Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Desperation is not attractive. How often have we watched movies--particularly romantic comedies--where the woman falls all over herself trying to catch her man? And ladies, haven't you shaken your head in disgust thinking, "She just needs to let go"? I have.
My point? No one wants to see that in a heroine--or a hero for that matter. Be careful not to make your characters desperate. Readers smell that as readily as they do in real life. Prince Charming wouldn't beg, and neither would Cinderella.
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Image by Alicakes* via Flickr
According to Nicholas Sparks, he isn't a romance author. And if you read the article, methinks the author doth protesteth too much.
What is romance? Merriam-Webster has several definitions, but the most simple one is "love affair." And what does Nicholas Sparks write about? Love affairs. What are romance novels about? Love affairs. But Sparks claims that because his works are placed in the fiction section of the bookstore, that means he doesn't write romance. I have a word for Mr. Sparks: Ha!
The problem with writing romance is that it isn't often taken seriously--as if writing something else is more noble. So it isn't surprising to me that Sparks doesn't want to be lumped in with romance authors who--in his eyes--don't have serious writing careers. But the only differences I can find between Mr. Sparks and myself are that I write happy endings and he doesn't. Usually, someone dies at the end of his books/movies. He claims that he doesn't write melodrama, but let's turn to Merriam-Webster again, shall we? The definition of melodrama is "a work (as a movie or play) characterized by extravagant theatricality and by the predominance of plot and physical action over characterization." Sparks manipulates his characters into situations that cause them to be overly dramatic (i.e. death, separation, etc.). If that ain't melodrama, what is?
Sparks maintains that he writes "love stories." If I were to tell you I write romance (and I do), what is the first thing that comes to mind? A love story. That's right, folks. There you have it. Nicholas Sparks is a romance author, whether he wants to admit it or not. And you know what? I think his works are placed in the fiction section because he's male. While there are a few male romance authors, most do so under pen names because females typically write them. And a romance written by a male might not go over so well with a predominately female audience.
He can write a heck of a story, but I think it's highly insulting to the romance industry to claim that he's any different than us. We do the same as him: sell books about love affairs. The difference? We love our happily ever afters, and he loves to kill them. In the USA Today article, Sparks' ego is overwhelming. In fact, he dares to compare himself to the great Greek tragedians. *insert eye roll here* He protests over and over again about being defined as a romance author. If you ask me, that's more telling than anything else in the article.
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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Sometimes, I get this tingly feeling, as if everything is right with the world, with me, and that nothing can go wrong. Of course, that's not true, but it sure is nice when you have that feeling, isn't it? I'm still on a little bit of a high from the writing contest comments, but now I'm ready to hunker down and get to work. I have a book to finish before the big July conference. I've started the read-through of The Stolen Lady, and I'm finding that Esme is completely adorable and utterly likable, and Ian is, well...sadly lacking a bit.
Like all humans, characters have their quirks. Sometimes, those quirks are cute and sometimes completely irritating. Ian's are falling into the irritating category but luckily can be remedied by a plucky heroine. I've read the first four chapters, and in the fourth chapter, Ian takes a liberty much too soon, in my opinion. So...I'm going to give him a little reality check from Esme.
And this is the sort of thing I do as a writer. It's a lot of fun once you get started. I've bemoaned the whole process of revising, but you know what? This might be more enjoyable than I thought. In fact, it's like reading someone else's story (once you have some distance from your work) and figuring out what you would do differently if you were the author...only I am the author! Gee, wasn't that a clever comparison?
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Like all humans, characters have their quirks. Sometimes, those quirks are cute and sometimes completely irritating. Ian's are falling into the irritating category but luckily can be remedied by a plucky heroine. I've read the first four chapters, and in the fourth chapter, Ian takes a liberty much too soon, in my opinion. So...I'm going to give him a little reality check from Esme.
And this is the sort of thing I do as a writer. It's a lot of fun once you get started. I've bemoaned the whole process of revising, but you know what? This might be more enjoyable than I thought. In fact, it's like reading someone else's story (once you have some distance from your work) and figuring out what you would do differently if you were the author...only I am the author! Gee, wasn't that a clever comparison?
Monday, March 22, 2010
Everyone needs it. Everyone wants it. Validation.
Remember the writing contest I entered back in January? Well, this weekend, I received feedback from the judges about my entry. And guess what? I'm feeling validated.
So what happened? Why am I feeling so good this morning and still grinning from ear to ear? I received some fantastic comments. Even though I didn't final, my scores were high (87 and 90 out of 100), and the judges' comments were encouraging. Some samples:
Comments from a published author
Comments from an experienced judge/critiquer
As you can see, the positive comments are interspersed with more negative ones, meaning I have some work still ahead of me. Overall, I was thrilled with them since this was my very first contest, and my scores were outstanding given that I've done very little revision with the novel yet. But what really thrilled me is the implication that I have a unique voice (I initially doubted this) and that I have some talent. My friends and family have all told me I have talent. But it's somehow much more believable coming from someone who doesn't know me, has no name attached to their comments, and who doesn't have any inclination or need to boost my confidence. But their comments gave me the confidence I need to get these revisions done and submit queries to agents. I was paralyzed by the fear that I really wasn't any good, that I couldn't compete with the big names in this business.
It just might be possible that I can play with the big girls after all.
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Remember the writing contest I entered back in January? Well, this weekend, I received feedback from the judges about my entry. And guess what? I'm feeling validated.
So what happened? Why am I feeling so good this morning and still grinning from ear to ear? I received some fantastic comments. Even though I didn't final, my scores were high (87 and 90 out of 100), and the judges' comments were encouraging. Some samples:
Comments from a published author
I really liked both of your characters.
Your dialogue is excellent but there is a lot of narrative before we hit the dialogue.
In my opinion, my job is to give you ideas to strengthen your book and submission. As indicated earlier, more of a sense of who he is (a thread of backstory, a brief memory) would enrich your hero for the reader. Since your heroine is trying to survive, the reader is pulled into her. She has so much to lose.
I really liked your writing. You have a strong writer's voice and a great sense of the moment (descriptions that bring me right into the pub, etc). Finish the book and submit it. Good luck.
Comments from an experienced judge/critiquer
I liked your first sentence, but I soon realized he had not been robbed at all. Not yet, anyway. So the opening seemed gimmicky.
These pages did not show what the H/H wants or what would stand in their way.
With your talent in writing, I'm fairly sure there would be a fresh take on the standard plot. However, these pages did not reveal a fresh twist in the premise.
A very fun read. Thank you for sharing.
As you can see, the positive comments are interspersed with more negative ones, meaning I have some work still ahead of me. Overall, I was thrilled with them since this was my very first contest, and my scores were outstanding given that I've done very little revision with the novel yet. But what really thrilled me is the implication that I have a unique voice (I initially doubted this) and that I have some talent. My friends and family have all told me I have talent. But it's somehow much more believable coming from someone who doesn't know me, has no name attached to their comments, and who doesn't have any inclination or need to boost my confidence. But their comments gave me the confidence I need to get these revisions done and submit queries to agents. I was paralyzed by the fear that I really wasn't any good, that I couldn't compete with the big names in this business.
It just might be possible that I can play with the big girls after all.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
In January, I entered the Fire & Ice Contest, sponsored by the Chicago-North RWA chapter. Well, I found out today that I did not final. What does this mean? It means that the chapter I submitted did not place in the final three, which will determine the winners. Each category of the contest (mine is historical) is designated a judge from the professional ranks. In my category, the judge is Amanda Bergeron, an editor for Avon--my dream publisher.
While I am disappointed, I didn't really expect to win. It's stiff competition, even with only 100+ entrants. And really, when you enter a contest, it's nice to win, but what a writer should really be looking for is valuable feedback--feedback that leads to publication. So in a few days, I should have in my hands feedback from people in the industry who know what they're talking about. Hopefully, it will lead me in the right direction.
I've decided I'm going to take a revision class offered by Holly Lisle. From what I understand, it really receives rave reviews. Holly comes at things from a different angle and causes you to really dig deeply into your story. Compared to revisions, writing the draft was a piece of cake. Revisions have me stumped. If you're interested, this is the link to the class. Holly also offers another course called "How To Think Sideways." I plan to take it at a later date. My poor brain turns to mush at the thought of more than one project at a time.
I will update with my results as I proceed with the course.
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While I am disappointed, I didn't really expect to win. It's stiff competition, even with only 100+ entrants. And really, when you enter a contest, it's nice to win, but what a writer should really be looking for is valuable feedback--feedback that leads to publication. So in a few days, I should have in my hands feedback from people in the industry who know what they're talking about. Hopefully, it will lead me in the right direction.
I've decided I'm going to take a revision class offered by Holly Lisle. From what I understand, it really receives rave reviews. Holly comes at things from a different angle and causes you to really dig deeply into your story. Compared to revisions, writing the draft was a piece of cake. Revisions have me stumped. If you're interested, this is the link to the class. Holly also offers another course called "How To Think Sideways." I plan to take it at a later date. My poor brain turns to mush at the thought of more than one project at a time.
I will update with my results as I proceed with the course.
Monday, March 15, 2010
As writers, we are often told to "write what you know." But sometimes, writing what we know is more painful than creating an entirely new reality.
My character Esme is on an emotional roller coaster. Without giving too much away, she was essentially abandoned as a child and is now struggling with reacquainting and reuniting with her long-lost family. Understandably, anyone in her shoes would be distraught and confused. In my first draft, I attempted to draw on that pain so that the reader understands her cynicism and reluctance to trust. However, I think I failed.
When I was 13, my father walked out on our family. I haven't spoken to him in 16 years. And you know what? I've come to terms with it. I'm mostly okay with it. I think I've even forgiven him for my own sake although I still don't want to speak to him or see him. But even now, I don't talk about it much, and when I do, I don't discuss details. Those are still raw and devastating. So when I gave Esme abandonment issues, I knew firsthand what she would feel. And yet I didn't tap into it. I didn't give her the characteristics or questions I know nearly better than anyone that she would have.
After considering it, I think I am somewhat afraid to tap into the pain and anger I felt all those years ago. It hurt more than anything else I've experienced, and it's colored my perceptions on many things, including relationships. Now, I must reflect all of those disturbing emotions again. In college, I wasn't prepared for it. In a senior English class, we were assigned a 40-page memoir--creative nonfiction. One reason I dropped the class is because I wasn't ready to write about this time period in my life. Another is because I was working full-time and taking a full load of classes. But now as I examine it further, I wonder if my fear of facing the truth wasn't a little too much for my 23-year-old self and I ran from it.
Am I ready to face it now? I think so, but I suspect it's going to send me into an emotional turmoil. In a sense, my fictional heroine is very much a reflection of her real life author.
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My character Esme is on an emotional roller coaster. Without giving too much away, she was essentially abandoned as a child and is now struggling with reacquainting and reuniting with her long-lost family. Understandably, anyone in her shoes would be distraught and confused. In my first draft, I attempted to draw on that pain so that the reader understands her cynicism and reluctance to trust. However, I think I failed.
When I was 13, my father walked out on our family. I haven't spoken to him in 16 years. And you know what? I've come to terms with it. I'm mostly okay with it. I think I've even forgiven him for my own sake although I still don't want to speak to him or see him. But even now, I don't talk about it much, and when I do, I don't discuss details. Those are still raw and devastating. So when I gave Esme abandonment issues, I knew firsthand what she would feel. And yet I didn't tap into it. I didn't give her the characteristics or questions I know nearly better than anyone that she would have.
After considering it, I think I am somewhat afraid to tap into the pain and anger I felt all those years ago. It hurt more than anything else I've experienced, and it's colored my perceptions on many things, including relationships. Now, I must reflect all of those disturbing emotions again. In college, I wasn't prepared for it. In a senior English class, we were assigned a 40-page memoir--creative nonfiction. One reason I dropped the class is because I wasn't ready to write about this time period in my life. Another is because I was working full-time and taking a full load of classes. But now as I examine it further, I wonder if my fear of facing the truth wasn't a little too much for my 23-year-old self and I ran from it.
Am I ready to face it now? I think so, but I suspect it's going to send me into an emotional turmoil. In a sense, my fictional heroine is very much a reflection of her real life author.
Friday, March 12, 2010
I've never been a good risk taker or decision maker. It's a carryover from childhood. My mom instilled in me the value of having stability since my dad didn't provide any for us. She taught me the basics: go to college and get a good education so that you can always provide for yourself. It's great advice and something I clung to. But I wish she'd taught me how to take risks in life without regret.
As an adult, I have difficulty ordering from a restaurant menu. I cannot make decisions effectively. It's a weakness I've struggled with as long a I can remember. It's why I stuck with a job I despised for three years. And now it's why I'm paralyzed with my revisions.
You see, when I finish these revisions, it means taking a risk. It means I have to once again put myself out there for possible rejection. Rejection in the publishing business isn't personal; it's business. And yet in my mind, it's very difficult to separate the two. I no longer possess the brashness and devil-may-care attitude of my 18-year-old alter ego. The compunction to throw caution to the wind and ignore rejection just isn't in me any more. Back then, I had no idea what I was really getting myself into, and I didn't care. I just knew I wanted to be published. The rejections rolled off of my back and straight into the water. But now? Now I'll be mortified if my dream doesn't come true. All of those hours and blood and sweat and tears will have been for naught. I'm not sure I can face it, and yet I know I have to in order to move forward.
So now I am faced with risk. Risk will force me out of my shell and into doing things I'm not necessarily comfortable with. It's a growing experience, and yet, it's still a paralyzing thought. I am stepping forward and exposing myself to others who may not see me as I see myself. How do you do it? How do you get past the fear? I don't know yet. I guess I'll learn as I go. I wish I could ask my 18-year-old self how she did it.
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As an adult, I have difficulty ordering from a restaurant menu. I cannot make decisions effectively. It's a weakness I've struggled with as long a I can remember. It's why I stuck with a job I despised for three years. And now it's why I'm paralyzed with my revisions.
You see, when I finish these revisions, it means taking a risk. It means I have to once again put myself out there for possible rejection. Rejection in the publishing business isn't personal; it's business. And yet in my mind, it's very difficult to separate the two. I no longer possess the brashness and devil-may-care attitude of my 18-year-old alter ego. The compunction to throw caution to the wind and ignore rejection just isn't in me any more. Back then, I had no idea what I was really getting myself into, and I didn't care. I just knew I wanted to be published. The rejections rolled off of my back and straight into the water. But now? Now I'll be mortified if my dream doesn't come true. All of those hours and blood and sweat and tears will have been for naught. I'm not sure I can face it, and yet I know I have to in order to move forward.
So now I am faced with risk. Risk will force me out of my shell and into doing things I'm not necessarily comfortable with. It's a growing experience, and yet, it's still a paralyzing thought. I am stepping forward and exposing myself to others who may not see me as I see myself. How do you do it? How do you get past the fear? I don't know yet. I guess I'll learn as I go. I wish I could ask my 18-year-old self how she did it.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Like many writers, music is a big portion of my inspiration. When I'm writing a book, I can find theme music for my characters. Make fun of me if you will, but I have a thing for sappy love songs. I love Delilah. I love '80s power ballads. And yes, I'll admit it: I like old Michael Bolton tunes from the '90s.
So this brings me to my point--sort of. As I've been writing The Stolen Lady, the two songs that keep coming to mind about my characters--Ian and Esme--are David Archuleta's "Crush" and Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher." Both songs are about a love that haven't quite come to fruition. My character, Esme, can't face the growing attraction to Ian nor ignore the (apparent) difference in their classes. Remember, this is Regency England, so class was much, much more important than it is these days.
When I first heard "Crush," I immediately decided that was the theme of the entire book. But when I heard "Come On Get Higher," it fit, too. I'm sure there are others that fit, but in my mind, The Stolen Lady will forever be associated with these songs.
Music is my muse. It isn't a person or a thing...just music. I can envision a story developing out of simple lyrics, and it takes me to places in my head where I couldn't otherwise have gone. I'm grateful for the talented artists who came before me to give me a little bit of their inspiration.
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So this brings me to my point--sort of. As I've been writing The Stolen Lady, the two songs that keep coming to mind about my characters--Ian and Esme--are David Archuleta's "Crush" and Matt Nathanson's "Come On Get Higher." Both songs are about a love that haven't quite come to fruition. My character, Esme, can't face the growing attraction to Ian nor ignore the (apparent) difference in their classes. Remember, this is Regency England, so class was much, much more important than it is these days.
When I first heard "Crush," I immediately decided that was the theme of the entire book. But when I heard "Come On Get Higher," it fit, too. I'm sure there are others that fit, but in my mind, The Stolen Lady will forever be associated with these songs.
Music is my muse. It isn't a person or a thing...just music. I can envision a story developing out of simple lyrics, and it takes me to places in my head where I couldn't otherwise have gone. I'm grateful for the talented artists who came before me to give me a little bit of their inspiration.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Well, people, it has begun.
I'm in the middle of revisions for The Stolen Lady, so if you see fewer blog posts from me over the next few weeks (months?), it's because my head is mired in characterization, voice, fleshing out holes, and rewriting scenes.
Actually, this could be more fun than writing the first draft. Maybe.
I'm in the middle of revisions for The Stolen Lady, so if you see fewer blog posts from me over the next few weeks (months?), it's because my head is mired in characterization, voice, fleshing out holes, and rewriting scenes.
Actually, this could be more fun than writing the first draft. Maybe.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Friday is my favorite day of the week. And no, it isn't just because it's the end of the workweek. Instead, today's the day I get to hear people changing their lives and their family trees.
You see, Friday is debt-free Friday here at Financial Peace Plaza. Families get to call in to the radio show and scream to the heavens (and Dave Ramsey) that they are debt-free! It's both inspiring and touching to hear families who have sacrificed and struggled get to this point.
Will and I went through our own struggle to become debt-free for almost two years. This summer, we'll celebrate three years of no debt. Three years! I still can't believe it, but our attitudes about money are forever changed. We haven't had car payments in nearly four years. We had a significant down payment for our home. And we don't buy anything if we can't pay cash for it.
Click here to listen to our debt-free call.
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You see, Friday is debt-free Friday here at Financial Peace Plaza. Families get to call in to the radio show and scream to the heavens (and Dave Ramsey) that they are debt-free! It's both inspiring and touching to hear families who have sacrificed and struggled get to this point.
Will and I went through our own struggle to become debt-free for almost two years. This summer, we'll celebrate three years of no debt. Three years! I still can't believe it, but our attitudes about money are forever changed. We haven't had car payments in nearly four years. We had a significant down payment for our home. And we don't buy anything if we can't pay cash for it.
Click here to listen to our debt-free call.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Image by Martin LaBar (going on hiatus) via Flickr
I have a lot on my mind these days. My mom is undergoing major surgery next month, and needless to say, I'm stressed about it. It's a three-part procedure, which means there's additional risk since she'll be under general anesthesia at least twice. I'd like to put a positive spin on it, but reality is this process won't be easy, and our family is worried. If you pray, I would implore you to pray for my family over the next month or so. We need all the help and encouragement we can get.
We've also had a lot of work going on in our home, and it's taken a lot out of both me and Will. In addition, I need to start revisions on my book since the national conference is fast approaching, and I haven't. I don't know what's holding me back other than all of the other myriad things going on in my life. I am making a significant effort...it just isn't going anywhere.
Finally, I'm perusing the home exchange websites and looking for the right exchange for both this year and next. It's a happy point in my life--something to look forward to--and I need that right now. Stress relief.
Whatever happens, I know it's God's will. I know I can't control any of it, and it's best to give it over to God. But my personality is that I will worry no matter what. At times, I worry much less than others. Right now, I'm worried a lot.
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Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Don't you just love my insightful blog titles? Sorry I'm not more creative with those.
Our house is quickly approaching major renovation completion. The only thing left to paint is our master bedroom, and we plan to do that over the weekend. When we bought this house a year ago, I was overwhelmed at the amount of money and time it was going to take to bring it up to date and presentable.
I was right.
Now that the work is almost done, though, I have to say I'm quite proud of our little abode. It's colorful and lovely and soothing. We now have new carpet and new wood flooring. Fresh paint covers almost every wall, and I've ordered new blinds for our upper level. We have wood stairs. In April, we'll begin buying pieces of furniture to replace our old, dated pieces. We're going to have our ceilings and trim painted. We're going to replace the door on my writing room with a lovely half glass version. We're going to replace shutters, paint our front porch, paint our front door, and put a storm door on the back door.
But these are all relatively minor projects in comparison to the last year. If I never see another house with wallpaper, it will be too soon. Never again will I purchase a house that has wallpaper because when you want to take it off, think again. You'll also need a hefty amount of drywall and primer.
I'm starting to feel proud of it and love it. Will has done a great deal of the work, and I'm proud of him. He's learned how to do things I wouldn't have thought either of us could. It's amazing how handy you become when you buy your first home. And Lowe's and Home Depot workers begin to recognize you and greet you by your first name.
All in all, it's starting to be fun to be a homeowner. If you'd asked me four months ago, I still wouldn't have said I liked it. But now, I think I do. It looks like our house, a place we can be comfortable and relax. And the master bath? It's going to be one of my favorite rooms of all. Know why? It's been painted a beautiful turquoise, and I feel like I'm floating in an ocean.
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Our house is quickly approaching major renovation completion. The only thing left to paint is our master bedroom, and we plan to do that over the weekend. When we bought this house a year ago, I was overwhelmed at the amount of money and time it was going to take to bring it up to date and presentable.
I was right.
Now that the work is almost done, though, I have to say I'm quite proud of our little abode. It's colorful and lovely and soothing. We now have new carpet and new wood flooring. Fresh paint covers almost every wall, and I've ordered new blinds for our upper level. We have wood stairs. In April, we'll begin buying pieces of furniture to replace our old, dated pieces. We're going to have our ceilings and trim painted. We're going to replace the door on my writing room with a lovely half glass version. We're going to replace shutters, paint our front porch, paint our front door, and put a storm door on the back door.
But these are all relatively minor projects in comparison to the last year. If I never see another house with wallpaper, it will be too soon. Never again will I purchase a house that has wallpaper because when you want to take it off, think again. You'll also need a hefty amount of drywall and primer.
I'm starting to feel proud of it and love it. Will has done a great deal of the work, and I'm proud of him. He's learned how to do things I wouldn't have thought either of us could. It's amazing how handy you become when you buy your first home. And Lowe's and Home Depot workers begin to recognize you and greet you by your first name.
All in all, it's starting to be fun to be a homeowner. If you'd asked me four months ago, I still wouldn't have said I liked it. But now, I think I do. It looks like our house, a place we can be comfortable and relax. And the master bath? It's going to be one of my favorite rooms of all. Know why? It's been painted a beautiful turquoise, and I feel like I'm floating in an ocean.
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