A Writer's Life

Recharging Creativity

2007-10-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, our local RWA chapter had our annual weekend retreat. What a great time that was! We visited, ate, talked plotting, ate, talked writing, had speakers, ate, talked more writing, and ate. There might also have been alcohol involved--margaritas one evening and wine the next. You’d think we would all have come away ten pounds heavier, but we didn’t. All that talking must have worked off the calories. We rented a house in a quiet area of nearby Lake Granbury. Okay, it wasn’t quiet while we were there!

On Saturday morning, Ashley Kath-Bilsky presented "Electronic Self Promotion," tips on building a website, creating a book trailer, and using MySpace and other sites to promote our work. Constructing a book trailer seems far less intimidating after Ashley’s explanation. Ashley’s website is http://www.ashleykathbilsky.com/, and you will see there how to purchase her amazing book, THE SENSE OF HONOR.

As soon as she arrived home from the retreat, Denise Belinda McDonald took Ashley's instructions and built a trailer for her site to feature her book, THE INN CROWD, at http://www.denisebelindamcdonald.com/

In the afternoon, Lori Wilde was kind enough to drive over and speak to us about "High Concept." Lori has been very successful with this theory and anyone interested can sign up for a class or buy the workbook at her website, http://www.loriwilde.com/. Lori is a prolific writer who has found well-deserved success. My favorite of her books is YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE, but I like everything of hers that I’ve read. Her latest from Warner is THERE GOES THE BRIDE, but Lori frequently writes for Harlequin. Her latest is a Blaze release, MY SECRET LIFE.

Another member, Geri Foster, brought samples of the candles she and her daughter are making and marketing. These candles are hand poured and contain soy and pure botanicals. They smell wonderful and there are a large variety of scents named for their various organic properties. The website is almost complete, http://www.botanicalproducts.com/, and will also feature other pure, organic products such as soaps and creams.

The point of this entry is to emphasize how much a weekend like this can recharge a writer’s creativity. Even if our families are supportive, and mine is, it’s helpful to be around other writers who have experienced the same joys and heartbreaks with their novels, the same rejections, blocking, and spurts of—we hope—brilliance. It’s balm to our souls, our creative center, to share experiences and tips for survival in a difficult profession. Even if one isn’t fortunate enough to have an RWA chapter or other writers group like this nearby, it’s important to woo the muse periodically. Writing is difficult, solitary work. Occasionally, we need a visit from the Energizer Bunny in one form or another. Of course, a call from an editor with a contract offer can do more than even that famous pink bunny!

Until then, take time out once in a while to pamper your body and recharge your mind.

Pets In Our Lives, Pets In Our Books

2007-08-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

Friends and I were talking yesterday, teasing one friend because in all of her books either the hero or heroine has a dog. I like that. Showing a character who's sympathetic to cats or dogs adds a dimension to the person. A gruff man who befriends a scruffy dog lets the reader know that the guy is not as tough as he wants others to believe. To me, it makes him a more sympathetic character. For the heroine to have a pet makes her appear kinder and more nurturing to me. This is, of course, if the pets are well cared for. And I hate, hate, hate books where a pet dies. No, thanks. Don't want to read it. In Anna Jeffrey's next book, SWEET REVENGE, the heroine has a pet hen, Dulce. SWEET REVENGE will be out in December, and I can hardly wait to buy several--one for myself and others for gifts. In light of that, I was telling my critique group about my neighbor who raises rare hens that are beautiful--rusty red with soft bluish gray feathers, called a blue-red. "A beautiful chicken?" my city friend asked. "You have got to get out of the country!" LOL Hmph, well, they ARE beautiful--for hens.

No hens yet, but our pets are members of the family. Our dog died about a year ago, a lab/shepherd mix, at the age of sixteen. She was a sweetie and we miss her. Now we have three cats and a fish. Before long, we'll probably get another dog, rescuing one from the pound. I want a small one this time. A shitzu, toy poodle, yorkie, lasa apso size. One who can go with us when we travel by car so we won't have to board him/her. My critique partner in El Paso, Jeanmarie Hamilton, has a perfect, sweet dog named summer. Jeanmarie have a book out from Highland Press in 2008, SEDUCTION. She and Summer will no doubt be traveling then to booksignings.

Back to work. Have a good day.

Summer Reading

2007-07-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

I love reading anytime, and carry a book with me everywhere. Ten minutes here, fifteen there, and you'd be amazed how quickly the book is finished. I love to discover a new author who has a nice long backlist. I also reread favorites to analyze what about that book makes me love it. Certain books are old friends who are always there to offer comfort--those by Louis Lamour, Jodi Thomas, Lorraine Heath, Julie Garwood, Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick, Nora Roberts, Anna Jeffrey, and others are on my keeper shelf. I've read my copy of Maggie Osborne's PROMISE OF JENNY JONES so many times the pages are falling out. Jenny Jones is an unusual heroine to be sure, but one to whom honor is everything. Maggie Osborne created an unforgettable character in Jenny Jones.

And now, oh dear, back to crafting my own novels and creating what I hope are memorable characters.

Curl Up With A Good Book

2007-01-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

What are you reading? I’ve read two romances recently. Anna Jeffrey’s SALVATION, TEXAS from Signet Eclipse is a great contemporary read. If you’ve read her SWEETWATER and LOVE OF A LAWMAN, you know Anna’s writing is consistently excellent. Lorraine Heath’s A DUKE OF HER OWN from Avon is an historical set in England, but with a little Texas flavor thrown in. Lorraine always produces a fine read.

Other than those, I’ve been immersing myself in cozy mysteries because that’s what my current work in progress is. I’ve loved Ellen Byerrum’s wonderful heroine, Lacey Smithsonian, in the Crime of Fashion series from Signet. I also loved Leann Sweeney’s heroine, Abby Rose, in the Yellow Rose Mysteries from Signet. Now, I’m reading Maggie Sefton’s knitting series with heroine Kelly Flynn from Berkley Prime Crime. I don’t knit, but this makes me wish I did. We’re having wintry weather in the form of ice and snow here in rural North Central Texas—perfect for curling up with a good book. An author can always claim reading is market research, right?

New Year's thoughts

2007-01-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

Recently, my husband and I were discussing the furor preceding the year 2000. We know a couple who withdrew their money from the bank, convinced rolling over to the new year would cause computers to fail and banking to become chaos. Another couple stocked up on food and filled a storm shelter, certain there would be anarchy and chaos. Thankfully, both couples were very wrong. As my husband predicted, that change of year caused no upheavals other than those of any year passing.

Unless you're a saint, you've made mistakes in the past year. That's what I like about a fresh, new year, though. We have a clean slate. We're looking at an untarnished canvas ready for us to bring our fears and hopes and dreams to paint in the year. I'm not a big fan of resolutions in general--too easy to set myself up for disappointment. I do have one for this year, and that's to be more productive in my writing.

Writing is both profession and therapy. It takes discipline, perseverance, and committment. But a writer gets to create worlds, build characters from nothing. Maybe we can't solve our own problems, but by golly we can make certain our characters solve their problems. So, this cominbg year, I'm going to spend more time creating stories and less on mundane tasks.

As Annette Blair says in a recent article, "Writing is worth the struggle." This doesn't mean I'll give up reading. In fact, I'll start with Annette's THE SCOT, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE to see if it's as wonderful as her MY FAVORITE WITCH.

Writing--An Evolving Craft Is Still Subjective

2006-09-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

My critique partner and I talk about writing and what we like and don't like about particular techniques. Not too long ago we were discussing dialogue in general and tag lines (attribution) specifically. We noticed that more and more writers are omitting "he said/she said" and using either action, body language, or the POV character's thoughts in place of an attribution tag. Jeanmarie and I prefer this method. I believe the story flows better and is more natural, pulling the reader into the scene. That's why I was surprised when a couple of writer friends mentioned they don't like this method. They believe "he said/she said" is invisible to the reader and prefer pared down scenes with as little description as possible--and don't care to read body language at all. Another multi-published friend mentioned that action such as "she nodded," "he shrugged" annoys her. She prefers an adverb such as "she said menacingly," but tag lines like that annoy me.

Writing for publication constantly changes and evolves. Spelling changes, comma use decreases, and so forth. Keeping up requires study and flexibility. It appears that no matter how much a writer studies craft and technique, personal likes and dislikes shape his or her writing. Even though being a writer changes the way a person reads for pleasure, each of us was a reader before he or she became a writer. What an author enjoys reading shapes his/her perception of how he/she should write. Keep reading good books!

Time Flies When You're Doing Research

2006-09-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

Time flies no matter what you're doing, doesn't it? By the way, Debra won my August contest. See, that proves my point. Here it is the middle of September and I just now remembered to mention last month's winner--although I contacted her and mailed her book on time.

Back to research. Recently, I was researching facts for the cozy mystery that's the second in what I hope will sell as a series. I love roses and gardens, and I'm enjoying delving into renewing an historic garden. A friend loaned me a book by Rosamund Wallinger on her experiences restoring a garden by famous Edwardian designer, GERTUDE JEKYLL'S LOST GARDEN. Wouldn't it be a remarkable experience to buy an old home and then learn you had a famous gem of a garden hidden under brush and weeds? Of course, in my cozy, landscape designer and heroine Laurel Aldridge finds a recent skeleton in the garden to complicate matters. In real life, Rosamund didn't have that problem, but she spent years redoing her home's garden. The photos are lovely and her experiences interesting.

Research always fascinates me. I have to discipline myself or I find too many tangents that don't apply to my writing, but that are interesting nonetheless. I could waste days, probably weeks, on research--especially, since I have dial-up because DSL is not yet available in the boonies where we live. At best, dial-up makes web use so ssslllooowww! My husband and I keep hoping technology makes it to our little kingdom soon.

I digress. There are many avenues available for fast research. One my youngest daughter suggested is the use of children's books. They present a quick overview with simple explanations easily scanned for relevant details. There are unbelievable children's books on any imaginable subject.

Another resource is the worldwide web, convenient because it's always waiting for us at the click of a mouse. But those facts need to be double-checked for accuracy. For instance, there are websites which claim space exploration is a trick to justify raising taxes and has never taken place. You can bet my areospace engineer/rocket scientist hubby gets very upset--and puzzled--by that claim!

My point is that research is fascinating, but writers must verify our facts. Ask enough questions. Never take anything for granted without cross checking. Then, those tiny details hidden in our work will enrich the story without distracting readers.

Read A Good Book Lately?

2006-08-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

What are you reading? Did you like the book?

I have eclectic tastes in both reading and writing. Right now I’ve been reading Rosamund Wallinger’s GERTRUDE JEKYLL’S LOST GARDEN as research for a cozy mystery I’m writing, BONES IN THE GARDEN. In my manuscript, the contemporary heroine has the opportunity to restore an old garden designed by a world-famous (fictional) landscape architect in 1899. Finding a skeleton in the garden complicates her project, especially when the body is identified as the husband of the heroine's distant relative.

For a local book club, I just finished James Hilton’s 1941 classic, RANDOM HARVEST. This was the first time I’d read this book and I have to admit the ending was a pleasant surprise to me. Next month we're back to a contemporary mystery.

Recently, I’ve been reading Phillip DePoy’s Flap Tucker series. I love the humor and relationships. I also reread Maggie Osborne’s 1997 THE RPOMISE OF JENNY JONES, which is one of my all-time favorite books. It’s more adventure than romance, but has the happily-ever-after ending I like. Maggie Osborne is an amazingly creative writer and I never miss one of her releases.

Next on my list is JoAnne Fluke’s CHERRY CHEESECAKE MURDER. I hope Hannah Swensen will hurry and make a decision on which man she wants to marry! And I’m biding my time until Jodi Thomas’ new series starts in November. I love all her books, but the historicals are my favorites. Also in November, Lorraine Heath's A DUKE OF HER OWN is released. Not only is Lorraine a wonderful author, she is a super person who helps upcoming authors whenever the opportunity is presented. Don't you enjoy a book more if you know the author is a nice person? I certainly do.

Now it's your turn to tell me what you've been reading.

LIfe Reflected In Art

2006-08-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

During the past week I have read several posts from writers about how anger they thought they'd dealt with, buried, or forgotten surfaces surprisingly in their work. Not naming the writers, but their comments made me think about our subconscious and the fodder for our stories. I believe my historicals came about from stories my father [in his fifties when I was born] and maternal grandmother [sixties when I was born] told about their childhoods and incited my interest in history. But I hadn't considered that characters might sometimes grow out of frustrations with family members. Sure, I knew writers killed off in print people they hated--one of the cathatrtic joys of writing. I hadn't thought of other characters as manifestations of our frustrations or desires. One writer mentioned a sociopath mother who had humiliated and tormented her childhood. Not until she was editing a work did she realize the heroine's mom was based on her own, right down to an event she'd included. That made me realize that a hero in one of my books was based on my constant hope for a family member--that he will see the error of his ways and reform for the love of a good woman. Consciously, I know he won't and that he's looking for and finding the other kind of woman, is always going to be a self-absorbed con, and believes the only crime is getting caught. Subconsciously, I reinvented him and made him end up a much nicer guy--a hero who deserved the heroine. A friend whose last book was edgier than any of her others admitted that it was because of all she went through when her mother was ill and dying while my friend was writing the book. As writers and as humans, we are the sum of our experiences, both good and bad.

It reminds me of a quote about television in the forties and fifties, and films in the thirties, forties, and fifties. Nick Clooney [brother of singer Rosemary] said, "People wanted to see life, not as it was, but as they wished it could be." I suppose the same is true for readers of popular fiction. And for writers of the same. We write not so much as life is, but as we wish it could be. For every heartache, a healing. For every good person, victory. For every bad person, redemption or swift and painful retribution. Our lives--and our dreams--are reflected in our art.

Critiquing

2006-08-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

There are various types of critique partners and groups. I have two very nice long-distance cps with whom I critique via email. I also have a face-to-face group which is helpful.

Critiquing requires honesty and committment. If I only want a pat on the head and a "well done," I have a mother for that. You telling me that the chapter is great is nice, but NOT helpful. For a critiquer, I need a person or persons who read the genre I write, who are well-informed in industry standards and trends, and who will be honest without being mean. It's all right to say my writing needs such and such, but NEVER all right to launch a personal attack against me. I may dress funny and need to lose a few pounds, but that doesn't have anything to do with my writing. Nope. I need constructive comments such as "the pace lags here" and "what's the heroine thinking here" or "there's too much back story in this scene" and so forth. And I need specific comments such as "your plot needs more conflict" instead of "you write lousy stories." You see the difference, I'm sure. I can add more conflict. What can I do to combat the other comment? Nothing.

So, if called upon to critique another writer's work, please read carefully and make specific, constructive comments. He or she will thank you for it. Then, when you need comments, you'll have someone to ask.

The Joy Of A New Project

2006-07-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

Starting a new book. How exciting! The outline is mapped out, the first chapter finished, and ideas are popping into my head.

Do others feel the same way about launching a new project? I hope so. It's an adrenaline rush, which makes it hard to concentrate on the mundane tasks of everyday life. All I want to do is write. Who needs clean laundry or groceries--right? No me. I can sit at my keyboard in my sweats or robe and live in my characters' minds for hours at a time. Eventually nature calls, and I have to visit the restroom and get a glass of water or a Dr Pepper. Probably I'd get hungry after a day or so--if my husband didn't stick his head around the door of my office and ask the question that strikes dread in the fear of many hearts, "What's for dinner?" At least he's supportive and adds, "Are you cooking, or should I just find something on my own?" What a guy! Sometimes he even offers to do the cooking or, better yet, brings home dinner.

The point is, writers lose themselves in their stories. We can exist on the stuff of our dreams. Doesn't explain my waistline, but you probably understand what I mean. I love to write, and a new story that is going well is like a dozen Vitamin B complex shots to my system. I am a goddess. I create worlds. I envision characters and give them life. And I don't even need a special wardrobe to go to work. Is this a great job or what?

Who Is A Writer?

2006-07-27T12:07:00.000-07:00

Recently, I learned that an acquaintance had told a friend that if she's not writing every day, she's not a writer and has no right to attend our writers meetings. Did that make me angry? You bet it did. It's true that for some of us, this is a business and we must produce X amount of pages each day to meet our goal of completing a work by Y date. Who are we to judge whether or not someone else is a writer? Some write books in their heads because they don't have time or energy to write them on the computer or on paper--but they have dreams in their hearts and ideas in their heads. They attend craft workshops and writers meetings to gather information so that, when the time comes, they will be prepared to write. Is that wrong? Not in my opinion. We all do the best we can in life. Sometimes that's working a day job or herding kids here and there and sometimes that's writing. I've known people who liked to call themselves writers but who probably will never complete a novel. So what? Who does that harm? Not me. No one of us knows who will be successful. In my opinion, the thing to do is encourage and nurture all those who have that dream, even if it's still a kernel of hope at this stage. Who knows which one will someday be the next Nora Roberts? We should never discourage someone from trying or cheat him or her of her dream.

A Writer's Fragile Ego vs. A Diva

2006-05-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Most writers have fragile egos. We want everyone to love our creations and value us as authors. We know it's impossible to please everyone, but we still want everyone to like our work. We've spent hours conjuring up the plot and characters, spent more hours recording the characters' problems, exploits, and triumphs. Each book is a part of the author that has been painfully wrenched from our subconscious. We say love me, love my book.

I recently had excellent critiquers question my work in progress. It sent me into a panic. Oh, no, I thought, now I have to completely rewrite this story. No, what will I do? Am I crazy to have written it this way? What's wrong with me?

I know their points were valid on one section, which is the prologue. I'd already been rethinking that and decided it needed change. Their suggestions were excellent, and I'm eager to put them into the work.

But wait. Rewrite the entire book so far? I was torn by comments that would change the entire focus of my lead character, would reinvent her entire personality, and would also affect the secondary characters. After worrying about it for hours, then sleeping on it, I beleive my vision for this character is correct. So, I won't be making those are changes, although I will tweak her a bit.

Most writers depend on critiques. They are always helpful, even when we don't agree. Critiques make us think about how others will perceive this story and its characters. I never get angry at a critique. For one thing, receiving a critique means I've asked someone for his or her opinion. That means I value the person's opinion and expertise.

But I realize that the end responsibility is mine. This is my vision, a world I'm creating, and I bear the end result. So, I'll continue to ask these excellent writers' opinions, but it's still MY BOOK. I don't think that makes me a diva. And it doesn't mean my ego is no longer fragile. It just means that I want my book to be the best I can make it.

Writng, writing, writing

2006-05-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

I'm excited about a new work in progress and am fortunate to have friends whose encouragement propels my enthusiasm. I love writing my stories, escaping into someone else's life, and creating the appropriate outcome for the character (depending on whether it's a hero, heroine, villain). When I'm writing, it's as if these are real people whose life I'm recording, not something plucked from my imagination. I love the quote attributed to Meg Chittendon that goes, "Many people hear voices when no one is there. Some of them are called mad and are shut up in rooms where they stare at walls all day. Others are called writers and they do pretty much the same thing."

I do my share of staring, but it's usually at the computer screen. It's especially nice when the voices keep speaking fast enough that I don't have to stare. LOL

Sun vs. Fun

2006-04-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

I admit I’m not the sun-worshipping kind. Oh, I love beautiful, sunny days. That is, as long as I’m in the shade, or looking out through a window while in air-conditioned comfort. I love walks on the beach—in the evening at dusk or later. You won’t find me sunbathing on the patio. Not me. No, I’m the one who becomes nauseated or develops a major headache if overheated.
This is why Jeanmarie (my critique partner) has been making good-natured fun of me. She knows all of this and how I dress when I mow my lawn. Let me say right here that I love to drive the riding mower over our yard. I don’t know why, but I do. Makes absolutely no difference that I’ve occasionally mown over one or two things I didn’t intend to—including my eyeglasses—I still love the job. The problem is, I can’t take sun exposure so I wear high-top shoes, jeans, and a knit T-shirt. Over the T-shirt, I wear my husband’s long-sleeved cast-off shirt, unbuttoned so the breeze catches it, and leather gloves that extend up over the shirt cuffs. On my head I wear a wide-brimmed hat that ties under my chin so it won’t blow off, and I wear one of those disposable face masks over my mouth and nose to cut down on inhaled dust and pollen. By the time I add my sunglasses, not much of me is visible, which is the point. No skin cancers for me, thank you very much.
When I first started venturing out into our yard looking like this, a couple of neighbors asked if my mom was visiting. Yes, I look weird, but I’m not dressing up for yard work. I guess I’m dressing down for it. That’s why Jeanmarie laughs when I say I mowed our lawn that day. She’s picturing me in my costume, which she insists should be a cartoon on my website. No, I don’t think so.

Read, read, read

2006-04-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

What have you read lately that inspires you? I don't mean self-help books, but other writers in your genre who write so well they set an example? Those writers whose books you study for technique?

Recently, I read and loved Loretta Chase's LORD PERFECT. I had thought she couldn't top her earlier MR. IMPOSSIBLE, but I like this one so well that I think it's a tie between the two. Write faster, please, Loretta! Last night I finished Lorraine Heath's latest, PROMISE ME FOREVER. As usual, she delivers a well-written story. I also just read two books by new author Robyn DeHart and loved her work. Although she has moved from there, I first met Robyn when I attended a conference hosted by the San Antonio Romance Authors. She attended the recent Dallas Area Romance Authors Dreamin' in Dallas Conference where I bought her two books published by Avon. Start with her debut book, COURTING CLAUDIA.

Do you read across the board as I do or only in the subgenre in which you write? I read all types of romance and some mysteries. I write soft-boiled and cozy mysteries and several subgenres of romance that include historical, contemporary, paranormal and--currently--a women's fictionish work-in-progress. Do you prefer ebook format or printed books? I read both, but prefer published paperbacks. My only publications have been in print books, although one was released in recorded form.

I never get enough reading to satisfy my hunger. Although my husband good-naturedly complains about the amount of money I spend on books, fortunately he loves to read too. His favorites are Tony Hillerman and the deceased authors Dorothy L. Sayers and Marjorie Allingham. Who can resist Lord Peter Wimsey or Mr. Campion? My husband and I both love the western books of the late Louis L'Amour. What a great and prolific writer. Apparently never bothered by writer's block, he once said he could write sitting in a folding chair at the corner of Hollywood and Vine with a portable typewriter balanced on his knees.

Don't you love finding a new author and reading his or her backlist? I do, and also love a new release by one of my favorite authors. I'd name them but the list is too long---and growing every week.

Happy reading!

Reading vs. Writing

2006-03-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

I've been reading a lot, spending time dedicated to writing by pursuing reading favorite authors. As well, I've been reading books by new authors and trying to analyze why that book sold. Sometimes I haven't a clue, frankly, other than perhaps the editor was in an unusually optimistic or cheerful mood the day that book was contracted. Other times, I identify an element that propels me forward in the book, turning pages when I know I should stop and do a load of laundry, start supper, or go to sleep. Those are the books I think about, wondering how to craft mine with that degree of reader involvement.

Coming up with story ideas is easy. Implementing them into a finished manuscript takes planning and perseverance. Achieving a completed work which entices that most important reader--the editor--requires magic. My magic wand is beside the computer monitor. Hmmm, I hope my supply of fairy dust is sufficient.

More On Hope

2006-02-10T05:45:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Linda, who won my January contest. Linda, I hope you enjoy reading THE MOST UNSUITABLE HUSBAND.

I am amazed at the luck of some people with contests. I have a friend who has won three cars in her adult life, plus trips, cash, and other prizes. My eldest daughter also wins a lot of contests. Once she won and took me with her on an all-expense-paid trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The most exciting thing I've ever won was Alice Duncan's contest in which the prize was a book and a painting by Maggie Davis. The painting is of a cat among iris and daisies by a rock wall. The cat looks exactly like my attack cat, Delilah, except that we never let Delilah out of our house. I have the painting hanging in my office near my computer.

Why do people like me who seldom win continue to enter contests or buy a lottery ticket? I believe it's a part of the reason we read romance and cozy mysteries--Hope lifts us. We may have problems today, but we can hope that things will get better tomorrow. And in our writing we offer the hope that good will triumph over evil, criminals will be punished, justice will be served, and love will last a lifetime. Literary critics and literary and non-fiction authors may sneer, but our books outsell theirs. As a friend said, they should follow the money. Over half the mass market books sold in the United States are romance. Next is mystery. Proving to me that we don't mind crying or edge-of-the-seat suspense but--at the end--we want happily ever after. Hope for a better life tomorrow.

Hope For Tomorrow

2006-01-27T09:39:00.000-08:00

Where did January go? I blinked, I guess, because it has flown by. My writing is not sailing as I'd hoped, but I'm excited about a new project I've begun. In addition, I am determined to submit more work. If I don't send it out, no one can buy it, right? So, here go partials of partials and partials of complete manuscripts whisked off to the post office. In about a thousand months, perhaps I'll get editor's replies. (They are sloooow to reply, aren't they?)

In the meantime, personal family crises are being managed (some better than others), friends and I rally around our friends in crisis/transition, and life goes on. We authors are, for the most part, a flexible and supportive group. Bad things happen and we deal with them in the best way we can--choosing some of them for story fodder--and helping our fellow authors do the same. I'm reminded of the words of a close friend who died years ago and left two small sons. As if she had a premonition of her death, she said, "I may not have always done the right thing, but I have always done what I thought was the right thing at that moment. And that's what I want my sons to remember."

So, each of us continues, trying to do the right thing, hopeful she's interpreted the situation well--but moving on regardless. And this applies to writing and to life. For what is writing but a representation of life from our observations, imaginations, and aspirations. We write stories that might have been, of frightening situations we're grateful existed only in our imaginations, and--for me--most often we write life the way it should have been. Hope for the future. That's what I want my books to offer: hope that no matter how bad things look today, there's the promise that--with hard work and a little luck--things will all work out tomorrow. Or at least a few tomorrows away.

New Beginnings

2006-01-04T18:02:00.000-08:00

No, I don't mean the New Beginnings day care chain; I mean a fresh start for each of us. We have an opportunity to forget the tragedies, goof ups, family crises, and whatever else hindered us last year. This year will be better. We'll be better. No matter what your goals are for 2006, set some with me and we'll be goal buddies. Do you want to write ten pages a day, a page a day, a page a week, or just a page? I talked to Geralyn Dawson recently and--when things are going well--she plans to work weekdays only from 8 to 5. I also plan to write weekdays only--except when I can't stay away from my work in progress--but I work until later in the evening. Many of you have weekday jobs and are able to write only evenings and weekends. That's hard, especially if you have small children. But whatever your personal goal, let's support one another and try for the most productive year we've ever had. We can do this. This will be OUR year. Watch out world--here we come!

Time Flies

2005-12-22T18:32:00.000-08:00

Where does time go? It seems only a few days since Thanksgiving, yet here we are almost at Christmas. I can't help being excited. The stockings are hung, tree lighted with packages under it. Guests begin arriving tomorrow. I'm cooking light this year. No, not cooking low cal--although there are less cookies and candy to tempt us this year--I mean that I am ordering brisket from our favorite barbecue place for Christmas Eve and making an easy lasagna recipe for Christmas Day. I don't entertain as complexly as I used to. Doesn't seem to diminish the joy of the occasion.

I tried to take this week off from writing, but couldn't help myself. It's a sickness, and I can't stay away from the computer even if it's just to add a line here or there. Writing is my number two passion [my hubby being the first] and I am happy that this year has been productive. The mystery is done except for editing, my cozy mystery is half completed, a time travel/romantic suspense is ready to submit, a second mystery ready for editing then submission, and several romance partials have been mailed off. Not a bad year--especially if ANYTHING sells.

I hope your year has been a happy one. Best wishes for A Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, or Happy Solstice. I wish you the love of family, joy of counting your blessings, and holiday cheer.

Best laid plans . . .

2005-12-02T18:33:00.000-08:00

Bad news: I did not finish my mystery novel's rough draft in November as I'd planned. Life interrupted, although I did approach the book's end. I lack about 45 pages, so that's not bad. I found I could NOT turn off my internal editor and just write. No, I had to reread the previous day's work before starting a new writing session. Of course, there were always changes to be made. Always. But the book is shaping up and I'm pretty happy with it so far.

More bad news: The day after Thanksgiving, I learned that I do bounce, just not well. On the way across a shopping mall parking lot, I tripped and landed on my boobs then bounced on my face. Trust me here--it's not a good idea, so don't try it. The left side of my face looks like something from a Stephen King novel, and I don't mean the protagonist. Although I did miss several days writing while I recuperated from the headache and swelling, I do not intend to sit out the holiday parties this weekend. My friends are kind people who will overlook my frightening appearance. I hope! If not, I'll follow my daugher's suggestion and tell everyone I'm experimenting with a new look to go with a paranormal I have planned. It could work, right?

Writing on a schedule

2005-11-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

One of the hardest things for a writer like me is keeping to a schedule. I have wonderful intentions. I'll write X amount of pages per day and finish that book in X amount of time. But then--oh, no--life intervenes, and often in a big way. We all have those things in our lives which pull us from our imaginary world where we are in control of the universe and thrust us into the reality of life where we are often unable to control people or events. So how do we schedule our writing time? I like what Merline Lovelace says, and that is that if you write five pages a day, you can write five books a year. Wow, five pages. I can do that. Okay, not every day, because sometimes life jumps up and grabs me by the throat and won't let go. Knowing how my life goes, here's how I plan. I figure five days a week at ten pages a day. Then I subtract a day a week for life--more if there's a holiday. Forty pages a week means that in ten weeks I have a book. That doesn't take into account plotting, research, editing, polishing, etc. So add three weeks. That's thirteen weeks. This means, I can do four books a year, barring major disasters among family and self. Four books! Now to keep my tush in the chair, email off, and get those fingers flying across the keys.

Mysteries of the Universe

2005-11-11T11:15:00.000-08:00

Maybe saying the universe is a bit overstated, but mysteries in general, including romantic suspense, are the subject. I also am thinking of learning as a never ending mystery. I just finished an online class taught by Roxanne St. Claire on writing romantic suspense. This particular class was very helpful. Publishing is a rapidly evolving field and authors must constantly evolve with it. As writers, we have to stretch ourselves, expand our knowledge, try new subgenre and genre. My current WIP (work in progress) is a mystery and it's a big challenge because it is a cooperative effort with another author. I'm doing the rough draft now and it's been a challenge. We agreed on an outline, a road map for the book, before I started the draft. I find myself wondering with each detour--is this all right?--but I've resisted firing questions at each turn because this is the rough draft, and we'll be editing it later. This duo effort and Roxanne St. Claire's online class both remind me that there is always a new way to express our craft, a new technique to be learned, a new opportunity to stretch our minds. To evolve--not only as a writer, but as a constant personal mystery-in-progress.

Value of Encouragement

2005-11-04T15:35:00.000-08:00

Writing is a lonely profession, especially if one is a full-time writer. At home in his or her office, a writer immerses him/herself in the worlds being created. No matter how introverted or agoraphobic we are, each of us needs interaction with others who have similar interests and goals. Fellow writers understand how important and real our characters are to us, and how each novel peels away a part of the author's soul and exposes it to the world. Email loops help us keep in touch, but we eventually need face-to-face nurturing. That's why writers groups--at least good groups--are so beneficial. We meet, talk about writing, laugh about everyday things, and rekindle our creativity. We go home refreshed and eager to resume working on a current project. Our friends rejoice with us in our triumphs, share our pain from a rejection, and encourage us to keep writing. Thank goodness for Romance Writers of America chapters!