Ok, I just read Noony's last post and naturally, I clicked where she told me to click because...baaa, right?
It's a good thing I just went to the bathroom, otherwise, I'd have moistened myself. Hyperbole and a Half is worth all the awesome in the internet.
Well, maybe not all of it because that would leave no room for NaNo (or YouTube videos of cats).
We all know that the idea is to cram 50K words into 30 days of writing. There are people who can do this. They're like...double rainbows. You know they're real because you see videos of them on the internet. They're not like unicorns because the internet pictures of unicorns look like this.
I'm so not going to win NaNo. I write slower than a bear with its tail stuck in the ice. No worries, though. I always end November with more words than I thought I would and I'll tell you why.
I love Write Ins.
Writers tend to be solitary by nature. When you're writing a story, it's really just about you and your computer, getting the words out of your brain before they start stinging like wasps. There's no room for anyone else in there because 3rd parties get in the way of the process.
But I'll tell you this. Hermits get weird. All the worlds in your brain start to take over and pretty soon, you're seeing cats riding fire-breathing unicorns through double rainbows all the time.
That's when it's time (ok, a little past time) for you to pack up your laptop and your power cord and haul yourself out to wherever your local NaNo Write In is being hosted. It'll be in a library, or a bookstore, or in a church basement, or at the student union of a local college. There will be coffee.
Most importantly, there will be people. (You should shower before you go. Hermits frequently begin to smell a little...funky.) People who are blinking at the bright lights the same way you are. People who, when you meet them, the first question they ask isn't "What do you do?" but "What are you writing?"
These are your people. Some of them have never done this before and they're afraid. Be nice to them. Some of them think they have all the answers. Obviously not, or they would be 'Hyperbole and a Half' - and they're not. But most of them are a lot like you. They write because it's what they do. NaNo may be the only time some of them give themselves permission to dig deeper into their writing.
But mostly, being around other people as they write sends this buzzing sort of energy into the air around them, and around you. And it starts humming and whirring and leaking into pores and crevices and the combined power of awesomeness in the room somehow ends up leaving folks with more energy than they came in with. Creativity is greater than the sum of its parts.
For more information on finding Write Ins in your area, register at the NaNo website (free!) and find your region by clicking on "My Region," then "Find a Region." That group should have lots of information on where to find official NaNo Write Ins, as well as a few informal ones.
Double rainbows, dude!
Step Into The Mists with our adventurous band of award-winning authors to otherworlds of paranormal, SF, fantasy and speculative romance. Nervous? Don't be. The creatures that live here are friendly. Most of the time... This blog is for age 18 and over only.
Showing posts with label the writer's life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the writer's life. Show all posts
24 October 2014
18 April 2014
Cobwebs and clutter
Spring cleaning is a tradition for many people. Winter ends and you throw open the windows, let in the fresh air, and start tossing out the trash, sweeping up cobwebs, and sorting through the junk that's collected over a long, cold winter.
Mentally, I've been doing the same thing. The very air seems to stimulate the creative process ... or maybe it's just the fact that the air no longer freezes my lungs. ;) But whether it's the periodic sunshine, warmer days, or budding trees, all I know is that I suddenly feel in the mood to be productive again. I want to write. I want to draw. I want to take long walks and contemplate plot holes and story ideas. I feel a deep-seated need to create.
The best way to begin is by cleaning out the mental cobwebs. First, I start plowing through that story that has been lingering for months on end. I know how it ends, but I haven't written it down yet. In my mind, it's done. In reality, it never will be if I don't initiate some self-discipline, turn off the games and write!
Once the old wip (work in progress) is finally finished, the new ideas can take deeper root. It's kind of like clearing out a closet for a new wardrobe. New characters; fresh ideas; words strung together in new ways. Yes, this is one of the truly fun parts of writing -- the beginning when every story is new and you're discovering it page by page, scene by scene.
It seems all I really needed was some fresh air and little sunlight.
Meg Allison
Indulge your senses...
http://megallisonauthor.com
Mentally, I've been doing the same thing. The very air seems to stimulate the creative process ... or maybe it's just the fact that the air no longer freezes my lungs. ;) But whether it's the periodic sunshine, warmer days, or budding trees, all I know is that I suddenly feel in the mood to be productive again. I want to write. I want to draw. I want to take long walks and contemplate plot holes and story ideas. I feel a deep-seated need to create.
The best way to begin is by cleaning out the mental cobwebs. First, I start plowing through that story that has been lingering for months on end. I know how it ends, but I haven't written it down yet. In my mind, it's done. In reality, it never will be if I don't initiate some self-discipline, turn off the games and write!
Once the old wip (work in progress) is finally finished, the new ideas can take deeper root. It's kind of like clearing out a closet for a new wardrobe. New characters; fresh ideas; words strung together in new ways. Yes, this is one of the truly fun parts of writing -- the beginning when every story is new and you're discovering it page by page, scene by scene.
It seems all I really needed was some fresh air and little sunlight.
Meg Allison
Indulge your senses...
http://megallisonauthor.com
01 November 2013
Wait... where did October go?
I've been trying to figure out how to post about vanquishing personal ghosts with my writing...and then I realized it's the first of November. How did that happen?
What scares me the most -- besides losing track of time -- is that I know things will go into hyper-speed from here until the end of the year. While the children and the obnoxious signs at various stores and in ads will remind me there are only "x" days until Christmas, I will feel my sanity and patience slowly slipping away with every interesting rendition of classic carols played over and over and over.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Scrooge. But you wouldn't call me Mrs. Claus, either. ;) I do love Christmas; I just dislike the rushed-panicked-commercialism feel associated with the holiday. It's still an exciting, joyous time for me, but I also manage to get at least a bit stressed out.
Added to all the holiday preparations: we have an early December birthday in our house AND the fact that yes, I am actually writing again... How many hours are there? Only twenty-four? Now I know what I want for Christmas. ;)
So how do you keep on track with writing -- or anything else -- during the rush of decorating, shopping, baking, and more shopping? That's a really good question. I think I'm slowly figuring it out -- for myself, anyway.
Number one: I could try NaNoWriMo ... that craziness that involves a commitment to write 50k during the month of November. No editing; just writing. It's a competition between friends, colleagues, and mostly with ourselves. It's crazy. It can be stressful or it can be a fantastic motivator. I tried it last year and failed miserably. But others succeed and go on to publish their NaNo books. Kudos to them!
However, the motivator which is currently working for me is the fact that I have discovered my capabilities as a writer. I can actually do this -- and a lot of this -- in a short amount of time. When I have to. When I make myself do it. I have some very batty friends to thank for this discovery; and at least two children who will never let me forget it. :)
Not only is that a wonderful, affirming revelation, it's also a kick in the rear. I can do better than what I've been doing. If I can write 9k of a story that I'm really writing by the seat of my pants -- i.e.: I had no idea where the hell the plot was going -- then I can certainly do just as well with stories that I have mapped out in my head; stories in which the characters are as real to me as my own family.
So, I suppose my main advice is that to keep on track during the holidays, you need to find a whole boatload of self-discipline, which will be followed by a bit of success, and hopefully that will give you that confidence boost you need to carry on.
But there must be other tricks we use to keep on track, right? If you have a few, please share. This is the season of giving, after all. ;)
Meg Allison
Indulge your senses...
http://www.megallisonauthor.com
What scares me the most -- besides losing track of time -- is that I know things will go into hyper-speed from here until the end of the year. While the children and the obnoxious signs at various stores and in ads will remind me there are only "x" days until Christmas, I will feel my sanity and patience slowly slipping away with every interesting rendition of classic carols played over and over and over.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Scrooge. But you wouldn't call me Mrs. Claus, either. ;) I do love Christmas; I just dislike the rushed-panicked-commercialism feel associated with the holiday. It's still an exciting, joyous time for me, but I also manage to get at least a bit stressed out.
Added to all the holiday preparations: we have an early December birthday in our house AND the fact that yes, I am actually writing again... How many hours are there? Only twenty-four? Now I know what I want for Christmas. ;)
So how do you keep on track with writing -- or anything else -- during the rush of decorating, shopping, baking, and more shopping? That's a really good question. I think I'm slowly figuring it out -- for myself, anyway.
Number one: I could try NaNoWriMo ... that craziness that involves a commitment to write 50k during the month of November. No editing; just writing. It's a competition between friends, colleagues, and mostly with ourselves. It's crazy. It can be stressful or it can be a fantastic motivator. I tried it last year and failed miserably. But others succeed and go on to publish their NaNo books. Kudos to them!
However, the motivator which is currently working for me is the fact that I have discovered my capabilities as a writer. I can actually do this -- and a lot of this -- in a short amount of time. When I have to. When I make myself do it. I have some very batty friends to thank for this discovery; and at least two children who will never let me forget it. :)
Not only is that a wonderful, affirming revelation, it's also a kick in the rear. I can do better than what I've been doing. If I can write 9k of a story that I'm really writing by the seat of my pants -- i.e.: I had no idea where the hell the plot was going -- then I can certainly do just as well with stories that I have mapped out in my head; stories in which the characters are as real to me as my own family.
So, I suppose my main advice is that to keep on track during the holidays, you need to find a whole boatload of self-discipline, which will be followed by a bit of success, and hopefully that will give you that confidence boost you need to carry on.
But there must be other tricks we use to keep on track, right? If you have a few, please share. This is the season of giving, after all. ;)
Meg Allison
Indulge your senses...
http://www.megallisonauthor.com
31 October 2013
Digging Up Bones...Okay, Not Really!
Happy Halloween, or Blessed Samhain, everyone!
Having recently become a licensed motorcycle rider, I'm quite conscious of keeping my own bones (and titanium replacement parts) intact, thankyouverymuch. :) Since I became a rider, I've gotten into watching motorcycle video blogs, aka "motovlogs", on Youtube. I love the strong sense of community, the diversity, and the welcoming, encouraging spirit among motovloggers.
So, while I don't yet have a fancy, helmet-mounted video cam set-up, I took my regular Canon PowerShot with me on a quick ride to take advantage of a rare, late-fall warm-up. I've ridden down to Sidecut Metropark, near Maumee, Ohio, many times, but never took the time to walk around the historic cemetery perched on the banks of the river.
So, for your Halloween pleasure, here is my first vlog, a walkaround of Riverside Cemetery near Maumee, Ohio, which is practically within the shadow of Fallen Timbers Battlefield. Feel fee to giggle at my stuttering and clumsy attempts at video editing!
Following my vid are links to three of my favorite spooky videos. Enjoy!! Have a safe (and hopefully dry) Halloween!
And now, three of my favorite spooky videos!
Castle Ghosts of Wales
Castle Ghosts of Ireland
Castle Ghosts of Scotland
~Carolan Ivey
www.carolanivey.com
Youtube Channel
Having recently become a licensed motorcycle rider, I'm quite conscious of keeping my own bones (and titanium replacement parts) intact, thankyouverymuch. :) Since I became a rider, I've gotten into watching motorcycle video blogs, aka "motovlogs", on Youtube. I love the strong sense of community, the diversity, and the welcoming, encouraging spirit among motovloggers.
So, while I don't yet have a fancy, helmet-mounted video cam set-up, I took my regular Canon PowerShot with me on a quick ride to take advantage of a rare, late-fall warm-up. I've ridden down to Sidecut Metropark, near Maumee, Ohio, many times, but never took the time to walk around the historic cemetery perched on the banks of the river.
So, for your Halloween pleasure, here is my first vlog, a walkaround of Riverside Cemetery near Maumee, Ohio, which is practically within the shadow of Fallen Timbers Battlefield. Feel fee to giggle at my stuttering and clumsy attempts at video editing!
Following my vid are links to three of my favorite spooky videos. Enjoy!! Have a safe (and hopefully dry) Halloween!
And now, three of my favorite spooky videos!
Castle Ghosts of Wales
Castle Ghosts of Ireland
Castle Ghosts of Scotland
~Carolan Ivey
www.carolanivey.com
Youtube Channel
06 September 2013
Ahhh, September...
This is my favorite time of the year. Although it's not officially Autumn, the season is definitely in the air.
The nights are cooler; the sun sets sooner; the leaves are starting to change colors and fall from the trees. I can smell wood burning as neighbors try to take the chill off their houses. Then there's that school bus rattling down the road twice a day.
It also seems to be the time of year that my muse comes out of hibernation... or maybe it's home from vacation. ;)
I'm not sure why it's easier to write in the Fall. It could be the simple change in seasons and that I've always felt at ease and happy this time of year. It could also be the few extra hours of 'silence' as children go back to school or resume their on-line classes. Whatever the reason, I feel more inspired. I feel more equipped to face that cursor and the blank, white space.
What inspires you? Is it a season? A time of day? When does your muse seem to wake?
Meg Allison
Indulge your senses...
http://www.megallisonauthor.com
The nights are cooler; the sun sets sooner; the leaves are starting to change colors and fall from the trees. I can smell wood burning as neighbors try to take the chill off their houses. Then there's that school bus rattling down the road twice a day.
It also seems to be the time of year that my muse comes out of hibernation... or maybe it's home from vacation. ;)
I'm not sure why it's easier to write in the Fall. It could be the simple change in seasons and that I've always felt at ease and happy this time of year. It could also be the few extra hours of 'silence' as children go back to school or resume their on-line classes. Whatever the reason, I feel more inspired. I feel more equipped to face that cursor and the blank, white space.
What inspires you? Is it a season? A time of day? When does your muse seem to wake?
Meg Allison
Indulge your senses...
http://www.megallisonauthor.com
31 August 2013
A Writer's Travels: A Summer of Inspiration
Yeah, I've been MIA on the blog for a while. Work, family, motorcycles...I'm easily distracted. :)
I've managed to put together a couple of videos with images from my travels this summer. First, my sister, mother, and my best friend J.C. Wilder went on a cruise to the Alaska Inside Passage. I'm not a huge fan of cruising, but I must say Princess is a nice cruise line. I had a much better experience than the first cruise I took, on a line that shall remain nameless. o_O
One of my main complaints about cruises is that there just isn't enough time to explore the ports. I could have spent a week each in Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. Oh, and Victoria, B.C. - such a lovely city! In some cases we had literally only a few hours - in Ketchikan, it was barely enough time to take a tour aboard the Aleutian Ballad, a fishing vessel from Deadliest Catch. Another bit of drama on that trip was that I lost my trusty Sony Cybershot camera on the very first day in Seattle, touching off a frantic trip to Target to get a replacement (which set my teeth on edge because I had to make a decision without having the chance to do tons of research!). I ended up with a Canon PowerShot which I like, but I spent the entire trip learning to use it. LOL Here I've made a video of the best shots with music. Enjoy!
There's also a video of a sled dog ride my sister and I took. Check out my Youtube channel to find it.
Not long after the Alaska trip, my husband, daughter, and her fiance took a return trip to one of my favorite places on earth - the Canadian Rockies. I took over two thousand photographs and am still sifting through them, but I did string together a series of video clips into one themed video I hope you'll enjoy. :)
My daughter is getting married in six months, followed closely by my son a few months later, so things are going to be crazy around my house for a while. The one thing saving my sanity these days has been rides on my MP3, even if it's only a few miles down the river and back. Boy, I'm so not looking forward to winter...unless I invest in some heated gear to keep riding as the snow flies! I might even start motovlogging. Yeah, pretty scary to think I might try talking coherently while negotiating traffic!
If you live in the NW Ohio or SE Michigan region, drop me an email and let's meet up for coffee and a ride!
~Carolan
www.carolanivey.com
I've managed to put together a couple of videos with images from my travels this summer. First, my sister, mother, and my best friend J.C. Wilder went on a cruise to the Alaska Inside Passage. I'm not a huge fan of cruising, but I must say Princess is a nice cruise line. I had a much better experience than the first cruise I took, on a line that shall remain nameless. o_O
One of my main complaints about cruises is that there just isn't enough time to explore the ports. I could have spent a week each in Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. Oh, and Victoria, B.C. - such a lovely city! In some cases we had literally only a few hours - in Ketchikan, it was barely enough time to take a tour aboard the Aleutian Ballad, a fishing vessel from Deadliest Catch. Another bit of drama on that trip was that I lost my trusty Sony Cybershot camera on the very first day in Seattle, touching off a frantic trip to Target to get a replacement (which set my teeth on edge because I had to make a decision without having the chance to do tons of research!). I ended up with a Canon PowerShot which I like, but I spent the entire trip learning to use it. LOL Here I've made a video of the best shots with music. Enjoy!
There's also a video of a sled dog ride my sister and I took. Check out my Youtube channel to find it.
Not long after the Alaska trip, my husband, daughter, and her fiance took a return trip to one of my favorite places on earth - the Canadian Rockies. I took over two thousand photographs and am still sifting through them, but I did string together a series of video clips into one themed video I hope you'll enjoy. :)
My daughter is getting married in six months, followed closely by my son a few months later, so things are going to be crazy around my house for a while. The one thing saving my sanity these days has been rides on my MP3, even if it's only a few miles down the river and back. Boy, I'm so not looking forward to winter...unless I invest in some heated gear to keep riding as the snow flies! I might even start motovlogging. Yeah, pretty scary to think I might try talking coherently while negotiating traffic!
If you live in the NW Ohio or SE Michigan region, drop me an email and let's meet up for coffee and a ride!
~Carolan
www.carolanivey.com
21 July 2013
Freedom - Oh yeah, I'm all over that!
When I think of Freedom as an individual - much of the concept revolves around Financial vs. Self and the conflict between the two. Having been raised by children of the sixties, my parents wanted nothing more for me than to be happy.
Well parents - Mission accomplished!
Now I'm not saying I don't have problems like the rest of the world. I have illness, bills and some debt. I hate when simple decisions are made by financial need. Things like going to a movie, taking a trip, or even picking up a good book. :(
Considering these items, I'm overall happy with my life. Why? I have the freedom of writing - an opportunity to escape, to a world I love, and make some money along my journey.
These days I tend to be more of a Hobbie Writer - doing it in my spare time when I'm not working the M-F gig to pay the bills. However, I have big dreams - I plan to gain my financial freedom with my writing. I don't need millions of dollars, though that would be nice. :) Thanks to said hippie parents, I've never been one to live much beyond my means.
My husband, finally achieve his freedom to do and be what he loves. He went back to school, and now is an instructor to student pilots.
This brings me to the second part of my Freedom concept -self. When you have to pay bills and meet financial obligations, this requires you to have money. For most authors this means you have to either, make enough money writing, or keep a job. For most, this tears us between writing and work. A rock and hard place. We need to work to make money, but sometimes a job inteferes with our creative process by consuming our time, energy and resources.
What's a writer to do? There is a school of thought that in order to "make it", you need to focus only on your writing. Quit your day (or night) job and treat writing as a business. This might work for some people, but it would not work for me. I think if I treated my creative process as work, I might not enjoy it as much.
In order for me to achieve results as a writer, I need to achieve a sense of self. Who am I? How do I want people to remember me? If you're not sure, imagine introducing yourself at a community cocktail party (not a conference, not the company Christmas party, and maybe not necessarily your own community).
"Hi my name is Tina."
"Hi Tina. What do you do?"
There it is- what do you do? How do you answer this question? Are you an author? Do you get into specific genres or only when prodded? Do you identify more with a title you have at work? Do you identify with being a parent, spouse or some other connection?
To say, "I'm a parent putting two kids through college," does not make me less of a writer. It's simply my sense of self - right now, at this time, in my life. As I go on, I will talk about the books I write, and the fortune 500 company I work for. Identifying my sense of self, helps give way to my goals (where I want to be), and give me a sense of achievable Freedom in my future.
"You have freedom when you're easy in your harness." ~Robert Frost
Well parents - Mission accomplished!
Now I'm not saying I don't have problems like the rest of the world. I have illness, bills and some debt. I hate when simple decisions are made by financial need. Things like going to a movie, taking a trip, or even picking up a good book. :(
Considering these items, I'm overall happy with my life. Why? I have the freedom of writing - an opportunity to escape, to a world I love, and make some money along my journey.
These days I tend to be more of a Hobbie Writer - doing it in my spare time when I'm not working the M-F gig to pay the bills. However, I have big dreams - I plan to gain my financial freedom with my writing. I don't need millions of dollars, though that would be nice. :) Thanks to said hippie parents, I've never been one to live much beyond my means.
My husband, finally achieve his freedom to do and be what he loves. He went back to school, and now is an instructor to student pilots.
This brings me to the second part of my Freedom concept -self. When you have to pay bills and meet financial obligations, this requires you to have money. For most authors this means you have to either, make enough money writing, or keep a job. For most, this tears us between writing and work. A rock and hard place. We need to work to make money, but sometimes a job inteferes with our creative process by consuming our time, energy and resources.
What's a writer to do? There is a school of thought that in order to "make it", you need to focus only on your writing. Quit your day (or night) job and treat writing as a business. This might work for some people, but it would not work for me. I think if I treated my creative process as work, I might not enjoy it as much.
In order for me to achieve results as a writer, I need to achieve a sense of self. Who am I? How do I want people to remember me? If you're not sure, imagine introducing yourself at a community cocktail party (not a conference, not the company Christmas party, and maybe not necessarily your own community).
"Hi my name is Tina."
"Hi Tina. What do you do?"
There it is- what do you do? How do you answer this question? Are you an author? Do you get into specific genres or only when prodded? Do you identify more with a title you have at work? Do you identify with being a parent, spouse or some other connection?
To say, "I'm a parent putting two kids through college," does not make me less of a writer. It's simply my sense of self - right now, at this time, in my life. As I go on, I will talk about the books I write, and the fortune 500 company I work for. Identifying my sense of self, helps give way to my goals (where I want to be), and give me a sense of achievable Freedom in my future.
"You have freedom when you're easy in your harness." ~Robert Frost
12 July 2013
Don't tell me what to do!
Freedom means a lot of different things to me, depending on my mood and the context.
In general, it means the freedom to make choices -- whether that's how to vote; where to go to church or if I go to church at all; what to watch on television; what to eat; what to read; and of course, what to write.
I was once asked about my choice to write romance. The exact question wasn't put so nicely and I remember that moment well. It was asked, not with curiosity so much as with judgmental derision. She might as well have asked me: "What are you thinking?"
Yes, most of us know that romance -- in any form or sub-genre -- has a bad rap. Honestly, if I hear/read one more reference to romance novels as being "mommy porn", I might throttle someone.
I. HATE. That. It angers and frustrates me to no end.
But back to my brief confrontation: I smiled; bit back a mixture of hurt and anger, and replied: "Because I'm a romantic at heart."
Which is the truth. I believe in love and romance -- although I admit 'romance' often takes a backseat in everyday life.
I crave the happy ending that isn't always guaranteed in other literature or in life itself. Steven King is a master storyteller, but you can bet most of his characters will not live happily-ever-after. I'll still read his stories because, well, he's amazing. But I can only take so much before I turn back to romance.
It's my choice what I read and what I write. Freedom is a wonderful concept.
Meg Allison
Indulge your senses...
http://www.megallisonauthor.com
In general, it means the freedom to make choices -- whether that's how to vote; where to go to church or if I go to church at all; what to watch on television; what to eat; what to read; and of course, what to write.
I was once asked about my choice to write romance. The exact question wasn't put so nicely and I remember that moment well. It was asked, not with curiosity so much as with judgmental derision. She might as well have asked me: "What are you thinking?"
Yes, most of us know that romance -- in any form or sub-genre -- has a bad rap. Honestly, if I hear/read one more reference to romance novels as being "mommy porn", I might throttle someone.
I. HATE. That. It angers and frustrates me to no end.
But back to my brief confrontation: I smiled; bit back a mixture of hurt and anger, and replied: "Because I'm a romantic at heart."
Which is the truth. I believe in love and romance -- although I admit 'romance' often takes a backseat in everyday life.
I crave the happy ending that isn't always guaranteed in other literature or in life itself. Steven King is a master storyteller, but you can bet most of his characters will not live happily-ever-after. I'll still read his stories because, well, he's amazing. But I can only take so much before I turn back to romance.
It's my choice what I read and what I write. Freedom is a wonderful concept.
Meg Allison
Indulge your senses...
http://www.megallisonauthor.com
31 May 2013
When Good Ideas go Bad and Then Good Again
Our theme this month has been about how the best ideas can
go bad and because this month has an extra Friday, I get to go again!
In early 2012 Ellora’s Cave put out their list of sub calls, one
of which was for tattoo themed books. I came up with an idea for four linked
fantasy books revolving around the Midnight Café, a tattoo parlor in the world
beyond the Veil, where all the characters of myth and legends reside. They were
to be short novellas, and I had just over a month to get them written. I could
do it. I was sure of it. I told my family I’d be pretty much unavailable for
the next six weeks and hunkered down.
Then, in February our son Tom was in a horrendous auto
accident* and everything, of course, got shoved aside. Thank heavens although
he was terribly hurt we were assured he would eventually make a full recovery. And
despite not having much time, I found writing therapeutic and actually cranked
out two of the three novellas I’d planned, Fleeing Fate and Stone-Hard Passion,
and they were released as part of the Pricked series.
HA! I won’t claim the book flowed, because I struggled to
get it finished—real life again—but once I got that point worked out, I knew
exactly how the book was to go and Dragon's Claim, book three in my Unveiled Seductions series came to life.
I’ve had my fair share of ‘The Best Book Idea Ever!’ turning into ‘What
the Hell was I thinking??’. Sometimes it’s been the plot, sometimes the
characters, even extenuating circumstances (aka real life) but, in reality, it’s
all me. They’re my ideas and, whoa Nellie, if they don’t turn out then who can I
blame but myself? But it's not the end of the world, or even the end of the story.
Here’s a “for instance.”
In early 2012 Ellora’s Cave put out their list of sub calls, one
of which was for tattoo themed books. I came up with an idea for four linked
fantasy books revolving around the Midnight Café, a tattoo parlor in the world
beyond the Veil, where all the characters of myth and legends reside. They were
to be short novellas, and I had just over a month to get them written. I could
do it. I was sure of it. I told my family I’d be pretty much unavailable for
the next six weeks and hunkered down.
Then, in February our son Tom was in a horrendous auto
accident* and everything, of course, got shoved aside. Thank heavens although
he was terribly hurt we were assured he would eventually make a full recovery. And
despite not having much time, I found writing therapeutic and actually cranked
out two of the three novellas I’d planned, Fleeing Fate and Stone-Hard Passion,
and they were released as part of the Pricked series.
Fast forward to June and things have settled down. I pull
out the outline for book three and decide to get on with it. The plot involves
a dragon shifter and Lady Luck, who’s a Fey woman. I write, hit delete, write
some more, delete some more. It’s like pulling teeth. By now I think I must
have been on crack when I decided this story had legs. Then it stuck me…The Fey
woman actually should be a Fey man…
HA! I won’t claim the book flowed, because I struggled to
get it finished—real life again—but once I got that point worked out, I knew
exactly how the book was to go and Dragon's Claim, book three in my Unveiled Seductions series came to life.
So, for me I’ve found sometimes it’s a matter of finding the
stumbling block and tearing through it to turn a bad idea into something I can
love.
*My son Tom’s accident was caused by his Type One Diabetes,
which he’s had since he was four years old. In a rush to get to work one
morning, running late, he fixed himself breakfast to go and jumped into his
car. Unfortunately he didn’t eat quickly enough and his blood sugar dropped. He
doesn’t remember anything about what happened next, but the end result was the
accident.
They don’t know what causes Type One Diabetes and there is
no cure. Every year the Brenda Novak Auction raises funds for research into Type One
Diabetes and it is an awesome way to help, as well as get some wicked deals on
all kinds of cool stuff. By the time you read this the auction may be over for
this year (May 31st is the last day) but if not, go and take a look and get a last minute deal. If it’s too late this year, make sure to check it out
next year!
24 January 2013
13 Edits I Made In My Manuscript Recently
1: Just wrote a scene in hero POV when he's in wolf form and licks his no-no. Hahaha! So funny. I am amused.
2: Scene in hero POV where he's in wolf form and licks his no-no. Have I seen this in a book before? A book sort of like mine, I mean, not a spoof of paranormal romance. I didn't read Twilight. Did Jacob lick his no-no? Maybe I should take this scene back out. It might not be what genre readers are expecting.
3: Scene in hero POV where he's in wolf form and ... What's missing here? I have a note to myself to fill this spot in, and I don't know why. I should write better notes to myself. What's this about a no-no? OH WAIT. I remember. I've slept since then. Maybe I should put that back in, since it actually fits the pacing of the scene.
4: Yeah, delete delete delete.
5: I'm going to move on to the next scene. I AM! The scene where he... And finds his... Dammit. I can't move on to the next scene until the previous scene is done.
6: Scene in hero's POV where he's in wolf form... He's trying to really LOOK and ACT like an actual canine. Wouldn't it be realistic if he did lick his no-no? Yeah, better add that back in. Luckily I saved it.
7: There. That scene is done. Moving right along. Hero has managed to--while acting realistically like an animal instead of a shifter--sneak past the bad guys to the place where the heroine is. And when she sees him, since he's acting so much like an animal, she...
8: She'd know it was him, right? Does he need her to believe he's an animal? Should he act very much like a real animal HERE? Should I put the scene of him acting very much like a no-no licking animal HERE, to fool the heroine, so her expression doesn't give them away?
9: Come on. She knows it's him even if he does lick his no-no. And if he licks his no-no, she's never going to let him live that down. Her snort of laughter when he actually licks his no-no is going to clue the bad guys in that something is amiss, and I'm not ready for the big confrontation scene yet. So he absolutely cannot lick his no-no here.
10: But what about in the original spot, where he's just sneaking past the bad guys? And--I hate to say this--but I think I need to add details, so I should probably consider senses beyond vision in this scene. Hearing, smell, taste... OH GOD I AM SO CUTTING THIS PART.
11: NO! I am GENIUS! I'll make him PRETEND to lick his no-no, consciously, because he's good at subterfuge! He's layered!
12: He's... Yeah, I'm taking that back out.
13: This scene is so damn long! I think I may have a writerly disorder called "Cantshutupitis". I conceive of a story idea and flesh it out and worldbuild it and start writing it and it goes on and on and on and suddenly I'm at 80K but the story is only halfway over, so I have to keep going if I want to find out what happens. You know how it is. But I'm not about to toss 80K worth of work out the window just because it's not done yet since that would be wasted effort on my part, so I roll up my sleeves and plug in my laptop and get serious and try to finish it in 20K...40K...some reasonable amount of time, fearing, of course, that "rushed ending" syndrome I've seen readers complain about with books that are paced well until the end when it seemed like, I dunno, the author had to wrap things up in 10K because she had a 90K publisher-set limit? Something like that. Anyway, I just don't know what's wrong with me! Why can't I write 80K books? Where do all these words and plot twists COME from and why do they all have to be every book? I don't...
***
Hopefully when I finish this book, I'll land my publisher of preference and you'll be able to see this scene in action!
Jody W.
www.jodywallace.com * www.meankitty.com
18 January 2013
Writing Fora
Neither flora nor fauna, although 'forums' is an acceptable alternative - Let's talk about writer's groups today.
Some of you may know this story, but the day I started writing, I sat down and scribbled out my opening...and it reeked. Just awful. So I decided that even though I'd been a journalist and was already experienced at writing all kinds of articles, I knew diddly squat about writing fiction.
Even back then, I knew how to wield my Google-fu, so I typed in "how to write a romance novel."
What? Being direct works on Google.
One of the first results to pop up linked to e-Harlequin. Now, I knew even then that I didn't write what HQ (or Silhouette, which was still around at the time) really wanted, but I also knew that if anyone knew romance, it was Harlequin.
I lived in England at the time, and a group of us formed in the UK who were all up in the morning, 5 hours before NY even stirred from its bed. We were the Brit Pack and we all learned together. We were guided by women who were Mills & Boon veterans and had been in the business since Betty Neels was in her hey-day and they were an invaluable source of information. The one thing I learned from them that I'll never forget is that in some ways, genre means nothing. Good writing is ALWAYS good writing.
eHq worked beautifully for me until I published with...not Hq. I'd entered a phase of my career where I had a good handle on the mechanics, but I needed help on the business end. Since Harlequin wasn't my target, I needed different information.
Right about that time, I discovered a group that had recently formed called Romance Divas. Women and men who wrote all kinds of romance, and aimed at all kinds of publishers, came together to talk about writing craft, marketing, and the business end of things, as well as get to know each other on a personal level.
Romance Divas is an invaluable resource for me, both personally and professionally. I get to interact with people who are staring in terror at the blinking cursor for the first time, as well as multi-published, award-winning authors...who are doing the same thing some days! We host an annual online writing conference that has drawn amazing talent from all facets of writing.
Through the years, RD has grown by leaps and bounds and sometimes, it's nice to find smaller groups where it's easier to connect.
Cafemom is a massive website with content geared for moms in general, but within the site, there are hundreds of smaller groups - some with a dozen members, some with hundreds - and a handful of them are geared to writing. Most are of the share and critique variety, but my favorite is the Author's Den, run by women's fiction author Ellen Meister. The Author's Den focuses on the querying, submitting and business end of writing and has proven to be a great resource.
Beyond the wide world of the interwebz, I belong to my local RWA chapter, and a smaller "plotting" group within that. I say "plotting" because half of us plot and half of us don't. Actual face to face time is incredibly valuable for me because I just don't get out much! This way, two to three times a month, I put on real pants instead of stretchy ones, do my hair and makeup, and go talk to other humans who share my interests and goals. They're a great group of people who have really helped motivate me.
However, aside from gleaning information from people who have experience and talents that I absorb like a greedy little sponge, I've also found that these various groups give me the opportunity to pay it forward. As others taught me, now I can teach other writers new to the craft, or new to the business. I'll always be grateful for the lessons I've learned along the way, and the different venues I've explored to learn those lessons.
What are your favorite writing fora?
~~ Sela Carsen
Some of you may know this story, but the day I started writing, I sat down and scribbled out my opening...and it reeked. Just awful. So I decided that even though I'd been a journalist and was already experienced at writing all kinds of articles, I knew diddly squat about writing fiction.
Even back then, I knew how to wield my Google-fu, so I typed in "how to write a romance novel."
What? Being direct works on Google.
One of the first results to pop up linked to e-Harlequin. Now, I knew even then that I didn't write what HQ (or Silhouette, which was still around at the time) really wanted, but I also knew that if anyone knew romance, it was Harlequin.
I lived in England at the time, and a group of us formed in the UK who were all up in the morning, 5 hours before NY even stirred from its bed. We were the Brit Pack and we all learned together. We were guided by women who were Mills & Boon veterans and had been in the business since Betty Neels was in her hey-day and they were an invaluable source of information. The one thing I learned from them that I'll never forget is that in some ways, genre means nothing. Good writing is ALWAYS good writing.
eHq worked beautifully for me until I published with...not Hq. I'd entered a phase of my career where I had a good handle on the mechanics, but I needed help on the business end. Since Harlequin wasn't my target, I needed different information.
Right about that time, I discovered a group that had recently formed called Romance Divas. Women and men who wrote all kinds of romance, and aimed at all kinds of publishers, came together to talk about writing craft, marketing, and the business end of things, as well as get to know each other on a personal level.
Romance Divas is an invaluable resource for me, both personally and professionally. I get to interact with people who are staring in terror at the blinking cursor for the first time, as well as multi-published, award-winning authors...who are doing the same thing some days! We host an annual online writing conference that has drawn amazing talent from all facets of writing.
Through the years, RD has grown by leaps and bounds and sometimes, it's nice to find smaller groups where it's easier to connect.
Cafemom is a massive website with content geared for moms in general, but within the site, there are hundreds of smaller groups - some with a dozen members, some with hundreds - and a handful of them are geared to writing. Most are of the share and critique variety, but my favorite is the Author's Den, run by women's fiction author Ellen Meister. The Author's Den focuses on the querying, submitting and business end of writing and has proven to be a great resource.
Beyond the wide world of the interwebz, I belong to my local RWA chapter, and a smaller "plotting" group within that. I say "plotting" because half of us plot and half of us don't. Actual face to face time is incredibly valuable for me because I just don't get out much! This way, two to three times a month, I put on real pants instead of stretchy ones, do my hair and makeup, and go talk to other humans who share my interests and goals. They're a great group of people who have really helped motivate me.
However, aside from gleaning information from people who have experience and talents that I absorb like a greedy little sponge, I've also found that these various groups give me the opportunity to pay it forward. As others taught me, now I can teach other writers new to the craft, or new to the business. I'll always be grateful for the lessons I've learned along the way, and the different venues I've explored to learn those lessons.
What are your favorite writing fora?
~~ Sela Carsen
06 January 2013
You mean I actually have to write?
This is something I struggle with as a writer - that sounds rather like an oxymoron doesn't it?
I'm good (maybe even great) at a lot of things writers have to do:
1) Plotting - I love deciding where my story is going to take place, who the characters will be and what the struggles will be. It's something I've actually gotten much better at over the years.
2) Promotion - I enjoy meeting new people at conferences, teaching online classes, touring blogs. Interviewing people on my blog. It connects me to readers on more than a "buy my book" level and I think that's very important.
3) Editing - I would have to say while this isn't my favorite part of the process, I find it much easier than writing itself. I'm not an author who is attached to every word or phrase. I'm not even emotionally attached to certain plot devices even though I love that piece. Ultimately I trust my editors to have the knowledge of what their readers expect from the house as well as my work.
And then there's Writing - This is the painful part for me. I'm not talking about the first 30 pages here. I'm talking about the transition between scenes,keeping sex scenes fresh and which POV do I write from? I tend to over think this part of the process - a lot.
If I hit a bump at all here - I tend to avoid it. I've tried all the tricks to put my butt-in-chair and type. Fake deadlines, write or do housework, force myself to sit there and stare at the screen for an hour. It just doesn't work for me. And of course with a day-job it's a lot easier for me set writing aside as an excuse that I'm tired, don't have time, etc.
I'm not a Write-or-Die writer. I truly admire those who have to write. Of course I'm sure they have their own troubles with this business but it's unlikely writing is one of them. :)
Once I do actually sit down - I can usually stay there for a full eight hours finally having the ambition to finish or get close to it. I love typing "THE END", because then I get to move onto: Plotting, Editing or Promotion.
Who knew to be a successful writer...you actually had to write? :)
I'm good (maybe even great) at a lot of things writers have to do:
1) Plotting - I love deciding where my story is going to take place, who the characters will be and what the struggles will be. It's something I've actually gotten much better at over the years.
2) Promotion - I enjoy meeting new people at conferences, teaching online classes, touring blogs. Interviewing people on my blog. It connects me to readers on more than a "buy my book" level and I think that's very important.
3) Editing - I would have to say while this isn't my favorite part of the process, I find it much easier than writing itself. I'm not an author who is attached to every word or phrase. I'm not even emotionally attached to certain plot devices even though I love that piece. Ultimately I trust my editors to have the knowledge of what their readers expect from the house as well as my work.
And then there's Writing - This is the painful part for me. I'm not talking about the first 30 pages here. I'm talking about the transition between scenes,keeping sex scenes fresh and which POV do I write from? I tend to over think this part of the process - a lot.
If I hit a bump at all here - I tend to avoid it. I've tried all the tricks to put my butt-in-chair and type. Fake deadlines, write or do housework, force myself to sit there and stare at the screen for an hour. It just doesn't work for me. And of course with a day-job it's a lot easier for me set writing aside as an excuse that I'm tired, don't have time, etc.
I'm not a Write-or-Die writer. I truly admire those who have to write. Of course I'm sure they have their own troubles with this business but it's unlikely writing is one of them. :)
Once I do actually sit down - I can usually stay there for a full eight hours finally having the ambition to finish or get close to it. I love typing "THE END", because then I get to move onto: Plotting, Editing or Promotion.
Who knew to be a successful writer...you actually had to write? :)
25 January 2012
13 Things Your Kids Might Do While You're Trying To Write A Sex Scene
13 Things Your Kids Might Do While You're Trying To Write A Sex Scene:
1) Turn on Phineas and Ferb really, really loud.
2) After you point out you're trying to write and they can't watch TV right now, sit behind your recliner and fight, making sure to jolt your favorite writing chair repeatedly.
3) Try to read over your shoulder because they are "bored". And one of them can't even READ, so she has to ask you what it says.
4) Let the cats out when the cats aren't allowed to be out and then run around yelling about it, which of course scares the cats even further from the safety of the front door.
5) Break stuff in the kitchen when getting the cats a "treat" to lure them back into the house.
6) When being punished with a time out in their bedroom for not behaving while you're trying to write, fall off the top bunk.
7) Pretend they have broken a body part when there is nothing actually wrong.
8) When being punished for pretending to have broken a body part when there is nothing actually wrong, hurl themselves onto the couch so repentantly that the couch cushions ricochet into the floor. Totally accidentally.
9) Pile up the couch cushions and use them as a springboard to leap onto the couch, where they are supposed to be sitting quietly since they are being punished.
10) Stick a foot through the bottom liner of the couch underneath where the cushions are supposed to be and scream with intense fear and pain as if their foot is being eaten by an alligator.
11) Argue with--let's call it "great passion"--that the ripping and tearing of the couch is not in any way their fault because all they were trying to do was sit quietly while they were being punished, but the couch cushions are too stupid and stupidly refused to stay on the couch where they belong, necessitating the behavior that resulted in the ripping and tearing. Which was not their fault.
12) While being punished for arguing with--let's call it "great passion"--and the use of certain words in reference to their parents' IQ, slump in sullen silence in your writing chair because the couch is, after all, ripped and torn, and the bedroom contains that evil, possibly limb-breaking bunk bed, and the kitchen floor has broken stuff that needs to be vacuumed up, and the dining room is really just an extension of the kitchen, and no way in hell are they having their time out in YOUR bedroom, because it's the only place left in the house outside the bathrooms where you can possibly get any peace.
13) Lock yourself in your bedroom with computer, in your NOT favorite chair, and realize you absolutely cannot write a sex scene, because it could possibly result in your hero and heroine getting pregnant, and you want them to have a HAPPY ending to their book.
Sincerely,
Jody Wallace
www.jodywallace.com * www.meankitty.com
PS: No children were harmed in the writing of this Thursday Thirteen. Can't say the same about the couch.
1) Turn on Phineas and Ferb really, really loud.
2) After you point out you're trying to write and they can't watch TV right now, sit behind your recliner and fight, making sure to jolt your favorite writing chair repeatedly.
3) Try to read over your shoulder because they are "bored". And one of them can't even READ, so she has to ask you what it says.
4) Let the cats out when the cats aren't allowed to be out and then run around yelling about it, which of course scares the cats even further from the safety of the front door.
5) Break stuff in the kitchen when getting the cats a "treat" to lure them back into the house.
6) When being punished with a time out in their bedroom for not behaving while you're trying to write, fall off the top bunk.
7) Pretend they have broken a body part when there is nothing actually wrong.
8) When being punished for pretending to have broken a body part when there is nothing actually wrong, hurl themselves onto the couch so repentantly that the couch cushions ricochet into the floor. Totally accidentally.
9) Pile up the couch cushions and use them as a springboard to leap onto the couch, where they are supposed to be sitting quietly since they are being punished.
10) Stick a foot through the bottom liner of the couch underneath where the cushions are supposed to be and scream with intense fear and pain as if their foot is being eaten by an alligator.
11) Argue with--let's call it "great passion"--that the ripping and tearing of the couch is not in any way their fault because all they were trying to do was sit quietly while they were being punished, but the couch cushions are too stupid and stupidly refused to stay on the couch where they belong, necessitating the behavior that resulted in the ripping and tearing. Which was not their fault.
12) While being punished for arguing with--let's call it "great passion"--and the use of certain words in reference to their parents' IQ, slump in sullen silence in your writing chair because the couch is, after all, ripped and torn, and the bedroom contains that evil, possibly limb-breaking bunk bed, and the kitchen floor has broken stuff that needs to be vacuumed up, and the dining room is really just an extension of the kitchen, and no way in hell are they having their time out in YOUR bedroom, because it's the only place left in the house outside the bathrooms where you can possibly get any peace.
13) Lock yourself in your bedroom with computer, in your NOT favorite chair, and realize you absolutely cannot write a sex scene, because it could possibly result in your hero and heroine getting pregnant, and you want them to have a HAPPY ending to their book.
Sincerely,
Jody Wallace
www.jodywallace.com * www.meankitty.com
PS: No children were harmed in the writing of this Thursday Thirteen. Can't say the same about the couch.
01 October 2011
Ticket to ride!
Yep, instead of a generic picture of a girl on a motorcycle, today's picture is me on my second day riding my new scooter, which I've dubbed "Puck." In faerie lore, the pooka or phukka are a funloving folk, full of mischief and lively humor. But treated with disrespect or ignored, they can turn on you and make life miserable! That's sort of how I approach riding - have fun, but don't push my luck.
Puck is a 2011 Meiduo 150cc scooter, delightfully easy to ride and with enough zip to be safe on the townships 50-mph roads. The previous owner added a water bottle holder and a strip of bright blue LED lights on the underside, right before he decided he wanted a machine with a bigger engine.
My instructor, the proprietor of a local scooter shop, went above and beyond to help me get over my jitters. When I showed up for the schedule class in August, it turned out all the scooters he'd brought with him were too tall for me - I couldn't reach the ground with my toes, much less flatfoot it. So once again I had to bow out of the course before I'd barely gotten started. Tom promised me he'd meet with me one on one with a smaller scooter the following week. Then his lovely wife Katy broke her foot, so we had to put it off yet another few weeks.
Just when it looked liked I'd either be riding in the snow or putting it off another year, Tom called with the news that Katy was cleared to put weight on the foot.
A few days later I walked nervously onto the far corner of long-term parking at the local airport. Tom put me on a bright yellow former rental scooter that I promptly named Tweetie Bird. After learning the basics on Tweetie, Tom put me on a bigger scooter to see how I fared in the sharp turns. Suffice to say the bug population of the Lucas County airport parking lot was cut roughly in half as I raced around the turns with a huge grin on my face. :)
Two days later I'd mastered the dreaded Box (tight figure 8), cornering, weaving and emergency stopping. My only point off was not coming out of the corner fast enough.
Hmm, riding faster...better go work on that. See ya later! Now where's my helmet...
20 August 2011
Characters - Write what you know?
People who know I'm an author often ask what parts of myself I put into my characters. People who know me well want to know why I'm not trying to sell my life story to Lifetime. *grins*
I'm a product of the foster care system. In a lot of ways, my life does read like a Lifetime movie. It's one of the reasons I write Paranormal Romances. I have always written to escape my reality, not embrace it. Having said that, it's impossible for my past not to bleed into my work.
When the concept for the Ladies of St. George popped into my head, I initially shelved it. I thought the idea of a bunch of damaged heroines wouldn't make good romances. And then I heard Destiny. After writing the opening scene, I talked to a friend about my concerns. Her answer? Write what you know. One of the reasons Bella is so engaging is that she's real.
So, I did. I took all the isolation, anxiety, and personal backstory into the St. George world. You see, I know what it's like to live life without a safety net; to know that every decision, good or bad, will have irrevocable consequences. I never had anyone to bail me out if I made a wrong move. In college, I worked two, sometimes three, jobs to make ends meet because not earning that degree simply wasn't an option. I had nowhere to go and no marketable skills without it. At a college filled with silver-spooners, it was hard to watch my fellow students squander Mommy and Daddy's money because they didn't care.
But I carried more than that into my St. George heroines. I don't make friends easily. Growing up, the one thing foster homes and abusive homes have in common is that friendships are discouraged. In abusive homes, it's to keep the abuse hidden. In foster homes, it's to ensure a smooth turn-over when it's time to move on to the next one, usually after you cross an age milestone or when your usefulness has ended. That teaches you to be fiercely loyal to those you have the opportunity to grow close to and to hold onto those fragile bonds as long as you possibly can.
Another thing the St. George heroines have in common is the way they value simple things. I never had a milestone celebrated: birthdays, graduations, personal accomplishments, etc. Anything that involved being valued? I was left out in the cold. The only value a foster child has is the rent they bring in. What it taught me was that small things matter, especially those that require personal attention to details.
What I like about my Ladies of St. George series is that I can fold up all the bad parts of my life and spin it into a story where all the weaknesses become strengths and there is always a happy ending.
In BLOOD AND DESTINY, I hear a lot about Yasmine and Destiny with their different life paths. When I introduced Grace in CHRISTMAS GRACE, my inbox was flooded with notes asking about her backstory.
I'm glad people like the St. George heroines because they aren't a mirror of my own life experiences. I'm not using myself as their model. I'm writing stories about how circumstances beyond our youthful control turn us into the women we are as adults. What's cool about that is how each personality morphs the same isolating childhood into a productive life. And how they turn those needs toward the men they chose to share their life with. Yasmine turned hers into a need to create a family, to give to her child the loving home she never had, and that lead her to Kale, alpha family man. Destiny flipped the other switch and became afraid of commitment, of being thrown away when her usefulness was over. So, Destiny fell in love with a vampire who would not only outlive her, but couldn't understand monogamy. Grace turned her demons into the need to put herself first. After all, if she's not going to look out for her interests, no one else is going to care enough to do it for her.
And for you? What parts of your personal backstory lead you down the road you traveled? What part of your own deep needs can you pinpoint to an incident in your past? Me? Well, the reason Yasmine doesn't have a book is because I share her needs. After having a childhood where there were no celebrations, I wanted to give my children everything I had been denied. So far, I'm doing all right.
18 July 2011
Publishing: Tortoise vs Hare
Traditionally publishing has been survival of the most persistent. There have always been writers who sold quickly, but most traditionally published writers struggled for years, sometimes decades, with rejections and self doubt. When they were finally published, they had already proved their worth.
Things have changed.
These days, anybody with a completed manuscript—no matter the length, the genre, or the quality—can become a published author and be sold by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other places. Good thing? Bad thing? I say it’s both.
The good. Previously published books that would probably only be available in used bookstores, if at all. Today they’re enjoying new life as freshly released ebooks, and these books have the potential shelf life of forever. Also in the good category are those writers who write hard to classify books. Books that publishers and bookstores would have a hard time shelving, inspirational erotica, for instance, or science fiction, mystery, romantic horror. Also, there is a place for books that only appeal to a small segment of the population, red headed dog lovers from Alaska, for instance. This gives readers more choice. Choice is good.
The bad. I remember when I finished my first novel-length manuscript. Like everybody else, I thought I’d written a masterpiece. I had written another “masterpiece” and started a third before I had the guts to submit. By then, I’d collected a pile of rejections for short stories. Still, having my “baby” that I’d worked and revised repeatedly over years rejected hurt. Really hurt. If today’s easy publishing had been available then, would I have published my “masterpiece”? Probably. Would I be embarrassed now? Yes. Would I be as good a writer without the struggle? No. Absolutely not.
Today’s easy, and much more accepted, self-publishing will produce some real masterpieces, and some “masterpieces” that might have a lot of potential, but not the seasoning. Like a recipe without the spices. Maybe not horrible, but not nearly as good as it could be. And maybe word has gotten around that those books are not that good. That writer will have a hard time convincing people that their newly published books really are masterpieces. Like any technology, self-publishing can be used for good or bad.
In the end, readers decide who becomes bestsellers, who are one book wonders, and who are writers who may not attract a huge audience, but are consistent sellers. The face of publishing has changed, but its heart continues to beat inside each and every reader.
Have a great week!
Cheryel
www.cheryelhutton.com
Things have changed.
These days, anybody with a completed manuscript—no matter the length, the genre, or the quality—can become a published author and be sold by Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other places. Good thing? Bad thing? I say it’s both.
The good. Previously published books that would probably only be available in used bookstores, if at all. Today they’re enjoying new life as freshly released ebooks, and these books have the potential shelf life of forever. Also in the good category are those writers who write hard to classify books. Books that publishers and bookstores would have a hard time shelving, inspirational erotica, for instance, or science fiction, mystery, romantic horror. Also, there is a place for books that only appeal to a small segment of the population, red headed dog lovers from Alaska, for instance. This gives readers more choice. Choice is good.
The bad. I remember when I finished my first novel-length manuscript. Like everybody else, I thought I’d written a masterpiece. I had written another “masterpiece” and started a third before I had the guts to submit. By then, I’d collected a pile of rejections for short stories. Still, having my “baby” that I’d worked and revised repeatedly over years rejected hurt. Really hurt. If today’s easy publishing had been available then, would I have published my “masterpiece”? Probably. Would I be embarrassed now? Yes. Would I be as good a writer without the struggle? No. Absolutely not.
Today’s easy, and much more accepted, self-publishing will produce some real masterpieces, and some “masterpieces” that might have a lot of potential, but not the seasoning. Like a recipe without the spices. Maybe not horrible, but not nearly as good as it could be. And maybe word has gotten around that those books are not that good. That writer will have a hard time convincing people that their newly published books really are masterpieces. Like any technology, self-publishing can be used for good or bad.
In the end, readers decide who becomes bestsellers, who are one book wonders, and who are writers who may not attract a huge audience, but are consistent sellers. The face of publishing has changed, but its heart continues to beat inside each and every reader.
Have a great week!
Cheryel
www.cheryelhutton.com
04 March 2011
Best Laid Plans...
I’ve missed out on blogging for quite a long, long while. Not knowing what to blog about, I’d always ended up totally spazzing and forgetting about it until it was too late. My memory isn’t what it used to be. But, I guess I can’t be too hard on my ol’ brain. It does have to deal with the day job and the night job — getting dinner ready and spending time with the dogs. Oh yeah, the kids, too. I’m sure you get the picture. There are many of you out there who have the added soccer, cheerleading, wrestling, baseball, football, basketball…wow. I don’t know how parents do it. There should be a medal for that!Thankfully, I do have something on my mind to blog about today. For weeks now I’ve known about a Women’s Expo being held this weekend in South Bend, Indiana and planned on attending. I thought I’d take the drive, perhaps with my sisters, pay the admission and enjoy all the information and goodies. And, for marketing’s sake, I had purchased promo postcards to hand out while I chatted up my books to other attendees.
Not going to happen, thanks to a sinus infection that combined with some other sort of infection. Seems they discovered a split on my lip and the two ganged up on my face, blowing up my cheek, jaw and neck like a balloon...not to mention making my lip on that side grow almost too big to talk. What’s worse is it left the cut right smack in the middle of it all and making me feel like a teenager with a humongous zit.
While allowing the antibiotics to do their job and as I pass this opportunity by, I happened upon a website for a winery in Kentucky. Oh how I love wine...but that’s a blog for another time. You see? I’ve already set up more plans! Yay!
Back to the website. On its upcoming events page it lists “She Expo” in Frankfort, Kentucky on March 12th. So yeah, I’m going to give promoting another shot. Barring any injuries, illnesses or inclement weather, I shall be there. But, then again, we are approaching tornado weather. Just saying.
If you know of any upcoming events where the audience’s interest may be in reading romance novels, please do give me a shout. I’m often found on Facebook. Love it, and so easy to get to from my cell phone.
Here’s hoping for my plan to do some promoting and perhaps some of you may make the trip as well.
D. (Diane) McEntire
www.dmcentire.com Facebook: Diane McEntire Vance
Samhain Publishing, Turquoise Morning Press, Silver Publishing, MojoCastle Press
05 February 2011
Help! I'm Overwhelmed.
Ever have one of those days when there is so much to do you don’t know where to begin? Well, I’ve had a lot of those lately. While trying to dig out from under my mess of boxes, possessions, desires, and responsibilities, I’ve learned a few things. I’m happy to share what I’ve learned with you, and if you have suggestions, feel free to leave those in the comments section.
The first thing I did was to list the things I was feeling overwhelmed about. My theory was that you have to know what you’re up against. I soon realized that I needed to clean house, finish unpacking from our move (two months ago), organize my writing space and figure out how to be more productive with my writing. Also, there were the errands, paperwork, phone calls, etc. Of course, I actually did this step in more detail, but I don’t want to bore you.
Now that I had an overview of what I needed to do, then I looked for help doing it. I found Julie Morgenstern’s books very helpful. Her Time Management from the Inside Out helped me a lot. One of the biggest problems I—and apparently many people—have is not having a good grasp on how long it is to do things. As silly as it seemed to me, keeping track of the time things took was an eye opener. For example, I thought washing dishes (by hand) was taking hours and just not wanting to devote the time and effort, I tended to let the dishes go until I had a huge mess, and then I REALLY didn’t want to do them. Once I realized it only took five to ten minutes to wash a load, I could look at the kitchen sink without feeling my heart drop in guilt. I could simply jump in there and do it. Just this step helped a lot, and I’m currently following through with her “time maps” and other hints. Having time to do what I need to do would be a real help, and I think she might be able to show me how to do that.
Housework and unpacking kind of go together. At this point, we’ve unpacked enough to live in the apartment. What’s left are boxes of stuff, things we don’t know what to do with. Maybe we need to be put up shelves, maybe ask our daughter to help put things on high shelves or knick-knacks on top of the kitchen cabinets. Then there’s the disaster of the second bedroom AKA my office. While my desk is in the corner where I want it, and my books and papers are sort of arranged, but the rest of the room looks like a storage room. Okay, a storage room after a tornado. I can stand in the living room and see every room in this place. And feel totally, completely, absolutely overwhelmed.
I have a friend who said his daughter used to get overwhelmed with her homework. He said they had to cover most of the page so that she could focus on a little bit at a time. I think the same applies to housework and unpacking. It has to be done a bit at a time. To help, I’ve found the Fly Lady to be very helpful. With her plan, you go through each section of the house once a month, plus giving you a plan to do the day to day cleaning without having a nervous breakdown. Using her plan, I’ve begun to section off the areas of the apartment and work according to her plan. That way, I don’t have to decide where to start. Also, Julie Morgenstern’s Organizing From the Inside Out is a great resource. She counsels making your stuff fit your lifestyle, not the other way around. I love that concept.
As far as my office and my writing, both Morgenstern’s books are helpful. I am putting aside the Fly Lady’s plan a bit though. Even though it isn’t the area she suggests for this week, I’m going to do some serious work in my office. My writing is important to me, and I need to be more productive than I have been. If cleaning my office will help me get to where I need to be, then I’d be wise to do that.
I really hope that your life and house are not the disaster mine has been lately, but if it is, remember you aren’t alone!
Cheryel
www.cheryelhutton.com
The first thing I did was to list the things I was feeling overwhelmed about. My theory was that you have to know what you’re up against. I soon realized that I needed to clean house, finish unpacking from our move (two months ago), organize my writing space and figure out how to be more productive with my writing. Also, there were the errands, paperwork, phone calls, etc. Of course, I actually did this step in more detail, but I don’t want to bore you.
Now that I had an overview of what I needed to do, then I looked for help doing it. I found Julie Morgenstern’s books very helpful. Her Time Management from the Inside Out helped me a lot. One of the biggest problems I—and apparently many people—have is not having a good grasp on how long it is to do things. As silly as it seemed to me, keeping track of the time things took was an eye opener. For example, I thought washing dishes (by hand) was taking hours and just not wanting to devote the time and effort, I tended to let the dishes go until I had a huge mess, and then I REALLY didn’t want to do them. Once I realized it only took five to ten minutes to wash a load, I could look at the kitchen sink without feeling my heart drop in guilt. I could simply jump in there and do it. Just this step helped a lot, and I’m currently following through with her “time maps” and other hints. Having time to do what I need to do would be a real help, and I think she might be able to show me how to do that.
Housework and unpacking kind of go together. At this point, we’ve unpacked enough to live in the apartment. What’s left are boxes of stuff, things we don’t know what to do with. Maybe we need to be put up shelves, maybe ask our daughter to help put things on high shelves or knick-knacks on top of the kitchen cabinets. Then there’s the disaster of the second bedroom AKA my office. While my desk is in the corner where I want it, and my books and papers are sort of arranged, but the rest of the room looks like a storage room. Okay, a storage room after a tornado. I can stand in the living room and see every room in this place. And feel totally, completely, absolutely overwhelmed.
I have a friend who said his daughter used to get overwhelmed with her homework. He said they had to cover most of the page so that she could focus on a little bit at a time. I think the same applies to housework and unpacking. It has to be done a bit at a time. To help, I’ve found the Fly Lady to be very helpful. With her plan, you go through each section of the house once a month, plus giving you a plan to do the day to day cleaning without having a nervous breakdown. Using her plan, I’ve begun to section off the areas of the apartment and work according to her plan. That way, I don’t have to decide where to start. Also, Julie Morgenstern’s Organizing From the Inside Out is a great resource. She counsels making your stuff fit your lifestyle, not the other way around. I love that concept.
As far as my office and my writing, both Morgenstern’s books are helpful. I am putting aside the Fly Lady’s plan a bit though. Even though it isn’t the area she suggests for this week, I’m going to do some serious work in my office. My writing is important to me, and I need to be more productive than I have been. If cleaning my office will help me get to where I need to be, then I’d be wise to do that.
I really hope that your life and house are not the disaster mine has been lately, but if it is, remember you aren’t alone!
Cheryel
www.cheryelhutton.com
27 January 2011
13 Articles about Writers and Cats
So I've got this book releasing in a few weeks called One Thousand Kisses, from Samhain, that Meankitty made me write about her. Well, there's a romance between some two-letters as well, but the important part is the cat. Why do I do what the cat says?
Cats and writers. Writers and cats. It's no secret the two go together like dogs and bones. And it's not just my opinion, either! Here's 13 fun, relatively brief, enjoyable articles and blog posts about the relationship between cats and their writers, with a few nods to the fact some writers even like dogs.
1. http://dereksvandalblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-know-why-real-writers-have-cats.html -- The most recent post in the list wherein the author compares dogs to cats and points out cats are better (but picks a dog anyway)
2. http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue10/themecatsandwriters.htm -- Written by a cat as to why writers are the best breed of humans to own
3. http://magicalmusings.com/2007/10/05/why-cats-like-writers-by-mean-kitty/ -- One of the top search links is by Meankitty! Naturally.
4. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2008/nov/12/writers-and-cats -- An essay about the inevitable cats that appear in so many author bios.
5. http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/2010/06/writers-and-cats.html -- Some authors from history with cats as well as library cat preferences
6. http://lmmay.com/2010/11/21/writers-and-cats-and-dogs-too/ -- How cats (and dogs) contribute to a writer's livelihood
7. http://sadkins.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/cats-and-writers/ -- Photo and quote series
8. http://www.laferle.com/tag/cats-and-writers/ -- Cats as part of a writer's ritual
9. http://www.passagestothepast.com/2010/01/guest-post-by-julianne-lee-author-of.html -- Do cats read with their butts?
10. http://www.cheriepriest.com/2005/08/11/cats-and-writers/ -- Wherein we learn about poo-netting genie pants
11. http://www.anyabast.com/2007/01/10/cats-and-writers/ -- She loves cats so much she named herself Bast.
12. http://jrobertking.com/2009/10/why-cats-love-writers/ -- Why cats love writers (they're sedentary and warm!)
13. http://www.feelingfictional.com/2011/01/authors-animal-antics-cat-clarke.html -- Posted in 2011 as part of a series called "Authors Animal Antics"
***
Jody W.
So many cats in cyberspace, so little time!
http://www.jodywallace.com/ / http://www.meankitty.com/
Cats and writers. Writers and cats. It's no secret the two go together like dogs and bones. And it's not just my opinion, either! Here's 13 fun, relatively brief, enjoyable articles and blog posts about the relationship between cats and their writers, with a few nods to the fact some writers even like dogs.
1. http://dereksvandalblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-know-why-real-writers-have-cats.html -- The most recent post in the list wherein the author compares dogs to cats and points out cats are better (but picks a dog anyway)
2. http://www.fmwriters.com/Visionback/Issue10/themecatsandwriters.htm -- Written by a cat as to why writers are the best breed of humans to own
3. http://magicalmusings.com/2007/10/05/why-cats-like-writers-by-mean-kitty/ -- One of the top search links is by Meankitty! Naturally.
4. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2008/nov/12/writers-and-cats -- An essay about the inevitable cats that appear in so many author bios.
5. http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/2010/06/writers-and-cats.html -- Some authors from history with cats as well as library cat preferences
6. http://lmmay.com/2010/11/21/writers-and-cats-and-dogs-too/ -- How cats (and dogs) contribute to a writer's livelihood
7. http://sadkins.wordpress.com/2010/02/10/cats-and-writers/ -- Photo and quote series
8. http://www.laferle.com/tag/cats-and-writers/ -- Cats as part of a writer's ritual
9. http://www.passagestothepast.com/2010/01/guest-post-by-julianne-lee-author-of.html -- Do cats read with their butts?
10. http://www.cheriepriest.com/2005/08/11/cats-and-writers/ -- Wherein we learn about poo-netting genie pants
11. http://www.anyabast.com/2007/01/10/cats-and-writers/ -- She loves cats so much she named herself Bast.
12. http://jrobertking.com/2009/10/why-cats-love-writers/ -- Why cats love writers (they're sedentary and warm!)
13. http://www.feelingfictional.com/2011/01/authors-animal-antics-cat-clarke.html -- Posted in 2011 as part of a series called "Authors Animal Antics"
***
Jody W.
So many cats in cyberspace, so little time!
http://www.jodywallace.com/ / http://www.meankitty.com/
27 November 2010
Doubly Blessed
I think one of my biggest problems as a writer is that I love to read.
You wouldn’t think that’d be an issue, would you? Well, it is…especially when your thought process goes like mine.
Wow, this book is good.
(reads more)
No, this story is AMAZING.
(reads to the end, looks at her own current WIP)
What am I doing? Nothing I write will ever be as good as [insert title or author here].
(Is sorely tempted to hit the delete button and go back to her day job.)
Then, out of the blue, a bright little ray of validation appears. An email from a fan. A royalty statement that showed an unexpected uptick in sales. This week, a squee from my editor – I’d received my second RT Reviewer’s Choice nomination.
What makes this doubly sweet is that it’s for book 2 of my Legends series, A Ghost of a Chance. Book 1, Beaudry’s Ghost was also an RT nominee. The more I think about it, the more I’m simply…floored.
In this, the second holiday season since my father died, the initial numbness is wearing off. The good: the urge to write is coming back. The bad: missing him seems more acute since last year, which sometimes freezes my fingers over the keyboard with thoughts of "WWDT" - what would Daddy think? Then some of his last words to me come back, especially when I confided to him my hesitancy to write what I really want to write, for fear of the shock it might cause among people who know me: "I will be just as proud of you as I am no, no matter what."
Guess it’s time to dig that WIP out of the recycle bin, eh? :)
Carolan
www.carolanivey.com
You wouldn’t think that’d be an issue, would you? Well, it is…especially when your thought process goes like mine.
Wow, this book is good.
(reads more)
No, this story is AMAZING.
(reads to the end, looks at her own current WIP)
What am I doing? Nothing I write will ever be as good as [insert title or author here].
(Is sorely tempted to hit the delete button and go back to her day job.)
Then, out of the blue, a bright little ray of validation appears. An email from a fan. A royalty statement that showed an unexpected uptick in sales. This week, a squee from my editor – I’d received my second RT Reviewer’s Choice nomination.
What makes this doubly sweet is that it’s for book 2 of my Legends series, A Ghost of a Chance. Book 1, Beaudry’s Ghost was also an RT nominee. The more I think about it, the more I’m simply…floored.
In this, the second holiday season since my father died, the initial numbness is wearing off. The good: the urge to write is coming back. The bad: missing him seems more acute since last year, which sometimes freezes my fingers over the keyboard with thoughts of "WWDT" - what would Daddy think? Then some of his last words to me come back, especially when I confided to him my hesitancy to write what I really want to write, for fear of the shock it might cause among people who know me: "I will be just as proud of you as I am no, no matter what."
Guess it’s time to dig that WIP out of the recycle bin, eh? :)
Carolan
www.carolanivey.com
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