldn’t even think about writing the sequel, Devil May Care. I just couldn’t face it. For three months not only did I not face it, every time I sat down at the computer to write and try to face it I froze.

You don’t want to waste all that time rewriting the same story over and over. You’re a career writer not a one hit wonder. You have a career to build and that’s by having a backlist not by putting out one measly book. And you don’t want to face crippling writer’s block. Not this way at least.

So let go of your fear of learning the craft. Let go of that feeling of inferiority because you don’t know what you’re doing. Accept it. Embrace it. And learn as much as you can now, in the early stages of your career, so you can amaze the world with not just your story but your grasp of techniques as well.

If you don’t have an MFA in Creative Writing. Join me over here in the “went to college to get a degree that paid the bills” bench. Comfortable? Are you sure? Because we have snacks if you need one. Now, pick up one of those craft books and get to work. It’s time to catch up and learn the craft. Because while reading a dozen craft books won’t turn a crappy story idea into gold or get you a publishing contract it definitely can’t hurt.

If you’re looking for some books to start your craft book collection here are some I recommend from my recent spate of craft reading:

Story Engineering by Larry Brooks (This is available on the Kindle Lending Library if you’re cheap like me).

Save The Cat by Blake Snyder

The Chicago Manual of Style

Plot, Scene, and Structure by James Scott Bell

Getting Back on the Horse.

2012-01-23T04:57:00.005-07:00

Lately I haven't been holding up my end on the New Kids Blog. The holidays, my family and life in general has conspired against me, and I stopped blogging. Well, it's time for me to get back into the blogging saddle again. It's time for me to get back into the writing saddle again too. In the last month or two, my writing time has suffered. As a result I couldn't think of anything pertinent to say about writing on this blog. But recently a couple of my outside responsibilities ended and I'm ready to get back to it. And today, with the predictions of freezing drizzle, seems a good day to stay at home and get some writing done.

My first item on my to-do list is to get a handle on the flow of one of my historical romances. I have a couple people read it, and they like my hero, a lot. Not so much my heroine. They also tell me that my first chapter is more backstory, so I have to decide whether it stays or goes. And if it goes how and where can I weave in tidbits of pertinent information. Then I have to look at all the scenes to decide if there are any unnecessary one hanging about. Writing it down here makes the task seem overwhelming, but at the same time it gives me a clearer plan for what I'm doing. So here I go. Wish me luck.

The Life-Cycle of a Novel

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Coming soon from Ellora's Cave!

Some of you will know that I recently sold my Steampunk Paranormal Erotic novel to Ellora’s Cave. Unlike most of the work I’ve been doing lately, I’d been working on that novel for almost two years when I submitted it. I initially started writing the book now known as Airship Seduction in February of 2009. Granted, it didn’t take me two years to write it, over the two-year time, I kept working on it.

Still. More than three years from conception to birth. Seems like a bit of a toxic pregnancy to me. People told me over and over again when I was first getting into RWA that this would happen. You get an idea, you write a novel, you submit, it takes time. But I never really got what that would mean.

I meant that between the time I started the book and the time it is published, this is what happened:

* I quit one job, found another.
* I went through three relationships.
* I moved from Calgary to the U.S.
* I lost a grandparent.
* I sold six novellas.
* I lost 38 pounds.
* I gained 42.
* I ran three sets of summer camps.
* I ran three sets of fall camps.
* I ran three sets of spring camps.
* Two Christmases.
* Three birthdays.
* Two trips to Disneyland and one to Disneyworld.
* Two trips to RWA National conventions.
* Three Super Bowls.
* Three NCAA National Championships (one of which Duke one–WOOHOOO!)
* Watched the entirety of Buffy. Twice.
* Watched the entirety of Corner Gas. Twice.
* Read 692 books.
* Served a term on an RWA chapter board.
* Started a term on a different RWA chapter board.
* Became a different officer on that same board.
* Saw all my critique partners sell books.
* The Iraq war ended.
* Wrote two more novels.

I could go on and on. But the thing that really got me was when I realized how I would have looked at that time from the other side. If I’d been standing in February of ’09 looking backwards, the three previous years would have seemed millions of miles away. To think about starting something that wouldn’t see the light of day until there was a new President… it would have been unthinkable.

But that’s the way this industry works. Sure, sometimes you get fast contracts. I’ve had those. My last novella was submitted and contracted literally overnight. I know the industry can also work fast. But you’ve got to be prepared for it to be slow.

When I first joined RWA, I moved in with my parents so I could concentrate on writing. I told my Mom it would be a couple of years until I could move out on my own. I wasn’t a narcissist. I’ve always known I was a good writer. I knew if I could finish a book, I could sell it somewhere. But I had no idea how long it would take until I could really do just that. Now, I wonder if I’ll ever be able to really do only that. To be a full-time writer as a single-wage-earner is extremely rare. Plenty of people can afford to write full-time if they have a wife/husband to also bring home the bacon. But I don’t have that. And I eat a lot of bacon.

Now, I have a much better concept of what it’ll take. And it won’t just take time. It takes good connections, good editors, good marketing, good ideas, good execution. It takes a lot more than me sitting at my roll-top desk plunking out words. But that’s where it has to start. And now, to get back to that. Cuz I’ve gotta work in the morning. I told you about my bacon issue…

Serendipity

2012-01-20T01:01:00.001-07:00

So I find myself sitting at the computer this evening, wondering what to write for this blog - which is posting tomorrow. (Yes, mom, I left my homework until the last minute - again.)

As my mind wanders through my writing experiences these last three years, I realize that the best decisions I've made as a writer had one thing in common.

They took me out of my comfort zone.

I met a new writing friend because I took a chance and accepted a lunch invite. The friendship and knowledge this woman has shared has made a huge difference in my writing as well as my life.

I squelched my initial reaction to turn around and drive the hour home without getting out of the car at my first RWA chapter meeting. Getting out of that car and going into the bookstore should have been easy. It wasn't. But I've learned so much from my membership in MORWA.

I talked myself off the ledge and mailed first one query, then another, and then submissions, partials and fulls. Each time I mailed or emailed my work out to the world, I questioned my sanity. But I pushed the send button knowing I'd done the work.

And with each action, each step I took, I became stronger. I became a better writer (we can make him stronger - faster - just give us 6 million...)

I don't know where this year will take me. But with my hat pulled down tight and my hands gripping the roller coaster bar, I know it will be a wild ride.

The world just requires one thing of me. To take the risk.

What have you done lately that made you question your sanity - or pulled you out of your comfort zone?

Lynn

New to the Block

2012-01-18T02:00:00.009-07:00

Hey ya'll! I'm excited to be a part of the NKotWB and this is my first post, so I thought I would just introduce myself by interviewing me (much like interviewing our characters except I do exist in the physical plane - sort of).

What's your name: Clancy Metzger, although Clancy is a nickname given to me when I was only a few weeks old and I've never gone by anything else. Funny story - I was so nicknamed because an Irish vacuum cleaner salesman told my parents I had a temper like 'Clancy the Cop' of old Ireland (a boogieman type of character who had a terrible temper and got red in the face). I've since mellowed with age :)

Favorite hobbies: I love to watch movies and TV, at home, at the theater, on DVD - I don't care - just love it. Mostly I like to watch romantic comedies and action flicks, but almost anything goes. Favs are Hunt For Red October, Don't Tell Her It's Me, Bent, anything Monty Python, anything by Joss Whedon, RomComs featuring Sandra Bullock or Hugh Grant, musicals, old movies, NCIS, NCIS:LA, Justified, Leverage, NFL.... the list is seriously too long to go on, but you get the idea. I also love reading and the list of books and or authors is also too extensive to list here although some of my new favorite authors include Grace Burrows and Victoria Dahl.

Pets, Food and Tattoos: I have two small dogs and a few cats. I'm a really picky eater, so I get a lot of flack about that. I'm a meat and potatoes kind of gal and not much for veggies. But, I have a lot of peccadillo's when it comes to food, so it's not just what it is but often how it's prepared and well.... it's a long list and more than can be explained here. But, if you are in a Chinese restaurant and someone orders Broccoli Beef without the broccoli - it's probably me. Just saying... As for tattoos - love them, have about eleven of them and want more. Instead of getting charms or spoons when I travel, I get a tattoo that represents the place I've been. A little weird but they are really small and I can't lose them.

Writing: I am pre-published but working on getting there. I have written throughout my life in various forms but only spent the last few years writing romance novels (my favorite genre). What I've tried my hand at so far includes historical western, paranormal, erotic and my current WIP is a contemporary. The current is about a pilot and a reporter. Love it!

Funny anecdote: I grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska. One winter, when I was around fifteen, it was about 40 degrees below zero and I was running late to catch my school bus. We lived way out in the country at the end of a very long driveway; I had just gotten out of the shower and my hair was dripping wet but I had to pull on clothes and run for the bus. Halfway down the drive, my hair which was long then, froze and I accidentally hit it with my hand breaking off a chunk. I picked up what looked like a hair Popsicle and caught my bus. Then had to spend the entire day explaining why I had an eight inch chunk of hair missing from about ear height down on my right front side. An awful shag haircut followed. Not one of my finer moments.

So, that's me in a nutshell. See ya'll next month with a post on something other than just me :)

Another New Kid

2012-01-15T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I am delighted to be a part of this group of wonderful New Kids. Special thanks to Rebecca Lynn, who inexplicably said yes when I responded to her call for new bloggers.

I’ll start with a bit of introduction. I’m a married hockey mom, not a kid by any stretch of the imagination. I was born and raised in northern Ohio, and majored in English lit in college. I do have a day job, which you will probably hear me complain about at some point, and a number of volunteer roles. Other than those basic facts, these things are true about me: I am a passionate reader, mostly of historical romance, but I love a good mystery too. I am obsessed with Ancestry.com. I like to cook, I love to eat, and I am utterly devoted to cheese. I am a bit lazy. I would rather read than socialize, most of the time, and this has been true since I was a kid. Somewhere in my mother’s house there is a picture of me, circa age 9, sitting on the floor of the coat closet at church, reading Black Beauty.

The other thing that is true about me is that I am very new to the world of writing. Until a few years ago it had never occurred to me to write a book at all. At some point, though, an idea lodged itself in my head and insisted on being written. I played with it for a couple of years, not really trusting that I was the best one to tell the story, but it was persistent.

In 2010, I decided to try NaNoWriMo, and I restarted my tale, a Victorian era romance, from scratch. I did succeed in reaching 50,000 words, but the result was-ahem-such crap that it was hard to know where to go from there. Nevertheless, I did some polishing and entered my first five pages in The Great Beginnings contest sponsored by the Utah chapter of RWA. I didn’t come even close to finaling (which is good, as I have since learned it's not a good idea to enter a contest until your MS is finished), but I did learn a few valuable lessons from the experience:

1) It is not as painful as I expected to let someone else read my writing;

2) I discovered I did not, in fact, suck; and

3) I realized that I had a lot to learn about writing fiction.

As a result, I have spent most of the last year taking writing workshops, doing research about my time period, and trying to figure out how to balance all the aspects of my busy life so that I have time to write. Of all of these, the last is the hardest.

At this point, I am still working on that first manuscript, and have been dabbling with a second. A third waits in the wings, a complete departure from the other two, and directly related to my obsession with Ancestry.com. I would dearly love to get the first MS completed in 2012, which does not seem an unrealistic goal at the beginning of January. Maybe now that someone is looking over my shoulder I will get it done. Thanks for joining me on the journey.

-Marin McGinnis

The New Freak on the Block

2012-01-12T00:01:00.002-07:00

Hi Everyone,

I’m Patricia Eimer, paranormal romantic comedy writer with Entangled Publishing and new kid here on this particular writer’s block. From now on I’ll be your host for the craziness that is life as a new, full-time author/stay at home mom every 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of the month.

So the important question you should all be asking yourself right now is – why aren’t we pelting her with stones? No, no that is not the question you should be asking yourself please put down the stones. No, you in the back, you can’t hide it behind your back for later. Put down the stones. Thank you.

No, the important question you should ask yourself is why do I give a flying penguin what this random person on the internet has to say? Well there’s the obvious – this is a writing blog for new writers and I’m a new writer. But that’s pretty simple. I have a slightly better answer for you. This is a blog for new writers and I am a new writer who fell into a publishing contract on accident. No seriously. Totally on accident.

Let’s start at the beginning. I was born in the middle of a balmy night…. Wait, that’s too far back. Let’s go back 14 months or so. Halloween 2010. Before that I’d been writing short stories and fanfiction anonymously on the internet and putting it out on various sites but I’d never done anything with it because come on authors are real writers and I wasn’t one of them. They were the cool kids and me? Well I’m a mathematical economist by trade. No really. I have a nice shiny looking degree hanging on the wall and everything. Three of them in fact. They even have signatures.

That’s not important though. What’s important is I was not one of the cool writer kids. I was a poser who liked to scribble behind a pen name. Until someone from the internets, a friend through the screen you could say, signed me up for RWA. Paid the fee and everything. And then I met another friend through RWA who wanted to do Editpalooza on Savvy Authors but didn’t want to do it alone. So I chipped in some cash and signed up. Because you know I had this manuscript I’d been playing with that maybe one day I would send to an agent. If the stars aligned and my attempt at the Krispy Kreme diet left me looking like Heidi Klum. Yeah, I’m what you call ambitious.

And that’s where it took off. Because six weeks after Editpalooza Liz Pelletier called and asked me to submit Luck of the Devil to her new publishing house—Entangled Publishing—and uttered the magical word every writer loves to hear: series.

Then came publicists and blog tours and all sorts of craziness. Meanwhile I just nodded my head and smiled, hoping against hope that no one would realize that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Because if no one knew that I was a total fraud who got lucky then they wouldn’t kick me out of the cool kids clique

Which has been a blessing and a curse. The curse is that because I refused to speak up and get my nose to the grindstone early I’m playing catch up now. The blessing is that my cool kids? Well they really are cool and not in that teenage clique sort of way. They’re cool in the way that they understand you have no idea what you’re doing and they’re there to help and not once have they snickered or pointed at the math geek in their cool writer midst.

So that’s why you should read what I have to say. Because I’m going to make the mistakes all the cool kids already know to avoid. And if you’re out here, with the new publishing kids or the prepubbed kids you can see my mistakes, have a good laugh at them (trust me I do), and then learn from my mistakes so you can make even better mistakes as we all chug along on our quests to one day rule the publishing world in an iron fist while cackling maniacally from our comfy laz-e-boy thrones while well oiled, buff young men in loin cloths hand feed us grapes and rub our feet.

Not at the same time of course. One guy with grapes, one guy on the left foot, one guy on the right foot, and another with a palm frond. Or maybe two palm fronds? You know what? I’m going to go work out a formula on the correct ratio of nubile young serving men to world dominating authors. Then I’ll go work on my latest novel. So have a good two weeks. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have serving studs and a calculator to get back to.

Write It Right the First Time?

2012-01-10T19:19:00.003-07:00

I'm so happy to be one of the “New Kids” on the Writer's Block. I learned about the blog from chapter mate (and terrific writer) Lynn and I really look forward to being here. I write historical--that is to say, medieval--romance. No, not the ones with the hot Highland heroes. The ones with the hot English knights.(Brief pause for big sighs.)

During the day I’m a mild-manned teacher of English at a local college. But on nights--and weekends when I don’t have my granddaughters--I’m filled with derring-do. Sword fights, word duels, kidnapping, tournaments. And happily every afters. Well, for my characters, at least.

Most of the time. Sometimes they are recalcitrant. They refuse to conform to the outlines I have for them. Refuse to mouth the words they ought. Refuse to move the story in the direction I really want them to.

Consequently, I’ve learned to leave a lot of bracketed blank space I’ll eventually go back and ‘fill.’ Just as soon as I know what goes there.

And that was a hard lesson to learn. I've been writing fiction for five and a half years. When I began, I honestly thought I had to get it right the first time. Not that other writers didn't warn me, they did. But I 'felt' the story couldn't unfold properly unless every plot point was perfect, every piece of dialogue precise, and all the characters fully developed from the start.

My first manuscript was written that way. Page by revised/re-edited/re-polished page. And it took for-ever. But I really thought it was finished when I wrote ‘The End.’

When I actually went back to re-read it, I found lots of places to 'fix' again. Lots of revisions. Lots of sections that could be said much better the second, third, even fourth time through.

Hummmm. A lesson. Since I was changing a good deal of that finished product, perhaps the first version didn’t have to be exactly right. Perhaps I could write a ‘rough draft’ kind of chapter (especially when the story proceeded slowly) then go back and fix it later.

It’s a little easier to skip around now. I still have trouble not re-reading and editing and revising what I wrote the day before. But at least I know it doesn’t have to be perfect the first time through.

I don’t know why that was such a tough lesson to learn.

Do any of you have similar problems with wanting to revise and polish instead of forging ahead?

My New Cover

2012-01-07T19:30:00.001-07:00

This is not my new cover,
although it's a newer
cover, and so pretty...

I've had something of a blogging fury this week. With the best-laid plans, I had all my blog posts ready and set to put up, and then I got my cover.

For those of you who didn't know, I've sold my first novel to Ellora's Cave. A bit of a fangirl crush I've had on them, and for many years. But I finally got up the courage to submit my Steampunk novel, and they accepted it. So I've been going through the new author motions, getting myself ready to edit and edit and edit.

And then I got my cover. Of course, I'm sure every author waits for the day when they get the cover of their first novel, and while I've published several novellas, I just can't say enough about the moment I got the cover for Airship Seduction.

Also not my new cover...

Perhaps it's because it was my Steampunk novel. One I'd worked on for well over a year. Perhaps it's because the cover itself is so beautiful. But I think it's the realization that I finally get to tell this story. It's one that's been brewing for years, and a world that I've spent hundreds of hours in. I can't wait for everyone to get a chance to read it.

For now, at least you can see it.

Without further ado, the cover for my first Steampunk novel. Airship Seduction.

Now, this is my new cover. **pets** Isn't it beautimous?

New Year, New Me

2012-01-06T01:24:00.004-07:00

Well, kind of...

How about less of me?

I lost 25 pounds last year. Which sounds like a lot. But if you think about it, it's just about 1/2 pound a week. Or 250 calories less a day.

So what's this got to do with writing, our loyal New Kids on the Writer's Block followers ask?

Everything.

Losing weight is about making one good choice after another. Falling down, eating the bag of chips at one setting, ignoring the treadmill or the dogs who want you to walk them. Bad days happen. It's what you do after the bad choice, or string of choices that makes a difference.

Its the same with an unpublished writer. If I write, edit, submit, revise, resubmit, and repeat; each try, each action takes me closer to the one real goal - to be a full time, published author.

One word, one page, one chapter at time.

Right now I'd take part time - one book wonder. It's a bad day. And I'm feeling the weight of still being an unpublished author.

That feeling, like my cravings for potato chips, will soon pass. And if I did the work today (wrote my words or edited for a set number of minutes), I'll be one step closer when this black cloud moves on.

One choice at a time.

So the question is - How do you pull yourself out of the doldrums?

Lynn

PS - I hear rumors we're getting a new NEW kid. And I can't wait for you all to meet her. Stay tuned...

INDIEana Sanders, Author at Large

2011-12-28T05:00:00.003-07:00

This is my last regular post on the New Kid’s blog, a bittersweet moment. It seems like years ago when I first agreed to a recurring weekly blog for the site. At the time, I was actively seeking a writing career, learning to juggle re-entry into the workforce with a pursuit of publication, and bemoaning a rapidly changing industry which at times left me dizzy.

A lot has happened since then.

I decided not to wait for my ship to arrive in the "publication port" and instead put on my swimmies so I could paddle out to meet it. As soon as I did, an editor expressed interest in one of my books. Go figure. As is often the case, we give up on a dream only to have it appear as an option when we no longer want it.

Last month I dove into the deep end without a life preserver and indie published a romantic suspense novel that had been gathering dust for a couple of years. It needed a few tweaks…okay, it needed a LOT of tweaks, but I put it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords just to see what would happen. Since I had little faith in the indie publishing process, I priced it at 99 cents.

Voila! Presto! Abracadabra! Just like that, I started eating my words which tasted suspiciously like crow. My “experiment” has been ranked in the top 50 titles of romantic suspense on Amazon for the past several weeks.

Thus started the fever. It reminded me of when I host a garage sale and run out of things to sell. I suddenly become less attached to my belongings, making a frenzied dash through the house grabbing anything not nailed down so I can slap a price tag on it, which is usually the same things I couldn't part with the night before.

The same phenomena occurred as my sales began to surge with Stone Cold Justice. I dug out another romantic suspense title which I had earmarked for Harlequin Intrigue, certain they would want it when romantic suspense stopped being a “dead” genre. A genre that readers no longer wanted. A genre that agents can’t sell to publishers unless you are already an established author with a following. A genre that an agent told me three months ago would come back in a few years.

Guess what? It’s back.

So I grudgingly listed my coveted title, Blood Storm, on the same three sites. But because I love the book so much, I couldn’t bring myself to price it at 99 cents. I listed it at $3.99. Wow! It’s selling. And what’s really cool is I’m earning more with less sales because of higher royalty percentages. Between the two books, I will see a respectable four figure royalty check for the month of December. After only six weeks on the market, I couldn't be more pleased.

Which brings me to the conundrum of my story. I’ve written a paranormal suspense and a well known digital press editor has expressed interest. Not mildly interested, but INTERESTED. I dreamed of this day for years. However, now I find myself enjoying the control I have over my work. I’m not so eager to give that up. I’ll earn more money this month than some debut authors will earn on a first advance with no hopes of seeing a dime in royalites.

Admittedly, many indie authors will not be so blessed. To succeed as an indie, you must be comfortable wearing many hats and willing to learn the ropes while standing on the brink of panic.

So for now, I’m indie published and proud of it. Would I like to break into the Big Six? You betcha. But it will be a lot easier for them to take a risk if I’ve acquired a level of success before knocking on their doors again. Who knows? I'm beginning to think the industry is changing so fast that all the rules are obsolete. We're all trudging through new territory and blazing trails as we go.

Thanks for following me on New Kids during the past year. Stop by my blog at DebSanders.wordpress.com and say hi from time to time. Until then, BICHOK!

Deb Sanders
Stone Cold Justice and Blood Storm, now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T12:03:00.000-07:00

I would like to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

May God bless you in the new year with health, love, and peace!!!

Merry Christmas!
Sarah Hoss

Happy Holidays

2011-12-20T21:40:00.005-07:00

In this day and age of political correctness, it pains me to say Happy Holidays. What’s wrong with Merry Christmas? I’m not offended if someone celebrates Hanukah, Ramadan, Chinese New Year, Imbolc or any other religious/ethnic day of recognition. I’m not offended by agnostics or atheists. Why should someone be offended if I choose to celebrate Christmas?

It seems to me that too many people occupy too much time with too many things that are of too little importance.

We should all adopt a spirit of giving, helping others, becoming more understanding and less critical. Once we stop expecting things from others they can’t give, it allows us to appreciate what they have to offer. A good philosophy to embrace 365 days of the year, not just during a time of ritualistic celebration.

So please don’t turn away when I say “Merry Christmas”. I offer it with love in my heart – no matter what your belief system. And if you still feel snubbed, put upon, offended, discriminated against, disgusted by my callous disregard for your feelings or my obvious insensitivity, then I have but one thing to say . . . “Bah! Humbug!”

Here’s wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season.

Deb Sanders

Amazon's Monopoly Game - Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

I’m sure many of you have been following Amazon’s attempt to convert indie authors to the KDP Select program. In a nutshell, Amazon is offering a “piece of the pie” (a fund set aside for authors) who take their books off the market with competing distributors i.e. Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, etc. and list them with KDP’s (Kindle Direct Publishing) lending library.

At first glance, it sounds intriguing but the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence. The amount the author receives is based upon how many times their book is “borrowed” from the lending library. Of course, there’s a disclaimer with verbiage mentioning the number of “qualified borrows” but it doesn’t state in explicit detail what that incurs. The fund amount is a nebulous figure that can change but is explained with an example. An over inflated example.

If I were James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Nora Roberts or Iris Johansen, I might give those numbers a second glance. For the average indie author, however, the sales and marketing pitfalls resulting from exclusivity with Amazon far outweighs any benefit.

I have two books published through Amazon. They are also listed with Barnes & Noble and Smashwords. I will be the first to admit my total sales from Kindle owners blows everyone else out of the water. But do I really want to limit myself to just Kindle?

Even more importantly, I don’t think Amazon should monopolize the e-book market by using questionable tactics designed to take out the competition. It’s wrong. It’s bad for free enterprise. And in my humble opinion, the Feds should raise their eyebrows at this one.

Deb Sanders

Last post of the year...

2011-12-09T01:57:00.000-07:00

It's that time. 2011 is almost in the books. 2012 is fast approaching. I love this time of year, not just because of the holiday's, but also because it's time to review how I've progressed in my reach for my goals. Time to reevaluate and set new goals for the new year.

What am I looking for in 2012?

I wish to be healthy. For me, that's a few fewer pounds than right now (although I've already lost thirty) and have a stronger, more fit body.

I wish to be happy. Now, that's harder to define, but I guess it's the whole, I'll know it when I see it. And the only way to get there is to stay on the positive side of life. (Or as my friends would say, stay naive Lynn.)

I wish to be a published book author. I love my short stories, and I'm grateful for the contracts. I want my stories to have a wider audience and be able to tell my character's stories.

I wish to love. Love my husband, my son and his wife, my relatives, and my friends. Each has brought so much to my life, and I'm grateful for all of you.

I'll be spending time with friends and family this holiday season, so I'll miss my last blog day. I hope the festival season finds you happy, warm, and well fed, in body and in soul. Spread the joy, give books for Christmas. And be happy.

What do you wish for yourself? For others?

Review and Opinions are like . . . what?

2011-12-07T05:00:00.003-07:00

Now that I’m a “published” author, I pay more attention to what other people think. This has never been a strong characteristic in my personality. I’m usually the one to thumb my nose at other people’s opinions and go on about my business. The game has suddenly changed. If someone doesn’t like one of my books, I take notice.

Thank goodness no one has posted a negative review to date but I’m certain that day will come. And how will I react when it happens? Will I tear out my hair, weeping and wailing, throwing myself across the street in front of an oncoming bus because someone failed to resonate with my muse?

I doubt it. I may suffer a few bruised feelings but if I know me, I’ll find humor in the situation and sift through the meanderings to see if there's a lesson to learn. I have a sales background. My outer layer is pretty tough. It can be penetrated but it takes more than a few harsh words.

So that got me to thinking . . . a dangerous activity in my heightened state of publicity awareness. Did any of the “great” novels receive bad reviews? You wouldn’t believe what I found. So I’ve included a few for your enjoyment. And encouragement. Because even the best writers can’t please everyone.

PRIDE and PREJUDICE

I can read a book in a day this book took me over a week to read. I COULD NOT stay with this book. I made myself finish it but was driving myself nuts doing so.

…the book is really sort of a nightmare that never ends. It is not romantic or charming in the least bit. The main character comes through as arrogant and at times even stupid. It is a completely forgettable book, and I have no clue as to why so many people find it romantic.

OUTLANDER

I'd like to go back in time and stop myself from reading this book!

The end of this book is a total trainwreck. If you make it this far, it's almost comical if you have a dark enough sense of humor.

LITTLE WOMEN

This book is so corny I can barely stand it. It tells the story of four obnoxious, annoying sisters and their silly mother.

This story is so incredibly melodramatic it's not even funny. Jo is such an unlikeable character. She's arrogant, fickle, and a complete drama queen.

TOM SAWYER

This book is very dull and boring which can put the reader to sleep.

The Most horrible book I’ve ever heard. Its just keeps going, and gets more boring as it goes.

The bottom line is you can't make people like you. You can't force them to enjoy your work. What you can control is how you react to the situation.

BICHOK!

Deb Sanders

"Stone Cold Justice" and "Blood Storm" - now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords

http://BookLoversBuffet.com - .99 cent E-book Extravaganza!

Reading and Writing and 'Rithmetic

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

I’ve been a busy bee – evidenced by the fact my buzzer is dragging and I’m drinking way too much nectar. (I’m kidding but it sounded too cute not to say.)

I’ve been reading. Recently finished a new ebook by Gretchen Rix called “Arroyo”. It’s campy fun. A tall tale. If you liked “Pulp Fiction”, “Buckaroo Banzai” or “Third Rock From The Sun”, you’ll probably enjoy her story of three misfits on a grand Texas adventure in the old West.

I’ve been writing. I finally mastered the art of formatting for epub (I think) and finished final edits on “Stone Cold Justice”. I’ve almost completed revisions on my second thriller, “Blood Storm”, and hope to have it up on the Big 3 – Amazon, B&N and Smashwords – by the end of the week. And I’m gradually fitting in time to finish my paranormal.

I’ve been doing arithmetic. Perhaps it’s better described as an addiction. I find myself checking sales numbers on my e-publisher websites throughout the day and mentally converting them to dollars and cents. It’s exciting. Who knew math could be so much fun?

So there you have it. My life. I feel like a hamster on a treadmill. Oh yeah, I manage twenty to thirty minutes a day on one of those, too. Can I sleep now?

Deb Sanders
http://DebSanders.wordpress.com
Stone Cold Justice: Now on Amazon – B&N - Smashwords

Happy Thanksgiving to you

2011-11-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

I hope that everyone here at New Kids on the Writer's Block had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday spent with loved one and surrounded by peace and joy.

I was blessed enough to spend the day with many loved ones and to be able to visit my mother who is currently in a hospital. Though it isn't the place one wants to be on a holiday she is receiving wonderful care and that is a blessing in it's self.

I also went shopping on Black Friday. Call me crazy, I know. But I love finding the deals and spending time with my friends. The rush, the hunt, and the people watching. One learns a lot when you are standing in line for hours.

Did anyone else brave the crazy waters of Black Friday?

A Writer's Thankful List

2011-11-25T05:15:00.003-07:00

Thanksgiving for me is a time of reflection. Reflection on the role food plays in my life (pass the mashed potatoes, please) as well as reflection on the past year and what I've accomplished or not.

As a writer, I'm prone to see my failures. (Nine stories sent to Women's World, six rejected.) Instead, I should look at my success - One sold, two still pending.

As a writer, I tend to look too much at the big picture. A novel is 300-400 pages. I have ten on my current work in progress. Instead, I should be thankful for the two pages a day I can write on auto-pilot without pushing myself - that's two full manuscripts a year.

As a writer, I compare myself to my more successful peers. I am unagented, unpublished (except for short), and up until this year at RWA Nat'l's, unpartied. Writing is not a game for the weak willed. You have to want it, and you have to want it bad.

(Enter self esteem tapes here. Your choice. I'm kind of partial to the goal setting guru - Steven Covey.)

So my list of thanks.

I'm thankful for the agents who have requested partials and fulls, giving me a chance to show my work.

I'm thankful for my critique group who point out the good, bad, and ugly in my pages.

I'm thankful for the editors who have my manuscripts sitting on their desks, waiting for a few extra minutes when I can sweep them away.

I'm thankful for my writer friends where I can grip and moan about the inhumanity of a rejection, then get told to get back up on the mechanical bull and take another spin.

And I'm thankful for my daily routine. The words that sometimes come fast and flow, and the times where writing each word is painful.

Because, even on the worse day of being a writer, it's the best job I could ever dream of. Part or full time. I feel like I finally know what I want to be when I grow up.

And that's a lot to be thankful for.

What about you? What are you thankful for this holiday season.

Lynn

Week One Results of Indie Publishing

2011-11-23T05:00:00.002-07:00

Anytime you embark on a new venture, there’s always a learning curve. Sometimes the curves are easy, winding pleasantly through uncharted territory while offering an opportunity to stop and enjoy the journey. Other times, you grip the wheel with white knuckled fingers while staring through glazed eyes at the hairpin curves and frantically pressing the brake pedal with both feet.

Last week I experienced a little of both.

I belong to a Yahoo group called Indie Romance Ink (IRI). If you’re an indie published writer or just aspiring to be, check out this incredible resource. I’ve learned so much from the loop. The participants are a joyful lot and willing to share their experience.

Many of the writers at IRI decided to build a website featuring the group’s authors and run a sale in conjunction with Amazon’s 99 cent Holiday Sale. (More on this next week.) I rushed to upload my book to Amazon so I could be included in the sale. Even though our site does not go "live" until December 1st, our volunteers are working furiously to build it now. They needed my buy link. I knew there were a few typos in the manuscript I uploaded but I reasoned I could fix them later. Before the book attracted public attention. Who’s going to buy an e-book from a debut author, especially if I do nothing to promote it? Okay, I made a few announcements, but I’ve not participated in any blog tours, or spent hours on FB and Twitter getting the word out.

Ahem. Lesson One. Do not publish a book through KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) unless you are 100% ready.

Amazon does not notify readers of revised editions, nor do they make it easy for those readers to download the revised copy without buying it a second time. So there are a few unsuspecting people who purchased a less than perfect e-book and I have no way of knowing who they are so I can send a free, revised copy.

No matter, I told myself. They’ll read it, tell everyone it’s junk, and that will be the end of my Indie career. At least as far as Stone Cold Justice is concerned. I decided if the reviews were too bad, I’d just publish my next book, Blood Storm, under a pen name.

Ahem. Lesson Two. Do not underestimate your friend’s enthusiasm for promoting your work. Or assume you have lots of time to upload a revised copy of your book.

On Day 3, I finally figured out how to look at a report detailing my sales. I admit my daughter bought a copy because I wanted her to check the formatting on her e-reader. So I knew I wouldn’t see a zero but I didn't expect to find anything beyond a one. To my surprise there were double digits. Huh? Panicked by the realization people were actually purchasing my book, I rushed to upload the new version. But I forgot to include my acknowledgements. And my copyright. Two or three revisions later, I uploaded my final copy.

The numbers continued to climb. Reviews began to appear on Amazon. Three. All five stars. I’m awe struck. Are they reading MY book? Didn’t they see the mistakes? How can this be?

I’m pinching myself as I rush to carry the glow of success to Smashwords. If Kindle owners like my book, surely Nook and other digital e-reader owners will like it, as well.

Ahem. Lesson Three. Never count your chickens before they’re hatched.

It’s a challenge to format for Smashwords, and getting your book into their “premium” catalog i.e. Barnes & Noble, is not a twenty four hour process. I’ve not sold anything on SW, but I’m hoping when Stone Cold Justice appears at B&N that might change. Hopefully, I'll find out in a few days.

Ahem. I'm not sure I can survive Week Two.

Deb Sanders
http://DebSanders.wordpress.com
STONE COLD JUSTICE, now available in digital format at Amazon and Smashwords

Live...from Amazon.com...it's STONE COLD JUSTICE

2011-11-16T05:00:00.001-07:00

It's not Saturday night but it's live. On Amazon.com. My first foray into indy publishing.

Am I excited? You bet the "am" in "amazon" I am!

I wrote this romantic suspense novel a couple of years ago with the intention of submitting to Harlequin Intrigue. Harlequin wasn't interested. So it sat in my "dead" file for a while until I recently joined an awesome Yahoo group called IRI - IndyRomanceInk. IRI came up with a clever idea to create our own web page in conjunction with Amazon's upcoming sale for the holidays - $.99 ebooks.

Stone Cold Justice has done nothing but gathered dust since its completion so I decided to spruce it up a bit before I offer it for public consumption. It's Shirley Temple tame on the romance side but offers an interesting twist in the suspense.

I'm still trying to figure out the formatting but I've managed to make it presentable for Amazon. Still working on the Barnes and Noble format.

You say you don't have a Kindle? No matter. You can download a Kindle app for free on your computer or phone.

More good news....I received positive feedback from Ellora's Cave on my Burn trilogy. The editor likes my "voice" (OMG...someone understands my voice besides me!) and would like to see the novella trilogy as a single title. Granted, it's not a contract but the encouragement was awesome. I'm now burning the midnight oil to whip my trilogy into a full blown novel so I can resubmit. It woud help if the last part was completed but alas, that would make it too easy, wouldn't it?

If you have .99 cents to burn, stop by Amazon and donate to my favorite charity...me! And if you're feeling exceptionally benevolent, leave a positive review. It's the holidays, after all. Consider this your "get out of being a scrooge" card.

Until next week, I'll be BICHOK. Anyone got a butt massager? I need a little excitement while my fingers burn up the keyboard!

Deb Sanders a.k.a. Alexis Thomas
STONE COLD JUSTICE
http://www.amazon.com/dp/

NaNoWriMo Check In

2011-11-14T22:16:00.000-07:00

Well, if you're on track for your NaNoWriMo word count you should be at, or above, 25,005. I haven't even met 4,000, yet, and I don't expect to. Yeah, it's doable if I started today and wrote 3k a day. The idea of the challenge almost makes me want to go for it, too!

I don't want you to think that I just up and quit NaNo, because I don't really see it that way. But, I had to rearrange my priorities when I first received a phone call, and then received an email in my inbox concerning, not one, but two separate projects. So, I hope y'all will be forgiving.

If you're participating let's hear your count so far, if you're not, why don't you share what you're reading.

Happy Tuesday,

Christina

Dangerous Alterations' Author - Elizabeth Lynn Casey

2011-11-11T01:24:00.000-07:00

Today, we have a treat. Elizabeth Lynn Casey has stopped by to tell us about the origins of next year's holiday visit with the ladies of Sweet Briar. What I love about this story, is how she gives us an inside look at what sparks a book's origin. Please welcome my friend, Elizabeth Lynn Casey.

Lynn

For most writers, plots can be born from the oddest of places—the radio, party chatter, a photograph, you name it. We’re used to it.

What I wasn’t used to was having an entire book (pre-plot) born from an odd place. Until last December, that is…

It was Christmas week and I was gearing up to take advantage of a kids-free day to get in a little last minute shopping. Before I left, though, I checked in on my Elizabeth Lynn Casey Fan Page on Facebook and leave a status update for my readers.

The status was simple enough: I wonder what the ladies of Sweet Briar are doing this Christmas?

That was it.

I shut my computer down and headed out to run my errands. About an hour or so later, I’m poking around the holiday-themed gifts (hot chocolate mugs, etc) in the front of the store when my cell phone rang. A quick check at the screen revealed my agent’s name and number.

Hmmm…

So I open the phone and put it to my ear, thinking maybe I was getting a “Merry Christmas” call. But instead of the traditional holiday greeting, I hear, “we have a contract.”

Now, mind you, we weren’t ready for contract talks yet, so I truly had no idea what “contract” we had. So while I’m processing her sentence, she goes on to tell me that my editor had read my status update and thought my readers should know what the ladies of Sweet Briar are doing for the holidays.

Suffice it to say, I was more than a little giddy when that phone call ended. What, if any shopping I did from that point forward is still a bit foggy.

Which brings me to today…and the fact that I’m basking in the glow of having pressed “send” on that particular manuscript not more than six days ago.

Now, when I find myself wondering what the ladies of Sweet Briar are doing for the holidays—I know. And come next year, my readers will, too.

Perhaps it’s time to wonder about Valentine’s Day…

Or maybe Halloween.

~Elizabeth Lynn Casey

My Writing Just Flashed Before My Eyes

2011-11-09T05:00:00.001-07:00

I have some exciting news bubbling to the surface which I can't share for a few more days. Unfortunately, I’m under the wire to meet a couple of deadlines and time is running out. So I’m recycling an old blog. Remember - old blogs never die, but people sure like to comment about them!

One minute it was here, the next it was gone. As in "lost in cyberspace" gone. Forever. Non-recoverable. All those months of relentless BICHOK. And not a thing to show for it except a hazy memory.

Has this ever happened to you? I was < this > close to complete disaster before I went to my local RWA chapter monthly meeting and learned about Dropbox, a free online file backup, file sharing, and file syncing service.

I originally wanted Dropbox because I’d just purchased a laptop and needed an easy way to sync between computers. This nifty app offers 2 GB of free storage. For a small fee, you can upgrade to 100 gigabytes.

After a very easy download from the website, I invested a few minutes in transferring my completed manuscripts as well as two WIP. Because I wanted access to many of my photos from either computer, I put them in a folder, too. And thank goodness I did.

Less than two weeks after setting up remote storage, my desktop crashed. The hard drive was fried. My writing would have been lost had I not utilized this wonderful little program.

We all have those flashes of brilliance when words pour onto the page in perfect symmetry. Five minutes later, we try to recreate it but it’s never quite the same. It’s hard to capture the same essence. So to lose an entire chapter, or worse, and then try to write it again is almost impossible.

With Dropbox, I no longer worry.

It's compatible with Windows, MAC and Linux and offers a mobile app for Android.
Here's the way it works. You download the program to your computer. If you need to sync files to more than one laptop or desktop, you simply set them up as a network. All you have to do is link with your user name and password. If you’re working on a WIP at the coffee shop, it will automatically sync to the folder on your desktop as soon as internet connection is activated. And it only syncs the files you've added or revised, not the entire folder.

Another great use of this program is for multiple users who wish to work on the same file. One of my friends collaborates with her daughter. They each edit a portion of their manuscript, save it, and within minutes the other person can see what they've written. Public and private folders are available, depending on your needs.

There are other programs with similar functions. I happen to love Dropbox which is why I wrote about it. But to be fair, you can research Evernote, Mozy, SugarSync, Carbonite and several others. If you’re currently writing without an external backup for your work, I encourage you to try one of these services.

For detailed information about Dropbox, visit www.dropbox.com

Don't wait for your computer to crash.

Deb Sanders aka Alexis Thomas

www.debsanders.wordpress.com

www.alexisthomas.wordpress.com

Did Scots wear war paint when in battle?

2011-11-05T09:21:00.000-06:00

In June of this year, I went to Michigan for a Writer's Weekend with my two critique partners. We spent a week writing, editing, plotting, and having fun too! While we were there, we went to the St. Andrews Society of Detriot's Kilgour Scottish Center. They were very generous with their time and knowledge. One of the things they gave to us was a pamphlet of their upcoming Scottish Highland Games. On the cover was a man's face painted white and blue to look like the Scottish flag. This got me to thinking.

When we think of Scotland, many images come to our minds and one of those images is the man with the blue face. Mel Gibson brought to life the painted face in the movie Braveheart and even thought the movie was historically incorrect on somethings, was it incorrect on the face painting? The blue man in synonymous with Scotland, but when men went to war, did they wear war paint?

In researching, it was discovered that war paint was not used in the High Middle Ages (1000-1300) or in the Late Middle Ages (1300-1500). The Wallace/Murray uprisings took place during the Wars of Independence (1290s). At that time, the Anglo-Normans formed a very powerful part of the aristocracy of not only England, but also Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Their manners of dressing and their armour, weapons, and war tactics were the norm for this period. So, there would have been no war paint.

No poetry that had been read mentioned war paint, though they did mention the naming of their weapons and the bravery of their people. Now, if we are talking about the Picts, than this could be a different scenario. The Picts are a historical people recorded from A.D. 300-900, the Early Middle Ages. It is believed they were separated from the British speaking people since 2nd century A.D. They may have been tattooed or painted blue.

We have to remember that legends are built off of some facts. So, even though I don't believe that men in Scotland wore war paint into battle, I do think there could be something to this story. Tell me what you think of this idea.

With war comes injuries, and we know that they would have had some sort of medical supplies with them, even if they were homemade. We know that Indigo was used as a blue dye and an antiseptic. Blueberries or blaeberries (aka bilberries) also have antiseptic properties because of their tannins. So, I think it is safe to say that if a man had had an injury, they may have used one one these items to sop infection and therefore giving the man the appearance of wearing war paint.

And, when one day in the future, a Grandpa is sitting in front of the fire with his grandson on his knee telling a story of his days in the wars, he may have said something like this. "And there I am, creeping up the hill on my belly and just as I am peeking over the top, I come face to face with a man who had blue paint on his face. Nearly scared me to death!"

***I would like to thank Sharon Gunn for her help in the research of this subject.***

Carousels - And Other Things That Make The World Go Round

2011-11-02T05:00:00.003-06:00

I love adventures. If you’ve been following my blog, that little tidbit of information is hardly a secret by now. I’m stretching the fifty mark but I find it no reason to slow down. Sometimes I feel like Peter Pan. I’ll never grow up – even if my adventurous cohorts i.e. my children have reached maturity and view my lifestyle as a bit odd.

We used to have such grand adventures when they were young. Seeing, doing, experiencing new sights and sounds. How great is that? So now Grannie P.P. (this has nothing to do with weak bladders but more to do with a state of mind as in Grannie Peter Pan) has moved on to the next generation.

Thank God for grandchildren.

During a brief stay in Oklahoma, my oldest grandson and I trailblazed wonderful treks into the wilderness. It was known to locals as Redbud Valley Nature Trail but we viewed ourselves as the next Lewis and Clark. We fought fierce battles using water balloons. We tracked a mysterious creature that remains uncategorized to this day but could possibly have been a woodchuck. Who knows how much wood he chucked before we found him lurking in a tree? Or even if he was a she? The possibilities are endless!

Last weekend provided another great delight with my youngest grandson when we decided to pan for precious gems in a mining camp/adventure park. How cool is that??? I thought it was pretty cool. He’s six. He was not as impressed.

We used a sluice to uncover beautiful stones lurking beneath a bucket of sand and soil. Amethyst, Onyx, Rose Quartz, Pyrite . . . semi-precious gems. Enough to fill a respectable plastic bag. Okay, it was small. But respectable. If polished, they could be worth hundreds. Or tens. Or dollars. At least a few pennies. And they were pretty. Who can resist a pretty rock that took at least fifteen minutes of hard labor to uncover over a water sluice? I mean, really? This is good stuff. Besides, the park had an awesome old fashioned carousel. Unfortunately, I was too big to ride without a small child and grandson was too big to require an adult.

Life is so unfair at times.

It reminded me of when my daughter and I took my mother to a small town in Arkansas, well known for its “diamond mine”. Mom was getting up there in years so our trip represented her last big “adventure”. It was her idea.

I was single at the time. There were three generations of women searching for precious gems in the Arkansas dirt that day. Unbeknownst to me, my mother’s intent was more focused on finding a “Precious JIM” than a gem. She was determined to locate a suitable partner for me and eyed every man on that tilled up acreage as a potential mate. It was embarrassing. And sweet. She’s always been my precious “gem” even though she’s been gone a few years now.

And that brings me to the lesson of this blog. Love makes the world go round. Whether it’s a grandchild, a child, a parent, or a spouse. Or a story you created in your head.

Romance sells. Love it. Live it. Tell it.

BICHOK

Deb Sanders

Ready or not, it's NaNo Time

2011-11-01T00:00:00.001-06:00

Looks like y'all have been getting great tips for NaNo. The following is a tip list that I sent to My Book Therapy.

**** First off I start each writing day with prayer. If you're interested you can use something like the prayer found on Debby Giusti's site.

1. Write each day

2. Minimum daily word count goal 1667 (I believe Julie mentioned this too)

3. Write in small spurts, four sittings at 500 words a piece will do wonders.

4. If possible get a head of the game. Shoot for 2000 words a day.

5. Don't expect to get all your writing in on the weekends.

6. For those who are the main meal cooks of the house utilize the crockpot. Great blog with tons of easy crockpot recipes.
7. Make sure you have healthy, ready snacks available. We tend to munch while we're writing.

8. Don't forget to save your work.

9. You can utilize Write or Die It works to get the words on the page. The genorator is found on the right hand side bar. Type in your projected word count and your time. On your mark, set, go!

10. Take a few moments to review your plot notes and/or words you wrote the day before.

11. If you're in constant editing mode like me, DO NOT change anything, if you see things that need to be changed, use your insert comments to make yourself a note and press forward.

12. Drink lots of water to balance out all that caffeine.

13. Most of all have fun.

***End the day with praising God for the wonderful day of writing.

Don't forget to grab your cool little NaNo buttons and word count widgets. Well, the little word count widgets aren't available yet but you can find some here.

Happy Tuesday,

Christina

On Your Marks, Get Set.....

2011-10-31T06:14:00.003-06:00

NaNo!

Tomorrow is the big day. At midnight the clock starts it's countdown. All NaNoWriMo participants have 720 hours to write 50,000 words. That' just 1667 words per day. Less than two 1hr1k's per day for Twitter Folks who like to get together and take an hour to write 1,000 words. And if you equate 1 page of writing to 250 words (usually my average), then you need to write only 7 pages per day in November to meet your goal.

If you need two days off each week to run errands and chill you can complete the NaNo 50K Challenge by writing 2273 words per day. And if you like a real challenge, write your 50K on the weekends. Since there are 4 weekends in November that gives you 8 days to write. That means you need to write a mere 6250 words per day, and you've won.

No matter how you add, subtract, multiply and divide, writing 50,000 words in 30 days is an accomplish-able feat if you add a smidge of BICHOK to your life. Happy NaNo 2011!

NaNoWriMo ~ It's Not Too Late!

2011-10-29T11:42:00.005-06:00

Continuing my earlier post on NaNoWriMo preparedness, we’re going to catch up with Mr. Brook’s tips for successfully making it through the whirlwind that is National Novel Writing Month.

Larry Brooks, author of DARKNESS BOUND and THE SEMINAR, is The Storyfixer.

If you’re going to participate in NaNoWriMo and you’re still wondering how you’re going to tackle it all, or if you’re just looking for tips, Storyfix.com is the NaNo resource. You still have plenty of time to prepare for NaNo ~ as long as you quit lagging and move your tuckus!

Let’s get to it:

#15 – Stuck? Try This and Move Forward. Larry shows us how watching and breaking down the scenes in a movie can help fuel our imaginations and pull us over the creative hump.

#16 – Consider an “Arena” Story. Larry explains how we can use the time, place or culture of a story as it’s main component.

#17 – Learn From Others Who Have Been Down This Road. Larry invites us to leave comments in order to share our own stories, tips, and advice on how to prepare, plot, or structure our novels. Some really great stuff here.

#18 – Don’t Confuse “Quirks” with Characterization. Larry urges us to go below the surface of our characters and really bring them to full color reality.

#19 – Center Yourself Within The Big Picture. Two of them, actually. Take a step back and really look at your concept. Do you know the ins and outs? Do you understand exactly what it’s going to take to turn it into a page turner?

#20 – To Edit or Not To Edit…. Know the difference not only between the right and wrong times to edit, but the right and wrong ways to edit! Yes, there are differences!

#21 – Still Struggling With Your Concept? First, know exactly what a concept is ~ it’s not just an idea. Next, Larry offers a fantastic approach to get our creative drives in gear.

#22 – Stare Down Your Limiting Beliefs. You cannot write well if your pride or ego are in the way. Get rid of those limiting beliefs ~ Larry explains how.

#23 – Harness The Power of Resentment. It’s what separates the good from the great. Dig deep into your character and harness their motivation. Let them come alive on the page with visceral emotion.

#24 – Sharpen Your Hook. Whether it’s with your prologue or first chapter, grab your reader by the throat right from the beginning. But don’t squeeze…

#25 – A Strategy for Introducing Your Hero. Larry offers awesome insight in the myriad ways to introduce your hero/ine. And no, it doesn’t have to be on page one. On a side note, have you read his books? I’m just starting on BAIT AND SWITCH, and WOW. I’ve been thinking about the characters all day!

#26 – The Panster’s Solution to Story Planning. This is a “NoNoWriMo.” Here, Larry explains that it’s a definite no-no to sit down and write without a plan, but it is also unrealistic to think you need to have every single scene laid out and planned to the last detail before writing. Great tips and advice here!

#27 – How To Optimize Your Scenes. Larry shows us how we writers can ‘study and master’ the skills of story planning and scene writing.

#28 – Don’t Allow the Parts or the Process to Smother the Whole. Larry reminds us not to lose sight of our goal. He encourages us to keep moving forward, and to be realistic in terms of ‘storytelling sensibility.’ We cannot become so stuck in our own heads that we over-think these tips and wind up in a twisted, knotted mess. We need to take a deep breath, remember what we’ve learned thus far, don’t stress about what we don’t (it is, afterall, in the links), and stay focused on the end game.

#29 – 6 Tools to Rescue – or Beef Up – Your Beat Sheet. The title says it all. Larry gives excellent tips on how to maximize our planning process. Whether you’re plotting or pantsing, the beat sheet is a malleable, must-know tool that will help us achieve success not only in NaNo, but at any point in our careers.

Ok, we’re ‘coming down the home stretch’ as Larry says. T minus 2 days and counting to the big kick off. Puns intended J

2 days…that’s still plenty of time to get some planning done! We can do this!

So talk to me. Will you participate in National Novel Writing Month ~ why or why not? Are you a plotter or a pantser? How is that working for you? What are your methods of planning for NaNo?

My NKotWB Friends! I wanted to let you know that I will be taking a hiatus from this wonderful blog. With family, day job, and writing demands, I've needed to make some tough decisions in order to find time to meet them all. See you soon!

Kate Wood

Debut Author - KC Klein

2011-10-27T01:00:00.002-06:00

Thanks so much, Lynn, for having me on your blog. I am really excited to be here and to share my major squeal about my debut release, DARK FUTURE.

When Lynn invited me on she asked me to share a bit about my experience with writing for Avon Impulse. So, what the heck, here it goes.

Avon Impulse is Avon’s new digital-first imprint. When I signed with them the imprint had only launched one book, and there wasn’t a history of authors I could question. So, yes I was a bit unnerved, but heck this was HarperCollins, not some new fly-by-night publisher I’d never heard of. One of the biggest selling points was that the same editors that edited Avon’s print-first books and worked with best-selling authors like Eloisa James (total name drop there, and in case you missed it, I’ll do it again…Eloisa James) would be working on the Impulse novels. To me that was a big plus.

DARK FUTURE had been a hard sell. It’s too romance to be slotted for traditional sci-fi and too sci-fi to be a straight paranormal romance. But Esi Sogah, my editor, seemed to really like my voice and believed in the book. In the end, that was the selling point—a great editor is worth their weight in gold.

The fellow Impulse authors all rallied together and helped each other out through our book launches. I love my cover and couldn’t have picked a better title myself. I’m so glad that for my first time out on the dance floor I was partnered with such a stable and wonderful publisher. It has been a joy to work with them.

Okay, you say, that’s great, but you want the dirt. You want the nitty-gritty. You want to know what happens behind the closed doors at those RWA national publisher parties. Fine…I’ll tell you, BUT you have got to promise to keep it a secret. J

So here I am, the ink barely dried on the contract and still waiting for the email that said… “oops, a mistake has been made,” when I get an envelope addressed to KC Klein. I tell my husband I’m sure that Avon has hand-written the “oops there has been a terrible mistake” part instead.

Well, it was an invitation to a cocktail party hosted by HarperCollins in freaking New York Times Square! Super Squeal! I was so excited. Well, the excitement lasted until I realized my trusted and faithful roomies would be going to their own publisher parties, and I’d have to traverse this new landscape on my own. All I can say is, there’s no deodorant on earth that could’ve saved me. The color black is my friend.

There were a few stomach churning moments like when I showed up at the door and my name was NOT on the list. For one blinding moment, I thought this was where they were going to give me the “oops, a mistake has been made” speech. To my disbelief they allowed me in, and after a loving text from my roommate that went something along the lines of “Get you’re a** out of the bathroom stall and go mingle!” I had a great time. I met some very sweet authors (waving madly to Anne Mallory) and even spotted Eloisa from afar (yeah, she is seriously as cool as she looks). By the end of the night (and a few glasses of champagne), I even got comfortable enough to pose for this picture.

So, my next goal is to get invited to another Avon party, actually meet Eloisa James, rub shoulders with Kathleen Ash, and tell Anne Mallory that I read and loved her book. Now, to win a free copy of my debut novel, DARK FUTURE, all you have to do is be honest and tell me if you think I could make it as a romance cover model.

KC - Thanks for stopping by New Kids and bring along Fabio. Good luck with Dark Future. Can't wait to read it. Lynn

Here's a taste of.....DARK FUTURE

Awakened in the middle of the night by a future version of herself, Kris Davenport is given a mission: go forward in time to save the world—and His life. Of course, her future self doesn't tell her who he is, just sends her into an abyss and straight into an alien invasion.

He turns out to be ConRad Smith, the callous, untrusting Commander of Earth’s army and the world’s last defense. There’s only one way to know for sure if this strange woman is an alien spy—slice her throat. Except, he didn’t anticipate the heat he would feel as he interrogates the hot-tempered, warm-blooded woman. For a man whose sole focus has been survival, she's more temptation than he can handle. But a world on the brink of destruction leaves no room for love…and time is running out.

KC Klein is the author of Dark Future, a sexy futuristic time-travel. She became serious about writing three years ago and was as surprised as anyone when her stories took a turn toward dark and snarky. Today, she divides her time between taking care of her family and driving in circles around Arizona, too busy creating stories in her head to pay attention to mere road signs. KC would love a visit at kckleinbooks.com.

What I Learned At Conference

2011-10-26T05:00:00.001-06:00

Ten days ago I attended my first writer’s conference. It wasn’t National. It wasn’t Regional. It was the Lone Star Writer’s Conference in Houston, Texas.

What convinced a North Carolina gal to go to Texas? I used to live there. I was a member of ARWA and SARA, the local RWA chapters for Austin and San Antonio. I have wonderful friends there who attended conference with me. I have wonderful friends there who did not attend conference with me. I have wonderful memories of living there.

So it was pretty much a no brainer.

The big draw was an awesome workshop schedule presented by Alexandra Sokoloff, a screenwriter and author. Ms. Sokoloff shared the secrets of plotting and structure used by screenwriters and showed us how to easily adapt them to fiction novels. I’ve been dissecting every TV show and movie since the conference, and it’s amazing how spot on she is with her assessment. The structure is carried out so flawlessly that most people don’t even realize it.

The second big draw was agent/editor appointments. I’ll be honest. I’m not convinced having an agent is necessary at this point in my fledgling career. I’m preparing to launch a couple of indy published thrillers on Amazon. I’m more interested in the small digital presses. Would I like to add a NY Times ranked novel to my portfolio? You betcha. But I don’t believe that’s going to happen right away. I prefer to build my platform slowly, learn the ropes and then pursue the Big Six. When that happens, I want an agent.

During the conference, I met with Kelli Collins, senior editor with Ellora’s Cave and the only editor present. She requested the first novella in my paranormal romantica trilogy. She also offered some invaluable advice about my story line which I’ve taken to heart. I’m tweaking the plot for the second and third novellas and I can honestly say, it’s something I would read even if I hadn’t written it.

To my surprise, I discovered agents and editors don’t bite. Neither do screenwriters/authors. The NWHRWA chapter hosted a charming buffet social on Friday night. The energy, great conversation, delectable food and gracious chapter members made it a truly memorable event. By the time the workshop was over at 6pm, many of us met for a group dinner at the hotel and adjourned for wine and chocolate in a private room. I laughed. I learned. I vowed to go back next year.

So what did I learn at conference? The tools for writing are everywhere. Knowledge is assessable. But the exhilarating motivation of networking and sharing your dreams with like minded individuals at various stages of their careers is priceless.

Well done, Northwest Houston Romance Writers of America. Well done.

Deb Sanders aka Alexis Thomas
http://DebSanders.wordpress.com - Paranormal Suspense
http://AlexisThomas.wordpress.com - Paranormal Too Hot for Hell

For more information on Alexandra Sokoloff and screenwriting tips for authors, visit her site, http://thedarksalon.blogspot.com/

Is Your Pitch a Curve or Fast Ball?

2011-10-19T05:00:00.008-06:00

Mine was a foul. Seriously. Bad.

I’m blessed that Kelli Collins from Ellora’s Cave either felt sorry for me or read between the lines because if I had been listening to my pitch at the Lone Star Writer’s Conference, I would have pointed toward the door and said “Thanks for stopping by.”

She didn’t. She asked for the first novella in my Romantica trilogy. I think I left half my jaw on the floor of the conference room.

It wasn’t that I was ill prepared. Okay, maybe it was, but I prefer to think it was more a case of nerves. It’s the only explanation I can come up with on why my tongue refused to wrap around the words I’d so carefully rehearsed or why my brain cast a foggy shroud over my thoughts. If someone would have given me a shot of something alcoholic, I’m sure I could have walked in with a bravado that would have impressed even the most hesitant of editors or agents. Perhaps a dash of champagne in my orange juice. A Bloody Mary. A Die Trying.

I was Kelli’s first appointment of the day and I truly believe it was my saving grace. I bombed but she still asked for a submission. I’m not ashamed that certain elements worked in my favor. My writing is good. My novella trilogy rocks. My attempt to pitch it sucked.

Following the conference, a group of twenty or so attendees met for dinner at the hotel. I had the good fortune to sit across from Diane Holmes, founder of Pitch University. They say hindsight is twenty twenty. So is synchronicity.

This amazing lady introduced me to her website, Pitch University. If you haven’t been there, go. If you’ve ever thought of pitching, go. If you need to write a query letter, go. If you think you might pitch in the next ten years, go. If you have no interest whatsoever in pitching, go.

Just go.

What an incredible resource. Why didn’t I know about this before my embarrassing attempt at pitching during the conference? It was my first pitch ever. I could have used the information I found at Pitch University. That’s not to say things turned out badly. Luckily I didn't leave with my tail dragging between my legs because . . . thank God . . . Kelli decided to exercise her benevolent side and give me a chance. (She won’t be sorry.)

No one should rely on luck and blind faith. It’s stupid when there are websites like Pitch University to help writers perform to the best of their ability. It won’t relieve a case of nerves. It won’t loosen a tied up tongue. It will infuse confidence because you’ll feel prepared and ready to offer a concise, enthusiastic presentation sure to garner the right kind of attention.

There’s an impressive list of free lessons at the Pitch University website, along with blogs, forums and a plethora of resources aimed at helping writers rise to the top of the pitching game. Don’t take my word for it. Go to http://www.pitch-university.com/ and see for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

Batter up. Now . . . PITCH!

Deb Sanders aka Alexis Thomas

The Loose Plot of Jane Doe

2011-10-18T15:52:00.000-06:00

I haven't forgotten about Jane Doe's story just like I didn't quite forget that I was supposed to blog today. I'm just a little late. I'm not the best at writing synopses, but I'll give it a go. Actually this will probably look like something from my notebook. So, it's not going to be complete and it's not going to be in proper format.

First, let's find a working title. Speed-dating Serial Killer? Too long for my taste. To Catch a Killer? No. Jane Doe's Catch? Hmmm, maybe. The Detective's Killer Date? Still not working for me. (I know, I know. Find the title later, right? Well, there is something in my brain that refuses me access to the story until I come up with a decent working title.) A Date to Die For? Okay, so nothing is working for me so, I'm going for Jane Doe.

Jane Doe opens with Detective Jane Doe in a speed-dating scene, a world she never knew existed until four women, all with ties to a particular dating organization, disappear. The only real clue she has about her perp is that he likes women short in stature, straight brown hair and green eyes. Women just like her.

1-Her first date puts her on edge. The guy is a obvious creep. Is it enough to make him suspect? Second, date only wants to discuss the missing girls and she pretends cluelessness but keeps her ears open for incriminating words and keeping her eyes on the first date. Third date she relaxes a little as he's her partner. The fourth looks like her dream guy and has the manners of her dream guy, but her attention is drawn by a local newspaper reporter (cliche?)

At this point, even I have no idea which man will be her hero and which is the serial killer, but since I intend it being a romantic suspense it is something I'd like to find out before I begin writing, but more than likely I won't discover the identity of the hero until after the first scene is written. But since I don't know write now I can only write scene ideas for my heroine. As for the villain, who knows, but it'll be a character introduced in the first scene.

2-Briefing at department. Interaction with co-workers. A strange call on her cell-phone puts her on edge.

3-Followed home, frantic scene tries to lose the car. Makes it home removes her jacket, her revolver and badge, feeds the cat (dont' all female det. have a cat?) There's a knock on the door.

4-It's the reporter. (Still don't know if he's the hero or the villain) He asks her to the coffee shop on the corner. She's hesitant, but knows he might have useful information. Asks him to wait out in the hall as she grabs her stuff. They talk. Share coffee. He's about to tell her something imperative to the case when the glass breaks and he's shot. (cliche? maybe)

5-At hospital, lead detective and her partner grill her about her connection with the reporter. Reporter flesh wound but refuses to divulge information to her and the others. Threaten to arrest him for withholding evidence. A woman shows up to take the reporter home. She looks similar to the women who have disappeared. Her partner makes note of it and makes Jane wonder.

6-As she's returning home there is a cryptic, threatening message. She's sure the reporter couldn't have done this since he was with her the whole time. She's scared to be alone but won't admit it to herself and she goes to the station under the guise of looking over the case.

7-A body shows up, first missing female. Her partner says something that makes her not trust him.

8-She contacts the reporter and meets with him. At this point I'm beginning to believe the reporter is my hero. Still not sure who the villain is. He still won't tell her the information he'd been about to reveal but does mention the woman who picked him up is his sister. She tells him about the message. She receives another strange phone call.

9- Now, I'm quite positive reporter is hero. He offers to take her and his sister to a safe place, since she feels she's being stalked and a little scared she wants to take him up on his offer, but knows she needs to go back to the speed-dating.

10-another speed-dating scene much like the first. This time she has reason to suspect a different man and decides to further her acquaintance with him. They agree to a date the next night.

11-reporter is furious that she's taking a risk (I'm realizing that they have known each other in a working relationship for a few years so there is camaraderie and this case has made him care for her and her for him knowing that he's protective) They argue he tries to get her to agree she'll let him stand by, but before she can his sister calls. Jane tells him to go and not to worry about her she can take care of herself.

12-date is uneventful have her watchful sees scratches on his wrists, but not enough evidence to bring him in at the end her car won't start. She knows her partner is close by but doesn't want to risk blowing cover. Her date offers her a ride, she'll call a cab, but he insists and she sees the scratches again and knows her partner will follow. (is she acting stupid? careless? Will she do whatever it takes to capture the guy now that a body has been found?) She receives an urgent call from the reporter and has her date drop her off at the coffee shop and gives him a good explanation.

13-She waits for the reporter, he shows up and slips her a thumb drive in the guise of holding her hand. They talk apologize and then his sister calls frantic. Jane offers to go with but he tells her to go home and trust no one. She watches his car as it peels away.

14-Jane walks next door to her apartment building and is confronted by her date. He looks crazed and grabs a hold of her wrist for ending their date for another guy. Confronts her on playing games etc she tries to pull from him but he drags her to his car. Undercover detectives pull up and rescue her, (was she wired, watched?) They arrest the man for attempting to kidnap her.

15-After filling out report she goes home removes her gear and feeds the cat, she's relieved that it's over. She plugs in the thumb drive and goes to make coffee. A knock at the door. and her phone rings at the same time She's expecting the reporter with news of his sister and opens the door without looking and answers the phone at the same time. Her partner's at the door, reporter is on the phone. He looks haggard like he's been in a fight. His eyes are red and irritated. (pepper spray?) At that moment she hears her partner's voice coming from her laptop she glances toward her computer and back to him, a sinister smile on his face. (You knew it'd be him all along, didn't you?) She drops the phone.

16.-He takes her to a remote place and chains her up with a few other women. he talks to her like he's working a case, like his mind is all there and how she should have known all along especially since he'd had a thing for her type (find good motive behind his mental break) He tells her how no one will find her or the other women, explains he didn't kill the first, how was he to have known she'd die on him. She'd just be another victim of the speed-dating.

17-Reporter calls police and tells them where they can find the women. Tells them he also has evidence that Jane's partner is the perp and he believes he has Jane. He races to the location, ends up helping rescue Jane (not sure how, though) tells her how his sister had been attacked and she was too scared to involve the police because she'd seen a badge and didn't know who to trust and how the perp had harassed her. Jane's partner is arrested and they all live happily ever after.

Now, all I need to do is flesh it out a bit, add in the romance, and since I'm an inspirational writer, the faith part. Since I'd most likely write this targeting Love Inspired Suspense and the lower side of their wordcount is 55,000, which is 3300 words give or take a chapter I could feasibly have a book completed in one month with NaNoWriMo. All I'd have to do is use my numbers as guidelines for scenes and/or chapters.

Next week will I'll give you some snack ideas and clues on how to reach your 50,000 wordcount.

Happy Tuesday,

Christina Renee

Are You Prepared?

2011-10-15T04:00:00.000-06:00

As most of you are aware, NaNoWriMo is right around the corner. I stumbled across storyfix.com whilst perusing my good friend, Gene Lempp’s blog treasures one day…and I’m SO glad I did!

Larry Brooks, author of DARKNESS BOUND and BAIT AND SWITCH, is The Storyfixer.

Recently, he’s been writing posts specifically for NaNoWriMo, and I wanted to share what he’s posted so far with you. So here we go:

#1 – Nail Your NaNoWriMo. Larry kicks off his series telling us that while the name of the game in November is to write and finish our novel, we can begin to develop it in October – start early, be ahead of the game. In this first NaNoWriMo tip, Larry says, Know What You Are Planning ~ imagine that story inside of you inside and out, frontward and backward, and side to side. Visualize all of the angles, visualize the different arcs, characters, plot points. Really immerse yourself in it.

#2 – Keep Your Character Close To Home. Larry says by casting yourself in the lead role, you will develop a character full of visceral emotion and hardy responses.

#3 – Vet and Fertilize Your Story “Idea.” In this tip, Larry explains the differences between “winning” and “succeeding,” as well as “idea” and “story concept.” ~ Differences every writer should know.

#4 – Tell Your Story In Context To…Something. Larry offers tools to enlighten and empower…priceless.

#5 – Don’t Forget To Fall In Love. Use NaNoWriMo to your advantage. Don’t just sit at the computer and “see what happens,” take the concept that speaks to you, that you dream about, that you see in the back of your mind every day, and write that story. Live it, breathe it. Put 200% into it. Fall in love with it.

#6 – Filling Out The Big Picture. Before you can write your story, you must be sure to have three key elements in place. Larry outlines each of these categories in easy to understand language that’ll have you sittin’ up and takin’ notes. So get to it.

#7 – The Most Important Moment In Your Story. Your first plot point. Larry gives advice and tools on how to get it right, even during NaNoWriMo.

#8 – Why and How Your First 12 to 15 Scenes Are Different. Because the First Plot Point is so important and so pivotal to your novel, Larry goes into it further here. He also gives great information for more in-depth study.

#9 – Take A Hike. During the planning stages, it’s easy to become confused and feel adrift. Larry says to take some time to verbally work through these moments with a partner who will quietly listen to you. This can literally be a hike, or as is my case, you can work through it on the elliptical at the gym. He also gives a fantastic bonus tip – you gotta see this.

#10 – Specifics On How To Plan Your Story. Larry dissects and defines each level of story planning: The Visionary Level, The Architectural Level, and The Construction Level. Keys to NaNoWriMo success!

#11 – Cast Your Story With Familiar Faces. Here’s a tip that I not only practice myself, but I’ve also heard about recently from another peer. Using a color photo of an actor as a visual aide is very helpful in adding depth and edge to your character’s personality.

#12 – May The “Forces” Be With You. Here, Larry breaks down five powerful forces, or physics, behind the core competences of writing.

#13 – Begin To Write It Down. Wait just a minute! No cheating here…it ain’t November 1^st yet, kiddies… Larry explains in detail just exactly what the heck a beat sheet is, finally.

#14 – Surrender To The Process. The halfway-point pep talk. Definitely need this right now. All of this prep work is a lot to take in, a lot to process, and a lot to manage. Whew!

So there you have it…we’re not finished, not by a long shot, but this is a fantastic start to planning for NaNoWriMo. I encourage all of you to subscribe to Storyfix.com immediately so you don’t miss out on the upcoming posts (which you need to head over there right after you finish this to get today’s post!) but if you don’t – for what reason I can’t imagine – I will post a follow-up to this one in two weeks…just in time for Day 1 of NaNoWriMo.

So talk to me. What do you think about Larry Brook’s approach to novel planning? Are you prepared for NaNoWriMo? What do you do differently? Are you going to participate in NaNoWriMo? Why, or why not?

Finding your muse in the oddest places

2011-10-14T01:20:00.000-06:00

I had another post all written and scheduled for today, then I realized, that New Voices announced their top 21 today (without me). So my post is moot.

Instead, I want to discuss the wandering muse. Or Writing Fairy as Deb discussed earlier this week.

I found my muse in the oddest places this month.

I took a few hours off work to visit the Monet exhibit at the art museum. Walking though the museum, waiting for my ticketed time, I found myself in the Asian section. There, on top of a very large podium was a Goddess sculpture.

As I stood there and watched, an idea for a middle grade/young YA story seeped into my brain. “What if,” my muse whispered. “Then what would happen?”

Before I knew it, I was furiously scribbling note about the plot and my character and my goddess statue.

Then as I was sitting in the main exhibition hall, relaxing and watching Monet’s three panel study of water lilies, another whisper. “What about the artist as a young man? His love affair with his benefactor’s wife? What if…”

The muse had attacked again. Now, I was into pages of a character description. Both of my paint wielding hero, and the strong, organized art instructor who falls in love with the man.

Fast forward a day later, and future characters were hanging out on Antique Row in my little town, just waiting for the muse to introduce us. As we walked away, my muse whispered, “Wouldn’t he be an excellent character for your book?”

Now I have lots of ideas and little time. I need to find that muse a job so I can write while she pays the rent.

When have you been surprised by an idea hitting you right out of the blue? Do you believe in a muse?

Lynn

Cats, Dogs and Other Writer Fairies

2011-10-12T05:00:00.015-06:00

My friend is building a webpage to launch her various writing projects. She’s found some amazing graphics, one featuring a little fairy with written words trailing down her skirt. A writer fairy. It’s unique, whimsical and perfect artwork for her site.

I was jealous at first until I realized the only way it would fit on my site is if the fairy had a gun instead of a wand, or had horns and a forked tail. That wouldn’t make her very whimsical, would it? Sigh.

Since I was green with envy, although very happy for my friend, I decided to come up with my own brand of writer fairy. I write Paranormal Suspense and Sexy Paranormal, neither of which incorporates fairies. Strike out on Plan A.

Moving on to Plan B. What does a writer fairy do, anyway? I decided it serves as a consultant. A muse, if you will. Someone who offers critiques as well as inspiration.

And then I had an epiphany. I realized I’d been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. I have not one . . . but TWO writer fairies. Oh, sweet bliss! How could I not see this before?

Johnny and Jack are constantly at my side, reviewing my work, offering suggestions. Even deleting entire passages when they think its not up to my usual standards. I must say, I react rather badly when that happens but they seem to take no offense, coming right back as if nothing had happened.

Sometimes they disagree on the direction of my story. I prefer to think of it as creative differences but they always make up in the end. They’re certainly insistent about their views. I’ve even had them get in my face on occasion but I know it’s only because of their passion for writing.

At times, I wish they would adopt a more relaxed attitude. I do worry about the stress and anxiety my writing has created in their lives. So I brought in a lifestyle coach to help them achieve a more tranquil state. I’m not sure it’s had much effect but there’s always hope!

Until then, BICHOK - Deb Sanders

Or as Jack and Johnny are learning to say, NAMASTE.

Story Prompts for NaNoWriMo or Whenever

2011-10-11T09:22:00.000-06:00

Twenty-one days until NaNo. Are you counting down?

I want to talk a little about running with the idea you have banging in your head. What? You don't have one. Seriously?

All right, I start there. I came across a book on my Kindle called 1,001 Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Creative Spark by Heather R. Wallace. (I'd use the little Amazon thingy but for some reason it's not wanting to work for me). Anyway, I'm not one for using a whole lot of prompts as I tend to have plenty of ideas roaming around in my head, but that's not to say there aren't good writing prompt books and websites out there.

Ex: I watched as the air shimmered and crackled for a moment and then there was a person, in long flowing robes, standing in front of me.

Excerpt from 1,001 Writing Prompts to Ignite Your Creative Spark

by Heather R. Wallace

I chose this one out of all the prompts. Why? Because this one could be set in Ancient Ur or in modern day Topeka, KS. Paranormal elements can be implemented or it can be written without them. There are no boundaries with a piece like this.

I'm guessing for many of you your creative spark is igniting toward the paranormal. I can see this as a medieval, a King Arthur's Court kind of thing, minus the paranormal.

And what about these from Adam Maxwell's Fiction Lounge.

After three months he knew the cat hated him but it came as quite a shock to find out the dog felt the same.

The conversation ran the gamut from the erratic to the erotic.

Even if you prove me wrong I will never agree with you.

There was nothing he could do to escape me. Not with this lipstick and that bag. Oh and the tazer.

You'll find a link on his sidebar that will take you to his Writing Prompts Generator, but hey, why don't I save you a click or two and just give you the link. The cool generator is in a box. Hit the refresh button and it'll give you a new prompt.

Let's take one of these and go with it.

The hum of conversation ran the gamut from the erratic to the erotic, but Jane Doe supposed that was the nature of this whole speed-dating thing. Not that she was here to make a connection, at least not of the romantic nature. No, romance was the furthest from her mind. She had a serial killer to bait and catch.

You see where I'm going? Of course, being the romance writer I am Jane Doe will find love.

Okay, go find your story ideas. If you'd like feel free to share in the comments. If you've got one of those top-secret-never-been-done-before-ideas, then just leave a comment letting me know you have one.

Next week, I'll take Jane Doe's story and write a loose synopsis so, we'll have something to work with when NaNoWriMo Day 1 arrives.

Happy Tuesday,

Christina Renee

GUEST AUTHOR: Kimber An (And GIVEAWAY!)

2011-10-09T00:01:00.022-06:00

Once again, the New Kids would like to welcome guest author Kimber An, who was our first Debut Author spotlight last year! She's got another book coming out and we would love it if you would check out what's new with Kimber An!

The Continuing Saga of Writing a Series in ePublishing

Good morning, New Kids! I still feel new, even though it’s been a year since my first book was released. Remember the last time I galloped through? Here’s the Post.

Well, the saga continues and it’s quite unlike anything I’ve heard of in traditional paper publication, although I haven’t had time to review books for quite a while. I’m kinda outta that loop. Anyway…

My mentors advised me of the importance of being prolific, especially in ePublishing. So, I’ve been trying to crank out a new novel every six months. (Crushed Sugar is a novella.) That’s not easy when you consider everything else that goes with it, editing and promo.

And I have four children.

I cranked out the third book in the series, Sweet Bytes, and then…

…the previous publisher declined it.

I was, like, oh, okay, well I guess it’s self-publication for this one then. (((shrug))) Been there, done that, oh, well.

Because, I’d always heard that was Death for a series.

I figured I’d rewrite the end of Sweet Bytes to end the series with that book, since it was already written. That way the readers who’ve been asking for it wouldn’t be left hanging.

I explained the situation to my fellow ePublished Young Adult authors and they all encouraged me to ask around. Turns out in ePublishing, this isn’t Death. So, I asked around. Of those, Noble YA was the best fit, I thought. https://www.nobleyoungadult.com/ I also liked their cover art the most. I was hesitant to inquire, because my characters tend to be younger than their 18 to 24 YA guidelines. But, then, I realized, wait, Ophelia’s almost eighteen! This might work.

I inquired at Noble YA, as well as a bunch of others.

Most of the ones I inquired said they’d take a look at Sweet Bytes! Boy, was I pleasantly surprised!

Like I said, Noble YA was my first choice. I sent them the manuscript on exclusive, even though they don’t require an exclusive. It was read, accepted, and I jumped on the contract like a PMSing female on Ghirardelli chocolate.

And, well, here I am promoting the third book in the Ophelia Dawson series.

Moral of the Story: ePublishing is not Traditional Publishing. If you go into it, leave your assumptions behind and learn from those who’ve gone before you.

Sweet Bytes is due out October 17^th and here’s the blurb!

Ophelia’s escape from Martin, an Addicted Newblood, came at a terrible sacrifice. Adrian, the boy she loves, is now infected and hunted like vermin.

As her new Protector, Tristan Li represents the Oldblood determination to destroy Adrian, along with all the Newbloods, addicted or not.

In her grief, Ophelia hates everything about Tristan, until his subtle strength empowers her to resist being turned into a vampire by the High Prefect.

As Tristan helps Ophelia harness her empathic ability, his need for redemption rings in her heart. Her own strength grows, along with her passion for freedom.

The veil of mourning lifts.

The evil of Martin returns.

Ophelia seizes ownership of her destiny.

Please comment to win a free copy of this eBook, which I can’t actually send until it’s released. Also, please hop on over to our group blog for ePublished YA authors, Fabulously Young ePubs, on October 16^th to enter the drawing for the Grand Prize. I’ll beg and plead for Rebecca to post a reminder here!

http://fabulouslyyoungepubs.blogspot.com/

To learn more about the first two books in the Ophelia Dawson series, please pop over to my main site-

http://www.kimberan.com/

Happy Writing!

Series VS Trilogy

2011-10-08T16:13:00.000-06:00

SERIES VS TRILOGY

People often wonder what the difference is between a series and a trilogy. Do you know the difference? Let me help.

A trilogy is a story line that takes three books to tell the story. Nora Roberts has written a few of these. THE CIRCLE TRILOGY and THE SIGN OF SEVEN are two of my favorites.

A series are a set of book that have a common thread but can stand alone. As in my three books, I have three brothers who get their own book. Their stories do not involve each other but you do see a mention of the brothers in all of the books. They are the common thread. You can read them in any order.

Now it is also my understanding that you can have a set of books that tell a story from start to finish and you must read them in order to understand and they are more than three books. Think of Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER series. There are seven books written so far.

I have heard of "series romance" or also called category romance, but I am unsure of what this means. If anyone can give a definition of this term, it would be appreciated.

I hope I was able to break down this confusing question for you and helped to make your writing a little easier!

What's On YOUR Dream Board?

2011-10-05T05:00:00.002-06:00

I’m building a dream board. Some people call it a vision board. Others say it's the footprint for their life. The title isn’t important. Where it leads you is.

My dream board reminds me of who I want to be. Where I want to be. And what I want to have when I get there. It’s my dream board. Not my husband’s, not my children’s, not my friend’s. Mine. Do my dreams include those people? You betcha. Because I want them there.

There are different explanations about how it works. I've heard it referred to as a visual map of your goals. A way to stay focused on what you hope to achieve. My favorite - and the one I feel is most accurate – has to do with activating energy that attracts teachers, products, services or actions necessary to realize my “dream” lifestyle. I don't believe in coincidence.

Dream boards work best if you use words as well as pictures. Words evoke emotions, a powerful motivator. My favorites are “inner peace”, “health”, “abundance”, “love”. When I search for photographs, I try to make them as close to my visualization as possible. I’m not interested in a Rolls Royce and a big mansion. When I imagine those things, I feel nothing so I know they have no place on my dream board. I prefer the great outdoors. Hiking. A modest home with a swimming pool, good friends and family. A permeating warmth fills my heart just thinking about such a life so I know I’m on the right track. Those are things I really want. MY dreams. Not someone else’s idea of what I should want.

I’ve included a few examples from my own dream board. The book cover is one I designed a year ago. Notice it reads “NY Times Best Selling Author”. The red rocks and mountains are from Sedona, Arizona. I gravitate back there whenever life allows me the opportunity.

Click HERE for a great article on Vision Boards by Martha Beck at Oprah.com.

And then . . . DREAM!

NaNoWriMo! Are You Ready?

2011-10-04T13:12:00.000-06:00

Please forgive me for my tardiness today. The kids were out of school yesterday. So, in my mind it's still only Monday.

As Julie stated yesterday, NaNo will begin in a few short weeks. For those of you who don't know what NaNo is all about just click here. I've participated for several years. Two of my manuscripts are products from my NaNo stint. Since I'm in the middle of revisions and finishing up a story I had intended for a NaNo project two years ago I didn't think I'd participate this year. But, there is something addicting, in a masochistic sort of way, about producing 50,000 words in 30 days.

Sounds a bit intimidating, doesn't it? Well, I'm not going to lie to you, after several years of participating I still find it intimidating. Have you ever heard the term vomiting on the page? That's what NaNo is all about.

Your success may very well depend on your preparations. And the time to start is now.

Do you have a story idea that has been itching to get on paper? This is the time to start plotting. You can even write a loose synopsis.

Stop at Julie's post and let her know you'll be participating, and then come back here and let me know if you'd like help brainstorming. Next week, I'll talk more about NaNo, maybe even a little bit of brainstorming. AND there might even be a few surprises in store between now and the end of November. Just keep watching for updates.

Happy Tuesday,

Christina Renee

NaNo is Coming! NaNo is Coming!

2011-10-03T11:22:00.003-06:00

Just a short note and reminder to all my writer friends:

We are just 4 weeks away from NaNoWriMo 2011. National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) starts on November 1st. I have participated the last two years and plan to participate this year too. In 2009, I completed my 50K novel in the 30 days allotted, but last year I only made it to 10K. This year, I have another Contemporary Romance planned with the hopes of completing the 50K challenge.

Is anyone else gearing up for this year's NaNoWriMo?

Who Poured Gravel Down My Throat?

2011-10-01T04:00:00.000-06:00

It seems that Bronchitis has infiltrated my home. Seriously, we're droppin' like flies over here...

Since it’s very difficult to write while coughing up a lung, I thought it might be best to simply offer some really great info about some pretty important peeps.

Seriously, if you don’t already know these guys, get to know them. Become their new bff…

Bob Mayer is an expert when it comes to publishing, especially self-publishing. Check out his website…and while you’re there, check out his Warrior Writer’s program. Sign up for some classes, get some books, get educated.

Kristen Lamb is the Social Media Maven. She can teach you everything you need to know to connect, build your author platform, and conduct yourself out there in the big bad world of social media. First things first, get her book "We Are Not Alone - The Writer's Guide To Social Media," and when you're done with that one, get "Are You There Blog? It's Me, Writer?" Both are must haves.

Tiffany Lawson Inman a.k.a. Naked Editor is an expert on craft. She’ll tell you exactly what you need to know to develop real characters, engrossing and entertaining stories, and meaty plots. Daughter of the incredible Margie Lawson, Tiffany uses her background in theatre, and innate editing abilities to help her students create tangible stories that touch readers on an emotional level. If you’re interested in writing that kind of story, I suggest you check her out and stick to her like glue.

Alright, that’s all I have for you. I need medication badly…and some more dark chocolate. Well, I guess I can catch up on my Grey’s Anatomy now…

~ Kate ~

Book Review for Stand In Mom by Megan Kelly

2011-09-30T01:47:00.000-06:00

This week I thought I'd post a book review I wrote for one of my favorite HQ American writers, Megan Kelly. Her new book is on store shelves until they replace them with the October books, so if you haven't bought it yet, get down to the bookstore or hit Amazon. Believe me, you won't be disappointed.

Lynn

Stand-In Mom

By Megan Kelly

Harlequin American Romance

Reviewed by: Lynn Cahoon

Genre: Contemporary Series

Release Date: September 2011

Megan Kelly takes us back to Missouri for her newest book, Stand-In Mom. And as always, takes us back to the theme of family and community.

Ginger Winchester, a local teacher, wants one thing more than any other, a baby of her own. Divorced and unable to conceive, she’s been working on polishing her image to make the adoption agency see her as deserving. So when she shares a night of passion with a complete stranger, she’s determined not to make that mistake again.

Scott Matthews, a smooth-talking Southern boy is running from his own demons. But he’s got his two little girls to protect. And falling in love with Ginger, his oldest child’s new teacher, is not on his to do list.

Both Ginger and Scott hold secrets. Secrets not only to protecting themselves, but the people they love. Readers will love watching the couple figure out that families are not just born, their made. And like adopting an untrained puppy, building a family can be a lot of work. But you don’t give up on the people you love.

Five Stars!

WORD UP

2011-09-28T05:00:00.008-06:00

As a writer, it seems only natural that I would love words. I devour them. Dissect their meaning. Keep three Thesaurus links on my “favorites” list. Read my Webster’s Dictionary regularly. Roll my eyes upward and pause in conversation while seeking the right spice to flavor to my sentence.

Words. Just the sound infuses me with excitement.

Too much of anything, however, can produce the opposite effect. Ask any editor or agent. I’m sure we’ve all experienced critiques with comments like “it’s too wordy” or “too many adjectives”.

TMA used to be my alias when I belonged to a critique group several years ago. I would often leave our sessions wearing my heart on my sleeve, deeply offended, and defensive to the point that I couldn’t carry on a meaningful conversation for two days. TMA???? Really?

Today, I’m older, wiser, and a lot more educated about the craft of writing. Choke . . . cough . . . clearing my throat. It pains me to say this but they were right. I had a love affair with adjectives and adverbs. It desecrated my writing.

And like any addict, I constantly monitor my obsession. I’m always in a state of learning. There will never be a point in my career when I say, “I know it all. I can now rest.” And thank goodness for that. I mean, how boring would life be if we failed to grow and improve? Becoming stagnant is the first sign of dying. It’s like giving up.

I’m not there yet.

So for today only, I will indulge my craving for delicious words. Words that lie on my tongue like a piece of dark chocolate, slowly melting and spreading its decadence over my taste buds. Words that instill such delight I close my eyes and sigh. Words that make others wonder what in the world I'm talking about.

Yeah, those kinds of words.

Here’s a few of my favorites: Esoteric. Nexus. Waft. Lagniappe. Puissant. Balustrade. Vacillate. Pandemic. Gesundheit. Insouciant. Nefarious. Paradigm. Sagacity. Vociferous. Exponential.

If you were forced to dust off the cover of an old dictionary, then I feel supremely gratified.

Now . . . give it back. Inundate my senses with some of YOUR favorite words.

Deb

Changing It Up

2011-09-26T06:18:00.003-06:00

My writing has been suffering lately. I've been putting off revising my current wip, a historical romance. My revision seem uninteresting and I don't know that they improve the story, and so I have been avoiding revisions. I organized and cleaned and ran errands. When I finally exhausted myself I went back into my office to reflect on why my wip revisions weren't working. Looking at my wip I decided I was too close to it. Revisions for this piece have been going on for over a year now. I needed a break, so this week I put some distance me and my wip.

Late last week I picked up another piece I had written for NaNoWriMo two years ago, and reread it. On Sunday, I started to revise it. So far I've revised a 1.5 chapters, and I can't wait to get started again today. I feel revived and interested. In a few weeks or months I'll go back to my historical with fresh eyes. I'm hoping the break will give me better perspective on what isn't working.

Have you ever taken a break from a piece that isn't progressing the way you would like it to? Did you take a break? Did it help you see your work with new insight?

Have You Ever Fallen For A Good Line?

2011-09-21T05:00:00.006-06:00

We’ve all done it. Quoted dialogue from a movie or book. Infamous insights. Titilating suggestions. A line or verse summing up our attitude toward life. A few words echoing the disdain with which we view others. Memorable. A line that creates instantaneous accord with strangers.

God . . . who writes this stuff?

I want to. I’m sure you do, too. So let’s explore the awesomeness of memorable movie and book quotes from the last few centuries. Or at least the past few weeks.

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Romeo and Juliet

“Tell all the other curs the LAW'S coming! You tell 'em I'M coming... and Hell's coming with me, you hear?! Hell's coming with me!” Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) in the movie, Tombstone

"I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.” Pride and Prejudice

“To be or not to be, that is the question.” Hamlet

"Relationships aren't math problems. You don't solve them by being practical." Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion) in Castle

“Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.” Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) in Gone With The Wind

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair." A Tale of Two Cities

"Wendy?...Darling. Light of my life. I'm not gonna hurt ya. You didn't let me finish my sentence. I said: 'I'm not gonna hurt ya.' I'm just gonna bash your brains in. I'm gonna bash 'em right the f--- in! Ha, ha."- Jack Torrence (Jack Nicholson) in The Shining

"You shoot off a guy's head with his pants down, believe me, Texas is not the place you wanna get caught."- Louise (Susan Sarandon) in Thelma & Louise

“When I first saw you, I thought you were handsome. Then, of course, you spoke."- Carol Connelly (Helen Hunt) in As Good As It Gets

"I can't believe I gave my panties to a geek."- Samantha (Molly Ringwald) in Sixteen Candles

"Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

“…You stay alive, no matter what occurs! I will find you. No matter how long it takes, no matter how far, I will find you.” Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) to Cora (Madeleine Stowe) The Last of the Mohicans

"Sometimes being a bitch is all a woman has to hold on to."Dolores Claiborne (Kathy Bates) in Dolores Claiborne

“You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow.”Slim (Lauren Bacall) in To Have and Have Not

What’s your favorite line? A few simple words that sparks a secret language within your soul, a message only your heart can recognize? Tell me.

Deb

When Did You First Fall in Love with Love?

2011-09-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

I didn't get introduced to romance novels until my mid-twenties, and once I did I devoured them. Literally. I think I read a book a day. My first book was Teresa Medeiros' Charming the Prince, and then I moved on to Catherine Coulter. I loved her books because they introduced me into an unfamiliar world (Regency) and incorporated a bit of Indiana Jones type adventures that I had loved growing up as a child. Oh, gosh, does that date me? I hope not.

Anyway, the other day I was trying to think of when I fell in love with love. I knew it didn't have anything to do with books, but movies, since that is where I was first introduced to the concept outside of my parent's marriage. I don't recall watching a lot of romance driven films with mom and dad. The closest thing I could think of was Hot Lips Houlihan. My parents were avid M.A.S.H. watchers. The only other television show that comes to mind is Joni Loves Chachi, but by then I think I was at an age when the thought of kissing boys scared me to pergatory. Either that or the show had some sort of corny factor that made it unappealing.

I was too young to understand the sigh factor when the first Grease hit the theaters, and just ripe when the second one came out. I'll never forget Michelle Pfeiffer singing I Need A Cool Rider while she longed for Max Caulfield to ride up and whisk her away. Not too long after Grease 2, Eddie and the Cruisers and The Outsiders hit the screens instilling in me further a love for good-hearted, bad boy personas. And who can forget Footloose and Dirty Dancing. Certainly not me. They're classics. There are other movies, like Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles which made me wish for my first happily ever after.

Do you remember when you first fell in love with love? Was it a movie, a book or something all together different?

Happy Tuesday,

Renee

Date Night

2011-09-17T01:00:00.001-06:00

Most writer’s have at least two jobs: writing, and their day job. A lot of writers also have other jobs like mommy jobs, daddy jobs, pet-care-taking jobs, house-cleaning jobs, you get the idea.

I am one of the latter, and in my world: writer + day job + mommy + wife = chaos!

When you are in a relationship and have children, your lives are hectic no matter what. That’s just the way it is – its how the package comes. When you add the hours and hours needed for writing, which, to a small or large degree, can take away from all of that, you create the potential for disaster.

Exactly what kind of disaster? Well, lots of different things can happen, but I want to point out one of THE most dreaded disasters…problems with the spouse.

They are your soul mate, your teammate, your other half, your significant other. Keeping them happy should be priority number one…and vice versa. Most spouses can handle being number two or three for a little while, but after too long they’ll start making some noise. Ignore those squeaks and you can end up with a really cranky other half – which isn’t fun for anyone.

The solution? Date Night!

Really, Date Night is good for any relationship where the day to day is full of craziness. However, I am a firm believer that Date Night is critical for those of us with 2+ jobs.

Lately, my hubby has been squeaking. I've been trying to find time, but I have been so exhausted and frustrated with the intricacies of my personal to-do’s that I haven’t been giving him the attention he needs.

But tonight…tonight is Date Night! WOOHOO!! Finally, we will have time to ourselves and be able to talk like adults and act like adults, and not watch our language, and be silly together. I’m really looking forward to spending quality time with my man and having a good time.

What about you? Do you have Date Nights? What do you do to show your spouse or significant other that you haven’t forgotten about them, and that without them you couldn’t be you?

~*~ Kate ~*~

When is writing, not writing?

2011-09-16T01:32:00.000-06:00

I read a blog today from a full time writer where he shared his to do list.

Not one word about number of words or pages or hours on his current work in progress. He did have a lot of marketing, blogging, and projects for his agent and editor. Including submitting a five year plan for his career.

My last few weeks have been filled with this type of non-writing activity. Not just at the day job, but in my writer world. I’m the 2011 Gateway to the Best Contest Coordinator and just writing the name tells you it’s going to suck your time. Time I don’t have to spare. But now the entries are in and out to the judges. I’ve agreed to judge way too many entries over the next two months. And I have to get the closing instructions out to my helpers.

And apparently, this is network week for my writing career. I’m visiting the B’con bar, meeting a writer/friend for dinner and book talk, having dinner with my chapter, pitching an agent, and attending our monthly chapter meeting. Whew, I’m tired just writing all that and I haven’t even started.

The good news is I’m getting my real to do list done. I finished and sent a first chapter and synopsis for a contest on Tuesday. I finished a short story that I’ll send off tomorrow after I write a cover letter. And I’ve written almost 3000 words this week.

I like my writer friends. I love talking about books. And I enjoy my chapter meetings. But why does it all have to fall in the same two days?

Like most writers, I’m an introvert. I get my energy recharged by solitary, comfortable activities. Like reading. Or watching the final episode of Design Star. (Talk about a high concept idea – Meg really had her pilot focused.)

So if you see me in a corner in the fetal position this weekend, don’t mind me. I’m just recharging.

What activities/hobbies do you have that re-charge your energy?

Lynn

Should My Heroes Be More Like The Bieb?

2011-09-14T05:00:00.005-06:00

I was perusing entertainment news online when a headline caught my eye. Something about Justin Bieber wearing women’s jeans. He likes them because they fit. It’s all about comfort rather than a gender based wardrobe. The article also mentioned Kayne West stylin’ a woman’s sweater, and Liv Tyler catching her dad, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, raiding her threads.

These guys are purportedly heterosexual. All are constantly pursued by hoards of female fans who literally salivate at the sight of their photos.

So that got me thinking. Are these the same women reading romance novels? Should my hero wear red pants, leopard tennies or sport more gold than Fort Knox? Perhaps I need to apply a few tattoos across his back and torso. Or describe his voice as a high, squeaky pitch instead of a rich, throaty growl. Would putting my hero at the mercy of a lap dancer in an elite club attract more readers?

I don’t think so. Romance is one of the best, if not THE best selling genre out there. There’s a reason for it. Women want to read about healthy relationships. They want heroes strong enough to protect the heroine but caring enough to profess their love. They want to know conflict can be resolved and love endures.

They want rugged cowboys, hard as nails mercenaries and cold, calculating business men. And heroines capable of taming the baddest bad boy out there. (Sure, the heroine needs a character arc, too, but this blog is about heroes.

And that brings me to the conundrum of modern woman. Why do we swoon over celebrities who look or act like anything but a romance novel hero while choosing books with strong male characters and HEAs? The same oddity holds true in film. Action heroes attract more women than men to the theatre.

Don’t tell me it’s a generational thing. I know just as many younger women who enjoy alpha males as women my age. (And that age shall retain confidential status, thank you very much!)

So tonight when I’m dreaming up physical features for my next hero, I shall visualize someone who looks like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Daniel Craig. I just can’t bring myself to create a short, effeminate man-child who wears glasses larger than his head.

Can’t the Bieb just bring sexy back?

Deb

Something a little different

2011-09-10T15:22:00.000-06:00

Everyday, when we chat with each other, they only thing we talk about is writing. We ask questions, share information, tell how many words we've written that day, etc. We spend our time critiquing our work and others. Once in a while, you create friends with some people and you may talk about more than just writing.

Well, I think of you all here as family. I have been blogging with you for a year now. Though I may not always comment on your posts, I do read them.

But, since I think of you all as family, I want to share some news with you!

My niece had her baby this morning making me a Great Aunt for the 8th time. (No, I am not old, I am only 38. I was a late baby so my siblings are a lot older than I am.)

Sophia McKinzee was born at 3:59 am and weighed 6lbs and 4oz. She was 20 in. long and all are healthy!

So, though we write about life, create worlds in our minds and on paper, life happens around us! Thanks for letting me share a little piece of my life with you!!!

Pitching - Foul Ball, Grounder or Homerun?

2011-09-07T05:00:00.003-06:00

I’m nervous. My hands are shaking. My fingers are twitching, my mind’s running rampant with disjointed thoughts.

Yep, I’m getting ready for a writer’s conference.

I’ve written a paranormal novella. A damn good one, IMHO. It’s not just sexy fluff. My storyline is an edge of the seat, fast moving thriller which just happens to incorporate a few scenes guaranteed to stroke your erogenous zones.

But how do I express that to an editor or agent in an interview? How do I NOT sound like every other unpublished author? What captures an editor’s eye, or ear, in this instance? And is there a difference between what we write in a query letter and what's said face-to-face?

Does luck factor into the equation at all?

I’m afraid I don’t have any answers. And I’m not sure anyone does. What works in one scenario might bomb in another because of the human factor. It distorts the results.

Why isn’t there a guide that works 99% of the time? I guess that would make it too easy. The only thing that really matters is quality writing but it's certainly not a guarantee on the road to publication. We must find a decision maker who resonates with our voice. Easier said than done.

So how do I turn my “pitch” into a homerun? I’m asking for help because I’ve just stepped into a black hole and I've no idea what to say. If you're feeling extremely generous and enjoy paranormal with a sexy flair, please visit my evil twin’s site, http://AlexisThomas.wordpress.com and offer suggestions on what I should verbally present to editors and agents.

If you’re not channeling your innermost benefactor, just leave a comment here with your best advice for pitching. I'd greatly appreciate it.

Deb Sanders aka Alexis Thomas

Golden Claddagh Finalists

2011-09-06T00:30:00.001-06:00

I'd like to wish Camryn Rhys and Rebecca Lynn on their first place standings in Celtic Hearts Golden Claddagh. And in case you're wondering, I took 2nd in the Celtic category.

I've spoke plenty on contests in the past so it's no secret that I enter each contest with a specific reason in mind. The Golden Claddagh was no different. My reason may seem a little off with GC, but to me it was sound. I've coveted the 1st place Golden Claddagh pen for a few years. This year was no different. And as I mention above, I came in 2nd which means a silver pen, which is okay since I prefer silver over gold anyway, and since I'm hoping this will have been the last time I am eligible to enter GC, silver is just going to have to be okay.

The only contest left on my horizon is the Golden Heart. I have two, possibly three, manuscripts that I'd love to enter in the Golden Heart, but all of it will depend on finances and how soon I can get this next manuscript polished. Since, I just sent one manuscript off to an agent I shouldn't have a problem finding the time to make my Biblical shine.

Are you planning on entering RWA's Golden Heart? If so which category and how are you preparing your entry?

Happy Tuesday,

Renee

Happy Labor Day!

2011-09-05T06:40:00.000-06:00

As I read my emails this morning, and read my usual blogs I realized it was Monday. Wait wasn't it just last Monday? Didn't I just write a blog? This week has flown by. Most of the schools have started, and we are on our last hurrah of the Summer of 2011. We still have over 2 weeks of "summer" left, but already the sights, sounds and activities of fall are beginning.

I live in town, but instead of kids walking to and from school I hear the school bus drive past my house twice a day. The sun rises later and sets earlier. The angle and brightness of the sun is different too. In the morning, a refreshing hint of cool air can be felt. Yep, it's fall. My favorite time of the year. The only negative to fall, for me, is that it is always followed by winter, my least favorite time of the year.

What is your favorite time of the year?

What Inspires Your Writing? ~ by Kate Wood

2011-09-03T11:07:00.011-06:00

As storytellers, we are inspired by just about everything. Throughout the centuries, storytellers have woven tales of heroism and daring, of love and compassion, of deceit and betrayal.

On my blog, I posted about some well-known and some not-so-well-known Celtic tales. The Celts were masterful storytellers, and their tales continue to inspire us today.

A particular tale caught my fancy recently. It is called, “The Shadowy One” and features Scathach, a female warrior who runs a training academy on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.

In this tale, Scathach trains a man named Setanta, who eventually becomes the renowned Celtic champion, Cu Chullain. There are many tales of his to be told, but for right now let’s stick with Scathach.

Scathach is daughter of the goddess of war, Morrigan, and is described as being “a tall woman, of pleasing figure and long, fiery red hair.” It is said she is one of the greatest warriors, of either men or women, in all the world, and that no one has ever bested her in combat.

Her academy is called Dun Scaith, and you are considered worthy of training if you are able to meet the impossible task of reaching its gates.

So in this story, The Shadowy One, Scathach meets and trains Setanta, or Cu Chullain, and a series of events leads to a great battle between Scathach and Aoife, Scathach’s twin sister, and their warriors.

After a day long battle with each side besting the other in turn, Aoife challenges Scathach directly. Setanta intervenes, claiming his right as Scathach’s champion.

Setanta meets Aoife on the battlefield and they fight fiercely. The battle lasts for some time as they were almost equally matched. Then Aoife proves her skill by disarming Setanta. As she prepars for the killing blow, Setanta tricks her with distraction. He flings her to the ground and is proclaimed the victor.

Aoife, impressed by Setanta's skill and wit, invites him to join her at her fortress, to which he agrees.

Scathach watches him leave with sadness in her heart, for she can see his destiny clearly: Setanta becomes Aoife’s lover and she bears his son Connla, whom Setanta is forced to kill. His guilt and heartbreak drive Setanta to become the great defender of Ulaidh, his home, and Cu Chullain, the magnificent warrior, is fully realized.

In every Cu Chullain tale, however, the name of his tutor, Scathach, is also spoken.

While, to me, The Shadowy One is more an introductory tale for Setanta, I can’t help the fascination Scathach brings. Strong female characters are popular, and Scathach was one of the strongest. This story sparks my imagination and I’ve spent days dreaming of different love stories and battle scenes featuring the brave and fearless warrior-ess.

And how about that Goddess of War, Morrigan…

So talk to me. What legends or myths inspire your writing? What stories have you told or are telling that are based on other stories?

~ Kate

What's on your to do list?

2011-09-02T01:50:00.000-06:00

I have a small white board on my wall next to the desk. Divided in half, it lets me run a perpetual calendar for my ‘writing’ activities and meetings. The other half is for notes.

It’s the note section that runs my life.

At the top of the board I have two words – Get Published.

In the middle, is the how that’s going to happen.

Right now, listed on the board are three WIP’s and the amount of words needed to finish as well as uncompleted requests from editors and agents. I list the days I need to blog as well.

The good thing is I’m down to one request to complete.

The bad thing? I’m down to one request.

Which means I need to send more queries. Another thing to add to the to-do-list.

On the bottom of the board, I keep a running total of money owed to me from sold items. I find money to be a huge motivator to write more. Sell more. Earn more money.

My submissions list is kept on a small clip board near my computer. Small because I don’t control anything on that list. The packet or query or story is written and gone. Now it’s fate is in someone else’s hands.

The big things on my white board? How much I write and what I need to do? That’s in my control. And that’s where I devote my attention. To the things I can control.

So, New Kid’s readers it’s your turn. How do you keep track of your projects? Where’s your dream board?

Lynn

Show Me The Money!

2011-08-31T05:00:00.002-06:00

I read an interesting article on CNN Money about the “surprising” 6-figure salaries people earn from unusual jobs. As you know, I enjoy the road less travelled so this journalistic effort beckoned to me like Godiva chocolate to a chocoholic.

I discovered the featured occupations were as diverse as the folks working them. The article interviewed people like Eliza Kendall who excelled monetarily in a niche market – boutique port-a-potties for upscale events. (It’s nice to see someone is still flush in this economy.)

Then there was the guy who worked as a truck driver. Not a lucrative occupation if you're shelling out between $3.75 and $4.00 a gallon for diesel fuel. After talking to a fellow driver at a truck stop, he learned of an opportunity transporting semi trucks from the factory to the dealers. This man now earns around $160,000 a year doing a job most people aren't aware exists. In addition to delivering semi trucks, he’s also delivering a relevant message – don’t wait for your truck to come in. Drive out to meet it.

My favorite interview capsule was about a writer. Of course. Kimberly Causey grew up in a family of furniture manufacturers. She knows the business. After a stint as an interior decorator in her 20's, this savvy lady realized the list of wholesale contacts she had accumulated might be of value to fellow decorators. She painstakingly created a cross reference book, generated some media interest, and self published her creation. It was a solid success. She then wrote another book - a guide to furniture factory outlets and where to find the best bargains. The general public fell in love with the idea so much that Kimberly hit the $100,000 a year mark by the time she was 31.

Sigh. I just love happy endings.

My purpose for this blog is not to review a published article. It’s to encourage all of us to pursue dreams even if it means going down a road less travelled. Who says rainbows are at the end of a major highway? Sometimes they lurk in the rutted, washed out lanes that most people refuse to navigate.

I may be older than dirt but I’m not in the dustpan yet. I’m still putting words on paper in hopes of blindsiding some unsuspecting editor who will leap out of her chair. . . run to the nearest open window . . . and announce to the whole world in a voice that commands attention, “DEB SANDERS IS THE NEXT BIG THING!”

Okay, some dreams need a little editing.

Deb

To read the entire article by Blake Ellis, click HERE.

An Honest to Goodness Book with Paper Pages

2011-08-29T23:23:00.000-06:00

I made another quick trip to Mississippi last week. This time my youngest went along. Since we were supposed to start school on the 22 of August it kind of tossed a wrench into our lesson plans. Did I mention we're a homeschooling family? Even though the trip was for another funeral we found time to take a field trip to the beach where we played with hermit crabs, explored jellyfish and walked the piers. Nothing like hands on exploration even if my kid decided not to venture too far into the water for more than thirty seconds. Her weariness overcame her excitement when she discovered more than minnows swimming in the Gulf.

We toured an alligator farm, which she called evil things. The alligator farm, not the alligators, but only because she'd much prefer to see them in their natural habitat. Mom-that'd be me-on the other hand, preferred a controlled situation.

Sadly, the aquarium, the one place I knew she'd enjoy the most, I was not able to show her since it was destroyed by Katrina.

Yesterday, we jumped into the swing of things and I have to say, that all of her wide-eyed wonder was nothing compared to our first writing lesson and our opening discussion on classic literature. You don't see many kids these days get excited about reading, especially the classics like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. But mine sunk into a brief passage of Verne's vivid imagery like a kid in a candy store getting her first taste of milk chocolate. She even rubbed her hands together when I promised to find her a copy. And not a Kindle copy, but an honest to goodness book with paper pages and that distinctive smell that can only belong to genuine book.

I do like like the convenience of digital readers, but I love how a book engages my senses. I never considered my child would realize the difference. Her voiced opinion made me smile and gave me a sense of pride.

How about you? Do you prefer books off the shelves or digital? Are there some books you just have to read in the traditional form? Or does it matter?

Happy Tuesday,

Renee

2011-08-29T07:10:00.003-06:00

It's time to go back to school. My daughter has her first day in a Baking and Pastry Arts program today. My granddaughter starts Kindergarten on Thursday. I'm feeling left out. Every fall I yearn to go back to school. A degree in accounting would be good for my pocket book. A degree in writing would be good for my soul. A degree in history would be good for my brain and my writing. But the best part of back to school time is the shopping for school supplies.

I love to go school shopping. New pens, notebooks, and folders, all at "Back to School" prices. Let's face it I am a office/school supply junkie. Even when I have more pens than and can use in a decade I can't help myself I buy more. I go to Staples, Wal-Mart and Office Max to feed my obsession. Is there anything more wonderful than a fresh clean spiral notebook to fill with words? Ah, the three ring binders to help organize my writing. And for those with a bigger wallet, Circa from Levengers. I keep their catalog handy at all times just in case I need an office supply fix. Although most of the time I just peruse the catalog without buying, but it keeps me out of Staples. I love the smell of rubber bands in the morning!

Are you a office/school supply junky? Maybe we could start a support group OSJA. We could meet at Staples once a week.

The Synopsis

2011-08-27T08:00:00.002-06:00

THE SYNOPSIS! Everyone must write one and I am finding out that there is a thousand ways to do so. It can be really confusing.

I am submitting my manuscript and of course, I have to have the synopsis. Problem is, trying to get it just right. The first time I wrote it, I didn't do a very good job. So, I asked around and got mine critiqued. In a minute, I will post the helpful hints I was given.

The thing is, I have a five page synopsis and depending on who I submit to is how many pages I need, hence the confusion. I agent may want the five pages, where as someone else may want one page. That means, not only do I have to describe a 94,000 page manuscript in five pages, I have to turn around and condense it even more in one. This is no easy task. Writing the book was easy compared to this. But, I work on it and hope that the final project is as it should be.

The first and most important lesson to tell you is that you need to make sure you check with each person you submit to and find out what their rules are.

So let me share with you the trick I learned so that when the time comes for you to write your synopsis, it may be just a little easier for you.

**The first thing you should put down is a sentence or two or a paragraph that gives the premise of your story. This would resemble something like you would see on the back in a blurb.

**The next paragraph would be the GMC (goal, motivation, and conflict of the Heroine. Include any back story that is important.

**Then the GMC of the Hero. Same thing as above.

**The plot.

**The major turning point of the story.

** You want to focus on the romance of the Heroine/Hero. Tell what happens to them.

**The black moment. What is happening that might tear them apart.

**The Ending.

**Be sure to use as few names as possible so you don't confuse the agent/editor. The Hero's/heroine's name and an important character or two.
**And last but not least, if you need to change something to make the synopsis make sense, do so.

I hope this helps and I wish you luck in writing your synopsis and I hope you find success in your future!!

Characters and Aristotle's Seven Causes of Human Action

2011-08-25T07:00:00.001-06:00

When I develop a story it's always the main character who comes to me first. Out of the blue, he pops in my head and starts talking. I pull out character development worksheets, personality trait grids, interview questions, family and medical history questionnaires, and anything else I find that will help me actualize who this figment is, what makes him tick, and what he wants to accomplish.

I've also come to realize that if I want my characters to connect to the reader like a real person, I need to incorporate what Aristotle's identified as the seven causes of all human action.

CHANCE: action based on luck or fortune, risk or hazard

NATURE: action based on inherent qualities or personality traits

COMPULSION: action based on irrational, irresistible impulses

HABIT: action based on customs or practiced behavior

REASON: action based on a premise or cause in a belief, action, or event

PASSION: action based on a strong emotion, motive, or sexual desire

DESIRE: action based on a longing, craving, or want

The thing to remember when using any of these seven causes is to remain consistent with your character's personality. Don't force an action that isn't natural for the hero, or the heroine. For instance, if the heroine truly believes her brother was savagely murdered by the hero, she isn't likely to eyeball him passionately and swoon at their first encounter. Although she has REASON for action, PASSION of a sexual nature at this juncture isn't credible.

Now, if the heroine ran toward the hero with the intent to scratch out his eyes, her PASSION for justice or revenge works in tandem with her REASON and creates a believable action.

Causes can be used in opposition to create conflict that moves the story forward.

In my current WIP, a widowed werewolf believes (REASON) that he can't fall in love again because his kind mates for life. It doesn't matter that his mate is dead. He's still alive and holding to the promise he made because it's his NATURE to be loyal.

However, the poor guy is so tired of being lonely that he let's his guard down around the heroine. Pretty quick he realizes that he doesn't feel so achingly empty around her and he begins to crave her company. No longer able to suppress the DESIRE to not spend the rest of his life celibate and alone, a PASSION for the heroine ignites. Now he's in trouble. He can't turn his back on the past because he believes that would be disloyal but he can no longer bear the thought of a solitary future either.

But, pitting his REASON and NATURE against his DESIRE and PASSION drives this character's story only as long as his actions remain consistent with his core self. That's the tricky part. He can't simply say in Chapter Six "Oh well. My wife's dead and I'm a free wolf, now" and jump into a long-term relationship with the heroine without consequence. For one, that would be out of character for his NATURE. Two, that would make for a very short and boring story.

Characters' actions need to be genuine and representative of who they are. Grounding their motivations in one or more of the seven causes of human action will bring life to a figment readers will love.

What do you do to create memorable characters?

Another Road, Another Story

2011-08-24T05:00:00.004-06:00

I indulged in another side trip down the road less travelled a few days ago. I love searching out little hamlets with unique myths or claims to fame. My most recent journey led me to Blackville, South Carolina.

Blackville is a little, and I do mean little, town southwest of Columbia. It was established in 1837 and now includes a small community of Mennonites as part of its 3000+ population. But the most interesting thing about Blackville is “God’s Acre Healing Waters”, an artisan spring said to contain healing powers.

Local Native Americans considered the waters to be sacred. According to legend (mixed with a few dubious facts), the springs got it's name from an incident during the American Revolution. British commander, General Banastre Tarleton, abandoned four critically injured soldiers in the woods near the springs. Two men were left to care for the wounded with orders to bury them when they died and then return to their troops. The group was discovered by a kindly band of Indians who took them to their sacred healing springs. Six months later the soldiers rejoined their ranks, all strong and healthy.

Eventually the Indians passed ownership to a trader named Nathaniel Walker who bought the property rights with corn. The land hosted several more owners until coming into the hands of Lute Boylston. In 1944, Boylston deeded the land to “God” so that all people could have the freedom to partake of the waters without fees or taxation. The local property records still list “God” as the land’s owner.

By analysis, the water is pure and contains healthful minerals. By taste, it's excellent.

Comments from various web pages allude to the miraculous powers of the water. One person wrote that he had a case of poison ivy. When he poured water from the healing springs on it, it boiled like hydrogen peroxide and cleansed the area of his rash. Another attributed the water to healing his brother’s prostrate cancer. The only thing I can personally attest to is a small fever blister on the inside of my lip that disappeared hours after I started drinking the water. Maybe it was already in the process of healing. Maybe not.

I like the taste of the water and actually feel peppier since I started drinking it. Is the "spring" in my step a result of the spring’s healing properties? (Pardon the pun.) Or am I psychologically susceptible to suggestion? I really can’t say. All I know is if I’m more energetic and can sit at the keyboard for longer periods of time while writing, then it’s all good.

What interesting, out of the way places have you visited lately?

Deb

Fear and Courage ~ by Kate Wood

2011-08-20T01:00:00.007-06:00

Your wip is waiting for you. You can hear it calling your name. You can feel that niggling sensation at the back of your neck; you know what you need to do…you just…don’t…do it.

Why?

“I’m a procrastinator.”

Well, yeah. Duh. But…why are you a procrastinator?

Last time, we chatted about fear and change…about how many people refuse to change simply because they fear it. Whatever their “it” may be.

Using yet another of Bob Mayer’s tips – how could I not? He’s a genius! – we’re going to delve into our fears a little deeper.

Since I know myself better than I know you, I’ll use me as an example.

I have never been a procrastinator. In fact, my mantra is “get it done now so it’s out of the way.” I’m rarely late, and I hardly ever miss deadlines or appointments. Just ask my husband...he'll tell you I excel at crackin' the whip.

So…why isn’t MY wip (no pun intended) finished and ready to submit?

…I’m a…procrastinator…?

NO! I’m afraid…plain and simple. I think of completing my wip and I think to myself, “It’s not good enough.” The reality is, it’s probably fine (see that ‘probably’ there? Yeah…fear)…and yet, I procrastinate.

There are SO many other things that need to be done: laundry, kids need a bath, dinner, clean the (insert room here)…but, oh, wait, my husband did all of that. Now what? I feel my laptop staring at me, and I...resist! WHY?! I can’t answer that question…because the funny part is, when I’m writing, I feel SO GOOD! I feel amazing…I feel energized and alive…so, why do I resist?

Fear.

Bob says that fear is, “…a feeling of alarm or disquiet caused by the expectation of danger, pain, or the like.” The key word being, of course, ‘expectation.’ We expect or imagine all of these negative or horrible things happening, and most of the time it’s probably just our overactive imaginations at work.

Yet, we cling to these fears. Why? Think back to the last fear you can remember. Did what you imagine happening actually happen? Chances are, no. And most of the time, those scary situations never arise.

What we need to do, is hike up our big girl/boy pants and get some Courage (yeah, with a Capital C). Fear, with a few exceptions, is a normal, healthy emotion. It’s what we do with that fear that’s really important. Do we cling to it, desperate to try to stop whatever evil is heading our way, or do we…

Suck. It. Up.

Bob says that courage is, “the state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger with self-possession, confidence, and resolution. It is the ability to do something that frightens one. Courage is strength in the face of pain or grief.”

How many times have you faced a fear, realized it wasn’t as bad as you thought it was going to be, felt a little foolish for being afraid in the first place, and then felt proud of yourself for being brave? Did you feel just a little stronger…a little more self-confident?

Having courage in the face of fear is not easy. It’s quite difficult. But…the rewards are endless. Not only will your children stop making fun of you and stop walking in the other direction when you arrive to pick them up from school…oh, wait, that’s me, anyway…where was I?

Oh Yeah! You’ll feel GOOD about yourself and when you feel good about yourself you’ll have a more positive outlook. And just like we chatted about last time, when your outlook becomes more positive, everything and (mostly) everyone around you changes for the better. (Eh, if they don’t change, than the problem ain’t you, my friend)

And Change. Is. Good!

So talk to me. What was the last fear you overcame? What is that niggling fear that sits on the back of your neck whispering in your ear? Reach out, you never know who will be there to grab your hand and help you through.

The perpetual learning curve

2011-08-19T04:54:00.002-06:00

An adult back to school post.

I’m in two free online classes this week. Classes were one to two hundred other participants eagerly post their answers to each day’s assignments. So my email account blows up.

It’s not unusual for me to wake up to over a hundred emails sitting in my box, waiting to be read. (If someone else manages more with a full time job and finds time to write, please let me know your secret.) I’m hesitant to delete the messages unread. See, I believe we learn from each other.

And what if that deleted message is the one that will have the clue I’ve been looking for. The Lindsey Wagner of ideas. The one that will make me faster, stronger, and more efficient.

Besides, it’s rude not to listen to others.

At my day job, I run a training committee. At our last meeting yesterday, I had exactly the opposite problem, how to get participants to speak up.

I told my husband the other day that I was so excited about the writing workshop my chapter was sponsoring the next weekend. Eight hours of nothing but talk about writing and making a plan for success. He said it sounded like hell to him.

Which got me thinking, what makes a subject enticing to the participants? Are our brains hard wired to be passionate about one subject over the other? I’m sure a lecture on the purpose of blood running through the body would one, make me throw up, (sorry, full disclosure here at New Kids) and two, be boring as heck to me.

So today’s about what makes you tick, dear reader. What subjects do you still want to know more about? What topic makes you stop, and read every word, or schedule a day off to listen to a lecture on the subject?

Or are you like my husband and like your information provided on line, when you need it?

Lynn

Inspiration and Pregnancy - The Same Thing

2011-08-17T05:00:00.001-06:00

Inspiration sparks like a match. Flaring. Sizzling. Filling our senses with sight, smell, touch. Igniting an idea that blazes into vision. A vision that burns inside us and refuses to be extinguished.

What creates inspiration? It’s different in each of us and just as unique as DNA. Impregnating our muse can be as simple as a fleeting glance at a stranger at the bus stop. An article in the newspaper or a movie on TV. A dream. Bits of overheard conversation. A reflection in the water.

Determining the moment of inspiration is like defining the second life begins to exist. It’s impossible to clarify. And yet the similarities are much the same.

Inspiration is the catalyst that creates action. Action for writers is putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and weaving a tale borne of a single thought. Much like the millions of sperm racing to reach a mature egg, inspiration swarms around us every day, bombarding our psyche with possibility. It takes only one to impregnate our brain and create a new story.

Our mind becomes an incubator, nurturing the idea, feeding it, growing it until a plot emerges. Delicate, yet exuding a strength exhilarating to behold. Characters take shape, like the grainy silhouette on an ultrasound photo. We may not know every facet of the story or even when it will be born but the miracle of life is evident with each paragraph that pushes our tale forward.

The birth of our novel can be painful. Editing and revisions are excruciating and often lead to vows of never repeating the experience again. But like childbirth, the pain disappears as we watch the seed of our inspiration grow and mature into something beautiful. We hope our “child” will find a wonderful partner…an agent or editor who will cherish our product and propose a marriage. A bond that signals the end to our influence.

It's difficult to allow someone else to take control of a project we’ve nurtured with pure devotion. We don’t always agree with their vision for our baby. Sometimes we’re the bitchy mother-in-law. Sometimes we keep our mouth shut to preserve peace. And sometimes we smile coyly and count our blessings.

In the end, seeing our novel on the bookshelf or listed in an e-book catalog is often satisfaction enough. And a signal that another egg is waiting for fertilization.

Go. Be prolific. Multiply. Write.

Deb

Pulling out my hair

2011-08-15T22:10:00.000-06:00

Literally! It's been a few weeks since I've sent my manuscript off to a few critique partners. I knew it would take some time but I didn't realize how difficult the waiting would be. I've been doing every thing from critiquing other writer's chapters, writing newsletter articles and pulling out my hair. *g*

Thankfully, my sweet mama bought The Help by Kathryn Stockett to keep my fingers busy. I'm sure you've heard of it. See, do you recognize the book cover? Perhaps you've heard of the movie? When my youngest mentioned that she'd like to see the movie I knew I had to read the book first.

I'm only about halfway through and I'm loving every bit of it. The external and external dialogue are engaging. The cliff hangers at the end of pov sections have been nail biting.

I'd love to share with you my favorite part but, I'd have to type in all that I've read so far.

Have you read the book? Have you seen the movie? Tell me what you think. Now, don't go givin' away any spoilers.

Happy Tuesday,

Renee

Useful tools for the trade

2011-08-13T14:32:00.000-06:00

When I began writing a little over three years ago, I was so green, I put the grass to shame. I was lucky enough to find people who shared information with me and that is what I want to do here today. Share some very useful information that no writer should be without. I hope something here will help you!

Now, we all use words and descriptions. But sometimes it is hard to find the wright way to describe things. I have found a wonderful place called THE BOOK SHELF MUSE that does a wonderful job of helping you describe things. Whether it is fear or a dentist office, they have what you need.

Another place I would like to introduce you to is THE ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY. This is a place to go to see what the words of modern English meant and how they sounded 600-2000 years ago. This is a fun place to sneak a peak through.

Let's say you are ready to start querying agents but aren't sure where to go and want to get good information about the agents you search for. Please go to THE AGENT QUERY. This will give you a list of agents, tell you whether they are members of AAR, if the agent is accepting queries and what you need to know to submit. It also has information reference publishing, it offers writing resources and how to write a query letter.

SAVVY AUTHORS is a good place to visit. Here, authors post about different subjects, there are pitch opportunities, workshops, marketing promotions, and news on the industry.

I hope these few tools for the trade will help you along the way. Be sure to ask around if there are other things you might be in need of. You just never know who might have had to look for the same thing!

Not All Wanderers Are Lost

2011-08-10T05:00:00.004-06:00

I’ve always enjoyed the road less travelled - even if I didn’t know where it was taking me. I’ve wandered through 38 states, resided in 8, and still maintain a long list of places to visit before I die. My Bucket List.

Admittedly, I didn’t begin my adulthood with the idea of becoming an adventurer. Fate has a way of disrupting even the most well thought out plans and it certainly played havoc with mine. Once I accepted my “lot” in life, however, I began to enjoy the unpredictable path laid out before me. I’ve had some great experiences, some not so great, and some I’d rather forget. But all in all, I have to agree with Jimmy Buffet’s lyrics in “He Went To Paris” - Jimmy, some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but it's been a good life all the way.

I’ve become adept at creating adventures out of nothing. When my children were younger and feeling a bit restless, we loaded up the tent in the back of our beat up jalopy and headed for the Ozarks of Arkansas. We were living in northeastern Oklahoma at the time so it was an easy drive. Once we exited the highway, I took a quarter from my purse and explained how it would be our navigational guide for the next twenty four hours. My son and daughter took turns flipping it in the air each time we came to a crossroads. If it was heads, we went right. Tails, we turned left. I became nervous once when it was getting late in the afternoon and we were on what seemed to be a never ending mountain road. But armed with good maps, we managed to find civilization in no time. The kids had fun and we saw some great sights.

This past weekend my sister-in-law arrived for a visit. She spent the night at my place and we drove to Cherokee, North Carolina the next day to watch my nephew perform in a play. Our plans were to stay all weekend and I was excited about visiting an area I hadn't seen.

Most people, sadly, associate Cherokee with the reservation’s casino. Oh, it’s a grand place, alright . . . and still expanding. Harrah’s has built a top notch gaming facility complete with a Paula Deen restaurant.

Many of the people who flock to the casino will never experience the true flavor of the area. Cherokee is named after the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. Native American history and culture are everywhere. Those who visit the museum, tour Oconaluftee – an authentic Cherokee village, or watch the outdoor theatrical production of “Unto These Hills” are in for a treat. Our schools only touch on the event known as the Trail of Tears. There’s so much more to learn and understand about what led to this tragic and unfair relocation of a great nation.

If a history lesson is not your cup of tea, take a short drive to Mingo Falls. Absolutely breathtaking, and worth the short trek up a steep but manageable trail. Or play in the delightful meandering stream that runs through town. Take a drive – if you dare – on the stretch of Highway 129 known as the Tail of the Dragon. It received it’s name because of the 318 hairpin curves in only 11 miles. While it beckons to motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts, it does come with a reputation for accidents and fatalities.

I haven’t even scratched the surface of interesting things to see and do in the area. But adventures lurk in every state. You need only to stray from the beaten track, stop and smell the roses, and treat yourself to the magical experiences our great nation has to offer. Who knows, you might become a “wanderer”, too.

Deb

Vintage and Victorian Clipart

2011-08-08T22:46:00.001-06:00

Since I'll be sending off my manuscript in the next week or so I decided to revamp my blog. I spent some time over the weekend digging for free blogger backgrounds and vintage clipart. I came across some really interesting pieces. I'm even considering how to use some of these pieces to decorate my home.

From what I've read each of these blogs offer free graphics, but please read their sidebars for details. You can check out their blogs by clicking on the images.

This site is actually called Free Pretty Things For You. She's compiled a lot of neat stuff here. Most of her stuff has more of a soft classic tone. And she seems to like blue birds. I keep trying to figure out a way to incorporate one of her blue birds into my blog. My grandfather loved blue birds. We had several blue bird items at his funeral and graveside services. I think it'd be nice to pay tribute to him in that way. Anyway, if you like color and pink and flowers . . . well check out the blog.

Shabby Blogs has more than just free backgrounds. They have buttons, sidebar tags, blinkies and cool headers. Headers that you can put your own photos into and they even show you how to do it.

The Graphics Fairy seems to like Steampunk, so if you're really into the genre you'll be in graphics heaven.

The Vintage Moth is my favorite so far, but that is because I like her mixed media of classic vintage drawings and old photos.

If you'd like to see what I've done with my blog so far you can check it out at http://www.reneelynnscott.com/

Next week I'll share some cool looking fonts.

Happy Tuesday,

Renee

Writing Software

2011-08-08T15:30:00.004-06:00

This weekend I read an article in the RWR about plotting software. I have checked out some of the programs in the article like Scrivener, and Write Way Pro. I've also tried a couple that were not in the article, like StoryBook and YWriter. Out of the few I have tried I like YWriter the best. It worked best with my way of thinking better than the others and it was free. What I use on a regular basis, however, is Excel. I know how to work Excel and used it when I did accounting/bookkeeping jobs. It's familiar. Which brings me around to my biggest problem with Writing/Plotting programs.

All of these programs have nifty tools for plotting and organizing, and some even have word processors, but they all take time to learn. Time that I could be using to write. Of course, I felt the same way about reading books about time management. Eager to learn the secrets of managing my time so I could get done the things I wanted to do like write, so I read a couple of books on time management. What did I learn? I learned that I was wasting a lot of time reading books about time management. I should've just sat down to write. That is exactly what these type of plotting/writing programs make me feel.

How about you? Have you found plotting and writing software that works for you or do you fall back on a basic spreadsheet or notebook and pen?

Fear and Change

2011-08-06T00:01:00.000-06:00

Recently, a good friend of mine Terrell Mims posted about the importance of words and how they could make an impact on our lives, small or large. It’s an awesome post, check it out here.

After reading his post, I took it a step further and commented that mindset can also impact you and those around you.

Jump ahead a few days and I’m in the middle of desperately trying to catch up on my craft classes. I’m taking three at the moment. Yikes!

Anyway, so this particular class is an online course taught by none other than Bob Mayer. In it, he teaches us the tenets of becoming a successful writer. Check out the information on his Warrior Writer workshops here.

So, here I am, trying to be a good pupil, when I zero in on what Bob is telling me. First he says when people fail to achieve their goals, it is because they have allowed fear to rule them.

Ok, that makes sense.

Then he asks, “How willing are you to change? Are you willing to learn from any source that helps you improve yourself? If you are not where you want to be, then you must change, rather than waiting for the world to come to you. Because guess what? It isn’t.”

What?

What do you mean I have to change? Are you saying that if I sit here long enough, someone won’t walk by with the answers to all of my problems wrapped up in a little box with a neat bow?

Well.

And then he hit me.

First, he smacked me in the back of the head with “To change, you have to be willing to say the three hardest words for many people, I am wrong.” Then, he followed it with a jarring slap to the face with, “You must be willing to surrender.”

Wow.

You must be willing to surrender.

You must be willing to say, “I am wrong.”

So here is where Fear and Change come in.

We humans all have fears. Many of us fear change.

I, for one, have fear not of failure itself, but of allowing myself to fail. I’m sure there is an even deeper meaning there, but I haven’t gotten to that layer within myself yet. It’s a damn good thing I’m stubborn!

Going back to Terrell’s post, the words we use and the mindset we have are direct connections to the things we fear and the changes we need to make. An example would be that negative person who almost always sees the glass half empty. When you, being the loving and positive person you are, try to encourage this person and offer suggestions or advice, they usually have an excuse as to why this suggestion or that piece of advice won’t work.

Me thinks someone’s a fraidy cat.

Mr. or Ms. Negative is most likely afraid. Of losing control. Of being wrong. Of letting go. Who knows, could be anything, but fear is at the heart of it. And so, this fear triggers their mindsets, making them negative which in turn causes everything they say to be negative.

Perhaps, if they start from the opposite end, they could achieve that change without falling apart or hurting themselves. They could put positive spins on things rather than negative. A simple, “good morning” with a smile goes a long way. You’d be surprised how much your day can brighten with something as small as that. Those two words can have a powerful impact on a person’s mindset.

The more Mr. or Ms. Negative’s mindset changes for the better, the more aware they become of their words and their actions, and naturally the more positive and uplifting they will be all around.

And then, I’m guessing, being able to say, “I am wrong,” won’t be so hard.

Just a guess.

So now I want to know what all of you think about this. What do you fear? Are you open to change? What obstacles have you had to overcome in order to achieve change in your life?

All about the Craft

2011-08-05T01:01:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday, I pulled out the old red and white cookbook. I’ve never cooked Eggs Benedict. I’ve never eaten Eggs Benedict. I’d bought the supplies at the store while doing my weekly shopping, so all I needed to do was jump in.

I read over the recipe for Hollandaise sauce and then jumped to another recipe which showed me how to pull the egg dish together. I heated two pans of water. Found a metal bowl to use as a double boiler. As I waited for the water to heat, I put my Canadian bacon in a skillet to lightly brown. Then swirling the water, I added my eggs one at a time, set the timer and went to start the sauce. I forgot about toasting the English muffin so I had to leave my sauce for a minute.

Apparently a lot can happen in a minute.

Let’s just say my first attempt was a total bomb. My sauce separated. My eggs overcooked. And my Canadian bacon was dry. The finished product looked nothing like this picture. But as I ate, I realized the food tasted good. Pretty amazing, in fact.

My writing is like my cooking. Just because I’m an excellent cook, (No modesty here – I am.) doesn’t mean I’m great at everything without even trying. Writing skills, like cooking techniques, have to be learned and crafted and practiced. And, if I don’t focus, my writing can break, like my sauce did when I took my focus off the pan.

In one of my RWA groups, a challenge was issued to “A Year of Living Dangerously.” I’ve tried to embrace that challenge. Besides making new dishes at home, I’ve applied the challenge to my writing career. I’ve had professional pictures taken, started working on a website, and attended a new conference, without knowing anyone else who registered. I committed to writing a short story a month for a new to me publication. I’d hoped I’d be able to sell one, but since that outcome was out of my control, my goal was to write and submit, not sell. But sell, I did.

My short, No Hot Water, will be in the August 18^th edition of Women’s World.

And I’m continuing to learn more about writing. And submitting what I write.

I’m planning on taking another shot at Eggs Benedict. Hopefully this batch will turn out closer to the original. But even if it doesn’t, I’ll learn something new in the process. And that’s worth the time.

Have you ever tried and failed - but tried again?

Thursday's Tips and Tools

2011-08-04T05:00:00.009-06:00

Hey all!

I've tooled through Twitter and Facebook, Blogger and Wordpress to find these great tips and tools for this week!

"Do Writers Need Presentation Skills?" You betcha. Check out Jenny Hansen's tips for effective presentations. You never know when you'll be asked to speak at your local RWA meeting.

Kristen Lamb's "Beating the Sugar Addiction-Tightening the Writing" explains about bloated passages and trimming the fat off your WIP.

Steena Holmes talks "Why You Shouldn't Query Just Any Agent." Find out the benefits of being selective.

Carrie Spencer has tutorials on how to build your blog using WordPress. I'm currently revamping my blog and Carrie's instructions have been a great help.

http://romanceuniversity.org/2010/07/26/wordpress-for-non-techies/

http://romanceuniversity.org/2010/07/27/wordpress-part-deux/

http://romanceuniversity.org/2010/07/30/wordpress-for-non-techies-3/

http://romanceuniversity.org/2010/08/03/wordpress-for-non-techies-iv/

http://romanceuniversity.org/2010/08/10/wordpress-for-non-techies-the-fifth/

http://romanceuniversity.org/2010/08/17/wordpress-for-non-techies-grand-finale/

Until next week,

Happy Tales,

~Kristal Lee, Author of Supernatural Seductions

www.kristalleeromances. com

YA - Is It Really The Next Big Thing?

2011-08-03T05:00:00.001-06:00

I love reading thrillers. I love to read and write Romantic Suspense. I've completed several RS manuscripts to prove it. Unfortunately, the Big Six guillotine came down on RS a couple of years ago and deemed it unreadable. Even worse, unmarketable. No one would touch my queries although several agents and editors expressed admiration for my voice.

I also enjoy paranormal. It was my second choice when deciding to switch genres and a huge leap of faith on my part. In fact, I've leaped so far I landed in unfamiliar territory, combining "highly sensual, bordering on erotica, which might be classified erotica because of the usage of graphic terms and adventurous sexual situations" with paranormal. It’s hot. Oh, yeah… Sizzling. It makes me blush and I’m the one writing it!

Since I’ve found my new “voice” - a damn good voice it is, if I do say so myself – I’m passionate about writing again. And now the Big Six Soothsayers are predicting doom and gloom for paranormal. They're touting the accolades of Young Adult - the hot new genre writers are flocking to like flies on honey.

Young Adult – YA – has been around forever. It’s not new. Think back to The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Icons of my adolescence. Too far back? Okay, remember “21 Jump Street”, “Young Riders”? How about “Hannah Montana”? Television targets the young adult market, just as Harry Potter targeted a new generation of readers (and some old one, as well) earning millions in the process.

“Twilight” created an impressive surge of interest in YA just as Tiger Woods did for golf. It’s off the charts. Publishers, or anyone in marketing, would be crazy not to jump on the band wagon and ride it out. With the stampede toward the wagon, however, comes the danger of excess. Frenzied efforts to attract the masses are often the very thing that drives them away.

When one considers the business side of writing, they should also think about who is buying their books. And that's what I’m doing. Young adult is an incredible force in the industry. But I’m not writing for tweens, or even those adults who are young at heart. I’m writing for the masses of baby boomers who are reaching retirement age and looking for an interesting novel to read right before taking their afternoon nap.

Boomers. The largest demographic group to impact the marketing industry in centuries. Advertisers have catered to this extraordinary mass since conception and spawned many iconic products along the way. Gerber, Barbie, Muscle cars, Beatlemania. And the beat goes on . . . Look at the trends in today’s marketing campaigns. Viagra/Cialis, a return of muscle cars and lookalikes (Camaro, Challenger, Pontiac Solstice, VW Beetles), face lifts/botox, vitamins and supplements. Anything to prolong the effects of aging and encourage a trip down memory lane.

Harlequin came into its own during the seventies. Boomer women sustained a voracious appetite for romance. I’m a boomer. I still like a good romance although I’m not into virginal lifestyles. I enjoy a little spice but I still want my HEA.

And that’s what I’m writing. Lessons in love transpiring in a fantasy world full of alpha heroes and spunky heroines. It suits me. Escapism is good. Because as a reader, when I turn the final page, all I really want is a satisfied sigh. I hope that's what my readers want, too.

BICHOK.

Letting Go

2011-08-01T22:49:00.001-06:00

Well, I did it! After several rounds of revisions and two rounds of polish, Love at Twenty Paces has been sent to fellow writers for critique. At least two of them have never seen the first chapters.

It's a big step. And I'm going through a variety of emotions. All of them border on the edge of anxiousness. Who am I kidding? I've long passed anxiousness and moved into the 'I think I'm going to throw up'. Even when I feel like celebrating with a bit of a jig, I still feel on the verge of vomiting. My jaw hurts from clenching and I'm quite certain sleep will evade me. I even painted my fingernails so that I would not bite then down to the quick while waiting for responses.

But I know this is for the best. I've done all that I can do. I've prayed. I've plotted, brainstormed. Prayed. Written my heart onto the pages. Prayed some more. Asked others to pray. Tormented my hero. Prayed. Made my heroine cry. Prayed and wrote the end. So now, even though it's thrown me off kilter, I know sending it to readers will help me see my shortcomings and hopefully help me improve the story without sending me into a straight jacket.

You might ask why I continue to write if the whole process drives me nuts. Because I can't not write. It's a huge part of who I am. Not writing would be like not breathing. Is there anything you just can't not do?

Happy Tuesday,

Renee

Time Wasters

2011-08-01T06:38:00.003-06:00

Now that I'm working full time my writing time is so precious, but instead of writing I find myself mired in a cesspool of waste. In this bottomless pit swirl the likes of Facebook, Twitter, computer games, tv and even email. For me, I need time to decompress after work. I change in to my comfy clothes, then sit down to check my emails. Many of these emails are from groups I belong to and contain no information pertinent to me or my writing, but need to be sorted through rather than mindlessly thrown in the trash. Some require my reply, and yet others invoke a reply. This starts my downward spiral into the black hole of time wasters.

Next comes Facebook and Twitter. Even though I am unpublished I still need to keep my name out there to build a platform that may someday sell my book to a publisher. Then when I've checked out what happened while I was at work, it's time to kick back a little. Just one game of Zuma or a little venture into Frontierville. BTW, no one can play "just one" game of Zuma. By the time I look up it is time to prepare and eat dinner. After that life spirals towards a feeling of exhaustion and veggie in front of the TV. By the time I get my granddaughter to bed, it's 9pm and I can't keep my eyes open so I go to bed realizing I got nothing accomplished in the six hours since I got home from work. I know that everyone says if you want to write you suck it up and write, but when your brain buzzes with work stuff, and you are exhausted the time wasters easily suck you in.

What are your favorite time wasters?

A valuable asset

2011-07-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

When I started writing my first novel 3 and a half years ago, I was completely on my own. Scary as it was, I was on my way. I wrote from the heart, researched like crazy, and never edited my book until I had finished it.

Why had I never edited it? Because I didn't know any better. I just wrote and wrote. When I came across Veronica Wolff's books, I quickly visited her web site, something I had never done with any other author before. Veronica visited her forums often and talked with us about anything we had questions for and even started her own topics. In her forums I met my first critique partner, Pam.

Following Pam, I also met Lizzie. I quickly learned the value of a good CP. They are undoubtedly the best people I could align myself with. I am able to bounce ideas off of them, have them read my work and I value their opinion and suggestions. I now work with Lizzie and Melissa who I am lucky to know.

Veronica also encouraged me to join RWA (Romance Writers of America) and CHRW (Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.) The information passed though these groups as a valuable asset to any writer who joins any group. There are pre-published authors and authors who have many, many published books. We have a woman educated in Gaelic and Scotland, and woman who is a wonderful researcher, and we also have a gentleman who is knowledgeable in all forms of fighting. Just to name a few.

Through CHRW I have taken workshops, joined an amazing critique group, and have become a judge in a few contests.

In the critique group, I have learned so much more about writing then I ever thought possible. Everyone is so helpful. As it should be. We are all going for the same goal. To be published or to continue to be published. That's right, even published authors are members of this critique group. It is very helpful to have another set of eyes to read over your work before you pass it off. We all have an understanding also that we trust each other with our work and know that nothing will be copied and that no one will be harsh in their critique.

If I could give you any advice in your writing career, it would be to find someone to become critique partners with or to align yourself with a wonderful critique group. I promise, you won't be sorry.

Should I Be Smashed Before Formatting To Smashwords?

2011-07-27T05:00:00.005-06:00

I’m beginning to think so. The whole process is confusing, user un-friendly, and time consuming. Don’t fall for the website's How To Publish page which begins with an “Easy as 1-2-3” header. It’s missing a disclaimer. DO NOT ATTEMPT THE FORMATTING PROCESS UNLESS LEGALLY DRUNK.

Seriously. Break out the hard stuff. Save the beer for the nachos. Buzzed, slightly inebriated, or tipsy doesn’t cut it.

You probably think I dislike Smashwords. Far from it. I love the concept. If you’re enamored with the idea of self publishing as I am, Smashwords is a smashing tool. They will distribute my ebook to Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony Reader Store, Kobo and the Diesel eBook Store. Plus, I can self pub through Amazon and assure coverage with the major digital distributors. The royalties are decent - 60% of list price from most ebook retailers and up to 85% net from the Smashwords site. Last time I checked, that’s considerably more than the average print publisher is offering.

Yeah, yeah….I know. I’ve heard the grumblings. “You have to market yourself.” Guess what. You have to market yourself in print, too. Especially if you’re a debut author with a limited following. And that’s after waiting two years or longer to see your masterpiece on the bookshelf. Add another year or more for the query, submission, acceptance process. Small press publishers work a little faster but it’s still a hurry and wait game.

As the economy gets tighter, so does Main Street America’s pocketbook. (I speak from experience.) If I have to choose between buying a hardback at $25, a paperback at $6-$7, or an ebook for $3, guess which format is going to win? Here comes more grumbling. “There’s a lot of crappy ebooks to sift through.” True, but there are a lot of crappy print books to sift through, too. Just because it’s in print doesn’t guarantee it’s a good read. How do you know where to invest your time and money? Read reviews. Look at the cover. Check out the blurb. Take a chance. It’s the same process. Or as I like to say, a crap shoot.

Wait…is that more grumbling I hear? “You aren’t a real author if you’re writing/selling ebooks. Only people who can’t get published in the real world turn to digital publishing.” Hogwash. Wake up and smell the roses. That argument is so last year. To quote Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” The publishing industry is changing at the same lightening pace.

Aside from mastering the formatting process, what else could anyone complain about? Covers? Eh, did someone just grumble about creating artwork for their ebook? There are simple solutions, my friend. Simpler than the aggravation that accompanies preparation of the manuscript. I’m somewhat of a techie. I can create a decent book cover that's eye catching and doesn’t look cheap. One that fares better than some of the cheesy print covers I’ve seen over the years. Granted, not everyone can do this. That’s why you can visit http://www.romancenovelcovers.com/ where hunky model Jimmy Thomas poses on ready made romance covers to sigh for.

So there you have it. My love-hate relationship with Smashwords and the digital publishing industry. And the justification for storing a bottle of Jack Daniels in my cupboard. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

BICHOK.

The Cave

2011-07-26T10:31:00.000-06:00

My apologies. I've been so engrossed in my revisions and family life that I forgot what day it was.

Such is a writer's journey.

Take heart, you are not the only ones I've forgotten. My poor family has near starved and the laundry is piled to the ceiling, but the upside is I'm getting closer and closer to submitting Love At Twenty Paces.

I hope to reach my goal to send it off by mid-August. Only a few weeks away and only ten months beyond my original self-imposed deadline. So you see why I'm shut away in my cave.

Do you ever shut yourself off from the world to write?

Happy Tuesday,

Renee

The Joys of the Day Job ~ by Kate Wood

2011-07-23T11:02:00.006-06:00

My company is in the middle of preparations to move locations from one city to another. Being the hard working, responsible employee that I am, I have committed myself to weeks of physical labor and over time…joy!

Needless to say, I am exhausted and brain dead.

While I cannot offer wit or wisdom, I can offer you entertainment from these fine folks:

Get freaky with Catie Rhodes in her post about ghostly caverns: http://catierhodes.com/2011/07/22/the-ghosts-of-longhorn-caverns/

Revisit the good times in Poltergeist with Sonia Medeiros: http://doingthewritething.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/theyre-heeeeere/

And check out this great mash-up from Piper Bayard, all kinds of cool stuff in here: http://piperbayard.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/the-end-is-near-and-we-deserve-it-worlds-first-tickle-spa-opens-in-spain/

The move is near…the craziness should be over by the end of next week, so hopefully everything will be back to normal, or my version of normal, soon!

When do you give up?

2011-07-22T05:39:00.004-06:00

Never.

So I mentioned Sherrilyn Kenyon’s inspiring keynote address in my last blog for New Kids. But I think the topic deserves a bit more discussion.

If you want to read her speech, she’s posted it on here. http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/-rwa%20luncheon%20speech%20delivered.pdf

The woman went through some hardship in her life, that’s for sure. And through sheer determination, talent, and a bit of luck, she’s now a NYT list author.

But what if she hadn’t tried just one more time. After she’d promised her husband not to waste anymore money or time on her dream. What if she hadn’t stolen a stamp from her husband’s wallet to send that last query or borrowed money from a friend to send that last partial? Would fate still reached out to her to grant her wish?

I guess what I’m asking is how long are you willing to tread water before your ship comes in?

There’s an old joke about a guy stranded on his rooftop, flood waters all around who prays for divine assistance. When a scruffy looking man in a rowboat appears, the guy turns him away and prays harder. When a larger search and rescue boat floats by, he waves them off to help others and prays harder. Finally a helicopter comes, but he turns his rescuers away, knowing God will save him.

When he dies, unrescued, he’s standing at the pearly gates. He sees God standing to welcome him. Falling on his knees, he cries out, “I prayed for you to save me. Why did you forsaken me?”

God pulls the man to his feet. “My son, I sent you a row boat, a search and rescue boat, and a helicopter. What more did you want?”

Sometimes I feel like that man, calling out to the universe my dreams, my wishes, my goals. But then when the day is done, have I done my part to help fate? Have I edited closely? Have I written the best story I can today? And finally, have I taken the chance and sent my projects out into the writing world?

Or am I waiting for a bigger boat?

What about you? Have you put in the time and effort to reach your dream? Writing related or not, tell us your story.

The flooding Mississippi picture is thanks to my DH.

Lynn

BUILDING A BETTER STORY

2011-07-20T05:00:00.007-06:00

Yes, I said “building” not “writing” because the concept is similar to constructing a house. Without a solid foundation, your novel will fall apart long before the HEA.

My friend, critique partner and plotter extraordinaire recently referred me to a blog called StoryFix by Larry Brooks. The guy offers an amazing assessment on story structure. While much of it is information I’ve heard before, Larry puts it in such an easy-to-understand format that I felt I was reading it for the first time.

Larry is, of course, an author and entrepreneur. (Aren’t all writers?) He's taken the condensed version of the story structure process outlined on StoryFix and expanded it into a book called “Story Structure - Demystified”. It’s available with other interesting titles on his blog and Amazon.

In a nutshell, Larry explains how all good (i.e. published and profitable) novels contain four “boxes”. These comprise the foundation of your story. He breaks it down even further in his book but for the sake of space, I’m going to focus on the “Four Parts of a Story”.

Think of your manuscript as a large open box. Inside the empty space are four smaller boxes. Each of the smaller boxes serves a purpose – to move your story toward an end result. To make plotting even easier, you can construct a graph or worksheet with notes of scenes required to take you to each “part”. Once your outline is complete, it’s simply a matter of connecting the dots. Trust me, your writing time will become more productive and efficient.

Box One – The Set Up. This box introduces our main character(s), establishes the stakes, foreshadows the main antagonistic force, and ends with the arrival of a new obstacle, often scary or challenging. Something that will change their life forever. The end of Box One is also what is commonly referred to as “The First Plot Point” or “Inciting Incident”. It’s where the real story begins.

Box Two – The Response. Our main character(s) must now deal with the opposing forces introduced at the end of part one. This can be as simple as finding love or as complex as preventing a worldwide disaster. We detail the character's reaction to the new circumstances that have blasted him/her out of their comfort zone. It often unveils their own insecurity, fear, or confusion before they devise a plan to move forward. Just when they think they are in control everything changes.

Box Three – The Attack. Now our main character(s) try to fix things. They become proactive and attack the obstacles preventing them from finalizing the plan they just devised. In doing so, they fail miserably at every turn. Remember the term “Black Moment”? This is where it happens. The more pain, the more failure your character(s) endure, the sweeter the ending.

Box Four – The Resolution. The title says it all. We’ve introduced all the information we need to resolve the conflict. Even in a suspense novel, the villain has been introduced although we may not know their identity.This where we tie up the loose ends.

Pretty simple, eh? Larry’s book does an incredible job of breaking down the process, even offering percentages of where each point should occur. This structure is used in almost every movie, book and sitcom. If you think I’m wrong, examine a movie you've watched or a book you've read. It’s like dissecting a sentence.

For more information on Larry Brooks and the Story Structure process, visit http://storyfix.com/category/story-structure-series

BICHOK

Deb Sanders